Alcohol Ink Glass Gems


Some of the most popular posts on the blog have been my alcohol ink glass gem projects, so I thought I'd share all of the different ways I've attempted this project over the years. If there's anything you'd like to see me try--put it in the comments!


My first and second attempts at glass gems turned out pretty similar: Glass Gems, Glass Gem Revisit. I used felt stamps to apply alcohol ink to the black of flat marble/glass gem/cabochons. I even made some of these into magnets.


After I got the process for stamping the gems down, I tried to back them in multiple different ways to make the colors pop. My first attempt was with spray paint. It sort of worked.


Next, I tried to back the gems with some foil (first with aluminum foil, then with foil tape) to make the gems more opaque. The foil tape became a fast favorite (as you'll see later). The gems in the picture above were also slightly iridescent instead of completely clear.


Next I tried using some dot stickers on the back of my gems to provide a white background. This worked, but was more fussy than the aluminum foil tape.


For this revisit, I gave additional information about the process and even made a short video of stamping the ink.


This is another revisit attempting to provide a background for the ink. This time I tried painting on white enamel paint. The process of sealing and painting the ink dulled the alcohol ink. I think I could use better sealers (like Kamar Varnish) to try this one again and get a better result.


Next, I tried to branch out from stamping the ink. I found a method for dripping, painting, and using canned air to achieve some really beautiful painted gems.


Then, I tried flaming the ink (lighting it on fire) which provided some cool results.


I even tried making some Jack-o-lantern gems using black enamel paint and stamped ink. I think this process has potential if I had a steady hand or could find some good paint pens.


Then, of course, I had to try using the plastic wrap method for inking on some glass gems. Some of these turned out pretty well, but clear glass isn't the best surface for the plastic wrap method--it's a bit too translucent.


Then I tried adding little vinyl decals cut from my Silhouette cutting machine to make some winter/Christmas gems. I turned these into pins and necklaces.


And my most recent (so far) gem necklaces were made with cabochons and bezels I ordered online. The pattern from the bezels is clearly visible through the gem, but it still creates a neat necklace.

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