Tuesday Technique Recipie - Pearlized Polished Stone by Lisa Strahl

Welcome to Tuesday Technique here on The CLASSroom! 

I have had the pleasure of working through over two dozen techniques featuring the refill ink, called "Various Ink" for Copic Markers.  You may or may not realize that the refills are a tool you can use in your creations even if you never own a Copic marker and hate coloring!  The alcohol based ink is *so* versatile on more surfaces that any other ink on the market.

I hope you will join me here on Tuesdays for the next while as we explore this vibrant and beautiful product.  The first technique I want to share is the basic Polished Stone Technique with a small twist, we are going to add some shimmer and bling by making it "pearlized".

Copic Pearlized Polished Stone Technique

Supplies:

-Non-Stick Ranger Craft Sheet (Ranger)

-Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool and Replacement Felt (Ranger)

-Pearl Metallic Mixative (Ranger)

-Various Ink Refills in R20 Carmine, R37 Blush and Y21 Buttercup Yellow (Copic)

-Various Ink Colorless Blender Solution (Copic)

-White Glossy Card Stock (Ranger)

-Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger)

 

Step 1 - Squeeze Various Ink "into", as opposed to "onto" the felt applicator.  Don't drip the ink on because you are likely to add more ink than you need.  Press the tip of the refill to the felt and squeeze for a few seconds.  I have added three colors to my applicator in a triangle pattern.  Why a triangle?  Why three?  In short, odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye and the triangle pattern will give you the most even, yet randomized pattern.

*Here is where the pearlized part comes in!  Squeeze a drop of Pearlized Mixative OVER TOP of the three colors on the applicator.*

Step 2 - Something I have discovered is that pressing the applicator to your Non-Stick Craft sheet one time before moving to your paper will help to even out the ink and give you the best possible first impression.

 

Step 3 - Pounce the applicator onto the glossy card stock with enough force that you are pounding it with some force.  After teaching dozens of students how to use alcohol inks I have discovered that most are too timid at first. Get your frustrations out!  Hit that paper hard!  As you go, turn the tool with almost every application to the paper.  This will help to keep the pattern random.

 

 

Step 4 - Next we are going to introduce Colorless Blender to the technique.  CB will soften the colors and of course blend and even the the pattern even further.  Add several drops of CB to the same felt that you had the original colors on.  Repeat the pouncing application over the surface the same way you applied the colored ink.  These pieces are ready to be stamped, die cut or embellished!

 

What about all of that beautiful ink left on our Craft Sheet?  Read on dear friends!

 

 

Some of the ink on my mat was still a little wet, so I pressed my card stock to the sheet repeatedly to achieve this effect.

If the ink has completely dried up, shake or Spritz Various Ink Colorless Blender over the ink and press the glossy card stock to the mat.  You will achieve a much more blended look as pictured here.  Very soft and subtle compared to the first generation printing.

I finished my original piece by stamping the Pretty Pattern Backgrounder in Jet Black Archival Ink (very important to use a permanent ink, dye or water-based inks will not work).  The focal is embellished with Black Crystals and Cream Lace.  The sentiment comes from the set called Classic Essential Expressions which has 62 mix and match phrases and is on sale for $22.49 right now!