There are lots of ways to use alcohol inks on a non-porous surface but when starting, one of the early challenges is that pipettes, fine-tip applicators, mini-misters, Isopropyl Alcohol etc all come from different sources so you often have to pay postage multiple times and spend a lot of time searching. At Craft Pantry, we’ve solved this problem with our alcohol ink kits, which help beginners to get started with the essentials without the hassle.
When Starting out There is known uncertainty
When starting a new craft or art, for most newbies there is the dilemma of not knowing for sure if you will enjoy it, and the inevitable need to spend money on a few items in order to give it a try. At the initial stage, you are also overwhelming yourself with constant research to learn about the different techniques and tools. But these alcohol ink kits for beginners have the tools artists use often across mixed media so they can provide a long term staple art set.
It takes time and experience to discover what tools are effective for alcohol ink so we have taken the guesswork out and filled these kits with what will enable you to experiment with a range of techniques and effects. Below is a summary of the inclusions and differences.
Alcohol Ink Kit inclusions: Bundle
This kit for alcohol ink beginners contains:
- 1 Litre of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (also known as Isopropanol or IPA) in an easy to pour HDPE bottle
- 3x 3ml pipettes
- 2x 30ml measuring cups
- 1x 10ml mini mister
- 1x mini funnel
- 2x 50ml fine-tip applicators
- 59ml Tim Holtz Alcohol Blending Solution
- Part A & B Cleaners for your hands, and glass or craft mat/sheet.
- Glass jar
- 10 A5 sheets of Yupo paper
- Labels each bottle to help identify the contents
Alcohol Ink Kit inclusions: Basics
This kit for alcohol ink beginners contains:
- 1 Litre of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol in an easy to pour HDPE bottle
- 3x 3ml pipettes
- 2x 30ml measuring cups
- 1x 10ml mini mister
- 2x 50ml fine-tip applicators
- 150ml Craft Pantry Alcohol Blending Solution
- Glass jar
- Labels for the items to help identify the contents
What’s the difference between ‘Bundle’ and ‘Basics’ kits?
The ‘Bundle’ kit includes everything the ‘Basics’ kit has plus:
- Yupo paper
- Mini funnel
- Tim Holtz Alcohol Blending Solution
- Part A and Part B cleaners
Why 1 Litre of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol?
With this quantity, you won’t feel you have to hold yourself back trying to make it last. It allows you opportunity to experiment and figure out if alcohol inks are something you enjoy or not.
If you decide alcohol inks are not your vibe, then what remains can easily be used up around the home. Isopropyl Alcohol has many household uses so there is no waste and the bottle is also recyclable.
Why is there a hand sanitiser and glass cleaner?
These are for cleaning your hands, work surface, craft sheet or glass mat. If used immediately, the combination of these 2 can clean your work surface thoroughly and with ease. First, wipe alcohol ink stains on your craft mat with hand sanitiser and a paper towel. Then finish off with spraying glass cleaner to remove any residue.
Why A5 Yupo paper?
Since much of the alcohol ink products originate and are manufactured in the USA, most of the paper sizes are imperial, which can be trickier for people in Australia to frame, as we use metric. So there are 10 sheets included in the ‘Bundle” starter kit that will easily enable the artist to purchase an inexpensive frame for their works.
Other bits and bobs
The other applicator tools are an Alcohol Ink artist’s everyday go-to’s. How you apply isopropyl alcohol can greatly change the effect.
- Pipettes: allow quick and controlled disbursement of liquid from the bottle or jar to the work surface
- Measuring cups: provide an opportunity to pour alcohol ink mixed with isopropyl onto a surface
- Mini misters: allow an artist to create depth with fine mist drops or help to break up concentrated areas of the artwork
- Fine-tip applicators: enables directional squirts of isopropyl, and can be held in one hand whilst operating an airbrush or blower in the other. Alternatively, it can be used to dispense e.g. Pinata ‘Brass’ if taken from a 118ml container
- Glass jar: can hold pipettes or brushes, or it can be a container to store a smaller amount of isopropyl alcohol at arms reach on your art table. It can be used for anything you desire/that suits your needs.
- And finally, the mini funnel is to help pour isopropyl into the mini-mister, or it can also aid you in pouring something like Pinata ‘Brass’ into a fine-tip applicator.
The huge benefit of these alcohol ink kits for beginners is that the items are together, you do not need to go searching for each item separately. Investment in either kit (Bundle or Basics) is a convenient and easy way to get started with alcohol inks. If you later decide that maybe alcohol inks are not your thing then these items will have use around the household or in a mixed media craft adventure.
Enjoy!