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Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Aug 24, 2009 10:52am
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Ok, I said I was going to try out the Rubbing Alcohol with my Ranger Alcohol Inks and I did.

Overall, you can use rubbing alcohol to dilute the inks. If you don't want the deep or bright color, you can add a touch of rubbing alcohol to lighten the color. This works if you're applying by hand or with the applicator, cotton balls, whatever. Rubbing alcohol also works GREAT when trying to clean the ink off your hands! I was using the blending solution for this as well (always thought it was a waste but you really can't get that ink off!) Now I'm using rubbing alcohol to keep my hands clean as well as any misplaced drops of ink.

As for using the rubbing alcohol as a base to blend with...it doesn't work well. I use the blending solution to apply to my paper then add the ink and swirl. When I tried to do that with straight rubbing alcohol, the alcohol evaporated too quickly and I didn't get the results I wanted. The blending solution is much better for this technique as it doesn't dry as quickly as the regular alcohol so it gives me time to swirl all my color drops together. The blending solution says on the package that it is specially formulated for use with these inks...it seems to be a blend of other alcohols.

So in conclusion, I'm still buying the blending solution for my LTCs but using rubbing alcohol to clean my supplies and hands off afterward.

Naturally, since I was experimenting, I now have some weird background cards that will soon be put to use in my new Halloween LTCs. I'll get 'em done this week if anyone wants to trade! Only about 12-15 of them!

Wyvern
Re: Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Reply to: #433101 by Wyvern
Aug 24, 2009 11:29am
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Thanks for sharing this info!
Re: Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Reply to: #433101 by Wyvern
Aug 24, 2009 4:04pm
Thread (disabled) Board
That read like a blog, Wyvern. You have been bookmarked. ;-)

MC
Re: Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Reply to: #433101 by Wyvern
Aug 25, 2009 12:31am
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Fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, Wyvern! Sounds like rubbing alchohol is a useful item to keep around, if not to replace the blending solution with.

Would LOVE to trade for one of the resulting cards... ;)

-Cat Eyes
Re: Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Reply to: #433101 by Wyvern
Sep 1, 2009 12:55am
Thread (disabled) Board
I wonder if it would work to add a few drops of glycerin to the alcohol to slow down the evaporative quality?
Re: Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Reply to: #435716 by Poodle Circus
Sep 1, 2009 8:12am
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Hmmm...
I might have some experimenting to do tonight. I think I have some glycerin at home.
Verrryyy interesting...

Wyvern
Re: Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks
Board: LTC: Tips, Questions, and Stuff
Reply to: #435798 by Wyvern
Sep 1, 2009 9:06am
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just don't mix it with nitro...

romana