Help with alcohol inks...

[luvtocraft]

Having seen the TSV from Tim Holtz ( I resisted) I decided to buy some alcohol inks and the felt applicator and have a go with them. I have watched a couple of you tube demo's and wondered do I need the blending solution? Any advice from all of you who are much practised at these techniques would be appreciated. I read the TSV thread and the useful posts there and Phree's comments on the stages but would appreciate ideas and advices as this is a new area of crafting to me (still not sure if its my thing but willing to be converted :) )

[Phree]

No you don't "need" the blending solution - however you will want it ;) You can get nice effects with just the inks, but having the blending soloution does make more effects possible, so if you are going to invest then it is probably a good idea to find the extra fiver for some blending solution.

A cheaper alternative can be surgical spirit and for cleanning up at least either blending soloution or surgical spirit is a must have, it will lift any stains you manage to get on your fingers, work surface etc. For myself as I got blending solution when I first bought some of the inks I have never actually tried surgical spirit, but I am far as I can recall (its been a while since I did any research on AIs) surgical spirits will work in exactly the same way as the blending solution. The pharmacy where I work sells bottles that contain more fluid (can't recall quite how much more than the blending solution bottle) for just a few pennies over £1.

Edit: This is one of the "Tim Technqiues" where it probably IS best to have one of those heat resistant craft mats.

[Mothership]

I've never managed to use surgical spirits as a blending solution on paper, might be that it works on glass or metal I couldn't say because I use Isopropyl Alcohol. It's a pharmacy product from the chemist so they may have to order it in for you.

My last bottle I got last year is a half a litre and it has the price £5.23 on it. I think that is even cheaper than the titchy bottle of Ranger Blending Solution.
Surgical spirit might be good for a clean-up though.