A Way With Words

Warm Thoughts with Penguins and Alcohol Ink Background

September 8, 2018

The number one item on my bucket list is to see the northern lights or the aurora borealis.  It’s just too bad that I have to be somewhere really cold to do so.  Until then, I attempted to make a sky inspired by the northern lights using alcohol inks.  I couldn’t get it quite soft enough but it does have a cold nighttime vibe.  I’ll have to play some more but it’s definitely something worth exploring – those penguins are too cute to not keep going.  I think they pair quite well with the sentiment.  Please read on for the instructions to replicate the card you see below.

  1. Start with a 5″ x 7″ card base and the same size Yupo paper.  The fun and difficult thing about alcohol inks is that they are unpredictable.  I used the applicator felts to make the alcohol inks (shades of blue, purple, a bit of green) to try to make the sky streaky.  It took a few tries and while it dried, I die cut the other pieces needed for the card.
  2. Die cut the penguins with black, white, and light orange pieces of cardstock. Note that the scarves are in two of the same colors that are in the sky.
  3. Die cut Warm Thoughts from white and light blue card stock. Adhere, offset with white on top for a shadow effect.
  4. From white cardstock, freehand-cut a slope of snow embankment for the penguins to stand on.
  5. Once it is completely dried, trim the Yupo paper a bit to leave a white mat when added to the card front. Tip: This is a great opportunity to clean up the edges and get rid of those places where the inks tend to pool.
  6. Glue all pieces together as shown in the project photo.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed reading how I put this card together.  Let me know if you have any suggestions on how to make my background look more realistic or softer.  Thanks!

 

Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs:


 

Other:

Alcohol Inks

Yupo Paper

Cardstock in white, black, light orange, blue, teal, light blue

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  • Nancy Yoder September 9, 2018 at 9:01 am

    Have to try to replicate ur northern lites…but I will dilute with 91%alcohol, to get a more ‘floaty’ colors…will see if that works. Sweet card.

  • Arlene September 8, 2018 at 11:11 am

    Just darling. The background is perfect and I love those penguins.

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