Tips for spray inking success

• Shake the ink bottles well.

• Choose a heavier-weight cardstock to prevent the paper from warping when wet.

• Use tweezers to flip the template over.

• Test the spray ink on a scrap of your material (transparency, paper, fabric, etc.) to get a feel for how it accepts the ink.

• Experiment with the distance between the spray and your project on a scrap. The farther away you hold the spray, the finer and more spread out the ink application will be. Spritz closer to your project for a more concentrated application.

Types of spray ink

Different brands of spray ink have various degrees of color intensity and opacity. Also, some sprays have a matte finish while others have a shimmery or metallic look. Take a look at color samples from five brands, then see page 49 of the March/April 2010 issue for more information about them.

CK Spray Ink Q&A

Q. What type of paper should I use?

A. Heavyweight cardstock works best because it won't buckle and warp when wet. Light-colored cardstock will allow you to better see the spray ink on the paper.

Q. Can I use textured cardstock?

A. Yes! The spray ink will enhance the texture. Try embossed cardstock, too.

Q. What other surfaces can I use spray ink on?

A. Spray your accents-consider chipboard, fabric, ribbon, lace, paper flowers and more.

Q. How about plastic and transparencies?

A. Some spray inks will dry quickly on plastic and transparencies; others will require a longer drying time and may need to be heat set with a heat gun. Experiment on a small piece of your intended material to see what works best.

Q. I don't want to get ink all over my desk. Are there any products that will help with that?

A. Check out the Color Catcher from Clearsnap, or cut down a box so that you can place the items you want to spray inside it.

Check out the March/April 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes to learn two cool ways you can step up this technique to get even more great looks on your scrapbook pages.

Appeared in:

March/April 2010