Hello, Crafters.
Recently there have been a few videos on YouTube demonstrating this technique…………..by one name or another. I wasn’t going to give it a go but I received requests for a video with my spin on the idea! Once I started playing with this idea, I couldn’t stop! I love it! Every piece of Vellum Cardstock (CS) produces a different pattern, and I have made six cards so far using completed sheets! I have another eleven completed sheets to use!
In my video, I demonstrated three ways to apply the alcohol – I’m sure there are others! – two using a flat paint brush and one using a Stampin’ Up! Spritzer. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the Spritzer because I was unable to keep the pressure on the nozzle consistent. The areas that looked good look like “bubbles”.

I used Dark Flirty Flaming and Dark Smokey Slate on this sheet of Vellum and I used the paint brush just on the end of the brush head. This is the kind of result that is my favourite.
By watching various videos I learnt quite a lot. For example, better results are achieved with rubbing alcohol that has a high percentage of alcohol, i.e. about 95%. Hubby bought me some online which is 99.9% IPA Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropanol 99.9% Pure). Apparently the 70% Rubbing Alcohol we normally use for card making techniques isn’t strong enough to move the ink around.
One of the extra advantages of stronger alcohol is that it reduces the curling of the Vellum. With the 99.9% alcohol there was virtually no curling whatsoever. I also tried the 95% alcohol that Hubby had in his repair kit and that did make the Vellum curl slightly; certainly not enough to be a problem. I’m sharing here the six cards I’ve made so far and will share others as and when I make them.

This was also created using Dark Flirty Flamingo and Smokey Slate. You can see the bubbles where I spritzed it but it was very uneven because I couldn’t keep the pressure on the nozzle consistent. I will probably use this piece of vellum to create two different cards.
Creating these designs is equivalent to making your own Designer Series Paper (DSP) which is a great solution if you don’t have any DSP in a particular colour that you need! I tested the Light and Dark of my chosen Stampin’ Blends on a spare sheet of Vellum CS. This way I could see if my selected colours were light/dark enough for the look I was trying to achieve.
For example, I made the Petal Pink card on the video and I didn’t know if the Dark Petal Pink Blend would be dark enough. When I tried the Light & Dark on Vellum, neither of them were suitable, so I tried Light and Dark Calypso Coral and Cajun Craze. The Light Cajun Craze worked a treat, as you can see by the Petal Pink card!

I used Light Just Jade and Light Magenta Madness on this piece of Vellum CS. This time I laid the brush head more on its back and kept the brush quite wet with alcohol. Like this, it looks like caterpillars!!
I am hoping that I can pop back here some time to list the products I’ve used to create each of the cards I’m sharing with you today. The method and products I used for the Petal Pink and Highland Heather cards are on the video. Out of the remaining four cards, two are the same so it’s just three cards and I kept a list of everything as I was making them, so all I need to do is to type the details out!
I hope you give this technique a try and get as much pleasure from it as I have! But please remember to work in a well-ventilated space/room! That’s it from me today. I hope you have a very blessed Sunday and I look forward to being back very soon. Take care and stay safe. Happy crafting.
JanB. xx
Measurements
Petal Pink Cardstock – 8¼” x 5¾” (21cm x 14.6cm) NA 5½” x 8½”
Basic White Cardstock – 2 pieces 3 7/8” x 5½” (9.9cm x 14cm) NA 4” x 5¼”
Petal Pink Cardstock – 2 pieces 3¾” x 5 3/8” (9.6cm x 13.7cm) NA 3 7/8” x 5 1/8”
Basic White Cardstock – optional 3¾” x 5 3/8” (9.6cm x 13.7cm) NA 3 7/8” x 5 1/8”
Vellum Cardstock – one full sheet cut into quarters
Basic White Scraps for sentiment and images
Petal Pink Cardstock – layer for sentiment tad shorter than 1” and tad shorter than 2” (4.9cm x 2.4cm) same as A4 cardstock
Products
Petal Pink A4 Cardstock [147009] £8.25 —— https://bit.ly/2KVDTZn
Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] £9.00 —— https://bit.ly/3iDSXer
White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584] £9.25 —— https://bit.ly/3gzUvHl
Pretty Perennials Bundle [156234] £42.25 —— https://bit.ly/3nt0Eor
Butterfly Wishes Cling Stamp Set [149346] £21.00 —— https://bit.ly/3qjkK5T
Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] £33.00 —— https://bit.ly/2A1IIyK
Hippo Happiness Bundle (English) [154080] £45.00 —— https://bit.ly/3sPqBkA
Tasteful Textile 3 D Embossing Folder [152718] £8.25 —— https://bit.ly/30wOOAZ
Petal Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad [147108] £7.00 —— https://bit.ly/2SsPnrG
Petal Pink Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [147169] £3.50 —— https://bit.ly/35oEufG
Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Pad [147095] £7.00 —— https://bit.ly/2M0XzPe
Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [147163] £3.50 —— https://bit.ly/3nV1IBz
Bumblebee Classic Stampin’ Pad [153116] £7.00 —— https://bit.ly/2BtdDo6
Bumblebee Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [153122] £3.50 —— https://bit.ly/2D5CmiY
Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154885] £8.50 —— https://bit.ly/3e3995U
Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] £112.00 —— https://bit.ly/3kd11SM
Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine [150673] £56.00 —— https://bit.ly/2ZbAmNX
Stamparatus [148187] £46.00 —— https://bit.ly/2SPbiqu
Simply Shammy [147042] £7.50 —— https://bit.ly/3c1y7AC
Paper Trimmer [152392] £23.00 —— https://bit.ly/2qUQQw0
Paper Snips [103579] £9.25 —— https://bit.ly/2BYGTTt
Bone Folder [102300] £6.50 —— https://bit.ly/2ojre7w
Grid Paper [130148] £11.75 —— https://bit.ly/2BMJekd
Small Grid Paper [149621] £6.00 —— https://bit.ly/2C609ih
Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] £5.50 —— https://bit.ly/2LtkKMx
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] £3.75 —— https://bit.ly/3lUJ7Wd
Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] £3.75 —— https://bit.ly/2BYH1SX
Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals [144108] £3.75 —— https://bit.ly/2BYH2X1
Mini Glue Dots [103683] £5.00 —— https://bit.ly/2NPQQ78
Stampin’ Seal [152813] £7.50 —— https://bit.ly/3psb9uo
Stampin’ Seal Refill [152814] £5.00 —— https://bit.ly/32JyGNz
Evening Jan. Just STUNNING. Going to try this technique. Thank you for sharing. XX Mal
I like the videos I’ve seen I tried it but it did not work but I was using 70% alcohol and you need 99% I tried a few shops around here but no luck so I will get some of of the internet the backgrounds are really lovely.
Hi, Helen. It’s a shame it wasn’t explained in the video you watched that a higher percentage of alcohol was needed. Never mind, it’s all part of the learning curve. I hope you’ve found the alcohol that’s at least 95%. Let me know if you haven’t and I’ll get the link that hubby used to get mine. xx
Many thanks, Mal. I love it and to think I only played with this because I was asked if I’d do a video. I shudder when I think, without those requests, I wouldn’t know what fun this technique is!! xx
Lovely! What colours did you use for the Sailing Home card? Thank you.
Hi, Heather. I used Light & Dark Night of Navy Stampin’ Blends for the Sailing Home card. Enjoy! xx
Hello Jan, what an amazing technique. Will have to surely try this one. I just love how they have turned out. I thin I do prefer the one with using the brush standing up straight. But, they are all very pretty. Be safe & well & TYFS
Many thanks, Claire. Like you, I prefer the brush more upright because it gives a more definite pattern. I’m so pleased your going to give this technique a try. xx
Hello Jan, I love watching your videos, they are so fun and interesting. Keep up your good work and Techniques. You are very Talented.
Many thanks for your kind words, Roxie, I’m so pleased you enjoy my tutorials. Your support is very much appreciated. xx
hallo jan, bedankt voor je goede uitleg. ik heb het ook geprobeerd maar moet nog even oefenen. mag ik vragen welke kleuren jij hebt gebruikt voor de sailing home set? ik vind die kleuren echt heel mooi. maar je krijgt het nooit het zelfde.
hallo jan. ik heb het antwoord al gevonden. sorry had er over heen gelezen .ik las dat het stond tussen de vragen.
Geen zorgen, Manon. xx
Hoi, Manon. Ik kan me voorstellen dat dit degene is waar je het antwoord op hebt weten te vinden? Laat het me weten als je hier nog steeds hulp bij nodig hebt. xx