Stamping with Alcohol

Janette Kausen

Stamping with alcohol... I'm talking the isopropyl type here friends! Today, I am featuring the Loving Swans stamp that takes center stage above a Leafy Vines alcohol stamped background.

To begin, I stamped Loving Swans in Intense Black Copic friendly ink. I then used a touch of grey marker to add depth to the shadowed areas of the swans. I fussy cut the swans omitting the waterlilies and water marks. The waterlilies can be saved for another project.

Next, I Copic airbrushed the background beginning with a deep purple at the bottom up through sunset colors to a lemon yellow. I filled my Water Mist Bottle with good ol' rubbing alcohol and lightly sprayed over the Leafy Vines stamp and pressed it to the background. I let it sit for a moment to allow the alcohol to do its magic. I'm sure that alcohol is not recommended for our cling stamps, but after one use, I've experienced no adverse effects.

Once the background was dry I trimmed it to 4 1/4" x 4" and adhered it to a Snow Layering paper A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") card base. I added a 1/4" Black Midnight Layering paper accent and popped the swans up with dimensional adhesive once I had stamped Three Tiny Hearts and the sentiment from the adorable Cherubs stamp set. For the final touch I applied Nuvo Crystal Glaze over the hearts for shine and dimension.

My New Year's resolutions include learning to create with techniques I am currently unfamiliar with or intimidated by. Tell me, do yo have crafty resolutions too? 

xo, 


  • Karthikha Uday

    Wowwww!! That’s a gorgeous card!! Totally love all the effects!!

  • Jackie Price

    What a gorgeous card!! I love the look of the alcohol stamped vines. It gives it just a soft look. Such a great idea!! And your swans are coloured so beautifully. A crafty resolution for this year is going to be to think outside the box with how I use my supplies and to try new techniques!

  • Sharon Gullikson

    I would like to try new things, too. I love to go places I’ve never been, so why not try new crafting techniques?

  • Karen Hale

    Beautiful card, Janette. Thanks for sharing this great technique. I, too, have resolved to try new things in the New Year and use the stamps and dies I have in new ways. Happy Creating!

  • Henriëtte

    Its gorgeous, thanks for the idea. I don’t have Copics or other alcohol markers but I think with water you can do dit also on Distress ink backgrounds.

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