How To Make Alcohol Ink

Has your child or even you ever lost the cap to a marker? And what a shame the whole thing just dries up and goes to waste. Well not anymore! it can become your very own homemade alcohol ink in just a few simple steps. Alcohol ink is wonderful for distressing paper, creating lovely backgrounds, stamping, calligraphy, and so much more. It can become expensive. So being able to make your own with something that would be headed for the bin otherwise is a huge win. Especially after you create something beautiful with it. You can check out my article "How to dye paper with alcohol ink".

1) Take apart the marker. Most markers can easily be unscrewed at the top or bottom. If not, you may need to use a strong scissor or utility knife to crack it open.

2) Harvest the inky felt tube in the center of the marker. Find some small containers with tight fitting lids. I like to use the small condiment containers. Cost effective, efficient, reusable. The next time you are at the salad or salsa bar, throw a stack in your purse or pocket.

3) Add rubbing alcohol. You can use 70 or 91%. They will yield the same results. ​Do not use green alcohol, as this will effect the outcome of the color. Add more alcohol to the solution for a more transparent result, less for more opaque. Depending on how dried up the maker had become will also effect how thick the end solution will become

4) Lastly, just snap on the lid and store for as long as you'd like or use right away. Notice in the image below, the dark and green purple. They had been soaking for months. When compared to the others surrounding it had been done moments before hand.