Extensive Inktense Part 2 Sprays

[@micheleneconradie4997]

Thank you, Karen, for these Inktense tutorials. I have both the pencils and blocks and I love using them. I’ve been hankering after some ink sprays but couldn’t afford them, now I can make some sprays from the blocks! I just happen to have a bunch of spray bottles that I bought at a dollar store some months back. Yaaaay! Thank you for all your tutorials, I really enjoy them. Blessings 🙏

[@KarenBurchill]

Glad it was helpful! I love the INktense blocks...and still use them...although it's been a while and I may need to take them out for a spin or two..thanks for the reminder. Karen

[@kathybrenneman1868]

Hi Karen, Little tips for best results in creating these spray inks. Never use tap water since most treated water has chlorine and fluoride which remove color over time. Since intense is not light-fast once water is added this is a must. When making your spray you should heat a small amount of bottled water to first add to the spray bottle to desolve the ink particles much better. If you do this there is very little sentiment. The water should hot/warm, but not boiling. After the particles have desolved you can fill the spray bottle the rest of the way with room temp bottled water. I know these tips will help you accomplish making a better spay ink. Happy crafting! Kathy B.

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks so much for the finer points to successful creation of sprays....I will definitely try this out. I hope my followers read your comments.

[@CarolReidCA]

Kathy Brenneman Crushing fine with a mortar & pestle or a glass pigment grinder is great too... some pigments can change colors depending on how finely ground, although haven't had that happen with these.

[@lindyl.1219]

Karen, I know that I've thanked you in the past, but I bought the Ink Tense pencils without really knowing what I was getting (newbie!!, lol) you have taught me so very much about them. The one piece of advice I wish I would have known beforehand came from Barb Owen. She said buy the largest size you can afford so you don't get duplicates. I bought the 24 count and now I wish I had the 48 or 72. You had said I could use the pencils the way you use the blocks, so I just saved the shavings from when I sharpened mine. You were right again!

[@KarenBurchill]

Lindy you made my day. I love getting comments especially comments that let me know that the reason I made the videos - to help people- has done just that. The Extensive Inktense series were pretty much my first videos on KZbin so it's very nice to know they are still being watched and enjoyed. Karen

[@lindyl.1219]

Karen, I have watched and re-watched!

[@LynneWilliams101]

When you sprayed various colours through the stencil it had a bit of Ken Oliver's Colour Burst effect that looked rather interesting. Another new thing to try! TFS :)

[@KarenBurchill]

Yes...I just got the entire Ken Oliver Color Sparx line ( put out with TCW) so I will be giving them a try. I think they are similar to the Color Burst ( maybe replaces them) Fun to be had . Karen

[@haleybrown2836]

In regards to spray bottles, I used to order mine from Dick Blick but had very bad luck with them. They never lasted very long. I now order them from e-bay, search word - perfume atomizer. Seems to work fine and I saved money.

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience with spray bottles. Karen

[@Linda-qq5mg]

Thanks Karen, and thanks for giving Lindsay a shout out! I have subscribed to your channel!

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you for subscribing. Karen

[@sadie4479]

I want to purchase them, and your tutorials have been mega helpful! Thank you!

[@KarenBurchill]

I'm glad the videos are useful. the Inktense product are very versatile. I really need to grab mine out again .Karen

[@katluann]

I have the whole inktense line from pencils even the charcoal, skins etc to the inktense bars and they are way too expensive for me to grate them up into a spray. Good info though if I ever decide to make a spray. I use mine to create graphics on cloth then quilt it.

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks for watching. If I do use them to make sprays I make only a little bit and then only in colors I know I will use. K

[@blxvkpxndx]

Yay, I'm also Canadian! This is a great informative video. Thank you I'm looking to go to dollarama tmrw for spray bottles.

[@KarenBurchill]

If they don't have them ask them to bring them in. Where in Canada are you? Thanks for watching.

[@jewellmoebus7976]

The Inktense blocks & pencils have become permanent for me once U wet them on your paper then let them dry. I'm not sure why they lifted on u when used as a spray. Could the lifting have occurred when they were still a bit wet. I've sometimes wished I could lift a spot but was unable to do so. I haven't used them yet as a spray only as in a painting. Let me know please. Jewell

[@KarenBurchill]

Yes Jewell...if they are not completely dry they can lift....I don't use the sprays anymore but love working with my Inktense blocks . My favorite process is to use gel medium to activate the blocks. Karen

[@pouponcrazycat5987]

the Intense blocks are very expensive if you buy them individually. so the best is to grate what you need and put into spray bottles.

[@KarenBurchill]

Totally agree. Since making the sprays I have gotten away from them. I love adding the colors to gesso, gel medium or modeling paste .etc and using it that way. Thanks for watching. Karen

[@katluann]

I just can’t grate them into a spray for me personally because I have just about all inktense makes and it’s just too expensive for me personally and I use mine on cloth then quilt it.

[@TheLakingc]

I use the pencils i bought more for painting. I have gotten into card making heavily, so am very glad i saw this! I will order the blocks... and bottles. I hesitated buying inks and sprays because i knew I had great water color inks and paints that are very intense. I have not used them a while so the watercolors (made like the pencils and permanent when dry) are probably goners, but i will drag them out this week and make backgrounds. Maybe then u will stop buying all the expensive papers! Thank you so much!

[@wendyteague3835]

I'm working on a set of huge butterfly wings. If this is permanent and doesn't come out of fabric when it's dry, do I need a fixative at all? or can I just spray it on where I want and let it dry? Thanks! (Yep - I'm a newbie)

[@KarenBurchill]

Wendy, sounds like an interesting project. I have never worked on fabric other than to color lace to use in a mixed media project. I would test on a scrap piece of material to see if it's permanent. I know I have seen other videos where people are using Inktense blocks on material to make scarves etc. We are all newbies....there are always new things to try out and new ways to use things. Good luck. Karen

[@ceebgee2520]

A serrated steak knife run along the block does a really good job of "grating". A fine edge to the knife is better than coarse but you can try either.

[@KarenBurchill]

Good information for an alternative to grater. Thanks for watching K.

[@NessysSanctuary]

the reason why you are still getting the reactivation is because the ink has to be bone dry as i can only go by what i have seen on our vids you definitely need more drying time i have just bought a set after watching loads of vids but yours was the one that helped me make the decision lol i make sure my ink is DRY DRY and i tested it just to make sure hope this helps

[@KarenBurchill]

+madhatters crafts Thanks for the tip. I hope you enjoy your Inktense blocks. Thanks for watching. Karen

[@cathypeters8346]

Hi Karen, I brought in the upc off of the package to my dollar store and they were able to order in a couple of cases of the strayer sets in for me. They are the exact ones you have. I was wondering if you know where to buy the Derwent Inktense pencils in Canada for a reasonable price. I am in B.C. Cathy

[@KarenBurchill]

+Cathy Peters Hi Cathy, I ordered mine through Amazon.ca . Right now the best deal - is the 72 set for 67.97 with free shipping. The prices at Amazon fluctuate quite a bit. If you want you can put it in your cart and every time you log in you will be told if the price has changed. Watch out though for shipping charges. The only other place would be Michaels with a 50% off coupon. I found a better and cheaper way to make homemade sprays using Wilton Color for icing. I have a video about it if you want to check that out before you make Inktense sprays. I will make a spray with my blocks only if I need a more specific color.

[@deborahlynch980]

you can buy the little bottles empty at Walmart in the travel size section.

[@KarenBurchill]

+Deborah Lynch Thank you. Always good to know additional sources. Karen

[@artzology]

Thanks so much Karen! Great ideas! I am also in Canada, what dollar store did you find these bottles at as we have Dollarama too!

[@KarenBurchill]

artzology I have not found these at Dollarama. Our local dollar store is simply called Dollar Store. Many of the same products in both. These come in a package of 2 in the craft section. You can buy them in a set with other types of bottles in cosmetic section- but that costs too much LOL>

[@TerrieJohnson731]

I have already decided to do this! I almost bought Jaquard Alcohol Inks in a set for 20.00- so glad I didnt. I am making alcohol inks. 50% will have water so it should work well and is at the dollar store. I think, well I am sure, that alcohol will be faster drying on my papers, and I dont like overwetting.

[@KarenBurchill]

Good luck and enjoy. Karen

[@Hardrock1a]

Using a micro grater would probably help with making a finer grind.

[@KarenBurchill]

Yes you are exactly right. I''ve upgraded since the video. Thanks for watching. Karen

[@jlm517rocks]

Could you add matte medium or air brush medium maybe 50/50 to water or leas water to make it perm?

[@KarenBurchill]

I have no experience adding those things....give it a try and see. If I make sprays again I will use India Ink which is permanent then don't have to add anything . Karen

[@mmharman]

What fixative do you suggest using with these? Thanks for sharing your experiments!

[@KarenBurchill]

Marilyn , I don't use any fixative. I have used mod podge or gel medium over them and if you are very careful not to rub too much they won't reactivate. If you heat set it they are less likely to reactivate. Any spray fixative will work. I just avoid them due to my chemical sensitivity. Karen

[@TheLakingc]

What happened with the alcohol?

[@KarenBurchill]

In the end I didn’t continue to make sprays as I don’t like the mess of them.

[@TheLakingc]

@KarenBurchill 😄 good to know. Is it all sprays? What about other sprays i see for sale, like on Crafter's Companion?

[@janetbaker3616]

Sprayed tissue paper would be pretty used in gift bags, boxes, or baskets. I'm going to watch #3 right now.

[@KarenBurchill]

Janet Baker great idea for using the tissue paper

[@bonnieleaisaac]

What kind of fixative would you recommend? I'm new to art journaling :)

[@KarenBurchill]

Krylon has some fixatives that work well.These need to be sprayed in well ventilated - outside area. I use SpectraFix due to my sensitivities to chemical/scents. It can be sprayed indoors as it is all natural. It is of course more expensive. Keep in mind you only have to "fix" it in place if you want to put something on top of it OR if you are sealing the whole page/project. I often don't seal all my pages/projects unless I am selling or framing etc. Karen

[@CarolReidCA]

bonnieleaisaac Hairspray can work, although Krylon is preferable. They have matte, pearl & glossy finishes... Every one has it's uses!

[@naomiwashburn358]

Wouldn't using rubbing alcohol make alcohol ink?

[@KarenBurchill]

I'm not sure what it takes to make alcohol ink. I did read though that you shouldn't inhale rubbing alcohol which is why I don't add alcohol. Karen.

[@kerryd59]

How well did they work when you used the alcohol?

[@KarenBurchill]

kerryd59 I realized that I didn’t want to breathe in alcohol fumes so don’t add alcohol. 4 years later I don’t use sprays in my art a lot

[@JR-kc3rc]

i listened to Derwent website and they said not for synthetic fabric? what is your experience?

[@KarenBurchill]

Sorry Joanna I've only used them on paper. If I remember correctly I saw a video where they used them on silk ( for scarves). Karen

[@macCALICOmac]

The water is probably over saturated so what comes out isn't going to set, since it hasn't fully dissolved. Maybe. Haha

[@KarenBurchill]

Good theory Pippa. Thanks for watching

[@lisadudkiewicz324]

They just aren’t bright enough

[@KarenBurchill]

Yes , when compared to Dylusions and others these are weaker...I tend to mix up just what I need for a project and "paint" the color on not use sprayer.....Thanks for watching. Karen