Issues With Gamsol...

[Eriberry]

So recently I went to Hobby Lobby and found that I can in fact buy some open stock Prismacolor Colored Pencils (still expensive, but I only got what I needed for the project I was doing - 4 colors in total). But I found as I started doing this that the ink was running and the the paper was becoming translucent in places. After a quick fix of taping a piece of cream cardstock behind the original image you couldn't really tell, but I'm still disappointed this didn't work well for me. I used a cheap Michael's brand pigment embossing ink (the name escapes me at the moment and a google search was no help) and let it dry for more than 24 hours before I even attempted to color this in and the ink still ran. I'm wondering what I did wrong, or if I needed to heat set it or actually use embossing powder with it, or perhaps move up to a higher quality ink? Any suggestions or ideas?

P.S. I don't know if this matters any (to me paper is paper and ink is ink) but I used sketch pad paper, I like it because I can stamp my images in it and take it with me and color them no matter where I go.

[pbft]

My first recommendation is to use a dye ink, not pigment. Anymore, I use mostly Memento Tuxedo Black, which I have in one of the little teardrop shaped pads. Once it's dry (which takes no time at all), I've never had it smear with Gamsol or alcohol-based art markers. Another good basic dye ink is Memories black. I don't often get to Hobby Lobby, but last I knew they carried the Memories pads. Maybe they have Memento now, too?

Also, if I'm remembering correctly, the sketch pad paper is quite lightweight? I would use cardstock as opposed to a paper. Even the Georgia-Pacific white cardstock from the office supply aisle at WalMart performs well with the Gamsol technique and doesn't soak through so quickly - and you get a lot of cardstock for not much money! The Gamsol does evaporate and "disappear" even with the lightweight paper, but I prefer it not to soak and spread so much. Hope this helps!

[babyclaire]

Check out this site.... heartprints.net
SusieB (SCS) or also known as Sue has an amazing site for all things that are prisma pencils and gamsol. Her cards are amazing and she has tutorials on her coloring techniques. You will be amazed at her gallery. Sue does samples of her cards for a store in Greenville Michigan called Arnies..... IT's worth the trip to Michigan just to see that. o ~~ Carol

[Eriberry]

Thanks (to both of you!) I'll be sure to check that out, maybe I should be using cardstock. Thanks especially for that ink tip! I'm not sure what Hobby Lobby has but if they don't there's a Michaels less than a mile away so not too much work to go check there too! Thanks a boat load!

[cakhuxel]

Thanks for sharing this web site. She has some adorable cards, the style I like with little animals and cuties. I enjoyed the tutorial. Thanks again.
-c

[craftjunkiesc]

Another great ink is Ranger Archival Inks. It comes in a range of colors and I believe it's sold at Hobby Lobby. Never had an issue with it bleeding when I use Gamsol.

[cakhuxel]

I use Archival and Memento. They are both nice and affordable, but I think Memento is bolder.
-c

[kphorse]

VersaFine works with Gamsol also, but you really do need a better cardstock, it helps in blending as well as your other issues...GP works wonderful!

[Inkin One]

I agree that maybe the issue was with your paper. With that said I have used Gamsol in my sketch book with out an issue..but are you using recycled paper? That is sometimes more porous than card stock or even a regular sketch pad. If you like the ease of coloring in your sp, I would suggest getting a good quality one from Canson or Strathmore in Bristol paper as it is very smooth and heavy enough to handle the liquid but yet light enough to use on a card as well. I use it all the time for images that require a little more color and blending ..

[Minneapple]

I have found it helpful to use paper with sufficient "tooth" to capture the wax in the pencils so that the Gamsol can sink in that "tooth". I heat set any image before using Gamsol and my images never run. You don't need to use embossing ink. Dye ink works fine. Use your printer on the draft setting to put as little ink on the paper as possible, therefore, less to run. Ordinary inkjet printers work fine. I use Walmart cardstock, 110 lb. Perfect. Sometimes, I use watercolor paper, works fine too.

[cherbear49908]

I have successfully used the SU Naturals White and Ivory for this technique and have found baby oil to be the perfect medium rather than Gamsol or mineral spirits, smells pretty and much safer!