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Search the archive, three years of Inklings.
Ask the Artist
Our Artist in Residence, Dina Kowal, answers your questions
November 15, 2023
Q: Sara asks: "How are you using your water based dye inks?"
A: There are so many ways to use them! Dye inks are bright, crisp, and transparent, so they're great for solid and outline stamps. Since they are water soluble, the inks can be used for watercoloring - this is how I use them most. You can stamp an outline and blend it out with a wet brush for a soft watercolored look, tap some ink onto an acrylic block to use as a paint palette, or press cardstock into misted ink for a 'smooshed' background. Dye inks are also great for brushing, brayering, and blending, and they are ideal for resist technique with wax and embossing images. You can even apply your inkpad directly to paper. Here are some tutorials in our archive using dye inks to get you started - you can use 'dye ink' as a keyword in our tutorial section to find more!
Direct To Paper (DTP)
Sponge & Spritz
Wet Paper Watercoloring
Stamped Brayer Blending
Wrinkle Free Distress
Direct To Paper (DTP)
Sponge & Spritz
Wet Paper Watercoloring
Stamped Brayer Blending
Wrinkle Free Distress
November 8, 2023
Q: Jessi asks: "What is the one "theme" or sentiment or product you have a hard time resisting?"
A: I have several collections but a predominating theme in my stamp library is nature, My biggest category is floral stamps - according to Evernote there are over 900 stamps, digis, dies, and stencils with that tag! I also have a collection of special vintage wood mount stamps... I am always on the hunt for Nancy Cole's sentimental images of sweet children in nature (Stamps Happen and Inkadinkado), and I can't get enough of Stampa Barbara's anthropomorphic frogs!
November 1, 2023
Q: Mandy asks: "Where can I find some tutorials for gift card holders?"
A: We have several in our tutorial section! Here are some favorites:
Triple Pocket Twist Card
Gift Card Wallet
Center Step Gift Card
Ice Cream Sandwich Box
Twisted Card
Coffee Gift Card
Triple Pocket Twist Card
Gift Card Wallet
Center Step Gift Card
Ice Cream Sandwich Box
Twisted Card
Coffee Gift Card
October 25, 2023
Q: Debbie writes: "I love the idea of the 3" x 3" Notecard Tote! Could you adjust the measurements for 5" x 5" cards?"
A: Let's figure out how to make it work for any size cards! I'll add these instructions and measurements for A2 and 5" x 5" cards to the tutorial page.
For the piece in Step 1 of the tutorial, the width will be the width of your cards plus 1/4". The length of this piece will be 2 times the height of your card plus 1 1/2" (that adds 1" for the bottom and 1/4" of height to each side of the tote). Score at [card height plus 1/4"] from each end.
The length of the piece in Step 5 will be the same as the perimeter of the bottom of the tote, 2 times the width plus 2". Subtract 1" from the score measurement above for the width of this piece.
Make the first score line at 1/2 the width of the tote, the next line 1" over, the next line the full width of the tote, then again 1" over.
For the piece in Step 1 of the tutorial, the width will be the width of your cards plus 1/4". The length of this piece will be 2 times the height of your card plus 1 1/2" (that adds 1" for the bottom and 1/4" of height to each side of the tote). Score at [card height plus 1/4"] from each end.
The length of the piece in Step 5 will be the same as the perimeter of the bottom of the tote, 2 times the width plus 2". Subtract 1" from the score measurement above for the width of this piece.
Make the first score line at 1/2 the width of the tote, the next line 1" over, the next line the full width of the tote, then again 1" over.
October 18, 2023
Q: Emma wants to know: " I'm getting an impression of the cut lines from my die cutting plates on my paper. How can I avoid this?"
A: Thanks for the reminder that I need new plates! When the cut lines start to leave marks on the cardstock, you can lay a sheet of text weight or parchment paper between the die and top plate. When you get new plates keep the top one free from cuts, and face the cutting side of the dies down into the lower plate. I cut into a metal plate, but a self-healing mat might be a good option for you as well.
