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Search the archive, three years of Inklings.
Ask the Artist
Our Artist in Residence, Dina Kowal, answers your questions
December 4, 2019
Q: Amy asks: "What would you use to preserve newspaper articles for an album?"
A: My inclination would be to scan the articles at a high resolution on archival paper - that way you'd avoid any yellowing of the paper, and be sure that the memories are preserved.
November 27, 2019
Q: Kristina asks: "You've mentioned a sharpener that has an adjustable point length. is there a difference in the “long” sharp vs “short” sharp?"
A: The handheld sharpener I use is HERE - I love it. Because of the angle of the sharpener, the shorter setting creates a wider base to a shorter point so there's less pressure on the tip when you press down to color. Also less of the core is exposed to the blade, so there's less chance of the core or wood 'catching' and breaking while you're sharpening.
November 20, 2019
Q: Tinytoes4 asks: "I love the look of the acetate card but often wonder what glue is the best, because it will be seen from the inside. Do you recommend double sided tape?"
A: I feel like I get the best hold with double sided tape... when I make acetate cards I usually make the Acetate Tent Card so the back is concealed inside the tent. For regular folded cards, I adhere an identical die cut to the inside of the acetate panel so the tape is hidden.
November 13, 2019
Q: Susie asks: "How do you adhere beautiful napkins to candles?"
A: I have done this in the past with stamped tissue paper, and it looks like the process is the same! Separate the napkin layers so you only have the top printed sheet. Cut it to the size needed to wrap around your candle - you can secure it lightly with a little glue if needed. Using your heat tool, slowly and evenly heat the surface of the candle until the wax melts enough to absorb into the napkin. Rotate the candle and continue heating until you've got the whole napkin adhered. You can use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface as needed.
November 6, 2019
Q: Michele asks: "Have you made shrink plastic images for embellishments? What ink and markers do you use and how much does the image shrink?"
A: It's been a while, but I have done it! Plan on your finished embellishment being about 1/3 of the size of the original (results may vary depending on the brand). An artist friend of mine uses colored pencils on her shrink art earrings, so that is a great option for the kind of plastic that has a little texture to it. Alcohol markers are a great coloring medium to use as well. If you're using the clear shrink plastic, you can stamp in Stazon or another solvent ink on one side and color on the opposite side, and you won't have to worry about the inks interacting. A hybrid ink would be a good option for opaque plastic.
