How To Make a Stenciled Watercolor Jewelry Tray Using Alcohol Inks

Stenciled Watercolor Tray 

Using alcohol inks, you can create a beautiful stenciled glass or ceramic plate or tile that looks as if it were permanent watercolor. I have only just learned how to use alcohol inks and how versatile they are aside from scrapbooking, which is the section you will find them in a craft store. Watercolor is an amazingly beautiful medium. I love how the colors blend together, swirling into gorgeous pools that look like clouds of smoke, but unfortunately it isn't something you can achieve as well on glass.

Since glass painting is one of my hobbies I was excited to discover the incredible similarities. Think of alcohol inks as crafty food-coloring-style paints. Think of them as your new favorite thing ever, because they totally will be! On to the tutorial!

You'll need: 

- Alcohol inks (I used Tim Holtz Adirondack from  Joann's, there are various others at Michael's, etc.

- Alcohol ink "blending medium"... or just rubbing alcohol! 

- A few q-tips and paper towels or tissues

- A glass or ceramic plate, bowl, or platter. This one is from Target. 

- A peel-and-stick stencil. I used vinyl cut with my Silhouette

Wipe your plate with alcohol to clean then wipe dry. Apply your stencil. My plate had a slight curve in it and this will prove a slight challenge with applying a stencil that takes up the entire surface. Drop it down and pat the center down gently and work out from there. 

The effect above is more sheer and controlled. I achieved this by lightly applying a very sheer amount of alcohol to the surface and then dropping the tiniest bit of ink, watching it spread, and applying more or coaxing it with a alcohol dampened qtip end. 

If you're a little more like me and want lots of color and the bleeding to occur organically, I applied drops of ink throughout the plate and sat and waited for them to bleed and blend together. It is definitely mesmerizing to watch. 

While it was already gorgeous, what really gives it that incredible watercolor look is the exposed white and negative areas created by dripping alcohol onto the surface. I literally dipped the end of a q-tip into alcohol and spattered it onto the surface. Careful not to apply TOO much, you can always apply more if you're not satisfied and if you apply too much in the beginning it can flood in one area and blend all of the colors together into a soupy brown. If you want really stark dots, wait for the ink to dry a bit (it takes just a few minutes) then apply the alcohol. You can dab it with a tissue or paper towel for a different effect. 

You can also apply the inks and dab them around with the paper towel in the beginning for a much lighter touch and finish. This is a great project and all you need to do is seal it. While it isn't food safe (your fork or knife would scratch the surface) I used Martha Stewart's Glossy Decoupage Medium to cover mine and after a 28 day curing process it is top-rack dishwasher safe. I'm using mine for chunking jewelry into at the end of the day. You can try this technique on vases, tile coasters, the possibilities are endless! I love alcohol inks and pairing them with the Silhouette really makes for a unique and limitless project.