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Alcohol Ink: Stunning Jewelry Dishes to Make and Gift

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Alcohol ink jewelry dishes are easy to create and make beautiful handmade gifts. Caution: you may become obsessed with this creative art.

Alcohol ink jewelry dishes are easy to create, and make beautiful handmade gifts.

I’m a big proponent of making gifts for the holidays. I enjoy making them and I think most people enjoy receiving them. Little dishes are always useful in the home. I love using them for my earrings at the end of the day. Originally I thought about using sharpies with alcohol to make pretty dishes but then I ran across alcohol ink.

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Ceramic dishes decorated with alcohol inks.

Alcohol Ink Jewelry Dishes

Supplies

Ceramic dishes
Alcohol Inks
Canned Air
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 91%
Cotton Swabs
Protective Spray Gloss or Rangers Multi Medium

 

Alcohol ink jewelry dish flower center

If you haven’t tried alcohol inks yet, you are in for a treat. I love the transparent look they have, somewhat like very intense watercolors. I played around the many techniques and patterns you can easily create with these beautiful paints, but my favorite (no surprise) is making flowers. 

Alcohol ink flower petals with compressed air.

How to Make Alcohol Ink Jewelry Dishes:

  • Wear old clothes and protect your working surface. This stuff is wonderful but messy.
  • Clean your dishes with rubbing alcohol. 
  • Then place one drop of ink in the center and watch it bloom.
  • Place the second drop on top. I used the gold for the second drop but you can experiment with different colors.
  • Next, choose a color for the petals.
  • Place a drop just outside the center of the flower and use the canned air to shoot the ink up and out making a petal.
  • Continue around with this color creating petals or add another color, in between, over top, the fun never ends.
  • Note: Don’t like what you see? Use a paper towel and the rubbing alcohol to remove it and start over. 
  • When you are all done wait a day and give it a couple of coats of varnish to protect your masterpiece.

 

Completed jewelry dish with alcohol inks.

I ended up using a whole can of air to make twelve dishes, including experimenting and starting over a couple of times.

Floral jewelry dish made with alcohol inks.

This may be my favorite, but that’s probably because I’m partial to blue.

12 flower alcohol ink jewelry dishes

There were so many combinations to create with the kit I purchased but if you have a specific color combo in mind you can easily find it. For example, this set did not have a red, and maybe you want to make a Christmas themed flower or dish. 

Black and gold floral alcohol ink dish

I even made one with the ever popular black and gold Steeler colors. We may have a fight over this one.

Ceramic dishes decorated with alcohol inks.

These will be just one of the fun gifts I’ll give out during the holidays to my friends and family. Now I’m thinking about what else I can make with these fabulous inks.

Alcohol Ink FAQs

  1. One subscriber said that the spray gloss made her ink run. Though I did not have this problem I found another source which uses Rangers Multi-medium to protect the inks. I bought it but had trouble with brush marks so, for now, I’ll stick with the spray but it’s another option.

Update: A few readers below were kind enough to suggest the following sealing options that worked well for them.

Jennifer: “Krylon Triple-thick Crystal Clear Glaze works for me.”

Debbie: “Use the Krylon Kamar sealant (2 coats). It doesn’t have alcohol in it and won’t reactivate the ink.”

Lucysky: “I have used the triple clear and the Kamar varnish for sealing.  I have also had success with Rustoleum clear enamel gloss.”

  • My girlfriends and I made alcohol ink trivets. They were so fun but I wanted to mention that one of my friends got a little ink on her sweater. Aerosol hairspray did a good job of getting it out.
  • Someone asked if these alcohol ink dishes were food safe. I could not find anything that says they are so I would not use them for food. 
  • I also would not put them in the dishwasher. If they are used as jewelry dishes they should not need much cleaning. However, you should be able to hand wash them.

Patti signature

P.S. You may also like this post using alcohol inks to Marble Paper or this one about Using Alcohol Inks on Metal. Finally, during the holidays you can make Alcohol Ink Ornaments for the tree. Find these and many more fun ideas on my DIY/Projects Page.

 

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About Patti Estep

Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Patti Estep says

      What fun Sylvia! Definitely send me pics and don’t forget that you can use the rubbing alcohol to remove the ink if you don’t like your first attempt and start again.

      Reply

  2. lucysky says

    I have used the triple clear and the kamar varnish for sealing. I have also had success with rustoleum clear enamel gloss. The flowers are lovely!

    Reply

  3. Tina mae says

    These are gorgeous and I have worked on tiles but never little bowls! I’m having a hard time with sealing them, I have waited the 24hrs and still get my ink running and loosing the shape. I used Gloss Americana spray sealant, and I’m thinking it’s not the right one to use. What varnish do you use and recommend?

    Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      I used Krylon K01305 Gallery Series Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol, 11-Ounce, UV-Resistant Clear Gloss from Amazon. There’s a link in the post. I have also tried Ranger Multi Medium Jar with Built in Brush, 1-Ounce, Gloss but it I felt like you could see the brush strokes.

      Ranger is an alcohol ink manufacturer. That’s why I tried their product. I found the Krylon spray by reading other articles on alcohol ink. Many use this spray. I have not had any trouble with the Krylon spray, though I believe there is at least one other comment in here who had the same issue as you did. Try lightly spraying them at least 12 inches away. If that works wait an hour and give them a second coat.

      Reply

  4. Meg says

    Hi. Thanks for the great idea. I ordered the exact materials you suggested and followed the instructions. However, when I went to spray them, the ink ran and all pooled together even though the ink had been dry for about a week before I sprayed them. Wondering if this happened to anyone else or if there is a better spray to use?

    Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      I’m so sorry that your project did not work out. This did not happen to me and I made many of those dishes, I also made some large trivets with my friends a few months later. The only thing that comes to mind is, could you have possibly sprayed the protective varnish too close to the ink? Also, I don’t know if it’s very humid where you are, and I don’t know if that would even matter, but I made both of my projects during the winter.

      Reply

      • Rosy Newlun says

        Hi, Patti – these are absolutely brilliant! I love them. As for one of the commenter replying that the alcohol ink ran when she tried to finish it, it could be the finish spray she was using had alcohol in it. They are extremely reactive and even on paper cards which we use them on, we can change the look by dropping alcohol on them at a later date. I hope that helps 🙂 and thank you again for the project inspiration!

      • Debbie says

        Use the Krylon Kamar sealant (2 coats). It doesn’t have alcohol in it and won’t reactivate the ink.

  5. Joy says

    Wow, these dishes are fabulous. Can I do this on the pendant necklace? I want to paint the engraved necklace I got from this personalized necklaces web: jewelrypersonalizer.com . Do you think it is possible to paint it like the dish? And what do I need to do this.

    Reply

  6. Yolie says

    Has your Alcohol ink chipped or faded? I was just wondering how well the ink held up since using them to hold jewelry. Thank you! They are beautiful!

    Reply

  7. Maryl says

    Loved your dishes so wanted to make my own! Tried your method but had difficulty getting similar results so I improvised!!! By using either a paintbrush or a small felt square, you have better control over placement! Keep up the great work 😊

    Reply

  8. Laura Chipman says

    These are amazing! I was curious, do you think a preschooler could help make these? I teach preschool and these would be an amazing Mother’s day gift. If I did it with them, do you think these would work?

    Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      Hi Laura,

      I really not sure. I have never worked with preschoolers. You may want to try it first yourself. They are pretty messy and I used a lot of rubbing alcohol while making them. I would be worried about suggesting the use of these with small children. You May want to contact the manufacturer about their safety. I found this link which may be helpful from one of the manufacturers where you can ask. http://rangerink.com/contact-ranger/

      Reply

  9. Star Vesely says

    Patti, what size dish did you use? They have several sizes on Amazon! These will make a fun Birthday project for the girls to make all together!

    Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      Hi Star,

      There’s a link to the exact dishes I bought on the post. They were small like 3 inches I believe.

      I gave them as Christmas gifts and everyone loved them. I think your idea of a birthday project would be great. A little messy so make sure you project the surface and clothes. The ink came off my hands with rubbing alcohol but you could wear gloves too. Have Fun!

      Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      Hi Kathy,

      The blue one is my favorite too.

      I bought the dishes on Amazon. There’s a link directly to them in the materials link.

      The great thing about this project is that you can easily wipe the slate (dish) clean if you mess up.

      I did go through an entire can of air but ended up with 12 dishes.

      Enjoy!

      Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      Hi Camille,

      These were designed to be used as trinket or jewelry dishes so they are perfectly fine to use. I did coat them with a spray finish to protect the ink. I’m not sure about washing them. I’m sure that they could be lightly handed washed if needed or wiped if they got very dusty. If you are considering using them for sauces I’d do my research first to see if the ink is food safe. Hope that helps.

      Reply

  12. Teresa Sathoff says

    I want to try this! You mentioned a kit, do they come in kits? Do you sell the kits? Thank you!! Terry

    Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      Hi Teresa,
      The kit I mentioned was just the variety pack of inks. Everything I bought has a link to where I bought them. They are affiliate links which means I receive a very small commission. The price is the same for you whether you link through this site or not. However, I believe you can also find most of these items at craft stores. The little ceramic dishes are used for individual sauces which you may find in the kitchen section of your local department store. Have fun the alcohol inks. I can’t wait to come up with another project using them.

      Reply

    • Patti Estep says

      Hi Victoria,

      I’m so glad you like the jewelry dishes. The black and gold always reminds me of The Steelers being a Pittsburgher, however, I can also see it as a classy piece for jewelry in a more modern setting.

      Reply

  17. Cathy Lillie says

    Each dish is like a little work of art! I’ve never used alcohol inks before, but this just might be the inspiration I need to get started. Great gift idea!

    Reply

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