Sunday 20 August 2017

2017 Topic12: Hybrid Inks {Intro and Challenge}

 2017 Topic 12: Hybrid inks

Shirley Bee
Well hello everyone, Darcy here to introduce another new topic, this time we are are entering the exciting world of hybrid inks. These are relatively new to the market but are becoming increasingly popular as more information and techniques are discovered.

Before we start, let's see who won the Topic 11: Books Challenge...

The winner is: Chris  from pearshapedcrafting


Email Darcy to claim your prize. Darcydotneedles@gmail.com


There are several hybrid brands on the market, this evening we will look at just a few, exploring their properties and what can be achieved. 

First up we have Nuvo Hybrid inks from Tonic Studios, their hybrid qualities are in the composition of the ink. They are a hard felt pad containing permanent pigment ink. These inks are very fast drying, so not really for creating backgrounds, however very useful for colouring edges. They are not too opaque so can be layered. 

These inks do not react to water so they are ideal for stamping images that are to be coloured with watercolour paints, water soluble pencils, distress inks etc. The inks do not smudge, meaning you cam also use these inks alongside alcohol pens such as Copics and Promarkers. This is their key feature, an ink that doesn't bleed, and you don't need to heat set either. Of course, you can use cut 'n' dry foam to create soft backgrounds with your blending tool too, this will produce permanent backgrounds, and is a nice idea through stencils.

Available in 6 kind of soft country-colours that all work well together, it's a solid versatile ink that gives a nice sharp image, and the black is a really good black too, plus a yummy grey ...everyone loves grey ink these days!  So our summary is a good all-rounder ink if you are new to stamping. 

Here the image has been stamped with black nuvo ink and then coloured with alcohol markers. 
Lou Sims
Here Paula has used one of her favourite techniques of combining water based inks with the nuvo inks stamped over the top. 
Paula Pascual
They can be used on multiple surfaces, not just paper, however surfaces such as vellum, acetate and fabric do need to be heat set. There are 6 colours (black, brown, grey, green, red, purple-ish blue available plus a clear ink that can be used for embossing. 

Next we have the Palette Hybrid inks from Stewart Superior, these are described as the ultimate all purpose ink pad that comes in fine art colours. The main plus point to these inks, is that they work on all surfaces. This eliminates the confusion over which ink pad to use and also cuts down the expense of separate inks for each surface. 

These inks also dry quickly on paper but must be heat set on glossy surfaces and fabrics. There is a huge selection of colours( including metallic)  plus a clear pad for embossing. These inks too can be used with watercolour, meaning you can colour in all your stamped images. 

Katie Renz
Here the Palette ink has been used on a ceramic plant pot. 

Bluediamond
Another hybrid ink is from My Favourite Things, these too are fast drying, waterproof, can be used with alcohol markers and can be used on many surfaces with some needed to be heat set to become permanent. 

Look at this wonderful scruffy pooch, stamped in MFT hybrid ink and then coloured with Copics and coloured pencils. 

Jane
This lovely summery card has been created using MFT hybrid inks for the outlines, then the colour was added using Peerless watercolour paints. 

Kay Miller
The above inks all work in the same way, but it is useful to know there are options if you cannot find one specific brand. Now let's have a look at the latest inks from Ranger. 

Distress Oxides
These inks are a completely different type of 'hybrid' (as you know, hybrid means a mix of 2 or more feature'. Oxides are (like all distress products) water reactive, so no surprises there, but this is a pigment AND dye ink fusion. (the original distress inks are dye inks). So the Oxide inks do everything you can do with the original distress plus MORE.

When sprayed with water the ink produces an oxidised effect (which kind of means they go chalky-lookig and a bit matte). The oxide inks are perfect to create really interesting backgrounds. The inks kind of puddle up when blobs of water are flicked onto the surface, then as you dry those puddles you get cool defined watermarks as they dry, as well as the chalky-oxide look. It's all depends on how much ink and how much water you apply. 

The other massive difference with these is that the pigment ink in them is super creamy. You can blend with your fingers or a tool, apply through stencils super easily, you can layer ink over ink (with FULL opacity) so if you hate what you have made you can obliterate and layer so very easily. Pigment inks also are slow-dry, so you can emboss these too, and you will get a sharp image, so great for quotes, and feature image stamping. 

Finally, as the opacity is massive, you can also use these onto DARK card stock, craft card, black card, coloured card...so you are NOT restricted in oyur starting point. Also we find they are awesome with infusions, and over Fresco chalk paint! 

Distress Oxide inks are now (Aug 2017) available in 24 colours. 

There are many many techniques to be had with these, so we recommend you start with 3 colours, light, mid tone and dark, and build from there. There is nothing like this out there, so have a go!

Here is Tim Holtz showing the new colours with a couple of short demos at the end of the video. 



Here Alison has created a wonderful landscape background using these inks. 

Alison Bomber
A stunning tag now showing just how well the oxides work on a dark background. 


Jan
Next a really fresh and clean card using oxides to create a blended background and then topped with white embossing powder. 


Lin 
Another great introduction video, this time from Jennifer McGuire, this video was made before the second release of colours, in this video she also shows the difference between Distress inks and Oxides. 


These cards employ the glazed resist technique, adding the glaze through a stencil first and then adding ink. 


Cheiron Brandon
The super vibrant colours of oxides really make these hearts pop off the front of this card. 


Jenn
In stark contrast these cards were made from a watered down masterboard, the colours are much more delicate and do in fact look just like watercolour paint washes. Very delicate and beautiful. 


Brenda Brown 

A final video, again from Jennifer McGuire, here she makes galaxy backgrounds. 



Don't forget to follow Darcy and Leandra's Pinterest boards if this topic pushes your buttons, you will see plenty more examples to whet your appetite there! 
I am really looking forward to seeing what you create over the next 2 weeks!

~ Darcy



We hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. Our bloggers deeply appreciate your comments so much, so please take time to let them know you've been inspired! Why not join our challenge by blogging your interpretation of the current topic and link it here?

The current topic link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Sept 3rd 2017, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store.






Challenge Guidelines
  • The challenge is a for you to show how you are inspired by the current blog topic. We encourage you to play with us and explore your personal creative style.
  • Please mention which PA blog post inspired you and and why (link directly to that post). Please don't link to the home page of your blog because then no-one can track back to easily find the original post.
  • We prefer your challenge blog post is created exclusive to our challenge, but if our topic fits perfectly with another challenge, then you may link to both if appropriate.
  • You are most welcome to use stamps/ products/ substrates you have to hand from a variety of companies, we do not expect you to exclusively use PA products - it's lovely when you do though!
  • You can enter as many times as you like. We don't want to restrict your creativity! 
NB. Link closes at 17:00 Sunday Sept 3rd   (London Time)

Prize: The winner will receive a £50 credit voucher to be redeemed on the PaperArtsy Website. The credit voucher includes VAT and postage. We request that one of your purchases is an A5 rubber stamp. You can add any other items to your basket, but the final total should not exceed £50. It's your responsibility to claim your prize coupon from Darcy. 
email: darcydotneedles@gmail.com

NEW Challenge/ winner: Each fortnight on Sunday, the winner will be announced at 19:00 (London time). In the same post, the link for the next fortnight will be posted. 

Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

24 comments:

Helen said...

Who knew there were so many different hybrid inks! Well done Chris on your prize.

Shabneez said...

A very informative blog post. I used and bought Distress Oxides and Infusions today at Stamperama so I'm all set to enter your challenge!

Artmadnana said...

Well done Chris, so pleased for you! I need to practise a little more with my oxides!

Artmadnana said...

Well done Chris, so pleased for you! I need to practise a little more with my oxides!

Miriam said...

Fabulous topic.... Great inspiration Darcy.

Well done Chris....

rachel said...

well done Chris - and wow what a fabulous topic - so need to join in!!!! Hugs rachel x

Redanne said...

A wonderful top and so many gorgeous examples! Congratulations to Chris on her win!

pearshapedcrafting said...

How happy I am! Thank you! Great inpspiration here! Looking forward to seeing lots more inspiration for this new topic!Chrisx

ionabunny said...

Sad. I don't have any hybrid inks so I won't be able to join the fun. Congrats to Chris. Hugz

Jeanne said...

the first image, looks like a city scape, is that a die that can be purchased?

Darcy Marshall said...

Jeanne yes, it is a Tim Holtz die.

Seth said...

Beautiful examples and a great description of the ink options. Thank you.

http://blog.timetocreate.com.au/ said...

You have introduced me to a few inks I don't know and also reminded me of the versatility of Distress Oxides. I'm loving what they can do.
Inspiring post.
Thank you Darcy

shirley-bee said...

Thrilled to have my card featured at the to of the post, thank you! Inspiring post, I need to play with my oxides again :)

Mac Mable said...

So looking forward to learning about this new medium to me. Thank you for the fabulous inspiration x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Brilliant challenge theme. Loving the DT samples too xXx

Etsuko said...

Congratulations to Chris! Hybrid Inks are one of the topics of the year that everyone is interested in. Very wonderful choice Darcy!! xx

ionabunny said...

Darcy, do we have to use hybrid inks to join the challenge or do we just need to be inspired by one of the blog posts??

Catie Cuddles said...

Absolutely brilliant challenge
... mainly because I am currently obsessed with Oxides! Lovely selection of inspiration!
C xxx

Catie Cuddles said...

And congrats to Chris x

Preeti D. (aka Dutt Preety) said...

thanks for the wonderful inspiration :)

Pause by Patty said...

Hi there...couple of observations from a tester of hybrid inks on fabric...the Tonic nuvo inks retain their colour strength when washed at 40 deg whilst the distress oxides soften a little, I have also found that the Nuvo inks are resistant to bleaching techniques once fixed and retain a good image no matter how brutal you are to them...the distress oxides are a tba on testing lol but i'll get there....I love the nuvo and the distress oxides and it helps that their strengths lie in slightly diff areas for fabric crafting...anyway testing is ongoing here so will keep you posted

Lys said...

Very interesting inks and techniques. Thanks for the inspiration.

Vivian Foo said...

Another exciting new mediums, gorgeous makes by the DT!