Greetings neighbors! Today on Mass Appeal we will be upcycling worn out and out of style jewelry. You can transform any piece of jewelry into something fantastic with alcohol inks. Alcohol inks work on non porous surfaces such as glass, plastic, ceramic and resin. They come in a ton of colors and finishes. Pearl finish works great for beads. Metallic finish works well for accents and plating repairs. They cost about $4-6 a bottle. Buy a set to save some money. Links are at the bottom of the page. Here’s what you will need for this craft:
SUPPLIES
Alcohol Inks (I used Ranger Tim Holtz brand, which has great color and staying power)
Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, even a coffee mug (any item you want to change the color or style)!
Gloves
Alcohol
Clear coat spray varnish (I used Triple Thick Varnish from Krylon. Kamar Varnish from Krylon works well for more detailed art.)
Plastic bag (to cover your work area)
Plastic sandwich bags
Disposable plastic tub or bowl
Toothbrush, makeup or paint brush, Q Tips and/or sponges (a variety of things to make different textures).
INSTRUCTIONS
Cover your surface with a trash bag. Wear gloves. Get some baby wipes and soak them in alcohol. This is a messy craft and the ink IS permanent. It can be removed with alcohol if you work quickly.
Clean your items with alcohol so they are free of oils and residue.
Crystal Bead Necklace
Wipe item down with alcohol. 
Choose a variety of ink colors. 
Drip first color over a few large beads. 
Drip second color over remaining large beads. 
Drip third color over small beads. 
Allow to dry for at least 1 hour. 
Do the same with the pendant. 
Use a small brush or Q tip. 
Paint areas with different colors. 
Remove excess ink with alcohol. 
Spray with clear coat varnish on one side lightly and allow to dry overnight, then do the other side. 
The was done the same way with only 2 colors for the earrings and one color for the necklace. Just drip the ink on and spread with a brush, then spray to seal.
Graffiti Bead Necklace & Stretch Bracelets
Wipe items down with alcohol. 
Drop ink on the sponge and start stamping the ink on the beads with your first & lightest color. 
Drop some ink into a puddle. Dip the toothbrush in the ink and apply the second color to the beads. 
Do the same with the third and darkest color. 
Drip metallic ink onto the beads for added flair. 
Drop ink on the sponge and start stamping the ink on the bracelet. 
Drop some ink into a puddle. Drip the toothbrush in the ink and apply the second color to the surface. 
With a paintbrush, you can add some metallic accents. 
You can use BLENDING SOLUTION to blend the colors, but it isn’t necessary. 
Spray items with clear coat varnish and allow to dry overnight. 
Finished necklace and bracelet 
Finished bracelets
Rhinestone Necklace
Wipe down the item with alcohol. 
Drip the main color of ink into a puddle. Use a small paint brush to apply the ink onto the stones. A little goes a long way! 
Do the same thing with another color for an ombre effect. 
Clean up the back and the sides with alcohol and spray LIGHTLY with clear coat varnish. Allow to dry overnight. 
Finished necklace
Easy Graffiti Bead Necklace
This is the easiest method. Simply drip a ton of colors on to the beads. 
Allow to dry, then do the other side. Let it sit for a few hours, then spray with sealer! 
Finished Necklace
Below is a playlist of DIY videos you will enjoy. Let me know if you have any questions. I always have hundreds of items to paint if you want a bag of jewelry. Just let me know what you want.
LINKS
Alcohol Inks DIY Videos Playlist
Let me know if you enjoyed this segment and what you are interested in for future shows. I love hearing from you all. I hope you are staying healthy out there. Send me your photos of the items you’ve made and I’ll share them on our blog and FB page. Big hugs and happy summer! See you next month on July 2nd.
Malena Chipps
Creative Consultant for Mass Appeal WWLP Channel 22
