Spectrum Noir ink pens work well on paper and for scrapbooking----but better still, they have a fabulous effect on METAL....in particular, brass stampings.
Using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Pens can REALLY take your patina and colorization work up to the next level. With such an amazing range of color to choose from, you'll be well on your way to creating your own specialized designer finishes.
Yesterday I did some experimenting and would love to share some close-up photos with you!
The first photo is our large layered cluster rosette, which you will find here:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Huge-Slotted-Leaf-Layered-Flower-9568
I used a plated piece and then used the inks over top:
The technique is simple: use the broad, chisel tip of the pen to apply a base coat of color getting as much on as you can. Then, before it's dry, you go back with a second color and just smoosh the tip down in a random, spotty pattern. Clean the tip off as it may pick up a bit of the primary color. Then add a third lighter color; I used the gold tip pen from the browns set as my light accent. Do the same thing, just add it in a spotty pattern that flows into the other ink.
Then you MUST heat set it with a heat gun, like this one we offer at B'sue Boutiques:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Embossing-Heat-Gun-4331 By the way, this gun is the best I've found for applying intense forced air heat. I love it with alcohol inks FAR better than the Ranger Heat It Tool, which is a bit wimpy, methinks---it's good for melting UTEE, though. But for heating metal to take patina, it's about as good as your torch and there is no flame to worry about. For use with alcohol inks, it's the BEST as it sets QUICK.
NOTE: NEVER use a torch over alcohol inks!!
Alcohol inks over metal MUST be sealed. MUST. I have found several things work w the Spectrum Noir pens:
1. Krylon Matte Spray Lacquer.....be sure the piece is cooled and set. I'd wait a half hour at least.
2. Renwax.
3. Swellegant Clear Coat....excellent choice!
4. Nunn Design Sealant
5. Vintaj Glaze
Experiment and take your pick! There may also be others that work well, too! ICE RESIN would also be an option in some cases, too, I'd think.
Here is another photo of the 'mosaic' technique, up close:
Pretty cool, huh? I did these over raw brass.
You can watch me do it in this video:
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Pens on Brass Stampings from B'sue Boutiques
A closer look:
Here's a cool sash brooch in the raw brass, that I did with two colors, set and then distressed back to let the brass come through:
If you use the browns set that we carry, you could totally mock the look of old gingerbread brass on one of these sash brooch findings.
Find the sash brooch here in raw brass:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Raw-Brass-Sash-Brooch-with-25x18-Center-Mount-8762
We also have it in brass ox:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Brass-Ox-Sash-Brooch-with-25x18-center-mount-3022
If you use plated pieces you won't have to finish the back too.....the pens work well over brass ox finish, and it doesn't cost that much more than raw brass. ;-)
Check out these pretty drilled wings (they make great earrings!):
The one on the left is buffed out a bit more and has Vintaj Glaze on it from Ranger....the one on the right is less buffed and has not yet been sealed.
Here are some old dark gingerbread brass gilding weight pieces to which I applied a variety of ink colors:
They were all buffed back a tad, then I applied Vintaj Glaze. Swellegant Clear Cote has a similar appearance. Find many of our sealants, resins and glazes here:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/resin_patina_supplies.shtml
You will find more under the paints section and in the Swellegant Section:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/paints_pearl_ex_mica.shtml
Here is an assortment of pieces I did as well:
The top piece is distressed Rusty Black Patina brass with the pens applied; the heart is choxie brown brass run through a Vintaj DecoEmboss folder and then inked, set and distressed.
Find DecoEmboss folders here....they work in a Cuttlebug OR a Sissix Big Shot machine:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/anvils-bench-blocks-letter-punch-sets-hammers.shtml
I hope you'll find a little time for the video as I can actually SHOW you how I colored the brass and did the mosaic technique....you will really enjoy working with the pens! I am so excited about them!
Again, you will find the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iPVhtpQ3Ek
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