The technique of inking has taken the scrapbook world by storm. But what does it mean to ink? And how do you do it?
Simply put, the term inking describes the process of smearing ink across the background and edges of paper.
The messier you make it, the better it looks.
One of the reasons I love inking is because it looks good, it’s easy to do and it’s extremely inexpensive – no special tools to get started.
Really, you just need an ink pad in just about any color you would like.
Take the ink pad and rub it around the edge of your piece of paper, using just a light touch for a little, or a heavier touch for bolder color.
There are so many different things you can use your ink on though, and the possibilities are endless. You can be creative and try inking:
- Duplicate photos
- Cardstock edges
- Tags
- Die Cuts
- Letters
- Accents
- Vellum
- Mulberry Paper
- Metals
It’s important to realize that this is not a “perfection” technique. You cannot possibly make your page look perfect with inking. It’s just a technique that looks messy, period. The more time you spend trying to make it look better, the less likely you are to achieve a well-balanced look.
You also need to keep in mind that ink is permanent, so caution should be exercised when it is in use. Once your ink has been applied to the paper, there is no removing it, so be sure and practice a few times before you do anything you cannot repair.
My two favorite colors for inking are blacks and browns, but then that is because I really enjoy natural looks. But don’t be afraid to experiment and try out some different colors or even mixed colors.
To try out some different techniques try these:
Messy – Lay your paper flat on top of some newspaper and use your ink pad to rub around the edges of your paper. You might even go into the center of the paper for a really messy look.
Controlled – By using a sponge to apply ink to your page you have a little more control over where the ink goes and how dark it gets.
California – Not sure who named it this way, but it’s been referred to as the California edge. Simply hold the paper in your left hand and the ink pad in your right hand. Run the pad around the edges of the paper using short swoops. You can also just make swipes of ink as well. Experiment until you find the way you like best!
No matter what you do – have fun! Be creative and get some good scrapbooking done!
What types of materials do you ink?