Alcohol Ink Vellum Background – Technique to Try

Alcohol ink vellum background effects are something many crafters have heard about, but have you ever tried this technique yourself? You only need a few supplies to get started—vellum, Stampin’ Blends (which are alcohol markers), isopropyl alcohol, and a Water Painter or brush. It’s simple, accessible, and the results are always different.

Main Supplies You’ll Need

If you’d like to give this technique a go, here are the essentials:

• Vellum
• Stampin’ Blends (these are alcohol markers)
• Isopropyl alcohol
• A Water Painter or brush

That’s it — four simple items. You might already have them on hand, which makes this technique very accessible.

In this week’s Facebook and YouTube live, I shared how to create these striking backgrounds using Stampin’ Blends and alcohol. What I love about it is that the colours take on a life of their own—some areas stay bold, others spread out, and every piece ends up completely unique.

Why the Alcohol Ink Vellum Background Is Worth Trying

This technique is easy to do and gives you such interesting results. In the video, I show how I scribbled patches of colour randomly across a piece of vellum. I used Night of Navy, Highland Heather, and Fresh Freesia, and you’ll see that some of the purples stay vivid and strong while the blues soften out around them. That unexpected mix is all part of the charm.

Once the ink is down, a few drops of isopropyl alcohol help everything shift and spread. You never quite know what you’re going to get, and that’s what makes it fun.

If you enjoy techniques that allow you to play and experiment, you’ll love this one.

A Butterfly Feature & Hybrid Embossed Sentiment

To finish my cards, I added a die-cut butterfly—one in Highland Heather and one in Night of Navy. Both look beautiful against the bold background, and a touch of Wink of Stella adds just the right amount of shimmer.

For the sentiment, I used the Thoughtful Moments Hybrid Embossing Folder. In the live, I showed how to ink the folder with a brayer, line up the coordinating die inside, and emboss and cut all the greetings in one pass. It’s such a time-saver and gives a crisp, raised edge around each sentiment.

There’s also a Christmas version—the Christmas Words Collage Hybrid Embossing Folder—which works the same way and is great for seasonal crafting.

Two Versions, Two Completely Different Looks

I created two versions of the card so you can see how much the colours and accents change the feel:

– One with Highland Heather for the butterfly and sentiment

– One with Night of Navy and a white embossed greeting

Both stand out beautifully against the alcohol ink vellum background, but each one has its own personality.

Watch the Video Here

If you’d like to see exactly how the alcohol ink vellum background technique works, you can watch the full video here. I take you through each step, show you how the colours move across the vellum, and share a few tips to help you get great results. It’s always easier to learn these techniques by watching them in action, so I encourage you to take a look.

Finishing the Inside

I also used a leftover strip of the vellum inside the card. It ties everything together nicely and gives the inside a coordinated finish.

I hope this encourages you to give the alcohol ink vellum background technique a go. If you missed the live and would like to see exactly how it works, you can watch the replay on my channel. I’d love to see what colours you decide to try.