Make DIY Suncatchers with Alcohol Ink on Acrylic

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Learn how to create beautiful suncatchers & ornaments using alcohol ink on acrylic!

Well hello there, ADVANCE member! If you are an annual member, you have special VIP access to this project! Click here to get your exclusive design files for this project quick and easy!

I love testing out how different art supplies work together and sharing the results with you! Alcohol ink crafts are so much fun and I love watching the vibrant colors interact. These new designs can be used as ornaments, but they also make beautiful suncatchers when hung in a window with direct sunlight!

Note: Not sure if your design is uploading at the correct size? If you are using Cricut Design Space Beta for Desktop, try switching to the Live version as this has worked in our testing. Your design collection should be 5.65″ x 5.847″ on your Canvas.

The full step-by-step video showing you exactly how to create your own alcohol ink ornaments was part of Maker Academy Weekend 2024. Get a pass to watch all 18 workshops, each with a printable handbook, transcript, audio files, design files, and support with a Maker Academy Weekend 2024 VIP pass!

Alcohol ink art may seem mysterious and messy, but it doesn’t have to be! If you protect your work surface and hands, the inks are really fun to play with! Alcohol ink makes it easy and fun to create vibrant works of art with saturated colors and beautiful, organic fluid patterns.

After plenty of testing, I’m ready to show you how to apply alcohol ink to an acrylic ornament blank, with tips for optimal results. The gorgeous, swirling colors will float on non-porous surfaces (like the acrylic surfaces I used here) and the alcohol will evaporate, leaving bright, blended colors and unique effects behind.

There’s even metallic alcohol inks you can use, for a sparkly, foiled effect! The different inks behave differently on the acrylic, and have different color vibrancy, but I’ve got some helpful tips for choosing the right types and colors of alcohol ink for the effects you want. I’ll show you some fun techniques for helping the colors mix, too.

I love the way the ornaments looked after they were painted with alcohol ink! If you want a little more detail, you can see my tips on how to cut and apply adhesive vinyl designs to the one side of the circular shapes. The acrylic pigments will create a beautiful background to set off the vinyl, creating a really unique mixed media piece!

Let me show you how to make alcohol ink sun catchers! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more, there is no additional cost)! Read my full disclosure policy.

How to Make Suncatchers With Alcohol Inks!

The detailed step-by-step assembly video on how to make alcohol ink suncatchers was available to watch for free for 24 hours during Maker Academy Weekend 2024, held online November 7-10, 2024. Get access to the Maker Academy Weekend 2024 videos, printable handbooks, and design files with a 2024 VIP Pass to Maker Academy Weekend or by joining the ADVANCE with JenniferMaker program as an ANNUAL member!

Answers to Your Questions About My Alcohol Ink Suncatchers Tutorial

Q: Where is your tutorial for this project?

A: This is a special project we made for our free Maker Academy Weekend 2024 event! A complete and detailed step-by-step video premiered during the event November 7-10, 2024. You can get access to the video tutorial and printable handbook that details how to make this great project if you get a 2024 VIP Pass to Maker Academy Weekend or by joining the ADVANCE with JenniferMaker program as an ANNUAL member which comes with other perks and bonuses, too!

Q: Can you do alcohol ink on acrylic?

A: Yes, alcohol ink will dry correctly and true to color on acrylic. You can also use alcohol ink on ceramic tiles, a special synthetic paper called Yupo paper, and other non-porous surfaces. It’s available in my materials list above, as well as most art supply or craft stores. 

Q: How do you apply alcohol ink? 

A: Make sure anything that could stain is covered, then use the plastic squeeze bottles to add a little alcohol ink at a time. You can also use an air blower to move the colors around during the drying time. Some people use a hair dryer or heat gun but I think that could get messy! A little goes a long way with this 

Q: How do you prepare a surface for alcohol ink?

A: If you’re using clear acrylic circles like me, just make sure the surface is clean and remove any protective film if there’s one in place.

Q: Does alcohol ink rub off?

A: Once it dries, alcohol ink shouldn’t rub off, but it’s not a bad idea to avoid touching the suncatchers as much as you can to lessen the risk.

Q: What font did you use?
A: A purchased font: Forever Grateful Free alternative: Smiles

Q: Do you have to seal alcohol ink? How do you seal ink on acrylic?

A: You don’t have to seal acrylic surfaces you decorate with alcohol ink as long as they won’t be handled much.

Q: What is the shelf life of alcohol inks?

A: Most alcohol inks stay “good” for about five years. For the best results, keep the bottles in the dark because UV exposure will cause colors to fade over time.

Q: Which side of vinyl goes down on Cricut?

A: When you’re cutting adhesive vinyl, put the pretty side up on your machine mat.

Q: Can you tell me what Cricut blade to use to cut vinyl?

A: Use the fine-point blade to cut vinyl with your Cricut.

I love seeing what you make with my designs and tips! Please share a photo of your ornaments featuring alcohol ink on acrylic in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.

Love,

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