DIY: Making your own floral inks
Whether you are looking to preserve the memory of a beautiful bouquet or make a gift for a loved one, floral inks add a perfect homemade touch to anyone’s writing stationery. This fun and easy project is perfect for the summer months when your garden’s truly come to life.
Time: +-30 minutes
Waiting: 8-24 hours
What you will need:
- Flowers
- Bowl
- Boiling water
- Coffee filters
- Glass bottles – For storage
- Rubbing alcohol or vodka
- Gum Arabic
The Process:
- Remove the petals from the flowers and place them in a bowl, making sure you remove all the stalks and leaves as they will affect the colour of your floral inks.
- Shred the flower petals with a pair of scissors. This will help the petals release their natural pigments.
- Slowly pour boiling water over the petals until they are barely covered. It is important not to add too much water as this will dilute the colour of your ink.
- Press the petals into the boiling water and let them sit overnight or for a more intense colour; in a sunny place for 24 hours.
- Strain the petals through a coffee filter, collecting the ink in a glass bottle.
- Add ½ teaspoon of Rubbing alcohol or vodka to your ink to help preserve it.
- Finally, add 1 teaspoon of Gum Arabic to bind your ink, this will prevent your ink from feathering while you write and when it dries. This does make the ink water soluble even when dry so keep your writing in a safe place or use a spray fixative to protect it.
And voila! You now have stunning homemade floral inks that you can use with your Dipping Pens, Brushes or even Water Brushes and Empty markers! Now go make something beautiful.
CREATIVITY AWAITS!
