Try something new with your old or new puzzle pieces!  When you add alcohol inks and ARTchix collage images, German scrap and art bits to them, they turn into mini works of art!  

What is really important for this technique: find puzzle pieces that are glossy on the back side so that you can get the look you want from the alcohol inks.  I do not know if alcohol inks would work on matte paper and different papers give different results.  The best idea is to play, play, play!

The Alcohol inks by Tim Holtz and Ranger are awesome inks to add to your artwork.  They provide beautiful color combinations that are nice and vibrant.  You will find as you play with these, that each time you use them, your piece will have a slightly different look due to the amount of inks used, etc. You will want to experiment with how much ink to add to applicator. As they are alcohol based, make sure you are in a well-ventilated area when working with these.

Supplies
General Supplies	ARTchix Supplies
Variety of Adirondack alcohol inks (they come in sets of 3 colors)	Black Baroque Borders	Black Mini Wings
Adirondack Metallic Mixatives (come in sets of 2 colors)	Fairy Post Faux Postage	Gypsy Heart collage sheet
Alcohol blending solution	Lil’ Duets transparency sheet	The Heart of Paris collage sheet
Alcohol ink applicator	Gold Butterflies	Lil' Duos collage sheet
Puzzle pieces that are glossy on back sides	Antique Italian Encyclopedia Pages no longer available.  See our other vintage papers.

Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area. Lay puzzle pieces on scrap paper.  I usually do a few at a time so that I always have extras on hand.

Pick out 3 alcohol inks and a metallic Mixative.  I wouldn’t use more than 3 or 4 colors as you will get a “muddy” look and may not be pleased with how it turns out.

Start with your lightest color and add to applicator.  Randomly tap onto puzzle piece. Using your next darkest color, add to applicator and randomly tap onto puzzle piece.  Overlap colors in some spots. Repeat with your darkest color (if you are using 3 colors). Add metallic Mixative to applicator and randomly tap onto puzzle piece overlapping colors.

Add blender solution to applicator and add to puzzle piece.  Tap on top of puzzle pieces and you will see colors blend.  Tap until you get the desired look.  If you want more blending to happen, you may wish to add more blender solution to applicator. Let dry.  These should dry fairly quickly.
 

Pin 1.
1. Use alcohol inks to create alcohol ink background. Let dry.
2. Cut fairy and words fairy and post and add to puzzle piece as shown.
3. Trim bottom from Baroque border and glue to puzzle piece near bottom.
4. Cut small crown from Baroque border and add to top of ladies head.
5. Glue pin to back of finished puzzle piece. Other option: add magnet to back of piece or use for embellishing other art.

Pin 2.
1. Use alcohol inks to create background.
2. Trim image from transparency sheet. Using glue stick, add to puzzle piece.
3. Glue small piece of Baroque border near bottom of puzzle piece. Trim any excess length.
4. Cut part of wing of butterfly and glue to puzzle piece. Trim any excess overhanging.
5. Glue pin to back of puzzle piece.

Pin 3.
1. Use alcohol inks to create background.
2. Stamp script background onto puzzle piece using Black Memories Ink.
3. Trim image from collage sheet. Using glue stick, add to puzzle piece.
4. Add 2 gold eyelets to puzzle piece as shown.
5. Glue small piece of Black Baroque border to top of puzzle piece. Trim excess.
6. Using a dot of glue, add gold charm to piece as shown.
7. Cut black wing to fit puzzle piece and attach to puzzle piece.
8. Add pin to back of puzzle piece.
 

For more info on the alcohol inks: http://www.rangerink.com/product_adirdkalcoholinks.html

Please feel free to print these instructions for easy reference. (Use Landscape Layout when printing this page).