The Versatility of Versamark Ink

Introducing a variety of new looks into your scrapbooks is as easy as purchasing a single inkpad – the Versamark inkpad.  Versamark is, you guessed it, extremely versatile and easy to use.   Developed by Tsukineko, the ink is acid-free and can be used for beginner to advanced techniques. 
 

The simplest way to use Versamark?

Create tone-on-tone images. Simply press your stamp into the inkpad and stamp directly on cardstock.  The resulting watermark image is perfect for a subtle background and a great way to create personalized patterned paper.
 

Because Versamark is slightly sticky, powders will adhere to the image. Try dressing up your stamped image with a wash of color from your supply of chalks.  Press your stamp into the Versamark pad and stamp onto cardstock. Use a make-up sponge or a cotton swab to apply generous amounts of chalk to the image. You can stick with one color or use many for a variegated look.  Brush away excess chalk with a large make-up brush.  The resulting image will be soft.
 

Another fun use for Versamark is to combine it with pigment powders. Press your stamp into the Versamark pad and stamp onto cardstock. “Paint” the stamped image with pigment powder, and brush away the excess with a large make-up brush.  The resulting image has a slight metallic sheen.

Step it up a notch and use the Versamark for wet embossing.  Press your stamp into the Versamark and press onto cardstock. Sprinkle the inked image with embossing powder and shake off the excess. Don’t brush the image with your hands or you’ll rub off the embossing powder. Should you have problems with “stray” powder particles, try rubbing your cardstock with an anti-static sheet prior to stamping.  Alternatively, you can brush away the strays with a tiny paintbrush. Heat the powder with a heat gun (use caution – the heat guns can get extremely hot). The embossing powder, after heating, will create a subtle dimensional effect.  For a fun variation, use watercolor pencils to color the negative areas; the raised embossing will prevent the color from running (see Figure 5). 

Versamark also comes in a pen – perfect for those of you that love to use your own handwriting on your layouts.  The pen is double-sided, with a small tip for writing and a larger, softer tip for blending.  The same techniques – watermarking, chalking and pigment powder application, and wet embossing – can be applied to shapes or designs created with the Versamark pen.  An added bonus of the Versamark pen is that it can be used to blend color from chalks or watercolor pencils onto an image.  Stamp an image with dye ink or pigment ink and let it dry. Once it is dry, touch the blender tip to the colorant and transfer the color to the image.  When using this method to color an image, “paint” on the lightest colors first, so that you don’t contaminate your palette of colorants.

Experiment with the different techniques and remember to have fun!