![](https://i1.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriend_cover.png?fit=700%2C395)
Hi there it’s Tracey here today with a fun take on using a mandala with a trendy alcohol ink background.
![](https://i1.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriendMain.png?fit=700%2C831)
I created this background using one colour of alcohol ink! The colour is Eggplant and with using alcohol blending solution and an air puffer with some Yupo paper I was able to get all these fabulous purples, pinks and cranberry colours!
![](https://i2.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_AlcoholInkBackground.png?fit=700%2C732)
I simply started with a sheet of Yupo Paper and I added some drops of alcohol ink, followed by alcohol blending solution and then I moved the ink around quickly with an air puffer. These are the supplies I used for my card.
![](https://i2.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriendSupplies.png?fit=700%2C516)
Once the panel was dry I cut Layer A of the Grace mandala craft die set from white cardstock which cut the panel in three pieces. I used just the centre cut mandala to create a frame for my two layer sentiment which will be the focal point of the card design. I cut the Big Hello Sugar Script die using white cardstock for the detail hello and heavyweight vellum for the shadow. I glued the two pieces together to form the main sentiment.
![](https://i1.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriendLrgSent.png?fit=700%2C559)
The second line of the sentiment was created from the Best Friend clear stamp set. I needed to do a bit of stamp surgery to create my custom sentiment to say exactly what I wanted it to say. Three stamps were cut and I pieced together for the perfect phrase to go with hello. The sentiment was embossed with white embossing powder on to an eggplant coloured cardstock and then trimmed down to a thin strip.
![](https://i0.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriendSent.png?fit=700%2C475)
The mandala was adhered to the alcohol inked background directly with liquid glue. Then the two line sentiment was added on top with foam adhesive tape to add a bit of dimension.
![](https://i2.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriend_Angle1.png?fit=700%2C467)
The alcohol inked background in these vibrant colours is the perfect backdrop to really make the white mandala and sentiment pop!
![](https://i0.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriend_Angle2.png?fit=700%2C507)
A really fun technique and seeing it all come together at the end made
the effort of creating the background so worth it. I hope you give a technique like this a try, it is a wonderful way to really showcase the Birch Press Design craft dies!
![](https://i2.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/tracey_HelloFriendFlat.png?fit=700%2C677)
Thank you for stopping in today and be sure to come back again on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for more design team inspiration!
![](https://i0.wp.com/blog.birchpressdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tracey-Signature.png?resize=700%2C233&ssl=1)
Supplies
Lisa Elton
July 12, 2019 — 7:00 pm
All of that prettiness came from one color ~ wow! This is wonderful Tracey!
Tracey McNeely
July 13, 2019 — 9:07 am
Thank you Lisa!
Nora Noll
July 13, 2019 — 9:33 am
That is ONE COLOR of alcohol ink? WOW!!! I am going to have to play with mine now and see if I can get the same effect!!! Such a lovely card!
Kirsty
July 22, 2019 — 9:18 pm
Love your beautiful card! It makes me so happy!
Michele F
August 9, 2019 — 5:22 am
Now what did you put in that puffer? hmmm? lol
It’s your magic that made it so, Tracey… out of this galaxy beautiful!
=]