I have to say that this is one of the most fun products I’ve tried in a while.

I’ve seen Ink Effects around the web for a little while now and I was DYING to try them out. I got super lucky when DecoArt asked me to write about them and I couldn’t wait to get started.

All you need for an afternoon of fun are the following supplies:

• Ink Effects in the colors of your choice
• paint brushes
• iron
• white printer paper
• fabric –
• Ink Effects for cotton fabrics spray if your fabric is 100% cotton
• Create Your Own Christmas Napkins: Poinsettia PDF

First, you need artwork.

You can create your own like I did or download copyright free images from the internet. You can also use coloring book images and other images you find but make sure to obey all copyrights related to the images.

Above is a poinsettia I drew and I have added it to the supply list above. All you need to do is click on the link and download the PDF by clicking “OK” and you can use the image. I’m happy to share it with you.

Think of it as your first Christmas gift this year! 🙂

The next step is to print the poinsettia (if you used it) out onto regular printer paper.

Fill in the image with Ink Effects. I used red, green and yellow.

Keep in mind that the colors will TURN OUT like the dots on the lids of the bottles. The color INSIDE the bottle looks different than the color on the top of the jar.

You can layer the colors like I did in the center. I painted the whole thing green and then added red dots with the bottom of my paint brush. Once that had dried a little I went back with a smaller paintbrush and added smaller dots of yellow.

The images turn out better if you add several layers of color. As the Ink Effects start to dry you can go back in and layer more color over it.

Let the Ink Effects dry on the paper for 45 minutes.

Make sure the paper is lying flat while drying as large wrinkles or waves in the paper can affect the final image.

While the Ink Effects are drying you can spray your 100% cotton fabrics with Ink Effects for Cotton Fabrics so it can dry.

If you are using a fabric with less than 30% cotton you can skip the above step.

After 45 minutes turn your iron on to the cotton setting and let it warm up.

If you are using an ironing board you may want to put something under your fabric before ironing. You can just make out the grid pattern of the metal under my ironing board cover in the poinsettia above.

I found that using a wooden cutting board gave my fabric and the image much better contact and therefore a better image.

The first napkin I made I used black Ink Effects to outline and draw in the veins of the leaves and I didn’t like the way it looked.

Too “coloring book” for my taste.

But that’s just me.

I, however, ADORE this more painterly look. I love the way the Ink Effects can look like watercolors.

ADORE I tell ya!

Here is another tip for you. If you wish to have the black lines but you worry about your ability to get a good line with the Ink Effects and a paintbrush you can always create the napkin like I did and then go back in with a fabric marker to draw in the lines in a way that allows you to have more control. That is what I was going to do but I like the image this way so much I’m going to leave them the way they are.

I have 5 more of those napkins to make and I can’t wait to use them closer to Christmas.

Disclosure: This is a paid post. All opinions are 100% my own.