That Shimmertastic Brandy Dazzle Incident

I originally planned to do an ink review, which led to the usual rummaging amongst the ink vials to get the next pack of…wait…why’s there red on my fingers? And thus began the Diamine Shimmertastic Brandy Dazzle inkcident. Quite a way to start the new year of 2016.

Ziploc, now looking like a murder scene. Ink spatter analysis anyone?

So some context: I had a pack of Shimmertastic inks in vials in that ziploc, only one of which turned out to be mysteriously emptied out. In fact so delicately was it emptied that the cap remained on, the tape remained firmly attached and in fact the glitter remained within the vial.

Yes, Brandy Dazzle. I’m looking at you. With that glitter down your walls.

It actually surprised me some, considering that Brandy Dazzle is actually an ink that is more of a rusty brown leaning on orange, quite like something one would expect of…well…a rather well colored Brandy. Out of the vial and all over one’s hands, the color runs so deep that it tends to look a rather bit like venous blood that’s getting a tad less than fresh. Hmm.

Bit orange for blood.

Upon closer examination, it turns out that none of the vials actually have o-rings sealing them, which does present the possibility of a leak. It seems that the interface between the tape and the cap of the vial has managed to siphon out the ink from the vial all over the other contents of the ziploc bag…and in fact out of the ziploc bag and all over the plastic container beneath it.

Vials, with ink snuggling between tape and caps.

Rinsing off the vials seems to be just the tip of the iceberg, as the ink that holds the tape so dearly, simply refuses to come off in a casual rinse. Nor with a more thorough rinse. Or even that involves fairly high pressure water jets and a determination to remove the ink by the most peaceable way possible. That leaves a strip ‘n clean, of course.

 

Not the best thing to greet one after a bowel movement.

Now with vials cleaned and such, I look under the caps and note some ink ingress, which may or may not involve contamination of the inks contained within. This, being worrying, is simply something that needs to be tested and established at a later date. Preferably after I resupply with Brandy Dazzle.

Brandy Dazzle, you shall be missed. For now.