Posted on Sep 18, 2017
DIY Tattoos
So you want a tattoo, but you’re simply too unique for any pre-made design. You need our freehand inkbox ink. With our ink, you can design any tattoo imaginable. Enjoy your one-of-a-kind semi-perma...
So you want a tattoo, but you’re simply too unique for any pre-made design. You need our freehand inkbox ink. With our ink, you can design any tattoo imaginable. Enjoy your one-of-a-kind semi-permanent tat for weeks, then ink yourself with another totally distinctive design. If you’re not a trained artist, you may need some help to ensure tip-top results. Have no fear—we’ve got you covered. Here’s a boatload of resources to help you create the most kickass custom temporary tats on the block:
THE INK
Ours. Duh.
inkbox freehand ink comes in a bottle with a needle-tip that you can use to easily draw on your skin. It also comes with a black tattoo glove so you don’t get messy. The gel-like, dark black ink is 100% organic and perfectly safe. It’s made from aqua, xantham gum, genipa plant extract, vegetable oil, and ethyl alcohol. It takes 1 hour to apply and you can use the bottle for up to a year.
Check out this video to see how it’s done:
THE DESIGN – DESIGNING IT
Need help coming up with a design? Here are some resources to help you craft the perfect tattoo:
BOOKS
Tattoo Johnny: 3,000 Tattoo Designs
by Tattoo Johnny
This book from stencil supplier Tattoo Johnny features thousands of designs in a diverse array of styles and subjects. Browse this book’s 300+ pages to find a pattern you want to copy or adapt.
Tattoo Lettering Bible
by Superior Tattoo
This book focuses exclusively on tattoo lettering, of which there are innumerable styles. If you’ve got a letter-based tattoo on the brain, consult this book to pick the font that best embodies your message and style.
Drawing & Designing Tattoo Art: Creating Masterful Tattoo Art from Start to Finish
by Fip Buchanan
This book from tattoo artist Fip Buchanan teaches you not only how to draw a tattoo, but all about placement, flow, color, and how to design a tattoo that is powerful, personal, and unique. The book will teach you about the symbolism of popular tattoo images, and also includes 9 step-by-step demos of the artist’s process from idea to finished tattoo.
CUSTOM DESIGN SUPPLIERS
Custom Tattoo Design, Inc.
“You dream it, we draw it.”
This company will help you design your tattoo every step of the way. Start by sending them your idea, then get paired with an artist who will work with you one-on-one to bring the idea to fruition. The finished product will be sent to you in high definition, which you can then print on transfer paper and use our ink to put on your skin (more on this below)!
Tattoo Tailors
“Tailor made tattoos just for you”
Tattoo Tailors will bring your tattoo idea to life. Share your idea with an artist, then receive a rough draft from which you’ll work together to edit and finalize the design. You’ll receive a finished product by email that you can print on transfer paper and ink with our freehand ink. Based on this testimonial, we think you’ll be pleased:
“I have spent two years trying to get an detailed design created, in & out of various Tattoo parlours, left feeling like it cant be done. Tattoo Tailors made it seem so easy. Nothing was a problem, they created the design in a week, I have just had it tattooed. Love it.” – Chad, New York, USA
Want 1.5 million artists competing to come up with the best tattoo design for you? 99 Designs can help you do just that. Tell the online community what kind of design you’re looking for, and watch as dozens of artists submit their ideas. Pick your favorite, and you’re off to the races.
THE DESIGN - STENCILING IT
So you’ve got your design all picked out and you’re itching to get it on your skin.
If you’re a confident artist, go ahead and draw it right on your skin freehand.
If you’d rather trace your design, you’ll need tattoo tracing paper.
With tracing paper, you can transfer your design to your skin, where you’ll trace it with our ink.
Here are some tracing paper options:
Spirit Transfer Tracing Paper - $6.95
Available in packs of 40 sheets, Spirit tracing paper calls itself “DIY-tattooing at its finest.” It’s simple—just sheets of tracing paper, no slip sheets, no inked sheets, no backing paper. Just one sheet of paper you stick on your skin. Either draw your design by hand, or use this paper to print a design you’ve created on the computer. Note: this paper is not compatible with thermal or fax-style printers.
ATSUI Transfer Paper - $6.40
This product has 3 layers and ATSUI promises the stencil easily stays on during a tattoo inking session.
YILONG Tattoo Transfer Paper - $7.43
This 4-layer tattoo tracing paper comes in packs of 25 and can be used with a thermal copier machine if you have a computer design you want to ink.
Happy tattooing!