Squirrel "Flying Carpet" Rocker Ink Blotter

Ink blotters are something that used to be on everyone's desk, but since the rise of the ballpoint pen, they've become more and more scarce. However, if you write with fountain pens today, you might have noticed that some ink and paper combinations don't dry quickly, and you get smears. (Re-)Enter the ink blotter!  Just rock it across the wet ink and it picks up the excess.

I was looking for an ink blotter the other week and found myself on eBay, where I saw a ton of glass ink blotters such as this one with a jadeite Scottie dog. Most of them are missing the clips that are used to hold the blotter paper in place, but this picture shows a blotter with the metal clips. 

I realized I could make my own ink blotters, and the “Flying Carpet” ink blotter is the result!  In this case, it looks like the squirrel is riding a flying carpet. :)  Instead of metal clips to hold the blotter paper on, I designed clips to print that will do the same thing. The squirrel makes a great handle for this – very comfortable to hold! You can just hook your thumb under the curl of the squirrel's fluffy tail :)

As far as blotter paper goes, I don't have any to spare right now, so the pictures show two layers of paper towels instead. This doesn't work quite as well as good blotter paper, but it sort of works. I've also heard that coffee filters work. You can get real blotter paper here on Amazon. 

The blotter prints on its side because if you print it with the bottom down, there will be supports on that side, and when you remove the supports you may not be able to keep the rocker surface smooth enough. Printing on its side avoids that issue, but feel free to experiment. 

I didn't need a brim, printing on the SuperTack plate. I think it would probably print OK without a brim on the textured PEI plate as long as the plate is nice and clean! Watch the first couple of layers to make sure! :)

If a squirrel isn't your style, try my Cat rocker blotter or my elephant rocker blotter!!

Note: The pictured model was printed in plain black PLA, but painted over with silver paint which was then “antiqued” by rubbing much of it off before it fully dried. Rub ‘n’ Buff would work nicely as well to get a similar look.

Remix details: I created the rocker and clips myself, but used the squirrel to create the blotter's handle.