@JanisTX - This is my go-to fix: Krylon Matte Spray (
https://www.krylon.com/en/products/clear-coatings/matte-finish-spray-coating). Usually charcoal, pastel, and graphite artists spray it on finished work so that the chalky, soft, pigments stay fixed to the paper. But it's also fantastic for making paper less prone to bleeding and able to accept a really wide variety of inks. Spray it on the blank paper/card-stock BEFORE you start, and let it dry for a few minutes (do it in a well ventilated area). When in doubt, matte spray!
* note - if you spray it OVER finished ink work, it will dull any special qualities of the ink (like shimmer or sheen, which work by reflecting the light at different angles; since it kind of makes everything adhere to a single plane, you won't get so much sparkle).
** also - don't go overboard spraying the paper/card. I over-sprayed once, and it literally caused the ink to bead up on the paper.
*** If you want to be old-fashioned or traditional about it, you could use pounce (aka gum sandarac
https://www.johnnealbooks.com/product/gum-sandarac), but I find matte spray to be easier to use and more reliable, especially with poorly bonded paper or really juicy ink.
--yours truly, K
