Flip through tattoo artist’s portfolios’ online or visit local tattoo parlors and request to see their work. Looking at a professional’s work can inspire you to create something unique yourself. [1] X Research source Some of the most well-known artists include Kaiyu Huang, Mo Ganji, Paco Dietz, and Chen Jie. [2] X Research source You can also get inspired by artists like Lucy Hale, who specializes in temporary watercolor tattoos. [3] X Research source Tattoo styles include traditional American, traditional Japanese, realism, black and gray, and illustrative. [4] X Research source Popular tattoos include arrows, flowers, semicolons, and tribal art. [5] X Research source

For example, if Edgar Allan Poe is your favorite author, you can draw a raven tattoo to represent your love for his work. You draw a temporary tattoo of your mother’s name.

Other simple designs include a puzzle piece, a star, a phrase or word, or a musical note. [8] X Research source

Use markers with a smaller tip to draw in fine detail.

Keep in mind that the design will flip when you transfer it to your skin. If you need to, trace it on one side, then flip it over to trace it backwards on the other side. You’ll apply the “backwards” side to your skin, which will then flip the design the right way.

Trace over it with more pencil or even a pen to make it darker before trying to apply it to your skin.

You can pour a little on, then rub it in with a cotton ball.

Now you have a tattoo you can trace over.

For instance, test a little bit on the inside of your elbow to see how it reacts. A temporary tattoo pen is your best option, which you can find online.

You can fill in the lines with a different color, if you’d prefer, like a coloring book.

The baby powder helps set the design. You can even layer baby powder, then ink, then baby powder, then ink, over and over again to build up a solid tattoo.

Let it air dry to finish the tattoo.

Freehand your drawing or trace over the pencil outline you created with paper.

Baby powder will help hold the tattoo in place.

You can purchase liquid bandages in the bandage section of your pharmacy or grocery store. The liquid bandage makes the tattoo waterproof.

These temporary tattoos work like the ones you got as a kid in your Halloween bucket!

Any inkjet printer will work for this project.

Some tattoo papers are designed to be machine cut so you can cut them out with your Silhouette or Cricut.

If the tattoo seems to be sticking to the paper, press it down again, and add a bit more water.