My Thoughts on Coloring with Alcohol Markers

This is my second post today. Please scroll down for the post with the cards!



Long-time readers of Simplicity know that I'm not that into coloring outline images. Give me a block stamp and a bunch of ink pads, and I'm a happy stamper. Coloring is work, but as yesterday's post proves, it can be worthwhile.

Curious reader Diana asked for my thoughts on Copics, so here are some of my thoughts and advice and links to previous posts.

1. Copics are better than Sharpies and Bics, but only marginally in my admittedly limited experience. Copics blend slightly better and certainly come in a HUGE array of colors. They also come in lighter shades than Bics and Sharpies, which tend toward intense, bright colors. If you're not that into coloring or have limited funds for crafting, I highly recommend you do what I have done....

Buy a large multi-pack of Bics and/or Sharpies on sale at office supply stores, and then if you like coloring with them, purchase individual lighter shades of Copics to coordinate with the Sharpies and Bics for a broader range of shading options. You'll save a lot of money and get to play with coloring without feeling like you need to take out a loan.

2. If you want to see my tutorial post on coloring with Bics and Sharpies, click HERE.

3. If you want to see the color chart I made for my alcohol markers and read about how utterly insane I am, click HERE.

4. You can use your alcohol markers to color rhinestones any color you want. Bics seem to take a few minutes to dry, but Sharpies and Copics dry very, very quickly for me. You can also blend colors on the rhinestones. Too cool and helps justify the investment.

5. My favorite video tutorial on Copics is from Jennifer McGuire and you can watch it HERE. You'll immediately understand why it's my favorite video by the way she keeps pointing out that this isn't the "right" way to use Copics. "Right" ways are over-rated, don't you think? Quick and easy is usually best. At least, in my humble opinion. Plus, Jennifer totally rocks.

6. My favorite paper for using alcohol markers is Gina K Deluxe white in the heavy weight. It will not bleed through for one-layer cards AND it's nice and slick and the ink moves around on top of the paper. Coloring on my standard Papertrey works, but the paper soaks up a lot of ink and definitely bleeds through. If you're going to cut out colored images, though, use a lighter weight of card stock, because that heavy weight is a bear to cut out if there's any fussiness to the cutting at all.

7. I stamp my outline images in Memento Tuxedo Black. It won't bleed no matter how much alcohol ink you put on it.

And that is pretty much all I know about alcohol markers. Hope that helps!

Soft and Subtle Coloring

I'll admit that when I bought the Elegant Florals set from Gina K Designs, I bought it for the solid images, not the outlines. But of course, I have to use every image in the set before I can put it away with all my other stamps.

That's Stamp Rule #1 in the LateBlossom Craft Room: all new stamp images must be used before being stored with the rest of the stamps.

So I made a very simple trio of cards using each of the outline flowers in the set. Appropriately enough, they are made with Gina K's Deluxe White Card Stock...a lovely, coated card stock that will not bleed through no matter how much you color on it with Copics, Bics, or Sharpies!

The coloring was done with Copic markers...the very lightest shades I own of pink, purple, yellow, and green, with only hints of the next darkest shade.

The cards are folded on the left because I originally thought to wrap some ribbon around the left side, but once they were made, I decided against it. This simple layout works just fine without embellishment.

And let me say that the fonts of the sentiments work very well with the outline images. Elegant and readable. I like that.

Furthermore, it's a good thing I'm not a dude, because if I were to send that calla lily card to someone with that particular sentiment, it might seem a little naughty.

But then, I'm an English major.

*wink*

Supplies
stamps: Gina K Elegant Florals
ink: Memento
paper: Gina K Deluxe White
accessories: Copic markers