Marker Supply Blog

Here at Marker Supply we are always interested in seeing how crafters are using our products in creative ways.  When we stumbled upon the amazing jewelry by Dawn Bryant we just had to share it with our readers!  Dawn was kind enough to write a tutorial on how she uses the Prismacolor Pencils and Fine Line Markers to create these beautiful pieces.
Enjoy!

Prismacolor Paintings on Shrink Plastic Tutorial
By Dawn E. Bryant

One of the best gifts I got for Christmas was a book geared for teenagers called “Shrink Art Jewelry” from Klutz.com. This book was so basic that I decided to try it out – using a bit higher tech artwork than the book suggested. The book came with some patterns and some special paper. I used one of my photographs instead of the patterns. Wow! It came out great and I was hooked! TONS of fun!

Now I spend my days using Prismacolor pencil on the rough side of Shrinky Dinks Frosted Ruff ‘N Ready paper, creating landscapes, abstracts and more that I sign, punch holes in and shrink, then turn into jewelry.

It took a few mistakes before I got comfortable with the stuff and learned which colors work and which ones don’t, as well as new layering techniques, because the layering process is very different from on paper.

The first color you lay down is what will show (and it does NOT erase).

Okay, let’s get started!

Materials:
•Prismacolor Pencils
•Prismacolor Verithin pencils
•Sharpie Ultrafine markers

Tools:
•Parchment paper
•cookie sheet
•smooth bottom glass pan
•standard paper punch

STEPS:

1) Find the photo or graphic you want to work from and if you want, print it off on plain paper as a 4×6 (this will be the size you need for the pendant after it shrinks).

2) Choose your colors. I use Prismacolor pencils, Prismacolor Verithins and Sharpie Ultra Fine Point markers.

3) Lay down the first layer of color. Here I used Cool Gray 30% on the dark area of the clouds and white on the white areas, scumbled in with a circular motion. Outline the entire cloud area with a white Verithin. The rest I left blank. On the surrounding sky, the first layer is blue slate. On the yucca blossoms I used cream for the flowers and limepeel, for the greenish areas. The flower stems were done with light umber for the first layer. The pinkish areas I filled in with beige sienna. The blossoms are outlined with a goldenrod Verithin pencil. The leaves are limepeel, marine green, kelp green, olive green and dark green. For the shadowed area amongst the leaves I use black grape for the first layer. The background area of the ground is left blank for now.

4) For the second layer I go in with cloud blue over the entire cloud area and light cerulean blue over the sky. On the yucca blossoms, I go back in with the cream and limepeel and make sure everything is filled in solidly and I go over the stems with Tuscan red.

5) Now I start the background, with a layer of bronze. Over that I layer jasmine and goldenrod.For the last step I go over the blue portion of the sky with cloud blue.

6) Next I cut out the picture using a paper cutter or scissors and round the corners with the scissors so there are no sharp edges, then I sign my name with a black ultra fine point Sharpie permanent marker on the front at the bottom. I didn’t this time, but on the front I can also outline the flowers with the lightest yellow green Sharpie Ultra fine marker, go over the stem with the dark brown Sharpie and go over the leaves with the sharpies that match. This gives a 3D effect.

7) Lastly, I bake the piece at 325 degrees face down (colored pencil side up) on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 3 minutes. After I take the piece out of the oven, I immediately flip the piece over and press down on it with a smooth bottom glass pan.  The piece still needs to be sealed on the back (don’t spray the front, it will smear the marker) so I take it outside and spray it with an acrylic spray sealer in gloss finish (do this is a well-ventilated area). When that is dry I take it back inside and string it with beads to turn it into a necklace.

To make earrings, I take the same photo and make a 1.5×2.5 version (or whatever size correlates with the 1.5 inch side) of the photo I was working from and a mirror image of that, so there is no guesswork while doing the painting, and I repeat the process and string them for earrings.

I used green and blue cats eye glass, gold filled beads, freshwater pearls and brown, green and blue glass e beads for this necklace,  along with handmade gold-filled chain and a handmade clasp.

For more information on Prismacolor pencils and markers visit Marker Supply’s Prismacolor section.  For more on Dawn’s jewelry visit her Etsy site : www.dawnebryantdesigns.etsy.com

Marker Supply customer Marshall Fuld recently made a trip to Nashville to watch his favorite hockey team, the New York Rangers, play the Nashville Predators. Marshall is an avid hockey fan who enjoys collecting pucks signed by players. This hobby is what drew him to Marker Supply, and he frequently orders Zig Painty Markers because of how well they show up on the hockey pucks. Before the Rangers vs. the Predators game, he and Marker Supply Owners Al and Alberta Allen attended a pre-game radio show broadcast with special guests Predators players, #14 Radek Bonk and #12 Martin Erat. Marshall had both player sign Predators pucks and gave them to Al and Alberta as gifts. See for yourself how well the Zig Painty works!

The fine tipped Zig Painty comes in 50 colors, and the medium tipped Zig Painty comes in 55 colors. These oil based markers are perfect for writing on a variety of surfaces. Purchase a few for your arts and crafts projects!

Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity, an entertainment industry partnership
with Habitat for Humanity, recently they held an event in Los Angeles, CA.
Celebrities from every area of the entertainment industry came out to
support the cause.  We were happy to help this cause by providing the event
with markers!

After participating, each celebrity signed the hard hat they had used with a
Decocolor marker. The hard hats are currently being auctioned off to raise
money for the cause on http://www.clothesoffourback.org/habitat.  The
auction will run through March 6th at 5:00 pm PST with 100% of the proceeds
helping to build more affordable homes in Greater Los Angeles.

U2 Autographed Hard Hat

Decocolor markers are a great choice for autographs.  They give a permanent
mark that is available in a wide variety of bright, bold colors.  Not to
mention they are weatherproof, lead free, and acid free.  If you don’t
believe us just ask Ricky Martin!

Ricky Martin Autographing His Hat

For more information on the Decocolor markers visit the “Paint Markers”
section on MarkerSupply.com

This week at Opryland Hotel here in Nashville, college and university students from across the U.S. are gathered for the NACA (National Association of Campus Activities) Annual Convention. MarkerSupply is fortunate to be a vendor in the event’s Marketplace, and we’ve been enjoying promoting our Zig Posterman products to this enthusiastic clientele! Each day, attendees browse through hundreds of vendors, and MarkerSupply seems to be a favorite. Students and campus staff from a variety of colleges and universities are enjoying testing out the markers on glass, whiteboards, chalkboards, and paper. After visiting the booth, they are passing the word on to other attendees to drop by, too. Check out a few shots from last night’s Marketplace session:

The booth set up encourages students and campus staff to try the Posterman markers themselves.

MarkerSupply employees Danielle and Molly are enjoying running the booth.

Attendees enjoy trying out the markers and showcasing their school spirit!

The Posterman’s versatility make it the perfect marker for college and university campuses. Once messages written on glass, whiteboards or chalkboards dry, they will stay in place until removed with household cleaners, such as Windex. From advertising events to creating posters for the big game, Posterman won’t disappoint! Markers can be purchased individually or in sets. Visit our online store to place your order today!

Whole Food chalkboard artist Melissa Swanson recently shared with us a few pictures of the boards she designs using ZIG Posterman markers. “I like how they cover nicely and can be used to do brush-like texture,” Melissa explains.

Her boards for the St. Paul Whole Foods draw attention to seafood and deli specials through creative use of color and design.

If you are inspired to create your own chalkboard art, you can find everything you need in our online store. Posterman markers come in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes, and we carry chalkboards as well. Visit the store today!

This weekend, thousands of runners and walkers will gather in Nashville for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. MarkerSupply is proud to support the effort by donating funds received from the sales of pink sharpies. To date, we’ve sold 128 markers, and 100% of the proceeds are being donated to this race, as well as the upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Please continue to help us support these worthy causes by adding a pink sharpie to your order today!

Who says baby showers have to be boring? Recently, the ladies hosting a baby shower for Al and Alberta’s (MarkerSupply’s owners) daughter, Brigid Katselis, decided that the anticipated arrival of her first child should be celebrated in style. Among the many fun and creative games the girls had guests participate in, the onesie decorating contest was a favorite. Knowing that onesies are a must for any baby’s first year, providing unique onesies became the focus. Each shower guest was provided with a plain white onesie and Marvy Fabric markers to create wearable art for the soon to arrive Makena Katselis. Though the guests’ artistic ability varied from basic to beautiful, all of the onesies will be a reminder to little Makena and her parents of the friends and family took time to create them.

Here’s Brigid and her close friend Carrie with two of the many onesies created:

This idea could also be easily adapted for children’s birthday parties or other celebrations. Visit our store to see the variety of colors Marvy offers to help you decorate any fabrics!

In our first month of the Pink Sharpie promotion, we’ve sold 81 markers, allowing us to donate $40.50 to help fight breast cancer. We are excited to continue the promotion and hope you will consider helping out by purchasing a Pink Sharpie with your next order!

It’s that time of year when students, teachers, and parents across the country begin preparing for another school year. This year, let us help make purchasing supplies easier. We have a variety of products that are perfect for an array of school use.

For teachers, we carry both chalk boards and melamine boards that are ideal for the classroom. Though not as large as regular chalkboards, these boards are useful for posting materials needed for class each day, daily homework, reminders or missing work. Both Zig Wet Erase and Illumigraph markers and Sakura Permapaque markers work well with the boards.

For students, we can help all ages-elementary to college level-be prepared with our products. Prismacolor markers and Prisma color colored pencils can be used for every day assignments, as well as serious art projects. We carry duel-tipped markers, as well as fine tipped and chisel tipped. The Prismacolor pencils range from a basic product to the more specialized lightfast pencils and watercolor pencils. Due to the color availability, these pencils are a favorite of architecture students and artists! We also carry several brands of paint markers that are ideal for class projects and posters advertising class or school events. Visit our store to peruse the markers Elmers, Zig, and Posca offer.

Last, when it comes to school spirit, Zig Posterman markers are the product to have for decorating your car or making signs and posters for the big games. Check out our past blogs to see how our customers have used them to cheer on their favorite teams!

For recommendations on which products would be best for you, feel free to contact us. Let us help you prepare for a great school year!

Sanford Brand writing products are dedicated to fighting breast cancer, one marker at a time. With their “Write for Hope” campaign, Sanford plans to donate up to $250,000 to the City of Hope for breast cancer research. Here at MarkerSupply, we, too want to help this very worthy cause. For every pink Sharpie you purchase, we will donate all of our proceeds (fifty cents per marker) to help breast cancer awareness and research.

Current statistics state that “approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime”, meaning most people will have a family member or friend who has been or will be affected. In my own family, both my mother and grandmother are breast cancer survivors. Therefore, we’ve learned how truly essential it is to fight for this cause. The more we can help raise awareness and fund research, the more lives we can help save.

Each month, we will report on our blog how much money we have raised. We will also let you know how the money is donated. Please consider adding a pink Sharpie to your MarkerSupply orders today!