The variety of warm metallic colors includes many shades of gold, along with other metals such as copper and bronze- but even with the same color name, they definitely do not all look the same!
Have a look at the Metallic Marker section at Marker Supply!
Use these ink swatches as a reference for how each marker appears on light vs. dark surfaces, which ones shine when turned to the light, and find the warm metallic markers that will work the best for you!
Water-based Papercraft Markers
The Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Markers leave a nice amount of glitter along with their color! Unfortunately with this type of marker, the glitter is all that shows up on dark paper.
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Colored Pencils
These colored pencils really show how metallic colors can completely change when used on light vs. dark paper! Most often, darker papers tend to show off the metallic properties, and white papers highlight the actual color of the mark.
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Gel Pens
Gel pens are great at demonstrating how some metallics can show dark, flat color at one angle, and then become super bright and shiny when hit with light at another angle. This property is known as a color’s sheen.
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Chalkboard/Poster/Window Markers
When using metallic colors on chalkboards, make sure to test in a small area how easily they clean off. Metallic paint contents can sometimes leave a mark (called ghosting) since some chalkboards are more on the porous side, and can soak in the color pigments.
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Fabric Markers
The color and effect of metallic fabric markers depends a great deal on the type of fabric used. Some can soak up the color, and some can soak up the metallic shine. Always test your paint in a small area first!
An interesting example of the same copper paint marker (Zig Fabricolor) used on various fabrics. The softer fleece left the color completely on top, while the thicker denim soaked in all but the bright metallic pigments.
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Oil-Based & Permanent Ink Markers
Permanent metallic ink markers can definitely have an impressive sheen to them when turned into the light (and then there are some that have none at all!) This is also a type of marker that will look totally different depending on the surface.
Most paint markers don’t look their best on paper and can soak in or appear flat. While some DO work on paper surfaces, it’s usually the thick/non-porous surfaces that show the most impressive results.
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We’d love to see what your markers are making!
Share your gold (or other metallic) art/craft with us and tell us which metallic markers you like the best!
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Make sure you sign up for our Metallic contest before November 14th for your chance to win a metallic marker mega pack! Voting for your favorite shade of gold is one way you can enter!
See our contest blog for more details.
We are very excited about Marker Supply’s newest featured artist – Lacey at LA Sign Design!
“My main passion is to keep the art of handwriting and cursive alive in the most creative ways possible.
I love technology but nothing beats handmade, in my opinion.” –Lacey @ LA Sign Design
Lacey is the owner/artist behind her business, LA Sign Design, that creates a number of incredible chalk marker art projects- from store advertisements, to event posters, to menus, to our highlight of this blog: PARTY BOARDS!!
Handmade boards done with chalk markers are becoming more & more popular at birthdays, weddings, and other special events as a fun and unique way to decorate and display information to the guests!
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We asked Lacey some questions about her work as a chalkboard artist, specifically in the area of doing boards for special occasions:
How long have you been making chalk art boards for parties?
Professionally, since 2012, but I have loved to doodle since I could hold a crayon.
What objects do you use for your actual boards?
Mainly old wood-framed pictures I up-cycle into chalkboards. I purchase the picture frames from the local Savers or Goodwill, thrift sales, & auctions. I also cut sanded plywood in custom sizes for a variety of different projects.
Are there surfaces that are easier or more difficult to draw on than others?
Since most my work is freehand, learning to write straight & evenly spaced on an already mounted chalkboard or surface is probably the most difficult to master. I create artwork on glass as well-this can be slippery & really test ones hand steadiness.
How big are your average-size boards and how long do they take to finish?
My mini chalkboards are popular as 8 x 10 inch picture frames. I’ve also created wedding programs that are 4 x 4 foot & photo-op standees that are 7 feet tall! Most signage only requires 1-2 hours of work (Prep, design, sketches, art, touch-ups, seal coat) but is determined more by the amount of writing & special designs required.
What do you use on top of a finished board to seal & protect it?
To really make a board last I offer my clients the option to seal coat with either a Matte or Gloss finish Mod Podge. Sealing is a great idea to preserve the ink from fading and really makes the writing stand out against the black chalkboard.
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BIRTHDAY BOARDS
Birthday chalkboards are stand-out party decor for kids AND adults of any age! Not only are they fun for the party itself, but they can remain treasured keepsakes to remember the event well into the future! Fill them with information from life at the present moment, and then you can always have a look back to your “time capsule sign!”
We LOVE these colorful and customized kids birthday signs by LA Sign Design!!
(and congrats on the recent Blue-Ribbon-Win!)
You can also make chalkboard signs for different areas & activities at your party-
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WEDDING BOARDS
An elegant way to decorate for a couple’s big day!!
Even simply using just white ink on a black chalkboard can still make beautiful pieces to introduce the wedding party, display the menu options, or have as backdrops for photos!
“Wedding signage is becoming a fast trend and the markers seriously make all the difference on the big day. Brides are always so relieved to learn my “chalk” is actually water-proof & smudge-proof unlike regular chalk. I always have the option of Chalk Ink markers which are no-mess and dust-free in case they need the signage to be temporary. Doing the wedding program on a large chalkboard or refinished door is becoming super popular and cost effective compared to printing programs.” -Lacey @ LA Sign Design
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Lacey’s favorite marker picks:
*Zig Posterman Medium and Big & Broad
*Uni Posca Fine, Medium, and Broad
*Sharpie Poster Paint Fine and Medium
Sharpie Poster Paint (water-based) is the best marker I’ve found for white, red, and yellow colors. The pigment lasts and covers well over black surfaces. I like using Posterman and Sharpie markers so my chalkboard artwork is already smudge-proof & water-proof but not chemical-proof (ink can be removed with Windex). Postermans also work great on glass indoors & outdoors. Chalk ink (ex. Posterman Wet-Wipe) markers work perfect for a surface that needs to be reused or edited easily. The liquid chalk can be wiped clean with water and best part is no chalk dust!
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Lacey’s advice to those interested in chalk marker art:
“Make mistakes, fix them, & create some more!
My skills continue to develop over time with practice, studying new techniques, & faith in my freehand ability.
If you are not as sure about your freehand skills, but really want to create a chalkboard sign, use this neat trick:
1. Find a quote, picture, or design online [or create one in Word] and print it off to fit your chalkboard.
2. Use a No.2 Pencil & cover the backside of this printed off picture with pencil.
3. Tape the paper to the chalkboard.
4. Use pencil to now trace pressing firmly over the quote & transfer the pencil from the backside to the board.
5. Remove paper & reveal a light outline of exactly where you need to color!”
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Thanks so much to Lacey for all of the insights into her chalkboard world! Keep up the good work!!
To contact Lacey or see more of her artwork, check out her webpage HERE!
She also occasionally has giveaways for FREE mini chalkboards! Fun!!
© ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED TO LA SIGN DESIGN.
Marker Supply appreciates her letting us use them in the blog!!
The month of May has come to a close and so has our “April Showers Bring May Flowers” contest.
Thanks to everyone who submitted their flowery artwork!! We have some awesome artists out there!!
Congratulations to Marcella in Louisiana, who was our randomly chosen Grand Marker Prize Winner! We hope ALL of you will enjoy getting your free marker gifts.
Stay tuned for our next Marker Supply contest!
SOME MORE OF OUR FLOWERY MARKER PROJECTS FROM LAST MONTH:
Pebeo Vitrea Markers- specially designed to paint on glass!
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Grab an old canvas painting/photo and use it like a coloring book! Make your new “paint-over” image stand out with metallic or fluorescent colors!
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Making some flower collages on cloth books and bags with the Zig Decoupage Glue Marker: formulated to work well on fabric surfaces!
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Using the Zig Kurecolor Refill Inks for shaving cream marbling to try and make a Marigold garden card!
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Oil-based paint markers (Zig Painty and Marvy Decocolor) for coloring on stones- makes great garden plant signs!
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A cute kiddo t-shirt made with the Zig Fabricolor markers!
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This old cookie tin got a fresh flowery face using the oil-based paint markers Zig Painty and Marvy Decocolor!
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There are so many fun marker projects out there!!
Feel free to let us know what YOU like to color!
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Summer is a time for crafting! With no school and time to do some creating, school teacher Jennifer took decided to redecorate her daughter’s bed room. We’re very excited she shared her wall art project with us.
Inspired by Pottery Barn artwork, Jennifer found a less expensive way to create the looks seen in this season’s catalog using different mediums and markers.
She started by purchasing a variety of scrapbook papers to match the bedding in her daughter’s room. She then used stencils, templates, and our Greeting Farm Forest Friends Stamp Set to create little scenes on each page. To make the stamps pop, she used the Art & Graphic markers on white card stock. After cutting them out she colored them in with the Kurecolor Markers. To add finer details to the images she used the ZIG Memory System Writer and Sakura Microperm fine line black markers. Jennifer finished the wall art by gluing the scenes together and framing the pages.
The result was a cute new room for little Millicent and a project well done by Jennifer. Take a look at the finished room below
Millicent's New Room
Millicent's Room Up Close
Share your summer projects with us! Send us your photos here!
Trader Joe’s chalkboard artist Mei-Ling knows what it takes to attract customers’ attention for in-store advertising. Mei-Ling handcrafts each board’s eye catching design using ZIG Posterman and Woodcraft markers. The array of colors available provides the perfect palette from which to choose when crafting such elaborate and attractive boards. Complementary colors allow for shading and creative lettering to ensure the wording on each advertisement stands out effectively. When coupled with witty and beautifully crafted graphics, these boards become true works of art. We appreciate Mei-Ling sharing her talents with us!
The Zig Posterman Metallic Markers that we carry have been put to good use by Big Tattoo Wines. This company was founded by Alex and Erik Bartholomaus in 2002 as a way to honor their mother, Liliana S. Bartholomaus, who lost her battle to cancer two years earlier. Their business donates fifty cents of every sale to charitable organizations that benefit the communities where the wine is sold.
As you can see below, Big Tattoo Wines is using the Zig Posterman Metallics to sign and decorate their bottles. The marker shows up well on the bottle and adds a personal touch.
To learn more about this company, see the charities in your community who benefit from their sales, or to find the location nearest you that carries this brand, visit:
http://bigtattoowines.com/
Photo and information on Big Tatoo Wines submitted by Deirdre Barrington. Text edited by Jennifer Allen.
