Just a Scrap Dork

Growing In Unity Day 5

Whew, it's Friday!  It was pretty touch and go there!

(I'll be honest, I started to write this post on Sunday, Feb 26th.  AFTER brunch- I thought that I needed a liquid encouragement to get my brain cells moving.  Instead, it just made me want to nap! And yeah, the nap will always win out!  I mean, who doesn't like a good Sunday afternoon nap!)

Anyway, I have pretty much exhausted all the fun ways to color Unity Stamps. Sure I could have discussed standard color pencils, graphite, and charcoal.  But, I ran out of time. And who uses charcoal to color in a stamped image for a card or scrapbook page?  You are a better person than me if you do!  However, I did leave time for some non traditional, non-blending coloring supplies. Sharpies.  YES, I did say Sharpies, Gel Pens, and Art Markers.

Unity Stamps:

• Main Image- Forest of Affection- Possibly my all time favorite image.  These little trees scream happiness to me. But, colored in different tones, they could be perfect for any occasion.

• Sentiment- Missing You Girl

Paper- Smooth Bristol paper. A smooth, heavy weight mixed media paper would work well in these applications as well.

Coloring Mediums-

• Gel Pens
• Art Markers
• Sharpie

Let me preface all this by saying: These mediums take some time to achieve that gradient, color blending look that make Unity stamps stand out even more. However, you can achieve value and shading by using techniques more suited for pen and ink.  For example, hatching, cross hatching, scumbling, contour hatching & stippling. 

Gel Pen- Gel Pens are a popular medium in the coloring book community.  You can find large sets nearly anywhere.  There are a wide variety of colors and effects available.  Sparkle, neon and standard are the most readily available.  The ink does go on smoothly, but can smear on smooth paper if you do not give it time to dry. This type of ink can be difficult to blend smoothly unless you have colors close on the color wheel. Keep your ink strokes all going in the same direction.  Feather the two colors together where the ink colors meet.  The positive is they do add a nice vibrancy and sparkle to any image. Just a side note, make sure you get a good quality gel pen. Lower quality pens come out scratchy and do not flow well.  Spend the extra money and avoid the frustration and gray hairs!

Art Markers- Art markers or any of the standard markers are a great way to lay down a solid color, semi-transparent pigment. They do not blend with water, alcohol or even with a blending pen. The best way to achieve a gradient color is by just adding on more and more layers of  pigment and use one of the techniques I mentioned above. Art markers come in a variety of nibs from bullet to brush tip. The ink in some of these markers work well when you color directly on a rubber image then stamp. If you find the ink dries on the stamp before you can lay down the color onto the paper, just "huff" on the rubber side of the stamp a couple of times.  The moisture from your breath will remoisten the ink. If you don't know how to huff, think of how your breathing is when Unity has a great sale!  Or Brad Pitt nekked.  Mmmm. Brad Pitt nekked.

Sharpie Markers- Now, I know you all think I am crazy, because Sharpie Markers isn't the first supply you think of when you sit down to color a Unity Stamp.  But consider this: Sharpies are a type of alcohol marker.  Now you can't blend them like a Copic or Spectrum Noir marker, but when combined with rubbing alcohol, you can create some interesting textures. Add the alcohol onto a piece of denim or terry cloth towel, press the moistened fabric firmly onto the area of choice, and wait a couple of seconds.  You will see some cool bleaching effects creating some interesting textures. Similar to a standard Art Marker, you can get some decent shading by just adding on additional layers of color.  Just like with an alcohol marker, the ink will bleed though your paper, so take precautions.  Seriously, Sharpies-give them a try.

Could you spot which medium I colored which image with?  I'll admit, none of these are my "go to" art supply, but if you are just starting out, on a limited budget, or are looking for a new medium to master, these supplies may be worth trying.

Final Answer:

Top- Gel Pen

Middle- Artist Marker

Bottom- Sharpie

I'm sad it's Friday and our adventure together is over.  I'm a little disappointed this week was more like a ride on the carousel, and not a rollercoaster , However, I didn't get trampled by a pack of dogs out for an amours time, and you didn't have to say "Bless her heart" too many times.(Well, I hope not anyway).

I also want to thank each and everyone of you for the warm and supportive comments.  Except for you Fallulah. You just bug me.  I am NOT responsible for your new Unity addiction.  

I also want to thank the Growing In Unity girls.  I appreciate the opportunity to share my creations.

As I mentioned EVERYDAY this week.  Please be sure to comment.  It's your ticket into the drawing for an AWESOME Unity prize.  I'll draw names on Saturday!

Thank you all again for the warm welcome & great support.

-Annie