Before You Buy Another Marker Try This With What You Have! 3 Beginner Blending Techniques!

Hi friends! Today we are talking about basic alcohol marker coloring. You can use whatever permanent markers you have for today’s lesson.

As far as coloring mediums go alcohol markers come with the steepest learning curve. There are hundreds (well, it seems that way LOL!) of different marker brands from Sharpie to Copic offering alcohol based pens and they all have various features like brush, bullet or chisel nibs, different shaped barrels and matte vs shiny plastic but you know what? The ink is basically the same in whatever pen you choose! If you are feeling like you are not coloring up to your full potential because you don’t have the most expensive markers fear not. In this video I will share 3 simple techniques that will improve your coloring and make it easy no matter what brand you own.

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Supplies (affiliate links used)

• Stamps: Katzelkraft Dogs, Katzelkraft Accessories, Katzelcraft Exclisive Pilgrim Holiday Accessories, All other Katzelkraft stamps can be found here

• Large acrylic block: Fiskars stamp press (I have the large but there is also a small)

• Normal acrylic stamp blocks

• Stampamajig

• Markers (ohuhu)

• Memento ink

• Star stencil

• Ink blending brushes

• Make up sponge or foam ink applicator

• Distress ink in Tumbled glass, dusty concord and faded jeans

• Halloween paper (I got mine last year at ac moore but this ia a similar option)

• Spider button

• Adhesive

• Halloween Washi tape

• gel pens: (Color it)

• Opaque pens (posca)

Blending techniques: 1. Flat all over streak free coverage. The key to getting a solid flat coverage is to saturate the paper with ink. You can do parallel lines of ink with the chisel tip or circled with a brush tip to achieve this. If it is mottled looking do another coat. This also works well for small areas where you have no room to blend.

2: Layering or layered blending. Use 3 or more shades of the same color. Color the entire area with your lightest shade of maker, then color the dar and mid tone areas with the middle shade and color the darks with your darkest shade. Use the lightest marker to soften the edge where the mid tone meets the light and use the mid ton marker to soften the area the dark meets the mid tone.

3. Dark to light blending. Again with 3 shades of the same color, color your darks, then color over the darks with the midtone and bring the color out, then use the lightest marker to color over the whole area.

More coloring tips!

• If you messed up a blend or your colors are too dark apply a later of colored pencil or chalk in a paler shade of the same color, it will even out your coloring and add depth and highlights.

• Gel pens come in a huge variety of colors and transparencies, use opaque pastels and metallic to add a bold highlight or detail over a solid dark color or use dark transparent and glitter colors to shade and add a subtle sparkle!

• If your color is streaky add another coat of marker.

• A clear blending marker actually works better as a color lifter or eraser so if you color outside of the lines wait for the ink to dry and use the chisel tip if the clear marker to push the offending ink back in place. Id that don’t work you can tidy up the background with a gel or paint pen.

I hope this was helpful and it encourages you to give your alcohol markers another try. Alcohol markers are a lot of fun when you know the simply steps to use them to get the effects you want. Keep practising and til next time happy crafting!