21+ Techniques for Stampin' Write Markers

1. Colour book Technique
a. Stamp image using black ink, or emboss image using black ink
b. Colour image using markers

2. Opaque Technique
a. Stamp image using White Craft Ink on dark cardstock
b. Colour over White Craft Ink using markers. Image will pop!

3. Highlighting Photography (Photoshop technique)
a. Take a black and white photograph
b. Decide what you would like to highlight; colour the pieces with markers. (Example: flowers in a bouquet)

4. Water Colouring Technique w/Aqua or Blender Pen
a. Scribble on the top of a stamp case with markers.
b. Dip Aqua Painter or Blender pen in ink and colour image

5. Colouring Technique
a. Use colours with a few different shades
b. Use a lighter marker
c. Use a darker re-inker
d. Shade in image with light marker
e. Dip tip of light marker in re-inker
f. Highlight image with marker
g. To clean marker tip, colour on scrap paper

6. Omitting
a. Colour part of a stamp with markers (ex: one word of a phrase; one flower in a bouquet…)
b. Stamp

7. Embossing with Marker
a. Versamark ink on stamp
b. Colour on top of versamarked stamp with markers
c. Sponge daub to smooth out colour
d. Stamp image
e. Sprinkle clear embossing powder; heat

8. Shading and Highlighting
a. Colour on stamp; start with lightest colour on whole image
b. Go around outsides with next darker shade
c. Stamp image
d. Use blender pen to blend colours together (Remember to breathe on the stamp before stamping to reactivate the ink)

9. Marker to Stamp - Water mist
a. Colour on stamp with marker
b. Spritz lightly with water
c. Then stamp image

10. Colour Spritz Tool
a. Put Marker in spritz tool and use to colour

When using colour spritzer tool, remember to clean in between markers. Wipe the tip with a tissue or paper towel. Also, it’s a “bulb syringe,” so it’s sucking colour in as well as splooshing it out. So, pull a little water into the bulb and squirt. Continue until water runs clear. Make sure it’s dry again before using the next colour (just squirt a lot until no water comes out).

11. Colour Spritz Tool Directly on Stamp 
a. Use 3 different colour markers (light, med and dark)
b. Spritz light colour first on Stamp
c. Spritz medium colour around the edges on stamp
d. Spritz darker colour outside (accent) on stamp
e. Then Stamp image

12. Thumping Technique
a. Ink stamp with ink pad
b. Hold markers between finger and thumb (like drum sticks) and thump on stamp
c. Then stamp image

13. Background Technique
a. Use old page protector or transparency sheet
b. Scribble on protector (or transparency) with markers
c. Mist with water
d. Lay glossy card stock face down on this creation
e. Brayer back of card stock for full coverage.

14. Dying Technique
a. Dye white ribbon with markers
b. Colour edges of ribbon a darker colour to accent, or just do edges and leave the centre white

15. Dye Flowers
a. Use flowers from Pretties Kit
b. Mist flower with water
c. Colour on flower with Marker
d. Let dry
e. Accent Pretties with the same marker, highlighting lines etc.

16. Dye Pearl Technique
a. Brush colour on pearls (from Pretties Kit)
b. Use clear embossing powder on pearl
c. Heat set pearl

17. Marker with Dry Embossing Stencils
a. a. Use thin side of marker
b. b. Use with Dry Embossing to accent and highlight

18. Make Flowers
a. Use tip of brush side
b. Smoosh around to make Flowers and hearts!

19. Journal with Markers
a. Highlight certain words
b. Underline certain words

20. Stamp around Wheels Technique
a. Ink wheel with markers
b. Wheel image (Example in Fall/Winter Collection, the bag on p. 24). Remember to breathe on the wheel after to reactivate the ink.

21. Dye or streak your hair

Here are extras that are mine (Courtesy: Elizabeth “Buffy” Cooper)–
22. Multi-coloured Stamping
a. Colour directly on the stamp with markers. Use different colours (red, lavender, pink for flowers, greens for leaves, etc.)
b. Breathe on stamp to reactivate ink.
c. Stamp

23. Water colouring #2
a. Stamp on watercolour paper with StazOn
b. Outline image with markers.
c. Use aqua painter to blend colour or remove colour. Add more colour, shadows or highlights as needed

NB: I did not write this article, and am unsure of the origin, but I found it really helpful.

If you are the author, please contact me so I can give credit where it is due!

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1996-2008. All artwork by me unless otherwise stated.

Cassandra Grambau

www.cassandragrambau.com.au