Feb 16 2009
Coloring with Prismacolor Markers
This is a simple but cheery little card I made because I had all these Bud Basics flowers stamped out for practicing with my Prismacolor markers. I stamped them when I first got the markers, gradually colored a few, and finally figured it was about time I turned some of them into cards. I have others colored and waiting, as well. In fact, I have several projects in various stages of completion . . . the pile on my desk just keeps getting bigger. Every time I make one card I wind up with more spare parts for the pile. I think this is common among all stampers, isn’t it?
The Prismacolor markers are a fairly new medium for me and I’m learning as I go along. It seems the one consistency in my method is my inconsistency. I do something different almost every time I sit down with them — different ink, different paper, different blending technique. I’m not in any position to offer advice on the best way to use these markers, but I can share some of my experiences.
First, the paper: My current favorite is Stampin’ Up!’s Whisper White. It may not be the best choice but it works best for me at this early learning stage. The coating which gives it such a nice surface for stamping on also minimizes the ink bleeding outside the lines of the image. However, a more absorbent paper allows the marker inks to blend more smoothly. It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. I’m still experimenting with whatever papers I have at my disposal.
Next, the ink for stamping the image: I started out with Palette ink. It seems to work okay as long as I’m not using the colorless blender. It must be thoroughly “set” before you begin coloring. This might have something to do with the Whisper White paper — maybe. At any rate, I no longer use Palette ink with my markers. I’ve been using whatever Ranger inks I have on hand and they all work beautifully. I’ve used both the Adirondack inks and the Distress inks and they seem to be impervious to the blending pen. They’re stamp & go inks — virtually no drying time is required. I’ve also used Versafine Onyx Black with great success. It’s a pigment ink and must be either embossed or heat set to dry, or allowed a good while to dry on it’s own. Once dry, however, I’ve experienced no bleeding or smearing of the ink.
Embossing the stamped image is a fun way to go. I’ve tried it on a couple of different absorbent papers and it truly does prevent the ink from bleeding outside the embossed line. You get the blending benefits of the absorbent paper and the added attraction of embossing, without the bleeding. The pretty little girl in the thumbnail was embossed on watercolor paper (click for an enlarged view). I’ll have more embossed samples to share later.
At this time, I wanted to share how I colored the flowers in today’s card. It may not be the right way, and I may do it differently next time. Maybe we can learn together. Experts, please chime in with any tips you’d like to share. Hopefully, one photo will suffice with the corresponding numbered explanations, below:
- Color entire flower with Deco Pink. The loopy accents at the petal bases were colored with Clay Rose.
- Add Clay Rose along petal edges.
- Using Deco Pink, start in the petal center and color into the Clay Rose edges. Color all the way to the edges of the petal, but concentrate less marker ink along the edges. The lighter colored Deco Pink will remove some of the Clay Rose. While the marker ink is still wet on the paper, outline the petal with Clay Rose. Wet ink on wet ink will result in a soft edge. This will add extra definition to the petal edges. You may have to add more ink and rework it until satisfied. Adding more ink will darken the image, but it will only darken to a certain degree. This is as dark as these colors get.
- Use the colorless blender to remove some ink from the petal center. Just color the area you wish to highlight. If you remove too large an area of ink, you can add more Deco Pink around the highlighted area. I’ll usually just touch the tip of my colored marker along the edges of the colorless blender ink, and it will blend in softly. I call that blotting. Sometimes I’ll use the colorless blender pen in a blotting fashion, too. After you’ve tested this a few times you’ll get a feel for what the inks look like as they dry. They do soften a bit upon drying.
I colored half the flower center in Warm Black, and colored into that with 20% Cool Gray.
There’s not much coloring involved in the leaves and the smaller pink flowers. To color the pink flowers I outlined them with Deco Pink and went over that with the colorless blender.
I hope this information is helpful for those of you who were asking or wondering about some of these things. I’m learning as I go, but I’ll make a point of sharing what I learn. If you’re interested in other coloring tutorials I’ve done with different mediums, you can see them all here. As for the card, itself, the ingredients are listed below. Enjoy the rest of your week, and thank you so much for stopping by today!
Stamps: Bud Basics, Warm Words Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, BasicGrey Phoebe designer paper Ink: Palette Noir, Prismacolor markers for coloring Accessories: SU! ribbon, eyelets, Cuttlebug Perfectly Paisley embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
OMG I checked all weekend for a new card from you, LOL. This is a beauty! I just ordered my Prismacolor markers Sat I can’t wait until they arrive! I really LOVE this card, not sure what appeals the most I think the paper combo and the little flowers. Very nice!!!!!!
what a great card!! thanks for the pics on the coloring, it always helps to see what the steps are!!
What a neat card. Thanks for explaining the coloring. I can use all the tips available to me.
Thank you for sharing your coloring. Every bit of information is helpful.
Thanks for the pointers Leslie! It looks like Copic might be a bit different than Prismas because I can’t use Versafine — it smears and the Palette inks don’t. Ranger does work well and so does Memento inks too. Anywho, thought I’d share that two cents for the folks that have Copics instead of Prismas. Your card and your “how to” rocked! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing, I have the prisma’s so I may just be able to achieve this myself
Lovely coloring and pretty paper and embossing combo!
Thanks for your clear instructions-don’t have the markers but have thought about getting some.
Beautiful! And thank you so much for the instructions…I have Copics, but am not a pro with them yet! Every tip and hint helps!l I love your blog, keep up the GREAT work!!!
Your card is so very pretty Leslie, and I love the flowers you’ve colored so beautifully!! I don’t own any Prismacolor markers, but still appreciate your tips (all pointers are good for any coloring medium). Wonderful happy card!!
Fabulous Leslie, just fabulous! I read Julie’s comment above and that is very puzzling since Prisma’s are alcohol bases as are Copics, at least that’s my understanding, I haven’t tried Prisma’s markers, just the Copics.
Oh so pretty!
Leslie, your tutorial is wonderful and your beautifully colored images are stunning. You have made such a beautiful and up to date card using all your wonderful BG papers and CB’d panels along with your colored and ret. SU stamps. Love the results. TFS
Such a pretty happy card Leslie, thanks for the coloring tips!!
Totally beautiful Leslie and your tutorial is fabulous!!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Oh, Leslie! Thank you so much for this very interesting tutorial!
Your card is so pretty! Love, LOVE your WONDERFUL COLORING!
Oh what a beautiful card, Leslie. And not simple at all - much to love and appreciate about it. I use Copics and I don’t know if your Prismas are the same kind of ink but the only ink I have success with when using my Copics is Memento - I now have it in Tuxedo Black, London Fog (grey) and Rich Cocoa. There is no need to heat set the image before painting it and there is absolutely no bleeding. Debbie Olson turned me on to the Memento line.
I love Whisper White as well. It has such a nice feel to it. No matter if I use other brands of white cardstock I’ll always have a supply of Whisper White on hand, too.
Great tutorial and beautiful card! TFS
such a pretty card as usual thanks for the coloring tips I had bought some of those markers but could not get the hang of it so returned them sob
Hugs
Norine
Thanks for the wonderful instructions. I am in the processing of purchasing some of the markers. All your tips and instructions will be greatly appreciated. Beautiful card.
Leslie, you said experts please chime in? Sweetie, we consider you the expert because you sure rocked those markers!! Thank you for an absolutely fabulous tutorial!
Are those SU markers or Copic?
What a wonderful tutorial with prismacolor markers!!! I get smear with versafine which dirves me a little nutty. There’s a little less smear if I leave it to dry for a day or two, or if I heat set it, but I’m too impatient to wait, and too forgetful to heat set it until after my first smear and then I remember. Can anyone say - slow learner here??!!!!! *LOL*
A beautiful card and a fabulous tutorial you have prepared!!! Thank you so much — very easy to follow your wonderful photos and text — well done!!!
Great coloring tutorial, Leslie! Even though I don’t have the Prismacolor markers, the basic coloring and shading advice you shared are also helpful for using regular markers or even watercoloring. Thanks for the review. Linda