2013 Promarker, Flexmarker and Aquamarker Charts

Happy New Year folks, to kick off the year I've uploaded my new combined pro- and flex- marker chart to Google so that it's easier for my readers to download. And while I was at it I uploaded my current Aquamarker Colour chart and my 2012 Limited Edition Blending Suggestions chart. Please note, the charts you download are blank for you to colour in yourself. 
Important: please feel free to let others know about these charts, but can you please pass on the link to this post so that they can download the chart themselves
So you can download them here.....

2013 Promarker & Flexmarker Colour Chart
features all the current promarker and flexmarker colours as at 1st January 2013 (including the new flexmarker colours added December 2012) Remember to print this chart onto the paper/card that you normally use for colouring with pro- and flex- markers, to ensure you have a true representation of what each colour will look like when you use them.

Aquamarker Colour Chart
features all the current aquamarker colours as at 1st January 2013 (including the new colours added in 2012) Remember to print this chart onto watercolour paper/card.

2012 Limited Edition Promarker Blending Suggestion Chart
features all the limited edition promarker colours released during 2012. Remember to print this chart onto the paper/card that you normally use for colouring with pro- and flex- markers, to ensure you have a true representation of what each colour will look like when you use them.

Flexmarker Christmas Tags

I have a bit of a fixation for tags at the moment in my crafting, and I think it's probably because my crafty time is very limited now that the Christmas shopping is well underway. I usually use the water based Aquamarkers, Metallic Markers or Neon Markers to colour backgrounds on tags and cards, but I thought I'd show you a super quick and effective way to use your flexmarkers and promarkers for backgrounds.

Firstly I cut strips of Diamond White card a little larger than I required

I then selected a few flexmarkers that were in the same area of the colour wheel - in this case I used Imperial Purple, Red Violet, Vermilion and Shocking Pink 

Using the broad chisel nib end, I coloured the strips horizontally, overlapping at each colour change. Now you can take your time to get a nice smooth blend between colours, or be as rough and ready as I was for a more textural effect. (I also used the brush nib to get some more defined flashes)

I then die cut the tags, but you could just as easily cut to size with a paper trimmer or scissors and a hole punch. I then chose some Christmas stamps and stamped over the tags using Archival Ink. And here are the finished tags - quick as  a flash!

Supplies List:

• Letraset Flexmarkers
• Diamond White cardstock from The Papeterie
• Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplates die
• Christmas stamps - I used ones from MME and Inkadinkado
• Archival Ink

Debbi x

Skin Tone Colour Combos

Following on from the Flexmarker hair colour combos I posted a few weeks ago, I thought I would post some of the skin colour combos that I use. I'm frequently asked at demos and classes what colours to use for various different skin tones. I've tried to illustrate a darker skin, an Asian skin, a Hispanic/Indian skin, a couple of light skin tones and I've thrown in a wild colour - the digi image I've used is Salute Her from Saturated Canary, which has a combat/army feel, so the last colour combo is a camouflage effect :)

 It's fun to play around with colours, these are just suggestions. Why don't you see if you can come up with your own colour combos

Debbi x

Printable Blank Colour Charts

Hi there,
here are the two colour charts I have made up for promarkers/flexmarkers. 
The first one is for the standard promarker colours and the second one is for all the current standard  promarkers and flexmarkers together

All you need to do is click on the pics above to take you to the download site. You then download the chart(s) for free.

I recommend that you print the chart(s) onto the same cardstock that you use normally with promarkers/flexmarkers - then you can colour in your chart(s)

By using the same cardstock that you normally use for colouring, you ensure that you have a true representation of what each colour will look like. (You'd be surprised how different each colour can look on different types of cardstock)

You can also print the chart(s) onto copy paper to keep in your purse/handbag as a handy reminder of the colours you still need to collect.

Debbi x

Flexmarker Hair Combos

I’m always asked at demonstrations “what colours do you use for blonde/brown/red hair?“

But because I’m always experimenting with colours, the answers are usually different all the time. Now that we have Flexmarkers, we have even more colours to experiment with! So I’ve spent this afternoon trying out some new hair colour combinations. I’ve selected colours for a brunette, a blonde, and a redhead as well as 3 wilder colour combinations.

By using flicky strokes – yes that is the technical term – you can achieve a more realistic, textured effect to the hair, so you don’t need to worry about blending the shades too much.

I used the “Double Take” digital image from Saturated Canary for my sample chart, printed onto Diamond White card from The Papeterie

 I hope these colour combos inspire you to experiment with your FlexMarkers and ProMarkers, we’d love to see how you get on in the comments!

Debbi x

Flexmarkers - Skin & Fair Hair

Hiya
Another quick video tutorial, this time featuring the new Flexmarkers


Materials List
Flexmarkers: Rose Peach, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Nutmeg, Light Fawn & Buttercup
Diamond White cardstock from The Papeterie
Seasons Greetings - Sassy Stamp from Sugar Nellie

Valentine Tutorial

Materials List:ProMarkers -Burnt Orange, Coral, Walnut, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Burgundy, Crimson, Poppy
FlexMarkers –  Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Black, Dolphin Blue, Light Fawn

Valentines digi stamp from Saturated Canary

Ultra-fine nibs, Diamond White from The Papeterie, Annie Sloan Paint, Heart Shaped Chocolate Box, Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, Kaisercraft grunge texture stamp, grosgrain ribbon, double sided tape.

Step 1

To begin with I have printed my digital stamp (Making Valentines from Saturated Canary)  onto smooth white cardstock (Diamond White from The Papeterie).

I will be using Burnt Orange and Coral promarkers and Sunkissed Pink and Blush Flexmarkers for the skin.

Step 2

The first colour I use is Burnt Orange (with an ultra fine nib fitted).

This looks very dark – but it is toned down with the blending as we go along – it gives the skin a nice healthy glow.

I’ve very lightly coloured underneath the hairline around the top and sides of the face.

Step 3

Using the bullet nib of the Coral Promarker I have coloured over the Burnt Orange areas then moved slightly further out into the white areas of the face.

I use small circular strokes and by colouring over the darker shade, I’m blending as I go.

Step 4

Repeat the last step using the Sunkissed Pink Flexmarker (you can use the Promarker instead), again colouring over the already coloured areas and slightly further into the white area of the face.

I have also made a few light strokes to accentuate the contours of her face e.g. her nose.

Remember to be a little lighter-handed with the Flexmarkers as they are slightly juicier than the Promarkers.

Step 5

And to finish off her face I have coloured over the Sunkissed Pink area and the remaining white areas with the Blush flexmarker (again you can use the promarker instead).

It does look a little dark, but as you can see from the later pictures it dries lighter.

Step 6

For her hair I will be using Black Flexmarker, Walnut,Cocoa and Cinnamon Promarkers (all with ultra fine nibs fitted).

Firstly I use the Black flexmarker and lightly lay down a little colour at the centre parting.

Step 7

Next I used the Walnut promarker with the ultra fine nib fitted to make light wispy strokes over and outwards from the parting and inwards from each side.

I find the quicker I do this, the more random the lines are – for a more natural effect.

Step 8

Repeat this process with the Cocoa Promarker with ultra fine nib fitted, moving further into the uncoloured area of the hair.

Step 9

Then colour, lightly over the whole hair area with the Cinnamon Promarker (bullet nib).

You can repeat the steps with the Walnut and Cocoa Promarkers if you think the hair needs more depth or definition.

Step 10

Next I have coloured the rest of her hair, her eyes (using Walnut, Cocoa and Cinnamon Promarkers with the ultra fine nibs attached).

I coloured her lips with Coral and Burnt Orange Promarkers (with ultra fine nib attachments) leaving a tiny bit uncoloured in the middle as a highlight.

Step 11

I used the bullet nib of the Walnut Promarker to colour the areas of her trousers that I imagined would be in shadow (if the light is coming from the front left).

 

Step 12

Then I coloured over the Walnut and further out into the white area in small circles with the Cocoa Promarker.

Step 13

And repeat this step with the Cinnamon promarker, colouring over everything to blend.

Step 14

I decided to leave her t-shirt white, and added a little shading with the Dolphin Blue Flexmarker to the right hand edges of her sleeves and body.

Step 15

I then used Burgundy, Crimson and Poppy Promarkers with the ultra fine nib attachments to colour the details e.g. the patch on her trousers, the crayons and hearts.

Step 16

                                                                                   

And lastly a very simple way to “ground” the character I used Cocoa Promarker with the ultra fine nib to make some sweeping random lines, then coloured over the top with Light Fawn Flexmarker.

Finishing Touches

I painted an empty heart-shaped chocolate box with Annie Sloan paint (you could also use acrylic paint or cover with paper) then stamped with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and a Kaisercraft grunge texture stamp. Then stuck a burgundy grosgrain ribbon around the side with double sided tape.