SU Blender Pen vs Markers

[KathyOrta]

Ok Ladies-- would you say that using your blender pens with your stamps pads be the same as having the markers? What is really the purpose of the blender Pen?

Thanks in advance!!!!!!

[markie's mom]

I use the blender pen with RE-FILLS and with pastels,(SU!'s chalks). I like DEEP, rich color, so I use the refills.

I have used the blender pen with the ink pad and gotten tired of "reinking" the nib.

I MUCH prefer the SU! markers!

[frou frou]

The blender pen has multiple uses and as its name implies, blends color from other sources. yes you can pick up color from your ink pad to color, it wil be lighter than a marker. You can use your blender pen and markers together on watercolor paper, you can also pick up and apply pastels (chalk) with your blender pen.
if you are familiar with the bleaching technique, the blender pen is the most controlable way to apply bleach. You can also "wipe ink off" of an inked stamp. For example you ink your stamp but want a portion to be a different color you can wipe off the ink w/ blender pen and use a marker to apply the other color...clear as mud?
So markers can NOT repalce a blender pen, but you can use a blender pen like a marker, but they will produce very different effects. I hope this is what you were asking, and is helpful to you!

[cmesinden]

Originally Posted by frou frou

You can also "wipe ink off" of an inked stamp. For example you ink your stamp but want a portion to be a different color you can wipe off the ink w/ blender pen and use a marker to apply the other color...clear as mud?
So markers can NOT repalce a blender pen, but you can use a blender pen like a marker, but they will produce very different effects. I hope this is what you were asking, and is helpful to you!

Thanks for sharing a great tip that I hadn't thought of before!

I love my blender pens! They let me watercolor even though I so can not master the aqua pens, LOL. The blender pens to me are a great initial investment that lets you do so much with one simple tool. If you are just starting stamping then you should go ahead and get them. Save money on markers for now and just buy more ink pad colors, ! Markers are great later though.

[lesliespringer]

I use the blender pen with watercolor pencils. All so with SU watercoor crayons.
I think I have better control using the blender pen than the aqua pen. Just personal preference.

[GreenDragonLady]

I prefer the blender pen over the aqua painter as well. I use it with re-inkers, ink squeezed into the lid of the pad, markers, watercolor wonder crayons, watercolor pencils and pastels.

It's great when I'm doing multiples of something with watercolor pencils or even WWC. I can put all the crayon/pencil on my images, then take a blender pen and blend all the blue, then go through and do all the green, then the next color, etc. I can stack them up and not worry that they're not dry.

[Allistamps123]

Originally Posted by lesliespringer

I use the blender pen with watercolor pencils. All so with SU watercoor crayons.
I think I have better control using the blender pen than the aqua pen. Just personal preference.

Same here....

[KathyOrta]

Now I think I need the markers!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything has it's own purpose!!

[pvilbaum]

You are right! Everything has it's own purpose. I wouldn't be without the blender pens to give me the depth of color control but if I want really deep dark colors on a project then markers are quicker. It just depends on what it is you are trying to acheive. And the wiping color off a stamp is a use I had not thought of either. So thanks!

[SammyStamper]

I love my blender pens. I think I have 4 packs now. I use them for everything. I also have all the SU markers and they have their use, but I honestly don't use them as much as my blender pens.

[dasimonds]

I love the blender pens too...
I just wish they had replaceable tips..
as mine are pretty worn.

[scrappingmelissa]

get the dove blender pens they are refillable and you can change the nibs.

[allybills]

I splurged the $125 for the SU! marker set, and I have to say they are worth every penny! They are sooooo awesome. You can match practically any color of patterned paper or cardstock (even papers that are not Stampin UP brand) because you get 48 color choices.

[gatechgal]

Ladies, can you use the blender pens with the SU crayons like you would use Gamsol and the Prisma pencils? Would it be a similar effect?

[Rebecca Ednie]

They are not even close to the same. I like my markers for so many things but they are irreplaceable for colouring directly to your stamp, then either huff or spritz with water Before stamping depending on the effect you want. Definitely not doable with the blender pen. Copics can't even do that! I agree with a previous poster, the Dove blender is far superior to SU blender pens. I haven't done Gamsol yet but from what I've seen, gamsol and pencils have the potential, depending on what colours you use, to produce a far deeper colour than blender and watercolour crayons. Now I love my crayons but it takes many layers to build up deep colour if that is what you want. For paler colours the effect is similar but watercolour has a unique look because of how the water dries that blender doesn't have. If you hate the 'lines' watercolour can produce, blender is smoother.

[Rebecca Ednie]

Originally Posted by allybills

I splurged the $125 for the SU! marker set, and I have to say they are worth every penny! They are sooooo awesome. You can match practically any color of patterned paper or cardstock (even papers that are not Stampin UP brand) because you get 48 color choices.

Amen sistah! Did you know that SU markers are refillable? Just put reinker in a small container, uncap the brush tip, set it inside and allow the marker to soak up the reinker. Wish you could get new tips though.

[dasimonds]

I agree...I love my SU markers!!
and my blender pens
......but, wish the tips were replaceable too.

[stamphappy1650]

Originally Posted by gatechgal

Ladies, can you use the blender pens with the SU crayons like you would use Gamsol and the Prisma pencils? Would it be a similar effect?

No, the blender solution does not melt the wax like gamsol. I would imagine that if you have any empty/dry blender pen you could fill it with gamsol.

You can purchase Dove blenders with replaceable tips and inserts. I would think it would work, unless, the gamsol damages the insert for the well of the pen. hmmm,,, I'll have to give it a try

[kitkat55]

Okay....this is going to sound dumb. I need more than one blender pen, right? Probably one for each color family? And the blender pens can be used with the S/U markers (have most of them) AND colored pencils, WWC, watercolor pencils, etc?

Although I've had my aqua painters for years now, I just can't get the hang of them. I'm learning to blend using my colored pencils and have Prisma's on my wish list, but it will be a while before I can get them. Last week, I purchased a Marvy LePlume II blender pen at Michael's with a coupon and am less than impressed....but then, maybe I'm not using it correctly!! Both ends feel dry as a bone. Should they be??

I'm going to a S/U open house later today and will probably order one of their blender pens, but like the sound of the Dove pens because you can refill them.

Any advice would be welcome!!

[Kegbo]

I don't have any markers but was just about to order one - just one lonely marker - because I have a card idea in my head that I just can't shake, and I need to color one word in the stamp. So - I have that color in WWC, can I use the blender pen with that to color the stamp? In other words, does it ruin the stamp to use the crayon on it?

TIA,
Sarah

[jkstieber]

Originally Posted by kitkat55

Okay....this is going to sound dumb. I need more than one blender pen, right? Probably one for each color family? And the blender pens can be used with the S/U markers (have most of them) AND colored pencils, WWC, watercolor pencils, etc?

Although I've had my aqua painters for years now, I just can't get the hang of them. I'm learning to blend using my colored pencils and have Prisma's on my wish list, but it will be a while before I can get them. Last week, I purchased a Marvy LePlume II blender pen at Michael's with a coupon and am less than impressed....but then, maybe I'm not using it correctly!! Both ends feel dry as a bone. Should they be??

I'm going to a S/U open house later today and will probably order one of their blender pens, but like the sound of the Dove pens because you can refill them.

Any advice would be welcome!!

I don't have a different blender pen for each color. I just wipe the tip off really well with a tissue and then scribble on a piece of scratch paper until it doesn't color any more, then I'm ready to use another color on it.

I use my blender pens with the SU watercolor crayons, SU watercolor pencils, and with my ink pads or ink refills. I don't have the SU markers or pastels, but I guess you can use them with blender pens as well.

I also bought a Marvy LePlume II blender pen once and only used it once. There is absolutely no comparison to the SU pens. Definitely get their blender pens, they are much, much better. I've never tried the Dove ones, though so I can't tell you anything about them. But in my opinion, the SU ones are worth the cost.

[jkstieber]

Originally Posted by Kegbo

I don't have any markers but was just about to order one - just one lonely marker - because I have a card idea in my head that I just can't shake, and I need to color one word in the stamp. So - I have that color in WWC, can I use the blender pen with that to color the stamp? In other words, does it ruin the stamp to use the crayon on it?

TIA,
Sarah

I have never used the blender pen to put color from a crayon on the stamp, I just color the crayon directly on the stamp, then spritz with water. However, it doesn't give the same effect as a marker would, it's a much more muted look. But it doesn't hurt the stamp to use a crayon on it.

[stamphappy1650]

Originally Posted by kitkat55

like the sound of the Dove pens because you can refill them.

Any advice would be welcome!!

I refill my SU blender pens with the Dove blender refill solution. Somewhere on SCS there is a receipe for making your own blender refill. I haven't tried it since I already had the Dove refill.

Here is location for the dove refills. I like the feel of more slender SU blender pen than the dove, but I like the ability to get refill tips. And no, the tips won't fit the SU markers!

[allybills]

Just to give word of warning: when I was new to stamping, I paid over $40 for a few sets of the Marvy Markers. And within 6 months they were all dry as a bone. I was very, very disappointed, to say the least. And now I see that someone else has the same complaint... sounds like they are a low quality product! And I have had some Zig markers for over 15 years and some of them still work! Now that is quality...

[stamphappy1650]

Originally Posted by allybills

Just to give word of warning: when I was new to stamping, I paid over $40 for a few sets of the Marvy Markers. And within 6 months they were all dry as a bone. I was very, very disappointed, to say the least. And now I see that someone else has the same complaint... sounds like they are a low quality product! And I have had some Zig markers for over 15 years and some of them still work! Now that is quality...

Wow so sorry to hear that you've had problems. I wonder what has changed because I have Marvy markers that are over 9 years old and still good. They were my first set of markers.

I keep my markers laying flat and out of sun and heat. But, if others are having problems it sounds more like a manufaturing problem. I ruin the tips before I run out of ink.

[StarEyedStamper]

I have to say that I love all three....

Markers are great to add true to color solids to any project. Color on stamps to get an easy multi-colored stamped image. They are quick, easy and I love to use the journaling tip to address my stamped envelopes in a coordinating color!

Blender pens I use to apply ink to my line art projects to fill in areas and get a somewhat watercolor look. I also use them to blend the markers a bit to get not quite as solid of a look.

Aqua Painters are a must for that easy watercolor look. The water is in the pen so it's not messy and they are easy to control (just be sure that the tip is just damp so it doesn't get your project too wet). You'll want to use Staz-On ink with these and they are just so easy! I also use these to blend color from the colored pencils and the watercolor crayons (so yummy)!

I always advise my customers to start with blender pens and inkpads, then add markers and then add the aquapainters and that seems to be a great way to jump in. Hope that helps!

[LMstamps]

I actually bought the full marker set before buying the Ink Pads. I think they are more versatile, because you can use them to color different parts of the stamp image on the stamp itself before stamping. Of course, eventually I ended up buying all of the Ink Pads too. LOL! LM

PS-I was so very excited that SU made In-Color Markers this year. In years past, I made In-Color Markers out of a set of 3 Blender Pens for each year's In-Color Family, but the Markers give much more depth.

Originally Posted by allybills

I splurged the $125 for the SU! marker set, and I have to say they are worth every penny! They are sooooo awesome. You can match practically any color of patterned paper or cardstock (even papers that are not Stampin UP brand) because you get 48 color choices.