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Starting Christmas cards soon, and I'm in search of the best medium/ applicator for producing small (pinpoint size) red berries, such as holly berries, that have a consistent size, a little dimension, and a good Christmas red color. In the past, I haven't been very happy with the results. I thought Liquid Pearls might work, but the reds just don't seem like a holly berry red. Copics have great colors, but there's no dimension in a pinpoint sized berry. What do you recommend?
Last edited by GypsyRoseStamper; 07-31-2011 at 09:17 AM..
Reason: Did not clarify size/typo
You could try one of the Souffle pens. I've never used one and I'm not entirely sure they come in the colour you're looking for, but as far as I know the ink in those pens have some dimension. Another thing you could try is tinting some glue like crystal effects with re-inker to the colour you want. Also, I know sometimes the dollar store will have tiny rhinestones that might suit your needs. I usually find them either in the craft supplies area or with the nail polish & false nails section for nail art. You might also want to try some red microbeads. I got some that looked nice on my Christmas cards a couple years ago for tiny berries. I bought them at the dollar store as well. I've also used red stickles, but that dries flat.
Maybe the viva decor pearl pen? I haven't used them myself, but there was a thread on them in GST a couple months back IIRC. I'm sure there are several places that carry them, but this is one I know of: Susana's Custom Art and Card Design Viva Decor Pearl Pen
I keep eyeing them and wondering if I should try them. The red certainly looks like a bright red.
__________________ "You may not have lost all your marbles, but there's definitely a hole in the bag." Grumpy Cat
It is a bit time consuming, but I have used a very small hole punch to punch small circles out of red paper and then give them a thick coat of glossy accents. Similar to this card here:
What about Smooch? I haven't used it myself, I've been considering buying some for some upcoming fall and Christmas projects for this very reason. I'm interested to see if anyone with Smooch experience jumps in here to comment if it would work as a "berry".
Since you like the color of the Copics, I would just dot on Copic marker wherever you want the berries, then put a tiny drop of glossy accents over each marker dot. The glossy accents has a very fine tip. Would not be hard at all.
I did a card with tiny red berries and I used clear micro beads, put them in a baggie and colored them with red reinker. Have to let them dry spread out ( I used my no stick mat), they worked great for me.
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Originally Posted by Anemone
Maybe the viva decor pearl pen? I haven't used them myself, but there was a thread on them in GST a couple months back IIRC. I'm sure there are several places that carry them, but this is one I know of: Susana's Custom Art and Card Design Viva Decor Pearl Pen
I keep eyeing them and wondering if I should try them. The red certainly looks like a bright red.
I've never tried the Viva Decor Pearl Pen either but was thinking about buying one when I saw it used on this gorgeous card: For VLV Sketch - Magirk. Isn't the dimension of the pearls pretty?! I bet that would look awesome in red as berries.
I tried dotting them on with the pencil eraser and red ink pad; they were all a little different and to big for the holly berry stamp. I used micro dot twinkle stickers (Creative Candy) by Amuse; perfect little red berries!
I would use acrylic paint, and dot it on with a stylus.
me too, Dini--- you should be able to get a very good match, given all the reds available in acrylic paint.. and you will get dimension as the acrylic paint sets up.
You could use the wooden end of a paintbrush (some are tapered to a nice small tip) and dip it into some shimmery red Creative Inspirations Paint. I love these creamy and shimmery paints. The color is so vivid and it dries so quickly (literally 2 or 3 minutes, max).
I've never tried the Viva Decor Pearl Pen either but was thinking about buying one when I saw it used on this gorgeous card: For VLV Sketch - Magirk. Isn't the dimension of the pearls pretty?! I bet that would look awesome in red as berries.
Pearl Pens work very well - rarely clog- and you determine the size of the pearl. This is one product that I have used that actually self-levels to a round pearl rather than having a point on the tip of the pearl.( I had problems with Liquid Pearls in this matter) A bit of caution if you are faced with a humidity problem - the pen does not self level well in high humidity - if you have air condition or cooler weather, there's no problem.
Love Smooch! but really no dimension but the point on the Smooch brush is VERY fine so it provides that option.
Love the idea of copic pen covered with Glossy Accents!
Thanks everyone! - got some great ideas here while roaming the forum! :p
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My choice is Sakura Gelly Roll pens in Red Star. It has a fine nib and so would be great for your tiny berries. It has a sparkle to it but not overly so like glitter and is a perfect berry red. Then for dimension I would wait for the red to dry fully and then go over the berries with a Sakura Glaze pen in Clear.
Another vote for the Viva Decor Pearl Pens; perfect for tiny berries, and like a previous poster said, they level very well. If needed, you can tap lightly on the back of your image to help round them.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
My choice is Sakura Gelly Roll pens in Red Star. It has a fine nib and so would be great for your tiny berries. It has a sparkle to it but not overly so like glitter and is a perfect berry red. Then for dimension I would wait for the red to dry fully and then go over the berries with a Sakura Glaze pen in Clear.
That is my suggestion as well, LOVE these inexpensive little pens and the red is beautiful. Please make sure to post a pic for us & let us know what you decided to do.
Thanks, everybody! I think I will try the acrylic paint first, since I have lots of variety on hand. The Copic with Glossy Accents is another possibility. I'm not sure if I have red microbeads on hand or if I have already tried using gel pens. I will add the Decor pen in red to my wish list; nobody sells them locally, but I know they would we handy just to make "pearls" on paper.
I currently have my nose in a how to book,
"MAKING EPOXY STICKERS
1 Stamp your design image using water-resistant ink(most dimentional glues are water based).
2 Color, if necessary using water-resistant colors.
3 Apply a thick coat of the dimentional glue over the Stamped motif only. Remove any air bubbles(using a needle) and let it dry completely.
'Creative card making -Paula Pascual, Collins & Brown, 2005 p29"
This gave a raised and shiny result, hope your library has this great book, ow and berry christmas!!
I don't know that acrylic paint will bead up like you want. I think unless you add some sort of medium to it, it will just dry flat. Clear Dollar Stamps just started carrying the viva pearl pens and the DT cards using it made it look awesome! In some cases the beads were so perfect they almost looked like brads. I was very impressed and hope to get some really soon! I can't wait to try them! Especially since they don't seem to need leveling and I hear in most conditions they dry in 15 minutes rather than 2 hours or more like Liquid Pearls! Once I get some of these pens my Liquid pearls will be relegated to mixing with water as pearlized paint/shimmer rather than dimensional uses!
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
Stickles works best for me. Just make sure you don't place the berries too close to each other or they will form one big blob. Try a few clusters on a piece of scrap paper until you get the hang of it. Works Great!
The Viva Decor Pen is your answer. Takes a little (and I do mean a little) to get consistent dots, but you will ALWAYS have a rounded dot. I didn't believe it until I tried at a stamp show and now I'm hooked. Much more economical, quicker, than any other way. Also looks nice and glossy.
Red Berries
