What's the big deal with the prismacolor pencils and mineral
 

spirits? Does it look vastly different from watercolor pencils or using the blender pens? Just wondering cuz I don't see the difference and not sure whether to make the investment.

Ok, here is my opinion. I didn't understand what the big deal was with the Prisma color pencils. I bought the one's Michael's had on sale 24 in the pkg. I wish I had bought the bigger pkg. Thay are AWESOME!!!! What was I thinking not buying them sooner? I would say BUY the biggest box you can find!!!!!! To me it was way worth the money!!! I also have the watercolor pencils from SU, I can see they won't be used as much now. Anyway, just my 2 cents!!

Check out the gallery of SCS member PrincessInk for some awesome samples. I think that's what got this whole craze started around here.

I agree with Whatsupdock! My water colors will probably be dust covered soon. I did my first pic today using Prismacolor pencils and Gamso. Oh my, what a difference. Does not begin to compare with the watercolors. So glad I got the largest size while Viking had their sale.

Here is my 2 cents, the best investment I ever made, I love the look! The colors are twice as vivid, no comparing this with the water color. But, if you are going for the watercolor look, then just keep using the SU pencils. My pencils, as with the other have said, will get dusty. I will give you a link to my most recent card I did with the magic color technique.

http://gallery.splitcoaststampers.co...cat=500&page=1

It is not the best, but I think this came out pretty good.

Holy Smokes, Andy Jo!!! That card is out of this world!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW~ I give it five wows!!!! Beautiful! Gorgeous!

Thank you so much for the compliment you are very generous. Do you see the difference with the coloring? I think it looks more vivid.
Andy

Wow Andy! I better get started sharpening pretty soon!

the popularity with this technique is the ability to blend, shade and make the colors really 'POP' off the page, I followed LunarLana's idea and just use my crayola colored pencils, and I have 100% odorless mineral spirits, and blending stumps, the min. spirits on the stumps let you move your color arouns and blen and shade it from vivid to light, with no pencil marks etc...
PrincessInk and LunarLana are 2 very good coloring artists here on SCS check out their work and I think you will see the difference.

I was very frustrated trying to get the look and shading I wanted with the watercolor pencils and blender pen. It looked ok, but the prismacolor pencils and gamsol--WOW!! And it's fun, too. I'm hooked. Glad I gave it a try.

sounds interesting
 

Is this technique described in detail anywhere?

Yes, These are the sites/instructions/details I looked at.


http://www.sanford-artedventures.com...gimbel_mp.html


http://www.drstamping.com/magicp.html

I was not able to find Gamsol, but I did find Sansodor by Winsor&Newton at my local craft store and it works also. Somewhere there is a list of the various products that are basically the same.

Good Luck

From a previous thread. The odorless mineral spirits options are:

Sansodor by Windsor Newton
Gamlin Gamsol
Mona Lisa Artist Odorless Paint Thinner by Houston Arts (if you read the label it supposedly says 100% odorless mineral spirits).


Hope this helps.

I can't wait till morning to try this.

Thanks to all
Maryanne

Dangers of Gambsol
 

From the Gamblin website the makers of Gambsol
SECTION V -- HEALTH HAZARD DATA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Route(s) of entry: Eye contact, ingestion, inhalation, skin contact.
Acute health effects: Eye contact may cause redness or irritation
Inhalation: dizziness, headache, nausea, possible nervous system depression.
Ingestion: Nausea, gastrointestinal irritation, or vomiting.
Skin contact: May cause rash, cracking, dryness or defatting of skin.
EMERGENCY FIRST AID PROCEDURES:
Eye contact: wash with clean water for at least fifteen minutes. If irritation persists, get medical attention.
Inhalation: If overcome by vapor, remove from exposure and call a physician immediately. If breathing is irregular
or has stopped, start resuscitation, administer oxygen, if available.
Skin contact: In case of skin contact, wash skin thoroughly with soap and water.
CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS: Skin contact may aggravate an existing dermatitis.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION VI -- SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steps to be taken in case material is spilled: remove all sources of ignition. Soak up spill with absorbent materials.
Waste disposal method: Rags and absorbent materials should be immersed in water. Small amounts can be dried
and disposed of as ordinary trash.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION VII - SPECIAL PROTECTION DATA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respiratory protection: Use supplied-air respiratory protection in confined or enclosed spaces, if needed.
Ventilation: Use only with venilation sufficient to prevent exceeding recommended exposure limit or buildup of
explosive concentrations of vapor in air. No smoking, flame or other ignition sources.
Protective gloves: Use chemical-resistant gloves, if needed, to avoid prolonged or repeated skin contact.
Eye protection: safety glasses if eye contact is likely; eyewash fountain should be accessible.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION III -- STORAGE & HANDLING DATA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Precautions to be taken in handling and storage: store away from high temperature, sparks or open flame. Read
and observe all precautions on product label.
Other precautions: wash hands after use. Immerse contaminated rags in water.
The information contained herein is based on the data available to use and is believe to be correct. However,
Gamblin Artists Colors Co. makes no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy of these data or the
results to be obtained from the use thereof. Gamblin assumes no responsibility for injury from the use of the product
described herein.

I have the Mona Lisa and it is 100% odorless mineral spirits says so on the back of the bottle, I have played withit a few times, so far so good

Trish, thanks so much for posting valuable cautionary info. of which all should be aware.

Mary

I am regreting not jumping on the deal from Viking!! Is it safe to use the Prismacolors and Gamsol on scrapbook pages?