Texture with Alcohol Markers

by Beate Johns

Create a textured look with alcohol-based markers, a blender pen and an old rag.

Supplies

  • Image colored with Copic markers (Our Craft Lounge Drake the Dragon and Bearly Fishin' used here). Images were stamped on Neenah Cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

  • Copic® or other alcohol-based markers

  • Colorless Blender Pen, Copic #0

  • Blending Solution, (Refill for Blending Pen)

  • Misting Bottle

  • Old Rag

Step-by-Step

  1. Step 1

    Hold the blender pen straight down for a second over the colored image.

    Hint:
    For basic tips on how to color with Copic® Markers, check our Coloring Tutorial.

  2. The blending solution from your pen will push the ink that lay already over your cardstock away and create a white dot. Continue to lay down more dots to make images look scaly.

  3. Step 2

    Place the brush tip of your blender pen down on its side over a colored image.

  4. Continue to add elongated dots with your brush side, to create the look of a pebbled walkway.

  5. Step 3

    Add blending solution to an old rag or piece of fabric. The more texture, the better.

  6. Step 4

    Tap the rag over the colored image.

  7. It will give your image "highlights" with the same texture that is on your rag.

  8. Step 5

    Add a darker shade (than that of the image) of Copic marker to a dry space on the rag.

  9. Step 6

    Tap your rag over your image.

  10. This will give your image "lowlights".

    Hint:
    Try different textured fabrics for a different look. Try sponges, try burlap....

  11. Step 7

    Fill your water misting bottle with blending Solution and spray over image.

  12. You will create small lighter dots.

    The darker the image is that you spray, the more you will see the dots.

Questions and Comments

We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.

Same question as Jennifer. Am I sunk if I don't use Copic markers (so expensive!)--will my SU markers and blender work? What is a blending solution and where can I get it? Is it the same as Gamsol? Thanks for helping us "newbies" to the card making addiction!!
Pam  |  Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Just brillian, thank you I have learned lots of new stuff reading this!!
Wendy Hall  |  Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 7:03 PM
I don't own any copics or alcohol markers, but this is an awesome tutorial. Thanks for sharing all your great ideas here!
Kathy  |  Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Thanks Beate for another awesome tutorial, you are amazing!
nancybeth  |  Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 1:42 AM
Wow, what great ideas! Thanks so much for a wonderful tutorial and some great inspiration!
Cathy  |  Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 6:02 AM
Great tutorial. Love it. Going to a Copic Certification course next Tuesday. Looking forward to it and I love reading all about copics and using mine of course.
Johanna  |  Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 8:27 AM
What a great tutorial. No copics here but I do have Prismacolor Markers. Will have to give it a try with those.
Amber  |  Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Beate, You always have such good stuff, for us!

Love the detailing on both cards. This is something I'm going to have to try.


Thanks so much.
Nancy B. aka jeanstamping2  |  Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 9:28 AM
I love the polka dotting technique. It is perfect for the dinosaur.
I'm concerned about the misting of the blending solution. Most blending solutions also have a binder or additional materials that make it unsfae to breathe in the mist of such product. Is that not the case with the Copic marker blending solution?
Marty Larson  |  Thu Mar 19, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Thanks so much for all the time and effort on your tutorials....I am always so in awe of your talent..am going to try with bleach and SU markers...THANKS
Fran Kennedy  |  Fri Mar 20, 2009 at 4:57 AM
Is there a gallery to upload our samples using this technique, or key words? I tried it out this week!
Amanda Sewell  |  Fri Mar 20, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Great tutorial! I love learning new ways to make stamped images look handpainted! Thanks for your guidance and knowledge.

Carol
Carol Westover  |  Fri Mar 20, 2009 at 10:26 AM
This is an awesome tutorial, Beate! Thanks so much for the ideas!
Judy Rozema  |  Fri Mar 20, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Dana, you may have figured out how we can do this with SU! markers! Use bleach instead of the blending solution. I think I'm gonna try it.
elissagilbert  |  Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 5:50 AM
This is awsome, thank you so much. Being that I am in Italy, I cannot just attend a Copic class. Again Thanks
Justine  |  Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 4:36 AM
WOW! Beate, I had no idea you could do this with Copics! Fabulous tutorial, now I KNOW I need them!
Laura  |  Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 12:47 PM
A Small Cleverness in Orange Park, Florida sells the complete Copic marker line, (she will special order sets if you like). Asela is a certified Copic instructor and the store offers classes. For more information google "A Small Cleverness", and click on the link to the newsletter.
Nina  |  Tue Mar 24, 2009 at 7:46 AM
I would also like to know where you can purchase the markers and the blender pen/refills. Is this the same as Stampin Up's blender pen and markers? Great project, I have to try it.
Carol Rea  |  Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 6:04 AM
I did not find an answer to the "What is blending solution" question. There used to be a recipe for a homemade blender pen refill, but it looks like yours comes commercially. Where can I find both?
Thanks for all you do!
Leann Smith  |  Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I have been trying to fine the blending solution, I was at Hobby Lobby earlier today, they had no idea what I was asking for. I have also checked Michael's and Joann's, with no luck.
RuthAnn  |  Sat May 15, 2010 at 12:22 AM

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