Sharpie Marker Crafts
Sharpie is a trade name for permanent markers manufactured by Newell Rubbermaid. Sharpie was the first commercially available permanent marker that was made in the form of an ink pen. Originally using only black ink, the marker was primarily for marking possessions or products. With the introduction of a wide array of colors, Sharpies have become increasingly popular as an art medium and are now used in a variety of crafts.
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Shoes
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One very popular craft with colored Sharpies is decorating shoes. Plain white canvas sneakers, either the tie-up or slip-ons, beckon would-be artists the same way a mounted canvas panel calls to a painter. These shoes can be found as cheaply as $5 apiece as of the time of publication; but any shoe made of fabric can be decorated with colored Sharpies. You can find hundreds of pictures of Sharpie-decorated shoes online for inspiration.
Shirts
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Fabric artistry has another Sharpie application, and that is making cool shirts. Whether you are decorating a button-down across the back or designing a T-shirt, colored Sharpies work well. One popular Sharpie method is the tie-dye. You stretch a T-shirt over a frame and rubber band it in place, then touch the pens to the shirt, adding a little alcohol after applying the ink. The alcohol causes the color to spread outward and fade and you can create very kaleidoscopic effects. Sharpie shirts will fade if you don’t heat treat them. After painting, put the shirt in a dryer on high heat or turn it inside-out and iron it on high heat to fix the colors.
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Cards
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If you can draw with colored pens or make interesting designs, you can make personalized greeting and occasion cards with Sharpies. One striking variation on the Sharpie card is the pattern collage. Draw patterns, overlapping circles, squares or any other shape onto card stock. Fill in the spaces with different colors and shades. Cut the card stock into squares, then mount the squares on another piece of white card stock, separated by equidistant margins.
Wall Art
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Children do wall art the first time they get a chance -- and often get a scolding for it. But if you are grown, and it is your wall, you can re-release your inner child and do Sharpie murals. Trace your designs on with pencil, and when you get it right, lay on the ink. You can find ideas for Sharpie mural designs online. Who knows? If you are really good, maybe friends will hire you to do their walls.
Table Tops
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Junked tables are more valuable than people realize. Tighten up the screws, fill in the chips, run a sander over the top and you have a place to decorate with your Sharpies. Just as in wall art, you can draw with a pencil until you get the effect you want then add the ink. You can draw straight onto the wood grain, or you can paint the table an even coat of white before you begin your composition. If you really want a brilliant effect, add a thick coat of clear varnish to give the tabletop a glassed effect.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
