Friday Favs, Fodder, & Follows

3/7/2014

Favs: Marker Sets

I find myself using markers more and more these days. After collecting markers for years, I'm finally finding ways to use them in my art and art journaling. There are a lot of markers out there, so because I'm using them more, I've been paying closer attention to which ones I like best and why. Here's my top 5:

Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Big Brush
I like these because they use India ink and are waterproof. Oh, and they come in lots of colors.
Check out the set of 24 and the set with 15.

Sakura Permapaque Metallics
I like these because they are metallic and they write on everything, you don't have to shake them, they are waterproof, and they write on vellum. I like the fat ones too for the same reasons.

Artline Mutlipen
These write on anything. They come in a lot of colors and they have three line widths in one marker.

Tombow Dual Tip Markers
These are quickly becoming my favorites of the favorites because of the blender marker.

Copic Sketch Markers
I know they are pricey, but if you save up or wait patiently for Joann's or Michael's to have a 50% off coupon, you can get a set of 6 for about $13 - $15 bucks.

Fodder: Tape

Yes, you read that right -- -- tape. With the right piece of tape, you can do wonderful things in your art journal and on canvas. Here are the ones I use most often and why:

Drywall Tape -- I just like the squares -- I use it as background texture as well as for stenciling. It's amazing for both. Make sure you check to see if it is self-adhesive or if it requires water to stick.

Painters Tape -- This tape is so great for masking parts of your canvas or page. I often use it as a background texture to add to the layers. My favorite is the lime green, but it also comes in blue, or a pack with multiple colors (isn't that orange just lovely).

Washi Tape -- there are all kinds of washi tape out there. It's beautiful for the variety of colors and designs you can find and it adds to just about any project in your journal.

Double-sided Tape -- This is an all important material for a book artist (and for scrapbookers). If you care about archival quality, be sure to check that you've got the right thing. My favorite brand is the Scor-Tape because you can tear it easily and it's darn sticky.

Duck (Duct) Tape -- With all the beautiful colors out there, you can make some beautiful handmade journals using this decorative, but sturdy tape. I'm also convinced that you can make or fix just about anything with this tape. The kits and the sheets are nice too.

Follows: Magazines for Art Journalers and Crafters

I am a magazine junkie and a bit of a magazine snob. Here are some of the ones that pull me out of my house and into the bookstore at least once a month.