Sharpie Markers Official Blog » Ideas

2011, You’ve Been Great…

Caitlin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:51:12 +0000

2011 is coming to a close and what a year it has been; from royal weddings and those that lasted 72 seconds (might as well have), Senator Kathy Gifford’s miraculous recovery, gripping legal battles, technology breakthroughs and devastating losses, Green and Yellow’s battle to the top, Egypt and Twitter made history, planking found its way across the globe (and even into our offices), “Occupy” became both a political movement and a catch phrase, great musicians were discovered (thanks YouTube!) and unfortunately, lost and the sports world had yet another lockout, just to touch on a few.

Why not take a look back and reminisce with friends and family as you ring in 2012 and leave a wish for the new year? Personally I think its truly a “winning” idea.. c’mon you can’t talk about 2011 without a good Charlie cameo.

So, to take a page from Real Simple, how about a little Sharpie scribble to bring in 2012 in style…

Image courtesy of Real Simple

To recreate this New Year’s wreath of well-wishes check out Real Simple online!

Sharpie Season’s Greetings!

Caitlin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:10:43 +0000

Roll out the tinsel, deck the halls and get friendly with your postman- the holiday card season is stuffing your mailbox!

What better way to show your friends and family how much you care by sending them something more… Sharpie… than the generic “happy holiday” card? Inexpensive and creative, these funky fresh tidings are guaranteed to bring spectacular Sharpie season’s greetings to one and all!

Make your holidays BOOM!

Want a closer look?

have a rockin' christmas

B-b-b-b-b BOOOM

Happy Holidays!

And to all a goodnight!

Let’s Table It.

Caitlin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:28:14 +0000

Thanksgiving has come and gone and it is officially December! Aka time for the holiday Sharpie spirit to strike!

All through the month you can count on us to showcase our favorite holiday and winter inspirations and to start us off; how about a Sharpie tablecloth that says more than “dinner’s ready.”

D.I.Y Blog, Big Cricket Design, recently showcased a table worth giving thanks for, and it was completed all with Sharpie! Now, it may be a little late for turkey talk, but just change the words around and you have a holiday hit.

Want to know how to create this wordy winter wonderland? Head over to Big Cricket for the full tutorial!

Sharpie Spooktacular

Caitlin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:22:34 +0000

October means two things here at Sharpie; Ink it Pink and Halloween.

The past couple of years we have presented the Sharpie world with our favorite creations surrounding “all hallows eve” and this year is no different.

Hold onto your broomsticks for this year’s edition of the Sharpie Spooktacular (cue creaky doors and creepy soundtrack).

BOOloons

A little air, an original black Sharpie marker, a dash of imagination and you have some gravity-defying decorations.

Images via MarthaStewart.com and Girly Do Blog

Haunted House-wares

Need a solid muse for creating your macabre mansion? Start here, then add Sharpie paint markers and permanent markers and you’ll have yourself the best home in your ‘hood.

HINT: Sharpie Oil Based Paint Markers work best for projects involving; glass, metal, pottery, wood, rubber, plastic, stone, and more. They are quick-drying and resistant to water (but not waterproof), fading, and abrasion!

Spidey stemware?

Inspiration and image by Etsy designer, MaryElizabethArts, (be sure to check out ALL of her other designs!)

Try a some spray paint and a Sharpie paint pen... or 2!

Inspiration and image via The Party Dress Blog

Who needs chalk when you have a Silver Sharpie!?!

Image and inspiration via Pottery Barn

Light their way to Doomsday with Sharpie milk cartons!

Image via Eighteen25

Ghoulish Gourds

Make your Pumpkin carving more than just the standard orange orb. Add some Sharpie detailing and you’ll be the talk of the Pumpkin block!

: Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without a little orange and BLACK!

Image via MarthaStewart.com

Be sure to check out ALL of the Sharpie Halloween havoc from years past. It’s pure, petrifying paradise:

Sharpie to D.I.Y For

Sharpie if You Dare

Halloween Highlights

Share your own spooky Sharpie creations with us on Facebook or in the comments section!

Expression on a Sharpie Marker

Caitlin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:14:11 +0000

Our wonderful intern, Caitlin Ursini, may have already headed back to school for the fall, but we have kept some of her blog posts under wraps- waiting for the perfect time to share them with all of you, Sharpie enthusiasts.

Read on to hear Caitlin’s take on the duct tape craze that is adding a little something extra to the Sharpie world.

Sharpie Markers are meant to help you express yourself. You’ve always known you can use them to show the world what you can create, but now you can express yourself just by how your Sharpie marker looks!

The new, hot trend of duct tape flowers has made its way to Sharpie Markers. With dozens of colors and designs of duct tape, the flower on top of your Sharpie marker can be anything from Hello Kitty to bright yellow to zebra print.

We’ve found a great blog post to help all you of you get started with your own duct tape flower. So, check out some of the samples we found below and then get going on your own creation.

Like the flowers that you see? You can find the site to buy them by clicking here.

The President’s Harley

Susan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:55 +0000

Whether it’s the freedom of the open road or the precision and distinctive beauty of the bikes themselves, motorcycle enthusiasts are passionate about the ride.

: Sharpie President Ben Gadbois

Ben Gadbois is passionate about a few things: His family, his health, his work…and motorcycles. As president of Sharpie, Ben recently found a way to combine his passion for Sharpie with his love of motorcycles.

Ben worked with renowned NASCAR artist Nick Pastura to customize his own Harley-Davidson motorcyle with Sharpie art. Before getting started, Ben talked at length with Nick about his vision — juxtaposing the hard edge and rugged persona of the Harley machine with images symbolizing beauty, peace and strength — images often associated with Japanese art. In the end, Nick presented Ben with a design that included traditional Japanese symbols — dragons, Koi fish and cherry blossoms.

“I gave Nick full creative license,” Ben said. “I told him to come up with something really bold, and he definitely delivered.”

Scroll through the pictures, then read an interview with artist Nick Pastura on the project:

The bike took NASCAR artist Nick Pastura more than 120 hours and 275 Sharpie markers to complete.

: In Asian culture, dragons are considered symbols of good fortune and protection. In both Chinese and Japanese mythology, the dragon is closely associated with water and is often surrounded by water or clouds.

The Koi fish symbolizes energy and motion and is sometimes interpreted to mean non-conformity. Koi also means strength in time of adversity, persistence, and the ability to overcome resistance.

According to the Buddhist tradition, the breathtaking but brief beauty of the cherry blossom symbolizes the transient nature of life.

ARTIST NICK PASTURA SHARES HIS SHARPIE SECRETS

While Nick rarely shares the secrets of his trade, he agreed to give us this interview about his use of Sharpie markers on this classic motorcycle:

After you landed on the overall design concept, what were the next steps for contributing that vision to paper?

I started out doing a lot of research on traditional Japanese imagery and colors. I wanted to stick with the classic Sharpie colors as my main stay…after that, it was just a matter of what tip shapes and sizes would work well together on each motorcycle part.

How did you transfer the design onto the bike? Transfer paper.

What type of Sharpie marker did you use to:

Outline: Industrial Fine Point & Extra Fine Point in black.
Fill: First a base coat using the Chisel Tip and then I filled in with Chisel Tip and Fine Point
Embellishment/added detailing: Fine Point with three similar colors in each color family to blend in a circular motion.

Were there any special techniques you used to ensure the marker ink lay down properly or covered the area properly? I used small, tight, circular motions.

Did you blend any of the marker colors to create custom colors, and if so, how? Again using three similar colors to add to the main base color to complement it and blend.

Were there any other techniques or tips in the early stages to note? Yes. When blending colors, make sure the ink is still wet in order to blend easily. You have to work quickly.

Once you completed the finished design, what did you do to seal it? What type of sealant did you use? First, I applied three light mist coats of Dupont 622 Intercoat Adhesion Promotor. Then I let it sit for four hours to dry thoroughly. The final clear coat was Dupont g2 4500S Fast Activator.

Did you encounter any special challenges with the ink application and if so, how do you suggest managing them? Make sure the colors are dry before moving on to the next color or they will bleed.

Do you recommend lay artists give this a try on their own bikes? Any tips for a practice run? Yes, but try to practice on an old gas tank or fender if possible.

What do you like best about Sharpie markers for creating your designs? What makes them unique? What do they bring to the design that other art tools, i.e. spray finishing, don’t? Sharpie markers give you the ability to blend three similar colors together. In automotive painting, it is just not the norm to blend colors like that. Using Sharpie markers was both exciting and intimidating at first but I got the hang of it quickly after a few test runs. It was great to have the markers right at your reach…the color reference is so visual that way.

Ben's sons, Helmut, 13, and Julius, 10, at the Fox River Harley-Davidson dealership in St. Charles, Illinois, just after the new Sharpie-drawn tins were installed.

This weekend, the bike will make its debut at the Irwin Tools Night Race in Bristol, Tenn., where Ben will take it for a lap around the track during pre-race ceremonies tonight. Sharpie is a partial sponsor of the NASCAR race. Irwin Tools and Sharpie are sister brands, both part of the Newell Rubbermaid family. Here’s a sneak peak of Ben’s trial run Thursday night:

Start With Sharpie

The Sharpie Harley couldn’t have come at a better time as Sharpie launches its new Start with Sharpie campaign.

The campaign focuses on the legions of Sharpie fans (almost 2 million on Facebook alone) using Sharpie products in inspiring and creative ways, challenging them to start something with Sharpie. To find out how you can submit your Sharpie creation to the Sharpie gallery and be part of Sharpie’s You Tube Takeover, visit www.sharpie.com.

If the president of Sharpie can start something this cool, what are you gonna start?

Employees Start with Sharpie

Caitlin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:44:41 +0000

As you know, we, the Sharpie folk, have been kicking off our new Start with Sharpie campaign and we have seen some amazing things rolling in from our biggest Sharpie enthusiasts– including our own fabulous Newell employees.

We challenged our amazing Newell family to share what they are starting with Sharpie and now we are taking the opportunity to feature one of these internal Sharpie rock stars and what they (or in this case their daughter) has started with Sharpie.

Myra Lee, Director of Marketing Communications for sister brand, LENOX Industrial Products & Services in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, submitted this adorable photo of her 11-year-old daughter, Paige, who took creative liberties when writing her name on her new bag with Sharpie markers.

It’s amazing how something as simple as labeling your stuff can turn into an outlet for self-expression!

Now that you have seen what some of us are starting with Sharpie…what are you gonna start?

Sharpie Gel Highlighter is For (Book) Lovers.

Caitlin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:15:30 +0000

Today is a day for the book lovers, a day for the classics, a day for the sound of cracking spines and the indescribable smell of a REAL LIVE book (remember those?!) in your hands. To non-book lovers or the e- Reader fanatic these may seem like trivial details but WE know…it’s not just the story but the aesthetic elements AROUND the story that fuel our passion for our favorite past time. Poetic, right?

Seriously though, there’s something about real old fashioned ink and paper that scream “MARK ME UP!” From textbooks to Tolstoy, the experience isn’t complete without a highlighter in hand.

Swipe a favorite passage, tag a word that you only pretend to know and secretly go back and check, scrawl intellectual phrases in the margins that leave the next reader thinking you are so profound and astute it’s intimidating; it’s up to you, and the Gel highlighter is ready when you are.

It is the perfect tool when reading for pleasure or educational advancement, as it will stay as bright and fresh from the moment you uncap until you need a reading respite (maybe more frequently when thumbing through a textbook). Although I try to avoid non-recreational reading at all costs, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and study; and if you need to do it, do it right the first time.

So, to help you do just that I have included a list of highlighting and reading tips from Studentle that are sure to make you the brightest in the classroom!

Read the text. The first thing that you have to do is to read the text so that you know which words and phrases to highlight. While reading, make sure that you understand the text. Take note of the important details that you need to highlight. If you already know the content of the text that you are reading, it will be easier for you to determine which words and phrases to highlight later on.
Highlight important parts. Now you can highlight the important parts of the text. Make sure that you leave off unnecessary parts. Highlight important terms, dates, definitions and concepts. You can also take note of the important things that the teacher discusses so that it will be easier for you to study for a text. Some people tend to highlight chunks of text and end up having a whole paragraph completely highlighted. Avoid doing this.
Use different colors. It may sometimes be more helpful if you use different colors for highlighting. Use one color for all the terms and another color for the definitions of each word. Use a different color for the concepts and facts. This will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for, especially if the text is too long. When using different colors, make a small note on the side of the text so that you know which colors correspond with the text that you highlighted.
Go over the things you highlighted. After highlighting, go over the text one more time to see if you did not skip anything important. This will also give you a chance to review the text and understand the things that are important. Afterwards, you can study your textbook and just focus on the important points that you have already highlighted. This is very useful especially if you are studying for an upcoming test.
Choose bright colors. Another important thing that you need to consider is the color of highlighter that you are going to use. It is best to stay away from dark colored highlighters such as blue or purple since it can darken the text and make it harder for you to study. Stick with fluorescent colors such as yellow, green, orange or pink.

100 Ways to Start Something with Sharpie

Caitlin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:47:24 +0000

We all know there are millions of ways to express yourself using Sharpie, right!? Especially with the WIDE variety of products,colors and tips, the options are endless for what you can start with Sharpie. Well, to get the ideas flowing we teamed up with Us Weekly to come up with 100 different ways to Uncap What’s Inside!

Us Weekly then chose three of these ideas and made them into unique ads that are running in this week’s edition, so be sure to grab a copy, on stands now, to see these one-of-a-kind magazine ads or if you can’t wait that long, just scroll on…

Create a personalized design on your t-shirt
Design your jeans with a special emblem
Fill that autograph book- get your favorite stars’ signatures
Make your Nook case your own with Stained by Sharpie fabric markers
Design a skateboard with your own personal image
Keep your drinks cool in your customized koozies
Show off your Sharpie markers to friends
Collect Sharpie markers
Label your stuff so nothing gets lost
“MARRY ME!!” Design a poster board for your favorite concert with Sharpie markers
Design your TOMS shoes with Sharpie Markers
Use your Sharpie marker to mark on difficult surfaces
Decorate a tie for Dad using Stained by Sharpie fabric markers
Sketch a picture with our Sharpie fine markers
Design a clutch purse (we’ve already shown you how!)
Pour your heart out! Write your song lyrics for when you get your big break
Label CDs so everyone knows how awesome your taste in music is
Make Christmas ornaments using Sharpie paint markers
Sign you name with a Sharpie marker- (people will TOTALLY think you’re famous)
Give yourself a promotion! Create a cool name plate for your desk
Color Easter eggs with Sharpie markers
Create a masterpiece that your friends won’t believe you did with a Sharpie marker
Make it permanent! There is no erasing Sharpie permanent markers
Touch up those scuffs on your black shoes with the original Sharpie black marker
Customize your cap… and then Uncap What’s Inside ( I couldn’t resist!)
Design your backpack so it says something about you
Doodle on a coffee cup using Sharpie Pen
Decorate a picture frame
Get your Sharpie spook-on and put a face on a pumpkin
Give your favorite fish a fancy house by adding an underwater scene to its bowl
Declare your love! Add your name in a heart on trees with your boyfriend or girlfriend
Be EXTRA daring. Do the crossword in Sharpie Ultra fine.
Design a window
Add a Sharpie marker doodle before shipping out a box
Give your heart away with a Sharpie designed Valentine
Spice up an old purse with fun Sharpie designs
Customize a guitar with your musical expressions
Add some diva designs to your pillow for the next sleepover
Make your own fun wrapping paper to give mom a gift
Celebrate with customized Sharpie markers
Get sassy with Sharpie and post-it notes
Make a calendar using poster boards and colored Sharpie markers
DIY sunglasses with Sharpie markers to ensure yours are unique
Repurpose old furniture with Sharpie paint
Make blank canvas shoes say something about you
Decorate stockings for your holiday hearth
Create a gift tag with Sharpie extra fine markers
Sharpie your motorcycle (be sure you own it first!)
Create a friendship bracelet with Sharpie retractable markers
Customize your head band with your name in Sharpie markers
Sharpie your hub caps (make sure you own those too!)
Add some Sharpie swag to your photos
Make robots out of dominoes
Design your own soccer ball to distract the other team by its beauty
Make your mark!
Make a mural using all the different kinds of Sharpie markers
Travel with your Sharpie marker and show IT the world!
Hug your Sharpie marker and tell it it’s safe
Bring your Sharpie marker on vacation and let the next visitor know “Sharpie has been here”
Trade Sharpie markers with your friends
Create a Christmas tree with green Sharpie markers
Doodle in your notebook with Sharpie Pens
Customize a scrapbook with Sharpie ultra fine markers
Use Sharpie markers to make your Dradle something special for the holiday
Make a tote something more with drawings and designs in Sharpie markers
Use the Sharpie Stencil technique
Spruce up your Sharpie with a duct tape flower
Give a Sharpie marker to a friend and make their day
Label your underwear with a Sharpie marker, maybe the dryer won’t eat it
Have a Sharpie marker doodle party
Design your Halloween costume
Support a great cause and raise money for breast cancer research by commiting to Ink It Pink
Customize your iPhone case with Sharpie markers
Gear up for game day and cheer with posters made with Sharpie paint marker
Re-vamp an old encyclopedia into something retro chic with colorful Sharpie markers
Make your yoga mat stand out while you zen out
Highlight without smearing with new Sharpie Gel Highlighter
Write, erase and repeat with Sharpie Liquid Pencil
Carry your Sharpie in your pocket with Sharpie Minis
Stain that plain white summer dress into something more with Stained by Sharpie fabric markers
Be BOLD or slighlty subtle with Sharpie Twin Tips
Write your school notes with Sharpie Pens
Customize the back of your lap top
Label your cup so it stays germ-free
Do a window design with Sharpie water-based paint markers
Spice up your gym shoes with special designs
Create custom Sharpie markers for a gift or special occasion
Hang your Sharpie markers from a Christmas tree instead of ornaments
Make a Sharpie marker collage by blending colors together
Customize book covers so you can just grab em’ and go on your way to class
Share you Sharpie marker creations at www.sharpie.com
Use MySharpie for customized, fun party favors
Decorate your golf balls so they don’t get mixed up on the course
Edit school yearbooks so its like that ex-boyfriend never even happened
Write letters from your secret admirers using Sharpie pens
Feel famous signing your autograph on sports equipment
Bring back the banana clip (yellow) with 80′s glam markers
Spruce up invitations with Sharpie marker designs on the envelope
Draw over old Polaroids with Sharpie markers and give them new life
Start something with Sharpie and help takeover YouTube on August 27

Sharpie Photo Flair

Caitlin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:42:51 +0000

Photos may capture a moment in time, but that doesn’t mean it has to be permanent. With our photo flair YOU decide what you want your photos to say…or in this case, wear.

To celebrate National Camera Day, Sharpify your photos and entertain yourself by ”accessorizing” your friends.

It’s easy as 1,2,3:

1. Grab your favorite photos, your favorite Sharpie and get busy!

2. Cut out your creations.

3. Stick ‘em on and give your photos that extra flair they are dying for- then change ‘em out, your options are endless!

Sharpie stunna shades... Done and done.

Viola!

Go on, get Cheesin’!