Wingdoodle, a blog featuring some incredible how-to’s,  recently colored foam eggs using Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers.  Take a peak at how Wingdoodle created beautiful art on these Easter eggs. 

DIYing Easter eggs with Sharpie is not just limited to foam eggs.  In fact, blogger AnaCraftyOne uses Sharpie markers to color real eggs.

To read Wingdoodle’s complete post click HERE. 

For AnaCraftyOne’s how-to instructions, click HERE.

Do you have your own version of this poem? Finish it in your own words!

Here are more VDay videos with Chicagoans expressing their thoughts on Valentine’s Day:

These videos got me thinking… Sometimes Oftentimes, when I want to express myself (vocally) the words just aren’t there.  I get nervous or my head is racing with 1,000 thoughts; I want to say them all and it just doesn’t come out how I had planned…I hate that!  You know earlier I had it down perfectly and then afterwards I’m left thinking, “Brain, how could you do this to me? Of course NOW you’re calm and collected.. Quit telling me all that I should have said ” …so frustrating.

While I may not always be the eloquent speaker I’d like to be, I take the good with the bad and to be honest, I can write one heck of a letter! The words just come to me!  Am I alone on this or can you relate?  Expressing my true thoughts and feelings is easier for me in this respect.  I’m not sure why but whatever the reason, the words just flow.  They flow from my brain through my hand, right onto the paper (obviously the process is more complicated but I’m not talking science here).

So if you’re like me, take advantage of Valentine’s Day with the power of a pen (Sharpie pen of course) and paper.  Take the opportunity to tell the people in your life that you love them and why you love them.  Express yourself and don’t let the day go to waste, despite your love or hate for VDay.  I guarantee that you will enjoy it so much more if you express the love for those you care about.

Now let me end by asking you:   How do you express yourself?

No one says it quite like the gangster of love...

♥Check us out on Facebook

Valentine’s Day Memories!  

Memories are like pictures for your soul.  When you think back to that moment, you can see every detail, hear every sound, smell every scent, taste every last morsel —  it all comes rushing back to you in an instant just with one thought. Valentine’s Day is tough though.  There is a lot of pressure to make this one day memorable, a  day that will be remembered and cherished forever.  Do we achieve that every year? Maybe. Maybe not.  Either way a memory is made and we add yet another snapshot to our internal photo album.

So what’s the best or worst  memory you have of Valentine’s Day?  Every one has some story to tell, what’s yours?  Maybe you had that perfect Valentine’s Day that you will never forget.  Maybe you had a magical night with your sweetheart and to this day it was the best night of your life!  Did you get a bad rash from the “roses” your lover bought you?  Did you bloat like a blowfish post-VDay chocolates?  Tell us about your VDay memory –  we want to know!

When we were downtown we got a few people chatting about their VDay memories -  here are new videos from the on-street interviews:

Join the conversation on Facebook where you can comment and upload your own videos and pics!   We will be posting more videos through the 14th so check back to see fi you or any of your friends are posted!

Don’t forget, all the videos are uploaded on Youtube. 

♥ ♥ ♥

Valentine’s Day… The infamous February 14th.  The holiday celebrated around the world to express love.  A  romantic, heart-felt, candy-filled day represented by hearts, exchanging Valentine’s and a cherub aiming his bow at love-seeking pedestrians.  You’d think that such a holiday would be cherished by everyone….right?!

Well, apparently not!  While it may seem like everyone is seeing red and pink lately there has been a lot of back and forth regarding whether to love or hate Valentine’s Day.  This controversial topic has inspired Sharpie to host its own debate and find out where YOU stand on the issue.  Maybe you’re that gal who LOVES LOVE and enjoys getting wrapped up in all the Valentine’s Day  hoopla?  Or maybe you’re the kind of guy who claims Valentine’s Day is a greeting card manufactured holiday?!  Whoever you are, whatever side you take,  we want to know!  Express yourself and let your voice be heard!   Be a part of Sharpie’s first ever

 Love-Hate Debate!

HOW IT WORKS!

Share YOUR OPINION February 1st through 14th!  Tell us if you Love or Hate Valentine’s Day by:

1. Make a video and uploading it to YouTube (post a video response in the comment section) on: http://www.youtube.com/SharpieUS
2. Join Sharpie’s Fan page and leave your comments and photos on our wall: http://www.facebook.com/Sharpie
3. Follow the discussion on Twitter and respond directly to @SharpieSusan with a #SharpieDebate hashtag

Need some inspiration?  To kick things off we took our question to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile to find out what people had to say about Valentine’s Day!  Check out the first series of videos to see what was said!  Come back throughout the next two weeks to see more of what Chicagoans had to say on this hot topic:

We will be posting more Michigan Ave. interviews and sharing your uploaded videos and pics February 1st through February 14th so check back every day to see what’s new!

Check out SharpieUncapped for more details tied to the debate!

Gather up boxes that you can neatly and carefully pack everything up into.  Here’s a tip: Re-organize storage bins to maximize space and re-use the gift boxes from the holidays instead of buying new ones to store your things in (Pictured below: a shirt box, a box that came with a mug and one large mailing box).

Label your boxes with the coordinating items inside and when putting away, arrange them so that labels are easily seen and organized for your convenience when you take them out next year! 

If you pack smart now you’ll be able to spend more time later doing the things you really love with family and friends!

Some holiday items to consider organizing to keep you ahead of the pack:

• Special plates & dishes
• Ribbons and Bows
• Wrapping Paper
• Greeting Cards & Gift Tags
• Indoor/Outdoor Lights
• Indoor/Outdoor Decorations
• Fragile Ornaments
• Kid-made Ornaments
• Garland
• Wreaths
• Tree
• Tree Skirt

Any questions? Ask away! 

How do you use Sharpie markers to stay organized?  Leave your comments here or on Sharpie’s Facebook page!

Most likely, you have had your tree up and decorated for some time now, right? Yeah, me too.. but I had an idea after throwing a Sharpie DIY holiday party with some co-workers, where we customized and designed holiday gift wrap, cards, boxes, ornaments and more.  Ornaments, being the biggest hit, got me thinking that this would make for a fun activity to do with friends and family on a day like Christmas!

What you’ll need:

1. Plain ornaments (Matte-style work best)
2. A sleigh-full of Sharpie permanent markers

Take this in whatever direction you feel like!  If you’re a group of artists, go to town and get all artsy on the ornaments.  If you all have little to no artistic talent, scribble down favorite holiday memories, funny stories or write each other’s character traits on the ornaments (hah that one could get interesting!)  Whatever you decide make it fun! With Sharpie markers and your imagination, the direction you take it is completely up to you!

These are some of the ornaments that my co-workers and I made.  As you can see, some are more detailed than others and they all still look great!

Ornaments made with Sharpie!

Close up!

Lookin' good Ornies! (we're on a nickname basis)

Sticking with the ornament theme, you may remember these bells from back in the day or maybe your kids are at that age now and have brought them home from school.  I actually made these when I was in grade school and thought since I’m older, actually have control over my hands and have legible handwriting, I could take a second stab at this..

Every time a bell rings...

What you’ll need:

1. Small terra-cotta flowerpots (found at any craft store)
2. Tiny bells (also at craft stores)
3. Ribbon
4. A slew of Sharpie markers (I used a combo of Sharpie Water-Based Paint markers and good ol’ fashioned Sharpie Permanent Markers(not pictured))

Materials

Color the pots any color you’d like – and be sure to color a little on the inside too so that you don’t see any clay from an outside view (I had a ton of silver, red, blue and black, hence the color scheme – even Sharpie employees run low own product from time to time).  After coloring, embellish however you’d like!  When finished, thread the ribbon through the drainage hole to make a loop for hanging, then loop another ribbon inside the pot and attach a bell.  Now, start obnoxiously ringing your bells (heehee)!

These are the ones that I made…

O Christmas Tree

Draw your fav mascot or go with a college theme like this! (Rock Chalk)

Anchors away!

Lights. CAMERA. Action.

Now, just for fun I wanted to include this…   When I was out to lunch the other day with a coworker, the restaurant we went to decorated their tree with Sharpie-made ornaments!  In a timeless and classic style, employees names were handwritten on ornaments in metallic gold Sharpie.  Take a look..

Don't mind my brown gloves!

Oo I like the lighting in this one!

Sideways stocking

The Tree! Can you spot the ornaments?!

So what do you think?

How did you decorate for the holidays?  Post your pictures at www.Facebook.com/Sharpie, leave your name, favorite holiday memory, as well as how you used Sharpie markers this year! I’d like to write up a blog post and feature your Sharpie creations!  Can’t wait to see the pictures and hear how you celebrated!

Unwrap What’s Inside!

Happy Holidays!!

]]> http://blog.sharpie.com/2009/12/hows-it-hangin/feed/ 0 http://blog.sharpie.com/2009/12/while-visions-of-sharpie-pens-danced-in-their-heads/ http://blog.sharpie.com/2009/12/while-visions-of-sharpie-pens-danced-in-their-heads/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:29:52 +0000 Whitney http://blog.sharpie.com/?p=2887 From my experience, stocking stuffers can be a tricky thing.  Giving gifts to loved ones is half the fun of the holidays and let’s be honest, you usually don’t hear that “Oprah gave the audience new cars” scream of delight when revealing the value-pack of socks and scratch-off lotto ticket.  Oftentimes, stocking stuffers are chosen because they convienently fit in the stocking itself but why not chose something that 1) fits nicely and 2) is a gauranteed winner!  Hmm..now what could that be?

Sharpie markers actually do make perfect stocking stuffers when you think about it!    There are an assortment of tips, colors, styles and types to choose from with different uses and purposes.  With such a wide variety of Sharpie products, everyone on your holiday list will be thrilled!

Have you seen the new family of Sharpie Pens?  These will definitely bring a smile to anyone’s face!

Take Sharpie gifting to a new level by personalizing your markers with a phrase, name, quote…anything you want to say!  Choose from 8 different colors and even choose a graphic to match!  Visit www.mysharpie.com to play around with the styling of your custom Sharpie markers! *Order by December 16th to receive your personalized Sharpie markers in time for Christmas.

How are you giving Sharpie markers as gifts for the holidays?  Share them with us at the blog and post your pictures to the Sharpie Fan page on Facebook!

Unwrap What’s Inside this Holiday Season with Sharpie!

Happy Holidays!

Embarrassing as it may be, I took a wonderful piece of wisdom away from one of “the Girls Next Door,” Bridget Marquardt.  While it has nothing to do with romping around the Playboy mansion with Hef, it does relate to taking pride in your work.  You see, in one episode, Bridget explained that when giving a present, she finds the importance in not only the present itself but the overall presentation as well (aka the wrapping)!

As a victim of receiving unappealing gift-wrap, (ie: a brown paper bag with “Happy Birthday” written boldly in green Sharpie over the grocery store name) I fully believe in this concept.  You should always take pride in anything and everything that you associate yourself with and put your name on.  “Lazy” gift wrapping doesn’t send the message you want (unless you plan to leave it on someone’s front door step in flames - wink, wink) nor does it reflect positively on you, the gifter!  Something like grocer gift-wrap tells me, you either A) Forgot B) Did this in the car C) Don’t care all too much about me or D) All of the above.  It may seem to be asking a lot but it really isn’t difficult to put a little creativity, personality, at least some ♥ into wrapping a present! 

Before you scoff at me, here is a perfect example of simple and thoughtful wrapping that has been created by a veteran to the Sharpie Blog, Brian Graves.  Brian was previously featured for his Sharpie art work at the J Bar in Chicago in a post entitled, “BIG Sharpie Art.”  Today, however Brian shares his take on gift wrapping… 

Attending a benefit this month, Champagne Wrap-ture 2009, this BIG artist designed his own wrapping on faux alligator paper from a local paper store with just 2 Sharpie Chisel Tip Permanent Markers!  Overlapping different quotes about France, champagne and style, Graves created this beautiful presentation to house a bottle of champagne. (Thank you for sharing  Brian!) Take a closer look..

What you need to recreate this beautiful gift-wrap:  

1. Assorted Sharpies (black plus another color works well)
2. Plain paper
3. Ribbon
4. Literacy (you’ve made it this far so guess what…)

With these same materials here are a few other inspirations created by our very own Phil Ginnodo (Associate Creative Director). Thanks Phil!

And so, if I may ask one thing of you, my Sharpie enthusiasts, this holiday season pleeease don’t be THAT person gifting poorly wrapped presents.  After all the hard work you put into choosing the perfect present why stop short?  Wrap that baby up and let it stand out as the envy of all the other gifts!

How are you adding a personal touch to gift wrap this season?

UNWRAP what’s inside this Holiday with Sharpie!

www.SharpieUncapped.com

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A go-to of mine for years as a great gift for the holidays is a framed picture.  Gifting in different ways, whether it’s a scrap book, collage, an engraved picture frame, restoring an old photo or just putting a fun picture in pretty frame found at a store, pictures are always a great gift.

Here is an easy and inexpensive way to add an even more personal touch to this classic holiday gift.  With a plain picture frame, a few Sharpie markers and some stencils (take a look at www.Stencil1.com) you can make a unique gift, tailored to your loved one’s interest.

This video gives step-by-step instructions on how to make the pictured music themed frame and matching card, featuring (drum roll please..) ME! Whitney Kelly (Sharpie PR/Social Media) or as some of you know me @SharpieWhit! (Be kind, please! @SharpieSusan and I made this at work one afternoon. This also my producing, editing, creating, “hosting,” etc…debut. I hope you like it!)

Send in your holiday ideas to SharpieUncapped.com where you can share photos and more tips & tricks to make your mark this season!

Keep visiting the Sharpie Blog all month long for more holiday how-to’s with Sharpie markers!

UNWRAP What’s Inside this Holiday with Sharpie!

~Happy Holidays~