Sharpie Squad member, Laura Kelly, may be one of the cheeriest bloggers we have  had the pleasure of working with! For the past 3 years she has brightened the Sharpie world by guest blogging and sharing her Sharpie love with the world (and across the country, in this case); so, what better way to celebrate the season than to share Laura’s cheer with you all!

What better way to spread BRIGHT and happy love this holiday season than to add a little Sharpie fun to my already planned adventure across the country from North Carolina to California.  With my backpack full of Sharpie markers to give away, sketchbooks and other random Sharpie gear, I grabbed my stuff and made my way to RDU to meet my long time BFF and get on our way.

Ready to jet set!

We started in Raleigh, North Carolina on a beautiful sunny morning.  Having arrived at the airport earlier than necessary we decided to grab breakfast at the super yummy 42^nd Street in terminal C.  When our server arrived, we informed her that she was the first lucky Sharpie winner.  From the large plastic tub of Sharpie markers, she chose green as her favorite and I used it to draw a quick “Me and My Peep” character of herself.   Our first stop was Boston and while there, I left the tub of Sharpie markers on my chair in Delta’s Sky Lounge while going to get some fresh veggies and a refreshing beverage.  Upon my return, I found the chair empty and heard the following over the loudspeaker, “Will the owner of the Sharpies please come to the front.  Your Sharpies have been turned it.”  I dashed to get them and was told that I was lucky to get them back, that sometimes valuable left like weren’t so fortunate as to be returned to their owners, like laptops and cell phones.  She was one smart concierge; she sure knew the value of the Sharpie pen collection!  I doodled a few things for some of the “business” travelers and witnessed a few overly dressed and somewhat pretentious professionals shift from uppity bumps on logs to open, connected and interesting regular folk.  Who knew that a little Sharpie doodling and laughter could create a table of new acquaintances swapping holiday stories and plans while swapping Sharpie markers from my tub to keep  or take back to loved ones at home.  My favorite guy took four, two for each daughter (pink/purple and chartreuse/lime green).

Throughout the day, from airport to airport and on the planes; I sketched “Me and My Peeps” for those around me and made LOTS of new friends.  The most popular colors taken from my collection were bright pink, lime green, red, black and purple.  I got to hear so many great stories about the ways people use their Sharpies, how amazing their artistic children are with Sharpies, what kind of Sharpies they wish they had more of and so much more.  I even got to doodle one of my all-time favorite men, Santa Claus.  He asked me if I wanted more Sharpie markers in my stocking to which I replied, “OF COURSE I DO!  

On Saturday morning we went shopping and I doodled along the way.  The workers in the t-shirt shop were psyched to get their own “Me and My Peep” drawn and put them on display behind the register.

 The dude working at the San Francisco Bath Salt store was another proud owner of his “Me and My Peep” and more than excited about the possibility of showing up in this blog.  He was definitely a SILVER Sharpie marker kind of guy…with a sparkly personality to match!

During the day on Saturday, I took my Sharpie collection along for our outing to Alcatraz, thinking I might be able to graffiti a little in the cells…JUST KIDDING!  While doodling in line I found a fellow Sharpie marker user…the girl assigned the job of marking our tickets!  She was happy as could be when I replaced hers with a new sharp tipped red and happily let me photograph her in action.  She said she wished she could use purple but that red was her only choice.  I gave her a purple to use on personal time.  She gave me a hug.  I call that a GOOD DEAL!  The boat trip over was a bit choppy so I kept my tub packed up and enjoyed the ride!

That evening we attended a wine tasting and once again, my tub was a hit!  The tasters used the markers for their customer tasting notes.  Personally, I recommend the 2010 Mendocino!  It gained a bright red Sharpie heart on my notes!

On Sunday morning, I left a black Sharpie marker with a doodled up message on the paper machine.  I watched from afar while people stopped to read it and chat up their Sharpie stories.  Finally it was taken by a teenage girl who stated as she ripped it from the machine, “I think someone left this here for me.”  She was right.  I guess I did.

That afternoon while shopping at Pier 33 and strolling Fisherman’s Wharf, I took a break to sit down and sketch only to find myself surrounded with people who waited in line for their turn to get sketched.  It was crazy fun.  I passed out Sharpies and smiles at the same time.  Some wanted to know where my tip jar was and I laughed.  Can you imagine, drawing “Me and My Peeps” for tips.  I do it for fun…for the mere pleasure of spreading cheer.  Once inside Boudans to buy some sourdough bread, we decided to head upstairs and grab a bite.  I put my tub of Sharpie markers on the bar while I dug in my backpack for my wallet and the man next to me said, “Wow, you are so lucky.  You have so many Sharpies.”  I chatted with him and ended up giving him a few doodle tips.  He practiced his skills on the postcards he was writing back home to his grandmother in Sweden.  When I gave him the handful he used for his masterpieces, he reacted as if he won the lottery.  He gave me the cheek and then the other cheek European kiss and then was whisked off with his mate to his table to eat.

I was then requested to draw the bartender and the girl on our other side so happily doodled some more, handed out some more love in the form of Sharpie marker, then celebrated my new friendships with a little time trading stories before heading back out to the piers.

I continued to doodle and hand out the markers until they were all gone.  I was invited to new places to meet strangers’ families, speak to their schools and illustrate their stories into books.  I was thanked for sharing myself, for offering inspiration and for reminding people that they too were born to create…that doodling counts too and that they are already qualified!

I learned a lot from my adventure.  The most important lesson that I was reminded of through this attempt to spread bright holiday love was that people from all over the world, of all ages and in all sizes love the joy that comes through creation and imagination.  I was reminded that although I am often teased for being a doodle artist, my gift is unique and it makes a difference in the world we share.

  Together with paper, Sharpie markers and strangers…we can connect, grow and care about others.

MERRY HOLIDAYS!  May your celebrations be filled with lots of BRIGHT, CHEERY and HAPPY CREATIVE LOVE!

To keep with Laura and see where else her Sharpie travels take her be sure to check out her website and find her on Facebook!

Dude or no dude, fact is there are more than 20 million skateboarders in the U.S., most of them under the age of 24. These dudes (which I mean only in the coolest way) ride their boards for lots of reasons, among them this one that I thought was particularly insightful extracted from the dclaim blog: Carving out creative lines under cloudless skies.

I get it. Like sky writing and more. Skateboarding IS an art. So is it any surprise that this daring form of self-expression should also find its way onto the skateboards themselves?

Sharpie has a dude (well, we are sort of just borrowing him) — an acclaimed skateboard artist who takes no offense at the term because his amazing art speaks for itself. Meet Mark Rivard. Mark currently appears in Sharpie’s new advertising campaign alongside one of his amazing skateboards and the Sharpie MINI Markers he used to create it.

Here’s Mark’s Sharpie ad, currently running in issues of TransWorld Skateboarding magazine:

Mark got his start designing skateboards after a serious skiing accident left him with time to ponder — and practice — his art.  In his own words, borrowed from Mark’s website:

Skateboards are the cornerstone of my work.  They are what sparked my re-interest in art.  We’ve all heard skaters say “Skateboarding saved my life.”, well in my situation it was a skateboard that literally altered the direction of the rest of my life.  I don’t think I would have died if I had never started skateboarding but I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for that first board and that first sketch.

Mark’s story is a good one, so we put together a video where Mark takes us behind-the-scenes and shares with us the details of how he came to discover his passion and the true mission of his life:

Something else you should know about Mark. We’ve been working with him for awhile now as part of his participation in the Sharpie Squad,  and he gets our vote for best-skateboard-artist-all-around-greatest-guy-ever!  It’s awesome to be able to point you to someone so deserving of all the praise.  Mark is one nice guy…he’s the duuuuuuuuude!

 Friend Mark on Facebook, then check out his appearance on FUEL TV:

 

Sharpie MINI markers are small enough to go anywhere. They offer:

 

• A portable fine tip marker in half the size
• A cap clip that easily attaches to key chains, golf bags, lanyards… and belt loops perfect for skateboarders on-the-go
• 8 assorted colors, including Turquoise, Red, Blue, Lime Green, Green, Valley Girl Violet, Black, (and Magenta, not pictured).

Visit www.sharpie.com for more.
 

Marirose

She may be the youngest member of the Sharpie Squad, but at just 16-years-old, Marirose Weldon is already penning a name for herself in the music business with the recent release of her debut single, “I Want Love.”

Marirose uses Sharpie Liquid Pencils to write her lyrics, which is how we found her and why we decided to feature her in our new Start with Sharpie ad campaign.

Marirose joins three other Sharpie fans debuting in ads running in some of your favorite magazines, including, Seventeen, TEEN VOGUE, and Us Weekly.

Check out Marirose’s ad below:

Marirose has been hard at work establishing her music career and we hope her appearance in our ads helps her start something big.  She’s already meeting with agents and her song is getting lots of airplay on Chicago radio stations (Marirose lives in a Chicago suburb).  But fighting through adversity and meeting new challenges is nothing new to Marirose.  When she was 9-years-old, her mother passed away from a brain tumor.  The video below gives a peak inside Marirose’s life where she talks through some of those personal struggles, and her commitment to her music.

Below is an excerpt from a story that appeared about Marirose in My Suburban Life prior to a benefit concert she was throwing in her mother’s honor.

Why did you decide you wanted to be in show business?
I would always see people on TV. It would just be like a dream that I never thought would happen… I took acting classes for fun and it became something I started to take seriously. (Singing) was something if you got into you have a lot of opportunities.

What are your songs mostly about?
They’re really upbeat. They all have a really great message. There’s no swearing… they’re not about sex, guns or money. They’re songs you can jam out and dance to in your car. The songs are like Rihanna’s and Kelly Clarkson’s.

Do you still have plans to attend college, despite all your success?
Right now, I’m definitely planning on going to college. I’m not a big star right now, I’m just trying to be successful in the music industry. I’ve got to be smart. I’ll probably go to college for music to get experience.

Why did you decide to throw a benefit concert?
My mother passed away when I was 9 years old from a brain tumor. We literally had no idea. She was too afraid to go to the doctor… (She died) during a family vacation in Florida. It’s still shocking to me today… (The concert) is basically for her. Everything we do is in memory for her.

What’s your next big project?
I’m working on a deal with Sharpie, (an ad campaign) for their liquid pencil. They’re looking for brand new artists…to say that they started writing their songs with the pencil. (The ads) will appear in 17 magazines including US Weekly and on billboards.

This rising star not only has the pipes but the personality to make it big!  We are thrilled she is a part of the 2011 Start with Sharpie campaign!

Stay in tune with Marirose on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace .  Be sure to grab her single, “I Want Love” (also available on i-Tunes)!

Last but not least, check out Marirose’s writing instrument of choice – the new Sharpie Liquid Pencil.  It features a unique liquid graphite formulation that eliminates the age-old problem of broken pencil leads.  And it’s now available in four new barrel colors!

Cheeming

Cheeming Boey is a California-based artist who has gained notarity for the AMAZING art he creates on coffee cups.  By combining two very simple things, paper cups and Sharpie Pens, he ceates museum-worthy masterpieces that continue to ignite interest around the globe.  In the same way that Warhol made soup cans famous, Boey is pushing the limits of pop culture with his coffee cups.

This veteran Sharpie Squad member uses Sharpie Pens to create his intricately designed Joe-holders and then sells the cups online at iamboey.com. Beyond being featured in the OC Register and on maxim.com, he is also the man behind the cups in Sharpie’s 2011 magazine ad for Sharpie Pen as part of the Start with Sharpie campaign.

Not only has Cheeming been busy busting out amazing new work and ad campaigns, he has also just returned from a nine-week stint driving around the U.S. and documenting his travels comic book-style– complete with video highlights– while also working on his literary debut, funded completely through Kickstarter.

Follow Boey’s adventures on Twitter & Facebook and IAmBoey.com. Trust me, your cup will runneth over.

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…

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

STARTING RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW…  

Today we are launching our new “Start with Sharpie” campaign.  It’s all about our passionate fans and the amazing things they have started with Sharpie.  This year we’re showcasing our fans in a way we’ve never done before, hoping that what others have started will inspire YOU to start something with Sharpie too.     

FAN SPOTLIGHT 

Our fans (and if you’re reading this blog, maybe you’re one of them) have done some pretty amazing things with Sharpie.  We have been so impressed — and so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Sharpie projects out there – that we decided to show off some of them in our magazine ads this year. With nearly two-million incredible Facebook fans and our Sharpie Squad members, we didn’t have to look far to find the right candidates – but, the choice was definitely not easy. Ultimately, we selected three veteran Sharpie Squad members, along with a newcomer, teen singer and songwriter Marirose Weldon, who uses Sharpie Liquid Pencils to write her lyrics.  

LOOK WHAT THEY STARTED!  Please meet…  

 Erica Domesek– DIY expert, author and creator of P.S.- I Made This, Erica’s creations are inspired by some of the biggest names in fashion. She has been featured in top entertainment and fashion media, and both her website and her book feature several Sharpie DIY projects.  In her Sharpie ad, Erica breathes new life into a standard-issue pencil case using new Stained by Sharpie^®  fabric markers to create a chic purse.  The good news is you can make too - just follow the steps listed in the D.I.Y. with Domesek blog post!

Here is Erica’s Ad:

Boey

 Cheeming Boey– Known as the “coffee cup artist,” Cheeming’s work has been displayed in galleries nationwide. In his ad, Cheeming demonstrates how a Sharpie Pen and a simple Styrofoam cup can be combined to create something truly inspiring. 

Here is Cheeming’s “Start with Sharpie” ad:  

Rivard

Mark Rivard– Using skateboards as his canvas, Mark’s designs have appeared in sports commercials and viewed in galleries worldwide.  Mark demonstrates how he uses Sharpie Mini markers to create coveted custom boards.

Here is Mark’s “Start with Sharpie”  Ad:

Marirose

Marirose Weldon– At just 15-years-old, Marirose is already penning a name for herself in the music business with the recent release of her debut single, “I Want Love.” Marirose uses Sharpie Liquid Pencils to write her lyrics and show the world what she is starting with Sharpie.   

And finally, Marirose’s “Start with Sharpie” Ad:

Keep an eye out for them in Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Us Weekly and others, where not only can you see fellow Sharpie fans gracing the pages of your favorite publications, but you can also unlock EXCLUSIVE content and videos of each Sharpie project through the QR codes in the ads.    

GET INSPIRED…AND THEN GET STARTED: 

We like the print ads a lot because they show what’s possible with Sharpie and a little imagination.  But even better are the webisodes we created showing how each of our four Sharpie stars got started, not only with their projects but their careers and ultimatley their dreams: 

New Products, Packaging, Web Site and More

Not only are we shining the spotlight on some of our amazing fans and their work but we are also introducing three exciting new products.  You’ll want to be sure to add these to your back-to-school shopping list:  

• Gel Highlighter™:  this year’s back-to-school must-have features gel stick technology that prevents smearing, bleed-through and drying out – and makes highlighting fun with its smooth gel formulation.
• Stained by Sharpie™:  The first-ever Sharpie marker specifically developed for performance on most fabric surfaces. 
• Sharpie^® 80’s Glam: Vibrant, limited edition permanent markers perfect for creating hip, colorful masterpieces.  The collection turns back time with five new colors, chosen by Sharpie’s Facebook fans, including – Argyle Green, Leg Warmer Orange, Jellie Pink, Banana Clip Yellow and Valley Girl Violet.

We have also been listening to you over the past year and are adding new colors to Sharpie Mini (Magenta, Valley Girl Violet, Turquoise), Sharpie Pen fine tip (Turquoise, Coral, Clover, Hot Pink), and Sharpie Liquid Pencil (new barrel colors — Turquoise, Orange, Lime, Purple). You asked for it and now we have delivered!  

Sharpie’s Fresh Face

After 10 years we have taken a hint from Hollywood and given our packaging a facelift.  But don’t worry, the iconic Sharpie logo remains unchanged! The key differences include brighter, whiter packaging, a larger and angled Sharpie logo, and help with product features and benefits that makes shopping for Sharpie — in its multitude of colors, tip sizes and varieties — easier than ever.  Check it out in stores and let us know what you think!  

Another part of Sharpie’s refreshed look for 2011 is a re-designed  website – which can still found at www.sharpie.com.   

The site features a new, more user-friendly community experience that takes the best of what we had and makes it even better! Now, you can:  

• Create your very own Sharpie profile so you can connect to your friends and other fans who love Sharpie, and the profiles have also been enhanced so they have a cleaner, more ‘Facebook-like’ feel to them.
• Navigate Sharpie products in every color and tip size imaginable via an interactive color wheel (it even lets you shop for Sharpie by color – so you can see all the possibilities in, say, the color red.)
• Check out how-to videos and Sharpie fan galleries.
• See everything Sharpie  is up to on all our social sites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the Sharpie Blog!
•  Create detailed multi-step how-to’s that combine your own user-created videos, images, and text. You can even show which products you used to create it.
•  Issue a Challenge to the community to start something with Sharpie using certain products or tools. For example, who can create the best set of Sharpie shoes, or the best project using only Sharpie Metallic markers.
• Share all the great user submissions and blog entries through an improved Share functionality.
• Greater ability to sort and search for user submissions, how-to’s, challenges, and videos by time submitted, popularity, etc.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GALLERY! 

Be sure to upload images of your Sharpie creations and share with the world via our interactive gallery.  More than 10,000 have already been submitted – we just need YOURS! 

START SOMETHING ON YOUTUBE

This back-to-school season, Sharpie will take its gallery of fan submissions to new heights when for one day, on August 27th, Sharpie stages a takeover of the YouTube homepage, where thousands of images of Sharpie creations will combine to create an interactive mosaic.  For all the details, check out the official blog post here.  

NOW, puuuuulease head on over  to  www.sharpie.com to see it all for yourself! What are you gonna start?! Upload something to the gallery today.

Get to know the newest Sharpie Squad member!

Our youngest and newest member of the Squad, this up- and-coming musician is the talent featured in our Sharpie Liquid Pencil magazine ad and we are thrilled to have her has our 2011 addition to the Squad. 

Marirose Weldon–At 15-years-old, this Chicago native is already penning a name for herself in the music business with the recent release of her debut single, “I Want Love.” Marirose uses Sharpie Liquid Pencils to write her lyrics and share what she is starting with Sharpie.

Rock out with Marirose on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Myspace.

Check in with Our Veterans!

Moving into veteran status on the Sharpie Squad this year, you may recognize this next member as the D.I.Y-er featured in our 2011 magazine ad for Stained by Sharpie fabric markers!  

Erica Domesek is a distinguished lifestyle, design and style expert, living and creating in New York City.  She is also the founder of the innovative DIY brand “PS-I Made This…” With a keen eye and ability to make everything from fashion accessories, home décor accents and provide a vision for creative soirees, Erica’s work has been featured in publications such as Teen Vogue, Glamour, Vogue Nippon, Domino, GQ, among others.   She has styled and designed campaigns for international brands such as Kate Spade, Tumi, J.Crew, Anthropologie, Roxy, Sigerson Morrison, and True Religion, Helmut Lang, and has hosted Alloy Entertainment’s Teen.com TV’s Craft Club. 

Follow Erica on Twitter. Fan her on Facebook. See all the DIY inspirations from P.S. – I made this… 

Erin Moore of Things Moms Like, a popular review and giveaway blog, is the mother of two (7 and 14).  A 2009 Sharpie Squad veteran, she is back again for her third year on the Squad, Erin has worked as an event planner as well as a promoter.  She frequently speaks at parenting conferences all over the country and loves to travel!  Erin enjoys offering fun contests and honest reviews to parents everywhere with her blog.  And Hello?!! Of course she uses Sharpie markers on a daily basis! 

Erin is on Twitter and Facebook!  ThingsMomsLike.com  

Alex Poli, better known as Man One,is a leading urban muralist and artist.  Involved with the Graffiti Art movement since 1987, Man One began his artistic journey in the streets of Los Angeles tagging and leaving his trademark of bold, colorful aerosol strokes, in search of his artistic purpose. He may have been new to the Sharpie Squad in 2010, but his artwork has already been showcased in over 40 group exhibitions domestically and internationally, 10 solo exhibits, and displayed at several museums and high profile galleries, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, The Getty, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana, and Parco Museum in Tokyo.  

Commercially, Man One’s commissions include murals, designs and concepts for MTV, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Sony, Ubisoft to name a few, as well as scenic visuals for feature films, music videos and TV commercials and ads for Microsoft, Target and Ford. His artwork has been profiled and featured in a number of international magazines, newspapers and books including the Washington Post and New York Magazine. He also owns and runs Crewest, the only L.A.-based gallery dedicated to the upliftment of Graffiti Art. 

Man One is on Twitter and Facebook.  Get more Man!  

Kristin Lesney is the mother to Kai, 6, and Brooklin, 2.  She’s a busy full-time college student living in Oregon and a veteran Sharpie Squad member, returning for her third year!  Kristin chronicles the daily life of just another Ordinary Mom.  Kristin is the owner of Our Ordinary Life, a blog where she talks about her journey through life as a mom and college student. She enjoys keeping it real and always has an opinion about something!  Kristin shares what her family finds useful and if she doesn’t seem busy enough, she also involves herself in several projects around the blogpshere. She’s one of Frito Lay’s Fab 15 moms as well as a Frigidare Test Drive Mom. 

Catch up with Kristin on Twitter & Facebook and take a peak at her extraordinary website, Our Ordinary Life. 

Linda Ellett is a professional artist who specializes in decorating pottery with Sharpie markers!  Residing in upstate New York, this new Sharpie Squad member is celebrating 32 years of extraordinary tile-making with her shop, L’esperance Tile Works found on Etsy.   Every one of Ellett’s tiles is handmade and hand-glazed in her upstate New York studios. 

Find out more about Linda through Twitter, Facebook and visit the amazing L’esperance Tile Works. 

Brand new in 2010 to the Sharpie Squad, Corine Ingrassia  is back for more in 2011. Corine is a suburban stay-at-home mom of two — a boy, 5, and a girl, 2.  Corine blogs from Central New Jersey where she talks with an audience of other “Complicated Mama’s” who are seeking balance in their full-time, permanent stay-at-home mom jobs. Corine is also a contributing writer for the NYMetropolista blog and NJ.com/parenting. 

Find out what’s so complicated by chatting with this mama on Twitter, Facebook, and on ComplicatedMama.com. 

Welcome back Jon E. Nimetz, third year Sharpie Squad member!  Based out of Venice, California, Jon is a producer, marketer, advertising producer, and the talent behind SuperFineArt.com.  He is known for his loud personality and passionate style, which he emphasizes through his art. Jon uses a combination of acrylic paint and Sharpie paint markers to create nature-inspired paintings that are both unique and self-expressive. 

This Squad member is Super Fine! Find him on Facebook and Twitter too. 

Linsey Knerl, the endearing voice behind Lille’ Punkin Reviews , is always on the lookout for the next best thing when it comes to making her life easier.   Who isn’t, right?! As a free resource for parents and friends of parents, Knerl offers regular, unbiased opinions on a variety of family-friendly items.  This is Linsey’s third year on the Sharpie Squad!  This punkin is a must-have resource when it comes to parenting! 

Check out Linsey on Twitter, Facebook and her website: Lille’Punkin 

Lauri Harrison is founder of MomToBeDepot.com and is a blogger for several media sites including Working Mothermagazine and Examiner.com. Not only is Lauri back for thirds as a Sharpie Squad member, she is also the mom of a tot (no, not tater-tots, silly) and a teenager, informing parents about great new products (as well as the classics, eh hem… Sharpie)! 

Connect with Lauri on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to head to the Depot! 

Cheeming Boey is a California-based artist using paper cups as his chosen canvas.  With artistic creations that seem to go viral on a weekly basis, this returning Squad member uses Sharpie markers to create intricate designs on cups, selling them online at iamboey.com. Boey has attracted tons of attention with his mini masterpieces and has  been featured in the OC Register and maxim.com and now as the man behind the cups in Sharpie’s 2011 magazine ad for Sharpie pen!

Flip some cups with Boey on Twitter & Facebook  You’ve gotta check out IAmBoey.com. 

Laura Kelly is an official Sharpie guru and one of the original Squad members.  Using Sharpie markers, Laura creates bright, bold and simple designs that uplift the human spirit.  Surrounded by people who share her aspirations to generate joy, happiness and empowerment in a vibrant, organized environment, she fills notebooks with playful Sharpie drawings inspired by everyday images when suddenly, a new collection is born.   Laura currently licenses her work to companies in a variety of industries including gift, stationery, gourmet food and home décor as well as bank products.  She also owns her own wholesale company, Laura Kelly Designs, which manufactures stationery products for stores around the country. When she isn’t working on her licensable portfolio, you will find her painting, baking, gardening, playing with clay or making stuff out of recycled products.  She is also a active member of the Greeting Card Association, Craft and Hobby Association where she serves on the Trend Team and as a delegate to the National Stationery Show. 

Laura’s Facebook and Website. Shop Laura Kelly! 

His third year on the Sharpie Squad, Travis Todd creates Sharpie art on everyday objects from lunch boxes to automobiles.  He even carries a Sharpie on his key chain just in case he is overcome with an urge to create “instant art!”  Travis has built a great name for himself – he is especially renowned in online automotive forums for his amazing Sharpie Art Car creations, one of which was recently featured on womansday.com.  He has developed his own blend of elegant scroll work and graffiti-style art and claims that  people tend to see what they want to see in his artwork.  You can find some of his works on his Flickr page @ www.flickr.com/spdu4ia. 

Click HERE to see what Travis’ Sharpie Art is all about. 

             Say hello to Alli Whitmore, the brains and beauty behind One Pearl Button.  This Sharpie Squad veteran  is an archaeologist and crafter, striving to do something creative everyday!  She blogs about fashion, design, crafts and photography and has had work featured all over the internet as well as in print.  As an archaeologist, Alli is naturally drawn to the history of objects and has a feminine, slightly quirky style which is strongly influenced by the past.  Some of her current loves are crocheted afghans, clothes that are way too big, and Polaroid photography.  And of course, Sharpie markers are considered invaluable tools in her creative arsenal!  

Tweet with Alli and then check out her website OnePearlButton.com. 

Derek Benson of San Diego, CA takes lunch time to a new level using Sharpie markers.  A third year Sharpie Squad member, Benson uses Sharpie markers to add intricate drawings of cartoons, super heroes, characters and more to his childrens’ brown paper lunch bags – and he does it every day!  During his lunch breaks, Benson conjures up his unique designs, all which can be seen on his website lunchbagart.tumblr.com.  His drawings have been featured in Parents magazine and can be seen on his Tumblr or via his twitter account. 

Have lunch with Benson on Twitter and Tumblr! 

Returning to the Sharpie Squad for her second year, Debbie Bookstaber is editor of Mamanista.com, a site dedicated to pointing out the fabulously chic and irresistibly practical–shopping, making it easy for the hip mama on a budget to compare products.  Debbie is currently the Director of Strategy at The JAR Group, holds a position on her local school board as well as gives her time to serving serveal charitable boards.  

Follow Mamanista on Twitter, join Debbie on Facebook.  take a look around Mamanista.com & see what fab finds are out there! 

Mark Rivardis a well-known skateboard artist, covering a wide variety of genres and designs. Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rivard is a returning 2009 & 2010 Sharpie Squad member, whose work has been seen in exhibitions around the world, including shows in Belgium, Denver, Detroit, Seattle and New York City. Rivard takes his Sharpies with him worldwide, teaching and inspiring through art and is the man with the minis in the 2011 “Start with Sharpie” magazine ads!

Connect with Mark on Twitter & Facebook.  Ride on down to Mark’s website MarkRivardSkateboardArt.com. 

As the creator of If it’s Hip, It’s Here, Laura Sweet has always had an admiration for art, design and craftsmanship.  Her blog is an outlet to share what she admires as “hip” with her 130,000+ readers every month.  Currently residing in Beverly Hills, Laura has lived and worked in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Detroit and Seattle. Living in these assorted locations has exposed her to a variety of diverse attitudes, styles and values. For more than 20 years, Laura has been on the creative side of the TV and print advertising business. She has produced work on several major accounts from luxury cars to IKEA. Laura holds degrees in both Fine Art and Art History from UC Berkeley. She also has a degree in Advertising from Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, where she was an instructor for eight years.  This is Laura’s second year as a Sharpie Squad member! 

Get a quick hip from Laura on Twitter and Facebook.  Satisfy your Sweet tooth at If It’s Hip It’s Here 

Hanna Agar is a young photographer from rural Wisconsin trying to find her fortune in NYC.  For the past year she has been interning for celebrity and fashion photographers while using her scarce moments of free time to develop her own abilities.  Hanna  uses Sharpies to record the thoughts, hopes, prayers, and memories of her friends and family onto recycled paper, old material, clothing, etc.  She then photographs people interacting with or creating these items.  

Hanna’s photography and Sharpie work can be viewed at www.hannaagar.com

                   Tali Buchlar, new in 2010 to the Sharpie Squad, is a stay-at-home mom, raising her kids in the most creative way she can.  A mother of two girls and blogger of  www.growingupcreative.com, Tali shares her experiences and research about raising her girls to be innovative and imaginative.  Upon graduating from Massachusetts College of Art from the Department of Architecture, she gained four years of training at an innovative architecture firm. Since then, she has opened her own firm with Kristen Giannattasio in Watertown, Massachusetts.  Tali recently moved back to Israel from Santa Monica, CA. 

Learn more about Tali & Growing Up Creative.  Tweet with her and check her out on Facebook. 

Welcome Heather Batts back to the Sharpie Squad!  Heather is a mom of two boys who writes about her journey as a diva on a budget at thedomesticdiva.org. for.  Her blog has been recognized as one of the “142 Resources that will Save you Cash” in 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budgetby the writers of Wise Bread, for being a part of one of the “Best Personal Finance Blogs.”  With such a successful blog, Heather has even been able to has interview celebrities including daytime talk show host Kelly Ripa and Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin. 

This Diva can be found on Twitter & Facebook! Be sure to browse around on her DomesticeDiva.org too! 

To follow the entire Sharpie Squad’s tweets follow the Sharpie Squad Twitter List.   

Don’t forget to Tweet with the #SharpieSquad hashtag on Twitter!

DIY Queen: Erica Domesek

Sharpie fan and fashion fanatic, Erica Domesek, has made a career of transforming expensive fashion trends into doable DIY projects. She sees it, she likes it, she makes it, is her motto.  

Is it any surprise, then, that Sharpie is one of her favorite DIY staples? Sharpie discovered her three years ago and invited her to join the Sharpie Squad, a group of some of Sharpie’s most passionate fans. 

This year, Erica will be featured in Sharpie’s new print ad campaign, along with the standard-issue pencil case she transformed with Sharpie into a ready-for-recess — or the runway — purse using brand new Stained by Sharpie fabric markers. Stained markers are formulated for use on most fabrics and include a brush tip for expressive strokes. 

Erica's print ad featuring her plain jane pencil case turned chic clutch.

This bag may look like something off a New York runway but you can make it your own in a few simple steps, with a few simple items and Sharpie, of course!    

1- Draw the outline details 

 2- Begin shading in top flap  

 3- Continue to fill in, varying the pressure with the markers to create a lighter shades in the bottom corners. 

 4- Use a ruler to create a quilted effect.  Outline with black and begin adding studs. 

5- Place studs where lines intersect, and add stitching detail with dotted straight lines around the interior border.    

6- Mark where the grommets will be inserted.   

7- Cut slits for grommets.  

 8- Insert grommet top and bottom and align together. 

9- Hammer grommets together. 

10- Insert chain through all four grommets. 

11- Use a safety pin to join ends of chain.    

 12-  Add the last touches… a fun tassel on the chain and use Stained markers to create faux hardware that mimics a real clutch.  P.S. Glue a gem to finish it off! 

Et Voila! You’re ready for a night out on the town or a day in class; either way you’ll be stylin’ with Stained by Sharpie fabric markers! Check out more amazing D.I.Y. creations from Erica on her blog, P.S. I Made This… , follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook!

In the news segment, Domesek demonstrates how to DIY a beaded statement necklace,  a fashionable clutch for your iPad using colors from Prada’s runway collection and a Vera Wang inspired belt that doubles as a headband.  

Watch Erica’s E! segment, ”Crafty Transformations” below:

Here are a few of Erica’s projects using Sharpie markers: Kate Spade event, Ready Made magazine. 

You can also find more Sharpie-made projects in Erica’s new book, P.S. -I Made This… 

Let’s review the prizes, shall we…

Grand Prize: One grand prize winning business will recEIve a $1,000 Visa gift card to be used for an internal office party and $200 in Sharpie products. In addition the person who submitted the winning photo on behalf of their business will receive a $100 Via gift card.

First Prize: Five (5) first prize winning businesses will each receive $200 in Sharpie products.

And the winners are….

A panel of expert Sharpie elves got together to review sleigh-fuls of entries. After eating one too many cookies and drinking hot coco till we sweat, a decision was made!

Congratulations to our GRAND PRIZE WINNER, Jacquie Wiggins of Advanced Bionics in Santa Clarita, CA! Donning her office with holiday flair and Sharpie accents, Jackie went the extra mile spreading the spirit of the season in creative ways such as Sharpie wreaths, Sharpie snowmen, decorated trees and one loooooooong letter to Santa.  Here are a few close up pics:

First Prize Winners (in random order)

• Nancy Kevorkian of HOLDstor
• Shannon Evans of Freedman’s
• Shannon Angle of Tristate Office Products Co
• Kris Long of Drs. Bost & Manganello
• Judy Cole of Cherokee Lanes

Thank you to all who participated and once again, CONGRATULATIONS to all of our winners!

Now onto the next holiday – Anyone making Sharpie Valentine’s??