Tuesday Tool Tip (while it’s still – barely – Tuesday LOL). What’s the Difference between Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers?
Colouring is still such a popular past time and stress reliever! Stampin’ Up! products are great for colouring – you can stamp images of your choice and then colour them in – for bonus points you can even use them on a project instead of hoarding them….but one question that has popped up in my classes lately – what’s the difference between Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers? Here’s a quick rundown:
Stampin’ Blends
What’s the Difference: Stampin’ Blends Markers
- Rectangular shape marker
- Double ended – bullet tip and brush tip
- Alcohol Based Colouring Tool – best used with images stamped in Memento Ink
- Currently Available in 27 Stampin’ Up! Colours, Light & Dark Complimentary Shades of Each Colour (see all currently available colours here)
- Ivory, Bronze single shades and Colour Lifter available
- Purchase Individually or in Coordinating Shade Duos
Stampin’ Blends tend not to show “streaks” or colouring lines – as with most alcohol based markers, they blend well to give a more “solid” colour image. The coordinating light and dark shades make it easy to blend and create shadows and highlights for more professional looking results. You can layer the colour to increase the intensity and add more shadows as well. There may be a bit of “bleed” or spreading of colour with these tools, so best to leave a tiny margin by the image line until you know how much your colour will spread. The intense colour will also tend to bleed through the cardstock. The Colour Lifter tends to “push” the colour out of the way, so may help create highlight areas or disguise small areas of spread. These colouring tools are great for colouring, but not suitable for use directly on rubber stamp or photopolymer stamp surfaces. Alcohol based markers are often used by manga / comic book type illustrators.
Stampin’ Write Markers
What’s the Difference: Stampin’ Write Markers
- Traditional round barrel shaped marker
- Double ended – brush tip and fibre tip fine point (great for writing)
- Dye Based Colouring Tool – best results with images stamped in StazOn, but can be used with dye based inks as well
- Available in all 50 Stampin’ Up! shades (all 4 Colour families and all current In Colours), plus Basic Black
- Purchase as a complete set (“Many Marvelous Markers“), or in Colour Family (Neutrals, Brights, Subtles, Regals, In Colour 2017-2019, In Colour 2018-2020), occasionally available individually or in special combinations. Currently also available in a “New Colours” Collection (pictured above)
Stampin’ Write Markers are a great way to get your hands on all the base Stampin’ Up colours for your crafting needs. They are dye based inks, so can be used to colour images on cardstock, or you can use them to apply colour directly to the surface of your stamps before stamping. Great for quick colouring, or colouring in traditional colouring books – there may be bleed if a lot of colour is laid down, but not to the extent of the Stampin’ Blends. I also love using the brush end of these markers for brush lettering. Don’t overwork the surface when you’re using these to colour as you may end up with the paper “pilling”.
Both types of these colouring tools can have a place in your crafting room! There are advantages to each of them. If you’re just dabbling in adding colour to your stamped images, you may want to start with the Stampin’ Blends, since you can start with just one or two colours and shades – for example, if you like floral images, pick a green and a red or pink to start. If you want to get your hands on many coordinating colours quickly, perhaps start with the Stampin’ Write markers since you can get a colour family (or even better – the new colours assortment) to build your collection quickly. Once you’ve been able to “play” with the tools, you’ll know how they fit into your crafting style and won’t be wondering “What’s the Difference?” any longer!
Hopefully this has helped a bit – but if you have any lingering questions, feel free to contact me! You can also check out the recording of the Facebook Live I did a little while ago on the YamStamps Page, showing how Memento and Staz On inks react with both of these types of markers as well as an Aquapainter. If you “like” the YamStamps Page, you’ll get notifications of whenever I go live with a video in future! See you in cyberspace…
