Created's Tips, Tricks, Ideas, Reviews,and Frugal Art Expeditions!

Sometimes I may also find things that are free, very cheap, or just too good to pass up. In those cases, I'll post them for all the other creative people out there. I will make this promise outright, and know this to be true : I cannot be paid enough to put my reputation on something less than worthy of immediate praise. If you see an endorsement here, it's because I felt it deserved one. There will only be genuine content here - thanks for understanding!

What can you make when there's not quite the right items around?

This collection is for the artist that doesn't mind a bit of strange in their art..

Have a painting to do, but haven't a canvas. Paper tears under ink weight, or shreds under erasers. Worse yet, there's something you can see...feel...just have to make it! - But in your head, and none of the conventional step by step ways will work because you have no idea how to get from point 'A' to point 'B'. If this speaks to you, then read on - maybe you will be inspires, maybe you'll have a question. Ask away, I'll answer every ? that comes through.

I think true magic is the physical realization of our dreams and inner artist brought to life.

If you have markers that have dried or died lying about and also have watercolor paints, you can make your own watercolor pens. They can sell alone for up to $4.00 apeice, so this is a tidy bit saved up. I suppose you could even buy a new set and mod them for the greater good :) Next entry will explain how, and other ways to bring back the dead marking pens you like to their glory days.

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Amazon gem of the day!

Affordable, have to have stuff that really has a purpose (and is worth the cost)

I know, ad spots. Fact is, I could use the extra $$, and I think it's a great idea. I chose these modules for the practicality measure - eg. I will only tell you about it if it's worth my attention at all. It has to be fair priced, and fit this lens. It has to be something I personally want, have, or have used, and it *has* to be something that just needs to be around the house. Let's see what we have today, eh?

Ooh, I have used one of these! I thought they were more expensive than this, though. This lil guy can aim in any direction, height, or location you want. If you want to try eBay or any other sales based sites , or just need to take non blurred pics this is a must have. I wish I could've kept the one I used, but it was just a loaner - photographing my art for sale had never been so easy, and it's small enough to sit on a table, even! Oh, but here's the funny part : the guy I borrowed it from paid $35.00 for just the tripod (ssame one as is shown here) at Circuit City. He then went and spent another $31.00 for the extras he wanted to go with. Here, you can get the whole kit for $23.95? Woot! I will be getting one if one of my art pieces sell, for sure. My shaky hands don't take clear photos anymore, and it will fit any camera I want.Too cool!

Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

Waterbased markers, bringing them back to life-

This goes for Crayola, any non gel marker EXCEPT Prismacolor.

Dried out, eh? No idea where the cap is, even? No problem. I can't afford new pens either, so I have been bringing mine back from the dead for a while now. If the tip is hard (as in not brush tip like some Zigs and Mars graphic 3000's) then your job is an easy one. Water and alcohol. That's it.

You will need:
Regular old alcohol, & not the fun kind. Think about when you got a cut when you were small - remember the kind that made you almost bite your lip off? That's the stuff, I use Isopropyl 70% rubbing alcohol.

Warm some water, a bit warmer than bath temp. Place it in a clear container (so you can see bleed-out) and get your dead markers handy.
If the caps are MIA, consider saran wrap and small rubber bands or even ziploc style baggies.

Okay, just in case, there's something you might want to keep handy. I have a big, fat syringe. Not the dropper, you *will* need the needle. Mine isn't medical, it's actually for refilling printer ink cartridges. This bit is based on that, I have no idea how a surgical one would work..I have 2 small kids and a nutso cat. I never bring anything around that may be harmful, and the refill kind I have is flat tipped, like a small straw with a hole off one side. Harmless, huge, and currently attached to a foot pump with tape. (Airing up kid's rubber balls, it works when nothing else is handy.)

This will work one of 2 ways - dipping will bring them back, or, you have to get surgical! No worries, it's easier than it sounds.

NOW - Got it all together? Okies, let's start with your basic cheapie, non artist quality fare markers. For these, the water ready, alcohol too, and whatever you want to keep them alive after you've got them working again. Ready?

One at a time, grab the end and dip the tip in jsut above the nib (the marking part). pull this out, quickly dip into alcohol and right back out.
You can wipe off any gunk or stains now if you need to.
Back into the water again, and now you begin to start the "fun" part.
Yes, it's working again - but the tube inside hasn't resoaked itself yet, so it'll dry right back out. So here's the routine, do this about 4-6 times and your marker will live like it never died.

Back in the water still, swirl the tip a bit.
Do you see color bleeding out?
This is a sign that the nib is being flushed out, and this is a good thing. Bring it out, turn upside down, tap on the table (or whatever you have) lightly a few times.
Back in the water, same thing again.
When you finally pull out a whitish or pale nib and when turned point down the color rushes back in, then you are done.
If you have a cap, cap it. If you have baggies, put it in one and squeeze out the air before sealing.
If you're doing the saran wrap trick, tear off a square about 2" around, fold over the tip and secure it with a rubber band. It'll stay fresh now, and there you are.

Hardball - for the ones that won't come back :

Grab your syringe.

Somewhere around the tip of the marker, there's usually a hole or indention in the nib, or around it.

Take the syringe and pull in about 2 ml (or about 10 drops) of alcohol.
Place it as close as you can without harming the nib, and push out the alcohol as fast as you can. This will flush it out, and alcohol will break up and gunk that is keeping it from absorbing water. Check the nib - does any color come off now?
Now get about 2 cc of water (or about 1 tsp) and *slowly*, with the marker upside down, tip facing up, *slowly* let the water in through the same spot. Turn the marker over, it should be inked again. Follow as above with the dunk, flip, tap routine and it's back again for you.

Next entry is for my favorite and only constantly used up markers, my babies -the soft foam brushtip.
Phototwin, Mars Graphic Duo, and Colorbrush twin are just a few of the expensive varieties of waterbased/watercolor pens that just seem to be perfect..except for the price tag. Don't get me wrong, the cost is fair, 8-12 markers per set for $12.00 up to $28.00 for the Mars Graphics.
The problem is, the range of colors isn't grand, they are a bit hard to find in good supply, and discontinued colors abound. I have made mine better than before, come back for the rundown on that one. You'll love the results!

~Starving artist plug! ~ (Beware, you might get curious!)

I have to start somewhere, but then don't we all?

For now, these auctions are mine..but if i find a gem that's not getting what I think it should, then I will gladly let that fellow artist in my spot!

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Some nice researching spots for you to try:

Depending on what info you want or need, maybe one of these can help you. If you find these linked sites don't have what you were hoping for, let me know and I'll try to either A)find it for you, or B) answer it myself if I can.