Make it with Markers

Stencils & Markers 

Stencils are usually used to ink blend through, but you can also use them with markers. I reached for one of my most useful stencils, Playful Leaves, to make a fall scene. Here's how you can do it too:

Playful Leaves Background

1. Trace through the stencil using a medium orange shade of alcohol marker. Here I used Autumn Blaze from the Altenew Warm & Cozy set. Then remove the stencil and trace over the lines again. I chose to only trace two branches instead of the whole stencil. This left the corners open for some white space. 

                      

2. Next, color in the base a lighter shade. I used Sunkissed. 

3. Now use the medium shade, Orange Cream, to make a line right inside the outer edge. 

4. Here I decided my outer edge was not as dark as I wanted, so I traced it again with the darkest shade, Firebrick. TIP: Let go of perfectionism. I could have started over when I didn't like the color I chose to trace the leaves with, but instead I just traced over it in the darker shade. Throwing away your project and starting over causes frustration and takes the fun and relaxation out of creating. See if you can fix it first. 

5. The final touch is a fine line of Autumn Blaze between the darkest, Firebrick, and the Orange Cream shadow. 

I chose not to blend the colors together, but leave it for more of a graphic look. 

Vellum Leaf Accents

Cut leaves out of vellum using the Garden Friend dies. Now it's time to color with alcohol markers. 

                        

First, color in the base with a the lightest shade, Sunkissed. Then trace the outer edges with Orange Cream.

After tracing the veins with the darkest shade, Autumn Blaze, use the bullet tip of the marker to stipple the edges with the lightest color. Just make dots right on the edge where you traced in Orange Cream. This creates an interesting look and contrasts with the lines of the background. 

I used the same techniques to color the other leaves, but used browns on one and darker reds on the the other. 

Finishing Touches

Add some fine spatter

To add some really fine spatter, you need an alcohol marker, rubbing alcohol spray, and a toothbrush. 

Scribble some color on a silicone mat, spritz it with alcohol and rub your toothbrush in it. Then use your finger to fan the bristles and direct the fine spatter where you want it. I mainly directed mine on the corners. 

    

                                                              Color your enamel dots 

I didn't have the brown shade of enamel dots I needed, so I made my own. I just colored some white dots with a brown marker. Tip: Leave the dots on the backing so they stay put when you are coloring. 

I stamped the sentiment "Grateful for you" from the Garden Friend stamp set with black ink. After adhering the vellum leaves with liquid glue, I felt the edges of the panel needed something more. Instead of mounting the panel on a brown background, I used my brown marker to line the edges. I made some spots a little thicker, rather than having a uniform edge, for more of a natural look. This reminded me of doing decoupage with my mom in the 70's and burning the edges of the paper! 

           

To learn more ways to use your markers, check out the class Magic Marker Techniques at Altenew Academy. 

Supplies: 

Altenew Playful Leaves Stencil

Altenew Garden Friend stamp and die set (mini-delight)

Altenew Warm & Cozy marker set, Red Cosmos marker set

Altenew Colorful Wonder Enamel Dots

Triblend Marker- Earth Brown Blend

Master's Touch- Deep Yellow

Vellum

Rubbing Alcohol spray

Old toothbrush