Sharpies! They are one of my favorite art-making tools, and I know kids dig them, too. We are practically swimming in Sharpies around here of all colors and thicknesses. And they never fail to inspire someone to grab one and make some sort of permanent mark somewhere.
Besides just doing some drawings, there are all sorts of ways to put your Sharpies to good use on various items. Take a gander..
From Alisa Burke- blown out, doodled Easter eggs. So cool.
George Ramos spent 2 weeks drawing on this Lamborghini. I think a great idea would be to encourage your kids to do the same to your car. Yes, definitely.
Doily Stencil. The possibilities are endless here- you could make a pattern of these on white paper and paint over them, make some of these over a collage, stencil this onto the cool new jeans mom just bought you. Love it.
Sharpie shoe art. I think these are Keds? But I know there’s a big trend to decorate Toms and Vans shoes as well.
Kathy Barbro from Art Projects for Kids came up with this awesome project using magazine circles and Sharpies. Click over for instructions.
Sharpie tie dye! Okay, if you’re shying away from the napkin tie dye project, use Sharpies and rubbing alcohol instead. Click photo for her tutorial. Heat set with an iron (or probably a dryer would work, too) after it’s completely dry and before washing.
This technique is all over Pinterest: after your Sharpie masterpiece is complete, bake the mug at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let it cool completely before washing. Actually, according to Abernathy Crafts, let it cool before taking out of the oven, because she said the mitt smeared the ink on the handle.
Tangle doodle- this is part one of someone (Robert’s Garden Diary) showing you how to do a Sharpie tangle doodle. It was interesting to watch the process, but I couldn’t bear to watch any more. I’m gonna go shove some Sharpies and paper at my 9 year old right now because she adores doing these sorts of drawings. Try doing this on watercolor paper with ink or paint washes over.
Remember my skateboard post?
set of 12 for $19.99
keds- white canvas sneaker
skateboard blank
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I can’t believe I’m about to type this but, I really like the doily stencil.
Yes! Doilies don’t have to be annoying, they can be used for good.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Sharpies and Kids Make Great Art
I really have to get a pack of the colorful ones! Some great ideas here! Love the collage! My kids like putting faces on balloons with Sharies.
Ann recently posted…Flexible SEO Course
Oh, my…. I just discovered that we need to re-stock our Sharpie supply. They’ve been well-used. What is it about balloons and Sharpies? Whenever we have balloons in the house they get decorated immediately.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Sharpies and Kids Make Great Art
I’m a sharpie fan too and am always excited to see new ideas for them!
Yeah, I have a special love for Sharpies, too!
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Reusable Lunchtime Containers
OMG so cool! That car!! With just Sharpie?!!!
PragmaticMom recently posted…The Presidential Game: Everyone Can Run for President
Just. Sharpie. Can you imagine doing that? I think realistically I’d have the patience to do 1/16th of the car and then I would just scribble wildly over the rest of it. Especially a Lamborghini.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Handmade Book Project
I can see my daughter loving the doily stencil on her jeans or plain shirts. And totally want to try both the shirt dyeing and the tangle doodle. It’s very similar to doodles I used to do as a kid/teen, but I LOVE the idea of doing it on watercolor and washing paint over it. I might try wax paper to make a window hanging!
Kristin recently posted…Wordless Wednesday
Shirt doily art is a great idea! I bet you could use a bleach pen with a doily on a dark shirt- that would look awesome.
My son is still too little to use sharpies…I am sure I would end up with one-of-a-kind sharpie decorated sofas.
But I love em’. My husband, being so wonderful, recently came home with a big, colorful, package of sharpies for me out of the blue. This is his equivalent to a bouquet of flowers and so much better. He knows me so well!
I am thinking I need to put them to use on that tie-die project!
Krista recently posted…A New Direction
I’m off to my local CNA to see if we have Sharpies here in South Africa! Logo looks familiar.
I hope you found some!
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Artist Spotlight: Joseph Cornell
Gret ideas! I nearly bought my daughter a pair of Keds this weekend and contemplated letting her decorate them. I think I may have to go back and get them now!
Tricia recently posted…the Baby Blues
Jeanette I love this list. I am pinning this project this and hope it sends you lots of traffic! Can I make a suggestion? Make a the initial graphic say, “Sharpie projects to do with kids”? Then you will really attract the moms. Love your blog. New Twitter follower. Enjoy all your comment love.
Laura recently posted…Our first months of homeschool and our learning spaces
Thanks for that awesome suggestion! I hit the mark sometimes with pinnable images, but this is a great idea. (And thanks for the pin!)
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Artist Spotlight: Joseph Cornell
Love them! I just got a new costco pack of sharpies for my birthday and I can’t wait to create. Happy SITS Day!
Emily recently posted…Working Mom Blues
Ooooh new Sharpies are the BEST.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Artist Spotlight: Joseph Cornell
This is so beautiful it almost hurts. I am wrapped up and inspired but stuck with a house full of lesser quality markers!!! Somehow it doesn’t seem possible for fuzzy tipped, previously-dipped-in-applesauce, crayola markers to create artwork this lovely. Also, tweens would be much more into Sharpie than crayola. Craft supply store added to the to do list today!
Angi recently posted…National Park Jr. Ranger Tween
I confess I had no idea Sharpies were so versatile! This post makes me want to do Sharpie art! Great ideas!
Kim recently posted…Lessons Learned From Turtle Pie
Great idea for sharpies! My 11 year old is always wanting me to get them for her but honestly she leaves the lids off and then they are no good! But these are great ideas and she’s always trying to do something arts these days!
Found you over at SITS Girls! Glad I found them and you!
Kim
{Sweetsie’s}
Kim M recently posted…Dragonflight Dreams
I find markers caps all over my house, always. It makes me crazy, but you have to just think about how creative they’re being, right?
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Drawing Games for Kids
Oh I love Sharpies! I have sets of markers all over the place. I especially love the top – never thought of that, and that car! I am pretty sure I would not decorate my car that way, but it is still very cool! Thanks for the inspiration and Happy SITS Day!
Raquel recently posted…Thanksgiving Holiday – Make it Memorable
So clever! I see some Christmas gifts in the making! Thanks for a great post!
Kelly Stilwell recently posted…Who loves Amazon? $30 FLASH Giveaway!
I too love sharpies. The sharpie paper towel owls are adorable. Thanks for the post especially the variety of ideas. Enjoy your SITS Day.
Sheila Skillingstead recently posted…Writing: Passion
We love Sharpies around here, but I’ve never seen so many great ideas. Love the doily stencil.
misssrobin recently posted…Trust the Forward Path
My kids love love love LOVE the sharpies…almost as much as my husband does:) Dozens of ways to use them..and most of these are new to me! Love the shoes! My 5 year old loves to draw on herself, so that just seems like a natural progression:) have a great one!
My 3 year old is constantly covered in lovely paint and marker adornments- it’s just so compelling to draw on your skin.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…DIY.org Rewards Kids’ Creativity
Love these ideas. And I have lots of sharpies hanging around the house!
Happy SITS Day!
another jennifer recently posted…Upcoming Online Class: How to Write Blog Posts That Build a Community
I am a mild sharpie-holic. I must own two dozen in various sizes and colours… Although my little lady is a bit too young to use them, I think Mama might have found some crafty ideas here
Crys Wiltshire recently posted…#WordlessWednesday: My Minnie Mouse.
Glad to be of help- you can really never have too many Sharpies. Ever.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Teenagers Make Art: Ella Digregorio
Stopping by from SITS…I love the car. My kids LOVE Sharpies…me? I fear them
Oh well…the art is amazing!
Alley recently posted…Cloth Diaper Challenge: Day 4 Laundry (ok, I did it yesterday)
Clever! Love these. Who knew a Sharpie could be used for good.
Tracy Larson recently posted…Dynamics of Girlfriends – When You Go Back to Work After Staying Home
these are awesome! the eggs are a great alternative to traditional dyed easter eggs, and the shoes are super cool and unique. I am scared of letting kids have sharpies though…isn’t your house covered in un-fixable marks?? hehe
happy SITS day!
Mo recently posted…In Da Club
My house is definitely covered in marks and splotches. I remember when my sis and I were kids, my mom gave up and let us have the dining room to completely color all over the walls. When we were older she finally painted over it all and turned it back into a proper dining room. Great memories.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Artist Spotlight: Joseph Cornell
I have to remind my kids to use something under their “sharpie” projects or I wind up with sharpie soaked into my wood table.
Lisa recently posted…Living in Thanksgiving
I really like the shoes! I won’t dare show my daughter this pics, she’d be a bit too inspired and may get herself in trouble drawing a picture on the wall just for Mommy. Uh…no! Happy SITS day SITStah.
I love Sharpie’s. I’m not sure I would use them on my car though. Happy SITS Day!
What a great post!! I so love sharpies, I just have to wait until my daughter gets old enough to be able to use them.
Thanks for sharing! Hope you are having a wonderful SITS day!
Mary
Mary recently posted…Thanksgiving Wreath
Cool! I never even thought of doing art with Sharpies!
{Kathy} Sharpies are my friend. I have done everything from decorate Halloween costumes to fix furniture scratches. These ideas are fun, too!
Mothering From Scratch recently posted…battles fuel our fire
What amazingly cool ideas!! I never would have thought you could do all of those things with a Sharpie!! I have to go out and buy more right now!!! Over from Sits, btw!
Kim recently posted…Day Tripping: Kimberly Crest
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!
I am planning to do mugs and coasters for Christmas!
We’re going to do some mugs for Grampa, too. He’ll love ‘em.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…My Experience at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair
I love Sharpies! I actually asked for Sharpies for Christmas one year – I like to write with the extra fine ones.
Happy SITS day.
It is amazing what you can do with only marker. I wish I could draw
Such great ideas!! I love the 80s Glam pack. I have to admit that I’m a little scare of letting my kids loose with the Sharpies. Maybe when they are a little older?
Yes, it is a scary prospect. I only let my 3 yo use Sharpies when he’s seated at a table and I’m staring him down the entire time.
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…My Experience at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair
I teach art and I too love sharpies! Recently,I purchased the oil base sharpie paint pens for my students. The students used them on old vinyl records.I melted their records ( in the oven) into bowls. The sharpie withstands the heat. The how to create a record bowl can is demonstrated on you tube. Young children could easily create their own artwork. Melting the records into bowls is easy but should be done by an adult.
Oh, wow! That sounds like such a great project. We’ll definitely have to try it, and it’ll be a good excuse to go comb through a thrift store for records. I can explain to my daughter just what records are. (Antiques!)
Jeanette Nyberg recently posted…Waxy Spiral Rainbow Art
Check out http://www.emmystarbrown.com and what she does with sharpies on glass windows