Wooden disks and Sharpies | How About Orange

January 04, 2011

Wooden disks and Sharpies

I found wooden disks for ten cents at a craft store and decided to see how well Sharpies would write on them. The markers bled a bit, but by varying how hard I pressed, I could control the bleed somewhat. Applying the lighter colors before sketching any black lines works best, or else the black will bleed like a victim on CSI. Applying a light coat of spray acrylic before drawing also stops future bleeding, but it will turn the wood a couple shades darker.

91 comments:

Maxabella said...

Love the sweet little design you've made here. Sharpies are bleeders aren't they!! I like your perseverance. x

Grandma G said...

Eek! You watch too much CSI!

Mum

Michelle said...

Those are pretty!

Jessica Jones said...

I know, Mom! I know! I try to quit for fear I'm corrupting my mind, but I loooove detective stories.

Care said...

ooooooooh! love!! any chance you'd sell me one? :o)

emerzim said...

Cute! I would wear it as a necklace.

staci @ lizard n ladybug said...

really cute..
Would make great charms for a bracelet or necklace :)

Laurie in SC said...

How adorable! And, I too, am hooked on fictional and non-fictional criminal investigation shows. So much so that my blog is called "Scene of the Grime." Come see me sometime and thanks for sharing your wooden disk creativity! Happy 2011!

http://sceneofthegrime.blogspot.com

Jeanee said...

COOL! If I could doodle I'd do it.

kalanicut said...

When I saw your tweet I knew you would come up with something great, but even then when I saw these I was completely over the top impressed. So lovely!

secret cake said...

I see wooden disk magnets in my future...so cool! Thank you for sharing : )

Mollie said...

I just used some of these little discs (painted with doodles) to tie on Christmas packages. I can't wait to try Sharpies! Yay! Thanks for the excellent idea.

The Smallest Sparrow said...

Crazy adorable!

Anonymous said...

What an adorable idea! I may have to try that. :)

Laura said...

I love them! So cheery and bright!

Leanne said...

So adorable! I love the design!

Mirka said...

It's a wonderful idea - thank you for sharing! I love the designs you made!

Lexie & Jeff said...

Wow, super creative and impressive "doodling"! I love CSI, too. :)

Tanis said...

OH AWESOME!
Thanks for the brilliant idea :)

Eva said...

These look great! So simple and yet they make something (your keys) looks so much more cheerful and pretty!

Kate Moore said...

Looks great. Also works well on wooden beads for an interesting addition to a necklace.

Heather said...

Wow those are so sweet and colorful!!

If you like detective stories, maybe you've seen the show 24? My husband and I have been watching through all the seasons on Netflix. I am not sure how old the show is, but it's pretty good!

Lila said...

How cute! You are seriously so crafty- obviously!

A Box of Chocolates said...

gorgeous little creations really sweet
i love love csi

The Cheap Chic Momma said...

Very cute! These would make great gifts!

Anna said...

whoa! thesse are so great. love your flower design and sharpies are the coolest. :)

Emily Wilson said...

I LOVE these...and your idea... almost as much as i love sharpies! Great job!

ps I am loving your blog! Im sure Ill be commenting on it quite a lot!

Emily
http://thepostscriptofemilywilsondesign.blogspot.com/

Anne Magee said...

Those are absolutely adorable! Love your design! Were the discs pre-drilled?

Unknown said...

How cute!

Jill said...

These are totally adorable! I'm in love. And ten cent disks and sharpies? You can't beat the supply cost!

Jamie said...

Super cute idea. My girls would totally love these for their back packs too!

Gabrielle said...

I love your little flowers! They remind me of a vintage mug I have in my cupboard. So sweet.

Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...

Super cute! as always =)

love the design like woah

xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

~amy~ said...

c-u-t-e!!!

Kate S. said...

So cute, what a great idea!

Sherman Unkefer said...

How adorable! Love the sweet little design you've made here. Cute!

Wendy said...

Love!!!
And suddenly I'm feeling the need to go hunt down some little wooden disks...

liz @ bon temps beignet said...

Jess, I just saw your fabric as curtains from this old SkunkboyCreatures post... love that blog

here's a link:
http://skunkboycreatures.blogspot.com/2009/10/tutorials.html

Jessica Jones said...

Hey, what do you know? Good eye!

Stephane in Alaska said...

Oh, for heaven's sake! These are SO much nicer than those plastic key rings or even those paper circles with the metal band. I've got a load of wooden disks, too. Thank you!

Melissa said...

These are adorable:) and... there is never enough CSI:)

Erin said...

Okay, I cracked up at your CSI comment...we're Ion television fans and watch all those detective shows...it is crazy.

Anyway, have you sprayed your finished products with acrylic? Did they bleed?

RaDonna Murner said...

Can you let us know which crafts store you found them in? I'd love to make some of these for gifts.

Karina said...

Seriously - how cute are these. We moved a few months ago and I have been looking (with no luck) for a new key chain to replace the paper tag one from the seller. This is perfect. I'm off to do some drawing (because you know I have all the needed supplies in my stash). Love it!

BonAndChi said...

they are sooo cute! X3
Your descriptions are so funny~ hahaha~

eireann said...

What about spraying a thin coat of clear acrylic before drawing, to prevent the Sharpies from bleeding? And then again after.

Lauren said...

Neat idea!

Breeanna @ a brilliant melody said...

love those! I would never think of that

Pascale said...

Now, that is so cute!!
Happy 2011!!

Toni said...

Gorgeous! I wonder where I could get those wooden discs in Australia? They'd make gorgeous buttons as well.

Amy said...

I love those! Such a great idea!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Clever. Cute. I heart Sharpies. My daughter is an industrial design major and did two internships with Sharpie in Chicago this past year.

RaDonna Murner said...

Wondering what size these disks are. About 1" maybe?

Anonymous said...

how cute cute cute are those!!

Anonymous said...

your clever ideas make me happy :)

Jessica Jones said...

The disks are 1.5" in diameter. I got them at Tom Thumb, a local hobby shop. They didn't come with holes in them; I drilled them.

I could apply a coat of spray acrylic before or after drawing on them, but when I tested my spray stuff on an extra disk, it turned the wood considerably darker, which was an effect I didn't care for.

ChichiChick said...

Soooooo Cute. Your very clever, where do you find the time?

able mabel said...

Wow! That is so cool!

Pallavi Arunika said...

Love the concept !

Peggy said...

These are great! Now I have a use for all the little plugs that are left when we drill something using a bore bit.

Peggy said...

These are great! Now I have a use for all the little plugs that are left when we drill something using a bore bit.

carolyn said...

so pretty!

Anonymous said...

I love these! Thanks for the continued inspiration.

http://quietstitches.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

These are so lovely! What a nice little trinket for brightening an everyday thing! I would like to feature this project if it's okay...

http://findingsomethinglovley.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

oops! typo! you can find it at

http://findingsomethinglovely.wordpress.com

:D

- thanks for the inspiration!

poppy lovesaparty said...

While my husband watches CSI I read blogs that teach me how to keep Sharpies from bleeding. Fake bleeding on CSI, real bleeding on How About Orange. I can't wait to give this a try. Yours are adorable!

ankepanke said...

You inspired me: http://ankepankedesign.blogspot.com/2011/01/lovely-flowers.html :)

Jodi Geers said...

Since Sharpies work on almost all surfaces, try a light coat of sealant first. Use a permanent black ink pad for stamped images and then use the
Sharpies. Shouldn't bleed now.

Anonymous said...

how cute!!! I see these as ornaments for a woodland tree at christmas too!

Leslie King said...

These are super cute! So many uses...love the magnet idea!!

michelle renée bernard said...

Love your flowers. And the orange and yellow Sharpie adds just the perfect touch!

Hopewell Creek Designs said...

Such a fun idea. I will have to look for some wooden disks.I have so many sharpies,but now I see I will need more colors. You are so clever...and a great artist..love your vintage flowers.

Anonymous said...

Fabric pens work well on wood - at least for drawing doll faces on wooden clothes pins.

Anestazia said...

Hey there! I just wanted to let you know that I thought these were the cutest thing ever and decided to feature these on my blog tomorrow morning. Don't forget to swing by and check it out!

Anestazia <3
http://yourworkistodiscoveryourworld.blogspot.com/

Tai Bender said...

these are wonderful!I think what I like best about them is that you get to "doodle" I love to sit and draw cute little images but they are usually on scrap paper or something that is going to get thrown out. I may become addicted to these! ~tai @ taidye original

p.s. I am following now!!

Lise Vintage Lighting said...

Just discovered your site and I have been all over--I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE it!! I refurbish vintage lamps and lampshades in my shop. While I am a bit bogged down with the lamps at the moment, I am also looking for fresh ideas for upcoming lampshades. My mind is reeling from the lampshade possibilities I have found on your blog in the last 30 mins..!

I have a reciprocal gift for you-if you haven't already given this product a try. I had a 1950s Laurel Lamp refurb that needed to have a panel of wood veneer replaced. I had never worked with wood veneer before but I love to try new challenges... Now, I am so excited about it and the huge quantity left over after the project that I can hardly stand it. The possibilities are endless! Though a bit pricey, it comes in huge sheets. It is stainable & waxable, but beautiful enough to leave untouched. It is fairly pliable, and even comes ADHESIVE BACKED(a little strong smelling at first, but it goes away)or without adhesive. It is so thin, it not only cuts with scissors and x-acto but with my rotary cutter as well! When I saw your trivet, your flower, and your fabric tape tutorials, my knees practically buckled...

Let me know if you would like more info (as if I have not gushed enough!), either about my experience with the product or suppliers. I might be able to save you some legwork.

Again, LOVE your blog. Can't wait to see more of your wonderfully creative projects!

Susan
LiseVintageLighting.etsy.com
MaryHadALittleLamp.etsy.com

tiffany. said...

yay!!! glad this came from you! i saw a photo of it on pinterest and pinned it in my crafty (things i want to try) board.
NOW ...i can actually do it :))

xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com

Callen said...

Wow, these are so cute!
I hope you don't mind, I featured this post on my blog!
Thanks,

http://callen-upcycle.blogspot.com

EmmaTM said...

Wow, I have got to find me some of those disks. Yours are very cute!!

Chloe's Collars said...

So cute, I love the Idea and the design!!

www.chloescollar.etsy.com

Senja said...

a really great and cute idea!

~Senja

Jessica Jones said...

Hey Susan, that stuff sounds COOL. I might hit you up for a supplier if I come up with a project for it someday!

Jenny Bo said...

Cute and classy! Ultra-Fine point Sharpie, I assume? I am so impressed it didn't bleed. I think I'll feature this on my blog: www.strungbycolor.blogspot.com

Thanks for the inspiration!

mrs.rappsclass said...

I'd love to do this with my second graders. I might have to use larger disks. Thanks for sharing!

Regina @ Chalk In My Pocket said...

You are so creative! What a gorgeous little keychain. If I can find some of these in a heart shape I think I'll knock out my Valentine's crafting in no time!

Regina @ Chalk In My Pocket said...

And how cool would these be as magnets! Where did you find these?!

Jessica Jones said...

I got them at a local hobby store called Tom Thumb. The link to it is in my comment higher up the page. You can probably find them at other craft stores like Joann's or Michaels, or search online.

Engravable Keychains said...

These would be really cute earrings too. I'm hooked.

Unknown said...

I do something like this to make pins, and I've found that Faber-Castell markers work really well and bleed minimally (especially if you use the fine or smalls). They come in loads of colors (including a sepia set that I adore)and like 5 sizes.

Jessica Jones said...

Ooo, good tip!

purejuice said...

i thought this might amuse you.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/purejuice/7006130371/