I did the following to find out:
1. Rubber-banded 5 or 6 dried out water-based markers of a similar color together (I used Crayola and liqui-mark brands). I removed their marker tops and I'm saving those little goodies for another occasion.
2. Then I poured water into glass baby food jars below the screw top area.
3. Put the color tips of the markers into the water and just let it be. If you look closely at the green jar you can just see the color gliding out of the markers and sinking to the bottom. It was fun to watch and I showed several of my students whose classes attended that day.
The longer it sits the better. I had a few jars that sat all school day (8 hours) and another set that sat all night long. Both turned out well. 2 to 4 hours isn't near enough time.
4. I removed the markers and sent them to live on a farm with other retired markers (aka: gave them a good heave-ho into the trash). I tested these on paper and found that they work quite well considering how it was made. In fact, I've already stained my hands a multitude of colors just testing out all my paints.
I'm quite excited to find a really green and cheap way to make liquid watercolors. They usually run atleast $40 for a set of 8 bottles. I already have 10 jars complete in my cabinet with intentions for more. I wish I had known about this sooner... all the markers I've wasted over the years. All the potential paint.
In summation, I answer the question above with a victorious Yes! you can make watercolor paint with old markers. And I'm all the happier for it!
What a cool idea girl! I am not even a teacher but this one caught my attention. Looks like you have the makings for a great blog. I tweeted and facebooked about your cool post. Found you on pinterest. It won't be long and you will have lots of followers if you keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
same
DeleteVery cool!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I am going to ask all my school teacher friends if I can have their dried out marker. I'll trade for pull-tabs, boxtops and soup labels! Thanks...I'm pinning this picture to my board on Pinterest. Thanks for posting this great tip.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this could have been done with just 1 marker. crack it open and soak that spongy thing that is inside in the baby food jar. i don't have several of the same color laying around the house.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Like you I don't have multiples, but one opened up should work. Of course wear gloves when taking the sponges thing out. Lol
DeleteIf you use alcohol it makes alcohol ink. Permanent ink. Will stain anything it comes in contact with. Also I cut the foam piece into 1/2 in section and leave them in the jar. Even when the alcohol evaporates you can add more alcohol and revive it in the exact color every time. I've used every color and color combination you can imagine and quit buying alcohol ink!!
DeleteI have a HUGE tip on embossing powder too....
Deana Pearson
If you use alcohol it makes alcohol ink. Permanent ink. Will stain anything it comes in contact with. Also I cut the foam piece into 1/2 in section and leave them in the jar. Even when the alcohol evaporates you can add more alcohol and revive it in the exact color every time. I've used every color and color combination you can imagine and quit buying alcohol ink!!
DeleteI have a HUGE tip on embossing powder too....
Deana Pearson
Hey sweety I would love to hear about the embossing powder.☺ ��☺
DeleteI tried this with fewer markers and the color was very light when painted. What it really comes down to is your concentration of marker to h2o. If you use only one marker, use a very small amount of water. Or you could combine some markers together and create a 'new' color. Like combining a secondary color with a primary.. Greens with yellow or bliues.. Etc.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea and wish I had had it 30 years ago. All those markers I could have made paint with and recycled. We need more teachers with innovative ideas for reusing and recycling.
ReplyDeleteI do something differet. I take the end without point off and drop water inside and then close again. After they lay a while the water soaks evenly inside and the markers are good for quite a while!
ReplyDeleteThis is what we did to "refresh" our markers as kids, but we just filled the lids with water and jammed them back on the marker to leave them for a while.
DeleteYou can cut the market wicks up and put them in the jar with alcohol-makes alcohol based inks for staining, etc.
DeleteThanks for tip Bizzy Bee. Hoping it works as a dye for my gourd art.
DeleteThanks for the idea Laura. I will have to try that! :)
ReplyDeletefor $5 for fresh markers at dollar store (or cheaper if on sale) can make 8 (or 10 depending on size) instead that $40 for 8! could make 64 (or 80) with that amount!
ReplyDeleteI must try this great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhen my daughter was young, I used to let her dip the old markers in water and "paint" on paper. She began calling them the "not-working markers." In my PreK classroom, I have new markers on my art center and "not-working markers." The "not-working markers" get used the most! Kids love them!
ReplyDeleteI want to know what you are going to do with all those caps!
ReplyDeleteI use the caps as stamping tools! I know a lot of people are using them to create marker top murals.
DeleteI use the caps as stamping tools! I know a lot of people are using them to create marker top murals.
DeleteI've done something similar. First I sent out an email to all my building teachers and child care asking for all dried-up markers. Once in the classroom I gave the separating of colors as a lunch time job to those who like to volunteer in my room. I showed another student how to use pliers to pop off the tip and end cap, to then pull out the fiber center. We put the tip and fiber centers(we cut them in half) in a baby food jar with hot water. About 4 or 5 markers to a jar. I mix colors to make awesome variations and pass them out to the other teachers to use. We use them in our art room and the teachers love having them at their disposal. There is a never ending supply of dried-up markers making their way to a new life!
ReplyDeleteI still use the empty marker. The kids dip them in tempra and use like a brush for more detailed painting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip... Pun intended~ :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tip! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you live in a place that gets snow (I'm sure it'd work on the fake snow you can mix up) but I always let children take the dried up markers outside and let them color the snow. It works best with the darker colors but just another way to save those dried up markers from making the trash.
ReplyDeleteWe love liquid watercolors around our house! I'll have to try this when we start using markers. However, I have found sets of 6 colors of liquid watercolors for under $10. I can't imagine them being as expensive as you mention. Of course, this is a local craft store that I found them at, so maybe that's the difference... (Pat Catan's, if you live in the NE OH/PA area).
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if this would work with dried out dry erase markers? I have a ton of those and would love to have a way to reuse them.
ReplyDeleteI am doing this right now! My 8-year-old son is experimenting with different types of markers to see which type works the best. He's got Crayola Washables, Sharpies, and dry erase. I even encouraged him to hypothesize his results so that we can review the scientific method at the same time. Fun!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! I might just have to use that as a science lesson some day!
DeleteThat's ace :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda
It is amazing idea Amanda...good job
ReplyDeleteNo wonder why my 1st graders like to put their markers In some water to make them work again!
ReplyDeleteLove the usefulness of this. My girls are always forgetting to put the tops on their markers and I have to toss them. Now I can at least get a little bit more use out of them! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeletehttp://thisfineday.com
Cool idea!
ReplyDeleteI love this. I have a toddler this will save me some money for sure, Thank you for experimenting. I found you on pintrest.
ReplyDeletethanks for the great idea will have to do this soon
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. And you can recycle the markers when you are done! Terra cycle.net, if you can't send directly, you can ask on fb for someone to send you a label to mail for free!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion! :)
DeleteThanks for the suggestion! :)
Deletereally good and useful thank u so much(Y)<3
ReplyDeleteCrayola also has a recycling option for the leftover plastic parts (after they have been used to make water colors/alcohol inks and then used as paint brushes for detailing...) They send a pre-paid envelope/box and everything!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Amy, will have to check that out!
DeleteHi! Found you thru Pinterest -- am a former SS/homeschool teacher and love crafts esp. cardmaking. I buy some of my craft supplies at thrift stores and was surprised to find a kit by Crayola called a Marker Maker Refill Pack. You can make your own custom markers or refill your old ones with the reinkers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Rushd Lady!
DeleteMay I ask what you do with the caps you mentioned saving too?
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
I use them for a couple of different purposes. The caps can be used for a mural made entirely of caps. They are good for found object collage (when painted orange they are very convincing as little carrots), but for my primary age kids I like to stamp with them. They make great bubble stamps for ocean pictures.
DeleteThanks Pebe
The things you learn day to day ..thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThe caliber of information that you're offering is merely wonderful. http://newcastle-skiphire.co.uk
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for us grandparents to use when our little ones come to visit :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea as I have found some old markers in the back of the draw and was going to throw away but I think I will have to give your idea a go. Thanks again
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting :)
DeleteThanks for visiting :)
DeleteEven after doing this, the markers can be recycled by Crayola - find a local collection spot for them at Crayola.com: http://www.crayola.com/colorcycle.aspx
ReplyDelete<3
Ooo, so neat! I think I'll try dipping my Christmas ball ornies in the colors and see if they'll turn out :)
ReplyDeletea really great idea. Thanks a lot. By the way, what is 'watercolour paint'? (I live in the back woods of New Zealand). Found you on pinterest.
ReplyDeleteVilma, watercolor is essentially a paint that requires a lot of water as an additive and creates a translucent appearance on paper when used. It can come as a liquid gel-like form, a solid dry form, and a wet version as the type seen here. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI just had to comment and tell you I love your blog title! I love the original slogan of "Keep calm and carry on," but am definitely not a fan of all the cheesy spin-offs . . . until now. Yours is very clever. And thanks for the marker tip.
ReplyDeleteI just had to comment and tell you I love your blog title! I love the original slogan of "Keep calm and carry on," but am definitely not a fan of all the cheesy spin-offs . . . until now. Yours is very clever. And thanks for the marker tip.
ReplyDeletei like this
ReplyDeleteThank you for that new discovery. I totally agree with Texasdaisey. Amanda you should most definitely make a blog with all your created ideas. As a mom,an Aunt and an old Girl scout leader, these ideas like this marker into paint idea is perfect for a lot of people with children or involved with Children to know what cheap and really neat and cool ideas to keep the children entertained. They will b following your every blog, including me. Keep up the awesome descoverys.
ReplyDeleteI had to stop reading as the background is dizzying...very poor for people with eye challenges...not able to discern the text from the background sadly!
ReplyDeleteI had to stop reading as the background is dizzying...very poor for people with eye challenges...not able to discern the text from the background sadly!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea. I remembered my art teacher in school did this and added uncooked macaroni to the water and let it sit. We then removed the macaroni which absorbed the color and we used it for art murals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea. I remembered my art teacher in school did this and added uncooked macaroni to the water and let it sit. We then removed the macaroni which absorbed the color and we used it for art murals.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea. Do you know of a way to revitalise dried out alcohol marker pens. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this! I have been able to rescue quite a few markers at preschool because of it! It is so fun to use the water colors I get from them. I tried the scented markers and they work as well. Thanks again!
ReplyDelete