I know some of you will freak out, but there is no need to worry when you see this...hehehe. I am also going to get this on video right away, so you can see the whole process.
Right here, I stamped Olivia (available at All That Scrapson August 11) with black stazon on 140lb SU watercolor paper(THIS IS IMPORTANT!!). You need this weight to be able to blend the ink properly. I wanted to see if I could blend the ink the same way as Copics and YESSIREEE! All you need to get these results is your markers, and in this picture, I used the creamy caramel marker to give lowlights to her hair.
Now, you use your barely banana marker to DIRECTLY blend the caramel. Because this is a waterbased ink, it blends the colors to give you your shadows. I know you are freaking out right now, but don't worry, this will not affect your markers. Let me show you after the next step.
Here, for her pants, I outlined the shadow areas with my perfect plum marker. I used the darker plum in a line under her shirt, and on the lines on the side and inseam. I then took my pale plum marker to blend it all together. OK, here is what you need to do after you blend.
If you color off on scrap, your marker will go back to the normal color. The ink in the well keeps coming down, so you don't have to worry about the other color going up.
Here is the final outcome. Her shirt was always artichoke and then blended with certainly celery. Her cheeks are pretty in pink and blended with blush blossom. I am also experimenting with taking ink away, but that will be on the video.
This way you get the more vibrant color, and you will blend like the Copic Pros! Come on, give it a try and let me see what you got 
.
I am so saving to get the copics. I would like the whole set. So I am socking away all my change and maybe it won't be too long. Your site is wonderfull. Thank you for all that you do for all of us.
Posted by: Leah T. | March 03, 2009 at 02:22 AM
This is so neat..........no copics here, so I need to check out your video.....did you already do this video? If you did I can't find it. Hellllllllllllllllllp LOL
Posted by: joyk | August 17, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I, too, am fighting the trend towards Copics - price doesn't justify purchasing them when I have 50+ ZIG markers - which, incidentally, I tried your tutorial, and ZIG's apparently do the same thing as SU markers. MARVELOUS!! So glad you put this out. I'm a HUGE watercolorer and this makes it a little easier on the tighter squeezes than the traditional method.
THANKS a heap!
Posted by: Collette | August 14, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Hi Julie,
You are so right on the paper weight! I have been trying to perfect your "NCNP" technique for a while, but using the cheaper thinner watercolour paper. No dice! I then bought a whole pad of 140 lb weight WC paper and that made all the difference in the world! SU wc paper is ridiculously expensive given its size, even as a demo, so i use this pad instead and cut down the papers to work with it...I will just save my SU stuff for workshops...
Diane
Posted by: Diane Cooper | August 14, 2008 at 05:40 AM
WOW What a great tutorial. Thank you very much for sharing. I usually colour my stamps with watercolour pencils, but I have to give my markers a go to try this technique. Love what you do. M. Carmen
Posted by: Cuchy | August 13, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Wow- this is really awesome. I tried it today on plain white cardstock and it was beautiful. I am going to try on watercolor paper tomorrow and make a project and then I'll send you a link. I have always loved coloring and shading and have been wanting to buy copic markers but haven't had the time to decide which ones that I wanted. Now I can buy new stamps instead. This technique is really awesome!!
Posted by: Denise | August 12, 2008 at 11:12 PM
GREAT tutorial thanks so much...the markers do GREAT at blending. Gonna have to order me some of that paper now.
Posted by: Valerie | August 11, 2008 at 10:08 PM
I think you are a Magical Marker Magician!!!! I love all the tips you give for shading. You Rock!!!
Posted by: Joan Jeffery | August 11, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Thanks for taking the risks for us Julie - I'm definitely going to try to find some time in the next few days to try out this technique!
Posted by: Desirée Spenst | August 11, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Thanks for this tutorial! I just purchased a bunch of SU markers, and was hoping I'd be able to do some shading/blending with them. Now I just have to get some watercolour paper!
Posted by: Jessica | August 10, 2008 at 11:49 PM
You are a genius, Julie! That looks absolutely fantastic!!! Thanks so much for experimenting for us! You ROCK! :)
Posted by: Cindy Lawrence | August 09, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Julie- I always love these tutorials. Although I broke down and bought some copics I still have more SU markers to use like this- thanks@ Heidi
Posted by: heidi | August 09, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Great coloring! I skipped the SU! markers and went straight for the Copics. hehe.... Am thinking of getting the markers to ink up stamps but not sure I would use them that much. :D
Posted by: Jennifer Love | August 09, 2008 at 08:54 PM