Hi Friends! Have you heard the buzz about the new Spectrum Aqua watercolor markers yet? Well, I had not until about 2 weeks ago when several viewers asked me what I thought about them and if I would do a review or demo with them. I was curious. I didn’t really NEED new markers but when the nice folks at Hallmark Scrapbook (who stock the markers at a 30% off retail discount) asked me if they could send me some I said “sure!” all for the sake of science you know:)
They sent me the full range of 48 colors and a storage rack. The markers are sold in 12 color collections based on what you like to color (nature, floral, essential and primary) and there are no duplicates within the packs so you can collect one set at a time to see if you like them or as your budget allows. That is one thing I really like about all of the Spectrum products, you can collect as you go without buying duplicates. Today I will show you a few rubber stamping techniques with the markers. Feel free to follow along with whatever watercolor markers you have at home because these techniques will work with any watercolor type markers. These markers will also work well with your current collection so if you want to try them you can chose a set of colors that us different from what you have because they will play nice. I hope you find this video helpful!
I got a few questions from viewers:
- Are the markers refillable? Hmm, I did not see anywhere on the Spectrum Aqua website where it said you could refill these BUT none of the other watercolor markers are “refillable” and I refill them with reinkers or liquid watercolors. I wonder if the new Spectrum Liquid Watercolors are the same colors and if the Spectrum Noir (alcohol marker) replacement nibs are compatible? I’ll try to find out!
- How light fast are they? Again, I looked for this info on the Spectrum Aqua site but did not see that info so I suspect they are not but then again, most markers aren’t unless you are buying an $8 a piece watercolor marker.
- Are they comparable to the Tim Holtz Distress Markers? Actually, I prefer the Spectrum Aqua, I have a few of the TH sets and singles bought at different locations and I have had problems with a couple of them from different vendors being dry or leaking (and that was without my hardscrabble reinking techniques LOL!) Now, Ranger is great at replacing faulty products, don’t get me wrong, but I think the Spectrum Aquas are higher quality and more consistent.
I love watercolor markers and I rate these up there with my favorites (Tombow and Memento) but you can’t beat the price and quality of the Spectrums. The fine tip is much like the tip on the Memento and the brush end is similar to a Pitt Big Brush pen but the ink in the Spectrum Aqua is watercolor, not India ink, you can go over it with water after it is dry and soften the lines. I am also a big fan of using what you have and I am glad you can use these with the watercolor markers you have. Bottom line, if you have watercolor makers you love keep using them, if you want to add to your collection these are great and if you are just starting out this is a very great set to start with. I was not paid to write this review but I was given the markers for free to share the review with you. If you have any questions just ask in the comments section and I am happy to help. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 
how lovely these turned out! what a lucky girl you are! ‘all for the sake of science you know’ 😉 lol 😀 so glad you were given these to try out for us!! 🙂
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I love my Tombow markers but I would be happy to do some experiments for the sake of science too….lucky you that they sent you some. Very nice tutorial.
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Very pretty….TFS The demo….good choice if you don’t already have any (I have all the Tombows and like them – did NOT like the Marvy LePlumes and gave them away).
Paper Hugs,
Jan
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I agree, the LePlumes frayed and pilled my paper something awful! And they never felt juicy. They were the first ones I used and I was bummed, then I tried tombow and SU and it restored my faith! I really like these ones though, I’ll be curious to see if there is more ink in the barrel than in the skinny markers!
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I bought the Lyra water color crayons you used in one of your last videos, through Amazon. I wish I had them before scrapbooking my cruise. I have used my waterbased markers with the Tim Holtz sprayer, which I love. I have a second one which I adapted to use with some ladies in my nursing home craft group. I took out the rubber bulb and put in a pencil covered with a foam tube, which they hold instead of directly holding the marker or brush…. This was what one of my ladies used to paint bisque in ceramics. I would tell Tim Holtz but don’t know how to contact him.
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Is there something different in the formulation of these markers that makes then “watercolor” as opposed to other water-based markers like Tombow or Memento — a different binder, a lack of binder, a different ink? Or is “watercolor” just a a marketing ploy? And these are ordinary water-based markers like Crayola kids markers?
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No, these are similar to Tombow, Memenot and distress, there are now acrylic paint markers made by Montana, posca and sharpie (and others) which are waterbased but acrylic not watercolor so I did not want to confused the product. I had originally typed waterbased and said try the techniques with any waterbased markers and realized that if you did that with the acrylic markers it might ruin your stamps and it would not give you the same look. Hope that helps:)
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OK thanks Lindsey.
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Love your videos Lindsay…you are fun to watch and nothing you do is intimidating. After this video I had to look through my stash to see if I had any watercolor markers and apparently I have very old ones (since I’ve been using watercolor crayons and pencils instead). This video has inspired me to check out the Spectrums. I have TONS of stamps so I can’t wait to try this technique – thanks for the video!!!
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The old markers might be fine, try them!
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ThaNo you very much this was very helpful. Love your samples xx
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Thanks for sharing this info. I’m looking for new markers. I’ve got three from distress and they work fine, but kind of expensive cause you can’t buy them in a pack. I’m wondering if the markers spectrum also work on clear stamps. If so, i will look for a local store in The Netherlands who sells them.
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Lindsay, how do they differ from w/c pencils? Easier to blend? When are w/c pencils the better choice and when are the markers? Thanks!
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I think you need to work faster with markers to get them to blend, blending is eaiser with the pencils because you can lay all the color down dry and there is no rush to add the water to blend. It is easier to ink a rubber stamp with markers though because each marker is like having an inkpad.
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Thanks, Lindsay. That’s exactly what I needed to know!
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Remember when you shared your haul from a craft show and the only stamp you shared with us was the stained glass one by DRS Design? How about showing us the stamp from Lost Coast Designs with a hot air balloon overhead or any of the others that you showed us from your haul…..make any cards with them?
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Great tutorial. I liked seeing you use the aqua painter water brush. I am not quite sure how to use it yet. This was a fun, free and easy video. I have one criticism, in several videos you have apologized for taking too much time and stuff. I never feel that you do that. If I don’t have time to watch it I save your videos as a treat and come back to them after. A better reward than candy!!
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I tired to stay away from anything watercolor as I might like it and have to go in a whole new direction. But these spectrum aqua markers look like so much fun…I may have to change my mind.
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Gorgeous card and amazing review. Thank you for sharing it 🙂
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Lovely tutorial as usual. Glad your outlet is working out for you.
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Will Crayola watercolor markers work with this method? I am retired. What cheaper brand of watercolor marker can I buy that will give my design a nice look?
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you can use Crayolas or Mr Sketchy for this look, the ink may bead up on the stamp a bit because it is a bit thinner but I have done it. The Spectrum Aquas are cheaper than the other watercolor art markers (tombow, memento, letraset, stampinup, Marvy etc.)but you can definitely try the kids markers to see how you get on. The color choice will be a bit limited but give it a try!
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I am astounded that my Aqua shipment arrived TODAY!!! Wow, not only were they very reasonably priced, but shipped super fast. I will be ordering more from Hallmark Scrapbook. Can’t wait to try them! Thanks for the recommendation!
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Hi Lindsay, Did you ever find out if you could refill these with the water color inks and if they were the same? Thank you so much for your videos and reviews your the best
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I never found the watercolor inks anywhere to buy, it’s like they never made it to america. I did find that the brush tip wore out before the ink as gone, not a big deal if you are using them as inkpads to color stamps but for detail coloring they get fuzzy, that said they might wear faster if you are using them to color directly on the rubber which is what I do.
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Lindsay would it possible for you to show the aquas in rainbow order? I’m trying to arrange them but my rainbow isn’t working out well lol. I’ve tried searching the net but can only find the individual sets in rainbow order & not the whole line. Any advice on arranging products in rainbow order for future reference would also be appreciated if you have time, or maybe a video could be made to help people struggling like myself lol. Thank you in advance, Naddie.
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