As the school year starts winding down, I have been collecting all the dried up and nearly dried up markers from the art closet. Normally I would throw them away, but after seeing this amazing use for dried up markers, never again.
Dried up markers can be turned into vibrant paints if given a little time. It is best to wait until you have a decent stock of old markers before starting this project. Since I am an art teacher, my collection is fairly large by the end of the year, but a dozen or so markers would be a good start.
Supplies needed to turn dried up markers into paint:
- Old markers
- Containers
- Water
Steps to make marker paint:
- Separate the markers into colors. Two or three of each color will create a brighter color.
- Pour water into small containers. Disposable containers are best. For my markers I used plastic cups.
- Take the lid off and stick the marker in the water. If you can take the marker apart, the colors will bleed much faster.
- Set them in an out of the way place for a week or so. The more time it has to soak the better.
Projects to do with marker paint:
Magic painting is a good use of the unknown colors. Start by using a crayon to draw a picture on a piece of paper. Paint right over the crayon drawing with the marker paint. This can be a good way to create a night scene with dark blue or purple paints. The colors will blend nicely, so you can also use horizontal stripes of different colors to make a sunset, or sunrise scene.
Black line drawings are another fun way to incorporate the marker paints. Use a black felt tip marker to draw cartoon animals, plants, trees or people. Now use a small paintbrush or cotton tip to color in the drawings with the marker paints.
Salt paintings always create interesting effects. Kids will be intrigued with a project that involves salt from the kitchen and paint from what was essentially trash. After painting a scene, sprinkle salt over the areas you want to change and see what happens!
3-D salt painting starts by drawing with glue. On a piece of card stock, write your name by squirting glue directly from the bottle to the card. Now, sprinkle with a heavy layer of salt. Brush off excess and then paint over top with the marker paint.
Clean up tips:
When working with marker paints be sure to protect surfaces and keep a box of baking soda nearby. Sprinkling baking soda on stained fingers can help scrub the colors off better than soap and water alone. Shaving cream is another good clean-up helper for not only hands, but chairs and floors!
