Hmmm. I’m sorry, Julia. I’ve never run into this problem, and we’ve made them several times over the years. Was your spray varnish old or new? Have you tried spraying it on a different surface to see if it dries properly?

Wonderful! I’m glad you’re enjoying this idea, Mayank! You’ve made so many! Good for you!

Along with this, I have made 12 more bookmarks. Thank you, keep up the awesome work,

Thanks

I don’t know, Rachel. We’ve never used those. Sorry!

Just until it’s dry, Paige. It will likely only take a couple of minutes to dry.

What a great idea!

Yep! Our hole punch went through the plastic easily, Patricia. 🙂

I haven’t tried anything else Dua, because I think it needs to be varnish. If you were to brush on a water-based sealer, I *think* the colours would liquify and run together. I should really try it though to see if that’s what would happen. Sorry I can’t say for sure right now.

Faber Castell is water-based and will not work like Sharpie. Bic, Prismacolor, Copic, and any other marker that is labelled to be alcohol-based will work.

It might work well, Tammy. I’ve never tried it with paper. The paper will be more absorbent than plastic obviously, but people do sharpie tie dye on tee shirts and shoes, and those are v. absorbent. Give it a try with one, and let me know how it goes!

In the pharmacy section of Walmart, the grocery store or at an actual pharmacy, Miriam.

Yes, it’s because you must use 99% rubbing alcohol, Robyn. Anyhing weaker will not work.

Not very long because the alcohol evaporates quite quickly.

I’ve never tried it with fabric, Shawn, but I’m not sure that varnish and fabric would be a successful combo. That’s just my guess though.

Mod Podge might work. I’m not sure if the colours would run when you brush it on, but you could give it a try!

Would we be able to use anything else other than varnish? Mode lodge perhaps?

That is GREAT to know! Thank you, Nancy!

i have used very heavy cardstock and I have also used leftover laminate from the laminator at school (the trimmings). Both have worked well.

Hmmm, yes, I can see how a concave shape would result in puddling. You’d definitely want to use a flat surface, as it’s liquid you’re dealing with here, and I can’t see how you’d get liquid to stay put on a slope. Also, as I mention in the post the 99% is definitely required. The 70% isn’t strong enough to have an effect on the ink.

Well, I do mention that 70% alcohol will not work, so I think that’s likely the culprit. Try with the 99% next time. 🙂

Are you using full strength (99%) rubbing alcohol, Sara? I’ve just edited the post, and added that. Apparently, there is a weaker strength (approx 60%) that won’t work for this project.

I’ve tried this twice and it’s still not working!
I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.
If someone could give tips that would be very appreciated.

Hi Rhoda, I’m not sure what’s causing it not to work for you. I’ve heard folks say they have problems when they use the lesser strength alcohol (I think it’s in the 60% range), but if you’re using full strength – the 99%, the colours should spread the second you put the alcohol on them. All I can think is that maybe it’s the plastic. I tried doing this on CDs, and the colours didn’t run at all.

I’m using Sharpies & 99% as suggested. 1st attempt was spraying from a mini mister, and 2nd was dropping drops. Am I being too impatient with the drying times or???

Thanks!

As a teacher, I love getting handcrafted gifts from my students and one can never have too many bookmarks!

I don’t really know what else to suggest, Sharlene. I’ve only used the opaque, plastic bottles for this.

If you brush the varnish on, your ink might run. That’s why I used the spray varnish, Melissa.

It’s not a very time-consuming activity, Shawna. It can definitely be done in las than 55 minutes. You don’t mention the age of your students – that does make a difference. When I make them myself, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to decorate and drip. The drying time takes a while, and then once the ink is dry, you spray it with varnish, and that takes a while too. In a hot, sunny spot, they dry quite quickly though. When I’m working with toddlers, of course, the process takes longer, but I do think you could still have it done in the amount of time you’re talking about.

We’ve made them a few times now, and haven’t had that happen. Were you using 99% isopropyl? There’s a weaker one which I don’t believe will work as well. Or, is it possible that you used to much? That will dilute the colours and they’ll kind of puddle and run away. One tiny drop at a time, or even just tapping the plastic with the wet end of the dropper worked for us.

I think it would have to be spray varnish, Marie. You can’t use a sealer that you brush on because it will smear the ink. You can’t leave it unfinished because the ink would rub off. All I can think of is the spray varnish, and I *think* any kind would work.

I think you could probably laminate it, Nicole. I think you may be able to do the process on paper too. I’ve seen it done on fabric, so that might be an option, then you could laminate that. As for the container, any opaque container should work – I’m not sure where you’re located, but in the US, milk is often sold in opaque jugs.

We’ve only tried it on the plastic vinegar bottles, Mansi, and only with the Sharpies. I’m really not sure what else to suggest because I don’t know what products you have in India. You could try a clear plastic bottle perhaps. We’ve only tried it with the opaque bottles though. Sorry I can’t be of more help. Perhaps another reader will jump in with a suggestion for you.

I tried this on photo paper with normal Faber Castle sketch pens. But did not get the same effect. I can order the sharpies , but we dont get such plastic bottles here in India…. Please help!!!

You could give it a try, Kim. We only tried it with the plastic. It works on fabric though, so I would think it might work on paper.

I’m guessing it would as long as it’s an aerosol, Marie, and just spray it very lightly for the first coat so you don’t re-activate the marker ink.

Absolutely, Sarah. Any plastic jug similar to the one I used should work.