TOOL TIP TUESDAY: Wink of Stella Glitter Brush...

Last week, I showed you a card using the beautiful new Wink of Stella Glitter Brush.  This week, I wanted to share some tips with you on using the pen.  Enjoy!

Add sparkle to your projects without the mess!  The Wink of Stella Glitter Brush is perfect for writing and adding subtle controlled glitter to stamped images.  The fine, nylon-tipped brush makes it easy to to create thick or thin lines of glitter, allowing artistic freedom.  The pigment is:

• Archival quality
• Water-based
• Acid free
• Photo Safe
• Odorless
• Lightfast
• Xylene free

The Glitter Brushes come in Clear and Gold and work best on paper products, so they are perfect for writing and shimmery accents to your handcrafted stamped cards and gifts as well as your memory-keeping projects!  That’s glitter-ific!!!

HOW TO PRIME YOUR WINK OF STELLA PEN

When using the Wink of Stella glitter brushes, there are a few simple steps to follow before you get started.  Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prime your brush:

1.  The first thing you need to do is remove the black ring that is keeping the compartment holding the ink from being pierced. To do this you remove the cap and unscrew the top brush portion of the pen from the bottom ink cartridge. This will allow you to remove the black ring and discard it. Then re-screw the top brush portion of the pen back onto the ink cartridge; doing so will pierce it so that the ink can flow.

2.  After, put the pen back together, replace the cap and shake the pen until you hear a clicking sound this indicates that the ink is mixed thoroughly.

3.  Once this is done remove the cap again and gently squeeze the ink cartridge where it says “Push” on the side of the pen. This will cause the ink to start to fill the clear plastic area behind the brush tip. Be careful not to press too hard and over fill the ink, as it will cause the pen to leak.

4.  When you are finished using your pen always replace the cap firmly and store the pen standing up with the cap facing upwards to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

Now that you’ve learned how to prime your brush, you are ready to apply glitter ink to any stamping or scrapbooking project!

STAMPIN' UP! VIDEO ON WINK OF STELLA GLITTER BRUSH

MY TIPS

I am in LOVE with the Clear brush!!!  It is perfect for painting over your handcolored stamped images to give it a little shimmer and it looks beautiful on everything I have tried it on.  Additional uses:

• Use it for Watercoloring with our reinkers - GORGEOUS!  
• Add sparkle to Designer Series Paper by painting over random images on the paper
• Create highlights to a balloon or other images
• Add shimmer to a plain card stock punch or die-cut.

The Gold one is different for me.  I'm not loving how it looks painted on like the Clear in most instances (although there are some colors it looks beautiful on).  HOWEVER, here are a few ways I have used the Gold brush that I love:

*  Run the edge of the Gold Glitter Brush around a die cut to really make the shape pop!
*  Use it to "splatter" gold on your project:

1. Squeeze a little extra down into the brush
2. Hold the pen over your stamped piece
3. Give it a couple of forceful whacks and let the glitter fly!  Experiment with it to get your desired results.
4. Allow to dry

*  Outline letters, numbers or stamped images.
*  Painting on our embellishments:  White Perfect Accents, Pearls, wooden Expressions Natural Elements, etc.
*  Add to stamped flames on candles, fire, etc.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR EMPTY GLITTER BRUSH???

Don't throw your empty glitter brushes away!!!  Recycle them into an Alcohol Coloring Brush!!!

1. Remove the cartridge from the bottle (use your craft scissors).
2. Add 10 drops of your choice of reinker color.  You can always add more drops of reinker after testing your color out.
3. Fill the rest of the chamber (up to the bottom of the H in the "PUSH" on the side of the bottle) with rubbing alcohol.  Replace the chamber.
4. Shake vigorously.
5. Test your marker to check the color.  If it's not dark enough, add more drops of reinker, shake and retest.
6. Stamp images with our Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  Color your images with your new coloring brush!
7. Punch out a small circle of card stock of the corresponding

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!