All Hail the Pumpkin Queen and Beware of Faux Markers

Today's card features Dearie Dolls freebie Queen of the Pumpkins digistamp. Mary Ellen isn't posting new digis to her site, but she's graciously left it up for us all to enjoy. She has some wonderful images for autumn (e.g. the digi on this Pumpkin Everything Pumpkin Lovers card). The stamp is colored with alcohol markers (more on those later), paper is Prettygrafik's Fall Harvest digital paper pack, embellishments are foam star stickers and enamel dots. The sentiment was created with Candy Round BTN font.

Now, about those markers...as I mentioned on my Penguin Grafitti birthday card post, I recently purchased some outlet shop alcohol markers. Wrapped in plastic, with no discernable brand name shown when I bought them, I thought they were some sort of off-brand Amazon type and that it wouldn't hurt to give them a go. I've been wanting to try alcohol markers for the longest time, but the price range for Copic markers is way out of my budget. When I opened the box at home, 'Touch' was written on the marker sides. I was not familiar with that brand and did a little research to find out more. Although admittedly less well known in crafting circles than Copics, Shinhan Touch Twin markers are nonetheless a renown brand and certainly not cheap. The markers I bought looked almost the same, right down to the color codes, which are exactly the same. 

I contacted Shinhan about these, and they have now written me back confirming what I knew – yes, these are fakes. I've no one to blame but myself for purchasing these. I didn't think it through before I did. A lesser known off-brand I could have used and shown here on the blog, but a counterfeit I cannot. I try very hard on Paperesse to provide links to the products I use and artists I support, giving credit where credit is due. I don't want to encourage anyone to support dishonest business practices. I have made another card besides this one that I colored with the markers and I will post it, too, but after that I will return to my tried and true (literally) Caran d'Ache pencils while I save up to buy reputable markers (perhaps the real Shinhan Twin Touch?). These faux markers will be going to a young neighbor.

Oh, and another thing...these markers are crap. Getting a good blend with darker colors and any kind of shading is almost impossible. If you think the above image turned out okay, you didn't see the other three attempts I threw away. 

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Prettygrafik Fall Harvest
Digital stamp – Dearie Dolls Queen of the Pumpkins
Dies – Die-namics square stax
Embellishments – foam stickers, enamel dots
Font – Candy Round BTN

I'm linking up with: This is Halloween Challenge #1 – ATG Halloween, A Bit More Time to Craft #124 – ATG, A Perfect Time to Craft #9 – ATG, Classic Design Challenge #9 – ATG, Crafter's Cafe #251 – Season, Crafts Galore Encore #79 – ATG, and LTCCB #50 September – ATG.

Cards