WARNING: Mr. Sketch May Cause Sudden Outbursts of Creativity & A Plethora of Refrigerator Art
Written: Jul 06 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Strong, nice color selection, washable ink, great for kids of all ages, non-toxic ink.
Cons: Package falls apart easily, darker shades are a little hard to remove from some clothing.
The Bottom Line: With twelve colors to choose from, a strong tip and a washable ink, Mr. Sketch is the perfect pick for pint sized Picasso's and mini Monet's!
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| Freak369's Full Review: Mr Sketch Washable Watercolor Marker Set Cone |
Ask any parent that has ever bought markers for their children and they will all say that washable ones are the way to go. You don't have to hover over your child while they are using them and if it ends up on their skin it is a lot easier to get off than regular markers. The problem is that most washable markers don't have a lot of color to them; reds look washed out, black looks gray and orange comes out looking like a dark yellow. Outside of the Crayola washable markers, there aren't many companies that make truly washable products. So you have to choose between vibrant colors that could stain clothing or something that looks washed out but will come out of clothing and off of skin easily. Well, that was the case until Sanford started making the Mr. Sketch line. They are a great way to let kids get creative and express themselves without having to worry about powerblasting the ink off of them when they are done.
Sanford Mr. Sketch Cone Tip Washable 12 Color Marker Set
So what makes these something that's worth investing in? The cone shape on the tip lets kids draw tight lines or turn them on an angle to make fat lines; this eliminates the need to buy different types of markers. Even if you have kids that are heavy handed and destroy regular markers, these do stand up to a lot abuse without the tips get smashed up or flattened. You'll want to make sure that you have some scrap paper under what ever they are working on because if they leave the tip on the paper for more than a few seconds is starts to bleed through. You can use these on almost any type of paper; if you use this on something that is glossy or has a thick surface you will need to let it dry for a while and even then there is a good chance that it will smudge. The caps snap back on to the tips with a loud clicking noise so get your kids in the habit of listening for the click so they don't dry out. To keep track of the caps when the markers are in use just pop them on the back end of the marker. I really like that these are thicker than regular markers; they are easier for younger kids to grip and hold without being so large that they are fumbling with them.
Are They Really Washable?
Well, the markers aren't but the ink is. Treat this as you would any other washable ink and try to get it in the washer as soon as possible. You can soak it in water if you want but you run the risk of having the ink spread to the entire piece of clothing. The same thing goes with using a stain remover like Spray 'N Wash. Even though the ink is designed to come out of clothing easily, there are times when it won't. Look at it this way, don't let a kid wear something that cost a ton of money if they are using any type of marker. The ink will come off of tables and walls if you wipe them off as soon as they happen but with wall paper and carpeting, it is a losing battle.
Colors
The colors that you get in this assortment are really nice, dry quickly and can be washed easily off of most surfaces, skin and clothing. You get one each of the following colors: purple, magenta, green, dark green, peach [flesh tone], red, yellow, brown, orange, blue [this looks teal to me], dark blue and black. The darker shades are the hardest to get out of clothing so if this does stain something, try to get it in the washer as soon as possible. You will be able to get a lot of use out of them without the colors starting to dull thanks to the cone shape of the tip but be sure kids get into the habit of recapping them when they are done. The lighter color markers will pick up darker shades if they overlap the colors but all you have to do is drag the edges of the marker on a piece of paper to get rid of the darker ink.
Price
You can get these at most art stores as well as larger office supply stores like Office Depot, Staples and online at Shoplet. The average price ranges between $5.50 and $6.50 for the twelve marker set which isn't all that bad when you consider that these are washable and have some really nice colors to work with. The only thing that could do to improve these is to package them in something that is a little more durable than a cardboard sleeve. This gets destroyed in short order when kids open and close it a few times. Invest in a Snap Case container to keep them safe and from getting mixed in with other markers.
Things To Know
• This is certified non-toxic [AP Nontoxic] by the ACMI [Art & Creative Material Institute]; when you see the seal with 'AP Nontoxic' logo on it you know that you are getting something that has been professionally tested and approved for use in classrooms.
• If you are looking for some very cool paper for kids to work on, check out Crayola's Art Framers Draw & Paint Pad. These have colored borders to them and are thick enough that they can paint or use markers on them without them warping.
• You can purchase these markers in bulk packs of 192 markers that will give you sixteen of each of the colors in the assortment. If you are interested in purchasing one of these bulk packs contact Sanford or check your local school supply store.
The Bottom Line
These might cost more than regular markers but for younger kids they are the best way to go. They don't have to deal with markers that run out of ink, get dented or smashed tips and this set gives them twelve colors to choose from. You can find them at larger office supply stores or places that carry other Sanford products. If you can't find them there, check your yellow pages for school supply stores; you may have to buy them without and type of packaging because most school supply stores buy them in bulk and sell them individually or in their own packaging. Ordering them online should be your last resort but buy from a company that you know has a good reputation and isn't going to try to send you something that is from older stock.
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2006 Freak369
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