Pencils or Chalks
 

Just wondering if you prefer chalks or pencils for coloring in stamps (for example the stiple hydrangea)? I'm still experimenting.

For the Hydrania stamp I would use my blender pen with my ink pads. I've been in a watercolor mood lately! Have you tried that yet?

But if I had to choose between chalks or pencils I would pick pencils. Again I would use them with my blender pen. Just love those Blender pens!!!

HOH. Happy Stampin, Jennifer :-)

I'm still new to this - what's a blender pen?

I always use pencils/blender pen/ink pad combos... mostly because I hate the feeling of a cu-tip rubbing on paper, lol.

I love my SU! water color pencils!!!!! You can get 2 different looks from one thing: You can use them as traditional colored pencils, or use a blender pen for a watercolor/paint brush affect. (Blender pens are what SU! sells - they come in a 3 pack with each end of the pen having a blender "point" - just like a marker - but with no color - they are just wet at each end. You use it just like you would a paint brush, but IMHO, with more control.) I love the watercolor pencils!!!! ~Pam

Love2praize,

Blender pens (page 225) are filled with a clear fluid (double tipped) that picks up color from chalks, water color pencils, ink pads, Pearl-Ex, etc. and then you color like you are water coloring. I just love my blender pens!

HTH!
Melissa

As much as I love the chalks, I do use my watercolor pencils more because they do color in so well and I am a neatnik sometimes...plus, they are great to demo...you don't have to worry about someone killing your chalks!

Thanks to all for your opinions. I'm going to have to try the blender pens on my next order. Thanks ladies! Julie Ann

I just use a watercolor brush with my ink pads (sometimes I'll use blender pens). But as far as the pencils vs chalks...I prefer the pencils.

Depends on the look I'm going for. For a soft and dreamy look, can't beat the pastels. For a more precise look, watercolor pencils with blender pens are my favorite.

As far as applying the pastels...I couldn't tolerate a Q-tip either! I use either the sponge daubers or eye make-up applicators. For fine areas, the little applicators that come with the pastels are just fine.

If you are using your watercolor pencils with water, use a heavier cardstock like confetti white. Ultrasmooth white will pill faster if you apply too much water and friction.

I now love my blender pens too. The first time I used them, I ruined the paper by going over the same area too many times. It started to "pill" and remove the first layer. I was using my pastels. It didn't take long to catch on to how much chalk to pick up on the tip to avoid that.

Couldn't live without them now. I bought another set for the children so I could keep some clean and ready to use. Bless their hearts, they do try to clean them off completely, but it doesn't always happen.

HMJ