--Prismacolor (Amazon sells packs from 12 to 150, 36 looking to be a pretty good deal at $20)
--Staedtler (36 for $10)
--Prang (probably not the 12 for $3; probably the 12 for $35--I think you're gonna get what you pay for here)
--Faber-Castell (again, probably the 12 for $20, not 12 for $4)
--Twistables (not TECHNICALLY colored pencils, but if you already have them lying around, they will totally work in a pinch. I've found mine like to untwist back, making it frustrating trying to color. But they are only 60 for $13...)
--Sakura. This is a little higher end. For an amateur like me, as much as I would love a watercolor set from Japan, I probably don't need it.
--Also acrylic paints: Liquitex Basic, and Blick Studio, as well as the other brands I've mentioned.
--Also oil pastels: Prima, as well as the same brands that have colored pencils. These are more like a crayon, rather than gloppy wet paint. They tend to rub off on the opposite page unless you rub them in really well.
They make tube, cake, pan, and pencils (you color then go over with a wet brush). Every brand, every type, every size, is gonna be a different price.
Kayla Laure Summerfelt |
Mary Hunnicutt | Andrea D. Buttry-Dodge used washi tape to mask the white part. Rubbed the oil pastels on until she got the desired color, then pulled the washi tape off. |
You want to make sure and get "clear", otherwise "white" will cover up any text you're gonna paint over. Some people find different brands work differently for them. I am quite satisfied with my brand, but I suggest either "borrowing" someone's to test it out, or else buying the smallest, cheapest tube you can to make sure you like that brand.
--Pitt Faber Castell.
--a bunch of the same brands of colored pencils.
--Uni-ball
--Sharpie pens (everyone says they don't bleed, but I have proof they do! I just gesso first, no big deal)
It's nice to have choices--if I have time and want colored words, I can prep first and then write. If I'm at church or am pressed for time, I'll just use my ball point. Eventually, I would love to get a set of Micron pens--they come in different colors and in different thicknesses!
--StazOn. Not specifically designed for paper and will bleed through.
--MementoLuxe. Rumor is it doesn't bleed.
--ColorBox. I have this kind. Kinda middle of the line price-wise, and does bleed.
--Ranger Archival. Comparable to ColorBox's price, but I don't know if it bleeds.
As the Bible journaling industry grows, more and more stores carry a wider variety of this. Some places won't recognize "washi tape" so you have to ask for "crafter's tape" or something. Walmart has a small selection. Most of theirs is a dollar, but there's not much on each roll. Michaels and Hobby Lobby sell multi-packs. They are more expensive, but there's also a ton on each roll. What I've done before is go with someone to buy these multi-rolls. It's not as expensive, and I only own the washi designs I actually like. They also make washi holders that look like thread spool dispensers. You could wrap half the roll around a dispenser, then you and your friend can both have each kind! (More about washi storage in part 4!) You can see the red spotted and blue and yellow ones in the back don't have much on their roll, but the pink one in front is quite full!