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My Muses #2: Favorite Lettering Supplies

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Favorite Lettering Supplies – For Beginners & Beyond

The journey of lettering has evolved for me, and I have new ambitions related to my handlettering adventure.  I thought this week I would share with you my very favorite lettering supplies. This list continuously evolves. I occasionally deduct or add another favorite in the mix based on mood. In general, I have several standard supplies that I love, but that’s not saying that I won’t change it in the future.

Lettering became a HUGE part of my life (and finding my way back into the realm of creativity) last April. My husband and I saw this fantastic canvas on display at a relative’s house for Christmas. My mother-in-law saw the same painting and commented how she would love something like that. Since then I was obsessed with learning how to letter so I could put my spin on what I saw and create a canvas for my husband’s mother.

My Muses - Inspiration comes in all shapes and packaging material - a collection of favorite things - beginning lettering supplies

Favorite Handlettering Pens/Markers

If you are starting out and have never picked up a brush pen, I can guarantee you will be frustrated. There were times when I was first beginning that I swept off my entire desktop and declared that I was not cut out to letter. I left everything on the floor for three days one time, staring disgustedly at the mess every time I saw it. Part of the problem is I tried to start with the large brushes and thought I could just take off and do it. In hindsight, I wish I would have known what to start with – so here are my suggestions for different levels of lettering artists. FYI: Contains affiliate links.

Beginner – For a True Greenie (and my favorite STILL)

Start with Tombow Fudenosuke HARD Tipped markers. If you order on Amazon you’ll probably get a set of both soft and hard tip markers.

How to tell them apart:

Hard tip – dark blue marker body (the cap is black). The marker says WS-BH 150 – the H is Hard.

Soft tip – all black marker (the body of the marker matches the cap). The marker says WS-BS 150 – the S is SOFT.

I learned that little tidbit from Marie Browning (@MarieBCreates) when I visited Tombow Headquarters one day for a meet and greet. Tombow USA is headquartered near Atlanta – I literally drive by it on my way to work. They had a fun opportunity to visit the headquarters and craft last October and I won a spot to go.

Tombow Fudenosuke - how to tell them apart two clues - my favorite lettering supplies: Pens & Paper

Once Your Feet Are Wet in Lettering

Let’s be real – there’s no ‘dipping your little toe’ in lettering – you’re up to your neck by now. Once you’ve gotten a feel for lettering and are anxious to try new markers, maybe get a bit of color in your life. Pentel Sign Brush Pens are an excellent way to go.

No idea why I waited so long to get these pens. I’d describe them as a cross between the Tombow Fudenosuke hard and soft-tipped markers. They are pretty dreamy and having a variety of colors is just more fun.

Small Brush Pens

When You’re in so Deep and There’s No Coming Back

Tombow Dual Brush Markers are not for the lettering faint of heart. They will take some practice. But they blend and write so nice once you have the technique down. If you’re not sure what to start with – get the Bright pack & the Primary pack to start with. Lots of great blending options with these packs.

If you are really ambitious…there’s always the full 96 pack. I have the 96 pack, but I’m not allowed to open it yet. If you become a regular reader of the blog, you’ll find out why soon.

Large Brush Tip Markers

Watercolor Lettering

Water pens are amazing. They have a water-well inside the pen and you squeeze it for more or less water. I use them with watercolor paints AND with markers. Scribble some markers (Tombow or Crayola Supertips or any other kind you have) onto Ziploc bag or another smooth surface, and use the pigment with your water pens or paint brushes. (I’ve claimed a regular, smooth, kitchen plate!)

If you want to start with watercolor paints, I picked up the artist’s loft pan sets at Michael’s one day. The pearlescent watercolor set is gorgeous with that extra shimmer.

Favorite Paper – Brush Lettering

When using brush pens, keep in mind that these babies fray if used on anything but smooth paper. Frayed brush marker tips make for frustrated artists (by the way, did you know that the moment you touch a brush pen or other art supply – you become an artist?!). A splayed tip on a marker makes it nearly impossible to achieve that coveted ultra-thin up-stroke.

Taking good care of your brushes also means using some excellent paper with a smooth finish. The best paper is marker paper. SO smooth and silky. But my favorite paper in bulk is HP 32lb paper. The first ream is 250 sheets, which lasts me about a month and a half depending on my ambitions for the month or how many practice sheets I use. The second is 500 sheets – double the fun. What did I get? I ordered a half case. 1500 Sheets of paper shipped right to my door. It was on sale and will last me about 2 years at the rate I am going.

Paper

Favorite Paper – Watercolor Lettering

Watercolor lettering is like regular watercolor painting. So naturally, the best option is watercolor paper. Anything less than 140 lb paper will buckle.

I would NOT recommend using your brush pens on this paper – not unless you have a weird desire to buy the same marker over and over again because the tip is completely destroyed. 

I like the Canson watercolor paper on a regular basis. My watercolor lettering techniques don’t fully saturate the pages unlike painting a full-watercolor scene. In which case, there is nothing like using cotton paper. Many people who start their watercolor journey scoff at the idea of spending so much on paper. But trust me, when you get to the point and try it, you’ll understand.

I like different sizes of paper – big, small, some as big as your head (please tell me you know the reference and you sang along!)

Some of my favorite watercolor paper.

Hot Press vs. Cold Press

There is some discussion if Hot Press or Cold Press paper is better. To be honest, it is a personal preference. Hot-press paper is more smooth. Cold-press paper has more ‘tooth’ to it (there is more texture) and is rougher. My recommendation is to try them both in small samples and see what you like.

There are lots of supplies out there and many of them require time to develop the skills needed to get used to them. I hope I provided some inspiration for you and your lettering journey. Let me know what you think!

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Question:

What are your favorite lettering supplies?

plan your life so you live beautifully

My Muses: Sources of Inspiration & Favorites #1

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Sources of Inspiration and Favorite Items #1

I’ve wanted to feature various sources of inspiration for a long time now. I imagined myself Oprah-esque telling you about the things that inspire me. Well, maybe someday I will do a giveaway of my favorite things. But now I will just share them for your own inspiration.

My Muses - Inspiration comes in all shapes and packaging material - a collection of favorite things. Sources of inspiration curated all across the internet

Contains Affiliate Links

When Does Inspiration Come?

The thing is, inspiration can come from anywhere, so you will see quotes, products, YouTube videos, Instagram accounts, blogs, you name it. If it inspires me, I want to share it with you. I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration too.

I always love to hear what inspires others. Leave comments on what has inspired you this week. I’d like to check them out! I will certainly give you a shout out if you inspired me to find inspiration.

So what’s inspired me this week:

Blogs/YouTube

First up – I love this Truth-Bomb-Telling-Mom on many levels, but I’ve never been emotional about what she says. This one was emotional. I need to figure out what I am telling myself and try her experiment. See for yourself what it is.

Social Media:

I aspire to have clean, minimal designs in my bullet journal. However, I am pretty sure it’s not in my DNA. I happened on this account and ogled all the posts. How can there be so much function with so much incredible white space? Are you looking for minimal design? Take a good long gander at @supermassiveblackink on Instagram.

Minimalism is great, but if you are looking for a little more color with incredible calligraphy skills, look no further than @sunlanterns her bullet journaling is beautiful, her calligraphy is ON point (pun totally intended), and the textures used in her photography are eye-catching and stunning.

Products/Resources

January Review - Whats Changing in my Bullet Journal next month

If you’ve scoped out any of my watercolored bullet journals lately, you will see that I use Crayola Markers as my watercolor. Yes – I use Crayola Markers or Tombow Dual Brush Markers scribbled on a smooth plate (or Ziploc bag) and a paintbrush with a bit of water or a water pen.

I like this especially for bullet journaling because I can erase pencil behind it, it doesn’t seem to need as much water and doesn’t leave a funny texture as watercolor paints do.

Crayola Markers

Large Brush Tip Markers

Books:

 In my quest for self-improvement through habits, I started reading books on habits and habit formation. I happened on “Better Than Before” by Gretchen Rubin, and after I turned it into the library, I bought it.

I don’t like to rate books because I feel like if someone poured their heart and soul into those pages, how am I to flippantly leaf through the pages and then give it a rating? So I decided to come up with a rating scale all my own. You can assign stars if you wish as there are 5 questions.

  1. Did I finish the book? Yes
  2. Did I take notes? Yes
  3. Have I used the book to change my life? Yes
  4. Would I reread it? Yes
  5. Would I buy the book? Yes (and I did!)

Skillshare Classes

Brace yourself; I am going to talk about this a lot. It’s simply because I LOVE IT. I signed up in January, and I have taken 30+ classes (that’s an understatement).

I adore learning new things. So, of course, I would say Skillshare ROCKS! My problem is I take too many courses. One of my favorite courses was by Yasmina Creates – Easy Watercolor Sweets & Treats for beginners. That class inspired me to paint some strawberries.

It’s not just creative classes. There are business, time management, project classes, and so much more! Try out the Skillshare premium membership for free. You’ll thank me later – and please tell me what your favorite Skillshare classes are as well.

I hope you’ve enjoyed a sneak peek into my sources of inspiration. I hope to curate more awesome from across the internet and inspire you as well. Please let me know below what you’ve found that inspires you.

A Confession of Unfinished Projects

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How unfinished projects seem to take over my life, and how I broke out of a rut and coaxed creativity to come out of hiding.

I get all wrapped up in so many big and small projects. Then thinking that the best way to get the things done, I constrain my creativity and it all backfires, and a week later I’m waking up from a veritable coma of uninspired late nights where I accomplished nothing except me feeling sorry for myself and the amazement of how much time has passed.

A Confession of Unfinished Projects

I confess: I’ve fallen into a slump, I tried to blame it on ‘monthly’ woes, but that’s not going to work anymore. I just can’t find the motivation to do the things that I usually do.  There are so many unfinished projects needing attention that I don’t know where to start. Moping around for the past few days wishing I had the energy or the deep-down willpower to just muscle through skip a few days of sleep to get everything done.

I know many people fall into this dazed state where they don’t know where to begin or what needs attention the most. For me, it’s unedited raw videos sit waiting on my hard drive. Images in various stages of editing, and ideas floating around my head and never doing anything about them. All of these unfinished projects vie for a snippet of time, and I am trying to keep them all straight but never focus on one.

There is my problem.

The Problem

The problem is my focus (or lack of focus). Choosing one thing during a block of time to complete (and be entirely done) and then move to the next. The other problem is trying to remember everything. Um… I bullet journal remember? That magical dotted notebook is supposedly the keeper of my secrets, my tasks, my second brain! That’s a big problem, and I wasn’t using the most obvious solution to help me organize these projects.

How Did I Get Here?

Recognizing the path that brought me to this point is essential so I don’t repeat the same mistake again. Why didn’t I just use the obvious solution of using my bullet journal to organize these unfinished projects?

I realized that the reason I didn’t use a bullet journal to organize myself is that I am moving into a new notebook and haven’t transferred over spreads yet. In fact, to combat having to go through this move situation in the future, I am moving into two notebooks: one for planning and one for collections.

In the middle of that transition… well… I decided to put together some tutorials using my real-life experience to create these tutorials. But since I was moving into a new notebook, I had nothing to guide me and tried to do it all in my brain and became overwhelmed. If I had had a journal to help me keep the tutorials straight, I would not be in this mess. Aaaaaah, classic catch 22.

The Solution for Unfinished Projects – Why Didn’t I Think of That Before?

In my collections notebook, I made a list of my unfinished projects. HUGE ‘duh’ moment – why didn’t I think of that before? I considered scrawling a quick list of projects. Unfortunately, that is the type of list I will ignore once it’s written. If I’ve learned anything about myself by bullet journaling, it’s that it’s got to be ‘pretty.’ I feel like a bee attracted to beautiful and fragrant flowers. But in this case, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time creating this ‘project list’.

I lettered the title and then sketched in the projects – but I left it unfinished. Fitting for a page that highlighted the unfinished projects in my life. I decided to ‘finish’ the boxes one-by-one as I completed each project. Once the page was complete, I’d create another ‘unfinished projects’ page and continue the trend.

Unfinished Projects Bullet Journal Spread

The Solution: Have a Keeping Place

Mind-map is one of my favorite ways to layout ideas on a page. For one thing, it doesn’t place importance on any one idea. You start with a central theme and spread out. There are apps and software to create intricate mind maps, but mine rarely go more than a couple of levels deep. For example, my 10-minute task list was a mind map.

Tips for completing unfinished projects

Keep It Organized

Even if I am in the middle of moving notebooks, I need to make sure I have a place to keep ideas organized. When I organize my ideas, it makes ME feel more organized and confident. When I am confident, I’m pretty sure I can take on the world.

It’s Got To Be Pretty

Oh, and it needs to have a pretty header. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for quick note-taking and ‘brain dumps’ but if I intend to spend any time on the page, it has to be attractive. The goal here is to choose a project and get it done not feel more scatterbrained after I look at the page.

This spread is a ‘brain dump’ or idea log of sorts, but it’s more than that. It’s a place where I can sort through all unfinished items and figure out where to focus first. And knowing where to focus is what got me into trouble in the first place.

The After-Effects of This Realization

As I unleashed my creativity and watched my brush pen slowly mark the page lettering the words ‘Unfinished Projects’. I made another realization: when I restrict my creativity and restrain myself from writing, drawing, painting or creating in any form because these do not complete the to-do list I rebel and instead do nothing.

‘Idea Keeping’ is Like Beekeeping?

I’m going to think of this page as ‘idea keeping’ kind of like beekeeping without the stings and the buzzing. If I want the sweet stuff (finished projects), I need to have a place for the bees (ideas) to come home but allow them the freedom to explore, just like giving myself creative freedom to explore. (This is a fun idea! I think I may have to see where that one takes me).

idea keeping is like bee keepeing

Allow Creativity

There will be some days that are more productive than others. If I have learned anything from this experience, it is that creativity spurs my productivity and restricting frustrates me. Taking a lesson from the 10-minute task list, if I need to get things done but am itching to create something, I need to give myself just a few minutes and listen to my inner muse without restriction. Doing this frees my brain to think and organize subconsciously, which, ironically is just the thing that I need.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies when it comes to productivity and creativity.

Choose the First Thing

I’ve honest so far, so here’s a little more honesty. I am going to choose the easiest thing to check off my list and ignite the momentum. It feels good to get something done, and now that is important to keep me going. I feel the spark again, and it’s lovely. I am sure there will be follow-ups to this post. This breakthrough in creativity has spurred many other ideas. It’s nice to have the spark alive in my soul again.

Question:

What do you do to break out a slump?

My solutions are:

  1. realize why I got here (to prevent for the future)
  2. write down all the things I need to do
  3. make it pretty (so I want to look at it again)
  4. allow time for creativity and not restrict it (helps me mentally sort through the tasks)
  5. choose something from the list and get it done to create momentum (choosing the easiest thing is the fastest way to create that momentum)

All of this will enable me to focus which is essential for feeling accomplished. I know I don’t get anything done when I bounce around from thing to thing, but if I give myself 10 minutes to do something that has bothered me, I can then turn my attention to other tasks done.

I’d love to know what you do let me know in the comments below.

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia

January: Week 3 The Road Not Taken – Include Poems and Stories in your Layouts

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Road Not Taken – How to Include Poems into your Pages

I’ve never written many poems. The Haikus in literature classes in college and high school were about it for me. Maybe I am too wordy or I don’t feel strong enough in my word variances, but I never got into writing poems. Not saying that I wouldn’t like it, but I tend to use inspiring words from others in my creations.

One thing I do enjoy is I’ll make up a story in my mind relating to the image in my journal. For instance, I made up a story about the people on the airplane viewing out the window like on my January Welcome page going on an exciting trip.

In October’s apple orchard spread, I imagined a family going to pick apples and they would look at the wooden signs to find which way to go. On the hello November welcome page, I imagined walking in solitude through a forest enjoying the sunlight streaming through the empty branches and the leaves crunching under my feet.

Poems and Story Telling – Car on a moonshine run?

When I created the car for this week’s spread, I decided that it was a car (maybe on a moonshine run – who knows?) but the route was not their familiar path and they were on a journey of a lifetime. This story in my mind made me think of Robert Frost’s poem so that’s why I decided to include it perhaps I will include some of Atticus’ poetry on a future page.

But the question is: how to include the poem? Just writing it out on the side of my journal seemed boring and didn’t fit with the theme. I decided it would make a great texture for the road so I sketched it in and it fit really well. This month’s theme has not only been about transportation but making things fit (such as the airplane with the monthly calendar or the bicycle as a weekly log).

The Process – How To

I looked up the poem online and started sketching out the words. It doesn’t look long when you read on the website, but when I started writing it onto my page, I realized how long it really was. For a little while, I was afraid that I would run out of room and not include the most important line of the whole poem: “I took the one less traveled by and that made all the difference”.

It Made All the Difference

One thing that made all the difference including this poem on the page is making it part of the design. The car looks like it has just passed over the words, which I think gives significance to them. It is like the car has taken ‘the road not traveled’ and is telling a story that it has now on the course that Robert Frost referred to in his poem “The Road Not Taken”

I am glad I sketched it out with a pencil first, not only for placement but also because I gained a sense of how thin my lines needed to be. I was tempted to leave it in pencil, but I knew how pencil tends to smudge. When I started with the main body of the poem, I chose the smallest pen nib I had – the Micron 005 which is .2 mm and razor thin. I treat this pen very carefully as the least amount of stress on that nib could push it in and destroy your pen. I am happy to announce that I was successful.

Include Poems and Stories in your Bullet Journal Layouts for additional character "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Watch the Process Video Below Writing out the Words & Painting the Car

This video is compiled from a live paint with me/plan with me YouTube session. It’s a little longer and I explain my process in more detail. Plus you get to see my plate palette!

The Car & a New Font

The car in the picture was intended to be a Volkswagon Beatle from the 70’s but I could not get the shape to look just right – so I let it morph into an old-timey convertible car with hooded wheels and a long, slanted trunk. This was one of my absolute favorites to paint.

It’s not typical watercolor, this is another watercolor with Crayola SuperTip Markers. So many things I love about that technique. Two big reasons are that I can erase the pencil marks once I’m done painting. Another reason is that I can write over the image if I need to with any pen – unlike regular watercolor.

I’ve been practicing a font to use when I’m not using cursive or brush lettering. The “meals” sign is one thing I am really pleased with. I love the color and the shape of the signs and the font (I think) came out nicely.

Question:

What is your favorite poem or line of poetry? I’ve also been obsessed with Atticus – love her wild.

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia

January Planner Week 2: Learning to Paint Balloons – it’s an adventure

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Learning New Things

I love the movie ‘Up’ and so this weekly spread is a nod to that adventure. Since that movie, I believe that balloons are a practical mode of transportation (hahah).  Or not, but learning to paint balloons is something I’ve wanted to try for a long time. Their colors overlap and shine through to the next layer. Sometimes it is just fun to try something new. A note to those who are afraid of trying something new in your bullet journal: adventure is out there and once you’ve tasted that adventure, you might not want to go back.

Overall I think it was a good first attempt at paintings, some balloons seem more transparent than others – which was the intent! The key to learning to paint balloons is finding the sweet spot of when the ink is just about dry so it won’t bleed into the other balloons but just wet enough to fade slightly. I love learning new things and trying out new methods.

The Layout

I used this layout in December as well – when I created the Leg Lamp and it left a big open space to include some art. So why not learn to paint balloons? The weekly spread has plenty of space for appointments and tasks so it’s a great match for keeping track of all the things and for trying new adventures!

learning to paint watercolor balloons in my bullet journal - weekly layout, crayola markers, + process video

Process Video – Learning to Paint Balloons

Watch the process video below to see how I painted in the balloons. I used the same method of watercolor with markers as I have this whole month. I really like this technique – and I think I will continue to grow in the technique but only if I continue to practice. Practice stinks sometimes but it’s the only way to learn.

Passion for Learning Turned into a Passion for Bullet Journaling

I’ve never watercolored before about 6 months ago, and I can say it is a whole new process versus painting with acrylics (which is my only other frame of reference). One of my passions is to learn. I LOVE to learn new things and I love to read but hadn’t made time for it in my life. But since this post, I have started reading more – a LOT more. It’s like I don’t have an excuse anymore and I don’t want to make up an excuse.

How I Learn New Things

Audiobooks from the library have become my best friends, I listen to excerpts from books to find new books to read. And of course, kindle – I love marking books in Kindle and seeing the passages others have collectively marked as well. One other way to learn is on YouTube. YouTube and I go way back. That’s how I found bullet journaling! It, too, has become a passion (if you haven’t noticed). If there is something you want to try or learn – do it! I can’t tell you how free it makes you feel. It’s like part of your soul is soothed and ignited all at once.

I started handlettering not long ago – again because I wanted to learn it. What an adventure. I wonder sometimes where it’s been all my life, but I think that is kind of what a bullet journal does. It is a blank notebook calling for adventure, yearning for you to discover yourself within its pages. The dot-grid provides structure and yet freedom all at once.  With handlettering, I have taken classes, done workbooks, written the same letter over and over, but the real teacher is time and practice.

Challenge yourself to try something new! Your Bullet Journal is open to new adventures. Go discover them. Learning to paint watercolor balloons - weekly layout

Sharing the Passion

I love teaching what I learn to others, but I love learning from anyone willing to impart their knowledge and skill to me.  Along those lines, I recently signed up for SkillShare (if you haven’t heard of it, it’s amazing). I’ve got a link below.

I plan on taking watercolor classes and as many as they offer. I’ve used SkillShare for less than a week, and I have already gone through 7 courses. You bet I went to Michael’s and got one of their $5 dot-grid notebooks and started taking notes. (That’s what I tell my husband – I really just wanted to try it out.)

Learn on Skillshare

There are tons of classes teaching brush lettering, calligraphy, I even took a class on time management and I am trying out some new techniques that I learned there. Ooooh – I also did one class on drawing botanicals – so maybe I can start including them in my bullet journal and I will finally get that theme.

I can’t help it, I am so excited and wanted to share this love with you.

New Learning = New Ideas

The more I learn, the more I want to share and I have sooooo many more ideas that I want to share with you, and if you have seen me on Instagram lately, I’ve given you some sneak peeks of what I’m planning. If you’re not following me there already, that’s where you’ll get the freshest ideas coming straight off my desk. (@ChocolateMusingsCreates)

Question:

What do you want to see from me? I’d love some ideas. I’d love to know what new thing you have learned recently as well. Whether it’s a new app or a new skill.

Whatever you are doing, remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia