Iโve recently rescued a bumper batch of leather sample sheets and am really enjoying using them! There are some gorgeous colours and textures in there, and Iโve started splitting them into collections such as Mermaids, Monsters and Magic (this is more just for myself, because itโs fun ๐คฉ).
Hereโs some of the things Iโve been making so far:
Do you want to use your journal for painting or colouring? Will the paper take it ok? Well, it does depend on the paper type; but generally, if youโre buying a quality handmade notebook, it should take some form of paints. Iโve chosen a few things here for adding colour, including coloured pencils and felt tip pens – just to cover different options!
As mentioned in the pencils/pens write up (which you can find here) the paper in my journals is 140gsm cartridge paper; it will take paints and inks, but some better than others. Ideally for watercolour, you need proper watercolour paper; however, if youโre just starting out or experimenting, the sturdy paper in my journals is fine for testing things out.
Coloured pencils are readily available and easy to use. You can create more in the way of shading and texture with coloured pencils, simply by pressing harder for a darker tone. You should be able to work quickly and easily with pencils, starting light and building up colour where needed.
Felt/fibre-tip pens are nice and bold and bright, creating clean defined lines. While you canโt shade with them as you can with pencils, you can create a graduated effect by overlapping colours slightly with swift, light strokes. Issues? Leave the pen on the paper too long and itโll bleed through. You can easily write or draw with pens too, making them more versatile.
You can create simple watercolours quite easily. Start with the lighter colours and build up to the darker washes. Blend/merge colours using wet on wet paint; for more defined areas, youโll need to wait for the previous layer to dry. The paper may buckle slightly, but will warp if you get it too wet. You can place a scrap piece of paper or card under the page youโre working on.
As with watercolours, you can get heavier paper to use with acrylics, but the paper I use is great for a mixed media art journal. Acrylic paints are easy to just pick up and use. Theyโre quick drying and, once dry, you can easily paint over the previous layer. You can thin them with water.
Here you can see the other side of the paper from the mushroom drawings – it shows how much you can see the colours on the other side, and how much the paper warps. If youโre using watercolour or acrylics, Iโd suggest not using paints on the other side of the page, but pencils should be ok to use.
Head to my Etsy shop for handmade blank journals and notebooks.
Should you use pen or pencil for journaling? What’s best to use in your notebook? Whether you want to use your blank pages for writing or drawing, itโs nice to know how your pens and pencils will work with the paper. Letโs take a look, shall we?
The paper used in my journals is 140gsm cartridge paper (itโs been made using upcycled takeaway cups!). This paper is quite sturdy and will take different mediums; pens and pencils, and also some paints (more on that another time). Here, Iโll be looking at some of the different pencils and pens you might be using for writing or drawing in your journal – youโll be able to see what each of them look like on paper.
Ever wondered what the letters and numbers on pencils mean? Generally, HB is your bog-standard pencil: H = hard, B = blackness. You can get various grades of H & B pencils. With H pencils, the higher the number the harder the pencil, creating a harder, lighter line. When it comes to B, the higher the number the softer the pencil, creating a softer, darker line. While you normally associate pens with writing, you can use them for drawing too. There are loads of different types of pens; I’ve chosen 3 I think fit best with using in journals.
So, what difference does this all make when it comes to drawing and writing? Here are some simple doodles to give you an idea:
Use H to create hard, clean lines. The fact that they produce lighter, more precise lines makes them good for writing and technical drawings.
B pencils can be used for sketching and adding texture. Because they’re soft, they can be more expressive; it also makes them easier to rub out!
Biros (or ballpoint pens) are best for writing – great for everyday journaling. But you can doodle with them too!
Fineliners are perfect for journaling; you can use them for writing, drawing or doing your layouts.
Dip pens are just that – pens that you dipโฆ into a pot of ink! Theyโre often used for calligraphy, but you can use them for sketches, too. Using the different angles of the nib means you can create various line widths and strengths. They can take a while to get used to, but are very satisfying to use once youโve got the hang of it.
What else would you want to know about the paper quality of a journal or notebook? How about how much it shows through to the other side? As you can see, with the paper I use in my handmade journals, you can hardly see the pencil, while the dip pen and fineliner show through the most.
