The latest trend in adult coloring has to be water-soluble coloring tools. Gelatos, Distress Crayons, and Prima Marketing’s Oil Pastels all blend with water and promise smooth, creamy color — but which of these really deliver?

Supplies:

• Prima Marketing Water-Soluble Oil Pastels
• Ranger Ink Distress Crayons — Set 2 Muted Brights
• Faber-Castell Gelatos — 34 Pack
• Image from The Coloring Studio
• Paintbrush + Water
• Blending tool or makeup sponge

Lead Image Credit: Page by Madeleine Sibthorpe from The Coloring Studio, which is colored using all three of the water-soluble coloring tools.

The Results

Water-Soluble Oil Pastels

These oil pastels were extra-soft and very easy to work with. They can be used as a regular oil pastel, or you can mix them with water to create watercolor effects. I used the oil pastels on her hair, skin, and shoes.

Wet Blend= I used the wet blend technique on both the hair and skin with very different effects. The skin is a solid color, and I blended it thoroughly to create a nice peachy complexion. To achieve this, I used very light pressure while coloring her face and used the broad side of the pastel, rather than the tip. This made it easy to blend without leaving stroke marks.

For her hair, I did the opposite. I used hard pressure and made random strokes in 4 different colors to create a very dimensional look to her hair (see Before and After images below for more details). When blending, I used very little pressure with the brush and didn’t overdo it. I used just enough water to make the colors bleed into each other, and barely passed over them with the brush, but leaved most of the strokes intact.

Dry Blend= A dry blend for these pastels doesn’t even really require blending. For her shoes and buttons, I just drew them in and made sure that I used enough pressure to create opaque color. If you are adding details without wet blending, I recommend finishing all your wet blended areas first and letting them dry completely to avoid bleeding the dry colors.

Distress Crayons

Distress Crayons have a much waxier texture than gelatos or water-soluble oil pastels. I also noticed that they leave darker and lighter areas when coloring with them. They are great for mixed-media because they adhere well to all surfaces, but in coloring, I would always recommend blending them with water to get a smoother color.

Wet Blend= The finished result of the wet blend is still a little bit uneven, but it has a luxuriously matte finish that looks soft and is textured to perfection. Distress Crayons take slightly more time to dissolve, so a few extra strokes with the brush were necessary to get a smooth appearance.

Dry Blend= More is more with Distress Crayons. In order to get a smooth color when blending with just a blending tool or makeup sponge, you will need to make sure that you have enough pigment to work with. Color thoroughly, then blend away the excess to get a smooth texture. At the end of the process, I could still see some stroke marks, so I also used a smudger tool to get into the teeny, tiny nooks and crannies of this coloring page.

Gelatos

Gelatos are great for covering a large area of a coloring page and work excellently with either a wet or dry blend.

Wet Blend= Gelatos blend easily with water and look just like watercolor when finished. If you want to avoid all strokes or unevenness, you can even use a waterbrush to pick up color from the end of a gelatos stick and transfer it to the page just like watercolors.

Dry Blend= Gelatos is definitely the winner when comparing dry blends. They smooth out easily with a blending tool and create a nice, smooth finish. Gelatos were the only tool that truly could be blended without water to create even color.

I think the biggest surprise of this little experiment is that all three needed blending in order to look “finished.” Below is the below and after images to prove this. The pre-blended image shows a lot of strokes and plenty of white space in between each line. However, Faber-Castell Gelatos, Tim Holtz Distress Crayons, and Prima Marketing’s Oil Pastels all responded well to water and blended smooth with just a brush or blending tool.

The most impressive result was the hair on this piece. You can see that the random streaks of color that look very haphazardly done in the before picture ended up looking very polished and dimensional when blended lightly with water.

Click here to view the Trés Chic Canvas Project Tutorial.

What are Your Favorite Color Tools to Use? Leave a Comment Below!

Artwork Credits (Top to Bottom, Left to Right): 1 – Christy Tomlinson, Artful Blogging Autumn 2011; 2 – Kathleen Barnes, Art Journaling Summer 2012; 3 – Kelly Rae Roberts, Somerset Studio March/April 2011; 4 – Caiti Santa Maria, Art Journaling Summer 2012; 5 – Patty Van Dorin, Somerset Apprentice Volume 1, 2009; 6 – Christy Tomlinson, Artful Blogging Autumn 2011; 7 – Christy Tomlinson, She Found Color in the Everyday; 8 – Cathy Nichols, Artful Blogging Summer 2010; 9 – Tamara Laporte, Somerset Studio Jan/Feb 2012; 10 – Donna Mulholland Art Journaling Winter 2012; 11 – Christy Tomlinson, Artful Blogging Autumn 2011; 12- Suzi Blu, Artists’ Café  Volume 5

One of my favorite art journaling motifs is a whimsical silhouetted woman. Rich in decadent color or dainty and sweet in design, it’s impossible not to be mesmerized by each artist’s take on the portrait of a lady. To explore the many imaginative ways women can be represented in art, we’ve compiled a collection of some of our most artistic and treasured  pieces, created with beautiful, independent flair.

“…in this universe that is flawed and sometimes oh-so-rough, the great thing about the art I make is that it allows me to cast the brightest and most colorful attention to the most deserving innocent creatures of the universe.”

– Suzi Blu, Artists’ Café

Tip: “Allow your materials, such as old books and photographs, to inspire the images you choose to journal. Also, having a theme allows you to collect images and ephemera appropriate to that theme and helps get a page started.”

– Kathleen Barnes Art Journaling

“Creating the layers and the grunge style opens up something inside of me that flies freely and breaks boundaries.”

-Tamara Laporte, Somerset Studio

Tip: “A journal is a great visualization tool If there’s something new and brave you want to do – like teaching a class or self-publishing a book – create a journal page announcing it. Then you’ll be motivated to really make it happen!”

-Donna Mulholland, Art Journaling

“I have always loved art in one form or another – whether it was through wood fabric, paint, or jewelry.”

-Christy Tomlinson, Artful Blogging

Tip: “If you don’t like a page, don’t give up on it…some of my favorite pages are ones that have been painted and worked over many times. The layers will make it more interesting.”

– Patty Van Dorin, Somerset Apprentice

Quick Reader Poll:

What is your favorite theme to experiment with and incorporate into your artwork? Do tell in the comments below!

Create a pampering at-home spa experience with these projects for handmade soaps, bath salts, bathroom organization, and more. Whether you’re making them as a gift or for yourself, crafting your own bath and body products allows you to use all-natural ingredients that suit your needs. By making your own recipes, you’ll know exactly what goes into them, and you can also try substituting your favorite soap bases, scents, or herbs for a more personalized end result.

DIY Spa Kit

With essential oils, tub teas, and bath salts neatly assembled in one place, this DIY Spa Kit has everything you’ll need to transform any day into a luxurious at-home spa experience. Have extra supplies? Assemble an additional DIY Spa Kit or two to surprise friends and neighbors with as an exceptional gift that will transport them within the comfort of their own homes.

Click here for a closer look.

Roll With It: Essential Oil Blends

Did you know that essential oils can help revitalize your mood or even soothe aches and pains? Create your own special blends with this project and make a roll-on formula that works best for you.

Click here for a closer look.

Easy Tub Tea Sampler

Tub teas can be a great way to unwind at the end of the day. It allows you to soak in your favorite herbs, salts and oils without sending bits of them down the drain at the end of your bath. These tub tea filters can be filled with anything, creating a customized bath experience.

Click here for a closer look.

Bath and Body Bouquet by Johanna Love

For anyone with a collection of homemade bath and body products scattered across the counter, this is a great way to artfully display them. These jars can help you get organized and keep all your favorite herbs, soaps, and bath salts within reach.

Click here for a closer look.

Handmade Soap in 5 Minutes or Less

If you’re looking for a quick and easy project for the holiday gifting season or a fun crafting weekend, these soaps can be whipped up in five minutes or less. (Just keep in mind they’ll need time to set, overnight, while you sleep). Using tart tins as molds, these soaps have chamomile buds to exfoliate the skin. Whether you’re using a nourishing cocoa butter soap base or a hydrating goat’s milk base, these soaps provide a great introduction into making your own bath and body products.

Click here for a closer look.

DIY Fresh Face Mist

A refreshing face mist might be just the thing you need to turn around an overtaxing day. Spritz it on your face to revitalize yourself in the morning, cool off on a hot summer’s day, or to calm you when you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

Click here for a closer look.

Homemade English Lavender Soap

English Lavender is known for its calming scent and these soaps are a great accessory for guest bathrooms or your personal skincare regiment. Create these simple, yet scrumptious, soaps with just a few materials, or purchase all the materials together in a kit.

Click here for a closer look.

Pretty Bath Salt Vials

Test tubes are one of the hottest trends in homemade bath and body right now and these bath salts are meant to be displayed on a countertop with all the colored herbs and dried buds inside. They are a colorful accessory for any bath.

Click here for a closer look.

Super Simple Soap Packaging

If you’re planning to give homemade soaps as a gift this holiday season, this super simple packaging idea can add the finishing touches to your project. Just add some unbleached wax paper and washi tape for a completely customizable and artistic way of presenting your homemade soaps.

Click here for a closer look.

Beeswax and Bottled Candles

These candles can be made in just a few minutes and are much cleaner to use than paraffin candles. Beeswax candles actually can clean the air as they burn.

Click here for a closer look.

Vintage Spool Towel Holder

Homemade bath and body projects aren’t limited to soaps and salts. Create a bathroom you enjoy being in with this project that provides an artful way to hang your towels.

Click here for a closer look.

If you liked these projects and are looking for even more at-home spa treatments, you’ll love these DIY Bath and Body Kits, available exclusively from The Shoppe at Somerset.

Discover more in-depth bath and body projects and recipes inside Willow and Sage.

We’re getting down to the wire; Christmas is literally just around the corner! This is the time when people tend to get a little stressed out, but we’re here to offer a helping hand! Today we’re joined by the wonderful and talented Vanessa Spencer, who is going to show us a creative and artful way to wrap gifts — which is especially helpful for last-minute shoppers, like myself! This project is a great way to reuse old gift wrap, magazine pages, and even old newspapers. While getting ready for Christmas might be a little taxing, don’t forget to take some time to be creative.

Grab some twine, ribbon, and decorative washi tape, and join us for a crash-course in eco-friendly gift wrapping!

I love to add character to gift-wrapping and I’m fairly passionate for green crafting, so I thought I’d share a little inspiration for some last minute holiday gift-wrapping ideas.

Home décor magazines are one of my weaknesses. They’re full of inspiring decorating ideas and articles. I will often tear out the pages I want to keep before throwing the rest away into the recycling bin. I will add — I’ve never thrown a Somerset magazine in the trash… They’re more like books, so I could never do that.

Using old magazine pages works well for small gifts. If the page doesn’t completely cover the box you are wrapping, just connect a few pieces with washi tape. After wrapping these small gifts with old magazine pages, I added a little character with some various crafty odds and ends including:

• Jute and twine
• Torn natural muslin
• Cork Ribbon (wide)
• Vintage ephemera
• Paper doilies
• Grubby Tags
• Library Cards
• Date stamps
• Decorative Washi Tape

I know that I will be applying many of these ideas to many of my Christmas gifts — most of which are still waiting to be wrapped. Please join me in thanking Vanessa Spencer for providing us with this useful bit of holiday inspiration.

Vanessa Spencer is a mixed-media artist and crafter. She lives in Logan, Utah with her husband Ross, daughter Izzy, and son Brin. You can see more of Vanessa Spencer’s Work in GreenCraft Magazine.

This holiday season, give the gift that keeps on giving by turning the recycling bin into Santa’s magic sack! GreenCraft Magazineis overflowing with inspired, environmentally-safe craft projects that also happen to double as one-of-a-kind gift ideas. Best of all, there’s even more of Vanessa’s beautiful gift wrap ideas.

Click here to explore more issues of GreenCraft Magazine.

This year, I decided not to set lofty, unattainable New Year’s Resolutions. I always vow to journal more, to record more of life’s little moments, and I expect to fill an entire journal by the end of the year. I’m good for the first week, and then my journal sits on the nightstand until the next year when I start over with another blank journal. I can’t tell you how many journals I have with only the first few pages filled in. So this year, I thought that I would set an achievable goal by jumping on-board with the current planner trend, and August is as good a month as any to check-in on my progress! Planners are a great way to record life without setting your expectations too high. You can create an artful planner with just a few must-have materials and then fill in each day with the moments you’d like to remember forever.

Fancy Pens

The basis of every artful planner is a great set of pens. Whether it’s Pitt Artist pens or festive Copic Atyou Glitter Pens, the pen is the foundation for your planner’s entire look (think of it as the Little Black Dress of the planner world). Invest in a good set of pens and you’ll never be worried about getting a clear line of ink or having your ink get spotty halfway through.

Explore Pens and Markers.

Washi Tapes

Washi tapes are a really versatile tool for both planners and art journals. Mark the length of your vacation on your planner page with a piece of washi tape, or line the side of each bullet journal page with washi tape so that they are color-coded and vibrant. You can also add decorative clips to your pages that coordinate perfectly by attaching a piece of tape to the side of a paper clip or binder clip.

Explore Washi Tapes.

Journaling Cards

Journaling cards are a wonderful way to add extra writing space to your planner or bullet journal. Attach a grocery list to the bottom corner, then detach and take it with you when you run to the store. Had an extra memorable moment, write a journal entry and tape it in place with decorative washi tape. These are also great for to-do lists or anything you don’t want to save because you can detach them when you’re finished. Want to include photos in your planner or journal? Journaling cards provide a beautiful mat for all your photos so that they match the rest of your planner’s décor.

Explore Journaling Cards and More.

Stickers and Rub-Ons

Looking for a way to instantly add a glamorous detail to your bullet journal or planner? Try stickers and rub-ons! These are a great way to tie together the whole page with cohesive elements. Add a fun sentiment with Tim Holtz’s SmallTalk Stickers, or infuse your pages with decorative details from Prima Marketing’s rub-ons. Stickers can help create a cohesive theme or motif that will make everything look precise and polished.

Explore Stickers, Rub-Ons, and Labels.

Stamps

Stamps can be a building tool for any artful planner or bullet journal page. Add a sentiment that inspires, or create borders to your favorite pages.  The best part about stamps is that you can create colorful combinations on your pages that will make them vibrant and beautiful. Color in the designs, or use embossing powder to create bright pops of color. The possibilities are endless.

Explore Art Stamps.

However you decide to infuse creativity into your life, we hope that this is your most inspired year yet!

What are some other ways you like to artistically alter your planner? Let us know in the comments below.