My Favorite Products to Create With

• Stamping Ink: When I’m creating mixed media art journal pages and incorporating stamps, I like to use permanent black ink. Archival Ink from Ranger is a great option.

• Matte Medium or Gel Medium:  When adding collage elements to pages that will face each other staying away from glossy mediums with a high water content like Mod Podge is a must for me. I usually reach for Liquitex Matte Medium for collage, mixed media painting and image transfer techniques.

• Gesso: this supply is usually used to prime a canvas to prepare it for paint, like you would prime the walls of your house before you paint them. I’m not as worried about the brand for this one, so the most affordable and easiest to find is usually what I purchase.

• Colored Pencils: I love using colored pencils in combination with my watercolor paints, however a higher quality pencil like Caran D’Ache Picasso is my first choice. They last a long time and don’t break when you sharpen them. The Picasso line comes in a wide variety of colors – both in sets and individually.

• Acrylic + Watercolor Paints: I’m not stuck on anyone brand – I use a variety of craft and artist quality watercolor and acrylics in my everyday art. I’m usually drawn to the color over the name or quality.

• Eraser: I usually look for a white one that won’t mark up my paper.

• Pens: I like a variety of them and here’s why:

• Sharpie: When I need a permanent long lasting pen
• Faber-Castell Pitt Pens: When I need an archival, long lasting pen with multiple tip sizes
• TomBow Dual Tip Water-Based Marker: When I’m looking for a brush tip marker that I can use with a water brush to get a watercolor look that comes in a large variety of colors and is very affordable
• Sakura Gelli Markers: These markers come in a nice selection of colors and are Opaque, which makes covering over small mistakes an easy job.