This post was previously published on the Scrap365 blog. It’s all about having fun with coloured pencils!

Hello, hello!

Last month I enjoyed a fab four-day live illustration course. I was re-introduced to a couple of materials I hadn’t used in years, just because I don’t consider them regular scrapbooking supplies.

I’ve been sketching and creating patterns ever since and I’ve been dreaming and scheming of how to incorporate my new found drawing and sketching joy into my scrapbooking.

I have to be honest: I’m not the biggest fan of coloured pencils. I never have been. I think this stems from my childhood: I’ve always preferred bright vibrant colours and felt tip markers just provide a brighter, more saturated result.

That said: I’ve discovered that good quality pencils and the right choice of paper really does make the world of difference! (Structured) cardstock and drawing paper result in different effects and I’ve found them both interesting.

The easiest way to use coloured pencils on a scrapbook page is to just start doodling some kind of pattern without great rhyme or reason. Be mindful of composition for the sake of photo placement later on, but for the most part: just have fun!

Stumped for ideas? Basic zentangle patterns make fab background patterns!

For this page I grabbed one of the coloured pencil patterns and added vibrant spray ink on top:

You can also use coloured pencils to add texture to basic (die-cut) shapes. Grab a plain paper scrap, roughly add colour with a pencil and then (die-)cut the scrap into shape.

For the second page I decided to keep things clean and simple, because the tone on tone pattern is quite subtle and I wanted it to be as visible as possible:

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you give pencilling on your scrapbook pages a try. It’s great fun and very relaxing!