“what pen is this” - learn modern calligraphy, hand ...€¦ · you’ll often ﬁnd brush...

“WHAT PEN IS THIS”MODERN CALLIGRAPHY & LETTERING

SUPPLIES GUIDE

DISCLAIMER

Clickable links within this guide may be a�liate links where appropriate. This means that your purchase through direct links in this guide may result in a few cents in payment to me, to support creating further resources like this one! Thank you!

That being said, I will never suggest supplies that I do not personally use and fully recommend.

1 | “What Pen Is This” Guide © 2018 The Happy Ever Crafter Inc.

1© 2018 The Happy Ever Crafter Inc.

WHAT PEN IS THIS?!


| “What Pen Is This” Guide

CONTENTS

The type of paper you choose to use for your calligraphy & lettering is one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make.

Using the proper types of paper will ensure a longer life for your pens. If you choose the wrong types, you may end up quickly fraying or drying

out your pens- which means more $$ spent on new ones!

In the simplest terms, you’ll want to look for the smoothest paperpossible, and with as little “tooth” as you can get. “Tooth” essentially

means grittiness- so you know those pretty scrapbook papers you can find, or those textured cardstocks? Yeah- those won’t be nice to your

pens. Try to always run your hands across the paper you’re choosing and make sure it is nice and smooth.

Over time, you’ll get a feel for which paper will work well, and which won’t.

Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for paper.



MY PAPER MVP’sThese are the paper types I use most often. Read more about

each one in the following pages!



https://www.thehappyevercrafter.com/supplyguide/



BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

RHODIA PADSThese come in three types- graph, dot and plain. They are all great, but my favourite is definitely the dot pad. It’s still got the guidelines, but they’re faint so it looks a little prettier to practice on. These also come in tons of different sizes- that part is entirely personal preference.

USE WITH:

HP LASERJET 32#Generally, printer paper isn’t great for use with brush pens or pointed pens. However, some laser printer papers tend to be very smooth and work well. HP 32# paper is one of those- the package may look differ-ent, but just check for the 32# on the front.

TOMOE RIVERLet me be honest: I have never personally tried Tomoe River paper. However, I have seen it highly rated and recommended by other credible calligraphy resources, so I have listed it here.

FABRIANO PADSFabriano is one of the notebooks I use for my doodle journaling. I like that it comes in fun colours,different sizes, and also has the dot pad versions. That said, it’s not quite as smooth as Rhodia so using it with pointed pens is di�cult.

PAPER

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:











PAPER

MOLESKINEMoleskine is a great option for a bunch of different uses- they make all sorts of shapes & sizes of note-books, and they also make them with different types of paper. So just make sure you choose the one you need (ie. don’t use thewatercolour one on your brush pens!)

WHITELINESWhitelines is another paper I have personally never used, but I’ve heard great things. The lines on these pages are white (duh), so theyre not distracting with your work on top!

STRATHMORE TRACINGTracing paper is great for practice with brush pens or drawing pens. It doesn’t suck as much ink out of your pens as regular paper would, and you can also use it to trace (uhh, duh) overtop of things you want to practice more! Strathmore is one of my go-to’s.

STAEDTLER VELLUMVellum is like a thicker, smoother version of tracing paper. It’s still translucent so you can trace with it, but since it’s thicker and smoother, you can also use it for pointed pens! It’s a bit more expensive than tracing paper. Staedtler has a great option that is cost effective.


BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:










STRATHMORE BRISTOLThis is the thick, smooth white paper I use for my finished lettering pieces. It is nice and thick quality, but smooth and easy on brush pens or pointed pens.

ARCHES COLD PRESSArches is a very high quality, thick, heavy watercolour paper. The cold pressed version is rough to the touch, which is wonderful for wa-tercolour effects. However, it can be really tough on your pens. Use it carefully with those!

ARCHES HOT PRESSArches hot pressed paper is smoother than cold pressed. It’s a better option if you’re looking to use more brush pens on it, or if you like the different effect it can make with your watercolours. The bleeds will be a little different, but it is definite-ly easier on your brush pens.

ARCHES ROUGHArches rough paper is very, very toothy (ie. textured & rough). I would not suggest using your pens on this paper at all, but it can have an amazing effect on your watercolours if you want to use it!

PAPER


BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:










PAPER

STRATHMORE COLDStrathmore is my go-to waterco-lour paper for practice, because it is still decent quality but it isn’t as expensive as Arches. Since it’s cold pressed, again, it’s not great for your brush pens. Be careful with it!

FABRIANO COLD PRESSFabriano cold press paper is anoth-er option for more cost-effective practice, but you can definitely tell the difference between it and the more expensive papers. It’s a little bit less toothy than other cold pressed papers, and the paper itself is a bit less thick.

FABRIANO HOT PRESSSame comments apply to this one as with the Fabriano cold pressed papers, except that since it’s hot pressed it is smoother. Better for your brush pens, but not necesarily as good for your watercolours.

Arches paper is also sold as a “block” instead of in sheets, so that you can paint liberally on

the sheet without it warping due to water! Then, when its dry, you peel it off the block.

These are a bit more pricey, but definitely worth it if you have that issue!


BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:

BRUSH PENS

POINTED PENS

DRAWING PENS

WATER-COLOUR

USE WITH:



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BRUSH PENSBrush pens are flexible-tipped pens that you can use to create the thicks/thins in modern calligraphy. These days, there are SO MANY

brush pens to choose from that it can be very overwhelming to choose one that is right for you.

In this section, we’ll separate the groups of brush pens by size- large and small. When we talk about the different size of brush pen,

we’re talking about the actual size of the TIP.

You’ll often find brush lettering/calligraphy worksheets that specify which size brush pen they should be used with. This is because there is

such a huge variation in the size of the tips of some brush pens- and using a large tipped brush pen on worksheets scaled for small pens will

be tough, and vice versa. Knowing the difference is key!

Generally speaking, smaller tipped brush pens are also easiest for begin-ners- though, there are always exceptions! The brush pens you choose will always come down to personal preference. It’s really a process of

testing different ones and finding your favourites.

Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for small and large sized brush pens.

9 | “What Pen Is This” Guide© 2018 The Happy Ever Crafter Inc.

MY BRUSH PEN MVP’sThese are the brush pens I use most often. Read more about







SMALL TIPPED BRUSH PENS

TOMBOW FUDENOSUKE

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Available in hard tip, soft tip & dual tip.

KURETAKE FUDEGOKOCHI

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

ZEBRA MISC. FUDES

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

ZEBRA FUNWARI

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

PILOT FUDE MAKASE

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?



Available in regular, fine & extra fine sizes

Available in medium, fine & extra fine sizes

Similar size brush tip to Tombow hard tip

Similar size brush tip to Zebra extra fine





http://amzn.to/2FVEV3m







ZIG COCOIRO

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Great for suuuuuper tiny writing!

SMALL TIPPED BRUSH PENS

PENTEL SIGN BRUSH PEN

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Slightly more flexible than Tombow Fudenosuke

KURETAKE BIMOJI

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Available in broad, medium, fine and extra fine

KURETAKE ZIG MANGAKA

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Available in fine & medium. Beautiful dark black.











LARGE TIPPED BRUSH PENS

TOMBOW DUAL BRUSH

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Many colour options, great for blending & large lettering

KOI WATERCOLOR BRUSH PENS

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Many colour options, slightly smaller/stiffer than Tombow

ARTISTS LOFT DUAL TIP

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Very similar to Tombow, but slightly less expensive

ARTLINE STIX

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Stiffer tip than most large brush pens, great for ombre

ECOLINE BRUSH

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Very juicy, flexible tips. Great for dipping into liquid watercolour













LARGE TIPPED BRUSH PENS

SHARPIE STAINED

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Intended for fabric, but fantastic on paper as well!

EDDING COLORPEN BRUSH

YES / NO

Nice colour selection, slightly smaller than Tombow

COLOUR OPTIONS?

JANE DAVENPORT MERMAID

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Fun for pre-loaded liquid watercolour- di�cult to use

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

PENTEL COLOR BRUSHDifficult bristle tip to maneuver, great pigment



KURETAKE FUDEBIYORI METALLICS

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Amaaaaazing metallic colours & durable tip











‘IN BETWEEN’ SIZED BRUSH PENS

ZIG CLEANCOLORBeautiful colours, difficult bristle tip to maneuver

COLOUR OPTIONS?YES / NO

FABER CASTELL PITT

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Huge colour selection, but fray very quickly

MARVY COLOR IN

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Affordable, fun colours, fairly flexible tip

PENTEL POCKET BRUSH

YES / NO

COLOUR OPTIONS?

Great dark black pigment, di�cult bristle tip to use

MICRON BRUSH

YES / NOCOLOUR OPTIONS?

Really great archival pigmented ink, very flexible













In this section, we’ll be looking at various drawing materials outside of brush pens- so pens & pencils that do not have flexible tips.

This category will include some the best tools for sketching, embellishing or detailing your work.

Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for drawing tools.

DRAWING



MY DRAWING MVP’sThese are the drawing tools I use most often. Read more about







DRAWING TOOLS

PALOMINO BLACKWING PENCILThere are multiple types of Blackwing pencil, all with slightly different lead types. I love them all. The erasers are also replaceable, which is great.

STAEDTLER MARS LUMOGRAPH

TOMBOW MONO SAND ERASER

STAEDTLER MARS TECHNICAL PENCIL

TOMBOW DUST CATCH ERASERDon’t misunderstand this eraser- it still creates

some pieces of rubber “dust” as you use it, but they just clump together so much nicer than most

other erasers and make less mess.



I keep a set of Mars Lumograph pencils around so that I have all of the different leads I might be

looking for at any given time.

I have loved this mechanical pencil since I used it for hand drafting in university. It is a little different

than most mechanical pencils and requires it’s own specialized sharpener and tubes of lead- but I

love the weight of it and the way it fits my hand.

This eraser saves my life frequently.The texture of this eraser is gritty so it can erase

ink! It even erases ink from pointed pen. It is pure magic.






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DRAWING TOOLS

PIGMA MICRON PEN

TOMBOW MONO DRAWING PEN



Micron pens are my absolute go-to pens for drawing. They are archival quality ink which means

not only that they’re super pigmented and dark, but they don’t fade over time and you can also use them overtop or underneath water (within reason).

Tombow also makes a great, simple drawing pen in 3 different sizes. They’re great for miscellaneous

doodles and use in my sketchbook.

TOMBOW TWINTONE MARKERSI don’t generally use a ton of colour in my doodles or for my journal, but I do love the pastel version of

these twintone markers by Tombow when I do! They have a thicker side and a thinner side which is

great, too.

STAEDTLER TRIPLUS FINELINERThese fineliners are also great for doodling and

adding pops of colour- though I don’t use much colour in my work, I do use these in my planner!









DRAWING TOOLS

UNIBALL SIGNO WHITE

SAKURA GELLYROLL

UNI POSCA ULTRA FINE



SHARPIESharpie is still my go-to for permanent marker, on

surfaces that won’t bleed. I rarely use them on paper, but I use them tons on surfaces like wood

hangers, for example.

Uniball Signo is my faaaavourite white gel pen. It is far more opaque than most, and doesn’t bleed into

other inks so you can use it overtop of things.

The Gellyroll is similar to the Signo, except a little less opaque and thick. It comes in multiple sizes,

and one of them is quite fine and great for use on delicate areas.

This is a paint pen so it can be a little thick/wet for paper sometimes, but the “ultra fine” size is

FANTASTIC for adding little white embellisments on lettering.









The paintbrushes section refers not only to simple paintbrushes, but also waterbrushes- which you can fill with water or liquid paint!

Many of these brushes are commonly associated with painting, but they can also be used for lettering & calligraphy and are becoming more and

more popular.

They can be a little bit tougher to use as a beginner, however. Depending on your own goals, you may want to start by using brush

pens before jumping to paintbrushes for your work.

Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for paintbrushes.

PAINTBRUSHES




MY PAINTBRUSH MVP’sThese are the paintbrushes I use most often. Learn more about






PAINTBRUSHES & WATERBRUSHES

PENTEL AQUASHThese brushes have a screw off top so you can

pre-fill them with water (or ink, or liquid watercolour!) . They come in a few different sizes.

KOI WATERBRUSH

GRUMBACHER GOLDENEDGE

WINSOR NEWTON COTMAN



The Koi version of the waterbrush comes in multiple sizes as well, and I find their extra fine

version is the smallest I can find- I love it!

PRINCETON SNAP! BRUSHThese brushes are on the cheap end but they are my absolute favourite- they hold their shape really well and come in tons of different sizes that are

great for lettering.

These brushes are slightly more expensive but are also a great option similar to the above.

I find these brushes are a little rougher, so they’re sometimes great for pieces where you want to

include some texture!











Pointed pen is the use of a nib & ink for your calligraphy or lettering. It can be a little bit daunting to understand the tools required and how to

use them, but it can have one of the most beautiful outcomes!

For pointed pen you need a few different supplies- specifically nibs, holders, and inks.

There are tons of different supplies that can be used for pointed pen, but in this guide we will explore some of the most popular for beginners.

If you’re interested in getting started with pointed pen calligraphy and need a few pointers to start out, this video might be helpful:

HOW TO SET UP A POINTED PEN

Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for pointed pen beginners.

POINTED PEN



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqMJKy9ij3w&t=121s


MY POINTED PEN MVP’sThese are the pointed pen I use most often. Learn more about






POINTED PEN HOLDERS

SPEEDBALL STRAIGHT HOLDERBUDGET LEVEL

SPEEDBALL OBLIQUE HOLDERBUDGET LEVEL

TACHIKAWA STRAIGHT HOLDERBUDGET LEVEL

GENERALS CORK HOLDERBUDGET LEVEL

STRAIGHT OR OBLIQUE?WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?



It’s entirely personal preference. The oblique holder takes some getting used to, so picking up a straight holder will tend to be a little easier right off the bat. But

if you are attempting a style that requires you to write on a specific angle (ie. Copperplate at 55 degrees), you may find the oblique helps you correct that automatically. With straight holders, you may need to turn your page instead.









POINTED PEN HOLDERS

LUIS CREATIONS MOBLIQUEBUDGET LEVEL

LAURA HOOPER OBLIQUEBUDGET LEVEL

ASH BUSH HOLDERSBUDGET LEVEL

TOMS STUDIO OBLIQUESBUDGET LEVEL



ZILLER WOOD OBLIQUEBUDGET LEVEL

https://www.jetpens.com/Ziller-Oblique-Wood-Nib-Holder-W169-Red-Wood-for-G-Nib/pd/18536











POINTED PEN NIBS

Remember: for modern calligraphy, you want flexible tipped tools.

The nibs you choose should be POINTED- not broad edged or chiseled as you often find in older calligraphy kits.

ZEBRA/NIKKO/TACHIKAWA ‘G’

BEGINNER FRIENDLINESS

HUNT 512


BRAUSE 351 “BLUE PUMPKIN”




Best beginner nib. Sturdy but flexible enough!

Another great beginner nib. Not quite as fine.

NIce fine lines, but can be pretty finicky.







POINTED PEN NIBS

HUNT 101

BRAUSE EF 66



HUNT 22B


Can create VERY thick lines- sucks a lot of ink!


Great all round nib- beautiful hairlines!


Great for very small script.







POINTED PEN INKS

LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC COLOUR OF INK?YOU SHOULD MIX YOUR OWN!

(PREFERABLY DISTILLED)WATER

(YOUR COLOUR OF CHOICE)GOUACHE PAINT

(A LIIIIIITTLE BIT OF)GUM ARABIC



KURETAKE SUMI INK

WINSOR NEWTON INDIA INK

W&N DRAWING INKS SPEEDBALL INK HIGGINS ETERNAL

Sumi ink is my favourite for pointed pen. It can be diluted with water for whatever consistency you like, and it has a beautiful matte finish when it

dries.

India ink is similar to sumi ink in its ease-of-use, but can gum up your nib a little quicker and will

require more rinsing. It dries shinier than sumi ink, so it can be used for different applications.

MISC OTHER INK OPTIONSThe inks below are readily available at most art stores, and they are OK options- but not

ideal. I suggest staying away from these if it’s possible- they may give you headaches!










Watercolour paint is becoming more and more popular for use in lettering & calligraphy. Using watercolour paint or liquid watercolours with a paintbrush or waterbrush (see the earlier section on this!) allows you to create some fun techniques (like blending!) that you couldn't

easily achieve using brush pens.

Generally speaking, the higher quality (read: more expensive) watercolour paints will be easiest to use and give you the best results.

There are many, many types of watercolour paint and liquid waterco-lours. For the purposes of this supplies guide, we’ll be exploring those that are tried & tested for techniques specifically related to lettering &

calligraphy.

Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for watercolour paints & liquid

watercolours.

WATERCOLOURS& OTHER PAINTS



HIGGINS ETERNAL


MY WATERCOLOUR MVP’sThese are the watercolours & paints I use most often. Learn more

about each one in the following pages!





WATERCOLOUR PAINTS

WINSOR & NEWTON PROFESSIONAL

BUDGET LEVEL

My favourite w/c paints. Amazing colours & quality.

WINSOR & NEWTON COTMAN

BUDGET LEVEL

Very similar to above, but slightly cheaper grade.

QUALITY:

QUALITY:

ARTISTS LOFT WATERCOLOR PAN

BUDGET LEVEL

Fine for playing around, but very chalky colours.

QUALITY:



WINSOR & NEWTON COTMAN PAN SET

BUDGET LEVEL QUALITY:

Same cotman paints, but in a dried pan set.









LIQUID WATERCOLOURS

DR. PH MARTIN’S RADIANT CONCENTRATED WATERCOLOR

BUDGET LEVEL

Beautiful (& huge) selection of colours, super bright!

QUALITY:

ECOLINE LIQUID WATERCOLOR

BUDGET LEVEL

Amazing vibrant colours, great quality for price.

QUALITY:

ARTISTS LOFT LIQUID WATERCOLOR

BUDGET LEVEL

Limited colour choices, but fun for playing around.

QUALITY:

***Dr.PH Martin also makes other inks and watercolours that look similar- “hydrus” and “bombay”. Both are also great, but these radiant watercolors are by far the most beautiful colors!



SEE A FUN LESSON ON HOW TO USE LIQUID WATERCOLOURS...

www.thehappyevercrafter.com/liss-letters







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www.thehappyevercrafter.com/liss-letters

MISC RELATED PRODUCTS

PEARLEX METALLICPIGMENT POWDERS

FINETEC GOLD/PEARL PALLETTES

DR. PH MARTIN’S BLEEDPROOF WHITEBleedproof white has tons of different uses and it is a *must have* in my toolbox! It can be mixed with waterand used as a white paint, or you can mix it with evenmore water to create white pointed pen ink. It is the

most opaque white you will find!


WINSOR NEWTONIRIDESCENT MEDIUM


Finetec is a great metallic pan set. It works much better than attempting pre-made metallic inks for pointed pen, or it can be used directly as a metallic

paint as well! Simply mix with water when you need it.

Pearlex is a line of powders that you can mix into paint or inks to add metallic shimmer & colour! It comes in a

ton of different metallic colours. It requires a bit of practice to get the right consistency.

Iridescent medium is a shimmery medium that can be mixed directly into paint or ink, or added on top of a finished piece afterward. It gives it a shiny, metallic

look that is a bit more subtle.

DR. PH MARTIN’S BLEEDPROOF WHITE









Let’s take a look at some best recommendations for paint and chalk pens.

PAINT PENS& CHALK PENS





MY PAINT/CHALK MVP’sThese are the paint & chalk pens I use most often. Learn more

about each one in the following pages!




PAINT PENS

SHARPIE OIL-BASED

SHARPIE WATER-BASED

UNI POSCA PAINT PENS

MOLOTOW LIQUID CHROME



DRYPAPER TOWEL

ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL

WATER (AND OR WINDEX)

ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:


DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

MOLOTOW ONE4ALL

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE











CHALK/CHALK PENS



BISTRO CHALK MARKER

VERSACHALK MARKER

CRAYOLA ANTI-DUST CHALK

DRYPAPER TOWEL

ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:


DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

GENERALS CHALK PENCIL

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE

REMOVE WITH:

DRYPAPER TOWEL


ACETONE/ ALCOHOL

STRAIGHTBLADE









Over time you’ll no doubt find some extra supplies that make your calligraphy & lettering life a little easier. You’ll also find some tools that you’ll learn to use for some specialized techniques you may not have

known about.

These tools may not merit an entire section of their own, but they shouldn’t be ignored, either!

Let’s take a look at some of my miscellaneous favourite art supplies.



LAYOUT PLANNING, ETC.



STABILO AQUARELLABLE PENCIL**Can also be called “Stabilo All” pencil**

I use this to draw guidelines on pretty much any surface- glass, plexi, mirrors, windows, chalkboards, etc

It wipes off with a dry towel or with a bit of water!

LASER LEVEL (ANY BRAND)The brand I use is called Johnson HotShot- but it

does not have to be this one! Any laser level from the hardware store will do. I use this to shoot a guideline

across any surface I don’t want to draw one onto!

LETTERMATEThe Lettermate is a pre-made envelope addressing tool! It helps you lay out and size the addresses for

your envelope addressing and is a lifesaver!

PAINTER’S TAPEAgain, any brand will do! I use painters tape for

guidelines on large signs, as well as to tape down my watercolour paper while painting!

T-SQUARE & SET SQUAREThese tools are key for ensuring your lettering is

straight and level on large signs! Again, any brand will do- but honestly, the larger the better!












EMBOSSING

SEE A FULL TUTORIAL ON HOW TO USE ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS...www.thehappyevercrafter.tv/embossing



VERSAMARK EMBOSSING INK

VERSAMARKER EMBOSSING PEN

VERSAMARK EMBOSSING STAMP PAD

RANGER EMBOSSING POWDER

RECOLLECTIONS HEAT GUN






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF554V-VwTQ&t=127s

FOILING

www.thehappyevercrafter.tv/foiling

MASKING

www.thehappyevercrafter.tv/maskingfluid



SEE A FULL TUTORIAL ON HOW TO USE ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS...

SEE A FULL TUTORIAL ON HOW TO USE ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS...

MINC REACTIVE FOIL MINC MACHINE

WINSOR & NEWTON MASKING FLUID

MOLOTOWMASKING FLUID PEN

RUBBER PICK-UPTOOL






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us-zbZEpYpw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssjDRMaqwvU



One of the most common questions I get asked is about what I use to film and take photos of my work.

The short answer is that I generally use my iPhone and a big, bright window- but, there are definitely accessories I use other than those.

Let’s take a look at some of the tech accessories I have in my o�ce and use frequently.

TRIPODS

ARKON MOUNTS TRIPOD

GOOSENECK IPHONE HOLDER



NEEWER BOOM STAND TRIPOD

This is BY FAR the best all-round tripod I have ever found. It is very sturdy and can easily extend over your hands to film from above, but it can also adjust to face you. You can add extensions to make it longer or taller as well.

I use this tripod 99.9% of the time.

(PS... use code “happyever” to get 20% off if you buy it!)

I use a gooseneck holder every once in a while if I’m in a rush or filming something super quick and don’t need to

set up a proper tripod. I also use it for travel if I want to bring one in my suitcase! It clamps to a desk and works

great.

This is the tripod I use if I’m filming actual course videos. I also use it when I’m fiming huuuuuuge signs and my

smaller tripod can’t get the whole thing in view, or if I’m on site filming a mural process video or something like

that! This thing is HUGE, but works really well.







LIGHTS

NEEWER TABLETOP LIGHTS



If I don’t have natural light, these are the tabletop lights I use to film videos. I put one on either side of my work to

reduce shadows. They work great and are totally adjustable.

CRICUT BRIGHTPADThis is the lightbox I use. I love the way it feels under my paper if I’m tracing (it’s not as hard as regular glass light-pads) and I absolutely love that it has different brightness

options. It’s also pretty lightweight compared to other models I’ve tried!

NEEWER RING LIGHTI use this light if I am filming myself (not my hands) for

tutorial videos and I don’t have natural light.









CAMERAS & PRINTERS

CANON EOS REBEL T5i

CANON PIXMA PRO-100

SAMSUNG M2020 LASER

I use my iPhone for 99% of what I film, but for videos or photos that require super-high resolution, I use this

Canon camera. It has a flip-out camera so I can see myself as I record, which is great.

This is the printer I use- it is much bigger than it looks in the photo! I chose this printer because of

it’s super-high quality for art prints, but also because it can print on larger paper (up to 13”x19”)

as well as thicker paper (ie. watercolour paper!)

I use this black & white laser printer if I need to print something quickly (the Canon has far more

expensive ink, so I don’t want to waste it!) or if I am printing something to foil. For foiling, the print

must use toner, which this printer does!

IPEVO ZIGGI-HD PLUSThis camera is great for over-the-hands work, and it plugs

into my computer directly. I use this for in-person workshops so I can easily project what I’m doing onto a

screen! It is fantastic, and affordable.









RECOLLECTIONS HEAT GUN

Hope that was helpful!

Now that you’ve got your supplies ironed out, I’d love to have you in my free beginner calligraphy program!

Come and check it out at:

www.showmeyourdrills.com

www.showmeyourdrills.com

“what pen is this” - learn modern calligraphy, hand ...€¦ · you’ll often ﬁnd brush...

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