What's in my Illustration Pencil Case?

As much as I enjoy digital illustration, I know it's important to practice the traditional methods as well. This is why I make sure to keep up with my analogue sketches alongside my iPad drawings. For today's post, I thought I'd share what's in my pencil case. You'll also be able to see what my favourite equipment for illustrating is.

For my initial sketches, I have a normal lead pencil and a mechanical pencil. I usually switch between the two. It just depends on what I feel like using that day. My eraser isn't too special, just a plain white rectangle, but it does the job pretty well. 

 

A majority of my pencil case is made up of markers. I have my two tombow brush pens and a copic ciao. I use the copic for colouring skin and the tombow brush pens for shading. Basically all I draw nowadays are people and figures so these pens are essential. I've also got a range of different coloured highlighters and felt tips for colouring in outfits and backgrounds.

Finally, I have my black fineliners for outlining and my white gel pen for highlights. These are what I use last. If you've read my Bullet Journal Essentials post, you'll have seen these pens already. It's great that I can use them for both sketching and journalling.

Thanks for reading!
Q: What's your favourite pen brand?

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My Bullet Journal Essentials

When it comes to bullet journalling, everyone has their must-have supplies. It took some research and a bit of trial and error to get to mine but I'm really happy with the tools and equipment I use today. Here they are! 

(Black Fineliners) Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen XS and Uni Pin Fineliner 0.3
I use these pens for drawing outlines and writing text. The Faber Castell fineliner is my go-to when it comes to noting things down however if I want to decorate my spreads with little doodles or illustrations, I'll use the Uni Pin fineliner as it is slightly thicker and bolder. 

(Calligraphy Pen) Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen Soft Tip

This is the pen I like to use for titles and headers. If you're interested in learning calligraphy then I'd highly recommend the Tombow brand. Their pens are really easy to practice stroke control with. 

(White Gel Pen) Uniball Signo Broad UM - 153

Mistakes and slip ups are inevitable when bullet journalling which is why this gel pen really comes in handy. If it's a small typo, I can easily cover it up. Not only is it a great correction pen, it's also a great pen to write with. White text on black looks really effective. 

(Highlighters)

Highlighters are a recent addition to my bullet journal essentials but I've been finding them super useful. They're great if I want to emphasise on something I've written. They also add a nice pop of colour to my typically monotone pages. 

(Washi Tape)

Last but not least, washi tape. I'm not a huge fan of glueing things down in my bullet journal so a strip of washi tape is a great alternative. That way, if I want to remove it later on, it's no hassle to do so. This is also another way for me to make my spreads a little more colourful. 

Thanks for reading! What are your bullet journal essentials? 

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Typo Wishlist - Blog Photo Props

Out of all the shops in the city where I live, Typo offers the best range of stationery and homeware. Most of their items reflect me and my personality perfectly. I'm obsessed with their stuff! Since I'm on the lookout for new photo props, I thought I'd share what's on my Wishlist at the moment. I hope you enjoy reading this post!

1. 2018 Clipboard Calendar: NZD 19.99 || GBP 10.55

This would make a really cute prop for a start-of-month/end-of-month post. I like that it can be used repeatedly throughout the year. I also like the watercolour design on the clipboard and think it really suits the aesthetic of my blog. 

2. Mini Marquee Letters (10cm): NZD 14.99 || GBP 7.91

This rose gold 'A' would be the perfect addition to any blog photo set up. It's super trendy, cool and stylish. I could even get a couple to spell out a word or the initials of my name. 

3. Anytime Mug: NZD 7.99 || GBP 4.22

This holographic mug has quite a subtle design which is great for any side/corner prop. Mugs are fairly versatile props and can work with a variety of blog post topics. 

4. Confetti: NZD 11.99 || GBP 6.33

Confetti is a popular blog prop which I'm really keen to try out. I absolutely love rose gold things so this confetti will work really nicely with the blog props I already use/have. 

5. Manilla Folders (5pk): NZD 8.99 || GBP 4.74

Manilla folders are my all-time favourite background props. They serve the same purpose as patterned paper but are more practical and functional. The designs on these ones are super modern and chic.  

6. Shaped Candle: NZD 10.00 || GBP 5.28

This unicorn candle is absolutely adorable! It's such a cute design and your eyes are instantly drawn to it's glittery horn. This prop is simple but does the job well. 

7. Clam Light: NZD 29.99 || GBP 15.83

This clam light is so fun and creative. It would make a really good prop for a beach/summer themed post. The sphere can be removed so the shell can be used on its on. I think the shell is a really gorgeous colour and shape. 

8. Novelty Pen: NZD 7.99 || GBP 4.22

Pens are quite a reoccurring prop on my blog so I couldn't not include this feather pen on my Wishlist. I really like the look of this pen. 

9. A5 Campus Notebook (240 pages): NZD 7.99 || GBP 4.22

I love the colours and patterns on this notebook. The paint stroke effect is really cool and fits with my blog theme/design. It would make a really good central prop to capture your attention. 

10. A5 Mini Light Box: NZD 39.99 || GBP 21.11

Light boxes are great because you're in control of what sentence or phrase you have on display. This light box glows blue and has a pale blue border and backing. I think it would really work with the colour scheme of my photos.

Thanks for reading! What would you buy out of this list?

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Bullet Journal Stationery Haul

Whenever I find myself in a shopping mall, I always gravitate towards the stationery shops. I can't help it! I love stationery too much! I've been obsessed with bullet journalling lately so I thought I could use my newfound hobby as an excuse to buy more stationery. I hope you enjoy this mini haul. Let me know if you'd like to see more bullet journalling posts in the future!

The first thing I bought was this pack of washi tape. The tropical, island theme was prominent throughout. I love the range of widths and the vibrant designs. There was also gold foiling on several of the tapes making them even more appealing to me. I couldn't resist buying these!

The next thing I picked up were these stickers. I love the pastel colours in the first pack. Not only are the graphics really cute, but the little quotes and phrases are really sweet also. I really like the holographic letters from the second pack and will probably use these to decorate the front of my journal.

The last thing I got were these pens. I did my research on the best writing tools for bullet journalling and selected the ones I believed would work best for me. I got a pack of Crayola super tips, a Tombow Fudenosuke soft tip, a Muji black pen (0.38 tip) and a Uni Pin Fine Line black pen (0.3). I've been really interested in calligraphy and hand lettering lately and know that I definitely make good use out of these pens.

What did you think of this haul? Let me know down below! Thanks for reading!

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(Graceful Avenue) Mishka Mail Review

In the world today, handwritten letters are being replaced with emails, texts and messaging on social media. Everything is done with the click of a button or a tap on the screen. Messages are instant, quick to send and quick to receive. No envelopes or postage stamps necessary. While I'm definitely thankful for the online connection I have with overseas family and friends, I still think there's nothing quite as special as paper mail. And that's exactly what Melbourne-based Graceful Avenue believe too. Through their wide range of stationery, they hope to inspire their customers to feed a loved one's mailbox. This month, I was lucky enough to receive their final stationery kit for their monthly subscription box, Mishka Mail and today I'll be sharing with you the lovely assortment of items I found inside.


The theme for the July parcel was "Eternally Grateful" and came with....

2 Greeting Cards
These card illustrations are simple and sweet and feature two of the Mishka Mail mascots. Both cards have a matte finish and come with a plain white envelope that can be customised to your liking.

4 Stickers

These stickers are unique, colourful and guaranteed to add more character/personality to your cards and envelopes. All four stickers have a glossy finish.

4 Gift Tags

These gift tags have cute, heart-warming illustrations that are sure to bring a smile to your recipient's face. They're made from thick card and are therefore very sturdy and durable. 

2 Postcards

These postcards have such fun and creative designs that would be sure to brighten any person's day. The printed images are high quality with a glossy finish.

1 Wall Print

This print has a nice illustration with an equally nice message to go alongside it. Because of its simplicity, it's sure to suit any minimalistic room/space. The size of the card is A5.

2 "Mini Collection" Cards

These pocket sized cards are adorable and would accompany any small gift perfectly. Like the two greeting cards, these mini cards have a matte finish and come with envelopes.

1 Bonus Mishka Magnet

This magnet can act as a header for all the little tasks and responsibilities you have to remember to do. It is both functional and eye catching, making it the ideal addition to any fridge/whiteboard. 

Overall, I am obsessed with the animal illustrations and the variety of colours that were used throughout. With this stationery, I feel really excited to send more mail overseas. And I guess that's the aim of these kits. If you like bright colours, cute characters and feel passionately about snail mail, then I'd highly recommend you give the Mishka Mail kits a go! 

Even though Graceful Avenue has completed the Mishka Mail 12 month subscription box, they are still up for sale on their online site http://mishkamail.com.au. Just note that these can only be purchased by July 31st. Coming in August, Graceful Avenue will be releasing "Cute Parcels", similar to Mishka Mail but with a lower price point and less inclusions. Check out their site for more info on past kits, new kits, international shipping and more.

Thanks so much for reading! What's your favourite item from the July set?

* I was sent these items in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. *

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