Christina K Christina K

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: Review + Tips and Techniques

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

Today I'd like to talk about my latest obsession and that is the Tombow Dual Brush Pens. What can I say? I'm in love with them! They are so versatile and easy to use, adding colour to my every day life. In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some of the techniques I use, so that you get the most out of them.

The Tombow Dual Pens are water based, odourless and acid free. That means that they are easy to blend and that your designs will last for a long time. They come with two types of tips:

A flexible nylon brush tip

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

And a fine tip

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

The two tips give you lines with a wide range of thickness. With the flexible tip you can create fine, medium or bold strokes by a change in the brush pressure, or you can use the fine tip for more consistent lines.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

As you can see in the image above, you can get lines with thickness from 1 cm to 1/2 mm. That makes them great for any project, including colouring, hand lettering, doodling, journaling and much more!

I'm using them constantly to practice my hand lettering.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

I get my hand lettering practice sheets from the Brush Letter Practice Guide.

And I also use them every day in my bullet journal:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

They don't bleed through the pages, they are easy to blend and they add colour to my pages 😊 They come in 96 amazing colours. Each marker has a number that indicates that colour.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

I'm currently building my collection slowly-slowly, and I hope that very soon I'll have all 96 of them. 😉 I started with the basic colours, then bought the more light and pastel ones, and from there I add as I go along. The ones I've got so far are:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

You can also get a colourless blender, that you can use with the colours to create a gradient effect and blend them. In the Tombow website

you can find and download the Dual Brush Pen Colour Selector, in order to see the swatches and choose the colours you want. You can also download the Dual Brush Pen Colour Tracker to swatch the colours you have like I did below:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

You can get the whole set or you can buy them individually. They also come in convenient smaller sets.

You can use them as they are and have great results, or you can use any of the following techniques to make your drawings have more depth and dimension.

Tips & Techniques

The Tombow pens are water reactive and they will turn into water colours. All you have to do is use the Tombow blending palette, any plastic surface or a porcelain plate (like I did), some water and a brush. I used my Pentel brush, because I just love it, but you can use any brush you want.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

Take some colour on your brush and then start colouring on your paper. The result will be a really nice gradient effect:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

You can do the same with more than one colours:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

You can also use the blender pen instead of a brush, even without water and have similar results.

One more way to use the plastic surface or plate like before, is to use two different colours. Place one colour on the plate and then use a lighter colour to pick some up like in the picture.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

Then start colouring on a piece of paper and you'll see the transition from one colour to the next.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

The more colour you pick up, the bigger the ombre effect you'll get. In the picture I only picked up a tiny bit and you can see the result. One good thing about these pens is that the tips self clean after blending, so you don't have to worry about ruining them. 😉

You can also touch the tips of two different Tombow pens and have a similar ombre effect too. I like to touch the two tips for about 7 seconds and then start drawing.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

Using the above techniques you can colour any page you want and add more depth and dimension like I did in my colouring page below:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: In this post, I'll show you the colours I've got, I'll talk about their characteristics and then I'll show you some techniques, so that you get the most out of them. - www.chistina77star.co.uk

By the way, you can download this colouring page from the Resources Library  after you've subscribed to my Newsletter 😉.

I was thinking of creating Colouring Secrets: an e-course that will cover tips and techniques on how to colour using coloured pencils, markers and watercolours. If you'd be interested in a fun and affordable ($20) e-course on colouring, enter your info below and I'll notify you when it launches!

COLOURING SECRETS E-COURSE

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Have you used the Tombow Dual Brush Pens before? What do you think about them? Any colours you'd suggest I buy next?

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Christina K Christina K

FREE Valentine's Day Brush Lettering Worksheet

Sharing with you a FREE Valentine's Day Brush Lettering Worksheet so that you can create something special for your loved one :) - www.christina77star.co.uk

For today's post I collaborated once again with the lovely Olivia from RandomOlive. Since Valentine's Day is coming up soon (is it really??? Time flies by!!!), I thought it would be fun to create something for our loved ones, using brush lettering.

Sharing with you a FREE Valentine's Day Brush Lettering Worksheet so that you can create something special for your loved one :) - www.christina77star.co.uk

I chose the phrase: 'I love you to the moon and back', which I find very appropriate :) The idea is to practice (and then practice some more!) in order to be able to recreate this phrase and turn it into a lovely diy Valentine's card. Or you can even frame it and make it even more special.

Sharing with you a FREE Valentine's Day Brush Lettering Worksheet so that you can create something special for your loved one :) - www.christina77star.co.uk

I like to use my Tombow Dual Brush pens in order to practice my hand lettering. Or you can use paint brushes and paint, like Olivia does. The trick is to hold the marker in a 45 degree angle. I also hold it quite far up - that helps with the thick downward strokes.

If one of your goals is to better your brush lettering and hand lettering, then maybe you should check the Comprehensive Brush Letter Practic Guide out. It promises to turn you into a pro in 45 days! Olivia even gives you a schedule to stay on track. Perfect!

Click here to download your FREE Valentine's Day Brush Lettering Worksheet

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Lettering Christina K Lettering Christina K

Collaboration: Free Brush Letter Practice Guide for your Bullet Journal

Free Brush Lettering Practice Printable with Bullet Journal spread titles - www.christina77star.co.uk

For today's post I collaborated with the lovely Olivia from RandomOlive. I've talked in a previous post about my obsession with handlettering, so when Olivia asked me to share a Free Brush Letter Practice Guide on my blog I was over the moon!

Hand Lettering for your Bullet Journal - www.christina77star.net

When I had to think of the phrases or words I'd like to have in this Free Printable, I knew I had to make it relevant to my bullet journaling. So, I've chosen titles that are very often used in various spreads like: gratitude log, monthly focus, future log, habit tracker and monthly challenges. The idea is to practice (and then practice some more!) in order to be able to recreate these titles in your bullet journal. :)

Free Brush Lettering Practice Printable with Bullet Journal spread titles - www.christina77star.co.uk

I decided to use my Tombow Dual Brush pens in order to practice my hand lettering. I know Olivia uses paint brushes and paint (and I love it!), but I think they are not that practical for a bullet journal, so I prefer using my Tombow markers instead.

Hand Lettering for your Bullet Journal - www.christina77star.net

The trick is to hold the marker in a 45 degree angle. I also hold it quite far up - that helps with the thick downward strokes.

Free Brush Lettering Practice Printable with Bullet Journal spread titles - www.christina77star.co.uk

If you like this, Olivia also has a Practice Guide for the days and months, which I think can be really usefull for your dailies and monthlies. You can make them look pretty and colourful in no time ;)

Lastly, if one of your goals is to better your brush lettering and hand lettering, then maybe you should check the Comprehensive Brush Letter Practic Guide out. It promises to turn you into a pro in 45 days! Olivia even gives you a schedule to stay on track. Perfect!

Download your FREE Brush Letter Practice Guide:

JOIN THE GANG!

Subscribe now to my Newsletter to download the FREE Printable.

Plus get access to the Resources Library!

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Hand Lettering for your Bullet Journal - www.christina77star.net

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Brush Lettering Practice Guide

This practice guide has everything you need to practice and improve your brush lettering skills. In formats both for printing and for your iPad.


What do you think of brush lettering? Have you tried practicing it?

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Christina K Christina K

My Hand Lettering Practice + Free Worksheets

All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk

Since last year I've been obsessed with hand lettering. I took the 30 Days to Better Hand Lettering Course by Caroline from Made Vibrant, which I loved. I bought countless markers, brushes and pens, including a set of Tombow markers. And for a few months now I've been practicing like crazy.

All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk

As far as hand lettering is concerned, practice, practice and more practice is very important! And you have to start from scratch. Not from the letters and the alphabet, oh no. But from the lines, the midstrokes and the coils. You won't believe how frustrating it is trying to perfect your uperstroke - arghhhh!

All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk

To my quest to perfect my hand lettering, I've found loads of free worksheets online that I've printed quite a few times and I set myself once or twice a week where I practice for an hour. I would love to practice almost everyday, but my current schedule doesn't allow me to do so. But, even the two hours per week have done wonders to my hand lettering!

The following are 4 sets of practice worksheets from some amazing websites I found online and that I've spend countless hours going through many of their posts on hand lettering. I've printed them many times and practice with them over and over again.

All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk
The Postman's Knock
Lindsey from The Postman's Knock has an amazing website with everything you need to know about handlettering and calligraphy. There's tutorials, videos and loads of worksheets (for some of them you have to pay). I've spend hours on her website, and her free brush pen worksheet is great! I've been using it to practice and I really really like it. You can download it here.

All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk
Dawn Nicole Designs

The above practice pages are from Dawn Nicole Designs. Another amazing website with loads of information, tips, freebies and a free lettering class on Facebook. You should definitely check it out. I like the above worksheets cause in the beginning I wanted to be able to actually trace the letters of the alphabet, before I try writing them by myself. Also, the page with the phrases is an excellent way to practice the flow of the letters when writing words. To print the practice pages click here.
All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk
Lyssy Creates

I really like Lyssy from Lyssy Creates. I follow her on Instagram and I get mesmerized with her handlettering videos. When you subscribe to her email list you get access to her library where you can find a few worksheet printables like the one above. I like that you get 4-5 different pages with different lines and squares that help you and quide you. To get access to these worksheets click here.

All about my hand lettering practice and the worksheets I tend to use to practice - christina77star.co.uk
Destination Decoration


One more amazing blog with everything you need to know about handlettering and calligraphy is the Destination Decoration. Elizabeth has some very detailed posts and videos to guide you along. You can download her basic strokes worksheets here.

I've been really enjoying learning hand lettering and I intent to continue practicing. I'm thinking of joining Liss's Freestyle Calligraphy Online Course. She is amazing! I'm also thinking of taking part in one of those Hand Lettering Instagram Challenges next month. Have you taken part in any of those?

So, what do you think of hand lettering? Have you tried practicing it?




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