How do you use gelatos for Bible journaling?
Have you ever looked at gelato pigment sticks and thought, “How on earth do you use those for Bible journaling?” I thought the same thing for a long time and refused to touch them for years…until I decided to see what the fuss was about.
As one Bible journaler to another, you should come see what the fuss is about!
In this blog, I am going to share what gelatos are, some ideas about how to use them, and where to find some inspiration!
What are gelato pigment sticks?
“Creativity made easy: Gelatos is the name of the highly pigmented crayons from Faber-Castell. Their intensively vibrant colours and ease of use are bound to impress. Thanks to their creamy smooth consistency, they glide on easily over a variety of surfaces such as paper, fabric, canvas or wood.” – Faber-Castell
Gelatos are essentially fancy crayons that lay down intense color which can be used in numerous ways.
They are one of the most versatile art products I have seen and they were created by a company that has been making art supplies since 1761, so they know what they’re doing (Faber-Castell).
Want to learn more about the Bright Gelatos Set? Check out my shop by clicking the button below.
How do you use gelatos for Bible journaling?
As I watched other Bible journalers in the community create with these fancy crayons, I was intrigued. They were used in a variety of ways, all creating different effects, and the best part was that they didn’t damage Bible pages with no page prep.
I’m all about no page prep!
Personally, one of my favorite ways to use gelatos has been to combine them with hand lettering by making vibrant (or soft) backdrops.
I have received a lot of inquiries about how I letter on top of the gelato pigments, especially the thicker layers of gelato. Because these crayons are wax-based, their waxiness can prevent pen ink from adhering to the page.
If you add just a touch of water to the gelatos, it breaks down that waxy barrier and allows pens like microns and fudenosuke brush pens to dry and adhere to the page.
(Curious about what pens are best for Bible journaling? Check out this article: Best Hand Lettering Pens for Bible Journaling)
More tips for Bible journaling with gelatos
One of my favorite ways to use gelatos is just like watercolors. I love to use water to blend them together like paint because it can create this dreamy cloud effect.
A few more fantastic things about gelatos are:
- they hardly cover Scripture when used with water,
- there is no bleed-through, and
- they barely shadow, if at all.
But in all seriousness, there is endless possibilities with these art supplies.
Here I have some photos of my girlfriends playing with gelatos for the very first time and they were having a blast! They have no artistic background or even Bible journaling experience!
If you wanted a softer effect like this photo, you simply use baby wipes (or a wet paper towel) to spread the color around your page.
My favorite gelatos set of all time is the Iridescent Gelatos Set.
There are 12 different vibrant colors with a slight sheen, 2 smudge tools, and a paintbrush for blending.
If you would like to learn more about this large gelato set, click the button below to see it in my shop.
Where can I find inspiration for Bible journaling with gelatos?
My two favorite places for finding Bible journaling inspiration are Instagram and Pinterest. I will be honest, it can be a little tricky to find actual photos of Faber-Castell gelatos and not gelato ice cream simply because of the name of the art supply.
But I’ve found a couple of solid options for searching on Pinterest and Instagram.
On Instagram, I suggest searching #gelatosfabercastell and on Pinterest, try searching Gelatos Bible Journaling.
There are also a couple of people I suggest following on those social media platforms. First up is yours truly! Click the buttons below to find then follow me on both social networks.
Another gal I suggest following is Deeds on Instagram at @mercies_journaled. Deeds uses a variety of art supplies but she often uses gelatos. Her entries are gorgeous!
The other gal I highly suggest following for gelatos inspiration is Hillary on Instagram at @creativefaithco. She uses gelatos when Bible journaling and crafting, she’s a great spot to find inspo!
