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DominaCaeli
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Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 2:50pm | IP Logged Quote DominaCaeli
We recently joined a homeschool charter school and now have some funds to use on educational items. Being a CMer without curriculum to buy for my two kindergarteners, I am stocking up big time on art supplies this year.

So--colored pencils. I have read through the archives and am still torn on which colored pencils to order. And what about watercolor pencils--are these a whole separate category? Or water-soluble crayons? There are so many different options at so many different price points, and I am totally clueless when it comes to art supplies.

Can anyone give me a primer? What would you order if you were in my place? Right now my two oldest are only 5yo, but I'd really like to buy a quality set (or sets) that will last us a good long time. Thoughts?

Thank you!

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 4:44pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM
We have used a variety, and I know we discussed this before. I think Prismacolor are great, and that has been a favorite of many members here.

But there was this blog post from Deep Space Sparkle that talks about colored pencils. The first ones, Koh-I-Noor, look fabulous!


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lapazfarm
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Posted: Oct 04 2011 at 5:07pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm
I like the Kooh I Noor woodless pencils for bold color, but be warned-they are very fragile and will break right in half if you drop them. I wouldn't give them to a 5yo.

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 9:36pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM
lapazfarm wrote:
I like the Kooh I Noor woodless pencils for bold color, but be warned-they are very fragile and will break right in half if you drop them. I wouldn't give them to a 5yo.


Thanks for that tip, Theresa. I decided to get the Crayola ones for my little guy, and the Kooh I Noor for my older and I to try.

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CatholicMommy
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Posted: Oct 24 2011 at 4:52pm | IP Logged Quote CatholicMommy
I am all over Prismacolor Verithins - if you use a coupon at Michael's you can get them for about 50 cents a pencil - cheaper if you get the bigger packs (we usually get the 12s and 24s for our purposes). These are extremely high-quality for the amount of money spent on them.

If you get them, DO invest in a KUM brand pencil sharpener. Other sharpeners dull fast and will tear the pencils to shreads. On the other hand, the KUM can be used for all pencils and is WONDERFUL! It's like gold in our house - very precious.

The larger packs of pencils (96 or more, I can't remember exactly the quantity) come with a free KUM sharpener. Otherwise, they are $2-4 a piece. Again - WORTH it!



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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 24 2011 at 5:03pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM
JennGM wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
I like the Kooh I Noor woodless pencils for bold color, but be warned-they are very fragile and will break right in half if you drop them. I wouldn't give them to a 5yo.


Thanks for that tip, Theresa. I decided to get the Crayola ones for my little guy, and the Kooh I Noor for my older and I to try.


We just love these Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils! The weight is so nice, and I love how you can alternate between using the point and then the side to color large areas. Great in our map coloring with the Holling books.

My little one loves the Crayola Color Sticks which we're working with the other ones.

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 24 2011 at 5:04pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM
CatholicMommy wrote:
I am al over Prismacolor Verithins - if you use a coupon at Michael's you can get them for about 50 cents a pencil. These are extremely high-quality for the amount of money spent on them.

If you get them, DO invest in a KUM brand pencil sharpener. Other sharpeners dull fast and will tear the pencils to shreads. On the other hand, the KUM can be used for all pencils and is WONDERFUL! It's like gold in our house - very precious.

The larger packs of pencils (96 or more, I can't remember exactly the quantity) come with a free KUM sharpener. Otherwise, they are $2-4 a piece. Again - WORTH it!


I haven't tried Prismacolor Verathins...thanks for all the tips!

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Oct 24 2011 at 6:21pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG
I have had the Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils on my wishlist for over a year now...was just waiting until the prismacolors were used up. After about 5 years with the prismacolors, I'm frustrated with them....they are just so hard to sharpen and, we have all of the sharpener options possible. And, I've watched all the crazy videos on "how to sharpen a prismacolor."

I'm ok doing it....but SHEEZ...one woman just can NOT be expected to sharpen all the colored pencils in a houseful of drawing children! Even if you are FORBIDDEN to touch a Prismacolor unless you are over the age of 7!

LOVE how the prismacolors LOOK and FEEL, though! WONDERFUL!

We use crayolas for the younger kiddos . And, another brand, maybe ....will look later....just cheapies.   

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Posted: Oct 24 2011 at 7:33pm | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom
Michaels has their own artist brand of pencils. They are cheaper than prisma colors, but I think the color is better than a crayola.

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CatholicMommy
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Posted: Oct 25 2011 at 10:22am | IP Logged Quote CatholicMommy
SuzanneG wrote:
I have had the Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils on my wishlist for over a year now...was just waiting until the prismacolors were used up. After about 5 years with the prismacolors, I'm frustrated with them....they are just so hard to sharpen and, we have all of the sharpener options possible. And, I've watched all the crazy videos on "how to sharpen a prismacolor."

I'm ok doing it....but SHEEZ...one woman just can NOT be expected to sharpen all the colored pencils in a houseful of drawing children! Even if you are FORBIDDEN to touch a Prismacolor unless you are over the age of 7!    


Wow! That sounds crazy! We've had such great success with them, even with a 3 year old doing the sharpening. I have tried other sharpeners and all of them just rip through the pencils; I've loved the KUM because I can use them on all pencils (writing, crayola, etc) in addition to the prismacolors and it is such a smooth shave. I am really sorry they're not working out for you, though!

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DominaCaeli
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Posted: Oct 25 2011 at 1:06pm | IP Logged Quote DominaCaeli
Thank you for the suggestions! We already have Crayola Twistables, which the kids really like (a little waxy, but really vivid colors--and no sharpening! ), so I ordered a small set of the Koh-I-Noor to use for very special projects and to try out myself. I'm planning to get a set of watercolor pencils in the spring after I have a bit more time to research, so if anyone has suggestions on that end, please do share. And I already ordered a prismacolor sharpener that had good reviews, but if I'm having trouble with that one, I'll give the KUM a try.

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Posted: Oct 25 2011 at 1:36pm | IP Logged Quote jawgee
I got these Prismacolors back in July for us to use in nature journals and on our HC Holling Geography maps and we really like them so far. I haven't had any trouble sharpening them in our electric sharpener.

We don't let the toddlers use them, though. They have cheaper colored pencils for their activities.

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