Hi Everyone,
This past week I was honored to be Sakura’s guest Instagram artist, and I had a blast sharing how I use some of my favorite Sakura supplies. It only takes a few minutes to ‘paint’ a beautiful fall (or fantasy) leaf using Sakura’s Koi® Coloring Brush pens, and I created five one minute real-time videos to show the technique, which you can see on my Instagram feed.
It’s always helpful to know what colors and textures different tools make, which is why I created these handy reference charts for my favorite tools. The one on the left is for Gelly Roll pens, and the one on the right is for the Koi Coloring brushes.
Below is a close up of the Koi Coloring Brush chart that my daughter Samantha filled in. It was printed on watercolor paper using a laser printer, and Sam put a stripe of each color at the top of the box, and then added water with a water brush so we’d have a visual reference of each color’s gradient.
Since we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, and I am truly thankful for this amazing community, I want to show my gratitude by giving you each a gift; FREE DOWNLOADABLE copies of my coloring charts that you can print out, fill in, and keep for reference. The ones that I use, as seen in the photo above, are 11 x 17. Since not everyone has an 11 x 17 printer, I also made 8 1/2 x 11 versions. The smaller Koi version has room for all 48 colors (but I had to leave off the ‘Live in Color’ which is on the larger version):
The 8 1/2 x 11 Gelly Roll version only has space for the Gelly Roll Metallic, Stardust, and Moonlight, which are my three favorite types of Gelly Roll pens.
Here is a close up of the 11 x 17 chart that I colored with these three different tools:
One of the things I like best about the Metallic Gelly Roll Pens is that you can blend them so easily. Here is a 35 second time-lapse video showing the technique:
Here are links to the PDFs of the large and small sizes of both charts. Please download as many as you like.
GELLY ROLL CHARTS:
zenspirations_gelly_roll_chart_8_5_x_11 zenspirationsr_by_joanne_fink_gelly_roll_chart_11_17
KOI COLORING BRUSH CHARTS:
zenspirations_by_joanne_fink_koi_chart_8_5_x_11
zenspirations_by_joanne_fink_koi_coloring_chart_blog
And, for those of you who would like to win Gelly Roll Metallic, Stardust and Moonlight pens, Sakura has graciously provided these three sets as Thanksgiving prizes!
The lucky winner will be chosen at random from everyone who leaves a comment on this week’s blog saying which of Sakura’s cool tools is your favorite.
In addition to leaving a comment on the blog, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Good luck everyone!
Before closing tonight I have two favors to ask. First, if you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, and have room at your table, please reach out to someone in your community who has lost a loved one, and may not have any place to go this year. Holidays are especially hard the first few years after loss, and knowing someone cares really makes a difference.
Second, I want to ask you all to join me in sending get well wishes to Color & Creativity Enthusiast Jamie Torres, who has been in the hospital all week with a nasty infection. I’m hoping that she’ll be well enough to come home for Thanksgiving. If you are part of the Zenspirations Create, Color, Pattern, Play Facebook group, and have time to make Jamie a card or send her a message, I know she’d appreciate hearing from you.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday!
Stay Zenspired,
Joanne
Comments are closed.
I love ❤️ love Sakura Metallic pens !!
Hi, Joanne! Thanks for sharing this! Happy Thanksgiving!
i love all of the jelly rolls – but probably stardust the best!
Thank you Joanne for you generosity! I don’t have everything Sakura makes but I have to say right now I’m loving the gelly roll pens!
I especially like the metallic pens!
I’d love to add these pens to my tiny collection. I do love them. We always host Thanksgiving and we have always told our kids to bring anyone who doesn’t have a place to go for dinner. Our table is always open.
Thanks for the great downloads! I do papers for all my pens, but now my Koi and Gel Pens will look much more professional! Love the great video – you are so talented! Thank you Sakura for a great give-a-way! I love to give these sets as gifts too! Happy Thanksgiving Joanne!
Kristen and Aliyah
Joanne, I wish you knew how truly thankful I am for you.
You’ve honestly been such a big help to me since we 1st spoke & especially this week.
I am forever grateful.
I Love You & I hope you & your family have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the giveaway, Joanne and Sakura; and Happy Thanksgiving. Practicing the Zentangle method would lose something without my Sakura microns, but for pure fun I love the Jelly Roll Stardust and Metallic pens. (You know there’s no way to pick just one favorite, right?)
You are so inspiring with all your creative offerings! Thank you and God bless your Thanksgiving day!
having just come across them id like to say all of them!!
Love gelly roll metallics! Would love to win a set! Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for the templates. I always loved Koi watercolors and am not familiar with this product so I will try it out.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I love all the hello roll pens. Who can pick a favorite? I do have a question. What is the best way to store them? Point down or up in a cup type holder or flat in a drawer or case? Thanks.
I love your zenspirations. Thank you for so may share ideas in your blog. My favorite tools are the pigma black ink and the gelly rolls.
I loved all your Sakura posts last week. Gelly rolls are so much fun. Happy thanksgiving. I am so thankful to share in this wonderful community you have inspired!
I appreciate your beautiful work and lovely caring heart. Blessings.
This is a great blog. Love your chart. I can see where it itvwill be very helpful. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Always enjoy your posts. I have some gel pens and Koi brush pens. I use them all the time in my card making.
Of all the Sakura products I use the Micron pens are my favorite. They are crisp, even flowing and just seem like the last forever.
Of all the Sakura products I use the Micron pens are my favorite. They are crisp, even flowing and just seem like they last forever.
Gotta love jelly roll pens and thanks for sharing the video on blending! Can’t wait till your new book comes out too!
I hate to sound boring but my favorite Sakura tool is my set of micron pens. I love to doodle and tangle so the various widths are wonderful. Plus, they dry so quickly I never have smearing when I erase any pencils lines. Finally, I love that they are waterproof so I can then color my designs with markers or watercolors with no bleeding. Thanks for hosting this giveaway. Finally, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Finally got a set of micron ultra fine pens and I’m loving them, can’t wait to try the sepia tones! I’m also addicted to gelly rolls and have been for many many years! Starter using them back in the day as an art student.
Hi Joanne!
Really enjoyed everything you shared on Instagram with Sakura products this past week! I especially loved the steps and the colors of the leaves. They are so beautiful!!
Thank you so much for the color charts too. You are so generous. I am sharing this blog post with my coloring group so they have access to them as well. They will be so helpful to us all.
As for the contest, it is difficult to pick a favorite because I am a huge fan of Sakura’s products, but since I have to choose one it would be the Stardust gel pens.
Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family.
<3 Gail
Do loving this post. PLEASE enter me in the contest.
Happy, happy Thanksgiving Joanne! Thank you for the lovely koi colour chart! I love the 8×11 size. Perfect! Love Sakura products. My favourite Sakura Gellyrolls are the “Stardust” pens! Love, love them! They add a perfect dusting of gelly stardust to my projects that make things pop. Love the sparkles! Waiting patiently for new colours in the stardust line 🙂
Joanne, thank you so much for sharing your talents and gifts with us!! I would love to win any of the Sakura gel pens!! I don’t own any of them, but have used my girlfriend’s and love them!! Thanks for all you do!
Thanks so much for the color charts. I can’t wait to get the Koi brushes, love them! Happy Thanksgiving
I love everything you do, Joann. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration.
Thank you to you and Sakura for the chance to win!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Blessings, Deborah
I really like my Gelly Roll pens–always write smoothly and consistently, no skipping, and the colors–just so charming! Thank you Sakura, not only for these, but for you great Pigma Micron pens which I rely on all the time. Oh, and I have some glaze pens which do interesting things!
I’m so thankful for your blog. It provides place where I can have relief from stress. Thank you.
WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING JOANNE – TO YOU AND YOUR KIDS!
i REALLY LIKE USING THE GELLI ROLL METALLIC PENS! AND MY 5 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER ALSO LOVES THEM!
After seeing your leaf coloring videos, my new favorite is the Koi coloring brush markers.
Gelly Roll Metallics are one of my favorite. I’d like your FB page but sadly I’m not on Facebook…. 🙁 Good luck on getting 10,000 like asap !
Thank you once again, Joanne, for spreading the spirit of thanks and gratitude to the community.
Hi Joanne! These charts are a great idea … Thanks! I don’t have a laser printer, but I assume that I can take them to Staples to get then printed. It’s hard to choose a favorite Sakura product! I think it would be a tie between the Koi watercolor brush pens and the Metallic Gelly Roll pens!
Hi Joanne! Thanks for the color charts. I have always loved Sakura’s Micron pens. They are reliable and seem to last forever. I have grown to also love the Stardust Jelly Roll pens. They, too, are reliable, smooth, and the colors are so pretty on paper. I use them for coloring, table name tags, and even for doodling. Thanks again for the downloadable charts.
I don’t really have a favorite Sakura product because I love them all. I guess if I had to pick it would be the Stardust markers.
Joanne – Lovely illustrations as always, I especially like the leaves you did at the top. I never really realized that gel pens blend like that – now i want to go try!
You have such a kind heart, Joanne, and I’m always inspired by your blog. I love all the sakura products, but would probably choose the stardust pens because I like some sparkle. Happy Thanksgiving.
I just love all the jelly roll pens, especially the metallic and stardust. But then again I sure do like the glaze pens, too.
Happy Thanksgiving!! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all and prayers you are well soon Jamie ❤ ❤ ❤ .
Thank you Joanne and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Delineate!
I am finally home & feeling much better.
I truly appreciate your well-wishes.
All the best,
Jamie
Hi Joanne – love your work and it always inspires me to go and create. As I live in a small town on the west coast of BC, Canada, my access to Sakura products is nil (in this town). That means online ordering or out-of-town buying. Don’t do the first and the second only happens(for me) maybe once a year. So, needless to say that I would L O V E to win the sets of jelly roll pens. I “liked” you on facebook and hope you get to your goal and past it.
I love the Sakura Metallic Gel Pens. I Lalli live the Pearl gel pens. I guess I like glitzy.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Ida Mae
Sakura’s products are top notch, and my favorite are the Micron pens..all sizes and all colors! Joanne, thank you for your zenspirations! All you do is greatly appreciated. Have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family!
Joanne, your work is so inspiring. Thanks to you I have
learned additional ways to use my pens.
Joanne, your work is so creative. Love how you
find new ways to use the pens.
Thank you for the free templates. My all time Sakura favorite are the Metallics. They really pop! I’m afraid I’ve become a “Penoholic!” I can’t walk past the pen isle without stopping to take a look. Oh my.
Happy Thanksgiving Joanne! I love all the Sakura products. The only ones I don’t have are the Stardust pens… guess I’m going shopping!!
Thanks for the giveaway. I prefer the Stardust. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for all your tutorials and inspiring designs, I always enjoy your pins and blog posts. Thanks for the great giveaway, too! Prayers for Jamie as well.
,Do I really have to pick just one? Since I have not tried any of these 3, I think my first choice would have to be the metallic pens.
But then again, Stardust looks like my kind of pen!
I have been looking for a new printer and I think I just found the greatest reason for rationalizing the color laser… I definitely wouldn’t want any smearing!
Call me a copy cat, but let me say to you again how much I enjoy your lettering. I am absolutely fascinated. thank you!!
I Love, Love, LOVE, my jelly roll pens. I use them for scrapbooking, cardmaking and journaling. Looks like I will have to try some rainbow lettering, too. They are a staple and a favorite tool.
Sakura products are always top notch! Their products are my “go to” artist choice! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I like their gelly rollmoens. I still need to buy their brush pens.
I think I would like the Gelly Roll metallic pens. Thank you for the free color charts – I am always looking for charts to fill in for my pens. Also – wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for you and your kindness!!
The color charts are so beautiful in themselves. I’m not sure If I shouldn’t just put them on my wall.
I have the sukura microns I am now waiting for my koi water colors with water brush I WILL keep adding things from sukura. Thanks Joanne for showing e how to use them. You are such a sweet person helping us with our creativity Happy Thanks giving
Thanks for this blog. It’s a helpful one for people like me who love Sakura products for their vibrant colors.
As of now I am in love with Sakura Koi Water Brush Pens. 🙂
Have a wonderful and joyous holiday season. God bless!
I don’t have any of the products, but I love what you do with the Koi marker and have them on my Wish list. Thank you for all that you do and share with so many.
My favorite tool is the clear glaze pen which i use as a resit with watercolours and water based markers <3
Happy Thanksgiving Joanne!
i love all of sakuras products. The micron pens are probably my favorite along with the koi coloring brush pens. Thank you Joanne and Sakura of America for your generosity.
This is a good brand. Happy Thanksgiving .
Love love love the Sakura Gelly Roll pens! And your blog!
Thanksgiving Blessings to you, Joanne! I’ve never been disappointed with any Sakura product, but I guess I use Micron pens the most. I do love Gellyrolls for that extra added touch. I use the clear one to add sparkle to my calligraphy.
Happy Thanksgiving! My favorite colors are the Stardust ones, but am looking at getting the Moonlight ones soon!
Thanks for sharing with all so that we can all fall in love with Sakura! You have definitely persuaded me to purchase A LOT of their wonderful products! I just bought the Brush markers, but haven’t had time to fall in love with them yet. Metallic gel pens are my favorite, and the white gelly roll is my go to white pen! I passed the love along and many of my friends have purchased as well! We are thankful for you!
I love Sakura gel pens and hope to try all of them all ! But my favorite so far if I had to choose is Stardust. I love adding a pop of sparkle to my drawings that bring a magical feeling to the entire picture. Plus my little girl loves using them with me and added pretty glitter to her art. Thanks for this great opportunity Joanne and Sakura! Happy Thanksgiving! ✌️
Hi, Joanne,
Thank you so much for the color charts. It’s always good to know what tools I already have when I have an opportunity to add to my collection!
I absolutely love the Jelly Roll Glaze pens. I use the black pen a lot to add beautiful definition and texture. The shiny defined surface can really make a design “pop”. I love the idea submitted by the blog comment (above) to use the clear as a resist. I’ll be giving that a try.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving!
I want those Koi markers please. Your daughter did a great job. Can I borrow her?
I have only used the clear/white Stardust, but love the beautiful projects you do with all of the Sakura products..
The pens look awesome! <3
Happy Thanksgiving my friend to you and your family.
I have been a Sakura “nut” before I knew you or Zenspirations. I was surprised with the entire gift set of 74 assorted pens about 2 1/2 yrs ago. Before that I had odds and ends of various ones. Stardust had always been my favorite but in more recent time I’m in love with Glaze pens also. I have Koi watercolor brush markers and the watercolor field set. I love the look of watercolor – I’ve yet to learn how to do it.
Thanks for the charts, mine have gotten almost destroyed I’ve used them so much.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.Thanks for all the wonder ideas and input on the pens.They are really good.Haven’t done anything for awhile. Too much going on for holidays and all the good stuff.Enjoy the holidays everyone.
Thanks for the chance to win. I really like the metallic gelly roll pens. I also love you videos. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Joanne, you are so generous. Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for the blog piece on gelli roll pens! Sakura is my absolute favorite maker of pens. I use the Metallic Bronze and Gold in several of my Zentangle(r) classes. The students just love them, especially on black paper.
I love jelly roll pens, but my favorite are the micron pens. I’ve been using them since high school. Thank you for these color charts!
I would love to play with the Moonlight pens, I’ve used many of Sakura’s pens over the years. I love them all.. must have all the pens!
These are so awesome. Do you have one for the Glaze and Soufflé pen sets?
Hi Shannon,
Glad you like them. I’m a HUGE Sakura fan, and I have sets done for all their pens! I will try to include the Glaze and Souffle ones as a free download in the Live Zenspired newsletter sometime soon.
Happy 2019!
Joanne