colored pencils --acid free???

I want to start using colored pencils in my scrapbooks, but the most popular ones, Prismacolor, are very expensive. Does anyone know if the regular color pencils (the cheaps you buys your kids for school) are acid free and how important is it for your colored pencils to be acid-free? I am very confused...

I use Prismacolor alot. I know they are expensive, but you can start with a basic set of 12 or 24, and add any colors you are dying for later. You will probably find you don't need to add that many other colors. I have heard lots of not good things about the EK pencils being to brittle, and not blending well. If you are into shading Prisma is definately what you want. They have a terrific blending pencil that does great things. You know how this hobby is, when you scrimp on something you almost always end up replacing the product with something else anyhow. I vote for start with a little set of the best, use them and add as you see the need. Hope this helps, Nancy

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Nancy

I'm pretty sure that regular colored pencils aren't acid free, but I'm almost positive that they're not archival. I don't know a lot about the different brands, but just don't forget that acid free is not the only thing to consider when looking for pens/markers/colored pencils. Consider how permanent they are, if they will fade/yellow, if they are water-resistant, etc. I had a set of EK Success and hated them! They totally turned me off from using colored pencils at all--now I just use chalk (which I know isn't permanent, either)

Anyway, good luck! sorry to ramble so much!

I've only used Prisma because of Art School...they are the best for shading and blending and VERY worth the money if your pictures are that valuable to you! Don't go cheap!

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Holly McCaig
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azmama!

Hey, just wanted to give you a heads up. I found a set of Prismacolor pencils at Costco for about $20. They are great. One challenge I have had with them though, is that the leads have broken off as I have sharpened some of them. I am wondering if they may have been factory rejects or something, I have gotten some use out of them, they just haven't lasted as long as they should have had they not broken off.

Before I got them, I used the Crayola ones. I am not sure that there is such a thing as an acid free pencil. I don't know that I have ever seen one claim to be acid free. I wonder... You definately get better results from a higher quality, thus more expensive pencil. I would recommend making the investment when you can.

HTH!
Nikki

couldn't find the primsacolor pencils at costco today. i'll keep looking though. i really want to try these pencils. if i can't find a good deal on them, I'll just use my son's colored pencils. I think there's like 50 different colors or something like that.

If you have a Michaels near by they sell the prismcolor pencils. Just wait for one of their 40% (and sometimes 50) coupons and the price is under a $1 per pencil. I love my Prismcolor pencils. I haven't used them for scrapbooking yet but I use them when I rubber stamp and make cards and Christmas ornaments.

I bought 2 packs of colored pencils by EK Success at AC Moore, and I only paid less than $5 for each box of 12 pencils. I was actually surprised on how inexpensive they were. The box says "Acid Free- Archival". I am by no means an artist, so I can understand why you may want the "best" quality pencils if you are used to them. I am a relative beginner and I only want the pencils to fill in die cuts and letters.

[This message has been edited by SueK (edited 05-17-2001).]

I've used the EK Success Memory pencils, and found them to be hard and faint; very disappointing. I love the way the prismacolor pencils look, but I've had the same problem with the leads breaking while sharpening. It drives me nuts! What seems to help a little is to sharpen slowly with the sharpest pencil sharpener I have.