Best Colored Pencils for Holiday Crafts Guide
When the holiday season rolls around, creativity takes center stage. From handmade greeting cards to festive ornaments and DIY gift tags, holiday crafts are a joyful tradition. But to bring these seasonal projects to life, you’ll need the right tools—starting with the most essential: colored pencils for holiday crafts.
Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just diving into DIY holiday projects, choosing the right colored pencils can make a huge difference in color vibrancy, blendability, and overall finish. In this guide, we explore the top colored pencils for holiday crafting, drawing from expert reviews, artist communities, and manufacturing insights to help you make the best choice for your creative endeavors.
Why Colored Pencils Are Ideal for Holiday Crafts
Colored pencils offer precision, control, and versatility that make them perfect for detailed holiday crafts. Unlike markers or paints, they allow for subtle shading, fine lines, and easy corrections. Their dry medium also means less mess—an important factor when crafting with kids or working on intricate designs like snowflakes, ornaments, or Christmas village scenes.
They’re also portable and long-lasting, making them a reliable addition to any craft toolkit. But not all colored pencils are created equal. Quality varies across brands, and knowing what to look for can help you avoid frustration and ensure your holiday creations are vibrant and long-lasting.
Key Features to Look for in Colored Pencils for Crafts
Before diving into specific recommendations, it’s helpful to understand the essential qualities that define a great colored pencil for crafting:
- Color Richness: You want pencils with high pigment load for bold, festive colors.
- Blendability: For shading and gradients—especially useful for holiday scenes like snowy landscapes or glowing lights.
- Durability: Break-resistant cores and sturdy casings are important for repeated use.
- Lightfastness: Ensures your holiday artwork won’t fade over time, especially if displayed.
- Ease of Sharpening: A smooth sharpening experience prevents waste and frustration.
Top Colored Pencils for Holiday Crafts: Expert Picks
Based on both professional testing and community feedback, here are some of the best colored pencils for holiday crafts available today.
| Brand | Best For | Key Features | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prismacolor Premier | Blending & Shading | Soft core, rich pigment, smooth application | $$$ |
| Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer | Watercolor Effects | Water-soluble, lightfast, artist-grade | $$$$ |
| Derwent Inktense | Vibrant Color & Mixed Media | Ink-like intensity, permanent when dry | $$$ |
| Crayola Twistables | Kid-Friendly Crafts | No sharpening, durable casing, bright colors | $ |
| Koh-I-Noor Polycolor | Budget-Friendly Quality | Oil-based, good color payoff, strong cores | $$ |
In-Depth Reviews of Top Picks
Let’s take a closer look at what makes these brands stand out for holiday crafting.
Prismacolor Premier: Smooth, Blendable, and Bold
Widely recommended by professional artists and hobbyists alike, Prismacolor Premier pencils are known for their buttery smooth application and intense pigmentation. These are especially suited for detailed holiday illustrations and layered coloring techniques.
According to a review by DIYCandy, Prismacolor’s soft wax cores make blending seamless, which is ideal when shading Christmas trees, glowing lights, or cozy fireplaces. They do require careful handling due to their softness, but the payoff in color richness is worth it.
Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer: Watercolor Pencils with a Twist
If you’re looking to add a painterly touch to your holiday crafts, the Albrecht Dürer line by Faber-Castell offers the best of both worlds. These pencils can be used dry or activated with water for stunning watercolor effects. Imagine creating snowy textures or glowing candlelight with just a brush and a bit of water.
They’re also highly lightfast and come in a wide range of colors, making them perfect for display pieces like framed holiday art or decorative gift boxes.
Derwent Inktense: For Bold, Permanent Color
Praised in a Reddit art discussion, Derwent Inktense pencils are unique in that they behave like ink when activated with water. Once dry, the color becomes permanent, allowing for layering without smudging—an asset when working on multi-step holiday projects.
These are ideal for mixed media crafts, such as combining pencil with ink or acrylics. Their intense saturation also makes them perfect for bold holiday motifs like poinsettias, ornaments, and festive typography.
Crayola Twistables: Safe and Simple for Kids
For family crafting sessions, Crayola Twistables are a favorite. Their twist-up design eliminates the need for sharpening, and their plastic casing makes them durable and easy for small hands to grip. While not as blendable as artist-grade pencils, they offer bright colors and reliable performance for simpler projects like coloring holiday cards or decorating paper ornaments.
They’re also budget-friendly and widely available, making them a practical choice for group activities or classroom settings.
Koh-I-Noor Polycolor: Affordable Without Compromise
Koh-I-Noor’s Polycolor line strikes a balance between performance and price. These oil-based pencils deliver strong, consistent color and have a harder core that resists breakage—great for detailed holiday designs or fine lettering on gift tags.
While they may not match the blendability of Prismacolor, they’re a solid choice for crafters who need dependable performance across a range of projects without a premium price tag.
Holiday Craft Ideas Using Colored Pencils
Now that you’ve got your colored pencils sorted, here are a few creative ways to use them in your holiday crafting:
- Handmade Cards: Use colored pencils for intricate illustrations, calligraphy, or borders.
- Gift Tags: Add a personal touch with hand-drawn elements and custom messages.
- Ornaments: Decorate wooden or paper ornaments with detailed designs and shading.
- Holiday Scrapbooks: Enhance pages with colored pencil accents, borders, and captions.
- DIY Wrapping Paper: Draw festive patterns on kraft paper for unique, eco-friendly wrapping.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Colored Pencils
To elevate your holiday crafts, consider these expert tips:
- Layer Lightly: Build up color gradually to avoid wax bloom and smudging.
- Use a Colorless Blender: These pencils help smooth transitions and intensify colors.
- Sharpen Strategically: Use a manual sharpener for better control and to reduce breakage.
- Test on Scrap Paper: Always test colors and blending techniques before applying to your final piece.
- Seal Your Work: For crafts that will be handled often, consider a fixative spray to preserve your colors.
Behind the Scenes: What Makes a Quality Colored Pencil?
From a manufacturing perspective, colored pencils are precision-engineered tools. The core—typically wax-based, oil-based, or water-soluble—is made by blending pigments with binders and additives to achieve the desired hardness and color intensity. High-end brands invest in better pigments and more consistent manufacturing processes, which is why their pencils perform better in terms of blending, layering, and longevity.
Casings are usually made from cedar wood or synthetic alternatives. Premium pencils often use California incense cedar for its durability and sharpening ease. Lower-end pencils may use reconstituted wood or plastic, which can splinter or dull sharpeners more quickly.
Understanding these differences can help you make informed choices, especially if you’re buying for specific needs like archival crafts or classroom activities.
Final Thoughts: Choose the Right Pencil for Your Holiday Vision
Whether you’re crafting a handmade Christmas card, designing a festive window display, or simply coloring with your kids, the right colored pencil can elevate your project from ordinary to extraordinary. From the buttery blendability of Prismacolor to the vivid permanence of Derwent Inktense, there’s a perfect pencil for every holiday crafter.
By selecting tools that match your artistic style and project needs, you’ll not only enjoy the creative process more—you’ll also produce crafts that last, sparkle, and spread holiday cheer for seasons to come.
For deeper product comparisons and more artist-tested reviews, check out this comprehensive guide on DIYCandy. And for real-world feedback from artists, the Reddit colored pencil community offers valuable insights into how these tools perform in everyday use.