Gel pens first of all. I got the Big Lots set of 36 fot $20 first. Also got a set of brush tipped gels from Hobby Lobby (18 for $ 5) but they're not great for fine work although they do glide on smoothly. Also got a set of colored pencils which as someone pointed out are great for shading and a more subtle look that the gel pens can't achieve. Of course even though I didn't really need them, the Costco set of 100 or $20 is hard to pass up. I hope I continue to enjoy this as I have enough pens to last my lifetime.

The hardest thing for me to do was actually making the first mark on a picture. What colors to use? Oh the decisions! Have a piece of paper handy to try all combinations, and then still be amazed at what you end up with, some great, some not so good. I find I can easily correct a color with the gel pens by just covering it with another color.

Just have fun.

The big Lots gel set has 36 pens in a metal locking case for $10, not 20. The 100 piece set at Costco is $20. I prefer the gel pens over all other types but second place goes to the Bic Markit pens they come in fine tip and ultra fine point I like a good assortment of both the ultra fine for the very small places. I don't care for pencils they wear my hands out. I bought my sisters a coloring book and the set from big Lots as part of their Christmas. This is the big Lots set.

Thanks, Cajun. You're right. Got my numbers mixed up. I haven't seen those Bic pens you speak of. Where did you find them?

I bought some at Walmart and some at hobby lobby. They have lots of them on amazon. This is what they look like.

Bic Markit pens

You know what I have a lot of gel pens multiple sets and I have run out of ink in several of the pens especially my favorite colors that I tend to use more often. I thought I would have plenty to last for a long time, but I do color a lot. I am now picking out the pens I rarely use and trying to use only those, surprisingly I am liking the results.

I bought these via amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Prismacolor-Premier-Colored-Assorted-3598T/dp/B00006IEEV/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1450126661&sr=8-3&keywords=coloring+pencils

LOVE them.

Moni

I have gel pens and colored pencils. I got the $10 gel set at Big lots

I'm not wanting to spend a lot of money on coloring utensils, as they are extra gifts for son and his wife. One for each of them. They run a tight schedule, and might not even chose to use the coloring books, but wanted something decent for them to use in case they do decide to color.

Thanks!

The $10 set is about the best bargain especially with the nice case which could be used for other things.

I use colored pencils. Prismacolor makes the best -- very smooth and easy to work with. They are expensive, but they last a long time.

I love all the Johanna Basfords books. Very intricate details make it so I concentrate a lot more on the work. Most pages take 8 - 10 hours to do. I try to do a lot of shading and colour combinations. I don't like mandellas, but they seem to be all the rage. They bore me. I own 2 copies EACH, of Lost Ocean and The Enchanted Forest, one copy of The Secret Garden. I also have two copies of Animorphia. I have several more books, but they're my favourites.

To colour in them, I am a colour hoarder. I own Prismacolor Premier, Scholar and Verithin pencils. Staedtler fineliners, 200 gel pens, Marco Raffine pencils. Crayola pencils. Sharpie fineliners. What I use depends on the look I want. I'm also learning how to use soft pastels for the back grounds.

I like the gel pens but they have spoiled me for using pencils I think.

I do like the prismacolor verithin.

Coloring is relaxing for me.

Glenda, I think they will like them. Everybody is doing it. They will find a friend to do it with if they don't know about it. Addictive hobby. If they are on FB they will find many sites for coloring for adults. Lots of pretty finished pictures that many have framed/given for gifts.

For those of you interested in Adult Coloring there is a discussion group on Facebook that has over 12,000 members. Probably lots of photos and discussion. Just thought some of you might be interested. It's a closed group to prevent spam, but you just have to click on the Join button to request to join the group. All of my special interest FB groups are closed, which I really appreciate. Posts aren't public - they can only be read and replied to by the members. It's really fun to be part of a group that shares a particular special interest with you:

Facebook Adult Coloring Group

Angie Grace has a Facebook group they are listed on her website. I have looked at some of the pictures done there.

I just did my first one with basic Crayola colored pencils. It came out nice, but was hard on my arthritic hands. I stopped at a Big Lots today hoping to find the gel pens, but no such luck. I don't have a Costco card, but will take a look to Sam's to see if they have them.

You have to really look for the gel pens at big Lots they are very hard to see because they are in a metal case and lay flat so you only see the metal edge. I and a few other people could not find them and I even knew what they looked like since I had already bought some for me. You won't see the top like the picture I posted above unless they are on a low shelf and they usually aren't. I went down the aisle 3 times before I spotted the metal edge of the case up on a high shelf, my husband missed them too. I just went yesterday to one here and they had lots of them I guess they got stocked up for Christmas. You can print a copy of the picture I posted so you can show an employee. This picture kinda shows that edge. The case folds in the middle where the pink label is. They are on the aisle with the school supplies and other pens.

At Amazon they have the same ones in the metal case but with 52 pens for $29.99.

52 set

These are the ones at Costco

Costco

Thank you, Raven. I saved the picture and will take it with me next time I come across another Big Lots.

The Costco pens look like a great deal, too, but don't come up as being available when I search their website.

The Amazon pens seem a bit pricey, since I want to buy for six people.

I found these on Amazon. Two 48 pen sets for $35. But two (for a total of 4 sets) and get $5 off. I have no idea if they are decent pens, but I figure it's worth a try :)

Do you have a hobby lobby or Michaels they have some small sets for pretty cheap also jo Ann fabrics had some recently on sale.

Prismacolor pencils. Bar none.

Premier or Verithin, Chloe?

Went to two Big Lots and no gel pens. Did get two boxes of coloring pencils though.

I just found some gel pens, on line, at WalMart and get free shipping by the 23rd YEA!

Glenda I love the crayola twitavle colored penticl.. you can get a pkg of 30 for around $7.00 at walmart... but looks like you have already found something that will work

The same Amazon 52 set pens are at AC Moore for $12.99 (reg. $24.99) if they still have any left. I know some areas, like Raven's, do not have AC Moore stores. I bought the Crayola Twist colored pencils for $6 at AC Moore for my mom. Right now, they have BoGo 50% off their Crayola supplies.

Satisfied with my purchases. If they like, and are interested, then they can purchase the more desirable coloring utensils. Just an extra gift to open Christmas morning.