DIY Lifestyle Product

Caran d’Ache. An Instagram takeover.

Caran-dAche-colour-pencils-2-photo-by-Geraldine-TanI was excited to have been asked to take over Caran d’Ache’s Instagram account this whole week, ending today.

Caran d’Ache is one of those luxury family Swiss brands with a loyal following since its inception in 1915.

They produce art, drawing and writing instruments of the highest quality, from pencils to pens ( roller balls and fountain) to inks and paints.

Caran d’Ache has produced many patented inventions, such as the Fixpencil and Neocolor for writing and colour.

I still have fond memories of my childhood tin of Caran d’Ache pencils, carrying them around with my colouring books. This tradition has now been passed down to my own children.Caran-d'ache-image-6-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellFor the instagram takeover, I wanted to create images that portrayed the products well.

I felt it was important to maintain Caran d’Ache’s branding, but I also wanted to inject a bit of my own aesthetic and style into the mix. After all this was the #LittleBigBellxCarandAche takeover right?

In addition to the photos already posted on Instagram, you will get to see all the extra unseen images that I created for Caran d’Ache.

I present to you the Caran d’Ache Prismalo Aquarelle (above). These are water soluble pencils, so can be used for wash drawings or watercolour effects.

I thought it would be fun to style the pencils as a gift.

I wrapped the pencils around a jar and secured them with an elastic band. I then tied a pretty bow around them.

You can put some water and pretty floral blooms into the jar to present as a gift.

Why banish the pencils away when you can display their pretty colours and have them so accessible. This would look great on the workspace table don’t you think?

The jar can also be used to store your other writing instruments.Caran-d'Ache-image-13-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellThe Prismalo Aquarelles come in so many colours. You can get box sets up to 80 colours.Caran-d'ache-image-14-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellEven the pencil shavings look so vibrant. I couldn’t resist photographing it, just look at those colour pigments.Caran-d'Ache-no.1-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellThis next set of colour pencils is called Luminance 6901. I never knew there were so many different types of colour pencils with so many different functions.

These pencils have a creamy lead with high pigment concentration and is recommended for blending and shading.

I loved the pops of colours on the ends of the pencils, so decided to shoot them as a pyramid of colours.Caran-d'ache-image-5-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellHere’s another view. What do you think?

It was so fun creating this image. It took quite a while to create the perfect pyramid of colours.Caran-d'ache-image-18-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellHere you can see the creamy, high pigment colours of the Luminance 6901. I’m so tempted to go shade and blend colours now.Caran-d'ache-image-8-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-Bell-blogSee what I mean by there being so many different types of colour pencils? These are Caran d’Ache’s Supracolor Soft Aquarelle pencils. They are water soluble and can be used for wash drawings, watercolour effects, blending and shading.

I thought it would be fun to separate out the pinky shades from the blues in corresponding coloured containers.

Just look at the spectrum of pinks and blues.Caran-d'ache-image-15-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellHere I have mixed and matched all the Supracolors together. A true riot of stunning colours.

Caran-d'ache-image-3-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellHere they are again. So fun playing with these pencils.Caran-d'ache-image-21-photography-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellI could stare at this colour spectrum all day. This was the last image that I posted on Caran d’Ache’s instagram.

Nothing quite like leaving with a big explosion of happy colours right?Caran-d'ache-image-9-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellWhat can I say? Are you in colour heaven like I am now?

These are Caran d’Ache’s 849 pens. These are the tip of the iceberg, there are more varieties and styles of 849 pens. There are even 849 pens designed by Sir Paul Smith, not shown here.

These are called 849 metallic Popline pens. I’m so lucky to own them and believe me, they write like a dream. So smooth that they glide beautifully on paper.

The 849 pens are not new to me, as I’m already an avid user. In fact, my husband loves using them too.

So how should I style these pens?849-pens-caran-dache.1-psdNaturally, they would have to be styled as a necklace with colourful paper clips on a pretty gold ribbon. I have included the 849 pens in Brut Rose and gold on either ends too.

These pens are so fun,I’m so tempted to wear them.Caran-d'ache-image-7-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-big-BellI told you they were the tip of the iceberg. The 849 pens come in Pop dots too, graphic colour blocking and mini contrasting polka dots.

I have decided to style them with corresponding blocks of colours too.Caran-d'Ache-image-2-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-of-Little-Big-BellI must admit, these pens were my absolute favourites. They will be specially displayed on this pastel ceramic pen stand on my desk. ecridor-caran-dache-photo-by-Geraldine-TanpsdIntroducing you now to Ecridor Mademoiselle. An elegant and feminine push button ballpoint pen that is Palladium coated.

It comes with a charm attached, but you can purchase others to interchange too. The charms come the shapes of a bow, an envelope, a heart, a clover, a lock and a ribbon.

Which one will you pick? I’m totally spoilt for choice and can’t decide which one is my favourite.

This would be a perfect gift for a loved one. Just pick the right charm for the right occasion.

Caran-d'ache-image-12-by-Geraldine-TanNow back again to some colour.

These are the Neocolor 1 water resistant wax pastels. They are perfect for painting and blending, wax coating, stencilling and used on mixed media.

I have styled them in a jar in a party scene. This is the view from above.Caran-d'ache-image-19-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellI’ve placed them in a Mason jar, used as an invitation to an art party. What do you think? A fun and alternative way to send an invite right?Caran-d'ache-image-10-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellHow about this as a Christmas gift?

Drill some holes in a wooden photo frame with a Christmas card, and display the wax pastels on top.Caran-d'che-image-4-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan-Little-Big-BellThe final Caran D’Ache product to introduce to you are these Maxi Fluo highlighter pencils.

How do you like this image? I love how the edges of the pencils when placed together, look like a flower.Caran-d'ache-image-3-photo-by-Geraldine-Tan--Little-Big-BellI also decided to have some fun with them by creating this whale scene.

So, that concludes the Instagram images I created for Caran d’Ache. What do you think? Do you have a favourite? I would love to know.

If you are a brand and would like me to create similar type images for your company, whether online or for your social media, do get in touch with me on my email littlebigbell@gmail.com.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

( All photography,editing and styling are by Geraldine Tan, Editor of Little Big Bell. This is a sponsored collaboration with Caran d’Ache but all content creation and opinions are my own.)

16 Comments

  1. Christine Morgan

    What a fabulous colour spectrum. I think the styling withe the anemones is gorgeous.

    Geraldine you are a bad influence on me as every time I read your blog I end up going shopping afterwards!

    I didn’t know Caran d’Ache did pens so will be tracking them down at a shop near me very soon!

  2. Gorgeous, gorgeous photos, Geraldine. Fantastic colours. I lived in Switzerland for seven years and know how proud they are of Caran D’Ache. I’m coveting one of their pencil sharpeners. I’m led to believe that they are as life-changing as a pencil sharpener could possibly be!

    • littlebigbell

      I actually have their pencil sharpener. It is truly amazing, so definitely not a myth.

  3. How exciting G! Love the photos, so fun & colourful xx

  4. These are SO gorgeous!
    This is why I love the hashtags like #nothingisordinary – so nice to see the beauty in everyday items. Especially when my life is full of toddler toys so it’s always bursting with colour in some way or another. Fab job Geraldine  lovely pics x

  5. I love these images!! There’s something very satisfying about sharpening pencils

  6. Really wonderful images Geraldine, I love them all, but if I had to pick a favourite it would be the first pyramid of Luminance 6901. It looks like you had a lot of fun styling the colours, which really shows in the photos. Caran D’Ache certainly picked the right person to take over their IG feed, you’ve done them proud! xx

    • littlebigbell

      Thank you so much Molly. It was a fun project for me as I have always loved their products.

  7. I love your work, it’s so fun! and you photography is brill 🙂

  8. I loved seeing all your takeover photos on Instagram, very colourful and inspiring. ! I didn’t know they did pens either.

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