Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week I'd love to share my 2025 drafting tool checklist so you can start your new landscape graphics adventure. ♥︎

DRAW YOUR GARDEN

While landscape design is about creating or arranging the outdoor space, landscape graphics is the technique we use to visually communicate our design. In the simplest terms, its how we draw our ideas. Learning how to draw garden elements is also a great way to start your landscape design journey.

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Nothing beats the confidence you gain when you know how to draw your design ideas in plan view (top down), elevation (front view) and perspective. Before placing pencil to paper, the number one question I get about landscape graphics is: what tools do I need to get started?

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This list can vary depending on each designer, so to simplify I thought you might enjoy the checklist I provide to my students in Garden Graphics Tool Kit (GGTK) each January. Add these tools to your holiday gift list so you can start exploring garden design ideas. For those planning to take GGTK, use this early bonus to start preparing for class.  

DRAFTING SUPPLY CHECKLIST 

Below is a brief list of my top drafting tools to get you started with landscape graphics. If you click the button below it will take you to a special, more detailed PDF of these items with additional descriptions. If you are looking for more information about one of these supplies or are interested in purchasing, I included our affiliate link to Blick Art Materials to some of the items below. 

• Pencils (HB + hard leads)
• Mechanical Pens (a variety to create thin to thick lines)
• Sharpie Fine Point Marker (to create thick lines)
• White Eraser (I'm not a fan of pink residue!)
• Scale Ruler (Architect, Engineer or Metric)
• Paper (tracing, grid, vellum, and/or bond)
• Circle Template (large + small circles)
• Triangles (45 and 30-60-90 degree)
• T-Square (and/or drafting table with parallel bar)
• Drafting Tape (holds your paper down without ripping it)
• Colored Pencils + Markers (choose what works best for you)

DRAFTING TOOL INSPIRATION

We are currently teaching our course, DRAFTING SUPPLY CLUB which provides more detailed supply lists and Blick links to help you find them. We met for our first live session earlier this week, but still have one today (11/21) and tomorrow (11/22), both at noon US Central Time. These are all recorded so no need to be there live, but if you'd like more detailed instruction on how to use these tools, please feel free to jump in.

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Learn about the magic of using a t-square and triangles in combination in my post: DRAWING LINES.

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This post on DEVELOPING YOUR GRAPHIC STYLE explains how drafting tools provide consistency to your drawing, while YOU provide the inconsistency, which is your beautiful style.

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If you'd like to use your shiny new drafting tools, you're welcome to join me in the next round of GARDEN GRAPHICS TOOL KIT this upcoming January. Click here to learn more and jump on the waiting list.  

LET'S DO THIS! 

Make sure to download the drafting tool check list above so you can start your graphics adventure! Tag me on Instagram or hit reply to this email to share your favorite drafting supplies.

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If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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Thanks for letting me visit you today! I can't wait to see you in two short weeks. 

Cheers, 

Lisa 

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.