All my resources, suppliers and gadgets (USA + UK) (Patreon)

Ma loves: I'm so sorry this post took SO MUCH time to upload. Since we created the Illustration Club I promised I was going to share all my resources: where I print my products, which software I use, and so on. I'm going to keep editing this list with your suggestions and questions! 

2020 Update: I added all new gadgets AND USA suppliers!

It took me SO LONG to get these suppliers and I'm so happy to share this with you. This means that if you have a business, it will take you less time (than me) to find the right people or less time to have your business running. PLEASE do share your suppliers with us, we are a community and we can all be benefited of this information!

We chose these companies because: They're UK, EU and USA based, so we're supporting local businesses, price (we used to buy everything on Amazon and we realized it was better to go directly with the suppliers) and ethical/environmentally friendly. 

ONLINE STORE

1) Packing

• Envelopes are all from Lilpackaging. I usually use sizes A2, A194 (USA and UK)

• Bags are all compostable made out of cornstarch from Ecocraft (A5) (UK) For USA suppliers we found ClearBags because they also have compostable bags (I wanna keep looking for more suppliers but I thought it was worth mentioning the one I'm using right now)

• The twine we use (to keep orders in place) is from Henry Winning & Co (UK)

• All our envelope labels (Return address, round sticker for the planners, etc) are printed in HandyLabels (choose paper sticker, is cheaper!) (UK)  For USA we're now currently using AllStickerPrinting for our "Please do not bend" (but we're still in the hunt for a new provider!)

• Our thank-you cards are postcards! We print them in SoloPress (UK) for USA we're using GotPrint because they have recycled paper!

• We wrapped the planner with recycled tissue paper from TinyBox (UK) we're still using that same tissue paper (cause we bought A LOT in the UK)

• Our back cardboard (to protect prints from bending) were made by 24/7 boxes they make ANY size! (UK) (we're still using that same cardboard here in the US due to overstock!)

• Sometimes we need boxes for big purchases, we bought them at RajaPack (this one) (UK) for USA I'm using Packaging Price, they have recycled cardboard boxes/mailers!

2) Products

• The paper we use to print our prints is the Somerset Enhanced Velvet, and we buy it here. (UK)

• All notepads (weekly calendar and monthly schedule) were printed in the UK by ClaroPrint 

• All our zines are from Awesome Merch, A5 is my favourite size! I always pick Recycled white paper and 300gsm matte laminate for the cover. (UK and USA)

• All my transparent sticker sheets were printed with StickerApp, by far the best company! (UK and USA)

• About To Leave was self-published by me and printed with Biddle Books in the UK. Nigel was very nice and friendly! Just so you know: many copies arrived with print flaws; we trusted the work was done correctly and we shipped many copies without checking them first (huge mistake, we had to re-ship them again) and we had to re-check most boxes just to make sure it was okay. They apologized and promised a refund for the faulty copies. 

• I know you're going to ask me WHERE I printed the planner my loves, I really didn't want to share this with you cause the experience was a nightmare. I don't wish this to happen to anyone. But I know you're going to ask me anyways: I printed both editions of the planner with LeoPrinting. They're super nice and chatty on the phone, but NEVER answer any emails. We printed twice Planner Year 1. The first edition all copies had print issues, they promised us it wasn't going to happen again. Second edition arrived with THE SAME print issues. They refused to print it again, but they compensate us for it. We then printed Planner Year 2 and a 1000 copies came with mistakes on the cover. Even though we did proof copies that came out without any issue, they blamed us, they didn't want to print the planner again. After nagging for 7 weeks, they agreed to re-print those 1000 copies. It took them 5 months (daily emails and phone calls, they pretended they weren't at the office just to not talk with Jas, clearly avoiding her) to pick up the faulty planners. Please do not hire them!

• Same with the bags: for Planner Year 1 I wanted to cover the planner with dust bags. We chose Supreme Creations cause they are a ethical company. First edition arrived and it was lovely, the quality wasn't great. For the second edition they forgot about our order, started production two months later (they never told us, we found out ourselves) and took another month to produce and deliver them. By the time they arrived Christmas was over! They never apologized or answered any of our emails. It was the same feeling with the planner: since we are a tiny costumer, I feel they didn't give a F-- about us :(

3) Post Office

• In the UK we were printing all the addresses with DYMO printer. For years we used a Drop and Go Card, which is a card you top-up with money and you can drop mail at the post office without having to wait to get processed (you can ask for one at your local Post Office!). FYI: You have to print and fill out THIS document when dropping all your orders!

After the guys from the Post Office kicked us out (this REALLY happened, we were having too many orders) we rented a Franking Machine (model: PostBase Mini) which is basically a portable post office: you can print and pay for postage from home! Since all our mail was already payed for, we also signed in for the Royal Mail Collection service, where Royal Mail comes to our office once a day at 4pm to collect any mail we had that day. This was life changing!

• Here in the US I did A LOT of research on which was the best software, but ultimately I decided to go with Shipping Easy <--- it was that one or Stamps.com but Stamps doesn't allow you to print a label twice, so if you made a mistake you're screwed. NiceHumans was built on WordPress + WooCommerce, which synchronizes with ShippingEasy, so it shows you all your orders automatically! I'm VERY happy with ShippingEasy 13/10 would recommend.

• If you wanna buy postage with ANY online software (not matter which one you end up choosing) you'll need a label printer and a scale. For label printer I chose ROLLO and I love it, it uses these labels. For the postal scale it was a no-brainer cause this one, the Accuteck, had so many good reviews and it's the best.

4. T-shirts and screen printing (USA)

• We make all our t-shirt labels in DutchLabelShop 

• All our screens were made by the awesome NorCal printing

• We use SpeedPainting fabric paint for all our t-shirts and I bought the squeegees at Blick's

• Recently Lou bought these table clamps for screen printing and they have been so useful!

OFFICE

• All of the prints were printed with a Epson Sure Color P600

• The scanner we used in Hastings was a Epson v500, but the one we use one (it's Ed's) is a Epson v750

• Ed bought a black and white printer which we love, the Brother HL-L23000

• For UK tax return I use the website GoSimpleTax, my lord savior. By far the best way to fill out your taxes in the UK.

• For USA taxes I learned you better hire an expert who can do taxes for you, and Eric is my accountant from BrassTaxes (please check the website cause it's hilarious) 

• To keep track of tasks and what Lou is doing, we both have an account on Asana (free)

• I use WD Elements hard drives to storage all my files, they're mega safe and trusty, never had any issues. Right now I'm using a 4T.

• For photoshoots I use this background paper in pink, yellow and blue 

DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION / APP

• I illustrate everything on my 2017 (refurbished) iPad Pro, 256GB, 10.5inch with an Apple Pencil. I use Procreate and my favorite brush is Narinder, Bonobo Chalk and 6B Pencil. I protect the screen of my iPad with a screen called PaperLike cause it resembles the texture of paper!

• I color edit all illustrations on Photoshop and compose my zines on InDesign.

• For my stories on Instagram I LOVE the RNI app for color editing. I use my own finger to draw cloud or words on my pictures.

• I finally invested on a good phone after using my iphone 6 for years XD! Right now I have an iPhone 11 256GB :   )

• Same my computer: my previous laptop (2017) never worked properly, and after taking it 3 times for repair in 6 months, I decided to buy a new one. Right now I have Macbook Pro 16 (2019)

TRADITIONAL ILLUSTRATION

For traditional media (it tends to vary a lot BUT) here are some of the art supplies I'm using and enjoying right now:

• Moleskine Art Plus Sketchbook A5 

• Moleskine soft cover A4 (this is my ugly sketchbook)

• Acryla Gouache: D121 Pale Lilac, D118 Lilac, D005 Pink, D104 Pale Aqua, D076 Pale Mint, D103 Smalt Blue, D100 Light Blue, D092 Ultramarine Deep, D032 Light Yellow, D037 Cream Yellow, D003 Scarlet and D151 Titanium White 

• Amsterdam Acrylic Ink in 361 Light Rose 

• Pencils: Prismacolor Colerase in Carmine Red and Vermillion (for sketching); Prismacolor Verithin in Rouge Pavot, Crimson Red and Ultramarine (for outlining). Mitsubishi 9850 with eraser (for sketching on my ugly sketchbook)

VIDEOS / PODCAST

• I've filmed almost all of my videos with a Canon EOS M with a 22mm lens but in January 2020 I finally switched to a Canon EOS M6 mark II

• I use DaVinci Resolve to edit all my videos and podcasts

• The best tripod is expensive but it's worth it: Manfrotto 290 and this arm to get nice upper shots!

• I record all the podcasts with a Zoom H2 Handy Recorder

• I take all the pictures for my shop with a trusty ol' Canon 5D with a 50mm 1.8 Lens

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Please let me know if there's anything else I'm missing! I'll keep editing this list with your suggestions and questions :D