Gelatos made by Faber-Castell are one of my favorite mediums to use in Bible journaling. They are quick and easy to use, and oh so versatile!

What are Gelatos?

Gelatos are acid-free, lightfast pigment sticks that come in a chapstick-like container. They’re creamy in nature which allows them to glide on your Bible page smoothly producing a vibrant color that blends easily with just a little bit of water.

One of the things I like best about Gelatos is that they’re permanent once dry, so you don’t have to worry about the color marking up the other page of your Bible. To dry them, let the air-dry or use a dryer to speed up the process. If you rub your finger over the Gelatos and there’s no residue or color on your finger, then it’s dry.

Why is Light-fast and Acid-Free Important?

A light-fast product won’t discolor when exposed to light. This means that your beautiful artwork will last the test of time. Acid-free means that the product won’t break-down, yellow, or damage your Bible over time. Both of these are important if you want to preserve your masterpiece and hand it down generation after generation.

What’s the Difference Between Gelatos and Gel Sticks?

Gelatos are designed to be archival, meaning that they’re designed to be used in something you want to keep forever. Gel sticks, while they are similar and manufactured by Faber-Castell, are not the same. At least that’s what the manufacturer says. Gel sticks are significantly cheaper, but Faber-Castell specifically notes that they are not the same and that Gelatos should be used to protect your crafts.

What’s the Difference Between Gelatos and Distress Crayons?

Both the Gelatos and the Distress crayons glide on the page and are water soluble. But there are slight differences that may cause you to choose one over the other.

Distress crayons are a product made by Ranger and sold under the Tim Holtz brand. They’re slightly more expensive in that you get less product in the crayon for the same amount of money. They are easier to use because they’re thinner and shaped like a pen verses the chapstick holder of the Gelatos, and they’re designed to go with the Distress line produced by the same company.

Gelatos, on the other hand, have more color choices including metallics. They also move better, which means that you can push it around your page or blend it with another color easily.

What’s the Difference Between Gelatos and Scribble Sticks?

Scribble Sticks are made by Ranger and sold under the Dina Wakley line. They’re pigment sticks that are shaped like a crayon and much harder than the Gelatos. There are also fewer colors in this line than in the Gelatos line.

On a side note, the Scribble Sticks and NeoColor line are very similar. The exception is that the NeoColor line comes in a variety of colors whereas Scribble Sticks come in only twelve.

As you can see there are many differences between gelatos and other similar mediums. The best part about either of these mediums is that when you use it in your Bible, you’re spending more time growing closer to God.