In papercrafting, there are quite a lot of possible uses in writing/art implements. Let’s do a round up of different products to use in your papercrafting! These writing instruments are in my own collection and I was not compensated for reviewing them.
Souffle pens - Make your journals interesting with a 3D puffy ink. This pen embosses as you write/draw and creates letters you can feel as well as see!
Gel pens - These are fun colorful pens with ink suspended in a gel which makes a more opaque look. My favorite is the Sakura brand from Japan. They were the ones who introduced the gel pens and to this day, I believe that they have the smoothest writing and last the longest. Gel pens come in metallic, opaque (for dark or light surfaces), and glitter variations.
Archival markers - For scrapbookers, archival markers work great for journaling in a safe mode for your precious photos. They are acid free so you can freely draw/write near your photos.
Markers - Felt tips markers are awesome to have and use in so many formats. My favorite brand is Marvy Uchida, another Japanese brand. Awesome, clear colors, long lasting and so many different products. There are some with markers on both sides (one side very thin, and the other a fat brush), markers for blending, some acid free, even a red-eye remover.
Copic markers - These markers are in a class all their own. Professional illustrators swear by them. They are available in over 300 colors and different nibs and guaranteed to not dry out in 3 years.
Chalks - These are nice subtle way to color your images for scrapbooks or cards. You can stamp your card and then use a chalk tool or even a Q-tip to color it in. There are various techniques you can use. Bella Online has an article about the techniques for chalking HERE.
Pencils- Nothing beats pencils for your papercrafting. Again, there are different types for different techniques and styles. My favorite type is the watercolor pencils where you color in with the pencil and using a drop of water on a brush, you can turn it into a watercolor. I like the preciseness of a pencil with the smudginess of watercolors. There are 3 types of colored pencils. Wax-based, similar to the normal plain ones, water soluble for watercoloring, and oil-based, like pastels.
Calligraphy tools-So many variations. You can choose the traditional nib pens and bottled ink which is fun to use but you will need more control and experience to cut down on blotchiness. You can have the pens with the ink cartridges inside. There is the calligraphy markers with the tip cut at an angle. Some of the markers come with one side a hard tip and the other a brush tip.
Metallic markers - Pilot makes a metallic gold and silver marker composed of permanent and opaque ink that doesn’t get absorbed into the paper. Available in different sized tips for various uses.
Glitter pens - Copic again brings you amazing products. This type of pen contains ink with micro glass flakes which gives it the perfect shimmer.
Glue pens-These are pens filled with glue rather than ink. For those who love to use glitter. The pens have a somewhat fine tip for dispensing the glue. Shake the glitter on it (I recommend doing this over a baking pan or even a folded paper plate to keep the glitter contained), shake the glitter off, and you’re done.
Embossing markers-embossing gives a raised appearance to your project. Instead of embossing with a stamp pad, you can use a marker along with embossing powder to get this effect. You can read more about this technique HERE.
I’m sure I’ve missed other great products. Hopefully I’ve given you some insight into different writing instruments for papercrafting. Below is a list of brands/companies specializing in them, maybe you’ll find what you need while browsing!
Marvy Uchida
Zig
Pilot
Copic
Sakura
