The Search for the Perfect Pen (and a giveaway, too!)

Like most scrapbookers, I am always in search of the ideal pen for journaling on my layouts.  You know the one, right?  The one that's fluid and smooth, works perfectly on textured cardstock, has just the right-sized nib and, probably most importantly, makes your handwriting look gorgeous.  I'm one of those people that firmly believes (however unfounded those beliefs may be) that somewhere out there in the big wide world, there exist jeans that make your butt look smaller, mascara that makes your eyelashes longer, and pens that make your handwriting fabulously impeccable.  

So imagine my pleasure when the nice people at JetPens.com sent me a package of craft pens to test and review.  Many of favorite scrapbooking pens have recently gone missing (and will probably be found in the depths of two certain little person's closets one day) so I was happy to get some new ink to try out.  It's resulted in me discovering three new favorite pens:

 

The first is the Pilot Latte Gel Ink pen, a petite little pen that comes in nine colors and writes fluidly and easily on textured surfaces.  You can buy the colors individually ($1.80 each) or in a set of 10 ($18.00).  My biggest challenge will be keeping these cute colorful utensils out of the hands of Riely. ;)

Next is the Uniball Signo Angelic Colour pen which comes in eight delicious colors and nice versatile .33 nib size.  I love the opaqueness of the ink!  These retail for $1.80 each.

But my absolute favorite has to be the Uniball Signo UM-153.  I've tried this pen before in the white ink version (it's my go-to white pen!) but never in black or blue.  And if it's possible to fall in love with a writing utensil, this is the one I'd pick to have a lasting relationship with.  LOVE it!  The nib size, the smooth flow over any texture, and the great selection of colors (there are nine) make it my new favorite pen.  I used it on this layout and by golly, my chicken-scratch writing actually looks GOOD:

Speaking of white pens, I also tested the Uniball Signo Angelic Colour in white, the white Uniball Signo UM-153, and the Sakura Glaze Ink Gellyroll.  The most intense, opaque ink came from the Uniball UM-153, (it's totally worth the $2.25 price tag) but I love the way the Sakura writes on photos.  The Sakura ink is almost invisible until it dries, when it becomes more opaque:

 

JetPens also carries other supplies, like this must-have eraser from Tombow (perfect for erasing that pencil journaling after you've written over it in pen. Or maybe I'm the only obsessive one who has to do that)  I love mine!

So if you need some new writing utensils, head over to JetPens, alrighty?  They offer free shipping with any order over $25 and have a great selection of craft pens for you to browse.  But hey - WAIT! If you'd like to try out this store for free, leave me a comment today.  I'll choose one lucky reader to receive a $20 gift certificate to JetPens.  I'll draw the name on Friday, so check back! Until then, I'll be off practicing my handwriting!