Hi all!
Ya’ll know I’m a bit obsessed with my white pen. A bit? Ha! Okay, lots. Anyhow, I wanted to try out some different white pens to see if there were better ones out there than the one I was using. The first white pen I bought after I started papercrafting was a Uni-ball Signo Broad gel pen. I love it and have always used it. But what if there was a better one? Or one that was better in specific instances?
So, I decided a review and comparison video was needed. (Plus, I got to go shopping for pens–which I’ve loved to do for as long as I can remember. I have a ridiculous collection of pens).
This video has been hanging out on my computer for a while now and I just now had the chance to edit and upload it. A picture of the results is below the video (be sure to click on it to see it REALLY big). See the video below, or over at YouTube.
I had some “surprising” results with one of the pens. LOL!
{ 47 comments }
Usually Japanese brand of pens are different from your regular gel pens. I know for a fact that many of them look like a certain color, but come out either completely clear, glittery, or metallic. It’s pretty cool, and you get really interesting results. I actually really like the effect that the Sakura Aqualip pen had on your black cardstock. I wouldn’t say it was a loser : )
It doesn’t even fit into the ‘white gel pen’ category!
That’s why I was so surprised! When I bought it, it was listed in the white pen category… weird!
Awesome Review Kristina! You sure are a life saver for me! I probably would of bought that Sakura White pen and end up with a lemon….lol!
For sure will take your advise on the Uni-ball Signo Broad Pen!!
Oh? BTW…….loved your 15min challenge quick card!! Love the calligraphy u did!!
Yaneri
Hi, I am glad to know that I am not the only one who tries a side by side comparison.
My white pen stash includes:
Gel Excel by Marvy – not bright white opaque (D)
Uniball Signo Broad – best of the bunch but mine needs to get going a bit before I start (B+)
Y&C Gel Extreme 7.0 – very opague, more gray then white against a black paper (D)
Sakura Gelly Roll Medium xpgb#50 white — good quality – Michaels inexpensive in comparision… (B+)
Thanks for sharing.
hey, I think the company mess up your pen which you bought. Because I had the Sakura White pen. it is definitely a white pen. Maybe you can check out if the word says “white” at the right up corner of the bar code. Hope this help. So far, that japanese company’s pen is really good for white pen. I already used their pen for at least 3 years.
Hi – thanks for the white gel pens comparison & review vid. Just thot I shd comment a bit abt the Aqualip pen, as I have used them. It’s a glaze pen that works on any surface & really great on acetate. Takes awhile to dry and it will look like lacquer. Works really well with the peel craft stickers. I believe the one you bought was a clear glaze pen not the white. There is a white glaze pen as well, see http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-3d-pen. Other white opaque pens from Sakura are Gelly Roll and Souffle (Souffle is similar to Aqualip & Glaze but it’s matte not glossy). There’s also a new white pen from Marvy – Reminisce, have you tried it? But yes, I do agree with you Uni-ball Signo is really great for doodling, etc, and my other favourite white gel pen for writing is Sakura Gelly Roll Medium point. Cheers, Kary
Well your clear pen bothered me as I also have this one in my collection and did some research and thought that I would share with you what I think you have in your collection. It isn’t a white pen but a clear pen…but to be sure check out this link and type in the number that you find on your pen…and it will confirm what it is.
http://www.shopatron.com/home/search/294.0.1.1?q=800
let me know what it turns out to be…the aqualip name I think is a mistranslation but I am not sure as that name doesn’t come up on the Sakura website but the number does…
My fav white pen is Sailor White Writer and from what I gather, it’s been discontinued. I have two to nurse for the rest of my life. http://tinyurl.com/m7brf5 about half way down the page. I think I liked the Uniball Angelica best of the ones you used. Try using that clear pen with metal flakes http://www.misterart.com/g8970/Mona-Lisa-Metal-Flakes.htm or a powdered color like Perfect Pearls. Bet it’s just sticky enough to use with them.
Hi Kristina! I see others have cleared up your sakura pen issue :) The Aqualip is also known as a “glaze” pen and is meant to be clear – the Gelly Roll with a completely opaque white cap is their white one – the aqualip with the white pearl cap is clear – I LOVE the clear one as you can add small raised areas onto stamped images or designs without getting out the thicker dimensional mediums or embossing powder.
:) Thanks for the video!
Tamara M in Australia!
I use a white pen with the name of Sharpie (poster paint) and I think this is the best white pen I´ve used. But I haven´t used as much white pens before and I don´t think I can by the Uniball Signo here in Sweden sadly.
Love all your videos!!
Many thanks Kristina, having just bought six Uniball Ball Signo pens I am glad to see that there aren’t loads of better ones out there! I do agree that it isn’t great for writing but is excellent for faux stitching and doodling, Jo x
I use that sakura pen to glossy up areas of papers, I used to use glossy accents but this pen dries quicker so I am less likely to stick my finger in it when it’s wet. I bought it as a clear pen so at least I know what I was getting. I have a couple of other sakura white pens though, a souffle and a glaze, both of which will write on acetate, but again you have to be careful to let it dry. I have a bit of a white pen thing too but usually stick to Uni-ball or sakura, I’m glad at least in one case I made the right choice.
Thanks for the great comparison
Thanks for reveiwing the white pens. This was very helpful to know.
wow thanks for the comparison…. and i definitely agree with you
Kristina, thanks for this very helpful review! I am
happy to hear that you will do more of these types of
reviews and comparisons.
Thanks for the great video, Kristina. The Uni-ball Signo Broad has been my one and only since I started papercrafting. Now I know for sure that I am not missing out on another great pen!
Great timing on the video, for me. I was thinking the other day I need a white gel pen and didn’t know which one to get. Thanks for the review!
Great vid! I use a really awesome white pen that leaves it almost 3d.
The name is Souffle Opaque….
Thanks!
thanks, Kristina. I loved to see the comparisons between the different pens. Saves me some money for sure. My favorite white pen is the fine tipped Sharpie Paint marker that Ali Edwards uses. I want to try the Uni Ball Signo Broad now that you review it though.
Thanks for the review great job!
This is great… I’ll have to try the Uni Ball. Right now I have the AC pen (which I don’t really use), the Sakura pen (which is ok), and the Sakura Souffle (which I hardly use b/c it takes to long to dry, and isn’t as bold.) I actually want to try the glossy pen as a substitute for my glossy accents (as someone mentioned in the comments section)… Hopefully it will speed up some projects. Thanks for doing the video!
Thanks for reviewing the white pens………helped out a lot.
Looking forward to more reviews….!
Love your review :) I will consider getting the uniball and pilot in the future.
Am using Sakura Gellyroll medium and it’s quite good, so far. It definitely didn’t turn up transparent like the aqualip :P
Love it!!
I was totally thinking the same thing about the 2nd pen! Emboss with it! It looks very wet and wonderful for small embossed details.
Thanks for an excellent review! Love your penmanship, too.
Cheers!!!
Thanks for the informative comparisons! I have the Sakura Souffle which is white. I don’t use it enough to give you a valid report on it. I also have a Sakura Glaze. At first glance looks like it may be white, but comes out clear like yours did. I like to use it to add shine to small areas of stamped images (such as eyes).
Love, love, love white pens! Honestly, Signo Uni-ball is the only one I have ever tried and I love it. I’m excited to hear that you are going to do more comparisons on different products.
Off the topic, but I have one question. Can you emboss over the VersaMarker? Is that the idea for this pen? Everyone probably knows the answer to this except me. Excuse my ignorance :( Wanted to be sure before I bought it. Thanks for another fab video. Have an awesome weekend.
Angie
I’ve tried embossing with a VersaMarker but it wasn’t with great results. The ink dried too quickly. If you’re looking for a marker that does work well with embossing, try Ranger’s Embossing Pens. I used one a few weeks back on a MACM card. :)
I learned to emboss over an erasable inkpen. I’ve never tried the VersaMarker, but PaperMate EraserMate does the job for me!
Thanks for the video. I am totally addicted to pens, it doesn’t even matter what color they are. In case everyone didn’t know, JetPens.com has an amazing selection of pens and a whole section dedicated to white pens. They are the best!
That’s where I bought my “white” pen. Not sure why they sent me a clear one. LOL!
so glad you made that comparison. now i can buy one that works. i have the marvy excel, but i’m not incredibly stoked about it, and i have another one i bought when i was in china, and it’s okay too. i’ll have to get the uniball one and the poster paint pen that someone else was talking about.
Sakura Japan names their pens differently than Sakura USA… The Aqualip pens are the Japanese version of the Sakura Glaze pens produced by sakura USA. Jetpens.com has reviews that point this out and they sell Tiara pens which are identical to Sakura Stardust pens here.
Thanks for the videos! I love watching them :)
Thanks you so much for doing that video.. I have been looking for a good one to try out some “faux stitching”. Great idea for a video too!
Very interesting! That’s weird with the Sakura pen. Thanks so much for the review!
Thanks, Kristina! I love my uni-ball Signo broad pen but found that it was a bit too thick for some of the finer detailed stuff I wanted to do. I will see what the Michaels here in Canada has to offer. I would love to have the uni-ball Angelic. A quick question…I have noticed over the past few months that you have been switching corner rounder punches and was wondering why the change.
The We R Memory Keeper has two different sizes of punches. It’s a bit more convenient, plus I can stand it up in the rotating carousel thingy. :)
This was good information! Thanks! I really like the side by side comparison of the pens.
I have one of those sakura aqualip. you should try do like some resist with this pen..
It looks really cool :)
Thanks, Kristina, for the great comparison. Any chance you’ll do a comparison on adhesives? Sure would appreciate it as so many options and use so much of it so pricing would also be a bit helpful. Thanks for all your great tips and inspiration!
This is great! I just went and bought the Sakura White gel pen at Aaron Brothers. I couldn’t find the Uni-Ball Signo. The Sakura pen reminds me of the Pilot Choose pen. I’ll keep looking for the Signo since the color is brighter and makes the faux stitching really stand out. Thank you for doing the comparison!! It was very helpful.
Thanks for the review on the different white pens out there. I have the Signo Broad white pen and I really like it. I’ve never seen the Angelica one before and like how it looks like a finer line in your video. I will have to look for it.
There is one white pen that you didn’t do a review for that I am wondering about – the Tombow Mono White Gel Pen. Do you know anything about that one?
Thanks so much for doing that! I have the UNiBall Broad, now there are 2 others I need to go in search of.
Great review! I own the UniBall Broad, but I think I also need the Angellic for my fine details :)
great video, thanks for doing it!
Thanks for testing out the pens. I have been thinking about buying some, but didn’t know which one would work best.
Thanks heaps for the review video Kristina, it was good to see how some of the other brands stacked up. I only own one white pen – the Uniball Signo and find sometimes that the ink stops flowing and I have to go back over it, which can make it look messy. But it could just be the way I hold and write with it?? I might try the thinner Uni-ball Angelic to see how that one goes.
I would love you to do a review of embossing powders, stamp pads/pens. I havent bought any of these items yet and would really like to see if there is much difference between all the brands.
cheers :)