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My Current Toolbox

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

The question I get asked the most often is what pen I use for my journaling or lettering. There are so many choices out there, and to be honest I haven't tried that many. When looking to buy anything, I usually do some research and try to find a product with good reviews or recommendations before I decide what to purchase. Then, if I really like something, I tend to stick with it. Life is just simpler that way...

These are my current tools of choice:



From top to bottom, left to right:
1. Sakura Pigma Micron Ink Pen - The first set of pens that I purchased. They write quite smoothly and the ink is nice and dark. The only drawback for me is that due to my heavy handedness, the tips of the finer point pens sometimes break. But I think that's my fault and not the pens. I have also ordered a pack of 005 pens only to find that they were already somewhat dried out :(
2. Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight Bold Point Gel Ink pen - I LOVE these pens for colored lettering or doodles. My favorite in the set is the hot pink. I also purchased this pen in metallic gold. Pink and gold, what's not to love?
3. Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush - I bought this for water coloring and brush lettering. It's perfect for painting on the go, just takes practice to be able to control the water flow. It's great fun to play with!
4. Speedball Deluxe Oblique Pen Holder - This pen holder, combined with the Nikko G nib, is great for beginners like me who want to try their hand at calligraphy.
5. Pilot G-Tec-C4 Ultra Fine pen in Black - my absolute favorite pen. It produces the perfect line width and writes like a dream. It withstands even my heavy-handedness! If I could only have one pen to write with for the rest of my life, this would be it :)
6. Pentel Arts Pocket brush pen in black - This is a great pen for brush lettering if you don't feel like dealing with a separate brush and ink. I like to use this pen for the bold titles in my Hobonichi journal entries. The ink is dark and you can make variable width strokes very easily. I go through refills quite quickly as I love to practice with this, so I'm thinking I should try brush and ink to save money and stretch my crafting dollars (we shall see).
7. Uniball Signo Broad Point Gel Impact pen in white - This pen is the best white gel pen I have tried. I love the look of white ink on dark paper and this is a must-have for me.
8. Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens in black - These pens are the most recent addition to my collection. I used these for my Moleskine art journal quotes and have come to like them very much. I also broke the tip on one of these pens, so I guess that's a sign that I need to ease up on the amount of pressure I apply to my pens when I write!
9. Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleedproof White ink - I haven't taken any formal classes in calligraphy, so I had to research on how to use this ink. Basically, you mix a small amount of it with water. Trial and error and lots of testing until you achieve a consistency where the ink will flow smoothly from your nib. This ink is stunningly beautiful on black paper, so I am determined to master mixing this ink (it took me forever the first time I tried it.)
10. Small screw-top Dinky Dip inkwells - These inkwells come in various sizes and configurations.
11. Moon Palace Sumi Ink - This gorgeous bottle is from a calligraphy starter set from Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls, one of my favorite calligraphers. Her style is distinctive and instantly recognizable, and she has kits for sale on her Etsy shop. They are not available all the time, so stalk her Instagram feed to find out when they do become available for sale and pounce.
12. Bic Wite-Out - Because nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes :)

What are your favorite tools for journaling?

67 comments

  1. This post made me ever more excited and hopeful at the chance of winning your #patjournalwithmegiveaway and Thank you so much for your very informative post! Definitely will be using some of it as inspiration in my journaling :) there's not many creative posts up on my IG account yet but my user name is ravenjesse.

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    1. You're welcome and thanks for your kind words :)

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  2. So happy you have a blog now because I love your Instagram!
    -Kaisa
    @kdigg09

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  3. I'm an ig follower. Just added your blog to my bloglovin last night. I'm new to this whole art journaling thing. So far I like anything by sakura. I'm also quite interested in the pentel arts brush and was checking them out online. I'm byneedleandthread on ig. Thank you for all the inspiration!

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    1. Thank you for the follow and for your kind words. Sakura is one of my favorite brands and I love the Pentel Arts pocket brush pen too :)

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  4. As a newbie at calligraphy, this is exactly what I was looking for!
    Looks like Pentel Aquash Brush, Pilot G-Tec-C4 and Nikko G nib are perfect to start with.
    Your IG is an inspiration, I hope I will find even more on your blog :)
    Good luck!
    #patjournalwithmegiveaway IG username: aga.wy

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    1. Thank you very much!I have tried a few other nibs, but I keep coming back to the Nikko G :)

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  5. Love your work its always so interesting and fascinating I just love what pens can do #patjournalwithmegiveaway ig: Tonydinveti

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    1. Thank you! I love pens too, the most portable and versatile journailing tool around :)

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  6. You inspire me to write more with your beautiful designs and cool handwriting! :) #patjournalwithmegiveaway My IG is secretopenbook

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    1. Aw, thank you so much for the follow and your kind words!

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  8. So Awesome.. :) Thank you for sharing this.. :D

    IG: chijoyjpanda
    Bloglovin account: pandalovin

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  9. Thank you for sharing! I just started dabblng in calligraphy and I haven't tried a lot of tools yet so I appreciate reading about what works best for others. I like brush calligraphy using the Sakura and Pentel aquash watèrbrushes. Yes I agree that they are handy! I am trying the pointed pen too and the Falcon nib and Esterbrook School nib agrees with my heavy and shaky hand. :)
    IG @learningswirls

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    1. You're welcome! I'm waiting for a calligraphy set that I ordered from Etsy and can't wait to try other nibs :) It's fun but does take a lot of practice!

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  10. Thanks for sharing. I hope either me or my friend can win the #patjournalwithmegiveaway :3

    ig : noraaaslee

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    1. You're welcome and thanks for the comment : Good luck!

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  11. Hi!

    Oh, I love your IG, so I am really happy, that you started a blog!!!
    I hope that I can win your giveaway! ;) My IG is Calaudija :)

    Have a nice day and greetings from Vienna! :)

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    1. Hello and thanks for your kind words!! Good luck!

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  12. Thank you as I am new to the #travelersnotebook but just ordered my first 3 different sizes from different companies. Yep I'm addicted already!! But I fell in love when I first saw them on Instagram!! I just found you on IG also I'm @gironatalie thank you for the chance to win!

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  13. I admire your work is beautiful is art. you inspire me to try and improve, thanks for share it with us!
    thanks for this opportunity. I love all <3 I think that if I'll win probably I'll cry of happiness. fingers crossed I hope to get lucky :D
    #patjournalwithmegiveaway My IG is @maria_garcia_28

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words! Good luck!

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  14. I wonder who this creative behind Pepper and Twine is! I think it's Pat? (just guessing from the giveaway hashtags hehe) But I now know you're a Filipina since you wrote it in one of your journals! Mabuhay! :)

    You have a great collection here! I have an oblique pen holder as well but I haven't bought an ink yet! It's always sold out here in the Ph! :( My faves are Uni Pin and Kuratake ZIG for when doing calligraphy. I love Uni Ball Signo, too, although I've only silver ink coz whites are always out of stock Huhu! When writing in my planner, I use G-Tec C3 for it's the only pen that doesn't bleed! I'm curious about that C4 though! Will definitely try that! =)

    IG: @arianneshane_
    Blog: http://yaniness.com/blog

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    1. Mabuhay! PAT stands for pepper and twine! And I'm Gert btw.

      Thanks, I can appreciate how difficult it is to get supplies in the Philippines, I lived there as a teen and went to UST. I have to check out the C3, have only used the C4 so far:)

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  15. I'm so glad that I found your IG account & saw the #patjournalwithmegiveaway. I'm always fascinated whenever I watch videos on how to use a brush pen & that made me want to really have one but unfortunately, brush pens are only available in Manila/OL shops. So when I saw that giveaway, I felt so kilig & hopeful that I may win hehe *fingers crossed* xx, @michae1la on IG :)

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    1. I know how hard it can be to find supplies in the Philippines. Thanks and good luck!

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  16. Thanks for sharing!!! I just started out in my journey with calligraphy and i'm excited to learn more from you and from all the other calligraphers out there!! So inspired! :) also hope to win your #patjournalwithmegiveaway to add to my small but growing stash of tools! :)
    @coffeelephants

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    1. Hi Ruth! I find a lot of inspiration on IG as well :) Thank you and good luck!

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  17. Thanks for sharing!!! I just started out in my journey with calligraphy and i'm excited to learn more from you and from all the other calligraphers out there!! So inspired! :) also hope to win your #patjournalwithmegiveaway to add to my small but growing stash of tools! :)
    @coffeelephants

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  18. My favorite tool will always be Pilot G-Tec in 0.3 nib. Every time my presents go home to the Philippines (I'm now in Saudi Arabia) I make sure that it is included in my 'bilin'. Now, I am excited to use the Hi-Tec pens I recently purchased from a local seller. Yay! Big thanks for the giveaway. Hope I win. I want those pencil cases and the Pentel pocket brush pen since what caught my attention was the 'title' in your Hobonichi entrie :)

    IG: @purpleccaffeine

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    1. Hi Erika! I just ordered some Pilot G-Tec pens in 0.3 and love them! Thank you very much and good luck!

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  19. I love your works so much! I'm so glad I came across your Instagram account. <3 I wish I were as consistent as you are when it comes to making things and posting them. Keep doing what you do! Thanks for sharing the contents of your toolbox <3 I wish I could get my hands on any of those soon hehe and thanks for doing a giveaway! :D

    ps. my Instagram account is @xhiddeninthescars <3

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    1. Thank you very, i may be consistent because I am slightly addicted lol! Thank you so much and good luck!!

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  20. Hi!

    Thank you for sharing your weapons of mass creation! 😊

    I really hope to win your giveaway because
    1. I can check one item off my bucketlist: To WIN a giveaway!
    2. These items will definitely make a pen hoarder feel cloud nine!
    And lastly, to share these things with my sister! :)

    Wishing and hoping,
    KJ @keiijgonzales 😍😍

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  21. Hi there! Hoping to win your generous giveaway. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Words can't describe my desperation for the moonlight gelly rolls pens!! :'( Can't find any store thats sells that. Even online. If I win, I would share half of the giveaway to my good friend @reginecatabijan (IG) we are both into calligraphh and brush lettering. We have limited tools so we're really hoping to win this one.

    Thank you so much. Love your blog btw

    -@sofianaval (IG)

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  22. I love her work and followed her religiously on her IG. Thank you for sharing this. It's fun to read and look through what all of you had done that day. :)

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    1. It was my first time attending a workshop such as this one and I loved every minute of it, thank you!

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  23. ive just recently got into journaling! I love using my muji pens and Pentel brush pen! I love checking out blogposts! Can't wait to see more of yours! Xoxox
    @mu.r

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    1. Hello lovely!! Thank you for checking out my blog and good luck!

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  24. I'm a sketcher and hope to start adding some lettering. I follow you on IG @dreadpirateautumn

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  25. I just discovered your Instagram and blog this past week and I love everything you post. I have a love for stationery and I'm trying to get into journaling as well. :) I'm @squishymochii on Instagram.

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  26. Hey!

    Marcgraf here ( insta @marcgrafg ) I would just like to say you truly are an inspiration to peeps like me who are keen and curious about the world of artsy/journalin'! Your #pat giveaway will truly help me kickstart my proper journaling! 😄

    A fan!
    Marcgraf Gregorio ☺️

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    1. Thank you for your kind words and good luck!

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  27. You are amazing & your posts are truly inspiring! Hopefully I would learn more from the stuff you share in your blogs and posts so I can teach and share it with the kids at church. ���� @indiocratic

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  28. I love this post! Might have to do this too and showcase what tools I have and what I love.
    Also, instagram account: @dtzrgza :D

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  29. I love your hand-lettering (and handwriting) :-) ! I've been following you on Instagram, and I'm now obsessed with Hobonichi journals! I'm hoping that your #patjournalwithmegiveaway will jump-start my rusty calligraphy skills. :-) I'm @timetrapped85 on Instagram. Keep up the good work! --Kira <3

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  30. I initially saw this post on Instagram and was so happy to have real-person information on the pens you use. Since then my pen collection has increased substantially. Oops?
    Love your work!
    @rhondito

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    1. Hi, lots of enabling on Instagram lol! My own stationery and craft collection has grown by leaps and bounds ever since I discovered the journaling/planner community on IG! Thank you and good luck!

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  31. Just came across your IG and fell in love. I went shopping for some of your go to items and was unsuccessful but will try again this weekend! Thank you so much for hosting a fun giveaway and for having this blog. Ig name cyndelight

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    1. Thank you very much and good luck (both with the giveaway and shopping!) :)

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  32. Found you on IG and saw that you have a blog, can't wait to go thru your posts. IG username: sher_rie.ig (Also, I apologize if two comments show up, not sure if my other one posted.)

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  33. Im not sure wether my 1st comment got through coz I could not seem to view it here :p anyways, I have only signed up here because of the #patjournalwithmegiveaway but I would probably be starting my own artblog here becaue your works are inspiring! Please do follow my art account at IG @see_me_from_within . All the best!

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  34. Hi!
    I'm so glad that I found your works on Instagram- they really inspire. And guess what, I'm already ordered Nikko nib and Pentel brush because this post. Thank you for sharing:)
    Already follow you at bloglovin
    And hope to win at your giveaway ������

    IG @neokisa

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    1. Thank you so very much for the follows and good luck!

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