Glass Dip Pen review

Just before Christmas Jessica from Glass Dip Pen contacted me and asked if I would like to try one of their pens, now I have been really curious about glass pens since I started learning hand lettering and calligraphy so I jumped at the chance!

After browsing the website I picked the blue Nebula pen from their Thor series and Jessica got one sent out to me straight away.  

Protected in it's own fancy box

The pen arrived the first week of January and I have been using it for my lettering practice ever since!

The whole pen is made from glass but it doesn't feel fragile.  The body of the pen is filled with green and blue glitter which reminds me of the sea, it is super sparkly and looks fantastic!

Blue Nebula 

Having never used a glass pen before I was a bit worried about the writing experience but it actually works really well.  

The nib holds plenty of ink

The twist design on the nib holds a lot of ink so you can write quite a bit without having to constantly reload the pen.  This makes it easier to concentrate on the shape and flow of your letters without worrying that you're about to run out of ink.

The Glass Dip Pen is really fun to use!

The tip of the nib is very fine so it is perfect for lettering, sketching and drawing.  It is also easy to make your writing look like calligraphy by drawing an extra set of lines on the down strokes of the letters and then colouring them in like I have done here.

I love how pretty the pen looks

The Glass Dip Pens start around $19.95 USD and standard shipping to the UK is $4.95, making it approx £19 or 22 Euro in total.  There are also sets that include a selection of inks for a little extra, which is great for a beginner or as a gift for someone. 

If glitter is not your thing then there are lots of different styles and designs to choose from, take a look and see what suits you best!

Easy to clean and use

Have you ever used a glass pen before?  Are you interested in trying one now? I'd love to know your thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by!


* Disclaimer - This product was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review, as always all opinions are honest and my own.

Signature Saturday - Sheaffer 100 rollerball pen review

Ok, so today is Signature Saturday and what do you need to write your signature?  A really nice pen!  Sheaffer are an official sponsor of National Stationery Week and I was given a couple of their Sheaffer 100 pens to use so today I am going to show you this beautiful rollerball one. 

Sheaffer 100 rollerball pen

The barrel of the pen is a stylish translucent red and coordinates nicely with the brushed chrome cap and nickle trim.  It is timeless and sophisticated and would look right at home in a briefcase, on a desk or in a handbag.  The pen comes in a luxury gift box making it a perfect present for any stationery fan.

In the gift box

Sheaffer have a long standing reputation for producing classic and timeless designs with the finest finishes and high quality inks.  In 1924 they introduced the White Dot to symbolise quality and excellence and today it is on every pen they produce making them instantly recognisable.  

Brushed chrome cap with the Sheaffer White Dot

I tested this pen out on Monday as part of my post for Pen and Pencil day and said that the rollerball ink skipped a little but once I had used it for a while longer it started to flow more freely and now it writes beautifully.  I love how pigmented the black ink is too, it really stands out against the white paper.

Black rollerball ink

Do you own a Sheaffer pen or have a favourite pen for signing your name?

I will be back tomorrow for the last day of National Stationery Week, how has it gone by so quickly?

*Disclaimer - This product given to me free of charge by Small Man Media for the purpose of National Stationery Week.  I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are honest and my own.

Hand Made Day - Staedtler Triplus Fineliner review & giveaway *Now closed & the winner is announced in the comments*

Hello!  I was a little stumped over what to do for today's hand made theme so in the end I decided to talk about these Staedtler Triplus Fineliners because, well, I use them when I am colouring in (with my hand!) so whatever I do with them becomes hand made.  That works doesn't it?  Yes?  Ok, lets carry on then! 

Staedtler Triplus Fineliners

The Triplus Fineliners are brilliant for colouring in an adult colouring book because they have a 0.3mm tip.  This makes them perfect for small, intricate designs and patterns which can be difficult to fill in with a pencil crayon.  Also colouring with the fineliners gives you a much brighter look than when you use pencil crayons, the whole image jumps off the page because it is so vibrant!

Vibrant colours

Staedtler's fineliners have an ergonomic triangular shaped body so they are comfortable to use over a long period of time and it makes them easier to grip.  The case they come in also converts into a handy stand so you can get the pens out quickly and simply in one smooth move.

Triplus Fineliner pen test

The fineliners aren't just for colouring either, they make a nice writing pen too!  I love using coloured pens in my planner to make things stand out on the page and these do the job nicely!

The prize

If you would like to win this four pack of Triplus fineliners then tell me which birthday Staedtler UK is currently celebrating (hint, you can find the answer on their Facebook page).  Here are the rules:

• Tell me which birthday Staedtler UK is currently celebrating.
• I will number the comments with the correct answer and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 9th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 10th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

Fountain Pen Friday - Lamy Safari green fountain pen review and giveaway *Now closed & the winner announced in the comments*

When I saw one of the days of National Stationery Week was especially for fountain pens I contacted Lamy and asked if they would like to do something together for today.  Lisa emailed me back and offered me two green Lamy Safari fountain pens so I could review one and give the second away to one of you! 

Lamy Safari green fountain pen

When the pens arrived I was struck by how lovely the shade of green was, it really reminded me of the first shoots of colour you see in spring.  

Spring green

I tested the Safari in my notebook and found it to be just as good as my Lamy Al-Star which I have been using for the past two years.  The ink flows out of the nib beautifully, I just wish my handwriting could do it justice!

Ink level window and chrome-plated pocket clip

The pen's body is made from tough ABS plastic and it has a lovely glossy shine to it.  Like the Al-Star the Safari has the same triangular grip area and a window so you can see the ink level inside the pen without having to open it up.

Handwritten review

You can pick up a Safari fountain pen for around £14 which is a fantastic price!  The Safari is also available in a wide range of colours if green is not your thing, I have my heart set on the new dark lilac one and maybe the yellow and pink pens too!  You can never have too many fountain pens right?

Medium nib

So, as I said, Lisa gave me a second pen to give away today, she also threw in an extra box of blue ink cartridges so you will be able to use your Safari fountain pen for ages and ages before you need to buy more ink!

The prize

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is tell me what you write when you are trying out a pen!  I usually go with "hello" and my children's names.  Here are the rules:

• Tell me what you write when testing a pen
• I will number the comments and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 8th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 9th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

Fountain Pen Friday - Maped Tatoo Soft fountain pen review

It's Fountain Pen Friday today so I want to share a couple of reviews with you, the first is for this funky Maped Tatoo Soft fountain pen. 

Maped Tatoo Soft Fountain Pen

When I opened the box of stationery supplies I was sent from National Stationery Week and Small Man Media my husband spotted this pen straight away and picked it up for a closer look.  He was definitely drawn to the fun comic book/pop art design on it and so was I!  It reminds me of the Batman TV show that used to be on in the 60's (which I watched as repeats in the 80's!) when the fight scenes were intersected with flashes of cartoon POW!!'s and BOOOOM!!'s. 

Pow! Boooom!

The pen comes with a standard cartridge of blue ink so you can use it straight away, I popped it into the pen and tried it out.

Iridium nib

The nib is a little finer than I am used to using but it still writes well and the triangular comfort soft grip feels nice and, well, comfortable in my hand!

Handwritten review

This pen retails for around £5 which makes it a great starter fountain pen for children or if you haven't used one in a while and want to try again without splashing out too much cash.  

Fountain Pen Day

Overall I really like this pen, the design is fun and colourful and it passes my main test which is good ink flow so it doesn't feel scratchy when I write with it.  

I will be back with a second pen review later on today and you will have the chance to win your own shiny new fountain pen to play with!

Fountain Pen Day - Lamy Al-Star review

When I heard it was Fountain Pen Day today I thought it would be a perfect time to review my Lamy Al-Star I purchased from Europens a little while ago.

Now the first thing I have to say is Europens were fantastic.  They happily answered my questions about engraving and the fonts available and were really lovely to deal with.  They offer a free engraving service so I just had to personalise my pen!

My aqua/blue/green colour crush!

The Al-Star is available in a wide range of colours but I went with the limited edition blue green pen.  I also brought an aqua pen case, which is an exclusive to Europens, to protect it.  

Making notes

The Al-Star is very similar in design to the popular Lamy Safari pen but the main difference is the Safari is made from plastic and the Al-Star is made from aluminium.  The Safari price starts at £12.99 and the Al-Star from £18.99 but the metal finish makes it look so much more expensive.

Medium size nib, turquoise ink and my
awful cursive writing!

Another difference between the Safari and the Al-Star is the bottom half (or is it the top half?) of the pen is translucent instead of a solid block of colour.  I think I prefer this look and like the barrel of the pen it is also squared so it is comfortable to hold, easy to grip and it wont roll when you put it down.

Yes my notepaper matches my pen!

The pen comes in a nice presentation box with a single cartridge in blue so you can use it straight away.  I would take a photo of the box but I took the pen out of it and put it into the leather case straight away and now I'm not sure where the box is.  I must have put it "somewhere safe"!

Pros:

• writes very smoothly, it doesn't skip at all
• the ink flows easily and at just the right speed
• looks expensive and stylish
• comes in a good range of colours, there's something for everyone
• lightweight but feels substantial in your hand
• a good starter fountain pen
• has a window so you can see how much ink is left
• affordable 
• wide range of coloured ink available
• stainless steel nib
• you can purchase a converter and use ink from a bottle
• well balanced - both posted and unposted

Cons:

• aluminium might scratch or dent though I've had mine for a few months and it still looks brand new 

Random things I write when trying out a pen 

If you want to join in with the fun today you can find the Fountain Pen Day team on Twitter and Facebook.  Europens are also running a couple of competitions on Twitter and their Facebook page if you want to enter or you can treat yourself or get a head start on some Christmas shopping with 10% off your order using the code:

 FPD10

The code is valid for today only

Have a great Fountain Pen Day!

*Disclaimer - I purchased this pen for myself and I was not paid to write this review.  As always all opinions are honest and my own.  I am not affiliated with Europens and will not receive commission on any orders placed using the links in this post.

Introducing... The Pen Company & a review of the Sheaffer VFM ballpoint in ultra mint

In my last post I mentioned I would be starting a couple of new features on this blog.  Today I am revealing the first!  During National Stationery Week I found some new companies so I thought I would write a series of posts introducing them and review some products I have either won or purchased from them.

Introducing...

The first retailer I am writing about is The Pen Company.  They are a family run online retailer based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire UK but they do ship internationally too.  

I won a Sheaffer VFM ballpoint pen from The Pen Company in a competition held through their Twitter account.  They also have a Facebook page and are readily available through both.  I like being able to tweet or post a message and get a quick response on social media.  They are also very active online and post interesting links and reviews so it is worth giving them a follow or a like.     

Sheaffer VFM ballpoint pen from The Pen Company

I was emailed by James at The Pen Company the day after I was announced as a winner (very quick customer service!) and I gave him my address details.  A couple of days later I received a second email which was a dispatch notice for my "order", again great service.  I do like a company who lets me know when my goods are on the way so I can start stalking my postman until they arrive.

The review

VFM stands for Vibrant, Fun and Modern and I think this sums up the range perfectly.  I love the simple but stylish design of the pen and the colour I received, ultra mint, is stunning!  

I decided to put the pen through it's paces by writing a quick review of it.  I found it to be comfortable to use and the ink flowed smoothly which is great, I can't stand a scratchy pen!   

Handwritten review

The pen is made from metal with a smooth lacquered finish and nickel plated trim.  It looks and feels a lot more expensive than it actually is.  I said in the handwritten review that the price is $19 (USD) but I forgot to deduct the VAT so it is approx $15 (USD) depending on the exchange rate and £10.95 here in the UK.  The website has a gadget at the top of the page to select the country you are in so you will get all the prices in the correct currency.

The VFM range is available in ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pens and comes in ten cool and contemporary colours:

• Matte black
• Neon blue
• Ultra mint
• Chilled blue
• Strobe silver
• Extreme purple
• Excessive red
• Radiant ruby
• Ultimate plum
• Maximum orange

  Pros

• smooth writing experience 
• looks great, stylish and expensive
• sits well in hand
• nice reassuring click on the push button mechanism 
• comes in a gift box
• has a one year warranty 

Cons

• Doesn't fit in the leather pen loops of my Filofaxes.

I feel like I am being a bit unfair with the con, the VFM wasn't designed with skinny pen loops in mind and it does fit in the elasticated loops but as most of you are Filofax users I did think I should mention it.  

In the gift box

Overall I really like this pen, it is easy to use and easy on the eye!  I would be happy to give one as a gift and just as happy to receive another one myself, I have the ultimate plum on my wishlist at the moment.

Thanks for reading!

*Disclaimer - the pen was given to me as a prize so I did not pay for it.  I was not paid to write this review and as always all opinions are honest and my own.  I am not affiliated with The Pen Company and will not receive any commission on any orders placed using the links on this post.