If using clumsy glue applicators frustrates you, then you may be looking for a glue pen. It lets you apply liquid glue with precision. You use it just like a pen so you can write and draw freely. Also, it expands your creative range because you can add new elements like embossing and flocking.
Please take a look at my top selections for glue pens.
Aubry’s Choice For Best Glue Pen
My choice is Kuretake Zig Memory System Glue Pens. The two-way formulation allows both permanent and temporary bonds. The four different tips give you lots of gluing options. I like how smoothly they go on. They are acid-free and photo-safe so they are paper craft friendly. Plus, they are widely available.
Things To Think About
If using clumsy glue applicators frustrates you, then you may be looking for a glue pen. Since you hold it like a pen to apply liquid glue, you use your writing and drawing skills. That is how you get precise control over liquid glue.
Most of its advantages over other applicators come from being pen-shaped. So when you are looking for a glue pen, you should look carefully at its tip and barrel.
Remember to keep glue formulation in mind too. You still want papercraft-friendly acid-free glues. But now you can expand your creative range. You can add new elements like embossing and flocking.
What Is A Glue Pen
A glue pen is a liquid glue applicator shaped like a pen. Because you hold it like a pen, you can write or draw with it. So you get precise control over glue placement.
Different Tips For Different Coverage
There are two kinds of glue pen tips.
Ballpoint Tips are like a traditional ballpoint pen. There are currently two types of ballpoint tips. The first requires you to squeeze the pen barrel to let glue flow into the tip. The second is spring-loaded, so the glue flows when you press the tip onto the gluing surface. They both leave a regular weight line of glue.
Felt Tips are like felt tip pens. Right now, there are four kinds of tips available. The first is the fine line tip, which leaves a regular weight line of glue. The second is the medium tip. It writes a medium-weight line of glue. The third is the wedge style tip. It can write either a regular weight line or a broad stroke of glue. The fourth is the dauber. It has a circular tip used to apply glue to a wide area.
Multiple Barrel Styles For The Best Fit
There are three styles of pen barrels.
Pen Style Barrels are like a disposable ballpoint pen. It gives you the finest control over the glue line. These are often used outline or trace elements before applying embossing powders or glitter. The ballpoint tip glue pens come in this style.
Tank Style Barrels are like a marker or highlighter. It gives you much more glue storage, so it lasts longer. The felt tip glue pens come in this style.
Squeeze Style Barrels are used with the ballpoint tip glue pen. It gives you the control to trace elements for embossing and glitter. Plus, you get the increased glue storage of the tank-style barrel.
Different Glue Formulations
The better glues are acid-free and photo-safe.
2-way glue formulas let you make either a permanent or repositionable bond. To make it permanent, you must position elements right away while the glue is still wet. You get a few seconds of working time to let you reposition elements. If you let the glue dry before applying the element, it becomes a repositionable bond.
Single strength bonds are permanent bonds. They dry clear, so they are invisible.
Specialty glues are formulated for specific purposes. You can get tacky glue for speedy permanent bonds. There are glitter glues that incorporate glitter into the glue. And there are colored glues that leave a visible line of color.
Glue Pens Expand Your Creative Range
Intricate details – you can precisely place glue so you can add tiny elements to your project.
Embossing – you can use it to add embossed elements to your project. For example, you can stamp or print calligraphy to an element. Then trace it with a glue pen. Before the glue dries, you can apply embossing powder. After you tap the excess off, take your heat gun to finish the embossing just like you usually do.
Glitter – rather than a specialty glitter glue, you can use a regular glue pen. For example, you can write with a glue pen. Then before the glue dries, you can sprinkle glitter over it. After you press the glitter firmly onto the element, you can tap the excess off.
Flocking – you can add a velvety touch to your project with a glue pen and flocking powder. Just apply glue to the element. Before it dries, cover the surface with your flocking powder. After it sets, tap off the excess.
Mylar Backed Foil – you can get that special glint with minimal effort. You will need to use a 2-way glue pen. First, apply the glue to the element, then let it dry until it is clear and tacky. Lay the sheet on the element and rub it. Then gently pull the sheet back.
The 5 Best Bone Folders
1. Peachey Delrin Folder
The adhesive is water-based. It is photo-safe, acid-free, and xylene-free. So it is paper craft friendly.
The pen’s adhesive can act in two ways. First as a permanent bond. Just apply project elements while the glue is still wet. Second as a temporary bond. You apply project elements after the glue is dry.
It is easy to tell when the glue is wet or dry. It changes color. Wet glue is blue. Dry glue is clear.
There are five different pen styles so you can do fine detailed work or tackle wider tougher surfaces:
- The Squeeze & Roll, which has a 1 mm tip
- The Chisel Tip, which has a 4mm tip and comes in two pen sizes—long and short
- The Fine Tip, which has a 2mm tip
- The Broad Tip, which has a 15mm tip.
The Kuretake Zig Memory System 2-Way Glue Pen can be used to apply glitter, embossing, masking, and flocking. It’s 2-way adhesive lets you position stencils, create photo albums, and make collages.
2. Vencink Bone Folder
The Tombow papercraft-friendly glue formulation is acid-free, photo-safe, and has no harmful toxins. Also, it comes in permanent and 2-way glue formulations.
It is available in a tank-style dispenser with a fine and dauber tip. Plus, there is a pen-style dispenser with a ballpoint tip.
MONO Multi Liquid Glue
This tank style glue pen is available in two sizes – the regular Multi and Multi XL with twice the glue. Both sizes are dual-tip dispensers. The pen tip is used for elements like intricate die cuts. In comparison, the dauber tip covers larger areas.
This is a 2-way glue formulation. First, you can apply project elements while the glue is still wet for a permanent bond. Second, you can apply project elements after the glue is dry for a repositionable bond.
It is easy to tell when the glue is wet or dry. It changes color as it dries. The wet glue is white. Dry glue is clear.
MONO Aqua Liquid Glue
This dual-tip tank-style glue pen only comes with permanent glue. Since the glue dries to a clear matte finish, you can use it as a top coat to seal paper.
The dauber tip covers large surfaces so you can create decoupage projects with minimal mess. You can use it to decoupage paper to wood, metal, or your mixed media projects and art journal pages.
You can create lettering or draw designs with the pen tip. Then you can apply glitter, flocking, and other decorative elements.
Glue Pen
This pen-style glue pen comes with a 1mm ballpoint tip. The permanent glue dries almost instantly. It wipes clean without water, leaving no residue on or damage to your project.
You can use it as a resist for water-based inks or watercolor paint. First, draw with the pen, then let it dry completely. Finally, apply color over the top of the resist.
3. Talas Teflon Folder
The adhesive is acid-free and photo-safe so it is papercraft friendly. Its non-toxic formula cleans up with a damp cloth.
It goes on clear and dries to a clear permanent bond. The pen delivers a smooth and consistent flow of glue. It has good working time before the glue sets, so you can reposition elements.
The Elmer’s CraftBond Glue Pen works well for scrapbooking and quilling.
Elmer’s Craftbond Precision Tip
This tank style glue pen features a precision tip. The precision tip gives you fine glue control.
Elmer’s Craftbond Dual Tip
This tank style glue pen features dual tips. The fine tip gives you precise control over glue placement. The dauber tip covers large areas.
4. Aitoh Bamboo Folder
The papercraft friendly adhesive is non-toxic and photo-safe.
It goes on clear and dries to a clear permanent bond. It has a very long working time, as much as five minutes. So you can easily reposition elements.
The Scotch Create Glue Pen is formulated for paper, photos, foam core, poster board, card stock, and cardboard.
This tank style glue pen has two tips. The first is a fine point tip for precise, controlled application of glue. The second is a broad sponge applicator for larger areas.
5. Arteza Plastic Folder
This pen-style glue pen has a 0.7mm ballpoint tip. You don’t need to shake or squeeze the pen to start the glue flowing. Like other pen-style barrels writing and drawing are easy.
It uses a 2-way non-toxic adhesive that goes on blue and dries clear. You can apply elements while the glue is still blue for a permanent bond. It has a short working time so that you can reposition elements.
You can also create a repositionable bond. Simply wait until it dries clear before applying elements.
Conclusion
I think glue pens are the sophisticated sister of the glue stick. You can apply liquid glue with precision. So fingers, hands, and the workarea stay neat and tidy.
I have been able to expanded my crafting techniques now I use a glue pen. You may be able to add new elements like embossing, flocking, and foiling to your projects.
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Want to learn more about paper craft adhesives, take a look at Aubry’s Guide To Paper Craft Adhesives. It covers my recommendations for all kinds of dry and wet adhesives you will need for paper crafts.