If using clumsy glue applicators frustrates you, 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 the Kuretake Zig Memory System Glue Pen. Its two-way formulation gives me both permanent and temporary bonds. Plus, I can choose lots of gluing options with the four different tips. 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, you may be looking for a glue pen. Because 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. You can write or draw with it because you hold it like a pen. So you get precise control over glue placement.
When Do You Use Them
You can use them when you need to place embellishments for scrapbooking or card making precisely. They are also handy when making paper flowers and card models.
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:
- Fine line tip leaves a regular weight line of glue
- Medium tip writes a medium-weight line of glue
- Wedge tip can write either a regular weight line or a broad stroke
- Dauber tip has a circular end 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 disposable ballpoint pens. It gives you the most control over the glue line. These are often used to 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. You must position elements right away while the glue is still wet to make it permanent. You get a few seconds of working time to let you reposition pieces. Let the glue dry before applying the element to make 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 on your work. 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 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 pressing 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. 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. Apply the glue to the element, then let it dry. When it is clear and tacky, lay down the sheet and rub it. Then gently pull the sheet back.
The 5 Best Glue Pens
1. Kuretake Zig Memory System Glue Pen
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. To get a permanent bond, apply project elements while the glue is still wet. To get a temporary bond, place project elements after the glue dries.
It is easy to tell if the glue is wet or dry. The wet glue is blue. As it dries, it turns colorless.
There are five different pen styles so you can do fine detailed work or tackle bigger or rougher 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.
You can use the Kuretake Zig Memory System 2-Way Glue Pen to apply glitter, embossing, masking, and flocking. Its 2-way adhesive lets you position stencils, create photo albums and make collages.
2. Tombow Glue Pen
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 as much 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 dries for a repositionable bond.
It is easy to tell when the glue is wet or dry. It goes on white and dries colorless.
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 your 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, so it leaves no residue and does not damage 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. Elmer’s CraftBond Glue Pen
The adhesive is acid-free and photo-safe, so it is papercraft friendly. Its non-toxic formula cleans up with a damp cloth.
The pen delivers a smooth and consistent flow of glue. It goes on clear and dries to a colorless permanent bond. It has a good working time before the glue sets so that 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 single, precision tip. The fine tip gives precise glue control.
Elmer’s Craftbond Dual Tip
This is a tank-style glue pen. It has a fine tip for precision control. Plus, it has a dauber tip for large areas.
4. Scotch Create Glue Pen
The paper-craft-friendly adhesive is non-toxic and photo-safe.
It goes on clear and dries to a colorless 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.
It’s a tank-style glue pen featuring two tips. The fine point precisely applies a controlled amount of glue. The other is a broad sponge applicator for big areas.
5. Sakura Quickie Glue Pen
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 colorless. 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 before applying elements.
Final Thoughts
I think glue pens are the sophisticated sister of the glue stick. You can apply liquid glue with precision. So fingers, hands, and the work area stay neat and tidy.
I have 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.
Explore Further
Aubry’s Guide To Paper Craft Adhesives covers my recommendations for all kinds of dry and wet adhesives you will need for papercrafts.