If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you’re a fan of fountain pens. And if you’re like most fountain pen users, you want to spread the love of using fountain pens to people around you. Unfortunately, fountain pens aren’t for everyone. That doesn’t mean that everyone doesn’t deserve a nice writing experience, though. In this post I want to give a few gift suggestions for those people in your life who may want to have a nice writing experience or simply enjoy being creative.
Note: Wherever possible, I’ll have a link to product pages on both pen shops and Amazon. I highly encourage you to purchase from a pen shop to support a small business, but understand that some of you prefer to use Amazon. I do get a small commission from Amazon for any purchases made through my site, even if you don’t actually buy the product that I link to, so if you’re planning on purchasing something else on Amazon and still want to support my site, a single click on a link will send a tiny bit of money my way.
It All Starts With Paper
Readers of this blog know that I put a lot of emphasis on good paper. No matter what kind of pen you’re using or how you’re using it, the right paper will make any pen-related experience much more enjoyable. Here are a few things that should appeal to many different types of people:
Leuchtturm 5-Year Journal
I got my Leuchtturm Some Lines A Day journal about 4 years ago and have been writing in it every day. The idea is that you write just a few sentences every day, which makes it easy for even people with very low commitment to complete every day. The Leuchtturm paper quality makes it ideal for use with many different types of pens, as well as being able to stand up to years of use. Believe me when I tell you that looking back at what you were doing on the same date years ago is a daily source of enjoyment.
Mixed Media Paper
For anyone who is artistic, paper that can handle a variety of media is a great gift idea. Keep in mind that it isn’t the best for any particular media. Watercolor paper is best for watercolor, drawing paper is best for drawing, writing paper is best for writing. Still, mixed media paper is a great thing to have around, as it can handle everything from fountain pens to watercolors to paint to pencils. Personally, I love playing with ink and water on it, but it’s also surprisingly fun to write on! Just like with paper, a higher paper weight (gsm) is usually a better option.
Don’t Forget The Pens
Pens have always been meaningful and cherished gifts, both to give and receive. You’ll just want to make sure that you give the right pen to the right person!
Retro 51 Tornado
My go-to rollerball pen is a Retro 51 Tornado. Not only are these pens high quality, but they also come in a variety of colors, themes and patterns. Refills are easy to find and write beautifully.
Fountain Pen Alternative Versions
Many pens that you may think of as fountain pens have alternate versions as well. For example, you can find Kaweco Sports, Pilot Metropolitans, Lamy Al-Stars and other pens that you may think of as fountain pens in rollerball and ballpoint versions as well.
Other Crafty Supplies
Whether you love fountain pens or not, these gift ideas are sure to make most people happy.
Stickers and Washi Tape
Letters and bullet journals can both be enhanced with a few stickers and a bit of washi tape. There are so many different colors, patterns and materials out there, I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which will work best for that special someone on your list. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll want to spend a bit more for the good stuff so it doesn’t come unstuck right away.
Water Brush Pen
Water brush pens are great for watercolors or simply adding water to paper for a bit of fun with ink and water. These pair perfectly with some mixed media paper and ink or paint.
A Good Pair Of Scissors
It’s surprising how often a good pair of scissors will come in handy. It doesn’t really matter whether or not you’re crafty, good scissors are both relatively inexpensive and indispensable. Once you’ve upgraded your scissors, you’ll never use a low-quality pair again.
Wrapping Up
As you can probably tell, the world of fountain pens easily blends into other areas that are enjoyed by many people. While not everyone will get the same thrill out of a bottle of ink or a notebook that you do, most will truly enjoy at least one item on this list. Keep an eye out for sales, shipping offers and even gift wrapping options throughout the month of December. While you may not be able to spend this holiday season with your loved ones, you can at least make sure that they know you’re thinking of them by sending a gift that they’ll love. Don’t forget to include a hand-written note with the gift! Any reason to use your fountain pens, right?
