When it comes to adult coloring books, gel pens are one of the most popular coloring tools out there.

Bright colors and vivid lines make gel pens ideal for coloring everything from simple pictures to the most intricate designs. They can be used alone or in combination with colored pencils or markers to add dimension and beautiful highlights to your work. Gel pens can even be used over dry acrylic paint for stunning visual effects!

GelWriters are one of the most versatile tools you can have in your crafting toolbox—whether you are coloring, “tangling” (aka doing Zentangle), handlettering or just love to doodle, gel pens are a must-have for every artist. And just like your fabric shears or paintbrushes, they will last longer with a little TLC.

GelWriters Knows Gel Pens

We’ve been making gel pens for over 10 years, and we put our new GelWriters through every test in the book to make sure they meet our ridiculously high standards. That means we have over a decade of experience in figuring out everything that can go wrong with a gel pen—and we mean everything!

This week, we thought we’d spare you all that trouble and share our tried-and-true tips for getting the most out of your GelWriters. Here are our top tips to keep your GelWriters in tip-top shape.

1. Mind the (Gel Pen) Cap

Our number one tip is this: don’t lose the cap! Every GelWriter pen comes with a color-coordinated cap that is not only extremely fashion-forward, it actually keeps the pen from leaking. When the cap is on securely, it forms a vacuum seal in the pen that keeps the ink suspended safely inside the pen where it belongs. Trust us, you don’t want gel ink on your cat. Push the cap down until you hear it “click” so you know it’s secure.

2. Don’t Wait to Use Gel Pens

Unlike a fine wine, GelWriters do not get better with age.

All gel pens use a water-based ink, and over time that water will eventually evaporate, leaving the gel to harden inside the pen. This condition is commonly known as “The Awful Dried Out Pen Predicament”. There are many tips out there on how to bring a dry gel pen back to life, from giving it a steam bath to holding it over an open flame. Our best advice? Get out there and color till the last drop is gone! GelWriters have a shelf life of 1-2 years, but why leave them sitting on the shelf?

3. Get the Ball Rolling

We all know the pen is mightier than the sword, but even the mightiest gel pen may skip a beat from time to time. The rollerball tip of a GelWriter can get jammed up with a bit of dried ink or a particle of glitter, especially if the pen hasn’t been used in a while.

Most of the time, this problem is easily fixed by scribbling back and forth or around in small circles to get the ball in the tip rolling again. Wiping the tip with a damp paper towel will also often do the trick. Once you get the ink flowing, you’ll be back to your project in no time!

At GelWriter, we make gel pens so you can make beautiful artwork. We hope these three simple tips will help you keep your pens in top condition so your projects will look their best!
If you have any questions about GelWriters, or if you just want to show off your amazing gel pen art, you can always find us on Facebook!