Best Pens for Writing Cards and Drawing: LAMY and Five Useful Choices

The best pen for a greeting card depends on the job: everyday handwriting, fine illustration or decorative lettering. A fountain pen, gel pen and fineliner feel different in the hand and behave differently on paper. Start with the kind of marks you want to make, then test the pen and paper together.

This is Well Drawn’s buying shortlist, based on manufacturers’ information checked in October 2026, rather than a laboratory comparison or a claim that every pen has been personally tested. We don’t sell these pens or have a stated partnership with the brands. We do enjoy the idea of a good pen being used to write something lovely inside a card.

1. LAMY safari fountain pen: for the handwriting enthusiast

The LAMY safari fountain pen has a steel nib and shaped grip, with cartridge and compatible converter options. It is worth exploring for someone who enjoys the act of writing and wants a refillable pen.

Try the grip and nib width if you can. A fountain pen is a personal choice, and the shape that suits one hand may not suit another. Check what is included with the particular listing before buying extra ink accessories. For card writing, test your chosen ink on similar paper and allow it to dry before closing the card.

2. Pilot G-2: for a familiar gel-pen feel

The Pilot G-2 is a retractable gel-pen range with compatible refills listed by Pilot Australia. It is a practical option to compare if you want an everyday writing pen rather than a specialist drawing tool.

Choose a tip size that suits your handwriting. Small writing inside a card may call for a different line from a large name on an envelope. Check drying behaviour on your paper, particularly if your hand moves across what you’ve just written. Comfort and a legible line matter more than buying the widest range of colours.

3. Sakura Pigma Micron: for controlled drawing lines

Sakura Pigma Micron pens use pigment ink and come in a range of point sizes. Sakura describes the ink as waterproof when dry on suitable non-coated paper, which makes the range relevant to drawing and mixed-media experiments.

Start with one line width suited to the scale of your drawings. Very fine details may disappear on a small card, while a heavier line can change the whole character of an illustration. Test before adding paint or other wet materials. The manufacturer’s specifications are a useful starting point, but your particular paper still deserves a trial.

4. uni PIN: another fineliner to compare

The Australian uni PIN fineliner page describes waterproof, fade-resistant ink. Consider it for outlines, small illustrations and simple lettering where a consistent line is useful.

Compare the available tip sizes with the drawing you want to make. One clear outline and a few well-placed features can do more than a page of tiny marks. If you already own a fineliner that works comfortably, you may not need another brand immediately. Use a short test drawing to identify what, if anything, is missing from your kit.

5. Tombow Fudenosuke: for brush-style lettering

The Tombow Fudenosuke range uses a flexible tip for varying line width. It is an option to explore when you want to practise lettering with changes in pressure rather than write every stroke at the same thickness.

Try short words and simple marks on spare paper first. A flexible tip asks for a different movement from ordinary handwriting. Keep the main message readable and give the letters enough room. You can use a brush-style word as a small accent on a card rather than lettering every sentence in the same treatment.

6. The pen you already own: the useful control sample

Before buying anything, write the same sentence with your current pen. Draw a small circle, a few straight lines and a tiny face. Look at what works and what frustrates you.

This is your comparison point. If your existing pen writes clearly, feels comfortable and dries well on the card, the upgrade may be optional. A new tool can be enjoyable, but the message doesn’t need to wait for it. The best card in the drawer is still waiting for somebody to put words inside.

Choose by task

• Longer handwritten notes: compare comfortable everyday writing pens, including a fountain pen or gel pen.
• Small illustrations: compare fineliners with a line width suited to the drawing.
• Decorative words: explore a flexible-tip lettering pen after a little practice.
• Envelope names: choose a clearly readable line and check that it dries properly.

You don’t need one pen to perform every task. Equally, you don’t need a separate specialist tool for every letter. Begin with the activity you do most often and build a small kit around that.

A five-minute pen and paper test

Use a spare sheet with a similar surface to the card. Write a few ordinary words, a recipient’s name and a short greeting. Add one simple drawing if that is part of your plan.

Check for spreading lines, marks showing through the paper and smudging after drying. Try the pen at your normal writing speed rather than only drawing very slowly. Turn the sheet over to inspect it.

If the result is good, use the pen on the finished card. If not, change one thing at a time: paper, pen or ink. Testing all three at once makes it harder to know what caused the difference.

Turn a pen into a thoughtful gift

Pair it with a notebook suited to the recipient and a Well Drawn card carrying the first personal message. Explain why you chose it: for their sketches, travel notes or the handwritten letters they send to everybody else.

A pen-and-card pairing is an editorial gift idea, not a branded collaboration. Choose the pen from the retailer or manufacturer and the card from Well Drawn. If you’re giving a fountain pen, include clear information about compatible refills so the gift is easy to keep using.

Make the writing feel like you

Tools help you make marks; they don’t need to dictate the message. Start with one thing you appreciate, add a specific memory and finish with a warm wish.

For a more decorative cover, our hand-lettering guide offers exercises. For illustration, try our drawing-by-hand guide. Both begin with manageable steps, so you can enjoy using the materials you already have.

Pen-buying questions

Is a fountain pen better than a gel pen for cards?

Neither is universally better. Compare comfort, line width and the way the ink behaves on the paper. A pen that suits your normal handwriting and dries reliably is a good choice.

Which pen should a beginner buy for drawing?

A simple fineliner is worth trying for clear outlines, but start by testing a pen you own. Choose one useful line width before investing in a full set.

Can I use any pen on textured card?

Different combinations behave differently. Test on a similar surface, use gentle pressure and allow the ink to dry. Avoid assuming a manufacturer’s general description guarantees the same result on every paper.

I’m Kristian from Well Drawn, where hand-drawn illustration gives each card its character. Pick a pen you enjoy, choose a card that makes you think of someone and write the message. That is a very good use for a lovely piece of stationery.