Confused about Sharpies

Can you use Sharpies in scrapbooks?? I just started and I'm trying to find a fast drying pen to use. I keep smearing my writing and I'm getting very frustrated!!

Newbie looking for any help!
Thanks!!

I don't know about sharpies but I use Slick Writers. They come in various colors and sizes and can write on...you guessed it, slick surfaces!! Vellum, plastic, photos even. Works good!

Yes you can, I use mine a lot. I just recently got a white one that is very opaque and it is acid free.

Creative Memories sells great pens!!! Last forever!!

• Mother Goose Said:

You really use sharpies in your scrapbooks? Maybe they have changed from the old ones but lots of my teaching stuff that I have from years ago that I used sharpies on have a yellow shadow around them.

• NMlady Said:

My mom used sharpies in my scrapbook and 20 years later the ink is starting to bleed and get that yellow shadow around it. Some of the ink is even on the pictures.

Only use a pen if it is acid free and archival safe. Regular sharpies are not, but I think that they sell some that are archival quality.

Sharpie has "paint markers" that are labeled as acid free and good for scrapbooking. Go to sharpie dot com to check out everything they've got.

The ones I use all say acid free.

I love my white sharpie!! It is like a paint pen, but with a thin tip

The only "acid-free" Sharpies are the Sharpie paint pens......none of the markers are acid free. I definitely wouldn't use the markers personally. I actually called and was told they are not acid-free. The Sharpie paint pens are safe though. Any acrylic paint is acid-free by the way.
Try Sakura pigment pens, or ZIG Writers, CM, or American Crafts . I've never had a problem with any of these.

• Mother Goose Said:

It may be acid free, but that doesn't mean it's Archival Quality. With pens, I always check to see if they're archival quality.

I've seen some pens that say acid free on them and then when you read the "fine print" or read on their website, you find that they say they're not guaranteed for scrapping.

*eta that if it is acrylic paint, then yes, it should be ok, but like previously stated, the regular markers probably aren't ok to use for scrapping.

Good information. I like to use Sharpies for lots of projects, not just SBing. I haven't had any problems with color bleeding or a yellow shadow. I don't normally use them too much for my LO's just because I have a ton of other pens. I did just buy some new sharpies that say acid free on the package, but nothing about archival safe.
thanks for the information!

The issue with the sharpies is not the acid, but the yellow ring that surrounds all the writing in time.

That said.... I like writing with them so much that I use them anyway.

Micron Pigma pens are very comparable, I need to get some of them since mine have disappeared over the years.

Thanks so much for posting this - I have also wondered if they were safe to use but never thought to ask - just avoided them for fear of them bleeding through. Caroline

Although the biggest difference with Sakura Micron Pigma is that these are "archival safe". They are some of my favorites! I would worry about them harming the photos over time. But the best thing about scrapping is that there are no rules!!

• lapeen2 Said:

I saw in Memory Makers magazine, very vividly, someone used a Sharpie, but the supply list had it listed as a paint marker, so apparently they DO make one that is safe.

I would never think the regular Sharpies are ok for scrapbooking. The smell alone tells me no no no.

Crummie, I did a whole album for my mother with sharpie...

I used to use Sharpies, b/c it says acid free on some of them, but I've since heard that they are a no-no.

I've only really ever used CM journaling pens, which are actually competitively priced, and they are really good and safe for scrapbooks.

Some people say they're ok to use as long as the writing isn't directly on the photos. I have been tempted to use some but I haven't. I LOVE ZIG writers so I use those or some AC pens that I have.