Project kit: Make pens personal
Transform ordinary office pens into personalized presents
Forget the neckties, gift certificates, and fruit baskets as gifts this season. When in doubt, give a personalized pen. Whether the recipient is a family member, friend, colleague, or client, a pen is something everyone can use.
You could go out and custom-order a pen, wait for delivery of it, and pay a pretty penny. Or, you can make one (including a custom gift box) yourself, for practically pennies. All it takes is your computer, printer, paper, and a regular office-store pen. The pen used in this project is the clear-barrel R.S.V.P. model by Pentel.
Further embellished with custom accents and presented in a beautiful coordinated gift box, a personalized pen is the perfect present for the person who has everything.
Not only is this gift inexpensive, this project takes just minutes to make!
On This Page
Step 1: Make a personalized pen
What you need
Instructions
1. | In your image-editing program, create a frame or text-box approximately 15/16-inch tall by 3 and 5/16-inches wide. Most programs have a "Show Ruler" display option. Turn it on to size your image right before you print. Learn more about using text boxes in Word and using text boxes in Publisher.  Create your custom message that you want to include in your pen. |
2. | In your text box, type the name or message you want on the pen (for example, Ben Miller, Grandma Chris, Happy 2006 Dad!), and center the text in the frame. Text should be no more than about 1/2-inch high. Add small graphics and/or background colors, as you like. |
3. | Print, then cut out your image. |
4. | Unscrew the pen's end-cap and remove the ink cartridge. |
5. | Carefully roll the trimmed paper image into a snug cylinder. As you're rolling, make sure the name or message is all that's visible once you're finished.
Tip: While any type of paper will work for this project, I prefer a lightweight glossy photo stock, like HP's Brochure & Flyer Paper or Kodak's Anytime Photo Paper. |
6. | Without letting it unroll, insert the paper cylinder—left end first—into the barrel. Tip: For the best results, first ply the paper by wrapping it around the outside of the pen's barrel. Then roll the cylinder from the top (above text) down. Also, insert the paper message toward you, while holding the barrel's clearest side facing you (the brand/model imprint lettering on the opposite side). This produces the largest unobstructed view of your message once it's inside the pen. This also leaves the one "raw" edge on the paper to unroll beneath the brand imprint, making it less noticeable. |
7. | Screw in ink cartridge, and you're done. |
Step 2: Make a custom gift box
Complement your personalized pens with matching, custom gift boxes.
What you need
| • | Standard jewelry gift box: Find basic 1" x 2" x 8" jewelry gift boxes in craft stores, card stores, or, like I did, 50 cents each in a dollar-discount store. You can use spray paint to change the exterior to a lush, trendy metallic. |
| • | Avery sticker project paper |
| • | Ruler |
| • | Scissors |
| • | Spray paint (optional) |
Instructions
1. | Measure the area on box top where you want to place your image. |
2. | Using the program you used to make the pen, resize the image you created to match the size of the box. To resize the image, grab a corner and stretch it to the size of the gift box.  Resize the image you created for the pen to match the size of the pen. |
3. | Print the image on the Avery sticker project paper. |
4. | Trim, peel backing, and affix the sticker to the box top. |
Note: If you want a custom-colored box, be sure to spray paint it—top, bottom, inside, and out—before you affix the image, preferably 24 hours in advance.
Step 3: Embellish your personalized pen
The particular pen used in this project comes in a variety of colors—each represented by the colored end-cap on the ink cartridge and the barrel's rubber grip. You can change the color of the end-cap, making it more stylish at the same time, with spray paints. Try using metallic paints for the most fashionable look. Indoor, outdoor, and even paints made for car exteriors, all work great.
The pen's tip and cap, both clear plastic, can be similarly embellished. The color of the rubber grip can even be changed.
Plain pens (top and bottom) with custom accents to caps, tips, and grips (middle).
What you need
| • | Pentel R.S.V.P. pen |
| • | Spray paint (for end-cap, tip, and cap) |
| • | Rubberized spray paint (for grip) |
| • | Pearlized powdered pigments (optional; find at craft stores like Michaels) |
| • | Paper towels, pipe cleaners, drinking straws, or even an old pen |
| • | Masking tape |
| • | Old coffee mug, or short tin can |
Instructions
Prepare the parts of the pen that you want to embellish, and then spray paint in light, even coats, or just "spritz" for a mottled or marbled look. Except for the grip, be sure a light, even coat is applied. Place all of your sprayed parts into a coffee mug or small tin can to dry. It's best if you can leave these to dry overnight.
Here are tips on how to prepare your pen to be spray painted.
Cartridge End-Cap
Unscrew ink cartridge. Hold wrapped in a paper towel, or drop into a drinking straw, so only end-cap is exposed.
Pen's Cap
Place cap onto grouped pipe cleaners, straws, or an old pen. This stabilizes it so you can spin the cap evenly while spray painting.
Pen's Tip
Mask off the rubber grip before you spray.
Pen's Rubber Grip
Mask off areas above and below grip. Spray with rubberized paint. Or, as I did with these pens, first rub pearlized pigment powders onto the grip with your fingers. To protect the glistening finish, spray with a clear rubber paint.
 | Tami Peterson Lewiski
Tami Peterson Lewiski's first book, Digital Decorating, prompted The Wall Street Journal to draw comparisons with Martha Stewart. That diva's domestic crown, however, is of no interest to Tami. Digital Home Arts is her trademark and, as one magazine reviewer put it, "Tami wields her printer like a great artist wields a paintbrush: fearlessly!" She's shown her innovative techniques for creating sophisticated home furnishings and stylish entertaining as a guest on many Home & Garden Television (HGTV) programs, including The Carol Duvall Show. Visit Tami's Web site digitalhomearts.com, for more creative ideas.
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