Our pen guide
Tomoe River paper is thin and silky, and that is exactly why we love it. It also means not every pen behaves the same way on it. Some inks need a little longer to dry, and a heavy marker can show through to the next page.
So we tried a lot of pens in our own planners. These are the ones we keep reaching for, and the ones we would happily put in your hands.
With love, the Aura Estelle team
These are the pens we write our to-do lists, appointments and weekly plans with. Smooth, fine, and quick to dry.
If we could only keep one pen, it would be this one. It writes super smooth, the ink dries quickly, and the little press-down cap is just so cute. It comes in soft pastel colors, and in a few limited Disney designs too.
$9.00
Shop this pen
The soft padded grip makes it comfy for long planning sessions, and the ink dries fast, so you can close your planner without worrying.
$9.00Shop
A sparkly pink barrel that makes us smile every time, with clean strokes and no bleed-through.
$6.00Shop
Our top pick in a limited Disney design. Same smooth, quick-drying ink, just a little more magic.
$9.00ShopA few pens to make your headers stand out and your color coding feel calm, not busy.
Two nibs in one pen, each color paired with a soft grey. Our favorite for gentle color coding that still looks clean.
$5.00Shop
Quick drying, with a tip that grips the paper nicely while still feeling smooth. Pick a bigger tip for bold titles and headers.
$5.00ShopFountain pen ink looks beautiful on Tomoe River paper. Just give it a moment to dry before you turn the page. Not sure which nib to pick? M is a lovely place to start.
Only 10.5 cm closed, so it slips right into your planner cover, and it becomes a full-size pen once you post the cap. Simple and timeless.
$39.00Shop
The same little pocket pen in a soft frosted finish. Natural Coconut is the palest shade, almost icy, and so pretty next to a pastel planner.
$39.00Shop
A little treat for yourself. Light aluminum in a delicate rosé gold, with a silky feel in your hand.
$107.00Shop
The easy way to fill your Kaweco Sport. A deep, calm blue that looks lovely on the page.
$4.00Shop
For pens you fill from a bottle. Midnight Blue is shown here, and we also have Royal Blue, Ruby Red and Pearl Black.
$18.00ShopThey can if the ink is still wet, because the paper is so smooth. A quick-drying gel pen like the Kokuyo Vividry or the Kokuyo x Anterique helps a lot. Give it a few seconds, and if you are left-handed, rest your hand on a scrap of paper while you write.
Yes, and it is one of the nicest papers for it. You will see a little ghosting because the paper is thin, which is normal. Let the ink dry for a moment before you close the page.
A fine 0.5 mm gel pen keeps small writing neat in A5 and B6 weekly layouts. Our everyday favorites are the Kokuyo x Anterique and the Kokuyo Vividry.
Not if the ink underneath is dry. Wait a few seconds, then use a soft highlighter like the Kokuyo Mark+ for calm, clean color coding.
We hope you find a new favorite here. Happy planning!
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