Gel Pens vs. Glitter FX: Choosing Your iHeartArt Travel Art Pack

Quick answer

Choose the iHeartArt Travel Art Pack Gel Pens for a light, low-mess drawing kit that fits in a bag. Choose the iHeartArt Mash-Up Art Pack Glitter FX when you want watercolor painting and sparkle in one fold-up portfolio, and you can accept a little more setup and cleanup.

What you get in each portfolio

The Gel Pens pack is a drawing-first kit: 10 gel pens, a 25-page paper pad, and a Techniques Guide, with pens stored on one side and the pad on the other. The Glitter FX pack is a mixed-media kit: 12 metallic watercolors, 8 glitter gel pens, 8 glitter markers, 2 paintbrushes, a 25-page art pad, and a Techniques Guide, all in a fold-up portfolio.

That difference matters more than the supply count. The Gel Pens pack asks only for paper and a steady hand. The Glitter FX pack adds paint, water, and brushes, so it covers more techniques but needs a surface you can paint on.

Portability and mess trade-off

Both kits are built around a fold-up portfolio with a 25-page pad, so neither is bulky. The Gel Pens pack is the simpler one to carry because the pens clip into the portfolio and there is no water or wet paint to manage. The Glitter FX pack is still portable, but watercolors mean you need a water cup, a place to rinse brushes, and drying time before you close the pad.

If your travel art happens in a car, on a plane tray table, or in a waiting room, the Gel Pens pack is the lower-risk choice. If you have a table and a few minutes to set up, the Glitter FX pack gives you far more variety for the same trip.

Skill level and age range

The Glitter FX pack is labeled for artists 7 to adult, and its Techniques Guide is there to help beginners use the metallic watercolors and glitter pens together. The Gel Pens pack also includes a Techniques Guide that teaches you how to draw with gel pens, which makes it a gentle entry point for younger drawers or anyone new to the medium.

If the artist in your life is still building confidence with a pen, start with the Gel Pens pack. If they already enjoy painting and want to add sparkle, the Glitter FX pack gives them more to explore without switching kits.

Key trade-offs to weigh

• Setup and cleanup: Gel Pens: open the portfolio and draw. Glitter FX: add water, brushes, and drying time for the watercolors. Pick Gel Pens if you will be drawing in a moving vehicle or a space without a sink.
• Supply variety: Gel Pens gives you one medium done well. Glitter FX gives you watercolor, gel pen, and marker options in the same pad. Choose Glitter FX if the artist gets bored with a single medium.
• Sparkle level: Glitter FX includes glitter gel pens and glitter markers plus metallic watercolors. Gel Pens is a straight gel-pen drawing kit. If glitter is the main request, Glitter FX is the direct match.

Product facts at a glance

• iHeartArt Travel Art Pack Gel Pens: Comes with 10 gel pens, a 25-page paper pad, and a Techniques Guide in a mini portfolio. Everything needed for drawing is in one place, so it works as a grab-and-go kit with no extra supplies.

  

• iHeartArt Mash-Up Art Pack Glitter FX: Includes 12 metallic watercolors, 8 glitter gel pens, 8 glitter markers, 2 paintbrushes, a 25-page art pad, and a Techniques Guide. One portfolio covers painting, drawing, and glitter effects, which suits artists who want variety on a trip.

  

Which pack fits your artist?

Best for

• Younger or newer artists who want a simple drawing kit
• Car, plane, and waiting-room art sessions with no water access
• Anyone who prefers gel pens as their main medium

Not for

• Artists who want painting and mixed media in one kit
• Kids specifically asking for glitter supplies
• Crafters who want to try watercolor techniques on the go