About the Pen

Looking for food safe ceramic paint pens?
We have them in several colors! Visit our online shop to get what you need.
They're currently selling for $10 each and shipping is free for up to 6 pens.


You can learn more about these neat pens here.
Meanwhile, here are the most commonly asked questions about the pens:

• What is the special pen?
• Where do I find the pen?
• Does the pen come in other colors?
• Is it food safe?
• Can I wash the item in the dishwasher?
• Can I use the pen for other craft projects?
• Who makes the pen?

What is the special pen?
This is a thermo-hardening water based paint pen that is made for writing on ceramic & glass. Once the paint is "cured," it is food safe and dishwasher resistant.


Where do I find the pen?
The pen is attached to the PlateWrap. If you don't find it there, ask the person who gave you the plate if they still have it.


Does the pen come in other colors?
There are several pen colors available. If you would like a color other than the one attached to your PlateWrap, you may order other colors from this website. You can get an assortment of pens to color coordinate with your PlateWrap.


Is it food safe?
Once the paint is cured, it is food safe for finger foods. We say "finger foods" because metal utensils such as a fork or knife will scratch the paint, causing it to flake off. Bacteria from the food could get trapped under the flaked paint, and the bacteria could make you sick. Plus, we're not sure it's all that great for you to ingest the paint flakes.

But yes, you can place baked goods, sandwiches, deli meats and cheeses, veggies, etc on your painted plate without any problem.

UPDATE 1/18/2015:

Are you planning on using Pebeo Pens to paint your own plates?

I had the exact same concern, and did some research before I started painting plates. 

The problem doesn't seem to be the paint itself, but how the use of the item could alter the paint.

Here's an excerpt from a letter Pebeo wrote to Adorn magazine, which I found at http://www.deepfriedkudzu.com/2006/07/practicing-painted-ceramics.html 

(Love Ginger's blog, by the way.) 

"We have contacted Pebeo and have confirmed that the Pebeo Porcelaine Paint 150 used in our Adorn feature is food safe. The paint has been tested at Duke University, and was reported non-toxic and food safe for food contact. 

Though the paint is non-toxic, it is not recommended for use on a dinner plate because sharp objects, such as a steak knife, could damage the design and bacteria could potentially become trapped in cracks caused by utensils. However, the paint itself is not harmful to ingest even if scraped off. 

The reason the paint is not currently FDA approved is cost. The cost for FDA approval is approximately $50,000 per paint color, which Pebeo may pursue at a future time."

Is it dishwasher safe?
Once the paint is cured, your plate can be washed in the dishwasher and the paint will remain. Your Pass It On Plate is a handmade item, though, and we always recommend hand washing hand made things. Just in case.


Can I use the pen for other craft projects?
Of course.
The pen contains a special paint formulated for use on ceramic and glass, so yes you could use it on other ceramic and glass items, as long as the item can be placed in your oven and cured per the instructions on the pen. We cannot assume responsibility for any damages or performance failures if you wish to use the pen for other craft projects. We also cannot assume any responsibility for any use other than the pen's intended use. Please keep the pen(s) with the PlateWrap when not in use so it can continue to travel with the plate. Imagine the disappointment if someone received the plate with instructions to use "the enclosed pen" to write their name on the plate and there is no pen enclosed. You can certainly order more pens from our website if you'd like to do other craft projects with them.

Who makes the pen?
These ingenious pens are manufactured in France by Pebeo, and the particular pens we use and sell are the Pebeo Porcelaine 150. Pebeo makes another pen called the Vitrea 160, which is less opaque and beautiful on glass. We have extensively researched these pens and this type of paint item and as far as we know, Pebeo is the only company on the entire planet that makes a food safe permanent paint marker that you can use to write on plates and other ceramic items, and cure them without a kiln. If they are hard to find in your local area, we invite you to check out our online store and get what you need. Ours include a ribbon and pin to attach them to a PlateWrap, but if you have a special request please let us know and we will work with you to get you exactly what you need.