Getting glitter or leaf in the grain or pores and nowhere else on a pen blank an arduous task. Whether use glitter or leaf must apply some adhesive. Apply glitter or leaf then burnish or sand off excess, then apply a clear top coat.
If not worried about cost of materials, time required or expense to sell ratio take the challenge. Also look at your wood selection, sometimes nature can really help, click on wood net link and see photos.
I am intrigued by using glitter on turning projects, not wood pen blanks sure pen place to start unless covering entire blank in glitter and applying a top coat.
CHECK PRICES OF GLITTER CREAM, GOLD LEAF, TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
GILDING & FINISHING MATERIALS -> GILDING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES...
http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_listing.cfm?ClientID=15&CategoryFullID=186
Wood used to make this pen comes with natural contrast I would not want to hide what nature provided. Scroll down to wildwood's comments.
http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbth...&Number=5676525&page=3&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=
These photos just an example of difficulty you face trying to glitter or leaf.
Spalted Poplar, Silk Tree, Oak, and Spalted Red Oak, blanks cut on diagonal except for Oak.