The School Supplies Sleuth

The Suspect: Foray Rolle' Rollerball Pens with Case

2010-03-03T22:20:00.000-05:00

Remember me? I guess you could say I went undercover for awhile. I've been deep into office supplies, but not in rating them... until now!

I have had these Foray Rolle' Rollerball Pens in black and turquoise sitting on my desk for sometime, begging for me to open the case on them. But the pens aren't even the best part, what reeled me in was the fashionable pen holder/case that came with it.

I don't usually purchase Foray, because I haven't been super pleased with their products in the past, but I really wanted to take a look at the case.

The purchase ended up being well worth the price, under $5 at Office Depot.

And the pens turned out to work better than expected too. There was some inconsistency in the ink bleed- darker in some spots, lighter in others, but it didn't last long and before I knew it, I was writing at length this very blog post. I am still not a fan of the feel of the pen grip, but it writes so nicely, that I may have to forgive and forget.

The white pen really threw me off, I was expecting white ink (forgetting to read the package that clearly says "black ink"), I should have known that was a little too peculiar to be true. But I love the white case it came in. I don't find it as useful, considering it only holds two pens and I would only seriously use it if I was toting around really nice pens. But if you do use pens that leak a lot, this could be a great fit for you. The case is long and adjustable, so it will fit many different lengths if need be. I think I would have liked to have seen a the pen case have a magnetic clasp instead though. All in all, a pretty neat find for Office Depot.

The Suspect: Swinton Avenue Trading Graphic Tape w/Dispenser

2009-11-01T15:58:00.000-05:00

OMG! I love graphic tape!

That is no joke. I do love graphic tape! In fact, I am sometimes surprised I don't see more of it. I know there is a lot out there, I even follow an entire blog on graphic tape alone called "I love Sticky Tape", but it isn't as common in regular tape-friendly stores like Office Depot where I found this pack hiding in the $1 bin.

This graphic tape came in a package of four with four different color and word schemes. Here is the breakdown of each roll:

1. Pink tape with hearts and "BFF" writing.
2. Purple tape with stars and "Besties" and "lol" writing.
3. Yellow tape with thought bubbles and "OMG!" writing.
4. Magenta tape with "cUl8r" and "XOXO" writing.

In case you are feeling down because the tape is so, err girly, when I found this tape in the $1 bin it was with some other graphic tape that had a more male-friendly theme of skateboarding and snowboarding terms and colors.

This graphic tape is especially nice for passing notes in class (not that any of us have or would ever do that) or hanging pictures up in your locker. It adds a lot of fun to whatever you're taping. It doesn't come with a whole lot on each roll, but I would almost call it reusable. After messing up on taping one of the sides for the picture above, I was able to easily peel it off with no paper coming off with it and re-tape it with no problems or less stickyness- maybe that is because it seems more clingy than sticky. Either way, you could use it to hang pictures in your locker with no problems moving it around from place to place. Even days later, I am still able to remove it and re-stick it with no problem.

I think this is a cute addition to any fun school supplies collection. I plan to pass this down to my little sister though, who I think will find a much better use for it than I will- No passing notes in class though ;) !

The Suspect: Silver Lining Pocket Planner

2009-10-11T21:52:00.000-04:00

Have you ever picked up an impractical product, but loved something about it so much that you felt compelled to purchase it anyway? Or made excuses and excuses for a product that isn't right for you, but you want it to be right so badly (because it's so cute) that you convince yourself it's still good for you anyway?

This week I purchased a 2010 pocket planner at Barnes & Noble. I fell for its slim figure, coral pink (available in other colors too) cover, and cute pen. But while I do love the idea of it, I have noticed a few things about it that erk me. I love a notebook that folds flat- I hate feeling like I am trying to write in the crevaces of pages when in reality I am trying to write in the middle of a page.

This is one of those notebooks- which isn't a big deal if you don't mind bending the leather cover to make it lay flatter- which I don't, except I can see the wear-and-tear it is going to have on it in the long run (not good for a yearly planner). It can also cause problems when you are trying to close a notebook you have to bend to get open, but it is taken care of here where there is a snap clasp to keep it tight (so cute!).

The pen is a little tough to get out of its holder, but maybe it should be that way so it doesn't slip and fall, right? The pen doesn't write that well either and the pages are thin and therefor somewhat see-through (maybe so it can maintain that slim look?).

It does comes with corner tear-offs, so it is easier to find the day you are looking for- but then it also has a pink (that doesn't match the Coral) ribbon placeholder. Is it redundant? or smart? Because sometimes you need to hold more than one place, right?

Okay, okay, so I have established it isn't the most practical planner in the world. But I like the slim look, I love the bright colors, I like the simplicity of the pages' design, and in general, I just like it. I am using it to record daily food intake for one of my before-new-years resolutions to eat healthier. Those snicker minis really seem to add up!

October Delights

2009-10-07T20:41:00.000-04:00

Happy October! Aww... I love October; the name, the weather, the leaves crinkling beneath my toes, the holidays, everything about it. And George, who has a great blog called My Supply Room, just made the month even better when he sent me this great scan card system insert for a three-ring binder as well as a clear protractor and 6" ruler. Oh happy day! Nothing like school supplies to brighten your day, right?

I had inquired to George about the scan card system after I had read about one on his blog, and he sent one over to me. I haven't found the perfect use for it yet, but am leaning toward using it to organize articles for a magazine I work on at work- which, I might add, I have been looking for a system but haven't been able to nail down one just yet. So thanks George! I have a feeling this is going to be the perfect solution!

As for other great blogs, be sure to check out the third edition of the pen, pencil and paper blog carnival! This carnival is hosted by the Office Supply Geek, who has a terrific blog about all things office supplies! Check it out, there are so many cool blogs and posts to read, I know you'll love it.

The Suspect: Fred To-Do Tattoo

2009-09-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

I can't tell you how many times I came home from school with writing on my hands and my mother would look at me with horror. "Why do you write all over your hands? It looks terrible." Today I can't stand writing on my hands, something I might have been brainwashed to believe looks awful. But I will admit, when I wrote a reminder on my hand during my school days, I remembered what was so important I had to make a tattoo of it.

So thus, when I saw these in a random trip to somewhere (I've been holding on to them for some time now), I thought they were a neat idea. "The perfect solution for your shoddy short-term memory" the packaging reads. It was calling my name. The small kit comes with 12 tattoos and a skin-safe blue gel pen.

The tattoo works like any other temporary tattoo. Peel off clear laminate, stick to skin, wet paper tattoo on skin with damp cloth, remove paper, admire tattoo, rinse with cool water, and wait for it to dry entirely.

The concept is so much fun, but the execution not as much. The To-Do Tattoos come out well, but I know that most would want to use it on the palm of their hand (like I did) and the lines can come out crooked because the palm isn't the smoothest surface, and therefor not the best palette for tattoos. A great alternative to this is the inside of the arm- which I think makes for a much flatter area.

The other problem was with the gel pen,when I used it to write the tattoos clear parts started coming off as I wrote (my fault, as I did not wait enough time for it to dry properly), but even when I retried it with a second tattoo and many minutes of drying time, the writing still came out spotty.

I love this idea though! I have a sneaky suspicion that if you don't mind writing on your hand with a different pen (which I know most school-goers don't) that this could be great for those forgetful students (or anyone really). And the act of actually putting on the tattoo should make it even harder for you to forget.

Washing it off is super simple too- it won't come off with simple handwashing or lotion, but it will come off easily with a little baby oil and light scrubbing (I expect rubbing alcohol would work too, but didn't have any on hand to test).

The Suspects: Pilot Frixion Erasable Gel-Ink 0.7mm Pen & Erasable Yellow Highlighter

2009-09-23T23:08:00.000-04:00

"Why would anyone want an erasable pen, isn't the point of writing in pen so that you can't erase it?"

I peered up at the Border's salesclerk. "No. That's not the point of writing in pen." He's just a part-time school supplies user, I thought, don't concern yourself.

'Write, Delete, Repeat' The Pilot FriXion Ball Erasable Gel Pen in Fine/Black 0.7mm uses 'thermo-sensitive' gel ink formula that is removable by friction. It's also available in 0.5mm in 8 colors. Most of what can be said for the pen can also be said for the highlighter, so for the rest of this blog highlighter-wise- ditto.

The pen's perks: it writes really smooth- unlike the conventional erasable pens- and doesn't skid/skip when you're writing, so no breaks in your cursive (unless you want there to be) and no need to retrace your writing. The pen comes in multiple colors, unfortunately I was only able to procure the black ink pens, but am looking forward to trying out the many others.

Other great features include the rubber tip, which doesn't wear down or leave eraser flakes OR make that annoying eraser noise (am I the only one that notices the noise erasers make when they rub against paper? I shutter just blogging about it).

The pen feels nice in your hand, it has a smooth exterior and is ultra-light so it's great for your shirt pocket (this baby isn't going to weigh you down!). It also doesn't appear to damage your paper when you erase- no major indentions and most definitely no tears on regular notebook paper.

The pen's pitfalls: the most obvious problem is the rubber eraser tip is on the butt of the pen rather than on its cap, which means if you cap your pen while using it, you have to uncap it to use the eraser end- argh! To test the eraser, I wrote something earlier today and came back to erase it and erased something within seconds of writing it- the eraser worked equally well both times but left a faint shadow of once was each time- as long as you are writing over it, I don't "see it" as a big deal.

The color is also not as rich as I would like it to be, but still nicer than many ballpoints. The same goes for the highlighter, which would be really nice if brighter. On a more personal level, I'm not so much a fan of the exterior design decor- a little too rocker-tatooish for me. I prefer just a clean/simple look.

So I may have listed plenty of pitfalls and perks, but overall it really is a great erasable pen! I think it is going to be just what I have been looking for in a planner pen- which I am always making mistakes in. So while it may have its flaws (don't we all), it is simply just a fun pen. I see many envious classmates and co-workers in my future.

Tips: Erase faster, not harder. It's not the amount of pressure you use that make the eraser effective, it's the heat/friction combination.

The Suspect: Oxford Note Card Case

2009-09-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

Index cards mean business. In fact, they scream importance! After all, what is normally stored on an index card?

Forever they have been used to store contact information in your handy-dandy Rolodexes and used by kitchen cooks to house their secret family recipes. School children and college students use them by the dozens as flash cards and many great (and not-so-great) speeches have been conducted from index cards. Needless to say, they’re useful and when you pass by a flipped over index card, you’re mind thinks “importance” and you bend over to see what kind of tid-bit of information may have been left behind.

Yes, yes. That’s all good. But a post on index cards? Well, yes, but no. This post is on my index card carrier- or my pocket protector for index cards. But it is so much more than that, this Oxford Note Card Case is beautiful for so many reasons.

Evidentiary Support #1: Protection

Yes, I have seen many note card carriers in the past, many of them in box form. That's what makes this one so great, its slim and makes organizing piles of note cards a cinch. No more box-y case to tote around, no more rubber-banned cards falling out of their assigned pile, no more wasted index cards falling to the bottomless backpack never to be seen or heard from again until your test has flown by and your question or vocab word unstudied. This card case protects cards from backpack elements, in a slim carrier designed for easier organization.

Evidentiary Support #2: The Pockets

Okay, so maybe I was a little dramatic earlier, but let me explain why. With the two pockets (one pictured with the Oxford insert above, the other to our right), or note card display slots on both sides of this carrier, I can easily label which class or project each note card case is for- which, if you use note cards for studying, is a much better solution than the awful rubber ban system. In fact, this sleuth's partner-in-crime dubbed it "Law School Approved".

Evidentiary Support #3: The Pen Holder

You've got your note cards easily organized and on-hand, why not throw in the full package and add a pen holder to it as well? Well, I'm not as excited about the pen holder part as most would be, but I guess that's just because I know I could never settle on one single pen to fill the note card case slot- they're are so many wonderful ones to choose from, am I wrong? But for the average person, it may prove useful.

The Oxford Note Card Case holds your standard 3" x 5" note card and the case has a smooth gel-ish feel to it and is somewhat flexible. It comes with 25 note cards, but could easily fit double that amount. It also comes in more than a few colors, so you could easily color coordinate with your classes (which we all do, right?).

The Suspects: Markings by C.R. Gibson Journals

2009-09-20T16:53:00.000-04:00

They're plaid and pretty, they're the Markings Journals by C.R. Gibson. I was roaming Staples, looking for a planner cover, when I came upon these gems. I am a sucker for plaid, especially as Fall is drawing nearer and nearer, and so I guess you could say it was love at first sight. But looks aren't everything, so I delved a little deeper to find out if these journals were really going to be my Fall flings.

First, the dirty details:
192 pages
Storage Pocket
Elastic Bond Closure
Ribbon Marker

Now some may compare Markings journals with the infamous Moleskins, but in comparison, I would only say they are a good alternate for a moleskin. In comparison, the Moleskin's cover is much sturdier, and the pages are much smoother and pens also don't seem to bleed as much with Moleskines.

The Markings journal says it lays flat when open, which I find many notebooks claim as well, but maybe "lays flat" means something different in other languages, because I have found few that actually do. Thus, when I read this about the Markings, I judged a book by its cover and knew right off the bat it wasn't true. But they do lay "flatter" than a Moleskin, so points earned in that division!

They also offer a wider variety of cover patterns, like this festive plaid one, making it stand out from my pile of notebooks and less likely to get lost in the black hole I call my purse. I also like that Markings feel lighter in my hands (and in my pocket) and the less expensive price tag is also a plus. The lines are a smidge taller than Moleskins and it provides plenty of header and footer space on each page, a personal plus for me because I am so fond of making lists.

This journal also comes with nice expandable pocket space in the back. Oh, who doesn't need a good pocket in their journals? Inspiration, business cards, receipts, whatever. I added two nice pictures, the first showing the little book in the bigger and then vice versa. The pocket seems rather durable- I know this because I kept testing its limits with various loose-leaf lists flying around my planner.

The ribbon marker is a nice touch as well, especially if you are using the journal as an actual journal, or even as a daily to-do list keeper.

Okay, okay. I may admit that maybe I am a little fond of the Markings journals because the company is headquartered in the lovely city of Nashville, Tenn., a personally favorite place of yours truly.

The Suspect: Built Scoop Camera Case

2009-09-12T00:17:00.004-04:00

Here's the scoop. Every gumshoe detective, and blogger alike, knows the value of a good camera. After all, you need evidence...err, proof, you've experienced first-hand what you're investigating, umm, blogging, about. But if your camera looks like this one, you've got a problem.

I thought I was safe. I thought my camera was perfectly protected from harm with my nifty cloth case, but I was wrong. So wrong it cost me my camera. Don't make the same mistake I did, keep your camera safe in something more sturdy and save the cloth cases for your credit cards.

My pick, the Built Scoop Camera Case in Dot No. 7 / Powder Blue. It's "Built" with a rigid eva back for extra screen protection and elastic neoprene front (website description here). But best of all, it was in the OfficeMax $5-or-under bin.

The case also comes with a loop for attaching it to your belt, which is useful for sure, but I prefer to use it as a handle for carrying.

One of the unique qualities about it is that no two Scoop Cases seem to look alike. They do offer a variety of patterns, but even this particular pattern differed slightly from one case to the next- so I spent a good amount of time deciding which one suited me best (which, of course, gained me some curious looks from those not-so-zealous school supplies shoppers).

In the end, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. It's Built "Built" Tough and has kept my current camera from facing the same fate as my last. Case closed.

The Case: Turn A Tote Into a Sack for School

2009-09-09T23:57:00.000-04:00

They're "green", they're handy, and they're cheap. Nothing says school supplies like a good craft project.

For .99 cents I purchased this black canvas tote from a nearby superstore, and for the cost of some Fabric Mod Podge and the ink I used printing three pictures, I had a customized tote for everyday use.

Students, teachers, and laypeople alike will love this personalized project. In this case, I mixed a little business with pleasure and decided to make my tote the perfect School Supplies Sleuth Sack.

The idea is pretty self-explanatory:

(a) take your reusable canvas tote and lay it on a flat surface with a piece of paper inside to protect it from glue seeping through (I just used by ironing board without the padding)

(b) take items, whether cut-outs from magazines, patches, iron-on images, whatever, and pre-lay them across your tote to get an idea of the layout you'd like

(c) once you get them where you want them, take each piece and glue them in their respective places

* For paper to fabric (and all types for that matter), make sure you use an adhesive that is specially formulated to bind the two together- I used Fabric Mod Podge but you can find even cheaper solutions around

* If you are doing an iron-on transfer, read the directions carefully! I attempted to make mine first with an iron-on transfer, but realized mine was printed on translucent paper so it didn't show up on the black bag. But honestly, a good iron-on transfer is the simplest, most-effective, and durable of all types of tote decorating!

(d) let it dry

(e) If you went the paper or picture-to-fabric route and not the patches and iron-on route, make sure to make a clear coating of Mod Podge across the entire art area to protect it and make sure it stays in places

(f) let it dry

(g) admire your good work, and open the floor for compliments

Other notes:

1. Acrylic markers are great for decorating light-colored totes too, especially if you have a knack for drawing or painting.

2. Avoid "puff-paint", it always comes off!

3. Ribbon, buttons, and sequence are all examples of other materials you can use to decorate your tote, just make sure they're on there tight...

4. If the bottom is too flimsy for you, put a piece of sturdy cardboard at the bottom- I used the backing of an old legal pad I had lying around. If you really want a sturdy bag, most craft stores sell blank canvas totes for $5-$10.

Grocery bags don't make the best replacement for book bags, but I love them for packing a change of clothes for practice after school, using it at conferences (or Trick-or-Treating!) to house all the nick-knacks you come away with, carrying your ever-growing school supplies collections to and fro, or shamelessly promoting your blog. Whatever you utilize it for, make this practical pack personal.

The Suspect: 2009/2010 Weekly & Monthly Student Planner

2009-09-07T16:34:00.000-04:00

As a school supplies sleuth, I am constantly on the look-out for the perfect planner. I search high and low every place I go for a planner that combines bright colors with simple patterns, and allows me the freedom to customize it any way I please.

It had been a long day already, and to top it off I was soaked from head to toe from the pouring rain across town, and stuck out like a sore thumb at Target now that I was on the sunny side. All was forgotten when, as I turned my shopping cart around the corner, what did I see? School supplies shopping season in full-swing. Isles of No.2 pencils, Crayola markers, and colorfully adorned binders and backpacks: this was the day I found my perfect planner.

Now, as a former student, I don’t make a habit of shopping in the school supplies isles for a new planner- but on this day, I couldn’t resist. I make no apologies for being attracted to bright colors and why not buy a planner that goes from August-to August instead of January-January? It only means I get to start writing in it sooner! And I was glad I did, so very glad I did. So glad, in fact, I bought two of these very planners.

The Planahead 2009/2010 Weekly & Monthly Student Planner, in two sizes: 5x8 and 8x11 (don’t quote me on that, rough estimates only). They are wonderful in every way.

The cover is what you would come to expect from a school calendar, a durable plastic. It displays the large numbers “09” and “10” to reflect the years it covers and comes in many different colors. For the larger calendar, which I use for work, I picked a black cover with white numbers. For the smaller calendar, which I carry everywhere with me, I chose a white cover with black letters. My only complaint lies here- the cover numbers have worn some after being tossed about in my purse for so long- be kind to it backpackers! I am currently on the hunt for a good cover (which I am equally persnickety about).

Onto its insides— Oh, how I get sick at looking at the same pattern day in and day out, and thus why I love this solid color scheme. One color per month- and yes, I correspond the color ink I use with the color of the month.

I also get tired of picking up planner after planner and seeing the appointment times listed beside each day. I don’t know one person who sticks to those set appointment times. And does your day suddenly end after 6 PM? Not mine, and certainly not anyone else I know. That’s where shopping in the school supplies isle comes in handy! No set appointment times listed for you, and color? Have I mentioned that yet?

Plus the price is nice too. I love a good Franklin Covey, or a Day-Timer, but sometimes you can’t beat the $7 price tag for a planner you’ll use every day. As for design, I think the pictures speak for themselves.

(Larger planner not pictured here, but does offer more writing room than the smaller planner) The planner also includes a handy pen holder on the cover, a clever design feature. Featured with the Planner-Steadtler Triplus Fineliner (see previous blog post).

What will I do if they don’t offer this same design next year? The search will begin again, no doubt, but I have a feeling I will somehow manage to make myself go school supplies shopping again.

The Suspect: Staedtler Triplus Fineliners

2009-09-03T20:43:00.000-04:00

Ever since my partner-in-crime sent me on a hunt (which I whole-heartedly volunteered for) for multi-colored 0.3mm pens, I've been keeping a wide-eye. He had borrowed some from a co-conspirator before and liked how he was able to fit a lot more writing on a small index card.

While wandering around a normal office supplies store on this particular quest, I noticed just how many pens didn't list their point size. So eye-balling it, I purchased a few different brands, thinking if some didn't work out I would at least come away with some new school supplies.

My eyes caught a stylish package of 10 marker pens, the Staedtler Triplus Fineliners. The almost-unseen 0.3mm size and moderate pricing ($8 at Staples), was enough for me to scoop them up.

Good work.

On the surface, I was intrigued by their long physique. But gave them the benefit of the doubt and wrote it off as extra room for ink— my only fear was that it would make it uncomfortable to write with, but my wariness quickly wore off after I wrote with them for the first time. They were more than comfortable, to say the least.

I have a sneaky suspicion the triangular-shaped barrel wasn’t for visual effect, it was obviously ergonomically-designed for comfort and it doesn’t leave your hand cramping after long periods of writing (or doodling).

The 0.3mm tip was a perfect fit for post-it notes and jotting down appointments in a pocket calendar. The writing is still legible, no bleeding lines, and it has a broad enough stroke that you can still see the difference in colors. It is one of those writing utensils that you think actually improves your handwriting for you; a true treasure.

I should add that the pens are designed to last, the tips wont dry out if you leave the cap off and even the package was designed for long-wear— a durable, semi-transparent plastic with notches for each individual pen and designed so that the lid can be used to elevate them while on your desk (see photo). I am a fan of keeping them in my own supply cubbies, but it works out great for the real recipient of these pens.

This Sleuth, personally, is holding out for the 20 color-pack and it’s customized roll-out carrying case— neither of which I have seen in any store near me, but defiantly plan to do some checking into for future blog posts.

The Suspect: Cocoa Desktop Writeboard

2009-09-02T18:19:00.000-04:00

If you're anything like me (or the rest of the world for that matter), you use post-it notes to jot down just about everything. Until recently though, I fell victim to over post-it noting (see post-it note picture) and worse than looking at them clutter up my desk one-by-one, I felt awful when I would throw one after another away only moments after I jotted down (or doodled) on it.

Then, in a recent trip to The (beautiful) Container Store, I discovered the Cocoa Desktop Writeboard. I was instantly drawn to its clean, sleek design. The idea was something I hadn't considered or seen before- a whiteboard (basically) that was angled for jotting, and doodling, down those quick notes. The concept was easy enough, but Cocoa took it a step further with the clear lifting face and interchangable templates. For around $20, you get the board, a black dry-erase marker with eraser head, and a CD of printable templates.

Since that blissful day, I've been hooked on the Cocoa Writeboard. Today, only two post-it notes on average call my computer monitor home and I've cut down on post-it note refills by large quantities. I love the way it looks on my desk and it is at just the right slant that it is comfortable for resting your arm while writing on it. Even the black dry-erase marker seems ergonomically designed for a better and more comfortable writing experience.

The biggest squawk though is that it squeaks when you write. At first I thought it was the marker I was using, so I tried two different brands of garunteed "non-squeak" dry-erase markers and all of them squeaked. I'm convinced it is the board, but regardless its usefulness has outweighed the squeak factor and this school tool has earned a permanant spot on my desk.