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If you have a plethora of sticky notes around your workspace, just think how nice would it be to make a little origami from them instead of chucking them in the bin. You could take a tiny creative break whenever you complete the task or no longer need the note. I’m sure it would help the day go by a bit easier.

Each pad has instructions for 10 different shapes (pig; penguin; boat; crane; butterfly; squirrel; lily and water bomb)

Originally posted Aug 18, 2009.

Keep track of your friends and foes with these colorful notebooks, or just pretend like you do and use it for notes and sketches instead (which would be my recommendation).

-matte satin cardstock cover
-160 blank pages of Lessebo Linn paper with sewn signatures.
Designer: Archie Grand, Sweden
Dimensions: 4 1/2 x 6 1/2″

Also available at Archie Grand, €11.95.

Originally published October 8, 2009.

Sometimes minimal decoration on presents and packages looks much better than a bunch of fancy bows, case in point is this gift tag stamp from Yellow Owl Workshop. To win recycling points, use newspapers or paper grocery bags for wrapping, and then some string and this stamp to state the giver/recipient. Ta-da. You’re done.
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Travelteq just added this Pencil Holder to their shop and it sure looks like a nice way to store your pencils, color or otherwise. Handmade from Florentine Vacchetta leather, it certainly has a Patrician flair, especially compared to what you’d find at a student art shop, and I’d be willing to bet it’ll stay intact after years of use. It fits 19 pencils; color pencils from Bruynzeel included.

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‘Mechanical writing instrument’ sounds a bit technical, yet that’s the best way to describe this combined ballpoint, mechanical pencil, and eraser. Switch between the three by pushing the clip- it’s that simple. If you’re wanting to minimize your belongings in your bag or on your desk, this could definitely help you on your way. From Japanese design house Metaphys.
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Web developers, embrace your occupation wholeheartedly this holiday season with these letterpress cards. There’s several to choose from and all allow you to express your message in the familiar PHP code.

Shown above: Egg Nog Arrays Greeting Cards (Set of 4), $14.00
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Now, why has this not popped up on the collective radar before now? It’s a magnetic pencil with no varnish (cedar wood, eco friendly), so you can keep it handy on the nearest metal surface. It’s also worth noting that paperclips and other paraphernalia might stick to it, depending on the magnet’s strength.
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Ah, now this is a must have for us forgetful folks. Each note sticks to itself to form a band, making a perfect wrist reminder for important times, notes, etc. So smart, and needed over here in the states as soon as possible (retailers, take note!). Currently the only retail site is in French, so a little translation might be necessary.

Block of 100 sheets.
designer: Doriane Favre
dimensions: 21 x 4 cm

I’ll add this to the list of seriously awesome-office-products-that-I-really-don’t-need-but-desperately-want. The devil is in the details, and well, it’s the extremely clever and unique elastic closure that makes this product really stand out.
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Respond to your work mates’ office antics with a well aimed, cross-the-room rubber band shot. The Bandit is a rubber band shooting ruler made that’s 100 percent designed to be a work distraction. Okay, you can measure with it too, but what’s the fun in that?
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Here at BLTD we love sharing products with you that are readily available to buy. Occasionally though, we’ll come across a product in development that is just too exciting not to post. The PHX-1 is an artist/designer tool that combines the Hi-Tec-C and Signo DX pens, a hobby knife and a designer ruler with 7 measurements into a stainless steel body and a sustainable bamboo case. Hooray for more dorky design tools! I’m also quite excited to see a hobby knife with a proper safety cap to it. The plastic caps that fall off are a real pet peeve of mine.
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Say goodbye to throwing away pens. This pen has a jumbo ink cartridge inside, ensuring that you can write about 1.7 meters a day for seven years. Pretty decent timeline, no? And it’s good to know that you’re not contributing to the whopping 100 million pens discarded every day. Now you just need to not lose it.

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How about a pattern notebook set to brighten up this Thursday morning? Unfortunately for us in the States, this retail shop is over in the UK, but it sure has a great selection of stuff. This set of A6 notebooks, for starters, is designed by Brighton-based eco designers, Nineteenseventythree and can be purchased individually should you prefer (£ 3.75 each). The patterns are also available in gift wrap, if you can believe it. And, because I got sucked into the cute, you should too: check out the shark sleeping bag, frog and duck feet by Ruth Hawkins, all of which would make truly excellent baby gifts.

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Seeing as you cannot (and should not) carry around a real Magic 8 Ball in your pocket, briefcase, or purse, this pen will get you out of those moments of indecision with just a click. Need I stress that this pen is $7, and your hopes should not be too high as to the quality or longevity? If you’re in holiday shopping mode, make note: stocking stuffer.

The pen’s sayings:
Not For A Million Dollars; Dude, No Way; Hell Yeah! If You’re Lucky; It’s Unclear, Ask Again; Without A Doubt.

This type of thing seems unnecessary until you drop a cord behind your desk, only to spend five minutes retrieving it in the most unflattering position possible. It’s simple enough; the Sumo acts like a paperweight for your cables. It keeps them from slipping off the work surface with its weight and micro-suction pads. For $12, keep your dignity intact.
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