January 2024 Printable

 

Starting the year with bright and fresh colours!

Download here: PDF

For ibon/netprint information, please see our instagram post.

 

Read More

Review : Midori MD paper correction tape

This year we reviewed a lot of correction tape and it seems fitting that we end the year with a review of one more.

Whilst getting ourselves ready for 2024, we have also purchased MIDORI's very own correction tape that is made specifically for MD paper.

The cream tape dispensed is 6mm wide.

The packaging is as one would expect of the MD range. Very sleek and simplistic.

There are japanese instructions printed on the back of the package and english instructions on the inside of the package.

So how does it compare to the other cream based correction tape that we have reviewed so far?

As you can see, it is the least opaque compared to the other two but as the label promises, it is an exact match for MD paper.

For those who use a lot of MD paper based products, this is a must have! The lack of opacity doesnt bother me since one would just write over it anyway. However, I do wish they put out other widths as 6mm is too wide even for their own lined books.

What do you think?

Read More

Review: Maruman Smart Review

 

I like the form factor of the Maruman mini ring notebook system, so when I saw these study aids, I decided to take a closer look. 

The binder itself is also a part of the Smart review system. 

It has been designed so the tabs are easy to see through the cover. 

The colour is not usually what I would purchase but the brighter the better when it comes to notes. 

I also like that the spine is the push open mechanism in plastic that is easy on the fingers, metal is fancy and all that but can pinch and that hurts. 

So yes, the binder comes with a set of colour coded dividers with laminated tabs. 

To write on the tabs, I recommend a permanent marker or some labels. 

The looseleaf refill set comes with 90 pages of 6mm spaced lined paper in 3 colours. 

Great for separating your notes visually. 

The vocabulary note set works with or without a card that allows for quick referencing and studying. 

The card is sold separately but even without it, the sheets are great listing and marking off things that you will or have already studied. 

How does the card work? 

It's red so whatever you write in red will disappear with the card over it. 

like so!

Very useful, first off, it's less effort than flipping pages or folding sheets and I think the red keeps you awake, I definitely need help in that department. 

A comparison of the mini binder next to the slim A5 binder. 

All in all, a very tidy study set from Maruman. 

I'm going to take my time filling these up but what do you think? Is this something you'd like to try? 

Read More

Review: Hapila! Scissors Cleaner Pen

 One of my biggest pet peeves is to use dirty scissors. So you can imagine my dismay when the only pair in my pencil case gets dirty. Cleaning it with napkins used to be an option but it doesnt quite work if the scisssors gets sticky. 

Well here's a solution!

Hapila! Scissors Cleaner Pen

According to the writeup on the back of the packaging, it not only removes dirt from scissors, but also makes them slippery, and also has antifouling properties.

This is how it looks like within the packaging. There appears to be a fair amount of cleaning solution in the pen too.

Here is how to use it.

1. Clean the scissors with a dry cloth to remove dust.
2. Apply the liquid from the pen to the surface.
3. Rub clean with a dry cloth.

It works really well! The stains are gone and the scissors now has a glossy finish making it harder for future stains to adhere.

I had thought about replacing these scissors but it looks like i will not have to! Definitely a must have in one's pen case!

What do you think?

Read More

2024 Diary First Impressions: Hobonichi A6 Almost Daily Notebook - Tomitaro Makino

 

Now that it's December, I thought I would write about the diary I'm planning to use for 2024. 

I haven't used a Hobonichi with quite a few years but these botanical illustrations by Tomitaro Makino are so pretty, I decided to give it a go again. 

I purchased the Japanese A6 version, it's a semi hard cover and comes with a pencil board with a pen holder, a Hobonichi brochure and a card with information about the illustrator. 

Since I last used hobonichi, they've made a few changes, the most important being thicker paper. 

I had a few issues with the paper being too thin last time so I'm looking forward to seeing if this improvement makes the Hobonichi a better notebook. 

The inside layout is very similar to previous iterations of the Hobonichi, but the paper definitely feels thicker. 

It's January start so no writing yet but let me know in the comments if you'd like a longer review. 

First impressions wise: 

I don't remember this spine coloring but it's very helpful! 

I wished the cover was a bit more hard cover than semi hard cover but I understand that contributes to weight. 

The illustrations are so pretty, I might have to put a plastic cover over it. 

and finally, I love the addition of clear pencil board, it's simple and pretty. 

I'm very excited to start using this notebook, what about you? 

What's your 2024 diary? 

Read More