Monday, November 30, 2015

CYBER MONDAY SALE!

Just in case you've been living under a rock for the past couple of days, Cool Pencil Case is having its biggest sale of the year! Today is the last day to redeem 30% off your $50 purchase at CoolPencilCase.com. Just enter discount code CPCTurkey30 at checkout!

Enter code CPCTurkey30 to receive 30% off your $50 purchase
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: What to Buy The Planner Addict

Take it from us -- our planner obsession has been at 100 this year. With each new shipment of planners and stickers to innovative stationery, the girls at Cool Pencil Case find more reasons to stay organized and to keep our planners as eye catching as possible. At the end of the day, even our sometimes rough weekly to-do lists need a little color.

Color is something we decided to amp up during our last photoshoot. For our latest holiday gift guide, we decided to pay homage to the planner addict. Some might want to layer on some creativity within the beautiful pages of our Sentimental Circus or Rilakkuma Planners, while some want a blank slate to make each weekly layout their own. Whatever your canvas, don't forget the last couple of essentials to make the planner aficionado on your gift lift smile from ear to ear during the holidays.


Washi Tape
Even our #CPCPlannerGirls have said it, washi tape is super essential when creating any monthly or weekly layout. Highlight days, create borders and bring some fun designs on plain pages!

Planner Tabs
If you've noticed the planner addict on your holiday gift list with a book style planner, more than likely he or she will not have dividers to separate sections. Make sure to grab some planner tabs to bookmark sections or important pages. At CoolPencilCase.com, we have a variety of animal planner tabs and other stationery tape to get creative with!

Colorful Stickers
Just like washi tape, colorful stickers can highlight the illustrations in a character-themed planner and bring blank pages to life. Get more bang for your buck by checking out our sticker collections that feature multiple sheets. Stickers make awesome stocking stuffers for kids and adults as well.

Highlighters
Go freehand! Highlighters and craft pens encourage creativity even with simple doodles and notes. Lighten up with our Pastel Dual Color Highlighter set and go for gold twice with the Beetle Tip Dual Color Highlighter Set.

French Pastry Erasers 

Fun Erasers
Make sure the planner addict on your list has a couple of fun items, such as food and animal erasers, or even an innovative retractable eraser!

Mini Notepads
If there's anything a planner love would appreciate, it would be a couple of tools to keep him or her organized beyond her scheduler. Mini notepads are great on-the-go essentials to jot down ideas or important info that can easily be kept within the pages of a planner later.

 Book Buddies Bookmark Clips

Paper Clips
People within the planner community use paper clips in different ways -- whether it's to keep papers together or to bookmark pages, they're better in color and in fun shapes.


#CPCPlannerGirl: Wendaful

One of the coolest things about making new friends in the planner community is seeing their own creations come to life. Wenda of Wendaful.com (or @wendafuldesigns on instagram) has done an amazing job showing off her planner inspiration to keep more organized, all while upkeeping her own store and personal life. See some of her favorite Cool Pencil Case items below and take notes on how she why she thinks the planner life the best life.

 
(Included Above: Happy Baby Mega Pencil Case, Hearts and Clouds Washi Tape, Donut Eraser Collection, Bonjour Conchonn Sketchbook Stickers, Rilakkuma Double Sided Planner Sticker Set)
"Ever since I can remember I have always loved pens and stickers. I used to shop at sanrio and even worked there for a little while! I used to love buying the letter sets to write cute notes and letters to friends." -- Wenda


(Included Above: Happy Baby Mega Pencil Case)

What is your favorite Cool Pencil Case product and why?
My favorite Cool Pencil Case product is my Lilac Happy Baby pouch. Besides the fact that it is so pretty, it can hold so much! I am able to store a ridiculous amount of pens, washi tape, stickers, and more! It is perfect for taking with me on little trips where I know I will want to play with my planner. 

Tell us about your favorite and most used planner accessory (bookmark, gel pen, stamp, etc).My favorite planner accessory would have to be washi tape. You can easily decorate your planner with it and is perfect for labeling events. 


(Included Above: Giraffe Charm Wallet and Pencil Case Duo, Rilakkuma and Sentimental Circus Bookmark Clips)

Can you give some tips on those who love decorating their planner pages but are on a budget?
If you want to start decorating your planner pages but are on a budget scour the internet for free printable stickers! There are tons of resources on the internet these days, my favorite place to search is on Pinterest, just search free printable stickers and you will get tons of results! 

When did you start using your planner and how did it change the way you prepared for the day/week/month?
I started planning in April of 2014 because I needed to schedule cleaning the house, making time for the kids, and remembering all of my appointments. I am so glad I did because now I hardly ever forget an appointment, and I manage my time so much better. It's not about having time, it's about making time. Planning for 10 minutes a day can make your day or week go so much smoother.

How do you organize all of your stationery and supplies?
I use two white drawer units to organize all of my stationery supplies. I love the shallow drawers because it makes storing small supplies easier to find. I separated the drawers to organize my stamps, ephemera, sticker books, and washi tapes. I also use a mini binder to store my etsy stickers! 

How do you decide how to design your planner layouts? How long does it usually take to complete your design for the week or month?
When decorating my planner pages I always choose two washi tapes to start and work around that theme. Sometimes I use a decorating kit from Etsy and choose washi tape to match that. I then find stickers to use for my appointments and events. It usually takes me about 20 minutes because I often have to go through tons of stickers

How has the planner community on instagram supported your love for stationery?
I remember first coming across the planner community and telling my husband, "There's a whole world of people into the same thing  as I am!" It was amazing I used to browse instagram for hours looking for inspiration. I found a whole lot, and now it has become a place where I can share my love and passion for stationery. Everyone is so supportive of each other and I love being able to help promote other shops. 

Name us three of your favorite planner girls/guys that our Cool Pencil Case fans should follow!
There are so many accounts I love but you must follow:


Follow @wendafuldesigns and @coolpencilcase on instagram! You'll be one of the first to know about giveaways and huge sales, like the our biggest sale of the year coming this Thursday, November 26 to Monday, November 30th! Sign up for our newsletter for updates and reminders to get 30% off your $50 purchase this Thanksgiving weekend!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Part II : Our #CPCPlannerGirl, Pearl the Planner

A photo posted by @pearltheplanner on
(Included Above: Hardcover Monster Planner and Diary and Lovely Planner Rectangle Planner Roll)


The gals at Cool Pencil Case couldn't get enough of Pearl the Planner the first time we featured her on our very first #CPCPlannerGirl series. Now, get to know the planner (and washi tape) queen with a few of the famous questions we've asked some of our favorite planner girls! Take it away, Judy!


A photo posted by @pearltheplanner on
(Included Above: Hardcover Monster Planner and Diary) 

Like many others, there are multiple reasons why I love stationery and love buying new stationery things (despite the lack of necessity). First and foremost, stationery products represent so much potential. With every new lined notebook, fresh pen, or personalized notepad there’s the potential to record or to create. Thoughts and ideas are written down, and we can use stationery as a vessel to carry out those ideas! There is a lot of power there - how often do we forget things when we neglect to write them down? Secondly, it helps me keep organized. I have a range of different color pens that I use to color code my schedule or my notes, and I have various notebooks for different subjects. Being organized helps me stay on top of multiple projects that are occurring all at once! Lastly, there are just so many options out there when it comes to stationery that one could purchase items that can be aligned with their personal style and their needs!

Tell us about your favorite and most used planner accessory (bookmark, gel pen, stamp, etc).
My favorite planner accessory is washi tape! It is not a necessary accessory, but I love to add washi tape to the edges and borders of my pages in my planner. It creates visual interest in the weekly pages that would otherwise just look like a wall of text or handwriting, and helps highlight important events that I may otherwise miss. Everyone has a favorite accessory whether it be a pen, paperclips, list pads or notepads but washi tape is mine. 

When did you start using your planner and how did it change the way you prepared for the day/week/month?
I truly started planning as an organizational tool early on in my graduate program as a way for me to organize my time. There were many things pulling at me in my schedule and sometimes it was difficult to remember when an exact due date was or when meetings were arranged, and having a planner helped me manage my schedule so much and kept me on top of things on days that I didn’t want to complete a task. 

A photo posted by @pearltheplanner on

What is your favorite Cool Pencil Case product and why? 
Without doubt it is my Giraffe Charm Wallet and Pencil Case Duo! It can fit in SO many pens and because I like to make sure I have enough colors with me anywhere I go, it allows me to bring them all. I love that it has a zippered compartment where I keep rolls of washi tape as well, as throwing them in my bag often damages them! 

Can you give some tips on those who love decorating their planner pages but are on a budget?
The best tip I can give you is buy things that you will actually use and that you can get a lot out of - my favorite is washi tape because there is so much of it. More bang for your buck! Use colored pens and markers to decorate if stickers are not in your budget, and definitely utilize free printables that are available on the internet and in Facebook groups! 

How do you organize all of your stationery and supplies?
At the moment the organization of my stationery supplies is not very organized at all as I recently moved into a much smaller space! However, I have a rolling letterpress that I like to store items in with dedicated drawers to each kind of stationery item. I have little bins within the drawers to separate out my pens from my markers, my sticky notes from my stickers, and etc. Keeping it all in one space is so helpful, as I’ve been known to stuff loose items in junk drawers and they tend to get lost! As for my washi tape, I had built a shelf to store it all but I quickly outgrew it. For now, they just sit cozy in a bin together! 

How do you decide how to design your planner layouts? How long does it usually take to complete your design for the week or month?
If there is a holiday or something big occurring in my life, I will usually plan using that as inspiration! A lot of times my planner layouts are not planned and I will grab a few rolls of washi, find coordinating colors/stickers and just put it together on the fly! In total, I don’t like taking more than half an hour on decorating my planner as any longer feels like a misuse of my time. I have my stationery supplies organized together so that it’s quick and easy for me to grab things to decorate!

How has the planner community on instagram supported your love for stationery?
Better question is how have they not! I’m so happy to be in the company of people who enjoy stationery supplies just as much as I do! One great thing about stationery is that there are so many things out there that you can practically purchase anything that is suited to your likes and preferences. The planner community on Instagram has definitely shown me a world beyond the stationery aisle at my local office supply store!

Name us three of your favorite planner girls/guys that our Cool Pencil Case fans should follow!

Definitely @julie_plans, @llamaletters, and @inspiredblush among so many!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

#CPCPlannerGirl: PaperPanduh

Maricris of PaperPanduh is another one of our favorite triple threats. She's an amazing creative on Instagram, a fun personality to follow along on YouTube, and a great read on her blog. She's today's #CPCPlannerGirl -- read along and see how her love of stationery has brought empowerment to her and a new group of friends, and of course, find out what her (very purple) favorite cool pencil case is!

A photo posted by PaperPanduh.com (@paperpanduh) on

"I have loved stationery since I was a little girl! I believe it started with Sanrio and Lisa Frank :) I moved a lot when I was younger and kept in touch with my friends through snail mail! Ever since then, I’ve always collected different stationery and cards to write on!" - Maricris

What do you love best about your favorite planner and why?
I have two favorite planners at the moment! I use my Erin Condren Life Planner and my Rose Gold Kate Spade Wellesley. My favorite thing about my EC life planner would be that it has a lot of space to write! My ‘To Do’ lists can get pretty long, so that planner works great for sitting on my desk at home. My favorite thing about my Kate Spade planner is how compact it is. This is the planner I will usually take outside of the house with me.




Tell us about your favorite and most used planner accessory (bookmark, gel pen, stamp, etc).
My most used planner accessory would have to be post it notes. Since I write in pen, I will usually jot down my plans and To Do lists on sticky notes all over my planner.




What is your favorite Cool Pencil Case product and why?
The pencil cases of course! My favorite one would most definitely be my purple llama pencil case.


A photo posted by PaperPanduh.com (@paperpanduh) on

(Included above: Alpacasso My Pencil Case)

When did you start using your planner and how did it change the way you prepared for the day/week/month?
I started using a planner in middle school actually! Using my planner throughout college helped me stay on track with all of my school work. I would use the weekly layouts to jot down all of my homework and the monthly layout to mark down my exams and presentations. After I graduated college - I started using my planner during my job search and eventually for my own business Paper Panduh.



How do you organize all of your stationery and supplies?
My main source of storage for my planner supplies is my Raskog cart from IKEA and some white drawers that I purchased from IKEA as well. 

How do you decide how to design your planner layouts? How long does it usually take to complete your design for the week or month?
I’ll usually use my newest stickers to decorate my weekly layouts and pair it with a matching washi tape. It only takes me around 15 minutes to finish decorating a layout. I decorated my monthly layouts throughout the month.




How has the planner community on instagram supported your love for stationery?
The planner community is one of the most supportive groups I have ever met! We actually even have our own planner group where I live called the Pacific Northwest Planner Group - I’ve met so many amazing ladies I’ve become great friends with!

Name three of your favorite planner girls/guys that our Cool Pencil Case fans should follow!Check out @Villabeautifful_creates, @TheInkRoad, and @PaperedLove! :)

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: Under $10 Pencil Cases

If you're like the team at Cool Pencil Case, you're probably thinking about what to get friends and family for the Holidays. Let's just say, you should probably sign up to join the CPC Club for upcoming news and discounts!

In the meantime, enjoy some of our most popular pencil cases styles on sale for under $10! We've rounded up our favorite pencil pouches that won't break the bank -- read below to see which pencil case style matches that special person on your list, and click the image below for the full list!

Cool Pencil Case Gifts

For the Pen and Pencil Lover

Large capacity pencil cases are great for people who like to carry about 30-40 pens and pencils at a time. Let's not discount other school supplies that this prepared student might love, including staplers, scissors, and washi tapes! 

Honey Smile Pencil Pouch with Bonus Coin Purse ($9.95)

For the College Student or Young Professional

Pencil pouches will always be important to the stationery addict as years pass by! For a more mature look, consider minimalistic designs in bold, solid colors.

Bon Voyage Pencil Pouch $9.65

For Kids (or Kids at Heart)

Plush pencil cases remind us of our favorite childhood bears and characters. Keep childhood alive whether or not the person you're buying a gift for is actually a kid. From bugs to pencil shapes, see how these fun pencil pouches can keep the imagination flowing! 

Snoopy and Woodstock Plush Pencil Pouches ($8.85)

For the Fashionista

You'll find fashion-inspired pencil pouches that will keep the chic on your list trendy as ever. Slimmer pencil pouches are the perfect size to keep pens and pencils together in purses or smaller school bags!

Hot Short Pencil Pouches $8.85

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

#CPCPlannerGirl: @filoeyecandi

One of our favorite feeds on instagram is by the one and only, @filoeyecandi. Candi has been on our radar since the Cool Pencil Case instagram started a couple years back. We love how much time and creativity she takes into creating her weekly planner layouts. Candi definitely has captured our hearts via the planner community, but that doesn't mean she isn't a fan of our cool pencil cases! From our butterfly pencil cases to our plush pencil pouches, she has quite the collection. Check out our latest interview with this week's #CPCPlannerGirl, Candi of @filoeyecandi!

1.    Describe your love of stationery to us.
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved Hello Kitty!  It all began with their cute pens, pencils, stickers and stationery!  


2.    What do you love best about your favorite planner and why?
I have owned several planners in the past few years and right now I would have to say the Carpe Diem Planner from Simple Stories.  It is an a5 size planner and there is just so much room to plan, journal, add embellishments and even a few small photos here + there!  There are several colors to choose from and the outside is so soft!


3.    Tell us about your favorite and most used planner accessory (bookmark, gel pen, stamp, etc).
Hands down that would be washi tape!!!  You can do so much with it inside your planner!!!  You can write on it AND use it to decorate your planner inserts.






4.    What is your favorite Cool Pencil Case product and why?
Tiny Block DIY Pencil Pouch
LOVE how you can change the outside...it's like a new pencil case each time!  FUN :)


5.    Can you give some tips on those who love decorating their planner pages but are on a budget?
If you have a local "dollar store", you can always find some post it notes, pens/pencils and washi tape!  You can spend $10-$15 and have a great start!






6.    When did you start using your planner and how did it change the way you prepared for the day/week/month?
About 4 years ago I started using a paper planner!  I was creating and selling cake pops (no longer making cake pops) so I needed to write down all of my orders and plan out my baking + creating days!  A little over 2 years ago I got into decorating my planner pages!  I have been into paper crafts for several years so I have so much to play with.  I usually sit down every Sunday and plan out my week ahead with goodies from my stash!  It just makes me happy when I open up my planner and tackle my to-do's!


7.    How do you organize all of your stationery and supplies?
I love to shop at my local vintage shops for storage units...usually little wooden boxes or metal drawers. 




(Included Above: Playful Ears Ballpoint Pen Duo, Rilakkuma Costume Multifunction Pen, Converse Shoes Sticky Notepads, Arrow Paper Clips)


8.    How do you decide how to design your planner layouts? How long does it usually take to complete your design for the week or month?
I usually start with grabbing a washi tape first...then pull supplies that will match :) Usually about 10-15 minutes...it all depends if I throw in some stamping or not!

9.    How has the planner community on instagram supported your love for stationery?
I am amazed by the love and support that the planner community has given me.  Everyone is so sweet and very thoughtful!  We all support each other and they are just the best!!!  Several times throughout the day I will sit down and go through my IG feed...so much inspiration!!!


10.    Name us three of your favorite planner girls/guys that our Cool Pencil Case fans should follow!
I wish I could tell you to just go to my "following" list and follow all of those people because I love them all, BUT if I had to pick just three it would be 



I love those girls!!!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

#CPCPlannerGirl: PaperedLove

One of our favorite things about working with people in the big ol' planner community is watching some of our favorites grow. Annie of PaperedLove is definitely someone we've been watching! We're in love with her colorful planner layouts and new weekly planner accessories. Check out her YouTube channel, where you'll find some great unboxings and reviews! Today, we're taking the time to feature Annie with some of her best planner tips and tricks. Meet your newest #CPCPlannerGirl, PaperedLove!



1.    Describe your love of stationery to us.
My love for stationery started when I was very young. I used to collect stickers in sticker books, I even had pen pals relationships with my actual grade school friends. I had a teacher when I was younger who inspired my love for stationery. She went above and beyond than just a normal teacher, she took me to stationery stores and she even got me a personalized name stamp when I was 7 years old. This passion and love for stationery started through her and I will never forget it.

2.    What do you love best about your favorite planner and why?
My absolute favorite planners are my Kikki-K ones, they are beautifully made with lots of pockets! I love setting up planner pockets with cute things because it's the first thing you see when you open your planner up. The possibilities of personalization are endless when it comes to their planners.

3.    Tell us about your favorite and most used planner accessory (bookmark, gel pen, stamp, etc).
I would say that my most used planner accessories are washi tapes, planner clips, and stickers. Etsy shops are the perfect place for fun planner accessories, especially since it's supporting our fellow planner girls! 

4.    What is your favorite Cool Pencil Case product and why?
My favorite Cool Pencil Case product is my super cute Happy Baby Mega Pencil case. They come in really cute pastel colors and are so versatile! You can fit so many goodies in it and it's perfect for planning on the go. Just drop it in your bag and you can plan anywhere!

5.    Can you give some tips on those who love decorating their planner pages but are on a budget?
You can plan with just about anything. If you're on a budget, there are options out there. Purchase an affordable planner like the Bloom Daily Planners or even go to Staples to have them print out inserts that you can put in a binder. When it comes to accessories, you can find some really cute goodies from the Dollar Tree, Daiso, or Tuesday Morning. The planner craze is real, so almost every store is starting to sell planner goodies!

6.    When did you start using your planner and how did it change the way you prepared for the day/week/month?
Oh gosh, I've been planning ever since I started school. In the earlier years, I used the academic planners that the schools handed out. But once I got to high school, I started getting my own planners. I'm very specific when it comes to taking notes and planning out my days, so planning is essential to my life!

7.    How do you organize all of your stationery and supplies?
This past year, I got new furniture for our home's office. I'm not the neatest person in the world but it helps when you have organizing bookshelves or drawers. IKEA is the best place to find pieces to organize all of your stationery and supplies.

8.    How do you decide how to design your planner layouts? How long does it usually take to complete your design for the week or month?
I always start out with picking out the washi that I want to use for that week, from there, I just pull goodies that I think will match the washi tapes. That way, the layout looks more cohesive. Since I film youtube videos, I am usually on the spot with filming when it comes to planning but if I pick out all of my supplies before, it makes it easier. So due to filming, I would have to complete my design within the filming time frame.

9.    How has the planner community on instagram supported your love for stationery?
Oh goodness, our planner community on instagram is everything to me! I adore all of my followers there as well as the women that I follow. I love that we all support each other and purchase most of our goodies from each others' Etsy shops. It's important for people to remember that we are all here to share our love and passion of stationery. It's meant to be fun! The love and support that I have received is priceless.

10.    Name us three of your favorite planner girls/guys that our Cool Pencil Case fans should follow!
Ooh, this is difficult! Okay, here are my top 3:

Valentine's Day Sweets and Treats

Make your Valentine's Day gathering even sweeter with these delicious, easy-to-make treats. From oreo pops to a red, pink, and white pop...