bltd

Oh, how useful this would be (which is why the Museum of Useful Things stocks it, I suppose). This yellow paper tape is printed with a markings every 1/8 of an inch, and is perforated at the end of each foot. When it comes to measuring boxes, furniture, and whatever else, I’d vote for this tape to be my tool of choice. It would stay put and allow accurate measurements.

Made in the USA.

Nice, here’s a ruler that has a special groove for a pencil and a sharpener built in at its end. Now you (or your offspring) will always know right where the desk essentials are located. Measures in inches and centimeters.

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More Midori brass stuff for your office area… these clips can be attached to a page halfway as a sort of flag, or, attach them all the way as a label frame (see photo below). Made of solid brass and comes as a set of six.
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Whether you’re tired of them or not, moustaches are here to stay. It was only a matter of time before they appeared in the form of a clip; now your reports and paperwork can have that jaunty air that only a proper moustache can bring. Silly? Yes. Sort of fun? Definitely.

1 inch L x 1/2 inch H.

If you liked the Brass Clip Numbers, you might also consider adding this ruler to your desk tools. Made of solid brass, it has a nice weight to it and has one raised edge to prevent smudging. There’s also a lovely Brass Pen if you appreciate consistency.
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I like these little snarky “stamps of disapproval”. Perfect for when you’re feeling a little “meh” about the quality of someone’s work.

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The Japanese have a certain way of expressing themselves in emoticons.  While most of us are content with the standard colon-parentheses smiley face : ) , the Japanese prefer to use a variety of symbols, communicating a wide range of expressions beyond just happiness. The Kaoiro is a stamp specifically designed for recreating these emoticons in the very analog world of paper and print ( ^ _ ^ ).
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I’m a little remiss in posting this after the official launch, but as the saying goes, better late than never. Poppin is a new online shop offering great office supplies for pretty decent prices. I’ve had them bookmarked for weeks and now it seems all their products are available to purchase (their website is still in beta, though, so be kind). Whether you’d like an overhaul of your desk supplies or just a few odds and ends, their site is chock full of colorful office essentials (along with the requisite black and white pieces, of course).

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One of life’s little annoyances is trying to get a piece of tape with one hand. This MDF dispenser by Chris Hardy has a sticky polyurethane gel base which adheres (lightly) to any surface, making one-handed procurement possible.

Includes one roll of tape.
Made of MDF.

Rubber bands made of recycled bicycle tubes. Making flats useful = nice. Also, another item making flats useful is the smart IT Clip that Simon posted a while back. It allows you to make your old inner tubes into tie down straps.

A bag of 70 in assorted sizes.
Made in Switzerland by «tät-tat».

From our archives (originally published May 3, 2010), for your gift list consideration…

I don’t know whether to grrrrrr at the price or awww at how cute they are. Luckily, Makiko Yoshida designed them out of squishy and pliable polyurethane resin, so they’ll hold their shape whether I bear hug them or chuck them at the wall when the credit card bill comes.

Set of four, “white” or “brown”, and 2.75 inches in diameter

From our archives (originally published November 20, 2009), for your gift list consideration… to see more, visit our Gift Guide.

Two wooden parts held together with a rubber band make this unusual clipboard. The lack of metal makes it look a little more warm and friendly than traditional office supply clipboards, don’t you think?

Designed by Simon Donald for spunique. Bands may vary in colour.

If you’ve got a faux allergy to plastic, consider this walnut tape dispenser. And you thought your office mates were jealous of your Swingline, just wait until you unveil this baby. Takes standard sized tape; one roll of Japanese washi paper tape included.

Check out this handy stamp. It contains lots of tiny symbols that block out your address or other sensitive details in your mail. Might save you some time and/or trips to the paper shredder. Or, if you’re extremely paranoid, it’ll just place an additional security measure against those that are planning on piecing together your shredded mail.

Take a look at this alternative to the binder clip. It simply slides on nice and tight with no extraneous arms.

Made of stainless steel.
Made in Japan.

Large, holds up to 60 pages, qty. 20 – $14
XLarge, holds up to 90 pages, qty. 10 – $12