DIY Planner - Notebooks & Stationery - Comments

Available in UK

reepicheep — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 08:47:53 -0500

Last time someone mentioned this Staples' range it wasn't available in the UK. I asked their local operation an they said there was no intention of bringing it over here. Well it seems they have had a change of mind because their web site is now showing elements of the range as available. (I happened to be visiting a client earlier today whose offices are close to a Staples shop but there were no Arc items for sale.) Available in A4 and A5 size covers with paper.

As to the "cons" being punch your own paper is that really a con? Those of us with Rollabind punches do this all the time anyway. Buying pre-punched paper from Staples is a con.

I agree with your 6/10

hjfutch — Mon, 2 Jan 2012 12:00:12 -0500

I agree with your 6/10 rating on the overall quality of the notebook. However, I was lucky enough to get in on the clearance at Waldenbooks closing sale. I purchased 50 of the pocket sized notebooks in various configurations for $1.00 each. I think I'll probably have enough notebooks to last the few remaining years of my life. My only real "con" is that my Levenger cobalt ink tends to bleed slightly through the page .

Arc from Staples

dougnkat — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:52:55 -0500

I agree 100% with your comments about the Arc from Staples. It is easy to use, pricing will fit my pocket book, and Staples is everywhere especially the internet. I personall went with the Jr size in the leather. I am even able to use my left over Rolo paper in it. The pages are an 1/8th of an inch shorter both on the top and the bottom, however they fit nicely. I have transerfered just about all my personal daily and financals to it and will soon transfer my school notes to it. It fits in my purse and I can easily retreive my gas card from the front of the book without having to withdraw it from my purse. If there was a wallet accessory I would be able to leave my current wallet at home. Maybe I will work something up.

Incredibly affordable

JabberWokky — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:18:31 -0500

The ease of finding the Arc system versus the amount of discussion is simply because it is new. Staples has really set a new standard for price and quality with the Arc line, which appears to be true across all of their affordable but higher quality "M" branding. I have the Circa punch, which was (if I remember right) around $80. The Staples one is $35 and has a lever action making it superior in daily use, although the beefy steel of the Circa punch still has a "can survive the apocalypse" feel.

The letter size leather covers for Circa are $100, while I picked up a nice, wonderful smelling set at Staples for a mere $20. It was wonderful: I moved over everything from my plastic cover and replaced the discs for larger ones (which ran a couple dollars). I am now tracking my publication schedule for 2012 in a binder that appeals to the senses and costs less than the plastic one from Levenger.

I carry a Moleskine daily journal for quickly jotting thoughts in a chronological stream. My disc notebooks (I use two) are my compiled project notes and status. They compliment each other nicely.

Loose Elastic

jordanjm — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:04:37 -0500

I find that the elastic is still strong enough to hold the book together. I do find that it slips off the book more than I would like.

Elastic and extra contents

Katrina — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:22:11 -0500

Good review!

Is the elastic very loose? Would it be good for holding the journal shut if it had loose papers etc kept inside it?

So anyone know how to make

Eugene — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:05:00 -0400

So anyone know how to make in the left column stay in sync with the right. If you insert text into the right you have to go to the left and manually insert spaces.

great idea!

nay nay — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:30:35 -0400

I really like this idea! I am going to implement it in my work notebook! Thank you for sharing.

I've started using my 2010

Chet — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:08:01 -0500

I've started using my 2010 planner made from a Quo Vadis Habana large, and I love the size! If it needs any improvement, it's in the number of pages and also thinner line space.

Unfortunately, Quo Vadis products are not easily available in Malaysia.

To answer the question

innowen — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 16:44:13 -0400

Short answer... yes, I like this notebook enough that I could prolly use it for as long as they keep publishing it.

Longer answer, yes... but I think I'll always want to look around for other hand-made and interesting journals to purchase and compare to. I recently purchased a "Wicked" brand journal because I liked the design and style. But it doesn't mean that I'll be wanting multiples of those to use for eternity. A paper junkie will always want to redefine and seek out new and interesting books to use and abuse. But in the meantime we always have those notebook series that are tried and true.

But yes, I'm looking forward to using more of the Habana to capture my thoughts.

Good luck and happy scribbling,
/innowen

I know the feeling...

Schollert — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 04:19:13 -0400

I know what you mean. I have a lot of unused notebooks as well. I like having them. Even when I find one I really like using I continue looking for new ones.
I do it because I enjoy it. I enjoy feeling/examining the paper, the binding method, the covers, the thoughts and care (or lack thereof) put into the item and I do it for inspiration.

Just a few thoughts of mine...

/Mich

What do you do when you find the perfect notebook?

Harlequin — Fri, 9 Oct 2009 03:18:46 -0400

Thanks for the great review. I've been thinking about getting one of the smaller ones, but I'm a bit confused over the paper weight changes that they've been making in some of the American/European offerings for this.
One question: I have stacks of different notebooks that I bought over the years but never got around to using. It seems like this might be the final one for me as I think it meets every requirement I have. Now I'm reluctant to buy it because then I feel like I should stop searching even though I enjoy the process. Can you see yourself stopping and saying "OK, no more looking. I'll just buy these from now on."?

Thanks

innowen — Tue, 6 Oct 2009 19:44:35 -0400

Katrina,

I agree. The notebooks are great for journalling as well as project keeping. As far as quality goes... I'd say they may be better than the new Moleskines that come out. The Habana's stitching seems tight and holds up to the abuse I put it through (I tend to manipulate and open the journals up very widely). When I'm finished with this notebook, I'll order a second one and compare the consistency of the designs.

The sticker on the cover is a replica of the "logo" I use when I do freelance writing. I have a friend in the Sign business (Bigfoot Signs in Fort Collins, Colorado) who also owns a vinyl sticker making machine. She printed up the little guy as a sticker and I put him on this notebook. I'm happy to report that so far he's holding up well.

Thanks,
/innowen

Nice notebooks

Katrina — Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:20:08 -0400

They look like the perfect candidates for a journal or creating something special.

I'm interested in the comparison to Moleskines, especially since Moleskines are starting to wain in quality.

It's a pity they don't all come with your sticker as the little critter is cute

The instructions...

jonglass — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 09:07:55 -0400

..... in the post above say the following:

As for writing, just type. To add items into the left and bottom margin, you just add a text box and type.

It's been a while since I made this template, but it appears you will have to add the text box yourself. I think one reason why I left them out was because these were intended to be printed, whereupon the extra stuff was to be added by hand. I think also, you can't have empty text boxes on the page, which would mean adding dummy text to all three fields. blech.

You can try it yourself, however. Try adding the text fields to the template, and see if they stick.

-Jon

D*I*Y Planner - Notebooks & Stationery - Comments