Nomadic PE-09 Flap Type Pencil Case Giveaway

The list of Nomadic products I have reviewed is ever growing, and for good reason: Nomadic makes great stuff. I am always impressed with the build quality and functionality of every pencil case I have tested out and use daily. My latest acquisition (with a sneak peek on my Facebook page) is the Nomadic PE-09 Flap Type pencil case, and I am so enamored with it, I have decided I can't keep it for myself.

The product pictures here and at JetPens really don't do the case justice. I knew it would hold lots of pens, pencils, and small notebooks, but I am amazed at just how many it really does hold. I took out my storage box of pens and stuffed the Nomadic to the gills - right up to the point where I cold barely zip it.

How many pens fit in there? Well, that's what I want you to tell me. Leave a comment on this post with your guess on how many pens and pencils I have jammed into this Nomadic PE-09. Closest to the actual number wins the case. In the event of a tie, I will let Random.org decide the winner.

Sound like a plan? Here is a recap of the general rules:

1. Leave one comment on this post anytime between now, and Wednesday night at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  You are limited to one entry. This contest is limited to US residents only.

2. Please follow @jetpens on Twitter and "Like" JetPens on Facebook. This is not mandatory, but I sure would appreciate your support! Feel free to follow me @dowdyism as well.

3. For this contest, the winner will be the person who comes the closest to the number of pens and pencils inside the Nomadic PE-09. In the event of a tie, Random.org will pick the winner.

4. The contest winner will be posted on Thursday, July 14th.  The winner will have one week to email me at the address posted in the right sidebar.

Thanks and good luck!

Behance Action Cards Review

I am huge fan of index cards or note cards as an idea capture tool. We have all used basic index cards from the office supply store, and recently I have started to test out some of the premium brands like Levenger and Moleskine. The 3x5 Behance Action Cards are the latest to hit my desk - are they the best of the bunch?

The Behance Action Method was designed to be a productivity and project management tool, and while I am not a practitioner of the method, I can appreciate the thought and creativity put into it. The main difference between the Behance cards and all of the other cards I have tested out is that one side of the Behance card is dedicated to Action Method input. The colored side of the card has eight defined sections to add Action Steps, along with a date/title header strip across the top.

Flipping the card over gives you the open index card format you are probably used to in the form of a dot grid pattern. Behance uses the dot grid across all of their product lines, so if you are familiar with any of their other products, this is the same.

From an ink standpoint, the Action Cards held up very well to everything I threw at it - including a TUL Ultra Fine Permanent Marker. The cards are made out of 80lb. cover stock, and while that isn't the smoothest paper, I had no issue with any pen I used. The gel and ballpoint inks really popped off the card, and the ink in my Lamy Safari EF didn't bleed at all.

When I compared the Levenger and the Moleskine note cards, there were things I liked and disliked about both. I can't say there was anything I disliked about the Behance Action Cards, but I am not sure about the Action Method side yet. I see the usefulness, I just have to see if it fits me.

You can pick up 30 cards packs of Action Cards directly from Behance for $5.00. I grabbed mine from Amazon for $5.95 since I was shopping for other goods and took advantage of the free shipping. No matter where you buy yours, I think you will enjoy them.

Ink Links

-- July Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper (Notebook loves Pen)

-- Environmentally Friendly Pens From Pilot (JetPens Blog)

-- ‘Nothing Doesn’t Go In Here’ (Forkbombr)

-- Monsieur Notebook (Bleistift)

-- For the love of pen and paper (Notes of Chris)

-- Pilot Pentopia T2300-P 2 + 1 (Multi Pen Dimensions)

-- The analog renaissance? (Strikethru)

-- My pen … My PEN!!! (Filofax Fixation)

-- Noodler's Baystate Blue (Penned House)

-- Fountain Pen Users: Piston, Converter, Cartridge or Other? (Rhodia Drive)

-- Pilot Varsity - Nib Grinding Update (Economy Pens)

-- Levenger's Junior Rhodia Circa Notebook (Pocket Blonde)

-- Pen Review – Pilot Petit 3 (Dog Eat Doug)

-- Uni-Ball Signo RT 0.7 black and 0.38 blue (I am Alexis Brille)

-- Show Me Your Stationery (Letters & Journals)

-- Sheaffer Sentinel Ballpoint Pen Review (Derek's Pens and Pencils)

-- Pentel EnerGel RT 0.7mm Red (A Penchant for Paper)

-- Scripto Liquid Lead Pencil (My Supply Room)

-- A First (Tommy Kane)

-- Pantone Pencil and Notepad (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- A. W. Faber’s Polygrade Lead Pencils (Pencil Talk)

-- Èccolo World Traveler Journal (Holly Wendt)