(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, Root Rot, is now available for pre-order!)
I have lately found myself in the position of having to find a new favorite notecard, for REASONS, but I'm happy to say that I think I have done so. I picked up this pack of Clairefontaine Exacompta Notecards with blue grid when I attended Anderson Pens' grand reopening a few months ago, and they've been a permanent part of my day ever since.
Being Clairefontaine, it goes without saying that they are very fountain pen friendly. I have had no bleeding or feathering with any types of ink or nibs, and they do just as well with a variety of pens and pencils. The one paper issue I did notice is that the surface definitely absorbs hand oils, making it more difficult to write across areas that have been handled. That's trickier with a card than with a notebook, as these loose sheets have to be held--there's no cover to grip, and using a hand guide isn't practical on such a small rectangle. The whole purpose of cards is handheld notes. Still, while there was a small effect on the ink's interaction with the paper, it wasn't a deal-breaker.
The cardstock is pure white, so all writing appears very crisp, and the blue grid is faint enough that it doesn't get in the way, but bold enough to provide structure. Blank and lined cards are also available, as are pre-hole-punched versions for use on rings or rolodexes. You can also get different ink colors or multi-colored cards. The cards are obviously printed before they're cut, as the grid pattern is not identical across cards. Some have a full square at the edge, some a partial. I'm trying not to let it bother me. Trying.
Despite this small nitpick, the cards are endlessly useful. I've used them for plotting stories, for making notes for a speech and presentation, For to-do lists or shopping lists, as bookmarks, or for leaving love notes. They're ideal for when you need something that's just a step above scratch paper, but can be tossed when you're done with it.
The standard white grid cards are only $7 for a pack of 100, which is amazingly good value. At that price, I don't feel shy about burning through a pack in a few months. These will continue to feature in my daily use, hopefully for a very long time.
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