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Buying school supplies and arts & crafts materials can quickly add up when you’re only looking at colours, the number of pieces or the promises on the packaging. A very comprehensive set isn’t necessarily practical, while a product marketed as versatile might lack the precision needed for regular use.
Whether you’re a parent, student, teacher, employee or a fan of hands-on activities, three common pitfalls keep cropping up.
A set of 72 colouring pencils or 175 paintbrushes might look like a bargain. But it still needs to suit the intended use. For a child just starting out, a few well-chosen colours are often easier to store and use. In drawing or scrapbooking, a wide variety is only worthwhile if the shades, sizes and accessories actually match the project.
Ink that works on printer paper can bleed through a thin notebook page or feather on the paper of a bullet journal. Pastel highlighters, coloured pens and erasable gel pens should therefore be chosen according to the paper’s thickness. For watercolour, standard paper is likely to buckle, even with a suitable palette.
A brush pen left uncapped dries out quickly. Watercolours that aren’t sealed properly gather dust, while an open pot of craft glitter can spill inside a pencil case. Before you order, check the storage advice, the type of closure and whether refills or consumables can be replaced.
For taking notes, a 0.5 mm tip gives you precise writing. 0.5 mm mechanical pencils are great for annotations and detailed drawing, while a 1.8 mm mechanical pencil with 2B leads feels more like a drawing pencil.
Chisel-tip highlighters are versatile: the fine end is for underlining, while the broad side quickly covers a line. The Deli model in pastel colours offers a variable line width of 1 to 5 mm. Brush pens, on the other hand, require controlled pressure to achieve fine or broad strokes, especially in lettering.
Compare the number of pieces, the accessories included and the total weight, rather than just focusing on the “complete set” claim. A diamond painting kit should specify the canvas size and state whether the rhinestones, tool and adhesive elements are supplied. For scrapbooking, also check whether the transfer stickers are single-use and whether a smooth surface is needed.
For children, check the recommended age and any warnings. The Faber-Castell watercolour set, for example, states it is not suitable for children under 3 and recommends adult supervision. Small items like glitter or rhinestones should be kept out of reach of young children.
Why this choice suits this profile: Its four-colour format works well for lecture notes, office documents and first attempts at bullet journaling, without multiplying the number of accessories.
The limited number of shades stops you buying an oversized assortment for everyday use.
Set of 4 assorted colours, designed for school or office use.
Why this choice suits this profile: Users who organise lots of files, planners or journaling accessories get 14 pastel shades and a desk storage solution.
The chisel tip offers two stated widths, 2 mm and 5 mm, rather than a single line that’s hard to adapt.
Water-based transparent ink, 15 pieces and anti-dry-out technology claimed to last up to 4 hours without the cap.
Why this choice suits this profile: Its compact box, 24 pans and included brush cover the needs of classes, travel sketching and painting sessions at home.
The brush and mixing palette are included, so you don’t need to gather several accessories straight away.
24 colours claimed to be mixable, box with closure and an easy-to-carry format.
Why this choice suits this profile: Beginners in calligraphy, bullet journal fans and anyone who likes decorating their notes can vary the pressure on a flexible brush tip.
The flexible tip lets you work on thick and thin strokes without buying several different types of pen separately.
12 pastel colours, water-based ink and a felt brush tip claimed to be flexible.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list, updated in real time, of products that meet these demanding selection criteria and European safety regulations.
For a versatile school pencil case, plan for HB graphite pencils, coloured pens, an eraser and a few highlighters. M&G HB pencils come in a box of 12 and have a hexagonal barrel that stops them rolling off the desk. A version with an integrated eraser can also reduce the number of accessories you need to carry.
For drawing, colouring pencils from Deli Finenolo are available in a metal tin of 72 shades. This format is mainly for those who want to create gradients or have an extended palette. For frequent corrections, Deli erasable gel pens with a 0.5 mm tip are sold in packs of 12. However, their ink should not be used on official documents or thermal paper.
Arts & crafts projects can be enhanced with a six-colour glitter set, Jar Melo transfer stickers or a diamond painting kit. Jar Melo stickers are designed for smooth surfaces and are single-use. The JU7CER diamond painting kit measures 30 × 40 cm: allow a clear work surface and a closed box for storing the small pieces.
Start with HB graphite pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, a few colouring pencils and suitable paper. Only add watercolours or brush pens if the project calls for them. This approach stops you accumulating materials that will just sit at the bottom of a drawer.
Always test the ink on a similar page before highlighting an entire notebook. Thin paper absorbs more ink. For journaling, choose water-based pens and let them dry for a few seconds before closing the notebook.
The shelf life depends on use, the condition of the cap and storage conditions. Close pens after each use, clean brushes and dry them flat. Store watercolours and glitter in a dry place. Regularly checking the condition of the ink, tips and adhesives means you only replace items that are genuinely worn out.