School Supplies and Arts & Crafts: How to Choose the Right Pens, Felt-Tip Pens and Pencil Sharpeners

With the new school year, a new art project or a home office set-up on the horizon, choosing between the many school and arts & crafts supplies available can quickly become difficult. Colourful packaging does not guarantee a comfortable grip, suitable ink or a satisfactory lifespan.

Three common pitfalls are worth avoiding:

• Confusing quantity with usefulness: a large assortment may include lots of colours you will hardly ever use, or tips that are not well suited to everyday writing.
• Overlooking pencil diameter: a pencil sharpener designed for standard models may not be suitable for thick colouring pencils or charcoal pencils.
• Choosing ink without checking its intended use: erasable gel pens are handy for taking notes, but they are not suitable for documents that need to remain permanent. Some inks may also bleed through thin paper or leave marks on certain surfaces.

To shop with confidence, it is therefore best to start with how the products will actually be used: primary school, studying, drawing, colouring, creative journalling, office work or a studio.

Criteria to check before buying

1. Tip size and ink flow

The width of the tip has a direct impact on writing comfort and precision:

• 0.38 mm: ideal for small annotations, margins and fine writing.
• 0.5 mm: a good compromise for exercise books, diaries and note-taking.
• 0.7 mm: a more visible line, useful for everyday writing and colour-coding.
• Brush tip: suitable for lettering, headings, sketches and effects created by varying pressure.
• Approximately 1 mm bullet tip: better suited to colouring, filling in areas and clearly defined outlines.

Gel pens generally provide smooth writing, but you should allow the ink to dry before closing an exercise book or running a ruler over the page. For a child, a stable grip and a sufficiently thick barrel may be more important than an ultra-fine tip.

2. Ink type and surface

Coloured gel pens are perfect for structuring notes visually, creating mind maps or personalising a notebook. Metallic inks, particularly those in pens designed for black paper, are better suited to cards, scrapbooking and decorative details.

Erasable gel pens use heat-sensitive ink that disappears through friction. This feature makes corrections easier, but it also requires a few precautions:

• avoid official documents, receipts and thermal surfaces ;
• do not expose pages to intense heat or extreme cold ;
• check that the paper can withstand repeated rubbing.

For drawing and colouring, colouring pens with water-based ink work well in exercise books and for creative activities. On thin paper, always test the colour in the margin to check that it does not show through on the reverse.

3. Pencil sharpener: manual, battery-operated or electric

A manual pencil sharpener remains lightweight, quiet and easy to store in a pencil case. However, a model with a shavings container prevents shavings from ending up at the bottom of your bag. A dual-hole pencil sharpener is especially useful when alternating between standard and thicker pencils.

A battery-operated pencil sharpener offers greater freedom, particularly in the classroom, studio or while travelling. Before choosing a model, check:

• the number and type of batteries required ;
• the diameter it accepts, often between 6 and 12 mm on versatile models ;
• whether it has a lock or cut-off function when the lid is open ;
• whether the container can be emptied easily and the blade cleaned.

Electric models powered by a mains adapter are often better suited to an office or classroom. Some advertise automatic shut-off, several sharpening levels and a sharpening time of 3 to 5 seconds. These details correspond to the specifications provided by the manufacturer; results may vary depending on the pencil used and the condition of the blade.

Our selection for different needs

Recommended for : Beginners on a budget

Topwrite Kids – set of 4 assorted ballpoint pens

Why this choice suits this profile : These four ballpoint pens for children are a great way to get started with writing and simple drawings without investing in an oversized assortment.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The compact format reduces the risk of paying for accessories that will be left at the back of a drawer, and is suitable for everyday use at home or at school.

Main benefit and key features

Four colours, a barrel described as suitable for children and ballpoint ink advertised as smooth-flowing.

Recommended for : Premium stationery enthusiasts

STABILO Pen 68 – portable case of 30 colouring pens

Why this choice suits this profile : The organised roll is aimed at drawing enthusiasts who want to carry several pens while keeping their colours close at hand.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The advertised 1 mm line width and bullet tip make it possible to check the intended use before buying, rather than relying solely on the colours in the case.

Main benefit and key features

30 colouring pens, water-based ink and a roll-up case with a zipped compartment.

Recommended for : Specialist uses and intensive users

tenwin – electric pencil sharpener with mains adapter

Why this choice suits this profile : A drawing studio, classroom or office where different pencils are sharpened regularly can benefit from a mains-powered device.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The advertised 6 to 12 mm compatibility avoids choosing a device intended only for slim pencils. However, it is not suitable for wax pencils or oil pastels.

Main benefit and key features

Three sharpening levels, advertised automatic shut-off and a large-capacity shavings container.

Recommended for : Mobility and creative activities

WRITECH Arts Sign Brush Pen – 12 assorted colours

Why this choice suits this profile : Fans of lettering, creative notebooks and drawing on the go can make the most of a brush tip that allows you to vary the pressure and finish.

How this product avoids the pitfall

The flexible tip is clearly intended for lettering and varied strokes : it is unlikely to be mistakenly chosen as a simple note-taking pen.

Main benefit and key features

12 pastel shades, water-based ink and a pressure-sensitive felt brush tip.

Frequently asked questions about school and creative supplies

What type of pen should I choose for a child at school ?

For the early years, prioritise a stable grip, smooth-flowing ink and colours that are easy to tell apart. Ballpoint pens for children are suitable for everyday writing, while coloured gel pens are better suited to visual organisation and creative activities.

Does an electric pencil sharpener cost more to use ?

A mains-powered model does not require batteries, but it uses electricity and needs to remain close to a socket. A battery-operated pencil sharpener is easier to move around, with running costs linked to replacing the four AA batteries. In both cases, emptying the container regularly and removing debris helps preserve the mechanism.

How can I extend the life of my stationery ?

Close pens and felt-tip pens after each use, store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid extreme temperatures. For a pencil sharpener, unplug the device before cleaning it, empty the container and use only the recommended pencil sizes. These simple steps help prevent tips from drying out and blades from wearing prematurely.