Posts filed under Folder

Kirby 30th Anniversary Kaima Japan 2 Pocket Clear File Folder Review

(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 check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

Kirby is the most popular...person?...in my house, if you ask my eight-year-old. Anything with Kirby on it is the best thing ever. To test that theory, I decided to give this Kirby 30th Anniversary folder a try. It was tricky, because I had to keep it hidden. Once spotted, it would be claimed by the tiny Kirby fan.

The folder is made of clear and pink die-cut plastic. It has a bubbly-edged flap that folds over on the right side, which fastens with Velcro, so your papers are extra secure inside. The front of the folder and the closure flap are covered in adorable portraits of our hero, Kirby, in various of his cute guises. In the center is a yellow star that marks the celebration of Kirby's 30th anniversary. He's looking good for his age.

The edges of the plastic sheets are stamp-melted together, creating secure seams that feel sturdy even when the folder is stuffed with papers. It can hold A4 or letter sized paper. The folder is very floppy when empty, but the flap gives it extra structure, and it does very well at keeping papers nice in transport. It does not work well as a writing surface, however, as sturdier folders might do.

The back shows three more Kirbys celebrating the rescue of some treasure with the motto "Pink Puffy Power!"

Have I felt silly carrying my papers to and from work in this Kirby folder? A little. But considering my usual everyday folder is a Howl's Moving Castle one (also from JetPens), I don't have much room to talk. Ultimately, this folder works very well, and it looks cute while doing it. The closure flap makes a surprising difference, adding both security and structure. It's enough to justify the steep price for the folder, which is $7.75. I'm sure the Nintendo brand is driving that price up a bit, but if you ask my eight-year-old, no amount is too much to pay for Kirby stuff.

Epilogue:

After I had the chance to try it for a while, I casually left it on the couch to be discovered. It was immediately added to Tiny Kirby Fan's backpack and now serves the purpose of carrying song sheets for music class (young one's favorite subject). It did get a small bend in it after rigorous use. I would suggest, if you intend to treat the folder as a first grader does, that you put a pencil board in one pocket to give it a little extra armor. I don't fault the folder, in this case. They've yet to invent a folder that can withstand a grade school backpack.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on April 20, 2023 by Sarah Read and filed under Accessories Review, Folder.

King Jim +Kraft File Cover Review

When I first saw the King Jim +Kraft File Cover, I thought it would be just that--a folder. Maybe not exciting, but it looked pretty sweet and vintage and like something I'd like to put files in, so I thought I'd try it out. I was shocked to open it and discover that, in fact, it has features. Quite a lot of them.

The outside is unassuming, unexciting, but elegant in a minimalist way. It's made of plain kraft paper that is fibrous and feels almost like felt. It's not flimsy in any way, and it feels like it will stand up to a lot of use. It's a tri-fold design with two full-size pocket sheets and the flap that closes over the top. It closes with a simple elastic loop over a cardstock button.

Instead of just a pocket inside, it has a plethora of pocketses. On the left is a narrow flap that goes from the top to the bottom of the folder. In that flap is a small slot for business cards. On the right is a set of three pockets. One clear plastic slot covers the whole right side of the folder. An A4 notebook cover can be slid behind this pocket flap, and the folder then becomes a notebook cover.

The other cover of the notebook can be tucked inside the narrow left flap for extra security, or the left flap can be used for papers. There is also a leather ribbon bookmark at the top for use with a notebook. Across that larger pocket, a half-size pocket spans the width. If you're not using an A4 notebook in the larger pocket, an A4 notepad or legal pad can fit in this pocket.

And inside that pocket is another slot that fits index cards or sticker sheets, etc. You could even put a slim A4 notebook in each side, and have two notebooks in one folder. And then a pocket notebook in the smaller pocket for a whopping three notebooks! There's also a pen loop on the right side.

So what I thought was just a folder turned out to be a complex, versatile notebook system. To say I was delighted is an understatement. I had expected boring utilitarianism, but instead I am having fun arranging all the possible configurations. I think these would be great for teachers, students, or business people. Even artists might find this a useful way to take work on the go. I don't use many A4 notebooks, but this folder makes me want to. There aren't a lot of good cover systems for A4 sizes, so I think this product helps to fill an industry gap.

The King Jim +Kraft File Cover costs $19 on JetPens, which is a lot for a folder, but not a lot for a versatile notebook cover system. Perhaps its name is doing it a disservice, but my low expectations did make for a very pleasant surprise.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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