Freak369's Full Review: Esselte Recycled Oxford Index Cards, Ruled, 4"x6",...
Over a year ago my boys started a pyramid project when they were learning about Egyptian culture. They knew they wanted to build a large pyramid but weren’t sure what they wanted to make it out of so we set out to the craft store to start looking for things they could use. Poster board and foam core were the obvious choices but both required a lot of cutting and they were only sold in large sheets. While they eventually ended up making one from plaster of Paris and molds we found at Science Land, there were more than a few mock-ups made to see exactly what size each brick should be. I asked the clerk at Office Depot if they had any thick but easy to cut paper in stock and after he asked me a series of questions regarding what the paper was to be used for, he suggested index cards. Initially I shirked off his idea of using them until he mentioned that they had them without lines – that sure perked the boys up and got their little minds racing a mile a minute. I picked up a few packs to start with and ended up going back for more a few days later. Needless to say, since then, these have been a staple in this household.
Oxford 4 x 6 Blank Index Cards
Completely blank on both sides, this strong and sturdy index card is great for note taking, illustrations, recipes, notes for family members and a variety of craft projects. The 4 x 6 size allows you a lot more freedom over the smaller 3 x 5 size. The larger size lets you trim off the excess space or make a customized size to suit your needs. Since there are no lines or headers you can write as large or as small as you wish, a great benefit for kids that are just learning to write or adults that can’t seem to stay between the lines. You can use almost any type of marker, pen, pencil or medium on the cards without having to worry about the ink running through – perfect for crayons as well. The paper has a smooth surface but absorbs most ink immediately, which helps to cut down on smudging and smearing. The white color is crisp and clean but isn’t a “bright white”, sometimes the high quality bright white variety are rather delicate so if you are working with lead and use an eraser to remove mistakes, it dulls that portion of the card – besides that – they are about three times as expensive as the standard ones.
Uses
There are a ton of uses for these outside the usual office applications. The boys use these all the time for note taking, making small models, making background scenes for their various Lego sets, bookmarks and lists of things they need from projects or school. Personally, I like the thickness of the cards; I use a lot of roller ball and gel ink pens and more often than not, the ink tends to leak through pages of notebooks. The size is great – I can toss a handful of these in my knapsack so I’ll always have something to write on. Since two of my boys are painfully slow eaters, these come in handy when we stop to get something to eat and need something to kill time, nothing like a few games of Hangman to pass the time and these cards are the perfect size. I prefer these over notebooks when we are out for the day, no paper fragments to deal with or having to worry about ripping out the pages when you get home. If you have items that you want to have laminated [emergency phone numbers, credit card contact numbers etc] these cards work perfectly in most laminating machines. I’ve had mixed results when using them in the printer but found that they work best when inserted vertically with the paper guide pressed snuggly against the edge.
The Bottom Line
You can find these at larger office supply stores for about $1.25 a pack. Places like Target, Wal-Mart and K-Mart usually carry the lined version so if you are looking specifically for these, stick with places like Office Depot and Staples. These come in a pack of 100 but you can make a bulk purchase of a case of 12 packs and save a few dollars over purchasing these individually. Are they worth it? I think that they are – and so do my boys. Other brands are thinner, don’t absorb ink as well and tend to bend easier. The next time your children have a school project and are looking for thick paper to work with, keep these handy note cards in mind.
To see the complete line of Oxford cards and products, visit their official parent site at www.esselte.com.
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