Levenger Circa Notebooks

[kenny]

Anyone have any experience with the Levenger Circa Notebooks?

 

Is the paper FP friendly?

 

Do you find the concept (basically a Rolodex-like notebook) useful?

[kenny]

Oops, I should have put this in the Paper/Paraphernalia section, not the Paper/Paraphernalia REVIEW section. Can an administrator move it?

Edited January 15, 2007 by kenny

[Dr.Grace]

If you do a search, you'll find a thread in which paper quality (or rather the decline thereof) has been discussed. I like the concept, however, and used to use Circa notebooks all the time. You can buy a special punch so you can use your own paper with them.

[jsonewald]

The notebooks are popular enough on FPN that I tried one. The paper quality issue has been addressed in other posts. The design is pretty neat and convenient to use, but I found it not well suited to my needs. The paper seemed to come out much more easily than I expected. The paper also didn't tolerate much deliberate removal and insertion. It didn't matter if it was Levenger, Target closeout, Staples (Rolla), or paper I punched. The punch is fairly expensive also. The practical capacity of the notebooks was also somewhat limited.

 

I was unhappy enough with the Circa type notebooks to resurrect my Komtrak notebooks. I have their Inspiral and Koolbind, and find them both much more practical and easy to live with. The Komtrak lined note paper is very fountain pen friendly.

 

http://komtrak.com/

 

(corrected typos)

Edited January 15, 2007 by jsonewald

[cowboyjack]

I LOVE my Circa notebooks.

 

I LOVE the ability to create my own custom paper and forms, fold the notebook back on itself and to arrange and rearrange paper at will.

 

I used the Target closeout cheapos for about 6 months to check out the system, using the 5.5 x 8.5 (approx.) size for notes, calendar and addresses.

 

I recently ordered the Levenger Circa Punch and a couple of notebooks. Levenger now has a "Circa starter" that is quite affordable to see if you like the format before you invest in the punch, etc. I've also used covers and disks from rollabind.com.

 

I use my own fountain pen friendly paper (HP 32# Laser & some Crane and Clairfontaine) and custom punch it as needed, so the Circa paper quality is not an issue for me. I also download graph paper pdf.s from the internet and various forms from diyplanner.com.

 

I especially enjoy the ability to combine different sizes of paper in one notebook: letter size, 5.5 x 8.5, 3 x 5, etc., it just "snaps" in and out.

 

I use the 5.5 x 8.5 for daily notes, address and calendar. I use the 8.5 x 11 size for various article and book manuscripts & research projects and love the ability to "snap in" smaller notes and reference materials as needed.

 

Pricey? Yes, somewhat. Daily grin factor as the ink flows across the page? Priceless.

 

My $0.02.

[HDoug]

I decided to "test" the Circa system at work last year and like it so much that I've extended the use to my personal use. I use both the 8.5 X 11, and the "junior" size.

 

Some say the paper ain't what it used to be, and that may be true, but what makes it useful for me is the Cornell ruling. I guess ideally one could find a paper that they really like, laserprint Cornell ruling onto that, then punch Circa holes into them, but I haven't tried that yet.

 

But to pass on some info that might be useful, I found that Levenger's Circa system is a rebranded version of a Rollabind product. Most of the stuff is significantly less expensive (CHEAPER!) through rollabind.com.

 

Doug

Edited January 16, 2007 by HDoug

[KCat]

i print my own ruling layout on 32lb HP "Premium" paper. Purchased the punch from a scrapbooking site which had it for under $50 at the time. Sorry - have long since forgotten who it was but it was less than 2 years ago that I purchased it.

 

with the heavyweight paper, it's quite durable.

 

Surprisingly, Levenger's price for the punch isn't the highest I've seen. I've seen scrapping sellers that want $100 for it.

 

I do like the concept a lot and I did find it handy for certain things. Especially if I scribbled something brilliant on a 3x5 and wanted to put those brilliant words in with other writing on the same topic.

[Busyfingers]

I'm adding a query to this thread, jumping in after KCat's description of her custom-made paper, and totally bypassing the interesting tests with Circa paper which Kevin posted today - only because he didn't mention the magic word, "punch."

 

I was wondering if anyone has compared the two Levenger punches, the "Circa desk punch" vs. the "Circa portable punch," to see if they punch holes in the same spot in the paper. Or, asking the question another way, do both punches position the holes the same distance from the edge as the prepunched Circa paper?

 

I ask, because I have a Rollabind notebook which I ordered through Staples, and a Clairefontaine notebook using Rolla-like discs (now discontinued, I believe). I think the Clairefontaine paper is punched similarly to the Circa paper, while the Staples holes are punched a little closer to the edge than I would like. It's a bit hard to tell from the web pictures, but the holes from the portable punch might also be a bit closer to the edge, similar to the Staples paper. If/when I get a punch for the Rolla system, I'd like it to get something I'd be happy with!

 

By the way, am I guessing correctly that Staples has discontinued the Rollabind products? I did a quick search on their website and didn't get any results.

[Tricia]

This is a quick and dirty (rather, quick and crooked) sampler of several different kinds of paper. HTH

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/494245669_8719645eed_o.jpg

 

 

[Busyfingers]

Tricia, this is great! Thanks for your efforts!!

 

It shows, among other things, that Levenger has actually changed its paper punching.

 

Now I am curious as to whether the Circa punch used on the second example is the desk punch, or the portable one.

[Tricia]

It's the desk punch. I don't have the portable, so can't address that, sorry. (And sorry I forgot to mention that in my original post.)

 

Imo, unless you need the portability of the Portable Punch, the Desk Punch is much quicker and easier to use and therefore, also imo, you'll be much more likely to actually use it.

 

I've used the Circa system for years and like it very much. Ime, the items from Levenger seem to be better quality than those from Rollabind (e.g., 'cleaner' disks - no mold marks that interfere with turning pages) and, with the punch, you get amazing versatility, too. I can punch everything from 3 x 5 cards to Clairefontaine notepaper and tuck it into a Circa notebook.

 

 

[HDoug]

I have the portable punch, but would also recommend the desk punch, unless you really will be carrying the punch around. The portable is kind of weird to use -- I actually had to read the instructions to figure it out. You have to slide the "puncher" down the back and punch the sheets several times in order to punch the entire page, and it will only take a few sheets (3 pages of HP 32# for instance) at a time.

 

I'm a little anti-Levenger at the moment (soooo expensive), so I'm making my own "Circa" notebooks using Rollabind components, HP 32# Premium paper, and free, custom Cornel ruling from http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/.

 

Doug

[Tricia]

Hi, Doug,

 

Through tomorrow (Mother's Day, 5/13), Levenger's is offering free shipping on their Circa products. Might be worth a look.

 

I, personally, feel that their products are a tad pricey, too, but close enough for the quality I'm getting that I buy them anyway. (Sometimes through their site's Outlet, as well as the new Levenger Outlet over on Ebay.)

 

No doubt you've also tried out the pages at DIYPlanner.com, but I thought I'd mention it in case you haven't. Great organizer calendar and other templates free for the downloading.

 

With the Rollabind, it does sometimes make turning the pages easier if you can smooth off the (sometimes) rough mold marks. I use a regular nail file. (Though I prefer Levenger's for the quality, I just couldn't pass up the great colors Rollabind offers. Since Rollabind was recently bought by another company, I'm not sure what the status is of the notebooks and disks.)

 

And - I'm with you - the Cornell format is great! I love Levenger's mod of that, but I've printed out quite a few sheets from the site you mentioned as well.

[ViolinWriter]

I've been on an organizing "kick" lately, and have been using Rollabind for the gargantuan task. I figured the costs out, and for most of my notebook needs, the Rollabind, which is pretty much the same as Circa, the notebooks are perfect. The advantage with these kisk bound notebooks is that I can control the paper quality myself.

 

Cost wise, I believe purchasing a ream or two of HP 24# or 32# paper is almost the same quality as Circa paper from Levenger at considerable savings. But, to each, his, her or its own. So to speak.

 

My organizing caused me to empty alll those mislabled, disorganized files on music and put the various pages into coherent Rollabind notebooks.

 

Granted, the notebooks don't have a spine where you can label the contents, but that is solved by hand "Rollabind" punching a piece of card stock, then putting one hole from a hand held round punch in the upper left corner, attach a "tag" on a string to the page, and let the tag hang over the edge so that I can read which notebook is which for my purposes. The "tags" are made from 3x5 cards.

 

Costwise, using the Rollabind with desk punch, paper, cardstock, and disks is less than 3 rings for the same purposes after you pass the 20th notebook, give or take. I am currently at notebook 68 and counting.

 

I use the system for Writing the Bible, organizing downloaded/printed pages, research files for various writing projects, music from free music download sites, and for the "Background--Music For Recitals" notebooks.

 

The latter contain the violin, viola or cello solo parts, the piano score, study score copied if available, copies of relevant pages from various Grove Dictionaries. I also include whatever information I gather about the composer. This includes the historic information about the times when the composer lived, and influences the composer might have encountered. If I am playing, for example Chopin, Dvorak, Barber and all, I include information about composer and author friends and musical influences. For Mozart, this gets a little too bulky, so I include a sheet of cross references to books in my library that are helpful, or pages copied at a music library. I also include programme notes, a page of CD performances of the music, and poetry/paintings, sculpture or geographic setting that may have been influential. For example, I includ the poem that started it all for the Lark Ascending.

 

I also include my own summary and a brief essay done in ink on paper, with a fountain pen.

 

It all keeps me current on the best information that makes me an informed performer, with music played in the style intended by the composer. Better still, I know where to find the obscure reference to whatever may be influencing my style when playing.

[tdcackler]

Well, I'm taking the plunge! I just paid for a slightly used Rollabind punch from a scrapbooker that should be here this week. I've used Myndology products thus far, but I have a need now. And this was too good of a deal to pass up.

[rroossinck]

While we're talking about it, if you order Circa stuff from Levenger yet today, they're waiving shipping costs. Just ordered two notebook kits for $12/kit, and extra 3/4" rings for the notebook I already have for $10.

 

This is good stuff, kids!

 

And Thomas...you shouldn't have bought that punch, being that I live three minutes away!

[caligatia]

I love the Rollabind system, whether it's the standard stuff or Levenger's classier Circa line. I use stuff from both interchangeably. I'm a college student, so I don't have $100 to blow on a leather Circa notebook cover, but Levenger does make some Classic/Junior size (5.5" x 8.5") pocket dividers and tabbed dividers that Rollabind doesn't offer. So I splurged on those a couple of months ago during a sale.

 

I really like Rollabind. I carry a junior notebook in my everyday bag that has slash pockets for reference papers and things. For school I use a slim letter-sized notebook to take notes in, and I have Rollabind letter-sized binders for each one of my classes. (There are directions on the DIYplanner.com site for making your own Rolla covers/binders with spines you can write on. I'm going to do this in future instead of shelling out money for the binders.)

 

I bought the portable Rolla punch on sale for $20 from an online craft store, and 400 discs at half off from an online office supply store. So for less than $50 I can create as many notebooks as I want, in any size that suits me. Like I need to create a journal archive, as I occasionally jot journal entries down in my junior notebook while I'm out and about. Those all need a place to be kept together. The pages are already punched, so all I have to do is put them on rings and make a file-folder notebook cover. Voila, instant book.

 

I don't buy the fancy papers, either -- instead I get 24lb. laser copy paper from the office supply store and print my own stuff -- grids and ruled pages off various web PDF generators, and forms off the DIYplanner.com site.

 

So the system can be done DIY and on the cheap. Although some of those Circa products are gorgeous...

Edited May 15, 2007 by caligatia

[jdooney]

I like the Circa system, but I don't find the Levenger paper as good as Rhodia. So I use the system, but use Rhodia paper instead. That means I cut the paper down and use the whole punch. It gives me the best of both worlds.

John

[Shucavage]

Rollabind/Circa hint

 

You can make your own covers out of any thick paper or plastic. Just puch them in the Rollabind punch. You may have to adjust it to center it if the cover is a little bigger than the paper. Found some heavy stock at an office supply store I use for inexpensive covers for my morning papers journals. You don't have to buy them from Rollabind/circa. In fact I have been thinking of seeking out my own sources for the sheet plastic and cutting it myself.

 

Rollabind has plastic covers in bulk that get a lot cheaper. Levenger charges a real premium for their rebranding. You can buy big bags of rings at rollabind.

 

You can use it to make odd size journals. Punch the 8.5" side of a 8.5x11 piece of paper and cut the other end down to make a 8.5 x 7. This makes a nice size for taking notes, to do list and the like. With rollabind you are not held hostage by and fixed paper size, type of paper, or cover.

 

Also - you can puch 3x5 cards and make a handy pen and ink PDA. Levenger is full of it now. You can also buy rollabind folders with a spine of sorts where the rings are self contained.

 

Another source of using 3x5 cards to organize is at www.43folders.com, it is sort of a way to use 3x5 cards to implement the "Getting Things Done" method of organization.