28 Put a Safe in Your Bookshelf (or on your coffee table… either works)

Have you ever wanted to live in a house with a secret room only accessible via a secret door? You know, with one of those bookshelves that slide open when you pull on the right book? I have (and still do!), but I have a problem:

1. I don’t own a house (millennial problems…), and
2. I don’t have the money to rent a house with a sliding bookshelf to a hidden room installed.

But that’s okay! I’ve found a nifty little item to fill that bookshelf sized hole in the soul… for now. If you too are definitely into false walls and hidden rooms, you’ll want to check into getting yourself one of these nifty little items. Hmmm… What could it be?

You’ve probably seen them without realizing, whether they’re hand made or purchased from an industrial manufacturer. Good news: That’s the point! You shouldn’t know they exist! But what, pray-tell, am I talking about? A Book Safe, of course!

What is a Book Safe? 

In essence, Book Safes are hollow books. When closed, they appear to be real, authored books with words and paragraphs and chapters and well-worn pages. When opened, however, they reveal a secret cubby or “safe” to tuck your knicknacks and valuables into (be they chocolates, receipts, notecards, pens, report cards, old diplomas, playing cards, or any other miscellaneous items). The Book Safe can also be called a Secret Book Box.

 

A Large Book Safe

A Small Book Safe

These Book Safes are made of various materials, including cardboard, wood, and even real books! In the latter case, a book is purchased and the owner cuts a huge section of pages out of the center of the book; this is the simplified version of how they’re really made. Nevertheless, making your own Book Safe can be a fun and relatively cheap DIY project for a rainy day (that is, if you’ve got an old book you’re willing to recycle via dissection…).

If you’re interested in making your own Book Safe, check out this article: https://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/12/07/how-to-make-a-secret-book-safe/

Why Use a Book Safe? 

Book Safes are awesome, decorative boxes that you can use to store various small items inside. Some people even use them to hide access phone chargers and electronic parts. Once filled, a Book Safe can be discreetly slip among a library of books on a bookshelf. It’s a way to store your stuff in an easily accessible and convenient location, yet keep it hidden from wandering eyes. In other words, it’s a way to hide something in plain sight (just like one of those sliding bookshelf doors to secret rooms!!!).

You can store your Book Safe on a desk or bookshelf in a home office, in a small home library, or even as a decorative piece on a coffee table or side table in the living room or TV room.

So now that you know you definitely want one of these bad boys, the big question is: Do you get cardboard or wood?

Cardboard or Wood? 

So should you get a cardboard or wood Book Safe? Well, how rough you are with your books and boxes will determine which material build you should get. In general, the wooden Book Safes are more durable and last longer than the cardboard ones, but the cardboard ones are lighter and cheaper.

PERSONAL NOTE: I’ve been using Book Safes for over five years now, and even my oldest Book Safes doesn’t show signs of wear in tear (my oldest is a cardboard build). So in the end, if you like the price point and the feel of the cardboard better than the wood, it isn’t going to make too much of a difference. From my experience, either kind of Book Safe should last years and years (though this really depends on how rough you are with the “books”)!

Cardboard Book Safes

A cardboard built Book Safe is like an image with a glossy finish; the surface is slick and there is a bit of shine when the light hits it. I tend to think of it as high quality papier-mâché or reinforced, pressed cardboard. You have to be a little gentler with the edges of the Book Safe, as it can be easily dented or smashed, and the magnetic lock on the book cover is satisfactory, but gentle and easy to open.

 

The cardboard Book Safes are generally cheaper, but can still blend in nicely as real books on a bookshelf, especially if you get yourself one of the smaller sizes.

Wooden Book Safes

A wooden built Book Safe is slick with a more matte finish compared to a cardboard build. The surface is usually made of a type of canvas and has a rougher texture in both look and feel. With the wood build, manufacturers tend to line the insides with felt or similar products. You can be a little rougher with this kind of Book Safe, and the magnetic lock on the book cover is very strong and takes more effort to open.

 

The wooden Book Safes are generally more expensive and can sometimes appear more boxy and stiff than the cardboard build. However, their stiff “spines” blend in really nicely with a row of gigantion dictionaries or other kinds of mega books.

Conclusion

In the end, I tend to look at Book Safes as functional decor. Yes, you can hide your semi-valuables in them and stick them into a bookshelf to hide among the other books, but you can also set them on coffee or side tables for easy storage of playing cards or all those TV remotes and phone chargers. So if you’re looking for something to make your place look more homely in a functional and price effective way (and fulfill that craving for secrets you had as a child), get yourself a Book Safe!

I usually go to Marshalls, Ross, or TJ Maxx to get mine, but there are some specialty ones you can find online. With the internet, the sky’s the limit!

So go fill that bookshelf sized hole in your soul! I promise, it’ll be a cheap little thrill that we can remember each other by.

Happy shopping!

11 “D” Pen

Here’s a product that you can use every day and probably most of the day. You constantly need a pen. You need one at work, at school, at home, and maybe even during extra-curricular activities.

Basic Features

• Fade-proof, durable tip, quick drying
• Material: Stainless Steel [RUST-FREE]
•  Pen Point Type: Bold
• Ink Color: Black
•  Dimensions (Overall): 4.4 inches (L) x .4 inches
• Package Quantity: 1.0

Elaborated Features

1. Professional Look 

When you show up for an interview, a meeting, work, or school, you want to be well prepared and have the best supplies to do that. “D” Pen has a neutral but polished sterling-silver color as compared to many other pens that are multicolored or bright, less professional.

2. A customizable message,

quote,

company name,

phone number, etc. 

“D” Pen is priced at $4.01, but if you order more than 10 it will be $2.35 per pen. You can order these pens in bulk and use them as company pens, staff pens, sports team pens, etc.. You can use it for anything you need. Be sure to customize it with up to 2 lines of text on each side.

3. Stylus

You do not have to carry an additional stylus because you already have it on your pen; it’s 2-in-1.

Sometimes you’re in the middle of eating a finger food and then your phone rings or you get a text message. You want to respond immediately but you do not want to get your phone dirty.

You can pick up “D” Pen and navigate on your device. The stylus is compatible with all kinds of technology gadgets: apple watches, Samsung watches, iPhones, androids, tablets, kindles, Bluetooth devices, and TVs.

 

Smooth Stylus

Use it on your Tablet!

 

The pen is easy to run under water and clean because of the stainless-steel material. It will not rust.

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4. Refillable Ink

You won’t have to waste the pen after the ink runs out. The ink refills are available at some of your local stores like Walmart, Office Depot, and Staples.

5. Uncloggable Ink 

Sometimes you have that one pen that appears to have full ink, but you have to tap it on the table a couple of times, then you scribble a few times, and hit it just a couple more times then, FINALLY, it works.

You shouldn’t have that problem with “D” Pen.

6. Rotating feature to reveal the tip 

As you rotate the pen you will see the message, business name etc. on it. Additionally, the rotating works better than a “click” to avoid damaging the stylus.

7. Pocket Clip

Rather than rummage through your bookbag, handbag, pencil case, and pockets, hook the pen on your shirt for easy access. “D” Pen can clip onto many different fabrics and materials. 

8. Wear the pen

If you really want to start something you can wear the pen as an accessory.

You’ve seen those people wear their favorite pin on their book bag, handbag, shoes, hats, etc, right?  You can wear “D” Pen as well. It’s just as shiny, if not shiner than the gold pins you see on some blazers.

“D” accessory will help you stand out from the crowd and you’ll have easy access to it as well. Feel free to clip the pen on your belt loop or back pocket as well. Hook it where ever you want!

It fits in your pocket

Shoe Accessory

Clip it here!

It goes in your coat too!

Hook it here!

Put it in your pocket

Clip it on your book bag

9. Affordable Price

The product is $4.01. Now you are wondering, “well, that’s weird. Why is it $4.01 and not like a ‘regular’ number like something . 99?” The price is as unique as the product.

“D” Pen has an affordable price for your convenience. You may even buy an additional one to give as a gift.

Do not throw away your money. Invest it in your future.

 Invest in my future by buying a pen?

Yes.

Check out these other pens that are titled “Professional pens”

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Exceptional Black Panthere Fountain Pen ($17,800…before tax)

• The pen is way overpriced. This pen does not include a stylus. It has an animal shape on the top which every one may not be comfortable with. The brief description does not include a weight but from the details of the materials, the pen appears to be heavy.

Wacom Pro Pen ($69.99)

This pen’s tip does not retract. The pen does come with a bulky case that is too big to comfortably fit in your pocket.

Do NOT settle for another pen that you cannot “D”(e)Pen(d) on! 

p.s.

From experience, I can tell you that as you write with “D” Pen you’ll feel more motivated to work. You know, it’s related to that saying like if you’re dressed for success you’ll probably be a little more successful knowing that you are prepared and look your best. The same goes for “D” Pen! You go to school, your meeting or interview and instead of digging in the bottom of your bag for a low-quality pen, grab “D” pen. There’s something about it.

It’s one of those pens that prompts you to start practicing your autograph. It gives you that edge.

Buy “D” Pen.

Write with “D” Pen.

Share your experiences with “D” Pen.

 

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