4 TRENDY ALTERNATIVES TO CREDIT CARD SLEEVES If you’re the type of person who carries cards instead of cash, you might want to look into buying a credit card sleeve. Credit card sleeves are a minimalist alternative to leather wallets that are becoming more attractive to people looking to minimize how much cash they carry. Credit card sleeves can also be used as additional RFID protection for individuals looking to protect the credit cards in their wallet. How do I protect my credit card in my wallet? Do RFID blocking sleeves really work? RFID blocking sleeves and wallets work by protecting your credit card details from scammers. Your credit cards are likely already embedded with an RFID chip which allows you to make contactless payments. Unfortunately, your credit card information can potentially be compromised using devices called RFID scanners. RFID scanners can pick up information such as credit card numbers, CVV codes, and expiration dates. Once the scammer has your credit card information, they might be able to make a purchase using your credit card information. RFID blocking sleeves have a thin layer of metal or carbon fiber that prevents RFID scanners from reading your credit card’s RFID chips. Not all credit card sleeves have RFID protection, so choose carefully if having RFID protection is important to you. If you’ve ever ventured into the world of paper Magic, you’ve probably bought some card sleeves before. And if you’ve bought a couple different brands or types of sleeves, then you’ve definitely noticed that there can be a pretty big difference in quality. If you’ve never bought card sleeves before or have only ever bought the same ones, well, now you know. Regardless of your relationship with card sleeves for paper Magic, it’s important to know that there are so many options available for you to choose from. A handful of brands are well-known among paper Magic-ers, whether for good or for ill.If you’re trying to figure out what sleeve is best for you—or you’re now questioning every card sleeve purchase you’ve ever made—then I’ve got your back. Whether you’re looking to display your collection, protect your cards while you play, need a gift for a fellow Magic player, or just want some good, high-quality aesthetic sleeves, I’ll cover everything you need to know and give you the scoop on what to get and what to avoid. So, let’s get this started, shall we? Best Credit Card Sleeves When people refer to “credit card sleeves”, they’re usually referring to one of two things. There’s the traditional credit card sleeve which is a thin piece of material with only enough space for one card. Then, there are also credit card sleeves that resemble miniature wallets. These wallet-like credit card sleeves often hold multiple credit cards. Traditional Credit Card Sleeves: These are extremely thin sleeves that are designed to work in tandem with a regular wallet. You slide your credit card into the sleeve and then place the sleeve in your wallet. They’re usually made out of leather, faux-leather, carbon fiber, or plastic. Wallet Credit Card Sleeves: These types of credit card sleeves act as a wallet with space only allotted for your cards. They’re also called card case wallets. They are often made of metal, plastic, leather, or synthetic fabrics. These types of credit card sleeves are typically larger than RFID credit card sleeves and can hold multiple cards. Before you decide on which credit card sleeve is right for you, make sure to consider these 4 alternatives. If you own a valuable or treasured card collection, be they baseball cards, Pokémon cards, or any other type, penny sleeves are a great way to store, sort, and protect your collection all at once. Known as “penny sleeves” because of their low cost, these sealable plastic rectangle-shaped pockets hold one card at a time and protect them from stains from your fingerprints, crumbs, and liquids. They also safeguard your cards from becoming ripped, torn, or scratched, as well as the colors, writing, and pictures from rubbing off or peeling over time, and other hazards of consistent handling. They’re great for mass storage as well, as you can buy hundreds at once for a low price. If you’re a card game enthusiast or serious card collector, a pack of penny sleeves is a worthwhile and low-cost investment to help keep your collection safe. What to Look for in Penny Sleeves Here’s what you should think about when purchasing penny sleeves: Amount: Penny sleeves are available in quite a range of quantities. Most are sold in packs of 100 or 200, but there are higher and lower amounts available. You can buy as few as one or five sleeves at once, and as many as packs of 1,000, depending on the size of your collection. Thickness: Some penny sleeves are made of thicker plastic (usually measured in millimeters) than others, ensuring your cards greater protection. Penny sleeves advertised as “premium” will, in general, be the ones made of thicker plastic than standard models. You can also buy double-sleeved packs, where you’ll buy penny sleeves that come in two sizes: a standard-sized sleeve to hold your card, and a slightly larger one to place that sleeve in. This will protect your cards even better, as there will be two layers of plastic between them and the elements. Acid-Free: If you’re serious about protecting your cards or have particularly valuable ones, you’ll want to buy penny sleeves that are explicitly marked as acid-free. Acid and similar chemicals may rub off on your cards and run the risk of discoloring or staining your cards if they’re stored in them over an extended period of time. Therefore, acid-free penny sleeves are generally the best option for collectors. Do You Really Need a Mouse Pad? Computer mice have been around in one form or another for the better part of 50 years (or longer, based on your definition of invention), and for most of that time they’ve been paired with mouse pads. But modern optical and laser mice can track on just about any surface, unless you’re somehow using your computer on a sand bed. So do those nerdy-looking pads even serve a purpose anymore? Yes, actually. A mouse pad isn’t technically necessary these days, but there are some obvious and serious benefits of using one, even if you’re not spending a lot of money on a fancy “gamer” model. When Did Mouse Pads Start to Disappear? Some computer users used to simply roll their ancient ball-driven mice along a desktop, presumably using their other hand to shove spears at woolly mammoths. But before the advent of optical mice, mouse pads served some very important functions: not only did they offer a smooth and predictable tracking area, they helped keep the tracking ball clean of dirt, skin oils, and other gunk. Microsoft and Logitech later introduced consumer-grade optical mice, which ditched the physical roller mechanism for a tiny and low-powered optical sensor and LED combo, around the turn of the century. These offered more consistent tracking on almost any surface (as long as it wasn’t reflective or transparent, like glass) without the possibility of dirt and oil buildup on a conventional ball. A few years later, laser-equipped mice erased even those limitations, and now you can get an inexpensive mouse that will track on more or less any surface. Consequently, mouse pads began to fall out of fashion. Since optical and laser mice don’t actually contact the surface that they’re tracking (except for the feet of the mouse, which isn’t part of the tracking mechanism), there’s no operational downside to using your desk, or your lap, or the spare pizza box you really should have thrown away after last night’s raid. Goodbye to the desktop equivalent of the pocket protector, right? Mouse Pads Are Good for Your Desk and Your Mouse Mouse pads still serve several important functions. For starters, they keep your desk from looking like a piece of driftwood. The repeated motions of the rubber or plastic feet of your mouse against the surface of your desk will wear away the finish on most pressed wood, particle board, leather, and even polished hardwood if it’s not maintained. Mouse Pads will protect the finish of your desk, keeping it from wearing out over your usual mousing spot. It’s much cheaper to replace a mouse pad than replace your desktop surface. We have a variety of paper stationery boxes that come in many different stationery sizes, to help you find a fit that works for you. We carry two types of paper card boxes, including: We carry boxes in nearly every common and uncommon stationery size, including several popular box options that include: Kraft Paper Window Boxes — Kraft recycled paper with a high clarity window to help your cards stand out. Two Piece Folding Boxes — Paper boxes that come in several different styles, and can be ordered with a clear cover to maximize sales. Paper boxes are a classic way to package stationery. They have a timeless quality that makes them very popular as display packaging and temporary storage. We sell all of our paper boxes wholesale, and our prices are some of the most competitive available. Find your paper box size today, or browse our website to find more information about other stationery box products.