Daycraft is a Hong Kong-based stationery company that makes a variety of notebooks and diaries. The nice folks there sent me a batch of samples of their colorful notebooks, which are quite different from anything I’ve reviewed so far. The one that most intrigued me was this, seen here with the plastic wrapping I’d just removed:

You know, I’d never really thought about what sort of effect “juicy thinking” might have on me, but after playing around with this cantaloupe-y notebook, I have to agree that it kind of does “make my day!”

The cover is soft and flexible, with a texture that does seem a lot like a cantaloupe, though larger and not as rough. (Strawberry and pineapple versions are also available.) It overhangs the page edges by quite a bit, which is a pet peeve of mine.

The bookmark is made of felt (though the packaging claims it is suede), and is not attached to the notebook. There’s also a standard ribbon marker.

The paper is lined, but not all the way to the edges. I didn’t expect it to perform very well with pens because it felt a little lighter than some I’ve tested, but it actually did fine– it’s nice and smooth to write on, and show-through was minimal, except with the heaviest markers.

All in all, I ended up rather liking this notebook– it’s not the type of thing I’d use on a daily basis, but it’s actually quite cute and I like the flexibility.

These are the other notebooks I was sent, though I’m not doing full reviews. They offer an interesting variety of designs, including one with a purple suede cover that offers a scratch ‘n’ sniff element:

This one’s just kind of funky looking:

And this one has a cute design:

That’s actual stitching along the edge:

I’ll be selecting 3 random winners to receive these notebooks, brand new and still in their original wrappers. If there’s a particular one you want, say so in your entry, though I can’t guarantee you’ll get your pick.

To enter, do any of these things before the deadline of Thursday Sept. 9 at midnight EST:

On Twitter, tweet something containing the words “Daycraft” and “@NotebookStories.”

On Facebook, “like” the  Notebook Stories page and post something containing the word “Daycraft” on my wall.

On your blog, post something containing the words “Daycraft” and “NotebookStories” and link back to this post.

Thanks for playing, and good luck!

As for those who don’t win and want to buy these notebooks, unfortunately Daycraft isn’t distributed in the USA, but they suggest you order from Vera Chan, an Australian online retailer who will deliver to the USA.