August 20, 2004

Curious George: Annoying CD wallets. You know, these things. What ad wizard designed them? You can't label them because there's no place on them to affix a card. You can't write on them because they're jet black. You can't tape a label on because it falls off the nylon and makes it sticky. Any creative solutions for labelling them?
posted by rolypolyman 20 years ago
  • Tip-Ex style pen works, but it's messy. Or you could make a collage, and stick it on with sticky-back plastic.
  • Silver or white paint pen.
  • surlyboi beat me to it. Staple a pocket onto it?
  • Roly, the pages in these tend to unhook, I find. And drop out when you open the case. *makes fists, hops up and down, repeatedly socks self in head, alternating fists* Buy some other kind? And please let me know what works, if you find something. With software CDs, especially, I use those file-in-a-binder plastic pages, but they are also highly unsatisfactory.
  • Do they not sell hard cases anymore? Doesn't solve the labelling problem (mine has a black rubber cover) but would at least have plastic trays instead of flimsy paper/plastic pockets. There are Sharpie silver pens out there, although they're probably ink and will likely bleed on nylon. The key might be, in fact, PAINT pens as surlyboi suggested; it doesn't even have to be silver/white, as I'm pretty sure there are such things as touch-up paint pens and the like. Finally, if you're in a pinch, white-out. Mmmm.
  • Glue and glitter? You could tack on some nice butterfl...oh, sorry. I would do the white-out thing, personally.
  • Dymo. You know, those old fashioned label strips. They'll stick to anything. Alternatively, do away with the wallet altogether and do what I do - origami CD cases.
  • I vote paint pen. And the hard cases whenever possible - those wallets destroy the CD's over time due to the constant scraping of the fabric.
  • I never tried to label the sleeve itself because it was so easy to jumble up the cds as I listened to them and put them back in the wrong spot. Or it would ruin my habit of keeping everything in alphabetical order if I got a new cd. Or if I wanted to use the wallet for a road trip with totally different cds, the labels would be all wrong. Have you thought of making a small business card and slipping it into the sleeve with the cd? You could include a track listing, even. I've also seen people put the booklet into the sleeve and the cd behind it. But with a large book that can get pretty bulky.
  • Nostril, that may be one of the most handy links I've seen here. I hate digging for jewel cases when I burn discs.
  • Nostril, what a useful link -- thanks.
  • HA HA HA HA AD WIZARDS I LOVE YOU
  • muh?
  • buh?
  • "I hate digging for jewel cases when I burn discs." Yeah, so do I! That's why I turned to the origami thing. And I also have a lifelong love of origami, although I'm not good at it. And I always step on my jewel cases and crack them, or the little hinge nubbin breaks off.
  • Did you get into the CD swap, Nostrildamus? Just wondering how they'd hold up to posting. I bought jewel cases for the previous swaps but if they're tough enough I'll try the paper ones next time.
  • I'd imagine they actually hold up better than CD cases. If a charity can send a pen through the post with no problem, a CD can certainly hold up to the strain. CD cases, however, are apparently made of the most delicate, transparent porcelain ever created.
  • Sweet.
  • I've been using the site that lets you enter in title and track info, then prints it out all nice 'n' neat for you, complete with a little labeled spine. Damn handy, thir, damn handy. My hat is off.
  • MCT what site is that?
  • The site is here, found in Nostril's first link, under a text link titled "Wayne Munro version CD Case Origami". Enter info, print, fold, rinse, repeat. Big fun.