20 90s School Supplies We Used to Bring
Take a nostalgic journey through 20 iconic '90s school supplies that defined our childhood and made learning fun.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 90s were a golden era for quirky, colorful school supplies that turned classrooms into creative playgrounds. From gel pens to Trapper Keepers, these essentials weren’t just tools but a lifestyle. Let’s revisit 20 beloved school supplies that filled our desks, backpacks, and hearts.
1. Gel Pens
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Every note looked like a masterpiece with glittery, neon, or pastel gel pens. They were perfect for doodling during lectures or spicing up your daily entries. Who needed regular ink when you could write in rainbow?
2. Lisa Frank Notebooks
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These vibrant, animal-covered notebooks were the crown jewels of school supplies. Owning one meant you were at the top of the classroom coolness hierarchy. Unicorns, dolphins, and neon leopards—what more could you want?
3. Trapper Keepers
Yortizsoto16 on Wikimedia Commons
Trapper Keepers is the ultimate organizational tool that combines folders, binders, and personality. Covered in bold graphics or geometric shapes, they were part planner, part fashion statement. Zipping one open was a power move.
4. Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers
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Rewards never smelled so sweet (or weirdly like pizza). These stickers turned assignments into sniff-worthy achievements. Collecting them was half the fun; sharing them made you a classroom hero.
5. Milky Pens
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These opaque pens worked like magic on black paper, creating instant art. They were the ultimate flex for school projects and personalized notes. Teachers might not have loved them, but we sure did.
6. Plastic Pencil Cases
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These colorful, clicky boxes held your stationery treasures with style. From pop-open compartments to hidden eraser slots, they were the Swiss Army knives of school supplies. A loud “CLACK” when opening one? Pure satisfaction.
7. Troll Pencil Toppers
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These wild-haired little buddies turned dull pencils into instant joy. Twirling their neon hair during tests was oddly comforting. They didn’t help with math, but they boosted morale.
8. Erasable Pens
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Writing mistakes? No problem! These pens gave us the thrill of using ink with the safety net of erasing. The ink didn’t permanently vanish, but we loved the illusion of perfection.
9. Bubble Letter Stencils
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These stencils unlocked our inner designers, perfect for making title pages and popsters pop. They turned every project into a creative masterpiece. Who needed natural handwriting talent when you had these?
10. Overhead Projector Markers
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It is not technically ours, but borrowing these for diagrams felt like wielding teacher-level power. The bold colors made every chart or map look professional (or hilariously messy). Bonus points if you got to use the projector yourself.
11. Color-Changing Markers
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These markers were pure sorcery—color one way, swipe the magic pen, and voilà, new color! They were perfect for creating secret messages or abstract art. Science class never stood a chance against their allure.
12. Rollerball Erasers
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These erasers had a rolling feature that cleaned up pencil shavings like a tiny vacuum. Functional and oddly addictive, they made erasing feel like a mini-game. Plus, they left your desk spotless—kind of.
13. Scented Markers
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Who cared about coloring when your markers smelled like fruit, candy, or mystery chemicals? They turned every art project into a sniff test. “Does this red smell like cherry or disappointed?”
14. Book Socks
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Gone were the days of plain paper book covers—book socks brought stretchy, colorful flair to your textbooks. They protected your books and showcased your personality. The hardest part? Getting them to fit just right.
15. Fuzzy Notebooks
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Writing in a notebook that felt like a teddy bear was peak luxury. The covers were soft and colorful and sometimes even came with glitter accents. They made note-taking feel like a cozy activity.
16. Staple-Free Staplers
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These futuristic gadgets clipped papers together without staples. They made you feel like an innovator every time you used them. Sure, they weren’t as sturdy, but who cared when they were this fun?
17. Mini Highlighters
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Small but mighty, these pocket-sized tools add bright flair to your notes. They come in every neon shade imaginable and can be clipped onto keychains. Highlighting wasn’t just a study aid—it was an art form.
18 Pocket Dictionaries
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Before Google, we relied on these tiny word-filled wonders to boost our vocabulary. They were clunky but helped us go through grade school. Bonus points if yours had a worn-out cover—it meant you were a word wizard.
19. Multifunctional Pens
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Click, click, click—the multi-ink pen was a fidget toy disguised as a writing tool. Switching between colors mid-sentence was a power move. Who didn’t love a pen that did it all?
20. Craft Scissors
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These funky scissors cut paper into zigzags, waves, and patterns. Every craft project became a masterpiece with their help. Sure, they weren’t practical for straight lines, but where’s the fun in that?