A marker ensemble is provided, having a multi-purpose marking tool and a sharpener.

The marking tool has a shell, retention sleeve, compression spring, control tab, reversible disk holder, and cap. The shell has an exit opening, an access opening with a mounting socket, and a medially located lateral control slot through which the control tab extends. The retention sleeve has a collet, compressed by the compression spring and uncompressed by the control tab. The disk holder has a body with a retention ridge and a pair of lugs extending from each end to retain a marking disk. One marking disk has a circular periphery and the other marking disk has a toothed periphery. The cap is mounted upon either end.

The sharpener includes a blade with a sharpened edge secured to a body with an upper surface, a peripheral surface with a shoulder, waist, and hip, and a lower surface.

A pencil sharpener may include a body having a first end and a second end aligned along a main axis of the body, the body having a pencil receptacle disposed at the first end and configured to releasably attach to a pencil such that a longitudinal axis of the pencil is parallel to the main axis of the body of the pencil sharpener, the body further having a bore formed therein between the first end and the second end, the bore having a bore axis oblique to the main axis; and a sharpener blade disposed adjacent the bore such that a portion of a pencil is insertable into the bore of the body to be sharpened by the sharpener blade.

A pencil sharpener may include a body having a first end and a second end aligned along a main axis of the body, the body having a pencil receptacle disposed at the first end and configured to releasably attach to a pencil such that a longitudinal axis of the pencil is parallel to the main axis of the body of the pencil sharpener, the body further having a bore formed therein between the first end and the second end, the bore having a bore axis oblique to the main axis; and a sharpener blade disposed adjacent the bore such that a portion of a pencil is insertable into the bore of the body to be sharpened by the sharpener blade.

Devices, kits, and methods for making a carved crayon are provided. In one aspect, a crayon carving device includes a base, a pantograph armature coupled to the base, a crayon positioner, and at least one guide template parallel to the crayon positioner. The pantograph armature includes a motorized drive shaft with a drill tip for carving an outside surface of a crayon body, as well as a guide tip for tracing along a guide template that directs where the drill tip carves. In some embodiments, the guide template includes a stationary bridge support and a plurality of removable carving bucks that insert into one of multiple openings on the bridge support. The surface features of each of the carving bucks may be traced by the guide tip to generate a corresponding carving on the surface of a crayon body.

The sharpener includes a main body into which the tip portion of the pencil is inserted, and a blade portion installed inside the main body. The tip portion of the pencil is inserted into the main body, and a guide hole for guiding the tip portion of the inserted pencil to the blade portion is formed in the main body. The pencil slides in the guide hole in an axial direction, and the blade portion sharpens the tip portion of the pencil along a plane inclined with respect to the axial direction.

A pencil sharpener may include a body having a first end and a second end aligned along a main axis of the body, the body having a pencil receptacle disposed at the first end and configured to releasably attach to a pencil such that a longitudinal axis of the pencil is parallel to the main axis of the body of the pencil sharpener, the body further having a bore formed therein between the first end and the second end, the bore having a bore axis oblique to the main axis; and a sharpener blade disposed adjacent the bore such that a portion of a pencil is insertable into the bore of the body to be sharpened by the sharpener blade.

A pencil sharpener may include a body having a first end and a second end aligned along a main axis of the body, the body having a pencil receptacle disposed at the first end and configured to releasably attach to a pencil such that a longitudinal axis of the pencil is parallel to the main axis of the body of the pencil sharpener, the body further having a bore formed therein between the first end and the second end, the bore having a bore axis oblique to the main axis; and a sharpener blade disposed adjacent the bore such that a portion of a pencil is insertable into the bore of the body to be sharpened by the sharpener blade.

A pencil holder for storing a pencil includes a hollow basic body which has an elongated interior that opens out in an insertion opening for partially receiving the pencil. In the region of the insertion opening the basic body merges into a least one retaining tongue which juts out from the basic body in the longitudinal direction and which is set up for the purpose of holding the pencil on the basic body as a result of clamping.

A multi-functional holster is especially adapted for receiving a pair of child's scissors. The holster is preferably in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid housing having a front and a flange-like periphery defining a scissor opening. A chute is mounted to said housing for receiving the blades of a pair of scissors inserted into the scissor opening. A pencil sharpener is mounted to the housing and interiorly disposed to be accessible through an access opening through the flange-like periphery. The scissors are retained in said housing by at least one magnet and at least one retention tab. The front of the housing may be generally shaped in the form of an apple or a whale and be suitably decorated to appeal to a child.

A multi-functional holster is especially adapted for receiving a pair of child's scissors. The holster is preferably in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid housing having a front and a flange-like periphery defining a scissor opening. A chute is mounted to said housing for receiving the blades of a pair of scissors inserted into the scissor opening. A pencil sharpener is mounted to the housing and interiorly disposed to be accessible through an access opening through the flange-like periphery. The scissors are retained in said housing by at least one magnet and at least one retention tab. The front of the housing may be generally shaped in the form of an apple or a whale and be suitably decorated to appeal to a child.