Cap Trappers for Back to School

by Erica

It seems so simple, really, how easy it should be to keep a box of markers intact. I am not sure what it is about markers and the little hands that use them, but for some reason, once those caps come off, the lives of the markers are over.
We have several shoe boxes in my home that are filled with hundreds of crayons, dozens of colored pencils and several dried-up markers. It’s frustrating, and I had vowed to no longer purchase markers for my children.

A mother and former teacher, Rebecca Davidson, had the same frustration with not only the markers in her home, but the children’s markers and dry erase markers in her classroom. Out of her frustration, came an ingenious idea: Cap Trappers.
cap trapper
Simply place your markers into the Cap Trappers and the caps stay put. Clean-up is a breeze and even a toddler can easily place the markers back into their caps.
The versatile material allow the Cap Trappers to fit any cap size, from skinny to fat. They also work for individual tubs of glitter glue.
They are flexible, easy to transport and easy to store.

After receiving my set of Cap Trappers in the mail, I surprised my daughter with a box of markers. When she finished coloring, she surprised me, by placing her markers back into their caps, which were stored securely inside of the Cap Trappers.

The Cap Trappers are wonderful. And at $5.99 a set, they are a bargain, considering how much money they save in replacement costs.

Thanks to Cap Trappers, my daughter’s markers will now live a long life in my home.

If you would like a set of Cap Trappers, please leave a comment below. We will be giving away 3 sets.

This contest is open to U.S. and Canada.

Please be sure you have read and are following our back to school giveaway guidelines.

Good Luck.



Email Author    |    Website About Erica

Erica has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom writing team since the summer of 2008. She is a mom to three little ones - Audrey (7), Isaiah (4) and Christian (3).

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{ 122 comments }

1 Kimberly August 10, 2008 at 4:37 pm

These are awesome. I just bought more dry erase makers b/c my 3 year old left the caps off and then had nothing to draw with on her wipe-off board!

2 Jen W. August 10, 2008 at 4:38 pm

These are awesome! You mean I don’t have to just THROW AWAY those markers where the caps roll off to who knows where?

3 Rebecca C August 10, 2008 at 5:02 pm

These look awesome, and I have no idea why the idea wasn’t thought up sooner!

legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

4 andrea August 10, 2008 at 5:03 pm

We need these.. wehave a very hard time with caps here. I’ve tried lots of things, but still problems. Thanks

5 Jenn August 10, 2008 at 5:09 pm

These are so cool! And even better that they were invented by a mom!

6 Tracy B. August 10, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Wow those are exactly what I was looking for! I didn’t even know they made such a thing. My daughter is really getting into using markers but she will drop or throw the caps and then I have to search for them. U have seen wood ones in daycare centers, but this looks perfect for at home or even an “out to dinner bag.”

7 Sarah at themommylogues August 10, 2008 at 5:19 pm

Those are so cool! Isn’t it funny how we need things we didn’t know existed? Great invention.

8 Laura H August 10, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Wow, that is such a neat idea. Didn’t know these existed!!

laura_licious101(at)hotmail(dot)com

9 stacey moore August 10, 2008 at 5:24 pm

my little loves would have a blast with these!
thanks!
moore.g at insideconnect.net

10 Ecki August 10, 2008 at 5:27 pm

Those are great! How clever!

11 Ginny August 10, 2008 at 5:36 pm

These are so cool!

12 melissa August 10, 2008 at 5:54 pm

What a great idea!

13 amy August 10, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Great product. It’s one of my pet peeves when student forget the caps and you have to throw away markers too soon.

14 DJ August 10, 2008 at 6:26 pm

We have lost so many caps, these would be great!

15 stacey August 10, 2008 at 6:28 pm

totally cool! i wish i was a smart mom like her!

16 Kristi August 10, 2008 at 6:49 pm

These look awesome. I would love a set.

17 Mary Folkers August 10, 2008 at 6:50 pm

Cool. My Grandaughters need these. The caps never make it back on the markers. Great idea.

18 Omie August 10, 2008 at 6:51 pm

I wish I invented these. My daughter laments over her dry markers, I explain to her why they’re dry, I threaten that I won’t buy markers again if she doesn’t cap them. Nothing works. This seems like a great product.

19 Stacey August 10, 2008 at 7:10 pm

Forget necessity, I think MOTHERS are the mother of invention! :)

20 Piseco August 10, 2008 at 7:11 pm

These sound so great! We hate dry markers too… although we do paint with them by dipping in water, and we use them to draw on ice and snow in the winter… because although they’re dry, the pigment is still in there! All the same, I’d love to try a set of Cap Trappers. Thanks!

21 Tracye August 10, 2008 at 7:34 pm

What a great idea! I’d love to win these.

22 The Gang's All Here! August 10, 2008 at 7:45 pm

What a great tool for keeping life in our marker supply!

23 Lisa August 10, 2008 at 7:53 pm

This product could prove to be a life saver. COunt me in for sure!!!

24 Angela August 10, 2008 at 8:07 pm

These look so fun – I think I’d like a set for *my* classroom!!! My son would love them as well…… we constantly lose the tops. :)

25 Ally August 10, 2008 at 8:25 pm

These would be perfect… I have to keep tight control over the markers in my house bacause I get sick of the caps not being put on … my kids would LOVE to get their markers back… Random number generator please pick me!!!!

26 Beth August 10, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Now those are COOL! Why couldn’t I think of that ? :-)

27 Kelly D. August 10, 2008 at 8:51 pm

What a cleaver idea!! My boys would love these!! And mommy would too!!

28 Richelle F August 10, 2008 at 9:02 pm

These are awesome!

29 jennyonthespot August 10, 2008 at 9:08 pm

Those rock!

30 Courtney August 10, 2008 at 9:25 pm

Ooh… what a wonderful invention that is! Sign me up! =)

31 Heather August 10, 2008 at 9:27 pm

We go through so many markers because the caps get lost – this is a great product!

32 Belinda A. August 10, 2008 at 9:31 pm

Dried up markers drive me nuts, these are really neat.

33 Katie August 10, 2008 at 9:36 pm

I should have thought of this!

34 Kelly's Krazy Kids August 10, 2008 at 9:47 pm

Genius! I would love to have these are my house!

35 casual friday everyday August 10, 2008 at 10:07 pm

Leave it up to a Mother to come up with some genious like this!

:–) Nell

36 SarahHub August 10, 2008 at 10:28 pm

Why didn’t I think of this?

My daughter has just discovered markers, and we really need this in my home!

37 Sarah Seehorn August 10, 2008 at 10:29 pm

I have little ones and they are losing the lids all of the time. Great idea.

38 Nancy August 10, 2008 at 10:36 pm

These look great, I’d love to win!

39 Liz Cranage August 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm

I love these things and really need them & not just for the kids

40 Anissa August 10, 2008 at 11:02 pm

Oh my gosh, I can’t tell you how many markers have died a sad dried up death in my house!

41 melissa August 10, 2008 at 11:12 pm

what a great idea!! i would love to win

42 onemotherslove August 10, 2008 at 11:21 pm

What an awesome idea! I just had to throw away one of our Color Wonder markers because of a missing cap!

43 tanyetta August 10, 2008 at 11:26 pm

yes! please count me in. thank you ;)

44 Deanna August 10, 2008 at 11:28 pm

Why didn’t I think of that? For all the markers I have thrown away you would have thought that I would have… Thanks to the smarties who did!! Count me in!!

45 rachel August 11, 2008 at 12:10 am

I’d love to win.

46 Jen D. August 11, 2008 at 12:22 am

How cool. I forgot about these. This would be great for teaching. :)

47 Lisa (Morning Rose) August 11, 2008 at 12:24 am

Sounds like a great invention! Please enter me.

48 Beachcomber August 11, 2008 at 12:59 am

What a clever idea! Please enter me.

49 Rebekah at babiesabroad August 11, 2008 at 1:03 am

Count me in! I just threw out all my daughters markers for this very reason, and have felt so guilty about it but have resisted buying more so far :D

50 Crystal August 11, 2008 at 1:05 am

What a smart idea. It would be perfect for my daughter Lilly. She LOVES to color but is kind of a crayon snob. Markers are much better mom… or so she tells me.

51 Noreen August 11, 2008 at 1:48 am

another great invention that is obvious once some one invents it :)
button on blog

52 Kisha August 11, 2008 at 2:18 am

These would be so nice to have at school, maybe then we won’t have to keep searching for the caps, lol.

53 JazzyMom August 11, 2008 at 5:19 am

Looks cool!

54 Peggie August 11, 2008 at 6:22 am

I sure would love a set of these! I am tired of putting on caps, well hunting for them first and then putting them on. If I could at least stop the hunting it would be great!

55 Junglewife August 11, 2008 at 6:38 am

I would LOVE to win these! Would be so great for my daughter’s beloved markers!

56 HeyGirl August 11, 2008 at 6:46 am

Seriously!!? This little invention is better news than half-priced chocolate-covered coffee beans at the grocery store last week! And I no longer have to dip into the kid’s college fund to keep replacing dried up markers. Brilliant.

57 Michelle B August 11, 2008 at 6:56 am

These sound great

58 Shelly August 11, 2008 at 7:45 am

Goodness these are perfect. My husband and I were just debating on wether or not to continue to buy my two year old markers, because they always dry out when she doesn’t cap them. Count me in!

59 Toni August 11, 2008 at 7:55 am

Why didn’t I think of this??

60 Erna August 11, 2008 at 8:06 am

OOoh! How many markers have dried out around here because of the loss of a lid? Countless ones, I’m sure. What a neat product!

61 Cassidy August 11, 2008 at 8:11 am

This would be wonderful. It might even stop my ever growing collection of dried out markers with no caps!

62 Melanie August 11, 2008 at 8:22 am

Why didn’t I think of something like this? I could definitely use this!!

63 Tracey August 11, 2008 at 8:41 am

What a genius idea! I’d love to win one of these!!

64 clenna in NH August 11, 2008 at 8:59 am

OMG Do I ever need these. I have dry markers because of lost caps all the time.

65 Stacy G. August 11, 2008 at 9:37 am

With these I might actually let my kids use markers more!!

66 Amydeanne August 11, 2008 at 10:08 am

looks neat! we have marker issues at home! Enter me!

67 Gina August 11, 2008 at 10:21 am

I would love to win this one.

68 Donna K. August 11, 2008 at 10:34 am

this is a great idea! we are always loosing the caps to markers.

69 Justine F. August 11, 2008 at 10:35 am

these are really neat…count us in!

70 Alexia August 11, 2008 at 10:39 am

It is so neat that someone finally came up with an idea like that! When I worked in daycare, my boss attempted to “make” one with plaster…it didn’t turn out to well though. I would love to win a real Cap Trapper!

71 Michele August 11, 2008 at 10:53 am

Great idea!

72 Sandra August 11, 2008 at 11:29 am

This looks like a wonderful way to keep things organized.

owatz (AT) telus (DOT) net

73 Sheri August 11, 2008 at 12:41 pm

How cool, I wish I had thought of it! I’m definitely getting these for my grand daughter. Oh the countless numbers of markers I threw away from my daughter’s coloring days. Since then, I have had luck “water painting” by dipping the dried up markers in water instead of throwing them away. (Until this product showed up! LOL)

74 kelleythejewelrylady August 11, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Oh, DAH…. seems so simple…. when you see it here. I just applaud moms and their creative ingenuity.

75 ktjrdn August 11, 2008 at 1:58 pm

Thanks for the chance!

76 Jessica B August 11, 2008 at 2:00 pm

very neat product.

77 Wendy August 11, 2008 at 2:28 pm

I could use these too! Not something I’d ever think to buy, but they would definitely serve a need in my home! lol Funny how such a simple idea can save a mom undue stress (and money)!

78 Mary_Freebies August 11, 2008 at 2:29 pm

I’d love a set please!
Button inserted.

79 Briana August 11, 2008 at 3:08 pm

Those look like fun. Count me in on the giveaway!

80 Rachael August 11, 2008 at 3:30 pm

These look great…we are always losing out marker caps!!

81 angie August 11, 2008 at 5:43 pm

What a great invention!!! Thanks so much for this chance to win this stuff!

Angie

82 Denise August 11, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Wow, those are sooo cool!

83 Sherida August 11, 2008 at 6:09 pm

We’ll be in the drawing phase before I know it. What a great idea!

84 Marcia "HDMac" McFarlane August 11, 2008 at 6:14 pm

What a great find!!! for grammies and moms!!! Thank you!

85 Our Life as an Air Force Family August 11, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Count me in please!

86 LadySnow August 11, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Please add my name!

87 Christine August 11, 2008 at 7:35 pm

These are awesome!

88 Lani ~ The Wooden Porch August 11, 2008 at 8:40 pm

That a neat idea! Can that woman come up with an idea to prevent my son from coloring on the walls? Every time I clean up the markers, I still seem to misplace one. He always finds and it and makes a huge mess.

89 sandra williams August 11, 2008 at 9:03 pm

what a cool idea, love it!

90 Jenn August 11, 2008 at 9:06 pm

I love mom-invented products! This would save the lives of quite a few markers in my house!!

91 Heather August 11, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Huh. Interesting idea!

92 Tia B. August 11, 2008 at 10:15 pm

This is such a great idea, I love it!

93 Racheal August 11, 2008 at 10:17 pm

Cool

94 Carol August 11, 2008 at 11:07 pm

What a fantastic idea! I love it

95 Adrienne! August 11, 2008 at 11:23 pm

OMGosh! We neeeeed these!

96 April K. August 11, 2008 at 11:32 pm

this is great!!! what will they think of next?

97 Barbara Leatham August 11, 2008 at 11:51 pm

Great idea!! I lost the top to a dry erase marker today..could have used these! Thanks for the contest!

98 Amy Horton August 12, 2008 at 12:20 am

OH WOW…that is a BRILLANT IDEA!!! We could definitely use these in our house!!!

99 Amy Horton August 12, 2008 at 12:22 am

ooops…wrong url

100 Amy Horton August 12, 2008 at 12:22 am

OH MY…3rd times a charm, huh?? lol

101 lorraine August 12, 2008 at 2:02 am

Boy do we need these in our house! The caps ALWAYS go missing.

102 MagMom August 12, 2008 at 2:08 am

My 3 year old nephew could use these!

103 Cindi August 12, 2008 at 2:33 am

I have read many good things about these markers. They are one of the neatest products I have seen in awhile. Please enter me in your fabulous drawing. Thanks, Cindi

104 Rebecca Doherty August 12, 2008 at 8:13 am

Awesome! Those look cool. Thanks.

105 Angela Young August 12, 2008 at 9:42 am

What a great idea! I’d love to win these.

106 Veronica Garrett August 12, 2008 at 9:46 am

I could use thsese. Hope I win.

107 Tara R August 12, 2008 at 10:19 am

Oh I REALLY love these! We need them so much!

108 sabb266 August 12, 2008 at 11:22 am

What a great idea, no more waisting markers

109 Romie August 12, 2008 at 11:58 am

Great little invention!

110 Stacey August 12, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Terrific idea!

111 Lynette August 12, 2008 at 3:47 pm

I have been waiting for an invention like this. I have got to get my hands on some of these. Brilliant!

112 liamsmamma August 12, 2008 at 4:20 pm

These are great! I don’t know how many markers I have had to throw away because my boys lost the caps!

113 Lisa August 12, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Ah! This would be perfect for my little girl!

114 Amber (BGH) August 12, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Now, the person who invented these was very clever indeed. My almost three year old leaves the caps off constantly – and often loses them entirely!

115 Beverly August 12, 2008 at 6:04 pm

Neat product. My children are always loosing the caps to their markers.

116 Angela August 12, 2008 at 6:15 pm

This would be nice for our crew.

117 Melissa A. August 12, 2008 at 8:10 pm

We have something like this at my school, and the kids love it! They don’t have to search on the floor for the lid, because it can’t roll off the table. I would love to have one for home, too!

118 Amy August 12, 2008 at 10:16 pm

The days of losing marker caps are over!

119 Kris August 12, 2008 at 10:34 pm

What a wonderful prize package! I would love to win!

120 Courtney August 12, 2008 at 10:45 pm

I would love to win. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks.

121 stampedwithgrace August 12, 2008 at 11:08 pm

what a great idea :)

122 Jo~Jo August 13, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Weird thing…I just threw away a bunch of markers! If I had these I would have saved so much money!

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