I have bought a whole bunch of the waxed thread book thongs, and I use one of those to decorate EVERYTHING that I take to class. Once looped on, the waxed thread is tight, and not easily removed (either unlooped or cut)....you can, at a glance, see the thread and the bauble beads ........and everyone at class knows they are mine..............for the rulers, I do use a sharpie on the edge ( in the last inch or 1/2 inch ) so that it does not interfere with measurements. I also take a plastic container with handle to class (square ones that run about $15 @ Joanns - and keep it on the table behind my machine. Rulers, scissors, etc. get dropped back in that box, not laid on the table.