Awful creep in her plans uses this stationery item (6,9)

I believe the answer is:

pencil sharpener

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'this stationery item' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'awful creep in her plans' is the wordplay.
'awful' is an anagram indicator.
'creep'+'in'+'her'+'plans'='creepinherplans'
'creepinherplans' anagrammed gives 'PENCIL-SHARPENER'.

'uses' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pencil sharpener that I've seen before include "Desk item" , "that makes lead go further" , "It's used to make a point" , "something struggling writer might resort to" , "shaving device" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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