The Inky Box is an art pen subscription box that was suggested by Virginia, one of our readers! Lettering and calligraphy fans, take note—this subscription sends you tools to create all kinds of unique lettering work each month. They also share tutorial content for the month's products on their social channels!
There are two subscription levels to choose from—The Inky Box (lettering tools, supplies, and hand-lettered greeting cards for $39.95 per month) and The Inky Box Mini (2-4 of the lettering tools that were featured in the larger box for $14.99 per month).
This is a review of The Inky Box Mini subscription, which costs $14.99 per month.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About The Inky Box Mini
The Subscription Box: The Inky Box Mini
The Cost: $14.99 per month
The Products: 2-4 lettering/calligraphy tools
Good to Know: They also offer a larger box (The Inky Box) that includes much more product for $39.95 per month. New to lettering? Follow @TheInkyBox on Instagram or subscribe to The Inky Box's channel on YouTube for tutorials, tips, and more!
Ships to: US and worldwide. International shipping is $19.99.
The Inky Box Mini Lettering & Calligraphy Subscription Review
Here's the info card for the box, which includes a link to this month's digital, downloadable practice sheets.
Strathmore Watercolor Postcards - Retail Value $6.22, Listed Value $6.29
I am in LOVE with this clever pad! These cards come pre-printed with the typical postcard format on one side. It's such a clever way to share your artwork with others or customize a greeting. The paper is built for watercolors, but that means it should hold up just fine to pens, markers, and crayons, too.
Koi Watercolors Tube in Deep Green, 12ml - Retail Value $3.50 (Found here for $2.50)
I'll readily admit that I'm not the most adept at watercolor art. That said, I love the way watercolors look, and I'm eager to experiment with watercolor paint as a lettering medium. This tube contains a liquid version of watercolor paint. (I'm so used to the solid pans of watercolors in old-school Crayola trays!) I like that they gave me a slightly out-of-the-ordinary color—a dark, rich green that will be great for holiday crafts.
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Pan - Listed Value $3.33
Oh my goodness, the COLOR of this highly pigmented watercolor paint pan is like MAGIC. It's this great, Lisa Frank purple with a lovely blue tint to it. The paint is delightfully pigmented, too, so it looks just as beautiful swept across a page. I couldn't find this exact hue online, but you can see other collectible 1" pans here.
Princeton Snap Round #2 Brush - Retail Value $2.89, Listed Value $4.49
This brush has a dreamy point that paints a smooth, not-too-thin, not-too-thick line. It has a nice rounded handle that makes it easy to work with, too. I'm not the most adept at lettering with brushes and paint, so I may need some practice before I can really make the most of this nice brush.
October Practice Sheets - Listed Value $3.00
I really appreciate that this subscription includes a monthly set of downloadable practice sheets. You obviously have to print them out, but it's been helpful to put a sheet of tracing paper on the sheets and writing/painting over them. As I mentioned, I'm not so hot with brushes right now, so I need as much help as I can get! There are 3 practice phrases in this month's set, including the one in the photo above.
The Verdict: Now, granted, I'm just a beginner, so I may be more easily impressed than experienced ink-lovers, but that being said, I really liked this box. I don't know how I feel about giving a value to the digital practice sheets—the expertise has value, for sure, but I have trouble when digital items are supposed to bump up the retail value of the box (especially when you have to print these out to get use from them—not everyone has a printer/printer paper at home!) Fingers crossed they include hard copies in the future! Meanwhile, I love the uniqueness and professional quality of the physical items in the box!
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today?: No. New subscribers will receive their box the first week of the following month, according to The Inky Box's FAQ page.
Value Breakdown: The box cost $17.48 (cost + $2.49 shipping to Pennsylvania), but I estimate a total retail value of $15.94 not counting the $3.00 practice sheets, or $18.94 with the sheets. The average cost per item via the box is $4.37 not counting the digital sheets, or $3.50 including them.
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What do you think of The Inky Box Mini?
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