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.
I also got a magnet!
2 Tombow Color Fudenosukes - Retail Value $3.49 each, Listed Value $6.98 for both
These pens are a dream to write with! The colors you'll get are random—I got brown and indigo. I especially LOVE the dark blue color, with its hint of purple. The nibs have a nice flexibility to them, which makes controlling each stroke pretty easy.
Here's a look at the nibs. They have a nice tension to them as I run them along the page.
Karin Brush Markers, Set of Two - Retail Value $2.05 each, Listed Value $3.50 total
These pens have more give to them. They're a nice mix of a brush and a felt-tip. Getting two holiday-ready colors was great. I put both of them to use on a few holiday cards and gift tags! I can't wait to use the green color again. It's just so pretty and flows in such a smooth, rich way from the nib.
Copic Spica Glitter Pen - Retail Value $2.99, Listed Value $3.00
I saw this pen on the product list and thought, "Okay, sure, a glitter pen. We'll see." But WOW! This pen is literally SO glittery! It's another great pick for the holiday season, especially because of the magical touch the glitter provides. It's easy to write with, too. I thought maybe it'd be chunky because of the glitter, but nope. I'm so enamored with this little pen!
Here's a little demo of each of the pens!
Practice Sheets - Listed Value $3.00
I feel a little weird when boxes give dollar values to digital exclusives since you technically need to print them out (which requires a printer and paper, aka investments on your end). But these sheets are also very handy for a lettering newbie like me. It's interesting to get different phrases and letters broken down stroke by stroke. There are three sayings in this month's exclusive set (which you can access via an address on the back of the info card) that all follow fall themes.
The Verdict: Remember, I'm a newbie to lettering, but I found The Inky Box Mini really fun and helpful, thanks to the practice sheets. The pens all seem really high-quality—I recognize some of the brand names from the nicer sections of my local artist supply shop! This subscription is a cool, convenient way to learn about calligraphy AND grow my collection of unique, colorful pens.
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 $14.07 not counting the $3.00 practice sheets or $17.07 with the sheets. The average cost per item via the box is $2.81 (counting each pen individually) without the practice sheets and $2.85 including the practice sheets (as an item and part of the value).
Check out more writing subscription boxes in the Artisan Subscription Box Directory!
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What do you think of The Inky Box Mini?
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