Paper Source has a brand new quarterly lifestyle box ($49.95 per season) that includes some of their favorite items from popular brands like Rifle Paper Co. and Lilly Pulitzer.
Being such a fan of stationery, I had to check out this subscription box! But this subscription proved to offer so much more than stationery. This first box kicks off the summer with all sorts of bright, colorful products for keeping cool and having fun.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About the Paper Source Subscription Box
The Subscription Box: Paper Source Subscription Box
The Cost: $49.95/quarter (A minimum one-year commitment paid in quarterly installments)
The Products:
- 1 Vanilla Bean Robe Box
- 1 Sugarfina Pink Flamingo Grapefruit Gummy Cube
- 1 pack of 87 Summer Stickers–exclusive to the May box
- 1 Paper Source designed Palm Print Cooler
- 1 pack of 24 Rainbow Re-usable Straws
- 1 Lilly Pulitzer Keychain Bracelet–exclusive to the May box
- 1 Paper Source designed Out of Office Drink Tumbler
- 1 Hibiscus Sangria Iced Tea container
- 1 Sunnylife Pineapple Beverage Pool Float–exclusive to the May box
- 1 pack of 20 Summer Cocktail Napkins–exclusive to the May box
- 1 Mini Unicorn Snot Sunscreen–exclusive to the May box
- 1 After Sun Face Mask–exclusive to the May box
- 1 Rifle Paper Company Enamel Pin
- 1 seat for a Paper Source Workshop of your choice ($40 value)
Ships to: US only
Paper Source Subscription Box Review
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When you open the box, you'll find a info card that introduces the box. (I noticed that the palm print on the back of the card actually matches the cooler bag I got in the box. More on that item later. . .)
In the envelope with the info card, I also found a voucher for a seat at an upcoming Paper Source workshop. The only issue I have here is that there aren't any Paper Source locations near me in Pittsburgh, so the $40.00 value attached to this voucher isn't really worth anything (unless I want to drive across the state).
Since you can only use this voucher if you have a Paper Source store nearby, I won't be including the value of this voucher when I calculate of the total value of the box. Perhaps I can mail the voucher to a friend who would be able to take advantage of it. (Check here to see if you're near a Paper Source store.)
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Paper Source Vanilla Bean Robe Box, XL - Retail Value $13.95
Is it lame that this cardboard box is one of my favorite items from the subscription? Everything else arrived inside this super cute black and white box, which was topped off with a pink ribbon tied in a bow. I immediately was like, "I can't wait to reuse this for storage!" It's 11" x 6.5" x 6.5" so it can fit quite a few scarves, handbags, or whatever I may want to stow away. The box is well-crafted, and I just love the little dot design—it looks like someone just took a marker to it.
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Sugarfina Pink Flamingo Grapefruit Gummies, 4.9 oz - Retail Value $9.50
It's no secret that Sugarfina makes the best gummies around. I was delighted to see these fun, summery grapefruit flamingos in the box. The flavor is undeniably delicious and tastes like REAL grapefruit, probably because these candies are made with all natural ingredients. I took these on a road trip, and they did not last very long. Each bite is super soft and packed with flavor. I love these babies.
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Maggie Holmes Sticker Sheet - Retail Value $3.99 (Found here for $2.39)
I've been into stickers since I was a kid. Collecting them is not a habit I've been successful at breaking as I've grown up. These sticker designs, which include everything from sunglasses to convertibles, capture summer in holographic pastel colors. With 87 stickers in all, these sheets offer plenty of ways to decorate your iced coffee tumbler, birthday card envelopes, and phone cases.
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Paper Source Palm Print Cooler - Retail Value $26.95
This brightly colored palm-patterned cooler bag proved useful right off the bat—I used it to take some beers over to a Memorial Day cookout. It has plenty of room, so it'd also be handy when I'm getting cold items that I don't want to melt on the way home from the grocery store. (Hi, popsicles and frozen patties for the grill.) The bag has sturdy nylon handles that won't rip even when I stuff it full before a road trip, and there's even a front pocket with velcro closure (that'll be great for holding a wallet or ID when heading to the beach) This bag is super cute, super useful, and VERY summer!
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Kikkerland Rainbow Re-usable Straws, 24 ct - Retail Value $4.95
Reusable straws seem inescapable in subscription boxes these days. This box included a pack of 24 large rainbow-colored plastic straws. Each one is 11 inches long and features diagonal stripes in one of eight colors. These straws should be helpful for outdoor parties with margaritas or other sippable drinks. There are enough straws for a crowd, and they're durable enough to clean and reuse again.
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Lilly Pulitzer Round Keychain - Retail Value $18.00
This item isn't quite my style, but I can appreciate how functional it is. This keychain can be worn around your wrist when you're lugging a bunch of stuff around and need your keys within reach. The bracelet part has a sort of vinyl-wrapped blue floral print on it. The keyring is attached by a strong gold band topped with a charm. The bracelet part is actually large enough for me to snugly shove up above my elbow if I don't want it rolling around my wrist like a bangle. This item would make it easy to keep track of your keys while freeing up your hands.
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Paper Source Out of Office Drink Tumbler - Retail Value $12.95
It wouldn't be summer without a reusable tumbler! The cup has a stout shape—it measures 4.5" tall with a diameter of just under 4 inches at the top. The metallic gold lid has a rubber edge that helps it twist snugly in place. The clear straw is 7.5 inches long. The tumbler needs to be hand washed, but is the perfect size for my morning coffee or an afternoon iced tea. It's double-walled, so whatever you put in it stays cool with minimal sweating. The words "Out of Office" are written out in metallic gold cursive on the side and are surrounded by fun summer designs like flamingos, ice cream, pineapples, and more.
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The Republic of Tea Hibiscus Sangria Iced Tea, 8 ct - Retail Value $7.24
Speaking of iced tea... Paper Source included this canister of super delish hibiscus sangria tea bags from The Republic of Tea. I followed the simple instructions on the back of the package and added two tea bags to a pitcher with two cups of hot water. After steeping for five minutes, I removed the bags and added a cup of cold water and a cup of ice. One the ice was melted, the tea was ready to go into a glass filled with ice for the perfect thirst-quenching tea! I didn't add sugar, but of course, you could do so during the hot water step. The best part is that this tea is caffeine-free, so I can enjoy it on a nice evening without it keeping me awake. It is also a beautiful, bright reddish-pink color, so it looks really fun when serving!
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Sunnylife Inflatable Pineapple Drink Holder Pool Float - Retail Value $22.00 (Found here for $14.97)
I've learned that another staple of summer subscription boxes is a floaty from Sunnylife. Paper Source included a drink float that looks like a pineapple and holds four drinks. While I wouldn't recommend this item for open water, it's perfect for the pool. The pineapple is larger than you'd expect from the size of the box—it's actually 27" x 14" x 4". There's even a holographic glitter pattern on the inside of the float that gives it a little more sparkle. They include a patch in the event that you spring a leak, too.
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"Suns Out Buns Out" Napkins, 20 ct - Retail Value $6.00
The only time I use cocktail napkins is when I have company over, so these will be reserved for a summer BBQ. Each five-inch-square napkin reads "SUNS OUT BUNS OUT" in metallic gold and pastel lettering. Technically, the phrase is missing an apostrophe, but the design is still kind of fun. I could see using these to keep hands dry while holding a drink or to hold a backyard brownie.
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Unicorn Snot Pink Holographic Glitter Sunscreen, 0.34 oz. - Estimated Value $1.35 (Buy a full-size 5 oz. version for $19.99 here)
I've gotten some Unicorn Snot glitter in other boxes, but was not aware that they made sunscreen. This tube of 30 SPF formula will be great for tossing in my everyday bag! The sunscreen is a pale pink color. While you can't really tell from the swatch photo above, it does have glitter in there. You aren't able to really see it until you spread it on your skin, but it packs a decent amount of sparkle without heaviness.
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Leaders Insolution Daily Wonders Too Much Fun In The Sun Mask - Retail Value $5.00
Another great addition for this summertime box is a sheet mask to soothe sun-kissed sun after a long day outside. Packed with ingredients that promise to repair any damage and calm dry skin, this mask should be left on for 10-20 minutes before massaging the leftover serum into your face. I can never have too many sheet masks on hand, so this one will be waiting in the wings for the day I inevitably spend too much time in the sun without the proper SPF coverage.
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Rifle Paper Co. Juliet Rose Enamel Pin - Retail Value $8.00
The final item is an enamel pin from the ever-popular Rifle Paper Co. Subscribers will get one of several different styles—I received the Juliet Rose version, which features a flower illustrated in Rifle Paper's signature style. It'll be a nice way to add some colorful flair to a white jean jacket.
Verdict: The first ever Paper Source Subscription Box was full of 13 colorful items that scream summer. For me, the cooler bag is probably the most useful item, with the tumbler being a close second. Not all of the items hit a sweet spot for me, but the curation was well done, and the "Out Of Office" theme was received loud and clear. I was a little bummed about the workshop voucher, since I won't be able to redeem it, but the idea is nice. All said and done, this quarterly box has a value of $139.88, which isn't very close to the $200 claimed value (though I am not including the $40 workshop voucher). But it does more than exceed the $49.95 cost, so I'd consider this a great deal if you like what you see.
If you're interested in more great lifestyle subscriptions, check out our list of the 24 best subscription boxes for women in 2019!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, this box is still available! Be aware that when you sign up, you must commit to a full year, but will only be charged once per quarter.
Value Breakdown: At $49.95 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Vanilla Bean Robe Box: $4.98
- Sugarfina Pink Flamingo Grapefruit Gummies: $3.39
- Summer Stickers: $1.42
- Paper Source Palm Print Cooler: $9.62
- 24 Rainbow Re-usable Straws: $1.77
- Lilly Pulitzer Keychain Bracelet: $6.43
- Paper Source Out of Office Drink Tumbler: $4.62
- Hibiscus Sangria Iced Tea: $2.59
- Sunnylife Pineapple Beverage Pool Float: $7.86
- 20 Summer Cocktail Napkins: $2.14
- Mini Unicorn Snot Sunscreen: $0.48
- After Sun Face Mask: $1.78
- Rifle Paper Company Enamel Pin: $2.86
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
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