Papergang is a monthly stationery subscription box from quirky UK design team, Ohh Deer. Each month they partner with a different artist and have a theme to bring you paper goods and desk accessories. Every month's packaging is uhhh-mazing and acts as the perfect preview to the theme of the box. This month's artist is Catherine Ings a.k.a. Twin Pines (finer her work on Insta by searching her handle, @twinpines_). Her art is bold and refreshingly straightforward and has a heavy dose of realness that I'm pretty sure even the most confident of persons can relate to!
The flip side of the box always features a cut-out craft. I'm always pleased when it's something simple like these book markers because I have a way of botching the folded crafts that Daniel Randle designs.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Papergang
The Subscription Box: Papergang
The Cost: About $14.40 USD (10.95 GBP) + shipping
You can also get a free box with a 6-month subscription or 2 free boxes with a 12-month subscription!
The Products: Each month you'll receive a box full of papery goodness. The product selection will vary, however, it will include the likes of greeting cards, notebooks, desk accessories, and art prints.
Ships to: the US and Canada for approx. $6.51 USD (£4.95), UK for $3.93 USD, Australia for $7.92 USD, and Worldwide (shipping costs vary).
Good to know: Papergang has an ongoing partnership with Tree Aid to make sure that for every four boxes they sell, one tree gets planted in the African Drylands, which helps with vital food and income.
Papergang May 2019 Review
Papergang includes a little info booklet each month that matches the box and theme of the contents! Want to take a peek inside with me?
Under the front cover is a list with the contents of this month's box (Box #39). On the opposite page is an intro blurb to prep you for the interview with Cat Ings/Twin Pines that's printed on the following pages.
On these two spreads, Ings speaks to where her minimalist style originated, the other realms in which her art pops up, and her dog Ellie! She speaks to the bold, bright colors she uses for the designs featured in the Papergang box, which are outside of her wheelhouse. That stood out to me because I'm someone who prefers deeper, more earthy tones in most instances and was a little disappointed to see yet another bright pink Papergang box this month (despite loving the concept of the work). I personally would have loved to have seen some of the more 'mature' tones that show up on her Instagram feed represented in this box!
These pages offer a peek at some other cards Ings sells in the Ohh Deer shop.
Here's the usual head's up about their awesome referral program. Find out more info about their referral program here.
The end!
Tote Bag - Listed Value $18.87 USD (£14.95)
This tote bag is so great. I have never been much of a tote-purchaser, but some of my coworkers are, and I've always thought it was so fun and cool when they come in carrying bags with neat art or fun phrases on them. Now I'm a part of the club! And, despite what I said above about wishing the items in this box were designed with richer tones, this aqua-blue color is pretty glorious. I used this bag to carry my lunch the first day it came!
Woven Patch - Listed Value $7.51 USD (£5.95)
This patch is pretty great, too. Is it weird to say I don't identify as an awkward person? Is it...awkward...to say that? Haha! I put my foot in my mouth about 100 times per day, but my problem is more that I say too much than clam up. Anyway, I'm not sure that wearing this patch would feel like a real representation of my identity, but it will make a great, funny gift!
A5 Notepad - Retail Value $7.51 USD (£5.95)
Oh my goodness, this type of notepad is my JAM! I love making lists even when there's no need for a list, and the setup of this pad invites exactly that. Oh, this is going to be good!
2 x Greeting Cards - Estimated Value $6.31 (£5.00)
I will never not get excited to receive stellar cards in a Papergang box! I am happiest when my desk drawer resembles a well-stocked stationery store, so having options for many occasions fills my cup. Back on the topic of colors, I do wish the "You're alright. I suppose." one was a little less feminine—while I surely don't believe in conforming to gender color norms, I think you have to consider what the card-receiver would think, and it would be nice if it were a little more versatile. But that won't stop me from using it, of course!
Bonus: Riso Calendar - Estimated Value $3.47 (£2.75)
Finally, the classic Papergang offering: a riso calendar. They've recently started removing the specific month indication, so you can fill it in with whatever month is useful to you. I love this new direction—it's more eco-friendly, really, since the calendar doesn't become obsolete if you for some reason can't or don't want to use it right away.
Verdict: You all know that I pretty much love every Papergang box that's ever existed in any dimension. That said, this one wasn't one of my favorites. I think I was spoiled by last month's complexity, which is a bit more my style. I received a tote bag, a woven patch, a list-making notepad, and a bonus riso calendar, which added up to about $43.67 USD. That strikes me as a bit high for what was included, but it is all nice quality stuff. The box is approximately $20.91 (box + shipping to the USA), so that's a good value.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll receive the June box! Check this helpful ship date guide to see the order-by date to receive the next few months' boxes.
You can also get a free box with a 6-month subscription or 2 free boxes with a 12-month subscription!
Value Breakdown: This box costs $14.40 + $6.51 shipping, which means that each of the 6 items in the box (counting the riso calendar) has an average cost of $3.49.
Check out all of our Papergang reviews and more paper & stationery subscription boxes!
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What did you think of this month's Papergang box?
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