Paletteful Packs is a carefully-themed selection of art supplies for artists of every skill level and all ages. Every box will include a variety of media. Products include paint, pens, pencils, brushes, markers, and more! There are 3 different pack options including:
- Petite Pack: 4+ artist quality supplies per box for $24.95/month
- Premier Pack: 5+ artist quality supplies per box for $35.95/month
- Young Artist: for ages 8 and up, 4+ items per box for $30.95/month
This review is for the $35.95/month Premier Pack.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review processes post to learn more about how we review boxes)
About Paletteful Packs
The Subscription Box: Paletteful Packs
The Cost: $35.95 per month + free shipping (save with longer commitments)
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first box!
CODE: FIRSTMONTH10
The Products: Carefully-selected art supplies provided to create a unique project
Ships to: The US for free, Canada for $10, and International for $15
Paletteful Packs October 2020 Review
The October Paletteful Packs Premier box included all of the supplies to create 27 different 8" X 10" pieces of art, all in walnut tones.
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Each month we receive a postcard listing all of the month's contents, along with tips, tricks, and techniques. The opposing side also includes the prompts for the month. This month's prompts are: Mushroom, Bird, Tree in Autumn, and Witch. I love following their social media platforms to see what subscribers come up with!
Newer to this subscription is the inclusion of a sticker. Last month we received an adorable cartoon rendition of the Paletteful Packs mascot, Betsy, while this month we received a muted "Walnut Edition" that coordinates swimmingly with the Walnut themed box!
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Daniel Smith Walnut Ink - Listed Value $12.00 (Buy it here for $11.24)
Check out this 2 oz container of walnut ink...I am loving the large size and the quality screw cap container it comes in. This plastic jar contains finely pigmented, sepia-colored acid-free water-based ink that goes on like watercolor with awesome layering capabilities. It can be used for all different types of drawings, including use with dip pens and brushes. This type of ink resembles traditional walnut-based inks but doesn't fade as easily. I feel it gives a very vintage/aged look and creates some really interesting depth. I loved using it with the included brushes best, but had a fun time trying my hand at calligraphy with the included nib set.
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Pitt Walnut Brown Brush Pen - Listed Value $3.70 (Buy it here for $3.40)
Who doesn't love a brush pen? The tip of this India ink pen is ideal for graphic artists, designers, and illustrators. While I am none of the above, I just plain love writing with it. The way it glides across the paper is exactly what I look for in this type of pen, and the fact that it is acid-free, smudge-proof, and water-resistant just makes me love it more.
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artist Colored Pencil in Walnut Brown - Listed Value $2.90, (Buy it here for $2.23)
This colored pencil contains a wonderful pigment that is almost like butter as it writes. With a 3.8mm lead, it is break and water-resistant, smudge-proof, and provides permanent color. The deep brown creates fantastic detailing and worked well for coloring in the hair of my bear.
Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencil - Walnut Brown - Listed Value $2.90 (Buy it here for $1.89)
This pencil was similar to the Polychromos artist pencil but in a watercolor version. The walnut color produces unsurpassed effects and vibrancy. On certain paper, the pigment can be completely dissolved in water. While I didn't try that technique, I did find this to also be buttery smooth on paper and add the perfect amount of detail to my project.
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Princeton Brush Golden Taklon Set of 4- Listed Value $6.75 (Buy it here for $6.35)
Finally, small tipped brushes! Hooray! I have been waiting for brushes like this and they have finally delivered! We received this set of four that included a #1 Round, #3 Round, #5 Round, and #6 Shader. I love each and every tip of these brushes, and they worked really well with the included ink. I am putting these in the "mom only" container and will use them often as they are made for inks, watercolors, and acrylics.
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Speedball #512 and #513F nib Set and Speedball Pen Holder - Listed Value $5.08 ( Similar version here for $4.13)
Adding to our collection of goodies, we also received a speedball #512 and #513F Nib set with a speedball holder. I have purchased some nibs similar to this in the past, but they have come with little ink vials you actually attach to the pen. This was a bit different and did take some getting used to. These extra-fine nibs slid right into the holder and felt good in my hand. It was interesting to use such a fine tip, and while I need more practice, I thoroughly enjoyed using it.
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Strathmore 400 Drawing Pad 8" X 10" - Listed Value $6.99 (Available here for $7.99)
We all know that I love Strathmore paper, and this drawing pad is no exception. The spiral-bound pad is perfect for sketching and finished work, and is easy to travel with. The smooth surface works well for many different types of inks and is truly versatile - a must-have for any artist's collection.
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Legion Kraft Paper Pack - Listed Value $6.00
Along with our cream-colored paper pad, we received a sample set of 3 toned, cotton paper. This heavy-weight, acid-free, chlorine-free, pH neutral medium works well for drawing, watercolor, printmaking, pen, pencil, and pastel work. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the color, and couldn't wait to try out our walnut themed supplies on it.
Here are all of the included items debuted on the Strathmore 400 drawing pad. I am so impressed with the different textures and widths these tools create.
Bear Project
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To start this month's project I decided to try out the Legion Kraft Paper Pack. I was instantly drawn to the warm tone of this paper and wanted to create some sort of critter using it. When I surveyed my kids as to what I should create, they voted hands down on a bear. Like I have previously mentioned, I am more into cartoons versus realistic creations, but decided to give it a whirl. Using the Polychromos Artist pencil, I drew the outline for the bear's face. Because I was so excited, I grabbed the #1 round brush and a bit of walnut ink and went around the pencil leaving blotches of ink throughout the face. After letting it dry a bit, I went through and darkened up some areas and very loosely added the body. Letting that dry, I went ahead with the watercolor pencil and added some strokes for the fur. Using the brush pen, I was able to darken up the eyes and snout area to make it stand out from the rest of the colors. If you look closely, you can also see that I contributed a few hair strokes with the speedball nibs, truly utilizing all of our supplies to create this goofy little bear. While there is a lot of room for improvement, I found it really relaxing using varying shades of walnut brown, and my kids said it turned out well, so that's all that matters right?
The Verdict: Paletteful Packs, is a subscription I really look forward to each month. Life is busy, and I don't have a lot of time to create art in my downtime, so when I get this subscription in the mail, I feel it gives me the push to relax and try something new. This walnut edition box was unlike any other box I have received, and I was really excited to try out the varying tools and mediums they sent. The curation was spot on, and the fact that I can try out tons of new techniques and share this with my family is really exceptional. I am also really enjoying the sticker inclusion, and specific theme curation they have been providing lately. I can't wait to see what next month will bring!
This subscription costs $35.95 a month. The listed value on the website's content card came to $46.32. I was able to find all of these supplies (or close versions) online for $43.01, which is almost ten bucks more than the subscription cost! I feel this is a fair price because without this subscription I wouldn't have discovered these new brands, tried new techniques, or been able to share this experience with my kids as easily...convenience is important people! Plus, we had no shipping charges to pay, which just makes everything better!
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll receive the November box. The 26th of every month is the cutoff date to order the box for the coming month. If your order is placed after the 26th, you'll receive the following month's box.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 10% off your first box!
CODE: FIRSTMONTH10
Value Breakdown: At $35.95 for the box including 13 unique items, you’re paying approximately $2.76 per item.
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What did you think of the Paletteful Packs October box? What would you create?
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