The Idea Chíc Parcel Post is a seasonal (quarterly) stationery and paper subscription box. It’s produced by Idea Chíc, a husband-and-wife duo who run their letterpress and print shop out of Denver, Colorado. Their Parcel Post subscription box contains newly released items, popular existing pieces, and exclusives made just for subscribers.
Idea Chíc also has a monthly subscription box called the Idea Chíc Stationery Box Set. In addition to being more frequent, that box has different themes month to month, which are sometimes inspired by the seasons and sometimes not. If you like this box, you might want to check it out!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
This review is of the Idea Chic Parcel Post, $30 a quarter, box.
The Subscription Box: Idea Chíc Parcel Post
The Cost: Individual boxes are $30.95/box, or $110.00 for 4 boxes
COUPON: Use code MSA20 to save off any subscription!
The Products: Handmade stationery and gift items
Ships to: Worldwide (International shipping is $6). Free shipping in the U.S.
Check out all of our Idea Chíc Parcel Post reviews and the Paper Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
This box has such a laid-back, playful charm. I love that they note that this box was created "at 5,280 feet" in Denver, Colorado.
Herb Garden Market List Notepad on Kraft Paper - Value $9.00
I'm a big list-maker. Listing helps make sure I don't forget things, not just because they're written down, but because the act of jotting something down tends to log the item in my brain, too. Long story short, I love notepads, especially long ones like this brown-paper pad. There's a magnet on the back of this pad, right across the top, so it can live happily on the fridge door. According to the site shop, the notepad "has 40 pages printed on 70lb kraft text paper and is 3 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches tall." The fiber-flecked paper and delicately drawn herb illustrations with their bits of green gives this pad a very "natural" vibe. I feel like I should be using it as a farmer's market shopping list rather than a list for the fluorescent-lit grocery store.
Herb Garden Markers Set of 6 Wooden Stakes - Value $6.95
Idea Chíc sometimes includes non-stationery items in their boxes, such as these garden markers. These flat stakes have the weight, size, and texture of a tongue depressor and have pointed ends for sticking into soil.
The script used for the herb names is so pretty (it's how I wish my cursive handwriting looked). The herb names are written in black—I sort of wish it was evergreen, and if I'm being really picky, I wish each label featured some sort of illustrated flourishes. I don't currently have a herb garden, but I'll admit that having these stakes handy makes me want to start one...
Bloom and Grow Seed Tins - Value $3.00 (Available in a set of 3 for $9.00 on Idea Chíc)
Another non-stationery treat in this box is this tiny tin. At first glance, I thought it might be tea, but it turns out that this floral tin contains a little assortment of wildflower seeds.
As I mentioned, I don't currently have a green thumb, but this box is doing everything it can to encourage me!
The instructions on the back of the tin definitely make the process seems easy. I'll have to sprinkle these around and report back on how well they grow!
Bicycle Motif Letterpress Stationery - Value $2.74 (Available in a set of 4—and in 4 different colors— for $10.95 on Idea Chíc)
My very first thought upon walking outside on the first really truly warm day of the year was "I can ride my bike again!" I love biking, especially in a city where car parking can be pricey (or just non-existent). But I'm a wuss when it comes to cold weather, so my hobby tends to hibernate for the winter. This yellow, bicycle-printed card with its sunshine-hued envelope was such a refreshing, springy sight. Idea Chíc makes these great little notecards (just a flat card with no folding involved) that feature designed that are literally pressed into the slightly thicker card. The result is a sturdy, simple notecard with a delightful textural and visual element. This card is on the smaller side (it's about 3.5" x 5"), but it's blank on the back and has plenty of room on the front—I tend to be long-winded with my messages, so I love having plenty of room, even on a small card!
Leaf Vine Letterpress Cards - Value $2.59 (Available in a pack of 5 for $12.95 on Idea Chíc)
This card is also a classic letterpress notecard, but it appears on what's almost like a thin, yet firm cardboard. The 4.25" x 5.5" card has little fiber flecks through it, which has a woodsy vibe when framed by the creeping green vine design. The vine, like the bicycle in the last design, is pressed just so into the card, so that you can feel the shape of the image when you run your finger over it. This card would be so fun to write on with a metallic or pastel gel pen—something that would really pop against the slightly darker brown card. I really like how simple, yet sophisticated this card looks alongside its green envelope. I could use it for a casual note or for a more special occasion.
Hello Bubble Letterpress Card - Value $4.00
The final letterpress card in the box actually does feature a classic tent-like fold. The card is a little less thick than the bicycle notecard, but the yellow ink and the gentle depression of the design are the same. I love the all-purpose nature of this blank-inside card (and all the cards so far, actually). The color palette is springy, but if I don't get around to using it until later in the year, it's charming, graphic aesthetic won't feel out of season.
Vintage Seed Packet Postcards, Set of 3 - Value $2.74 (Available in a set of 12 for $10.95 on Idea Chíc)
What a cute concept for a postcard design! These 3.5" x 5", which make them just slightly bigger than a real seed packet might be. They have a matte finish, but the colors are vivid and satiny smooth against the card.
I think it's so cute how the backs of the postcards give you a bit of "instruction", saying things like "This space for writing messages" and "This side for address only." I always think of postcards as vacation stationery—using them for everyday correspondence is a concept that's just started to make sense to me, likely because of all the cute postcards I keep getting from Idea Chíc!
Thanks a Bunch Card - Value $4.00
This card is the only card in the box with a specific message to it, though it is still blank inside. The design is matte and smooth and sits atop a thinner card—the sort of weight you'd expect from a traditional greeting card. Fans of Idea Chíc will recognize this design from the February 2017 Stationery Box. I can never seem to have enough thank you notes on hand, but as a subscriber to both boxes, I did feel a bit bummed by the redundant card.
Verdict: I always like receiving Idea Chíc Parcel Post—the design aesthetic is a little more vintage/homespun than what I usually reach for, but the simplicity and quality of the products are so nice that I always find a lot to like. There was about $35.00 worth of value inside the box, and all of the individual prices I found for the cards and gifts seemed fair (they're similar to what I'd expect shopping at a retail card shop). The box itself is only $30.00 per month, and with free US shipping, you're getting your money's worth (as long as the Idea Chíc aesthetic appeals to you). I know they ship internationally, but I'm not sure if this box has enough value inside to justify pricier shipping costs.
What do you think of Idea Chíc Parcel Post?
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