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 May 2020 Review
The May Paletteful Packs Premier box included all of the supplies to create twelve 5.5" X 8.5" watercolor projects and fifteen 4" X 6" watercolor postcards.
In the past, each month we had received a postcard with the content list, retail values, helpful hints, and the link to the Paletteful Packs YouTube channel as well as the prompts to complete for a chance to be featured on their Instagram page. Last month we didn't receive a postcard, and this month we didn't either. I did check their website, Facebook, and Instagram page, but found no info about it, though I hope it returns as I enjoyed the tips and techniques!
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van Gogh Royal Talens Pocket Box - Retail Value $31.38
Check out this awesome pocket set of van Gogh watercolors! Included in this pocket box are 12 brilliant colors, a brush, and a removable mixing tray—everything you need is included in one easy to use kit! These are NOT Crayola watercolors, people! These colors are extremely brilliant and intense with high degrees of lightfastness. Because they are uniform in viscosity, they are easy to mix and blend beautifully. I am very partial to watercolors, and these are some of the best I have ever used. I was very impressed with the colors, red in particular, as other watercolors I have used have taken on a pink tone, while this was truly red. I was extremely excited to see they also included a brush in this set: a perfect #6! It comes in 2 pieces to put together, and the end has a bevel to it so it can be used as a lever to lift the mixing tray and color pans out of the box. Very clever! Everything was easy to use, easy to store, and beautiful! I plan on using the heck out of these!
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3/8" Silver Wee Mop 5319S Oval Brush - Retail Value $2.55
To round out our watercolor box, we also received a 3/8" Silver WeeMop oval brush. This brush is quite large for me to watercolor with, but the camel hair fibers are very soft and produce lovely strokes. I did use this brush on my postcard, where fine details weren't necessary. It was comfortable in my hand, and looks really pretty in my collection!
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Strathmore Watercolor Postcards - Retail Value $3.14
How cute are these postcards?! At first, I wasn't sure what I would do with watercolor postcard paper, but I soon realized this would be the perfect way to send a note to my students! Everyone loves snail mail, and because I haven't had to make lunch box notes since the school moved to distance learning, I whipped up a couple of these for my 5th graders!
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Strathmore 5.5" X 8.5" Watercolor Paper - Retail Value $5.99
Yay! More paper!! I am a paper addict, and watercolor paper is my fave. I will take all I can get! This acid-free, heavyweight, 140lb watercolor paper can take on a lot of water and still not curl! It's my go-to paper and is a great size for quick art!
Project #1: Geranium
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Nothing screams summer to me like a good old fashioned pot of red geraniums. They are my go-to flower to decorate my yard with, and while they smell quite unpleasant, they last all summer and are easy to keep alive! As a tribute to my favorite flower, I decided to try and paint one! First I used my pencil to lightly sketch my flowers and leaves. Then I started painting. Using a mix of greens, yellows, and black, I did my best to create dimension to the leaves. Because I didn't want my pencil outline to show, I erased my outline as I went. This produced a little bit of eraser dust, but with patience, it was easily wiped away. After the leaves were complete, I went ahead and started on the blooms. I did my best to try and create some shading with petals to create a more realistic look. I definitely could use more practice, but was pretty happy with how it turned out. Because I love the "splatter" look, I dipped my paintbrush in the red paint and a little water to create the speckle look throughout the paper.
I happened to find this frame at a garage sale last year, so I gave it a coat of antique parchment paint, and slid my finished piece in!
Project #2: Floral Postcard
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The second project I completed was this postcard. To try out the included brush, I added a couple of red blotches. Isn't that red coloring magnificent?! I then added a little yellow, and of course some "splatter" to create a background for my doodle. I let this dry and busted out my Art Alternative's pigment liner I received in the September 2019 box. I then doodled some cute little flowers and grass across the front. I decided this postcard was perfect for one of my students who is going through a rough time during distance learning. I can't wait to get it in the mailbox!
The Verdict: I love Paletteful Packs. Like I said above, watercolor is my favorite type of art, so receiving this high-quality palette was like a dream come true! Because we have been home since March, we have been trying to spend as much time outside as we can, and this box will make painting outside so much easier! I have been carrying a box full of supplies, and to have them all in one little kit will really be convenient! I think the curation of this box was awesome- I love the fact that they send everything you need to create a mass of projects, with enough paint leftover for years to come! I can't wait to see what they send next month!
This subscription costs $35.95 a month. While we didn't receive a listed value because of the exclusion of the content card, the retail value came to $43.06 which is almost $10 more than the subscription cost! Plus I know for a fact, if I were to order these supplies on my own, my shipping cost would have been even higher. I feel for the awesome curation of this box, and the opportunity to try art supplies that I otherwise wouldn't have known about, $35.95 is a very fair price for this box!
To Wrap Up
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll receive the June 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 4 unique items, you’re paying approximately $8.98 per item.
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What did you think of the Paletteful Packs May box? What would you create?
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