Today is a very special day for different reasons—which I'll get to in a moment—so I wanted to celebrate with a different ZenPop post!
This month marks one year of collaborating with ZenPop, which has been a fabulous one, but it also sadly marks the end of my partnership with them. Because of this, I've asked them if I could receive a different box (instead of the snacks) and they agreed.
They kindly *sponsored* this last blog post and sent me a free Japanese Stationery Box to review, which I am super excited about!
For those unfamiliar with this box, each Stationery Box includes:
- High quality pens, pencils, and / or highlighters
- Unique stickers for any occasion
- Beautiful stylized washi tape
- Sticky notes, memo pads, and / or letter sets
- New and novel items you never knew you needed (until they show up in your box)
The theme for the September 2023 box is Edo Art Aesthetic: Japanese Gansai (顔彩) and Satsuma Kiriko glass (薩摩切子) were both products of the Edo Era’s twilight. As we enter the twilight of summer, it’s only natural to make these traditional art forms accessible to you! Express yourself with this set that has everything you need in one box.
This is a theme very dear to my heart, as the Edo period is my favourite historical era of Japan, so I'm really eager to start delving into all the cool contents of this month's box!
Ouchi de Meiga Collection (Nurie de Hokusai) from Kuretake
One of this box’s centerpieces! This set of Japanese Watercolor pencil brushes contains the colors Dull Blue and Peacock Blue as individual brushes, and a special watercolor brush that lets you soak up any color to paint! You can even use a marker and copy its color with this brush. If you lack inspo, it comes with artwork of Mt.Fuji you can practice on. Everything you need to get into Gansai!
I've never used watercolours in my life so—as you can see—my technique is not that great, but I genuinely had fun with this. Actually, it makes me want to look into learning watercolour painting. Also, the special watercolour brush is amazing!! You just put a little bit of water inside and use it to paint. I'm very grateful for the Mt. Fuji artwork I could practice on, I hope Hokusai-san isn't too mad about my lack of skills!
Original Kiriko Pattern Origami from KAKUWA x ZENPOP
While we can’t send you glass in the mail, we can send you custom origami sheets replicating the look of Kiriko Glass! This exclusive ZenPop collab presents traditional Kiriko glass patterns on a special waterproof and glossy yet sturdy origami sheet. These can also be used to decorate transparent cups, phone cases and more to look like Japanese glass! Here’s a link to our special guide on how to fold Origami.
This was actually the very first item I tried. I've always been curious about origami, so how could I miss this fabulous ZenPop collaboration? Exactly, I couldn't! The packet comes with a multitude of sheets in different colours—which is great so I can practice more—and offers different origami options. I decided to pick the crane as my first origami as it is an iconic symbol in Japan (the bird of happiness and long life), so I am hopeful this will be auspicious for me. One thing I'll say, though, is that—although sturdy—this origami sheet was a little bit challenging to work with, so just be extra careful when you use it!
Postcard Muji from Etranger di Costarica
A full set of standard size postcards. Thanks to the high quality paper and no stamp signifier, you have a blank canvas to create your own postcards for your friends and family with the gansai brushes you receive in this pack.
These can be very handy! It's a big pack and I feel like there are a lot of uses for these... You can use them as paper for your sketches, note cards, and why not, as thank you cards or something. As one who used to send lots of postcards back in the day, I feel this is the perfect item for postcards lovers!
Tracing DieCut Seal Dry Flower from Kyowa Shikou
72 wildflowers pressed to 4 sheets. Or stickers depicting wildflowers at least! This calm and rustic flora is perfect to combine with the elegant blush you can create with watercolor. Or create small notes with inspiration based on the flower.
In my opinion, these DieCut Seal stickers are perfect for journalling. You get 4 sheets of these calming wildflowers, don't they make you want to immerse yourself in nature? The paper is a really good quality, so I feel these stickers will last a very long time.
Felice Sticker from MIND WAVE
Dreamy, stationery, grass, flowers and coffee are the various themes you will get one of, from the Felice sticker set. Calm, classy and essential for your journal entries!
Another wonderful set of stickers with very good paper quality! For some reason—or maybe because of their colour palette and style—they made me think of the novel Before The Coffee Gets Cold (if you haven't read it, go do it now, it's amazing!). I also love the word/phrases stickers!
Knock-shiki Han-Eikyu Pencil from Summer-now
Made with a special graphite, the particles that become your writing are made with friction, leading this pencil to become semi permanent in use. It never requires sharpening or refills, it can be erased and is perfect for sketching for your paint brushes!
To be honest, I thought this was one of those pencils I used to have in school (and kind of hated because the graphite would break all the time). However, if you look at the picture, it basically looks like a pen. It's got a good grip, and it doesn't come out too hard on the paper. Plus, it's a pencil that never requires sharpening or refills, what more could one want?!
Message Card from Ryu-ryu
Super cute message cards with floral designs. Great for little motivators or gift cards.
Flower language:
Lily of the valley - “Happiness will come again” , “pure”
Dahlia - “Brilliant” , “Elegance”
Blue Star - "Happy love" "Faithful heart"
Mimosa - "Gratitude" "Friendship"
I really liked these cute message cards! They're great for leaving notes or inspirational messages to your loved ones... Or to yourself as well, like I did above. 😅 They come in four different flower motifs, I'm really glad I got the Lily of the Valley one, as perhaps it is another auspicious sign?
Arch Mini Keshigomu MEMORY YOUR SCENT from Arch
An eraser with an arched sleeve & perforations, ensuring it doesn’t break apart in use. Once it gets smaller, break apart the back packaging and push it forward! No more breaking & tearing!
Japan has some really great stationery items, and this mini eraser is certainly one of them! I always used to have a strong dislike for the eraser packaging because I would either have to tear it off as the eraser got smaller, or push the eraser up a bit and fold the bottom of the packaging, which was very annoying. I'm happy this packaging can be broken apart easily. However, it look so cute that I think I'm gonna remove the eraser entirely and keep it for myself! (*please note that this box does not contain two erasers, I used the magic of photo editing so that I could show you both sides of the lovely packaging!)
SWITCH UNDER SHEET A5 from IROHA
Ever had your markers bleed through to the next page? Or struggled with precision because the surface is uneven? Say hello to your new lord and savior! This sheet fixes all of that and is easy to fit in your journal or artbook. With it, you can even play with watercolors in a notebook!
Apologies for the lack of picture, however, as the sheet is transparent, I really had a hard time finding a way to take a photo that wouldn't include my reflection or my phone's, so I ultimately decided to not take one. Indeed, it is a very useful item, especially on certain types of paper where the colour bleeds through. What I also like is the fact that one side has a ruler printed on it, and the top has curved edges that can be used to draw curve lines on a journal. Very clever!
🏯🏯🏯
I actually enjoyed this box a lot, not only because of its theme, but the contents are actually pretty cool and useful! Thank you for a wonderful year of collaboration, ZenPop! いつもありがとう。
Stationery lovers, tell me, how would you use the items in this box? Let me know in the comments!
次回まで。♥
6 comments
I know how much you like the Edo Period, so I think this box was perfect for you :D The stickers look elegant and I particularly like the set of Japanese Watercolor pencil brushes, I've never really tried my hand at watercolours and I'd really love to! Also, I personally think you did a good job with the painting *claps* same goes for the origami ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the lovely reviews and photos of these boxes you have shared with us over the past year, it was really nice to read all your articles!
I thought of you the entire time when using the watercolour pencil brushes, I was sure it would be something you liked! Thank youuuu! I put a lot of effort in the origami so I'm glad it turned out pretty.
DeleteI like that the set of Japanese watercolour pencil brushes and your painting💕I feel comforted when I saw it✨
ReplyDeleteAnd that 折り紙 also impressed me, it looks beautiful, I love that pattern💭
Although I have just started read your blog posts for a while, but it’s a little bit down to know this is your last ZenPop post, 残念ですね😣
Awww, Abbie, I was looking forward to your opinion on that! I'm really glad you liked it. Yes, the Kiriko glass pattern is very pretty, I had a look at some drinking glasses made with that technique and they look beautiful.
DeleteI know, I'm going to miss reviewing ZenPop boxes too, but don't worry, I have another post in the works that I'm certain you will enjoy a lot! 💚
What an awesome collection. And congrats on your year of collaborating. You've brought us some amazing products! I've learned so much from your posts. also, I was the same way with those pencils in school, I HATED how theyalways broke. Nice to see this kind!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Greg! It's been a wonderful year, and I'm grateful I've concluded my partnership with such a great box.
DeleteHaha, I have to remind myself that it doesn't break, as I realise I try to keep a light pressure because I worry it's gonna break. 😅