As a scrapbooking enthusiast who has tested over 50 stationery subscriptions, I get asked one question constantly:
"Are Pipsticks stickers worth the hype?"
Short answer? A thousand times yes! But as we‘ll explore in this comprehensive review, not every Pipsticks collection warrants the premium price tag.
After 5+ years as a devoted member, I‘ve learned how to separate sticker treasure from trash. Read on for the real scoop on what makes Pipsticks so magical (and occasionally miss the mark).
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
- A deep dive on 20+ of Pipsticks‘ most popular (and panned) themed packs
- How Pipsticks sticker quality compares head-to-head against top competitors
- Key factors in deciding if you should subscribe based on your budget
- Unadvertised ways for scrapbook diehards to save money on monthly shipments
- Where to snag hard-to-find packs for the best deals
Let‘s start by peeking behind the sticker curtain to see what catapulted this brand into stardom…
From Humble Origins to International Sticker Stardom
Hard to imagine now, but Pipsticks began in 2014 as one woman‘s homebased sticker side hustle. Founder Maureen Vazquez simply wanted an artistic outlet to channel her lifelong stationery addiction.
With some clever initial offerings like their space exploration and magical unicorn packs, Pipsticks quickly attracted a cult following. They nurtured partnerships with indie illustrators for dazzling exclusive designs not found elsewhere.
Within 2 years, Pipsticks outgrew Maureen‘s home studio. Commercial-scale manufacturing allowed them to offer more daring finishes like transparent holographic stickers and multilayered puffy decals.
Word spread amongst artist circles of Pipsticks‘ extensive creative freedom. Soon partnerships lined up with prominent names like Rif Paper Co., Erin Condren, and ban.do.
Flash forward to today with over 50k Instagram followers eagerly awaiting each month‘s sticker theme unveiling. Among stationery circles, receiving those iconic Pipsticks envelopes carries caché akin to winning the lottery.
But does subscriber reality live up to all the social media hype? Let‘s analyze some of their best hits (and a few misses) pack by pack:
My 20 All-Time Favorite Pipsticks Special Edition Sticker Packs
With hundreds of themed collections in their archives, Pipsticks takes great pride in constantly one-upping themselves. As soon as you convince yourself they‘ve peaked, another set releases that redefines sticker possibilities all over again.
To showcase Pipsticks‘ range, I handpicked my top 20 packs that never failed to impress. We‘ll explore honorable mentions too for other great options.
1. Lisa Frank Collab: Pure Childhood Nostalgia
Remember those rainbow binders plastered in glittery unicorns? That‘s the vibrant rush of whimsy Lisa Frank delivers. Pipsticks smartly tapped into millenial nostalgia by partnering with this stickers OG.
The result? Magic in adhesive form. These premium diecut vinyls with ruby red dolphins and gold flamingos practically glow. I‘ve never gotten more ecstatic DMs than showing these off on Instagram.
Cost: $5 per sheet (worth every penny!)
The Verdict: Wall sticker worthy
2. Women in Science Collection
This set celebrating legendary figures like Mae Jemison and Jane Goodall needs to be in every girl‘s sticker stash. The crisp lines and restrained color palate ooze sophistication.
I love how Pipsticks included key dates and fun facts for each pioneer pictured. It really inspires me to learn more about these amazing women in STEM while I journal.
Cost: $3 per sheet
The Verdict: Reusable as mini flash cards
3. National Parks Wanderlust
For outdoorsy types, this nature-inspired pack tickles every woodland wanderlust fantasy. Whimsical detailing on the illustrated tents, mountains, and foliage sets a magical stage.
As someone with annual park passes, I was impressed by the accuracy of iconic sights from Yosemite‘s Half Dome to Grand Canyon‘s overlooks. It makes me feel like a wilderness explorer plastering my journal pages!
Cost: $3 per sheet
The Verdict: Joy for nature lovers
4. Hand Drawn Planners & Stationery Sticker Book
Diecut stickers simply don‘t do some concepts justice. That‘s where Pipsticks‘ assorted books come into play. This hand drawn edition brims with hundreds of tiny icon illustrations perfect for calendars and spreads.
The paper offers just the right grip so tiny stickers lift off cleanly after you mark appointments or deadlines. Way easier than fumbling with tiny adhesive dots!
I filled this up lickety-split, but thankfully refills cost under $10 when needed.
Cost: $12 per book
The Verdict: Endlessly reusable planning necessity
5. Avengers Assemble Pack
Who says stationery can‘t be badass? Pipsticks slays with this Marvel tribute showcasing vigilantes like Black Widow, Black Panther, and other do-gooders defending the galaxy from invading Skrulls.
Every hero appears with power symbols and a signature attack pose against a dark background that pops off journal pages. My nephew devoured this pack in a weekend plastering his school binder.
Cost: $4 per sheet
The Verdict: Collector‘s item for fans
Some Other All-Star Favorites
I couldn‘t cover every obsessed-over pack without quadrupling this review length! Here‘s a quick hit list of other stellar options that delighted me over the years:
- Rainbow Brite Throwback Pack – Bursting with vivid 80‘s nostalgia!
- Cat Lady Sticker Book – Chock full of quirky kitties and clever sayings
- Astrology Zodiac Constellation Pack – Beautiful interpretations perfect for bullet journaling
- Lucky Red Envelopes Sticker Pack – Festive stickers to celebrate Chinese New Year
- Stinky Stickers Scented Pack – Surprisingly adorable fruit designs that actually smell fruity!
- Out of this World Space Stickers – Intergalactic decals for astronomy nerds
Next let‘s explore Pipsticks‘ rare misses – when wild creativity fails to fully manifest.
When Pipsticks Stickers Missed the Mark For Me
With hundreds of themed packs under their belt, some concepts flow better creatively. In my experience, Pipsticks usually stumbles capturing complexity or venturing too abstract.
Homages fare far better than conceptual themes requiring deep context. For example, nearly all their holiday sets knock it out of the park by keeping things fun and playful.
Some past duds for me included:
1. Multicultural Children of The World Sticker Pack
The Concept: Decorative silhouettes of children from 15+ countries in traditional cultural dress paired with facts about each region‘s iconic elements (landmarks, cuisine, etc.)
Why It Missed: Such a thoughtful concept done a disservice by small sticker sizes. Details on already tiny renderings got largely lost and overweighting blank negative space.
The Verdict: Bland lack of visual impactful given scope of theme
2. Impressionist Art Movement Tribute Pack
The Concept: Reinterpreting easily recognizable Impressionist paintings like Van Gogh‘s Starry Night and Monet‘s water lilies using layered diecut stickers to mimic brush strokes
Why It Missed: Some imagery worked well given compact surface area. But most failed properly capturing grandiose nature of the original pieces. Felt diminishing of artists‘ vision.
The Verdict: Overly daunting artistic style to translate into stickers
3. Iconic Women of Color in History Pack
The Concept: Spotlight inspiring figures often overlooked in textbooks using powerful imagery and poignant pull quotes
Why It Missed: Odd styling choices like modern fashion silhouettes felt distracting coupled with century-old quotes. Needed to firmly pick historical vs contemporary lens.
The Verdict: Mismatch of elements underserving importance of subject matter
I emphasize these stumbles because it proves even creative powerhouses occasionally lose sight of core vision. But Pipsticks rebounds quickly thanks to their connection with scrapbookers.
Missteps get addressed promptly. And the genius flows freely once again!
Now that we‘ve explored some favorites (and flops), let‘s see how Pipsticks sticker versatility stacks up…
Pipsticks Versus: Comparing Sticker Quality Against Top Competitors
We‘ve established Pipsticks creates utterly infectious designs month after month. But how do their materials compare against rival brands?
As a paying subscriber for over 5 years, I‘ve tested Pipsticks against popular competitors on every factor influencing sticker quality:
Brands Compared:
- Pipsticks
- COCO DOLL Stickers
- Peony Paperie
- Sugar Loop Stationery
- Pen & Ink Stationery
Factors Judged:
- Adhesion Ability
- Print Clarity & Color Vibrance
- Die Cut Edge Precision
- Packaging Presentation & Protection
- Sticker Assortment & Volume Per Pack
Let‘s explore how Pipsticks stickers sized up across key criteria:
Adhesion Ability
No one likes fussy stickers that peel prematurely leaving tacky residue or ripped backing behind.
The Verdict: Pipsticks triumphed with reliably grippy adhesive proving transferable through multiple surfaces and conditions without losing integrity. Their vinyl material seems almost impervious!
Close second went to Peony Paperie thanks to generously sized sticker bases that adhered reliably on the first try.
Print Clarity & Color
Vibrance and accuracy in color reproduction separates average from exceptional. I held packs to natural lighting and imagery benchmarks.
The Verdict: COCO DOLL won for color realism and crisp definition reproducing even fine text legibly. Foil accents popped beautifully.
Pipsticks flashed bolder palates but fine details occasionally bled together under close inspection. Still outperformed most competitors, especially on color intensity.
Die Cut Precision
No one enjoys fumbling with sticker backings marred by jagged, imprecise edges. I inspected perimeter cut accuracy on complex shaped decals.
The Verdict: Impressively Pipsticks and Sugar Loop tied for flawlessly cut contours with barely perceptible edges and no lingering residue "string". CCO Doll finished a respectable second.
Packaging: Presentation & Protection
Top-notch stickers deserve equally exceptional encasings to preserve freshness in style. Presentation sets a tone of quality.
For subscription services, unboxing carries heightened significance. Packaging plays a critical role prevent transit damage.
The Verdict: Pipsticks perfected this with custom tissue paper and monthly collectible boxes plus sealed inner packs by sticker theme. Their envelopes withstand impressive wear without tearing. Sugar Loop offered similar durability.
CCO DOLL disappointingly relied on flimsy paper envelopes vulnerable to postal mashing. Peony Paperie only slightly better with thin craft paper wrappings. Lots of crinkling indicating easily creased contents.
Assortment & Volume Per Pack
More = better when it comes to stickers!
I analyzed sheet counts across similarly priced packs.
The Verdict: Quality and quantity find equilibrium with Pipsticks and Sugar Loop offering 12-15 substantial die cut stickers per pack. Pecny Paperie trails slightly behind at 10 sheets.
CCO Doll fluctuates wildly from 8-30 teeny stickers apportioned annoyingly across multiple pages. Too much tedious sticker hunting!
Takeaway: Pipsticks Delivers Dollar-For-Dollar
Across essential sticker criteria, Pipsticks either dominated or edged into first place against even luxury competitors. You‘ll struggle finding better diversity and reliability for only ~$3 per colorful creation.
By The Numbers: How Much Are Pipsticks Stickers Really Costing You?
Let‘s crunch subscription plan pricing to determine true monthly and yearly costs.
Basic Plans:
Pipsticks Pro Sticker Club
- $18 per month
- 15 sticker sheets per month
- sticker sheets = ~$1.20 each
Comes out to $216 yearly
Pipsticks Kids Sticker Club
- $18 per month
- 15 sticker sheets per month
- sticker sheets = ~$1.20 each
Also $216 per year
Downgraded "Petite" plans with only 7 sticker sheets monthly effectively doubles individual sticker costs to $2.40 apiece.
Evaluating Value: Do You Really Save With A Subscription?
Pipsticks tempts with exclusive subscriber-only packs and pre-order access to upcoming collections. But savvy scrapbookers should still price compare:
Cheapest Pipsticks Packs Elsewhere
- Single sheets from Michael‘s or Joann‘s often found for $1
- Amazon third party packs around $2-3 for similar color/design density
- Five Below frequently stocks past boxes for only $5
Verdict: Shelling out $18 monthly nets savings over individual pack purchases. But occasional sales could slash more than 50% off sticker costs from other retailers.
Consider buying a la carte and using coupon codes for deeper discounts rather than committing to recurring fees if cash-strapped.
Expert Tips For Scoring Discounted Pipsticks Packs
Take it from a veteran who has honed her bargain hunting skills:
- Subscribe around major holidays for special new member promos
- Buy discounted e-gift cards from third parties to lower membership fees
- Refer friends using your custom URL to earn $20 account credit for every 3 people who join
- Check Amazon Warehouse section for open box sticker hauls at steep markdowns
- Don‘t snooze on Five Below‘s sticker bins for previous month cast-offs at $5 per giant pack
With the right timing and resourcefulness, you can build a pretty sticker dragon‘s hoard on a modest budget!
Do Pipsticks‘ Big Claims Live Up To Their Iconic Hype?
When it comes down to it, most scrapbookers want to know:
Do Pipsticks stickers justify constantly selling out packs at premium prices?
In my experience across thousands of sticker sheets…
The answer remains a definitive YES!
Pipsticks dominates as my top stationery subscription for good reason. Their mesmerizing designs enchant month after month while maintaining impeccable print quality.
For only ~$3 per vibrant creation, it hardly feels frivolous indulging my sticker obsession. Not with so much creative variety on tap!
So if you‘re hunting the holy grail of sticker joy that feels fresh year after year, search no more. Pipsticks brings the magic and then some.
Now grab your journal and let the sticking begin!
