They other day I realized that, with alllll my markers, I didn’t have a single one I’d call a “mustard” color. I bought this set of 80 Crayola Markers (including 12 scented markers! Hellloooooo 4th grade!) and between that pack and some other more expensive pens I had, I thought it would be years before I needed to buy more.
But I was missing any kind of mustard colored pen. So of course I went to my favorite shopping site during this pandemic: Amazon. I searched for a “mustard pen”… The first response was this Copic Marker… a good quality choice, but it was $8 for one pen, plus they wanted me to pay for shipping! On Amazon? No thanks. 😜
But there was another result that intrigued me…
This 5 pack of markers – including the mustard color I was looking for, not to mention some other super cool colors – for under $7 for the whole set!
With a 4.5 star rating, and the free shipping I’ve grown accustom to with Amazon Prime, I thought it couldn’t hurt to give them a try for myself.
I think the overall consensus in the reviews was quite accurate.
Here is an overview of what I read that I agree with:
Iconic “Retro” Pen Set Pros
- The colors are amazing
- The price is right
- I love the dual tips
- The chisel tip allows for extra creativity
- They’re water-based so you can use them almost like watercolor pens
- Even on my very thin planner paper, there wasn’t any bleed-through until I made 5+ passes in one spot
- Did I mention the amazing, on-trend colors?
Iconic “Retro” Pen Set Cons
- The small tip is so small, and the colors are so light, it’s hard to read if you’re using it for lettering
- The chisel nibs are rough, so if you go over a spot more than two times (or more) there will liking be some piling on your paper (see video below)
- While I listed being water-based as a pro, some art journalers might consider it a con, as they’d rather have a permanent ink. So this one comes down to personal preference
- Cloudy Blue
- Brownie Pink
- Mustard Yellow
- Pale Vermilion
- Warm Grey
Here’s a quick video that shows how the colors layer. I like that you can create a gradient, but there is some piling due to the chisel tip being so rough.
As I mentioned before, there was no bleed-through on any pages, including my thin planner paper, which is great because I will definitely be using them in there. The other Iconic sets I’ve saved to my wish list now that I know what to expect:
- Deco
- Retro Mild Highlighters (which is a larger pack that includes the five colors I’ve reviewed here, plus five more – I’d say- brighter colors)
- Pastel Retro (which also includes the five colors I reviewed here, plus five more light colors)
And just so you know, the little journal I used in these photos is an amazing mixed-media sketchbook from Bee Paper Company. They’re a little on the pricey side, but SO worth it!
Well, that’s all for today… I just had to share because I’m seriously so obsessed with this pretty pen set! I hope you love it, too.
