What's in an Plan Art Kit? A Full Breakdown of Every Component
When we set out to build an all in one art kit, we had one rule: no shortcuts. Every component has been chosen, sourced, or handmade with one goal in mind, to give you everything you need to create a genuinely beautiful piece of art, from a completely blank slate to a finished, framed canvas on your wall.
We know "all in one art kit" gets thrown around a lot in the DIY art kit space. So we wanted to actually show you what that means when it comes from Plan. Here's a full breakdown of what's inside your canvas painting kit, and why every piece earns its place in the box.
The Frame: A Handcrafted Art Kit, Not a Mass-Produced One
At the heart of every Plan art kit with frame is your inner frame, handcrafted by a local craftsman in Edinburgh. This isn't a flat-pack, machine-cut frame shipped in from a factory somewhere. It's built by someone who knows wood, knows joints, and takes pride in getting it right. It's the skeleton your entire piece will be built on, so it needed to be solid, which is exactly why we chose handmade art kit craftsmanship over mass production.
To finish it off, you get to choose your edge frame in either Oak or Dark Oak stain — giving your final piece a completely different character depending on which you pick. Light and natural, or rich and moody. Either way, it's the detail that turns your canvas from "a painting" into a finished, framed piece of art ready for the wall.
The Canvas: Your Choice of Linen or Cotton
Every canvas art kit starts with the right surface. You'll get a rolled canvas, and we give you the choice between linen or cotton canvas (Blank canvas kits only) . Linen offers that slightly textured, higher end finish artists have used for centuries. Cotton gives you a smoother, more forgiving surface that's brilliant to paint on. Neither is "better" it's about what suits your piece and your preference, so we let you choose rather than deciding for you.
Room to Practice, Properly
Nerves before your first brushstroke on the real canvas are completely normal, especially if this is your first art project. So we've included large format practice pieces. These give you proper space to warm up, test your colours, and get comfortable with your brush and palette knife before committing to the final canvas. No pressure, no wasted materials, just space to find your flow. Once you have finished with your practice piece you also have a mini piece of art there too. If you love it that much, put it in a frame and cherish this creation too.
And because stretching a canvas and building a frame both involve tools you might never have picked up before, we've also included a staple gun practice piece. Yes, even the staple gun gets its own practice run. We didn't want anyone's first time using a staple gun to be on the canvas that actually matters. It's this kind of detail that makes our kit genuinely beginner friendly and easy to start.
Keeping Things Clean
A protective sheet is tucked into every kit to keep your workspace and your floor, table, or carpet safe from drips, splatters, and the general glorious mess that comes with painting. Art should be enjoyable, not stressful and that includes the clean up.
Everything You Need to Mix and Apply Paint
- Paint palette for mixing your colours exactly how you want them
- Curated palette of paints hand selected colours chosen to work beautifully together, so you're never guessing what pairs well
- Paint brushes and a palette knife a proper set of painting tools to give you full control, whether you're after fine detail or bold texture
The Small Details That Make the Big Difference
- Masking tape for crisp, clean lines and edges when you need precision
- A staple gun, for stretching and securing your canvas onto the frame like a professional and also used for attaching the edge frame. Just simply change the staples to the pins provided and you are sorted.
- A digital art guide packed with tutorials covering everything from building your frame and stretching your canvas, to attaching your edge frame and using your staple gun with confidence
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Art Kit Contents
Do I need any tools or materials I don't already own? No, that's the whole point of an all-in-one art kit. Everything from the frame and canvas to the paints, brushes, and staple gun is included, so you can start straight from the box. If you want to add anything you want you already have to your artwork then feel free to make it completely your own.
Can I choose the style and finish of my kit? Yes — you can choose between linen or cotton canvas, and Oak or Dark Oak stained edge frame, so your finished piece matches your space and your taste.
Why We Included Everything We Did
Every item in this list exists because we asked ourselves: what would someone need to go from an empty table to a finished, framed piece of art, without having to buy or figure out anything else?
From the handcrafted frame made by a local Edinburgh craftsman, to the staple gun practice piece, every component of our all in one art kit has a purpose. Nothing is filler. Nothing is an afterthought.
That's what "all in one" means at Plan.
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Ewan
Co-founder of Plan