Doodle Crate, by KiwiCo, is a subscription box targeted to older children aged 9-16 that delivers a monthly art project. They describe themselves as "a studio for hands-on creativity delivered every month."
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Doodle Crate
The Cost: $19.95 per month with discounts available for longer subscription commitments.
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The Products: Instructions and supplies for children aged 9-16 to create one new art project each month.
Ships to: U.S. for free, Canada for $6.95
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This month's project is making woven fabric baskets! The skill foci are fabric dyeing and weaving. My nine-year-old son usually does these projects. This is the booklet that came in our box this month.
Here's a peek inside the booklet at the instructions. They were clear and well illustrated, so they were easy for my son to follow. The booklet also always contains good tips and suggestions for practicing.
These are all the supplies that were included in this month's project. Everything we needed was included except scissors and water.
The first step was making the dye by diluting and blending acrylic paint with water.
Then my son had to stretch the yarn, which initially looked like ribbon. Stretching it actually turned it into something that approximates yarn! He then had to soak it in the dye for ten minutes.
I have to say upfront that my son was not very excited about this project. It took a little encouragement. I mention this only because the magazine included lots of suggestions for doing more interesting things with the dye, like creating an ombre effect or mixing colors. In our case, it was kind of all I could do to convince him to do two different baskets in two colors.
After soaking the yarn in the dye, he had to rinse it with cold water, squeeze it out, and then lay it out on paper towels to dry overnight.
The next day, it was time to start weaving! He started by taping one end of the yarn to the bottom of the plastic inserts and folding the spokes upward.
He then followed a basic in-and-out pattern of weaving the yarn around the spokes. When he got to the top, he had to wind the yarn around the form a few times and then use clothespins to hold it in place for the next step. He then had to thread the loose end of the yarn into a needle and do a whip stitch through the holes at the top of the spokes to hold the top yarn in place around the tops of the baskets. He finished by tying it off inside.
The finishing touch was to add these self-adhesive felt forms to the bottoms of the baskets. I think this was a nice touch that makes them feel a lot more finished.
These are his completed baskets! I think they turned out really nice! And honestly, by the end of the project, he was super proud of what he had made, especially when I adopted them as my official supply baskets for my desk. It makes a big difference when you make your kids feel like they have created something really useful. In this case, I didn't have to pretend - they really ARE useful! And pretty, too!
The Verdict: Doodle Crate is SO awesome! My son usually loves their project selections, but this month it took some convincing for him to give it a try. I think in the end, he was glad he did, and I know he was proud of what he created. I am too! I still can't believe what Doodle Crate can provide for $20. When you consider the materials, the curation, the project selection and instructions, that's really a bargain! Most importantly, it always sets the stage for some fun times crafting with my son.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will receive the December box!
Coupon –Get your first month for $7.95, no coupon required, just use this link! Or, save 40% off your first month subscription (plus FREE shipping), no coupon required, just use this link!
What do you think of Doodle Crate?
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