Adults and Crafts is a monthly DIY subscription that helps subscribers "learn new crafting techniques to help you create useful, beautiful products you will be proud to have made."
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Adults & Crafts
The Cost: $33 + $6.95 shipping per month, with discounts for 6 and 12-month prepaid subscriptions
The Products: A kit with printed instructions for an adult-level project to use or display in your home.
Ships to: US
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This month's box featured embossed cardmaking, which is perfect for the holidays. I usually think of embossing as making an impression into paper, but this is a technique that uses powder to make a raised pattern.
The step-by-step instructions were easy to follow and laid out really nicely this month.
The kit included envelopes and two weights of paper to make cards.
Ranger Perfect Pens Set (2 pens) – Retail Value $5.80
These pens use a special medium that allows embossing powder to stick to it. One has a brush tip and one has a regular nib.
Round Rubber Stamp – Retail Value $0.98? (buy a set of 6 of a similar item for $5.88)
This rubber stamp was initially missing from my kit, but Adults and Crafts were prompt about sending it out quickly. They were also very fast about answering emails.
Recollections Embossing Powder – Total Retail Value $7.98 ($3.99 each)
I received embossing powder in gold and black. Since you only use a tiny amount at once, these jars will last a long time.
Darice Multipurpose Heat Tool – Retail Value $19.70
The heat tool is used to make the embossing powder flow and form a nice permanent pattern on the paper. I like getting tools like this because I can use them for future projects.
Crayola Washable Watercolors – Retail Value $5.36
These paints weren't the best – they had a gluey consistency, and the brush shed and had no shape at all. However, I like that this was included to add some color to the cards. I would have been content with just the embossing supplies, so this was a nice extra.
Elmer's Washable School Glue Stick – Estimated Value $1.54 (buy 2 for $3.08)
The glue stick could be used if you wanted to make a collage on your cards. I didn't do that, but I can always use a glue stick.
I used the brush pen to put medium on the ornate rubber stamp.
The next step is to cover it with embossing powder. The stamped pattern is under there somewhere!
Here's what it looked like after I shook the embossing powder back into the jar. You have to be really careful about stray powder; I was able to brush most of it from the edges with a soft brush, but it's nearly impossible to get every speck.
Here's what it looks like after heat setting! It's kind of magical to see the powder melt and form the design.
This is what it looks like on the envelope. I think it gives a nice touch!
I also tried it in black. I prefer the gold, but the black is nice too.
Here's my first attempt with the brush pen. I think I let this dry a little too long before adding the powder and heating it. I found the regular blunt-tipped pen worked better for writing, but the brush pen worked better with the rubber stamp.
I decided to add some painting to this one, but the paint was really hard to control with the shapeless brush. However, it was also kind of freeing.
I think the card came out well despite some little flaws.
Verdict: I estimate a value around $41, not including the paper or envelopes. The box is around $40 shipped, so the value is there. I enjoyed trying out the embossing powder and making cards. The technique didn't take much time to learn; it's something that anyone could pick up easily. I also appreciate the good customer service regarding the missing item. This is my third box from Adults and Crafts, and I'd recommend it for people who want fun projects that aren't too difficult and don't take more than an afternoon to complete. There are usually enough supplies to share, so it would be fun to do with a friend or family member.
What do you think of November's Adults and Crafts?
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