Darby Smart To DIY For Box Review + Coupon – July 2016
Darby Smart To DIY For Box is a monthly craft subscription box for teens and adults. I have been an on-and-off subscriber for the past couple of years, and I really love Darby Smart’s project selections! This is a review of the adult box.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Darby Smart To DIY For Box
The Cost: $19
COUPON: Get one month free with a 6-month subscription – no coupon needed!
OR
Use code HOWDYDARBY to get $10 off your first box!
The Products: Each box will include all the craft supplies you need to complete a new DIY project.
Ships to: US only
Check out all of our Darby Smart reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
This month’s project is a shibori beach tote!
FYI, Darby Smart does not include instructions in their boxes. Instead, they provide a URL where you can go and see a video plus written instructions online. The instructions for this project can be found here.
These are the materials that were included for the project. Usually, the things you have to supply yourself are things most people definitely have. This month I had to provide a bowl and water from home.
This is my completed shibori beach tote. I’m not happy with it at all. The parts that actually absorbed the dye seem to have been dyed well, but why didn’t the dye absorb in all the folds? When my projects don’t work out, I usually go, oh well, you can’t win them all, but I’m a little frustrated with this project. I thought the instructions online were incomplete, and I noticed they differed fairly significantly from the instructions included in the dye package. Also, I made a shibori tote bag with my son a few months ago (for Doodle Crate) and it was a completely different process. And that one turned out fabulous!
Verdict: Darby Smart To DIY For Box is usually one of my favorite subscription boxes, but this month was pretty disappointing. It’s a little bit of a pet peeve of mine when a craft subscription sends incomplete or otherwise confusing instructions. In this case, the video, the online instructions, and the dye package instructions all conflicted. I don’t even feel like this bag is usable for anything at this point. I usually love the messy look of tie-dye, but this just looks kinda sad. I really hope next month’s project is better.
What do you think of Darby Smart To DIY For Box?
I didn’t get this project. I got a repeat of March. It was the box with the black canvases and the gold and copper leaf. I really didn’t like the project four months ago and REALLY didn’t like receiving another one.
I’ve been cancelling some boxes and signing up for others of better quality. This one may be next.
If you wet the bag then follow directions on the dye and then just fold it in square or fan pattern it comes out pretty nice. It’s not big enough for a beach bag though.
You can re-dye the bag for a better result, as long as you didn’t throw away the leftover dye. It layers just fine, and looks pretty cool. I’ve never used Tulip brand, but it is a fiber-reactive dye, so what ever parts of fabric that didn’t absorb dye can still be dyed. Good luck!
I would just tie dye on top of this.
They changed their site significantly in the last year and the “ideas” rarely included listed instructions. Occasionally there’s a 30-45 second video or maybe a blog link to them but 80% of the time there’s nothing at all. Plus I’ve discovered their products carry a massive markup so I now get the ideas from the site and buy most of what I need on Amazon.
Thank you for this! Very helpful to know!