XOXkit Craft Subscription Box Review – August 2017

XOXkit is a monthly DIY subscription box from Australia whose mission is 'delivering tools, materials & instructions to inspire your creative soul.' 

We do all the research, testing, designing, converting, collecting, measuring and translating. We bring you on-trend projects that create beautiful, usable products that you find at your local artisan markets. You don't need to be the next Martha Stewart - beginners are welcome! The instructions outline the skill level needed and the time the project should take. We have made the XOXkits as enjoyable and creative as possible.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

This review is of the August 2017 (or 1201 kit) XOXkit. 

The Subscription Box: XOXkit

The Cost: $33.71 USD ($42.50 AUD) a month + 12.58 ($15.85 AUD) shipping to the USA. Shipping within Australia is $11.75 AUD. Save with 3-month and 6-month prepaid subscriptions.

The Products: Craft supplies and video instruction to complete two coordinated projects each month.

Ships to: Worldwide from Australia

Check out all of our XOXKit reviews and other crafting reviews in the DIY + Crafting Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

The August XOXkit (kit 1201) includes two projects: an organization board and paper roses. This (long!) packing list was affixed to the inside of the box. Everything arrived safely!

As noted, you also need scissors, glue and a ruler – and I would add tape to that list. They say a glue gun and a drill would be helpful, but I had no problems completing the projects without them.

Both projects had cards with measurements and step-by-step instructions. Additionally, there is a video on their site that walks you through each project. The production quality on the video isn't the best, but I like that the instructor points out which parts are more difficult and what to watch out for. The video gives a clear idea of what it's like to make the projects, and creative experimentation is encouraged.

First up –  paper roses! The color choice makes it look very modern. (Or maybe retro, as it reminded me of a Depeche Mode album cover.)

The flowers are made from wire, floral tape, and black paper. You can't see it in the photo, but the paper is actually printed in black with the pattern that you cut out. Supplies for two roses were included, so you get another try if you mess the first one up. 

Floral Tape – Value $2.33? (similar item, $6.99 for three)

Floral Stems –  Value $0.32? for two (similar item, buy a 50-pack on Amazon for $7.99) 

This wasn't the best floral tape that I've ever used, but it got the job done. I liked that they kept the wires together with a sticker – with so many supplies in the box, it helps to be organized. 

The first step was to cut out the paper and curl it gently around the pencil, which is included for the next project. 

The next step was to glue the petals to the stem. Black paper can be unforgiving – every spot of glue shows up if you make a mistake. The paper was thin, but the weight worked well with the mini size of the flowers. 

After that, you wrap the floral tape around the stems. The glue was still wet in this photo, but I was able to clean them up pretty well once it had dried completely. XOXkit estimated that this project would take 15 minutes, and that's pretty accurate. With the flowers done, I felt ready to tackle the second project!

When I first saw this organization board, I honestly thought it was some sort of toilet paper holder. What you can't tell in the picture is that the paper roll is small, so in person, it does not give that impression at all. 

Lots of supplies for this one! The wood board appears to be pine, and the black rectangle is a thick piece of leather. The vial is plastic.

ToolPRO 2-in-1 Screwdriver – Value $2.99? ($3.77 AUD for similar item)

I didn't realize it when I first saw this screwdriver, but the end can be flipped around to use either a flat head or a phillips head. I'd never heard of ToolPRO before, but apparently it's the house brand for a popular Australian chain called Supercheap Auto. All the 2-in-1 screwdrivers I could find online either cost more or weren't as nice, so maybe I need a trip to Australia to stock up on DIY supplies.

Foam Brush – Value $0.50? (similar item, 10 for $$4.99)

This is just a regular foam brush, but what I liked was that it fit perfectly into the little pot of paint, and the amount of paint was exactly the right amount for the project. The paint survived international shipping without spilling. It's obvious that a lot of care was taken to source appropriate supplies.

The first step was to tape off the board and paint it using the foam brush and black paint. I used washi tape, but masking tape would work too. The paint worked well and I got full coverage in two coats. It dried quickly to a matte finish.

Next was the hardest part – bending the galvanized wire to fit the paper roll and screwing in these tiny pieces. The wire is folded in a way that allows the paper to be replaced. 

Next I screwed on leather straps to hold the paper. A thick piece of genuine (non-vegan) leather was provided. 

The example card showed a pencil holder that looked more like the image on the right. However, I added a magnet so that it could fold down and be used to hold small things. The magnet stuck to the metal screw head, so it worked really well.

After that, I screwed on the metal bracket for the flower vial. I had sanded down the ridges on one side, but I'm not sure if that was necessary. It fit surprisingly well once the screws were in. 

Once it was all together, I touched up the paint on the sides so that it angled nicely. I really like the contrast of the matte paint and the wood. The organizer is only 30cm tall, but the thickness makes it seem more substantial. 

Here's the finished organization board, currently holding watering instructions for a houseplant. XOXkit estimated that this would take 30 minutes; I took longer, but I like to take my time. Even so, this went together faster than I thought it would. 

There were a few little pieces I didn't use: the clip, the two hooks that could go on the bottom to hold keys, and mounting hardware for the back. I can't nail into my wall, so I prefer to use velcro picture hanging strips, but it's great that the hardware was included. 

Verdict: It's hard to estimate a value for this kit because it's definitely more than the sum of its parts. This is the sort of project I might scroll past on Pinterest because I could never be bothered to assemble all the little components myself. I rarely use wood, so this isn't the sort of thing I'd normally think I could make. With shipping, this box is around $46 USD, which seems like a lot to pay for an organization board. However, it's a high-quality, fun project that turned out better than I expected. 

What do you think of August's XOXkit? If you use an organization board, what do you keep on it?