Darby Smart review, July 2014

Name: Darby Smart
Details: Sends out a DIY kit featuring a different craft project every month.
Price: $19


Let's take a look at the July Darby Smart kit, which arrived at my doorstep late last week.

Hmmm, what could this be? I see bottles of paint, a peek of wood, some numbers poking out of the packing material...

It's a clock-making kit! I'm not sure why, but I've always wanted to make a clock. This kit gives me the perfect opportunity. I have serious doubts about my ability to attach the numbers so that they'll be straight and evenly spaced, but I'm still looking forward to giving it a shot.

To try out Darby Smart for yourself, head here: Darby Smart subscription link

Darby Smart review, June 2014

Name: Darby Smart
Details: Sends out a DIY kit featuring a different craft project every month.
Price: $19

I love my crafting kits, so I was excited to see the June Darby Smart shipment in our mail yesterday.

And...here's what I found inside:

I didn't receive instructions as to what I should be doing with all these items, but the card in the previous photo provided a link to the Darby Smart website and a code that I could use to access the directions. Once I did, I discovered the projects that I had received. (I pulled the following photo from the Darby Smart website.)

A headband made from T-shirt yarn, and an agate cuff. I like both these projects, though I'm not a big fan of all the wire wrapped around the agate. When I make mine, I'll try to go a little more "minimalist." In terms of the headband, I've already made necklaces out of t-shirt fabric (I actually cut apart the t-shirts and made the yarn myself), so I don't anticipate having any problems with this project.

----------

This month's Darby Smart shipment seemed kind of random, but I do like the projects, so I'm satisfied. To try out the service for yourself, head over here: Darby Smart subscription link

Darby Smart review, May 2014

Holy Moses, this weekend brought a cavalcade of subscription boxes. Unfortunately, one of those boxes wasn't Golden Tote. I see that other people are starting to receive their GT shipments, and mine hasn't even been sent yet. I've been diligently staying away from reviews because I don't want to be spoilered, but I'm hoping my tote shows up soon.

Anyway, I had enough goodies arriving on my doorstep the past few days to keep me busy. I'll start with the May shipment from Darby Smart, which is a subscription service that sends out a monthly craft project for subscribers to complete. I was thrilled with past projects that I've received from Darby Smart, but I had read a "spoiler" on the company's Facebook page about how this box would contain something "sweet," so I was unhappily anticipating that the project would be related to baking or chocolate. (I don't mind baking, but I subscribe to Darby Smart specifically because I want craft projects, not cooking projects.) Let's see what I found when I opened the box.

Hmmm, still not sure what we've got here...

And THERE it is...a candy-making kit. It includes Wilton's Candy Melts (vanilla flavor), plastic molds of lips and moustaches, a box of colors that can be used to decorate the candy, and, of course, sucker sticks.

I've had candy made from Wilton's Candy Melts before, and I will say that it was very good, but this project doesn't enthuse me in the least. I'm not big into candy-making, and all I see when I look at this box are the pots, pans, and utensils that I'll have to clean when I'm finished. However, I do realize that, for some people, this box would be perfect, so keep in mind that my attitude toward the contents is entirely my own opinion, based solely on my own interests. When I look at the box objectively, I can say that the value and quality of the items are excellent, and that someone who is more into kitchen stuff than I am would love this kit.

----------

Anyway, that's my take. I was disappointed with the "craft" this month, but I'm still on board for the long haul. I think Darby Smart offers a great value for what you pay ($19 a month), and, as I mentioned, I've loved previous crafts that I've received from the company, so I'll just sit tight and see what next month brings.

If you're interested in trying out Darby Smart for yourself, head here: Darby Smart subscription link

Darby Smart review, April 2014

Today has been a busy day. I worked on a few freelance writing assignments, and just now got back from taking my dog, Henry, to a class at my local humane society. The class was intended to teach kids about puppy mills, and because Henry is a puppy mill rescue, he was the "spokesdog" for the evening. He had a lot of fun, and I was amazed at the passion the kids showed about the issue. If you take nothing else away from this blog, take away this: puppy mills are terrible places, and should be abolished.

Here's a picture of Henry giving the stink-eye to puppy mills:

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox and get on to the real subject of this entry. I received my April Darby Smart shipment today, and was so excited that I had to post about it right away. Darby Smart is a subscription service that, every month, sends out all the tools and instructions you'll need to create a craft project. And these craft projects aren't just "cotton ball snowmen" types of things. Last month, I received two bamboo cutting boards and a woodburning wand with which I could decorate them. I was really excited to receive that project, and even more excited by what I found in this month's box.

Here's a picture of the box after I tore into it. (I wish I had the patience to take photos before I open my subscription boxes, but I'm always too excited to see what's inside of them.)

And here's what was in it. In case you can't see the writing on the card, this is a metal stamping kit. I've wanted to try out metal stamping for AGES. I've seen all kinds of cute, personalized jewelry on Pinterest, and would love to make my own, but didn't really have any idea how to go about doing it. Now, thanks to Darby Smart, I do!

The kit contains an eight-ounce hammer, a metal block, a set of letter stamps, and some metal pendants, along with instructions on how to personalize the pendants with your metal-stamped messages.

It's like Darby Smart read my mind and sent a kit perfectly tailored to my crafting interests! I love the fact that the projects it sends out have (so far) introduced me to a variety of techniques that I might not otherwise have attempted. Plus, the materials and the instructions it provides are very high quality. I probably won't get a chance to tackle this project right away, but I'll be saving it for a rainy day when I need a fun diversion. I'm seeing lots of personalized jewelry in my future!

If you want to join Darby Smart and get crafty for $19 a month, sign up here: Darby Smart subscription link.