Hi Crafty Friends,
I recently did a post on kits I have subscribed to and why I unsubscribed, so I figured I should maybe do a post on the subscriptions I have tried, the ones I use today and what I feel is a good Kit to get a start on your subscriptions.
Kits can be very expensive, but a good kit will have great options and products to make and use in a variety of ways. For Example, you should be able to do more than one thing with your kit, make cards, create a box or bag, make a scrapbook layout, journal, use items for other projects etc…
You should be able to have leftovers, or products/items you can continue using for other makes. Now do I expect this in every kit? No, but I would hope I get a great variety of items each month that are not just immediately useful but can also be used again or on future projects.
I have my favorite 3 Kits listed but their are also a few I have purchased 1 or 2 times without a subscription and would again, if the kit appealed to me, based on its contents.
🇬🇧Tonic Studios Craft Kit –
Monthly Craft Kit – Subscription is available monthly for $39.95 you can opt out of the subscription at any time, pause it for the months you don’t feel the contents suit your needs and resubscribe if you want to get it back. You can pay yearly, or monthly. As a subscriber you always get 10% off all products including sale and clearance items, some months you get kit exclusives that are for the kits only, and occasionally surprises added in like totes, keychains etc. Tonic Studios has 3 brands their company designs, developes and collaborates on, including “Tonic Studio” which is basically all their dies, stamps, some adhesives, storage and tools. “Craft Perfect” which creates their papers, cardstock, specialty cardstock, specialty handmade papers, paper pads, envelopes, vellum, acetate, tape & foam adhesives, tools, ribbon and twine. “Nuvo” which creates all their mediums including, pastes, mousse, sprays, drops, ink pads, glitters, embossing powders, markers, pencils, pens, glues, tape, watercolor pens, gels, glitter pens, tools and more. “Tim Holtz – Tonic Studios” which creates Tools and cutting implements like paper trimmers. Each kit comes with an array of items that come every month and the Nuvo packet is different every month. You always get a Tonic Studios die set with matching stamps, in a folio that you then can put into your binder. The binder comes every 3rd month and holds 3 sets of die folios. Your dies are versatile and can be used as intended for 3D makes or on layouts and cards. You always get a mix of Craft Perfect cardstock, which could include A4 or A2 sizes of any of the following, Classic Cardstock Colored/Textured, Classic Cardstock Smooth, Glitter Cardstock, Pearlescent Cardstock, Mirror Cardstock – Glossy or Matt, Holographic Cardstock, Handmade Linen Specialty Paper, Vellum, Acetate, 6×6 Paper Pad or A4 patterned papers. In your Nuvo package you always get at least 1 full sized medium, which could be embellishment mousse, crackle mousse, chalk mousse, crystal drop, jewel drop, dream drop, stone drop, glitter drop, glitter accent, glimmer paste, vintage drop, embossing powder, glitter, sequins, sparkle spray, mica mist etc You can get multiple full sized items or 1 full size and several trial sizes. You can get ink pad set,markers, glitter pens, aqua pens, tools, scissors twine, glues, adhesives, ribbon and more. You will sometimes get card and envelope packs, vellum and acetate, blending tools tape runners, foam squares and you always get a themed sticker. It’s by far one of the most diverse boxes and the best value for money, and a great way to build up your craftroom dies, stamps, Cardstock and mediums.
🍒 A Cherry On Top Subscription Box
A Cherry On Top – Subscription is available monthly for $39.95, you can opt out at any time and pause on the months you don’t want the box, and subscribe again at anytime. You can pay yearly or monthly and earn rewards points every month you have a subscription. Every months kit is very diverse featuring many different company’s, some kits are company themed others are a mixture of companies and products. I have only subscribed for the last 6 months but every kit thus far has had 12×12 patterned papers from many companies like Stamperia, ArtOptions, Simple Stories, Echo Park, American Crafts, Crate Paper, Polka Doodles so they seem to be a staple. However every months addons thus far have been different, from pens, stamps, stamping changer, glue runner, labels, ephemera, stickers, chipboard, folio, binder journal with inserts, ribbon, glue pen, scissors, brushes, Ink pads, blenders, washi tape, thickers, specialty paper or card pads, stencils and more. The versatility is fantastic and every month is a new crafting journey. I am highly impressed by the subscription boxes thus far and although you won’t build up Cardstock, or dies quickly, you will certainly build a wonderful stash of patterned papers and accessories and other unique useful items. Their boxes are very useful for scrapbooking layouts, journaling, papercrafting, card making and are truly a one stop monthly crafters feast. This has become a huge favorite for me, and I look forward to every month. The other thing to note is, that every single item in this box is high quality brands that are used worldwide by most paper crafters, the range of items one month, can be from all over the world, whilst other months it is very inclusive to a specific company and theme. Either way, you will never be disappointed by the overall quality and its value for money.
🐾 Simon Says Stamp Card Kit
Monthly Card Kit – $39.95 monthly subscription. Can be paid monthly or yearly with opt out option, and monthly pause if you don’t want that particular months Kit, and easy to subscribe to. They also send reminders monthly in email to ask if you want your kit. Every month you will receive a SSS 6×8 Stamp set and 2 A2 colored SSS 80lb cardstock and Neenah Solar White A2 110lb or 80lb cardstock and a lollipop. Most months you will receive at least one coordinating envelope, either A2 or slimline. You usually receive the SSS mesh A2 storage bag. Then comes the fun stuff, you may get , dies, stencil, embossing folder, blending brushes, glues, adhesives, tape, double sided foam, paper packs or pads, scissors, ribbon or twine, mixed mediums, ink pads, sequins, glitter, shaker mix, ephemera, cutouts, stickers, small tools like tweezers, accessories like washi tape or mini stamp sets, vellum, glitter or mirror card, card packs, foiling products, embossing powders and product, pencil, marker, gel pen, watercolor paint palette, brushes, the list goes on and on. Some products are created by SSS and others are from the many well known crafting companies worldwide. I have been a subscriber for about 4 years and it will always remain one of my favorite kits that has helped build my stamp stash and Cardstock stash, I still have envelopes in my stash and a multitude of tools etc from the years of subscribing and I will note, I use most of those items regularly. It’s a wonderful kit and depending on the month and your needs, can certainly help you not only create great things but also have the beginnings to start a great stash build. Every item, whether it’s the SSS brand or one of the many well known worldwide crafting brands, is high quality and makes the value of this kit well worth it. D
🪵Country Craft Creations Craftology Kit
Country Craft Creations – This Kit I believe comes out every 3 months but can be purchased singularly if they have them available. You still have to submit the order by a certain date, before they send them out so they know how many kits they need to create. Country Craft Creations is a very small mom & pop style store but their products are beautiful. They do sell other brands but their main paper collections and card stock are stunning and I am a total believer in their artisan 12×12 Cardstock for creating books & 3D paper items. This kit contained 2) – 12×12 Old World Christmas Collection and 1 tag sheet and 1 ephemera sheet, Pre-cut chipboard 2) – 6×7.5, 1) – 2×7.5, 3) – 12×12 lightweight chipboard, 2) – Red Shimmer A2 cardstock, 2) – Gold Shimmer A2 cardstock, 2 each of 3 Heartfelt Creations Die cuts, Holly Berry Spray, 2 Yards 5/8 Red Sheer Ribbon, 1 Yard Green Jute, 3) x 3×6 Glassine Bags, Gold flat backed pearls. Now when measured up with other kits it doesn’t seem that it has much too it, however the patterned paper collection is worth over $30.00 by itself and is stunning. The kit is intended to create a beautiful box and matching album and is truly gorgeous. It comes with, A booklet of instructions with finished product pictures. This is the 2nd kit I have gotten from Country Craft Creations and I truly do not remember what the first kit was lol, but typically their kits are designed to make an exclusive item, that they give you most of the products needed to make it, excluding tools, adhesives, and basic Cardstock which I believe this make required 18 sheets. However I can assure you the finished product is well worth it and you always have the instruction booklet to make it again, using your own products and ideas. I love Country Craft Creations, and purchase from them regularly, which helps out a very small business owner with quality products get their chunk of the crafting pie too…
Creative Studio Box
The Creative Studio Box is filled with tons of unique items suitable for Cardmaking, Journaling, Memory Books, Scrapbooking etc. It is $38.95 and is available as a monthly purchase or subscription. Please note they ship their boxes the first week of the month so order them before the end of the previous month if you want a certain months box. Each box is filled with goodies like ephemera, washi tape, stickers, stamps, wooden rubber stamps, journaling cards, rice paper, decoupage paper, rub-ons, patterned paper, vellum journaling cards, themed post-its, envelopes, tape, tags, and more.. The image below is from their Feb 2022 Box, one of the boxes I did purchase. The products are typically vintage, rustic, shabby chic, in nature and range in theme and colors. You really do get a lot of embellishment type items in each box and they are great value. If you journal, make memory books, diary’s, junk journals, folios, etc then these boxes are perfect to build up your bits n bobs, ephemera, embellishment type products stash.
