In today's fast-paced and digitally connected world, finding effective ways to build strong teams and foster creativity among employees can be a challenge. However, the rise of virtual activities has opened up exciting opportunities for team building that go beyond traditional methods. One such innovative approach is Adults & Crafts Virtual Craft Parties. In this blog post, we will explore how these virtual craft parties not only bring individuals together but also contribute to team building and inspire creativity.
Unleashing Creativity: Crafting is a wonderful outlet for self-expression and creativity. Engaging in hands-on activities allows team members to tap into their imaginative side, fostering a sense of innovation and originality. Adults & Crafts Virtual Craft Parties provide a platform where participants can unleash their creativity through unique and engaging craft projects. Whether it's wood burning, epoxy resin, or handmade clay dishes, these virtual craft parties offer a wide range of activities that encourage participants to think outside the box and express themselves artistically.
Shared Experience and Bonding: Team building is all about creating connections and fostering relationships. Virtual craft parties offer a shared experience where team members can collaborate, communicate, and bond in an informal and relaxed setting. Through interactive virtual platforms, participants can engage in lively conversations, share ideas, and provide support to one another while working on their craft projects. This shared experience builds camaraderie, enhances communication skills, and strengthens the sense of belonging within the team.
Encouraging Collaboration: Crafting often involves collaboration, problem-solving, and teamwork. Adults & Crafts Virtual Craft Parties provide an opportunity for team members to collaborate on a common goal—creating something beautiful and meaningful together. Through virtual breakout rooms or collaborative tools, participants can work in small groups or pairs, sharing ideas, dividing tasks, and assisting each other throughout the crafting process. This collaborative environment fosters a sense of unity and reinforces the importance of teamwork in achieving shared objectives.
Stress Relief and Mindfulness: Crafting has been widely recognized as a therapeutic activity that promotes relaxation and reduces stress. In the midst of hectic work schedules and demanding deadlines, virtual craft parties offer team members a much-needed break and a chance to unwind. By focusing their attention on the craft project at hand, participants can experience a state of mindfulness, allowing them to recharge and rejuvenate. This stress relief contributes to improved well-being and a more positive work environment.
Celebrating Achievements: At the end of each virtual craft party, team members have tangible creations that they can proudly display or use as a reminder of their shared experience. The sense of accomplishment and pride in their work further strengthens team spirit and boosts morale. Recognizing and celebrating individual and team achievements during these virtual craft parties not only fosters a positive work culture but also encourages continuous learning and personal growth.
Adults & Crafts Virtual Craft Parties offer a unique and engaging approach to team building. By combining the benefits of creativity, shared experiences, collaboration, stress relief, and celebration, these virtual events provide a valuable opportunity for teams to bond, innovate, and strengthen their working relationships. Consider incorporating Adults & Crafts Virtual Craft Parties into your team-building initiatives to cultivate a more connected and creative workforce.
]]>Mother's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show your love and appreciation for the special women in your life than with a fun and convenient craft kit? At Adults & Crafts, we believe that crafting is not only a fun and creative outlet but also a great way to relax and unwind. Our craft kits are perfect for moms who want to indulge in some quality alone time or bond with their loved ones over a shared creative activity.
Our craft kits are designed to be easy and convenient to use, making them a perfect gift for busy moms who may not have the time to go out and buy all the necessary supplies. Each kit comes with everything needed to complete the craft, including step-by-step instructions and all the necessary materials. This means that moms can dive right into the project without any stress or hassle.
Our craft kits are also versatile, making them perfect for any mom's interests and preferences. From resin and clay to plants and needlework, we offer a wide variety of craft kits to choose from. Whether your mom is a seasoned crafter or a beginner, we have something for everyone.
One of the best things about our craft kits is that they can be done solo or with others. If your mom needs some alone time to unwind, our kits provide the perfect opportunity for her to relax and create something beautiful. On the other hand, if your mom loves spending time with her loved ones, our craft kits provide a fun and engaging activity that can be done together.
If you're looking to give the gift of crafting this Mother's Day, we have several options to choose from. You can either gift the kit for your mom to do herself or do the kit yourself and gift your mom with the finished product. We also offer CraftMates Packs where you and your mom can do the craft together, either in person or virtually. Our monthly craft subscription box is also the perfect gift for moms who love crafting and want to keep the fun going all year round.
Our arts and crafts kits make the perfect gift for Mother's Day. With a wide range of kits to choose from, easy-to-follow instructions, and the flexibility to be done solo or with others, our craft kits are sure to be a hit with any mom.
]]>Volume IV – Stress & Anxiety.
Exercising, meditating, journaling – these are all common stress management activities that are often recommended to us. But what are the benefits of adding a creative element to how we handle our stress and anxiety?
“I had a lot of fun with this box. It's my first month subscribing, and I got the engraving kit.
I was a little apprehensive at first, because I expected to mess everything up.
However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. I'm just a little obsessed now! It's been a really nice stress reliever after a long day at work! I'm looking forward to my next box already!” - Katelyn S.
Anxiety relief is by far the most reported and studied benefit of crafting. The National Library of Medicine suggests crafting and engaging in creative activities may help decrease stress, anxiety, and improve overall well-being and quality of life.
One study found that people who engaged in arts and crafts, such as painting, drawing, and textile crafts, experienced lower levels of mental distress. Research showed that people who crafted had reduced blood pressure and tension, compared to their previous high-stress state.
Not only do projects provide a distraction from our worries, but they also help build our self-esteem by giving us a sense of accomplishment. As a result, people who added creativity to their life reported on experiencing higher levels of mental functioning and life satisfaction.
To further support, a study called “The Influence of Art Making on Anxiety” suggests that a little time working on art can significantly reduce a person's state of anxiety. Another study indicates that art allows people to forget about their condition for a while, allowing them to focus on the positive things in their life.
In our attempt to reduce our stress and anxiety, it is important that we start with activities that seem achievable to us. At Adults & Crafts, we understand that taking on a new DIY project can feel daunting, so we’ve put it upon ourselves to make the entire experience as seamless as possible. All of our kits come with easy-to-follow instructions and are intended for all levels, whether you consider yourself crafty or not.
Explore our stress & anxiety-based kits here.
Sources: University of Arkansas System, National Library of Medicine, BMC Public Health, Piedmont Healthcare, Healthline
]]>Volume III – Motor Skills.
As we grow into a more digital world, we may find that we have fewer opportunities to work on our motor movements. However, this is an important skill to maintain as we get older and crafting has been proven to be a great technique to improve this.
“I subscribed to this crafting box experience without any expectation. I'm almost finished with my very first craft and I must say that I am very excited with how it has come along.
I'm an inpatient in a Spinal Cord Injury Hospital. As part of OT ( Occupational Therapy) we are working on this as we have discovered that it's wonderful therapy for my fine and gross motor skills. You all at Adults and Crafts have made a huge impact. Thanks for bringing a new light into my life just when I needed it.” - Cynthia T.
During art activities, we enhance our fine motor skills by using the various muscles in our fingers, wrists, and hands. Regular use of these muscles improves their strength, finesse, and practices our hand-eye coordination.
In addition, crafting is a mind-body technique that can help reduce pain and the need for pain medication. According to research conducted by Harvard Medical School (2015), pain involves both the mind and the body, so mind-body therapies may have the capacity to alleviate pain by changing the way you perceive it.
For example, arts and crafts have been found to help reduce pain in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, but how does it work? A relaxed mind can promote better blood flow — particularly in the hands, fingers, and wrists — therefore easing emotional stress may help reduce physical pain, too.
It can be difficult to find either the time, or a creative way to keep our physical skills engaged, especially as we age. Our kits at Adults & Crafts addresses both of these hurdles by offering DIY projects in the most fun and convenient way possible.
Explore our wide variety of motor skills-based kits here.
Sources: Spectrum Health, Harvard Health Publishing
]]>Volume II – Focus.
Crafting is known to be good for the mind, body, and soul, but let’s dig deeper into the mind part.
“I purchased this service/product for my mother. She loved the variety and the opportunity to explore something new each month. Thank you for this opportunity - very cool concept and a great way to keep the mind and creativity active!” - Kimberly M.
Research on the cognitive benefits of crafting have shown improvements in mental agility. In 2015, the journal Neurology looked at a group of people around 85 years old and their levels of engagement in the arts. They found that people who exercised their artistic muscle were 73% less likely to develop memory problems and reduced mental function, compared to those who didn’t partake in artistic activities. In particular, people who did a lot of crafts like woodworking and quilting were 45% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than people who did not.
In addition, Yonas Geda, MD, a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, completed a study that displayed that certain crafts are neuroprotective and may reduce dementia by as much as 50%. By doing creative activities like arts and crafts, older adults can delay the development of age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.
A series of studies from the Synapse Project (2018) continues to demonstrate the way in which crafting can promote successful aging. Older adults who spent several hours a week for a few months learning to participate in a new craft activity showed improvements in their cognitive performance and neural efficiency as compared to control participants.
These studies go on to support the importance of crafts as a type of serious hobby that impacts cognitive well-being amongst older individuals. Based on these findings, we at Adults & Crafts have carefully selected kits that require a bit more attention to detail and align with the types of activities that were mentioned in said studies.
Explore our focus-based kits here.
Sources: Spectrum Health, Time, Intellect Discover, Mayo Clinic
]]>Volume I – Mood.
Existing research has established a link between creativity and health and well-being. But, it is only recently that multidisciplinary research involving arts and medical practitioners has begun to show the importance of craft-based activities for positive well-being.
“So fun! Crafting really does make you happier.... even if I'm not the best at it! All the materials needed and more come with [the Adults & Crafts kit]. Highly recommend!” - Sara M.
“I absolutely love this idea. I mean who has time to research crafts, decide and go out to buy all the materials. The time is spent creating! It makes me feel so good to create something beautiful and be proud to display it as my own.” - Lana S.
In 2015, The British Journal of Occupational Therapy ran a study of more than 3,500 knitters.
81% of participants with depression reported feeling happy after knitting, while more than 50% reported feeling very happy.
Depression relief is by far the most reported benefit of knitting and crochet/weaving. The repetition of these crafts has been shown to release serotonin, a natural antidepressant. Crafting also stimulates the production of dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter, that is responsible for pleasure and enjoyment.
In 2017, clay work was also studied regarding the effects of clay art therapy on adult outpatients with major depressive disorder. The results indicated that clay handling aids in emotional regulation, and is further supported by a separate study done in 2015 which suggests that creative clay work may greatly reduce negative moods and enhance positive ones.
While clay and textiles crafts have been specifically mentioned here, broader research has shown that crafting, regardless of the medium you use, can bolster mood.
According to the National Library of Medicine, crafting and engaging in general creative activities can help decrease mood disturbances and promote an overall better quality of life.
Our ultimate goal at Adults & Crafts is to do exactly that - to advocate for a better sense of well-being in a creative way.
]]>It's the first day of National Craft Month, and we're kicking things off with some special news.
For the past few months, we at Adults & Crafts have been working hard towards a new focus. We are revamping our brand to start crafting with a purpose. We've dived deep into the health & mental benefits of crafting, and how this can be tailored to our specific needs. We are excited to roll this out across all platforms, but for now check out how you can shop by category on our site! Our ultimate goal is to promote a better sense of well-being in a creative way. Stay tuned, and we are immensely grateful towards our loyal craft family for your support!
]]>It's been a fun year and we can't wait to show you what we have in store for 2022!
]]>Need a new holiday hobby? Tackle traditions the Adults & Crafts way.
Sip on some Irish Coffee while you make your Hot Cocoa Candles Kit. Soon enough you'll warm up both your body and your home.
Don't confuse your drink with your craft! These look almost too good to be true.
Blast your holiday playlist and get in the zone. We're elevating the gingerbread house by piecing together our Mosaic Serving Tray Kit.
Bonus: This one doesn't attract ants and is the perfect vehicle for cookies and milk!
No fireplace? No problem. Get cozy and creative with our best-selling Wood Burning Kit.
Burn your designs into natural tree slices and create a new, memorable decoration each year!
Throw on your favorite holiday movie and practice your skills with our Weaving Loom Kit.
By the time your feel-good film is over, you will have also finished a beautiful piece of art!
Our mission at Adults & Crafts has always been to make crafting as convenient and fun as possible. It’s our goal to eliminate all the obstacles (e.g., shopping) in the way of people enjoying the positive emotions of creativity.
While our way of life has fundamentally changed, we are motivated to make crafting as stress-free and satisfying as possible to create at home. Our craft kits have brought many smiles in the past, especially from those in need of a little uplifting, and we know they will help now.
To show our support for the crafting community, from now through April 30th, we are offering a 15% discount off all our DIY craft kits plus a lifetime 15% off our monthly craft subscription box with code BECRAFTY.
We will also donate $2 from every sale to the CDC Foundation <www.cdcfoundation.org> for those on the front line of defense against this horrible virus.
If we stay diligent, we will all get through this together. In the meantime, enjoy a craft with your loved ones!
Stay safe and crafty out there!
Marianna & Kevin - Adults & Crafts
We are honored to have been featured on some of the biggest media publications in the world! Here are a few for you to check out...
#6 In USA Today's 10Best Readers Choice for Best Subscription Box
The Today Show: Subscription Boxes that won't Break the Bank
Buzzfeed: Cool Subscription Boxes you should Gift
Buzzfeed: Subscription Boxes for People who need Peace and Quiet
Buzzfeed: Subscription Boxes for People Looking for a New Hobby
Buzzfeed: 44 Products That'll Be The Cherry On Top Of Your Life
#2 In My Subscription Addiction Awards for Best Craft Box
Mashable: Best Subscription Boxes for Women
PureWow: Best Subscription Boxes for Valentine's Day
]]>
Each and every year, there was always one gift I was always looking forward to, the one from my Grandma! I couldn't wait to open it because I honestly had NO idea what it would be. It would range from eclectic clothing to a ping pong table for my brothers and me to a trip to the amusement park. It always kept me on my toes!
Then one day came when I realized I never got her anything nearly as cool as the stuff she would get me! So I stepped up my game and got her some much more thoughtful, personalized gifts, many of which I would make myself. Those definitely brought a big smile to her face!
Unfortunately, my Grandma has since passed, but if she were around today I know exactly what I would get her, the Adults & Crafts Crate monthly craft subscription box!
Yes, that is a shameless plug for a product near and dear to my heart, but it honestly is the best gift ever for a grandma. Let's go over some reasons why...
- Crafting has a lot of health benefits including improving cognitive skills, dexterity, emotions, hand-eye coordination, and can even turn back the clock a bit. For more on that, read our blog post on the Health and Mental Benefits of crafting.
- She'll get a surprise every month, and think of you every time it arrives! Each month a surprise DIY craft kit will come to her doorsteps and get a reminder of how much you love her. It's the gift that truly keeps on giving!
- She'll probably give you some of the crafts she makes. And that's a good thing because she'll either 1) make a beautiful craft and/or 2) make something you can actually use as many of our DIY craft kits are functional.
- Let's be honest, Grandmas LOVE making stuff! Whether its food, sewing up clothes, or making their own crafts, there is nothing that brings much more joy to them than creating!
- She won't have to go out to buy anything, everything is included in the craft kit! I can tell you from experience, I used to get nervous when she would drive in her later years. Reducing the number of times she had to drive was definitely a win!
- It gives her something fun and engaging to do every month. I used to worry a lot about my Grandma getting bored watching The Price is Right, so giving her one more thing to do to keep sharp would've definitely been a major goal of mine.
- She'll be able to do every project. While our name is "Adults & Crafts", our craft kits can be done by almost anyone. That being said, we also put a degree of freedom in each project for those expert crafters out there to show off a bit. Grandma will be able to take her DIY Craft Kit in any direction she wants!
- She may just find her new favorite hobby. It happens all the time where we send a customer a DIY craft kit and introduce a new craft technique or skill, and then they fall in love with it and run with it! No kit is that truer with than our Woodburning Kit.
So there you have it, multiple legit reasons to gift your Grandma the Adults & Crafts Crate monthly craft subscription box.
]]>We knew there had to be a better option and thought "there must just be some craft kits out there for these projects". So we googled "craft kits for adults" and needless to say we were not impressed! At that point, we decided we had to do the world a service and create craft kits for adults that people would actually want to do.
And that's exactly what we did!
We must at first we were a bit in over our head. Getting the materials together for one project was already quite the task, but then trying to make craft kits with instructions, the correct amount of the right materials, packaged up safely, and that people would want to buy was no easy feat. The amount of work that went into one craft kit was simply not sustainable.
But the only way you get better is by practicing, so we kept at it and now know what we are doing! Don't believe us, just read our reviews :)
Our whole goal was to eliminate any barriers for adults who were just on the cusp of crafting, to get crafting again. Yes, it's obvious that adults could just go to Michaels and buy everything they needed to craft, but that's not the point. We are here to make it easy and fun, we do all the heavy lifting so people can skip straight to the fun part: crafting!
Now there is a purchasable craft kit for adults on the market! Not only that, but our craft subscription box has gotten hundreds of our customers back into a crafting routine! Our one-off DIY craft kits for adults make great gifts or are perfect for those that don't want to hop into a craft subscription. And needless to say, craft party packs are the easiest way to have a hassle-free and memorable craft party, perfect for all occasions.
We know the name Adults & Crafts might sound a bit edgy as many people love to point out to us, but it does get to the point quickly that we are the one-stop-shop for craft kits for adults.
]]>First, in case you didn't know, the Adults & Crafts Crate is a monthly craft subscription box that sends all the materials, tools and instructions for engaging craft projects directly to your door. Our goal is to make crafting as fun and as convenient as possible. Every project is completely different than the next allowing our crafters to learn and practice a variety of different craft skills, and have finished projects they are proud to show off.
Let's get to the list...
1) It's Perfect for Beginner Crafters
First, we will acknowledge that yes our name is "Adults & Crafts". The reason we choose that name is that we pride ourselves by assembling projects that are 1) engaging and 2) aren't elementary projects like finger painting and drawing with crayons. We are not hating on crayons or finger painting at all, but you get the point.
While our projects are "engaging", they can be done by almost anyone. Our projects include all the materials, tools, and easy-to-follow instructions to allow the crafter to finish the project. Our instructions are more of a "guideline" and show one way the project can be completed, but where it really gets fun is when our customers' creativity takes over and takes the project in a direction we never could have imagined...more on that later!
2) It's Perfect for "Fair-Weather Crafters"
Let's explain the term "fair-weather crafter". Similar to the term "fair-weather fan" as a person who only becomes a devoted fan when their team is doing well, a fair weather crafter is someone who loves to craft as long as it is doesn't require too much prep work. For both situations, they are doing because it is easier.
This may sound like it has a negative connotation, but actually none at all! We started this whole business because we were fair weather crafters and wanted it to be as easy as possible to craft since we hated all the prep work. So we made a business where we do the prep work so our crafters can skip right to the fun part, crafting!
3) It's Perfect for the Master Crafters
As we mentioned in reason #1, we design our kits with a degree of freedom for our crafters' creativity to truly take over. Our instructions provide a roadmap to a completed project, but we love it when our crafters keep going way beyond that finish line and end up in a land we never knew existed. Honestly, they make us look like complete craftin' amateurs!
But we are not here to be craft professors (think more "influential guidance counselor that tells you how to complete that college application"), we are here to make crafting as convenient as possible, and even the most experienced crafter can dig that! Our kits give master crafters all the ingredients they need to cook up a masterpiece.
4) It's the Gift that Keeps Giving
There is a reason why the subscription industry has grown over 100% per year every year for the last five years, people love subscriptions! One of the reasons they love them is the surprise they get every month when unboxing their latest arrival. That is why we operate on a surprise basis, although we do tell if asked!
That same reason makes gifting a subscription one of the best gifts ever! Instead of opening one box, one time, the recipient will receive a surprise every month for as long as the subscription lasts, and will surely think of the gifter everytime a new box comes.
5) Each Month is Completely Different than the Next
Here is a reality of the craft subscription box business: not everyone is going to like every project. Unfortunately, there is simply no way around it. The good news is that if someone doesn't like the project one month, there is a high probability they will like it the next. That is because the projects are always completely different. As they say in investing: diversification is key!
Not only does that provide value in terms of keeping things interesting, but it also allows our subscribers to get introduced to a variety of craft skills. In the last year, our crafters have done wood burning, clock making, worked with resin, and even some cement work among many more.
6) Perfect Amount of Materials PLUS Tools to Keep Forever
There's nothing worse than having to buy a full gallon of paint for a craft project. Craft materials, like many household items, tend to accumulate over the years and many of them are tough to finish up. We promise the recipient will not be upset with you because you are adding to their household item accumulation. We've been there and are here now to at least eliminate the craft materials portion of the issue. Our kits come with the exact amount (OK maybe a little extra) of craft materials to get the project done, reducing any unnecessary waste.
On the other hand, there is a portion of our kits where our crafters don't mind at all keeping around the house and that the tool! A majority all of our kits come with a tool that can be used for years, providing long-term value to the subscriber. In the last year, our subscribers have received a wood burning tool, soldering iron, hot glue gun, X-acto knife, craft scissors, and a hammer/screwdriver combo tool, just to name a few!
7) They can Re-Gift their Finished Crafts
You certainly don't want to get caught re-gifting something! But do the same rules apply if the recipient of our craft subscription gifts a finished craft? What if they give it back to... you! What better way could they show their appreciation for the gift they received than by giving a handmade creation back to you. Tell us, is that paying it forward or back?
8) It's a Gateway Gift
As mentioned in reason #5, our craft subscription allows our crafters to try a variety of crafts. Also, as mentioned in reason #6, we not only send the materials for the craft projects, but also the tools required. When you combine those two aspects, it is very common you will uncover a brand new hobby!
We like to use the term "gateway" as trying one of our projects can turn into a new passion very easily. For example, we have had numerous customer become expert wood burners after trying wood burning for the first time with our wood burning kit (did we mention "wood burning"?). The same can be said for marbling, embossing, and alcohol inking.
9) It Provides a Monthly Escape or Reason to be Together
Obviously, everyone is different, but from our experience, there are two types of "time" people really enjoy spending: 1) alone time and 2) quality time with loved ones. One of the reasons why people love those two occasions could be because they enjoy escaping from their normal routine and doing something a little different. Which is definitely one of the main reason we love crafting (it is cheaper than therapy, right?)
Doing a monthly craft project, either by yourself or with a loved one, is a perfect way to achieve some of that quality "escape" time. It may even be the perfect excuse to spend time with a loved one you haven't had enough time with lately. The fact our craft subscription comes monthly and doesn't require you to "show up" gives the crafter as much freedom as possible to do it on their own time.
10) It Couldn't be more Convenient and Provides that Sense of Accomplishment Feeling!
Convenience is a major buzzword today in the marketing world and there is a major reason why, because people love it and want it! Our craft kits couldn't be more convenient as they come directly to the door with everything needed to get the project DONE! This isn't a gift where you are forcing the person to schedule an appointment or travel out of town. They do it on their own time in the comfort of their own home.
When they do get that project done, they will feel one of the most sought-after emotions in the world: that sense of accomplishment you get when finishing something you are proud to have made. OK, maybe not every project will turn out perfectly, but hopefully they had fun trying! And when they do create that one they couldn't be prouder of, we guarantee you'll hear about it and feel pretty darn good too!
Honorable Mention:
- You can gift any length subscription and cancel at any time
- It is UNIQUE
- A lot of the finished products are functional (i.e. coasters, clocks, soap, cards, etc)
- You get a $25 Amazon Gift Card when gifting a year subscription!
So there you have it, ten reasons to gift the Adults & Crafts Crate monthly craft subscription box! If you agreed, head over to our subscription page and subscribe your friend or loved one up today!
]]>What do we mean by that exactly? Well, just as people claim that marijuana will lead people to heavier drugs and possible addiction, the Adults & Crafts Crate can lead people to an addiction to new craft techniques and can blossom into a new hobby. The major difference is while a drug addiction is undoubtedly a negative outcome, an obtaining a new craft hobby is, in our humble opinion, an unbelievably positive outcome!
So you may be wondering where our conclusive evidence may lie? Well here are three different examples.
1) Woodburning - What we consider our signature craft kit for a variety of reasons, multiple different customers have become woodburning fanatics after receiving our kit. Our Woodburning DIY Craft Kit includes practice wood, multiple wood products, and most importantly, the wood burning tool!
We aim to give the customer a taste of the craft and if they like it, they can run with it and the best part is they already have the wood burning tool and other accessories needed for them to (wood) burn their hearts out!
Here is an example of an Instagram Post from our customer Ashley, her piece was amazing!
2) Color Crafting - We have a few different projects that you guessed it, use a lot of colors! A couple of these include our Alcohol Ink Coasters DIY Craft Kit and our Marbling Paint Diy Craft Kit. Both kits require techniques that once learned, can be used on all types of products, and frankly, that's exactly what happens sometimes. We had one customer that went on a marbling rampage and marbled almost everything in her house after learning the new DIY craft technique. The possibilities with alcohol ink dying are truly endless!
A Variety of Ink-Dyed Coasters!
3) Embossing - It all started with an innocent Embossing Cardmaking DIY Craft Kit around the holiday time and has since turned into our FAVORITE craft technique. What we didn't know when we first tried embossing (which if you haven't tried it yet, you must!!), is that you can emboss almost anything includes tumblers, mugs, glass, paper, and almost anything else underneath the sun. One of our customers has turned her embossing technique into a bachelorette party business and now makes customized embossed tumblers for bachelorette parties, amazing!
So there are just a few examples of our monthly craft subscription introducing customers to new crafting technique that then turned into new hobbies. We aim to have as much variety as possible with our DIY craft selections. We also include the required tools for certain techniques which gives lifetime value to almost every kit we sell! One month may not be your cup of tea, but there is a very good chance the next month will be with the Adults & Crafts Crate monthly craft subscription box!
]]>The process of subscribing to Winc starts with a taste test that Winc uses to match their hundreds of wines with your unique palette. Every month, Winc will send four bottles directly to your door and they always ship free! Bottles from Winc start a $13 and to start, they are offering Adults & Crafts customers $22 off their first month by signing up through this link.
Wine and crafting go hand in hand, and with their powers combined, you can have the best nights in ever, and in the easiest way imaginable. You already know that our DIY craft kits come with all the required materials, tools, and accessories for an engaging and trendy DIY craft project. Now you can not only get a craft kit delivered to your door but also some high-quality wine with it!
So don't delay! It's time to enjoy some of the best wine in the world while crafting in the most convenient way imaginable.
Take Winc's taste test here and then get ready to sip and craft!
]]>So here is our attempt to get the top ten reasons to subscribe to the Adults & Crafts Crate down on "paper". Let's give this a try...
1. It's Crafting at it's Most Convenient
This is the main reason we started Adults & Crafts, to make crafting as convenient as possible. We had hundreds of DIY craft Pinterest pins that we wanted to do, but when push came to shove, the tasks of picking a project to actually d, figuring out how to make it, and going around to buy all the materials for it made the endeavor a bit too daunting.
Co-Founder, Marianna, had had enough! She thought "why can't crafting be as easy as ordering a pizza?!", and thus Adults & Crafts was born.
Every Adults & Crafts DIY Craft Kit comes with everything you need to create a trendy and engaging project. That means every month of the Adults & Crafts Kit comes with the necessary materials, tools, accessories, and easy to follow instructions to get a fun project done! Our goal is to allow the customer to skip right to the fun part: crafting! We'll do all the heavy lifting.
2. A Totally Different Project Every Month
Our mission with the Adults & Crafts Crate is to offer a wide variety of craft projects. We do this for a few different reasons...
Projects vary from woodworking, clay, terrariums/floral, cement, wood burning, soap making, and almost everything in between!
3. Finished Products are Beautiful, Fun, and Functional.
We pride ourselves in picking projects that can either be displayed at home for you to show off to friends and family (making great talking pieces) or that can actually be used for a functional purpose.
Some artsy projects include wood burning, string art, terrariums, and wall art. Some functional projects include alcohol-ink dyed coasters, embossing card making, clockmaking, wine & cheese chalkboard serving tray, and soapmaking. The functional projects are especially nice because a lot of them are products you would otherwise probably spend more money on to buy from a retail shop.
4. It's Something to Look Forward to Each Month AND it Gives you that Good Ole' Sense of Accomplishment
There are a few different reasons why the subscription box industry has grown over 800% since 2014, but one of the main reasons is the surprise factor of opening a new box every month. It is like a mini Christmas morning every month!
Remembering that you have something to look forward to every month can really brighten your mood on those inevitable "off days". Then the really fun part comes after opening your box up and seeing what's inside.
Now it's time to get your craft on! The act of crafting can be a mini escape from the hustle of bustle of everyday life, it allows you to get lost in the craft and gives you a reason to get off your phone (except when you take that Instagram picture).
Once you're done, and you're (hopefully) proud of what you made, it's time to show off your craft, which gives us you "feel-good sense of accomplishment" emotion that turns that OK day, into a great day!
5. Be Careful, it's a "Gateway Craft"
As we mentioned earlier, you may just find your favorite new hobby via our monthly craft subscription, but that's not all.
Many of our customers have described crafting as "addictive" and now look for any reason to craft. This means they start to have crafty date nights, craft parties with their friends and family, and jump into their own crafting routine.
You never know until you try, but what we do know is more craftiness = more happiness.
6. It's More Engaging than Coloring and Painting, and you can Still Enjoy some Wine.
We aim to make our projects a bit more engaging than a coloring book or painting. That is nothing against coloring or painting as we love those activities as well, but we like to be well rounded with our crafts, a jack of all crafts per say!
Adults & Crafts DIY craft projects act more as guidelines or outlines. We give you everything you need to get the project done, but with a degree of freedom that allows you to put your own unique touch on it. You can put as much effort into each kit as you want thus making it as straightforward or as intricate as your crafting heart desires. Some of the designs and ideas our customers come up with are truly mind-boggling!
7. Kits and Finished Products Make Great Gifts
As they say, giving is better than receiving, and giving a handmade, personalized creation is even better! Many of our of our monthly craft subscription projects are perfect for giving a meaningful, thoughtful gift. Or if you don't have enough time to create something yourself, you can just give the full craft kit. Who knows, you may even get a finished craft as a return gift! Does that count as re-gifting, we don't think so!
8. You Assemble a Collection of Useful and Fun Tools
If you were subscribed to the Adults & Crafts Crate over the past six months you would have acquired a wood burner, hammer, screwdriver, hot glue gun, embossing heat tool, rolling pin, paint brushes, paint tray, and many other useful tools.
We think of this as a special bonus for subscribing to the Adults & Crafts Crate. Our main focus is not to load you up with tools, but I guess that just happens anyways!
9. It saves you Time, Money, and Frustration.
THIS is the main reason we started Adults & Crafts. We wasted so much time figuring out how to make a project and running around to get materials. Then once we got home, we would either realize we bought the wrong stuff or messed up the project. Frustrating to say the least! So we decided it was much more efficient and effective if WE did the heavy lifting so YOU can skip right to the fun part: CRAFTING!
Also, it is our goal to send just enough of the materials for you to get the project done, but not so much that you have tons of unusable materials laying around. This also helps you avoid buying way more than you need at the store, thus saving you some hard earned cash.
10. After all, Crafting IS Cheaper than Therapy!
Crafting can be very therapeutic and can provide that sometimes necessary escape from a hectic day. Allowing yourself some time away from your phone and helping you forget some unfortunate event from earlier can do wonders for your mood. Especially when you are doing some fun, engaging crafting instead!
So there you have it, ten legit reasons to subscribe to the Adults & Crafts Crate! Follow this link to subscribe yourself or a loved one up!
]]>WARNING: Crafty Bachelorette Parties May Escalate Quickly!
Our Bachelorette Craft Party Pack is the ideal addition to any weekend itinerary for a few different reasons. Let's explore...
1) It's Hassle-Free - There's no doubt that a majority of people love crafting, but doing all of the prerequisite tasks (choosing crafts, figuring out how to make them, buying materials, etc) can be one major pain in the butt. That's probably why crafting for a bachelorette party isn't very common.
With our Bachelorette Party Craft Party Pack, everything you need for a few different fun and engaging craft projects come directly to a location of your choice. No need to run around to the craft store, hobby shop, or hardware store, we do the heavy lifting for you! All you have to do is open up the boxes and get a few bottles of wine!
2) The Projects Are Really Fun - With our main craft party pack, each attendee will get the chance to do three different projects. We recommend making a homemade embossed card (with a sentimental note written inside of course) for the Bride, and then doing a couple of the other projects to take home as keepsakes. That way you'll have a couple other ways to remember the weekend by besides a few pictures that are not social media approved.
The Homemade Embossing Card Making Kit comes with every party pack because there is truly no better way to express your love for someone than a homemade card WITH a special handwritten note on the inside. Plus if you haven't embossed anything yet, you're missing out!
Using a Heat Tool to Emboss is One of the Most Addictive Craft Techniques EVER
The other projects we offer in our Bachelorette Craft Party Pack include Wood Burning, String Art, Marbling, and Alcohol Ink Dyed Coasters (which may come in handy during the festivities). All of these projects have been very well received by our existing customers as individual craft kits, get a bunch of girls together doing them and the sky's the limit!
String Art Projects From A You-Guessed-It, BUFFALO Bachelorette Party
3) It's Something A Little Different - Bachelorette Parties come in all shapes and sizes. Some can be fairly chill white enjoying each other's company and catching up, while others, well actually I don't think we need to talk about how some others get! The one thing that almost every Bachelorette Party has though is a variety of trinkets and party favors.
We have nothing against the sash, custom t-shirts, and perhaps a blow-up doll (OK, maybe we aren't the biggest fans of the blow-up dolls), but we feel this is the perfect place for crafting! Not only do you get to have a fun time making and creating, but the finished crafts immediately turn into cherished possessions. Plus, when you get a bunch of girls, some music, a few bottles of wine, and crafting all in one room, it is pretty much impossible not to have fun! It's just something a bit different and compared to some other Bachelorette activities, it's reasonable and wholesome!
4) Leave Eith Something You Love - Attendees can make cards and crafts for the future bride, and the future bride and reciprocate. Nothing says "I love you" or "thank you for coming" or "wow did that really just happen?" like a handmade craft that you can all take home. Plus it won't just one craft, it could be a variety of different crafts, all with their own unique story behind them, kinda like each attendee.
So there you have it. If you are looking for something different for the next bachelorette party you attend, look no further than a Bachelorette Craft Party Pack from Adults & Crafts!
]]>That's right, we are talking about crafting! Date night crafting never existed in our minds until we started Adults & Crafts, and honestly, it wasn't until some of our customers told us they used our DIY craft kits as a date night activity that it really sunk in that crafting is a perfect date idea. In fact, it became so popular we added a Date Night DIY Craft Pack to our collection of craft kits.
Not only does crafting bring you and your loved one together under different circumstances than you are used to, but crafting has a way of bringing out some genuine conversation that otherwise may not come up over dinner. It does a great job of smoothing over any tensions or even rekindling a weakening relationship. Throw a bottle of wine in there and you never know where the night may lead, or what type of designs you come up with.
Not only does craft date night bring out some great conversation, but the process of crafting together can expose a creative or silly side of someone that may otherwise remain dormant. This is especially true for many guys who haven't dug deep into their creative reservoir since middle school art class. It is amazing what some people are capable of, they often surprise themselves!
The best part of a crafty date night is when the crafting is all complete for the night, you will each have multiple finished products you'll be able to keep and remember the night forever.
We have even seen craft date nights used for a first date idea, which (potentially) gives extra special sentimental value to those finished products!
Whether it's for a first date, a mother-daughter date, or a 25th anniversary, a date night that involves crafting is guaranteed to bring out the smiles. So if you are looking for a new date idea, look no further, crafting is your answer!
]]>
First, let’s get the basics down. The Adults & Crafts Crate (ACC) is a monthly DIY craft subscription box that sends all the necessary materials, tools, and instructions for a trendy and engaging craft project. The goal of the ACC is to make it as easy and convenient as possible for anyone who has an interest in crafting to be able to jump into a crafting routine.
So let’s connect all those wonderful emotions we started this post with one by one to the Adults & Crafts Crate…
Satisfied: We have all heard the old homage “giving is better than receiving” and in our opinion that couldn’t be more true, especially when gifting the ACC. Every year, people are looking for a unique gift or something for that person who seemingly has everything. Well the ACC is the solution to those dilemmas.
While there might be a little confusion when the recipient first opens the ACC since they most likely have never seen anything like it, after they complete their first project, there is a high probability they will love it! They will then proceed to tell you about it and show you their craft, and you’ll be feeling pretty darn satisfied as you can officially chalk that gift up in the in the win column!
Pleasantly Surprised: One of our favorite elements of the ACC is the that it comes every month! Not only that, but a completely different type of project comes every month. We see this as two different positives. 1) The recipient will be surprised their gift wasn’t just a one-off kit, but a continual package of joy every month (don’t worry, you can cancel anytime) which have them thinking about you throughout the whole year! It’s truly the gift that keeps giving. 2) Every month a surprise project will come making the unboxing process full of anticipation and suspense. Projects vary from woodworking to card making to marbling and everything in between!
Intrigued: Some of the craft projects will be more familiar to the recipient than others which we believe offers the perfect balance between perfecting your craft and learning a new one. For all those projects that are brand new, people get very intrigued with what they entail. That’s where our easy to follow instructions come in to help the customer learn and practice their craft before completing their final craft projects.
Imaginative: It may take a second for the recipient to wrap their head around the project, but after a good read through the instructions and perhaps a YouTube video or two, then it’s time to get the creative juices flowing! We aim to give a wide degree of freedom for each project by making sure they have everything they need to complete the project, but yet still a "blank canvas" to create! For those that need a bit more structure, they can always follow our instructions to a T and use our designs as inspiration.
Actively Engaged: As you can probably tell from the name of our business, we design our DIY craft kits for adults. While kids and teens can still do them, our goal is to get adult crafters of all types in a crafting routine. Our kits are not simple kits such as painting or coloring, but much more engaging such as wood burning, concrete work, and embossing. As we mentioned before, our goal is to send as wide of a variety of projects as possible allowing the recipient to become the jack of all crafts.
Our customers have described doing one of our craft kits as relaxing, zen-like, therapeutic and say it helps them take a break from the rest of what life throws at them. Getting so focused on a project can have a tangible effect on one’s emotions both while doing the project and after the complete it.
Feeling Accomplished: Checking something off from your to-do list feels pretty good right? Well take that feeling, mix in some creativity, multiply it by 10, and that's what it feels like when you finish a month of the Adults & Crafts Crate. Being able to show off your finished product, whether it's displaying it for all to see or using it around the house, feels pretty darn good! Better yet, giving craft project as a personalized gift brings the giving full circle and don't worry, it doesn’t qualify as a “re-gift”!
Pretty Damn Proud: One thing that is guaranteed to happen once people see your project is questions will be asked! And I can tell you from experience when they ask those questions about the project you worked hard on, you will feel pretty damn proud!
Thank you very much for reading about the feel-good Adults & Crafts Crate and if you are interested in subscribing you can do so here.
Stay Crafty My Friends!
]]>*Note: We may receive a small affiliate commission when your purchase products through the links below. If you do purchase something, thank you very much as this really helps us remain a sustainable business!*
Let's start with possibly the most essential item you'll need in your craft toom: a surface to do your crafting on! Then let's make it just a bit better and add all the storage and drawers you'll ever need. The Artwork Counter Height Craft Table by South Shore is our favorite (an Amazon customer's favorite) craft table on the market. This functional table is perfect for crafting, has a ton of storage, and will look great in any room! Plus it is made with a material that is more resistant to scratches and stains, making it ideal for crafting.
For a table that is the ideal personal workstation that is highly adjustable, check out the Studio Designs Pro Craft Station. The top surface can be tilted from zero to 45 degrees, making it great for anything from painting to woodworking. It has drawers for storage and even a padded footrest for those extra engaging projects!
A simple, but sweet and useful option is the Studio Designs Crafting and Cutting Table. This table can be folded up for easy storage. It can be used for your crafting activities, but also for storage and even if you are throwing a party. It is durable, functional, but also looks great!
Everyone has their own prefference when it comes to chairs, but we figured we would let you know what we use and love: the Essentials Mid Back Swivel Task Chair. Great for many reasons, but the reasons we love it are for the cooling back mesh, low price, comfortable, and mobility. If you're looking for a chair that is easy to move around, but comfortable for those long, FUN craft projects, this is the chair for you!
If you prefer a stool, then the Jack Richeson Three Legged Foldable Stool is ideal for comfort and also storability. After you are done creating your masterpiece, just fold it up and tuck it away to make some more space in your craft room.
Once your craft supply collection is rivaling Bob Vila's tool collection, you will sure need a place and system to organize it all. The good news is there are storage options of all shapes and sizes to suit yours needs. One of our favoriate options is a the rolling storage cart so you can easily move your supplies around. The rolling storage cart we have is the Honey-Can-Do Studio Organizer Cart. With tons of drawers and easy on the eye, being able to roll this to the corner of the room when we aren't crafting is crucial!
For some simple desk organization, we love the mDesigns Art Supplies Tote because its simple, has multiple storage sections, looks great, and you can pick it up and carry it.
For larger storage needs, we use the Seville Classics Steel Wire Shelving with Wheels. This unit is the best of both worlds as it is super sturdy, but still has wheels in case you need to move it around the room. Great for craft supplies and tools (i.e. not super heavy items), this steel unit system has 5 levels for multiple storage levels.
Quite possibly our favorite storage unit in our craft room is our Wall Control Pegboard, the ultimate space saver! We put all our tools and other craft items on the pegboard. It saves a ton of space, is safe, and makes everything we hang on it very accessible unlike trying to find something in a drawer or storage cabinet. We highly recommend installing on of these in your craft room or garage.
One more simple item to go on your wall for accessable easy organization is a magnetic strip for any metal tools you have such as knives and hammers. We have a three piece set from VonHaus and they work perfectly!
For projects that may need a bit of time to dry, we love placing them in a magazine rack so they do not get paint and other colors all over the place. The Spectrum Diversifed Seville Rack is our choice!
While most of our finished crafts end up in other rooms of the house or outside, it is a good idea to keep some in the craft room. This helps with our inspiration and adds some crafty flair to the room. We have a couple different floating display mantles around the room, but our favorite is the Welland Classis Floating Shelf. Not only does it looks classy, but it can hold up up to 25lbs and is 48 inches long, so you can put a few of your projects on it!
A printer and scanner is essential for a variety of different craft projects. You may need to print out some designs or even some pictures for a photo transfer project. The printer we use and love is the HP Envy Photo 8755 All-In-One.
Cutting is essential for a variety of the projects and the quality of your cut will make a big difference on the overall look. For crisp and precise cuts, it's best to use a paper cutter. We use the Fiskars Paper Trimmer which works great and comes in at a low price as well.
OK so there you have it! Add these items to your craft room and you will be in craft heaven. Check back soon as we will be posting an article soon about all the wonderful craft products and tools we use as well!
Stay Crafty My Friends!
]]>A&C: Shelly, first off thank you very much for being one of our first customers! Tell us a bit about yourself.
Shelly: I live in Northern California with my husband, two dogs, and three cats. I'm a cubicle dweller who works in healthcare administration - I'm still not really sure how that happened... I love to travel and do active things outside (so long as I have copious amounts of allergy medicine). *this sounds like I'm a contestant on a game show*
A&C: Haha yes and we feel like Bob Barker! We think it's extremely important to balance the work life with some travel and the great outdoors, so how did crafting get into your life?
Shelly: Well, I still wouldn't really describe myself as "into" crafting, really - me and crafting in the same sentence sounds weird. I think one day I was looking a buying a beer caddy on Etsy and thought - 'I'm kinda handy, it might be fun to try to make my own...a few Googles later I was on your website looking at like 10 things I wanted to make :)
A&C: Nice! Ironically we really weren't into crafting about 18 months ago as well! Things have changed a bit. So now that you have crafted a bit, tell us why you like it?
Shelly: I like working on them during the week after work - it definitely changes my head-space for the better! I hate when my day feels like it was all adulting and then bed. Sometimes my cat Figaro tries to get involved (like by trying to lay on my gold leafing painting...!!). Making stuff seemed healthier than drinking after work... Although I'm pretty good at multi-tasking, so sometimes I do both :)
A&C: We would be lying if we said we didn't enjoy a "bit" of wine while crafting as well! So tell us a bit about your experience so far with Adults & Crafts?
Shelly: I've tried a lot of stuff that never really stuck (like the half knit scarf sitting in a spare closet, half written essays, my guitar collecting dust...). I liked the idea of getting to do something new and different every month! One month I'm painting, the next I'm woodworking. I would never take the time to plan and shop for everything - it would be too much hassle, and expensive to buy a bunch of stuff for a hobby you're not even sure you're going to like... It's good for the creative commitment-phobe!
A&C: That brings a smile to our faces because that is exactly why we started this journey! Just trying to make it as easy as possible for people just like you to get some crafting in your life! So what has been your favorite project thus far?
Shelly: I'm a beer & sports nut, so I love my beer caddy. I used my wood burning tool from a previous kit to do some sports logos on it and I think it turned out awesome. It was one of those things I masked as a present for my husband, but it was really for me :)
A&C: Awesome, although I have to admit that I am a bit jealous of all your Giants' success over the past decade!
Thank you very much, Shelly! We look forward to seeing more of your works of art in the future!
]]>Our customers make us who we are, so there is no better way to show you who we are than to profile our customers. First up, we have a fun lovin' country girl from Hoboken, Georgia: Kristina W. Let's jump right into some Q&A...
A&C: Tell us a bit about yourself?
KW: I am a born and raised Southern Belle from Hoboken, Georgia. A small town where we have one red light, everyone knows everyone, and your teachers in school either taught or went to school with your parents! I am a wife to Robbie, I'm a mom to two boys, Kyler, Rowdy, and one girl Brooklyn 12. I am also a medically retired Army Veteran.
A&C: Wow the Army?! Very Impressive! Tell us a fun fact about you?
KW: The number "3" plays a big part in our lives. My husband and I were together 3 years before we got married. Our birthdays are 3 days shy of being exactly 3 years apart. The dates are 13 and 16. My oldest is on the 13th, middle in 2003, and the youngest on the 23rd. Our Mom's birthdays are 3 days apart and our dads 3 months. We have 3 kids. My daughter played football and softball using the number 03 and my son 13. The number 3 consistently shows up in our lives, planned or not.
A&C: Very interesting! I have a similar story with the number 12, but that's for another time. Anyways, how did you get into crafting?
KW: Being from a small town, there's not a lot to do other than outdoor activities. So for rainy day fun (we didn't have the internet until I was in the 5th grade), we've always done some sort of crafting or art project for as long as I can remember. I learned to crochet at 5 years old. My Nana taught me how on my finger first and then introduced the crochet hook. I remember my first granny square, I was one proud little girl!
A&C: Awesome! I'd love to see that first granny square sometime. So how does crafting fit into your current lifestyle?
KW: I craft at least on a weekly basis. Whether it's continuing an in progress piece or doing something quick with the kids, there are always crafts. Crafting allows me to feel productive, where I normally feel in the way. Due to my disabilities, I am very limited in the activities I can participate in. Crafting allows me to get into an activity with my family. I absolutely adore the time I have with my husband and kids.
A&C: Crafting can really be a special time when you're doing it with someone else, plus it really does have that feel-good factor. So why Adults & Crafts?
KW: Adults & Crafts are very thorough, you have great customer service, and response time on inquiries. The products are always great quality, and the kits include everything needed. The Adults & Crafts Crate is a wonderful subscription box program for anyone that wants to try new arts and crafts. The pyrography kit (wood burning) was my favorite so far!
A&C: Glad to hear Kristina, thanks for the wonderful feedback. Thanks a lot for your time Kristina, any final words?
KW: Thank you for asking me to do this. Not many companies take the time to get to know their customers. I feel like I am officially a part of the Adults & Crafts family. That is not something that's easy to find. Most of the time customers are left to sort things out with an automated system. The down to earth, one on one type of connection is amazing! It speaks greatly of the integrity of the Adults & Crafts business.
]]>You were so concentrated that you didn't even realize you hadn't eaten for 10 hours, but it didn't bother you one bit!
Time flew by, but you didn't even notice it. You were in a meditative state where your thoughts were clear because your immense focus burned away every molecule of brain fog.
Your ego vanished, your inhibitions relinquished, and any uneasiness evaporated.
What you experienced is the mental state known as Flow State, aka you were "in the zone" or simply in "flow". Buddhists refer to this state as mindfulness, a term you may also hear in your yoga class.
Defined literally by Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity (1). By the way, Mihaly coined the term "flow".
Sounds familiar? It certainly does for me and I absolutely love being in such an elevated state, Dr. Csikszentmihaly says humans are at their absolute happiest while in flow, and I agree!
Unfortunately, for too long of a time, flow often eluded me and admittingly was challenging to achieve.
That was until I put more crafting back in my life!
When I began crafting again, I noticed this zen-like feeling and couldn't believe how much one activity could positively affect my mood. Being a bit of a nerd I wanted to know the science behind it and truly understand what I was feeling and why I was feeling it. After a bit of research, I figured out that when I was crafting, I would be in a flow state.
OK, so I would enter a flow state, but why would I enter it via crafting and not watching TV, eating a great meal, or even having a great workout? To answer that, let's look at the conditions that Csikszentmihalyi says must be met to achieve a flow state and then the answers as to why crafting meets those conditions.
1) One must be involved in an activity with a clear set of goals and progress. This adds direction and structure to the task.
When crafting, your goal is an awesome end product that you can show off to your friends and family. You want to be proud of it!
2) The task at hand must have clear and immediate feedback. This helps the person negotiate any changing demands and allows them to adjust their performance to maintain the flow state.
During the act of crafting, you immediately see how each stroke, placement, or action turns out to know if you are on the right path. If you make a mistake, you can adjust the rest of your project to simply make it work, adding a bit of challenge to your task!
3) One must have a good balance between the perceived challenges of the task at hand and their own perceived skills. One must have confidence in one's ability to complete the task at hand.
Through examples, instructions, and practice, confidence is built to create an awesome final product. Techniques can be difficult, but even the act of learning them can put you into flow!
A major aspect of getting into flow is the challenge of the activity. For example, people who free solo climb up a rock face with no rope or protective equipment. They are able to do it because of the flow they achieve while doing it and a major aspect of that is because of how difficult the task.
While I am in no way comparing the risks and difficulty of free solo climbing to crafting, the flow state you achieve while doing them is more similar than you may think.
Without even knowing about flow, when Marianna and I started Adults & Crafts, one of the main goals was to create projects that were challenging. We didn't want coloring books (no offense) or "kiddie" projects, but rather to challenge our customers a bit and learn a new and sometimes somewhat difficult skill. Precision, finesse, and even problem solving are often required with our craft kits.
While crafting can help some people enter a flow state, it certainly will do it for everyone. If a person is simply not interested in craft, lacks the motivation to craft, or perhaps isn't very good at crafting, then a flow state will be hard to enter. Although I will say that I am a horrible crafter, but I am still able to enter into flow during a focused crafting session.
But I can definitely say I am not the only one who enters a flow while getting a bit crafty. In one of her reviews of our Adults & Crafts Crate, Anna Rodriguez of My Subscription Addiction said:
"Once I got into the groove of burning this design into the tree slice, I went completely zen. I became one with the wood. It was awesome."
Translated: She was in a flow state! We have received many comments like this from our Adults & Crafts Crate subscribers. In fact, one of the reasons we even started the business was because of how good and mindful Marianna would feel while crafting. It did wonders for her overall wellbeing.
What about you? Do you craft? Do you get into a flow when you craft? Do you get into a flow doing something else? Let us know in the comments!
]]>
While we're not quite sure where the quote "jog my memory" came from, it is the perfect idiom to use for our DIY craft kit projects. How many times have you seen something which sparked a certain memory and then that memory snowballed in a full day of memories?
Just the other day I saw a coffee mug that was given to me. From that mug, I instantly remembered that it was given to me on the same day the USA won the Women's World Cup, and we watched that game with a great group of people, who then I reached out to again since I hadn't connected with them since that day. It was an interesting chain of events that all started with seeing that mug, and ended by me reconnecting with some friends. While it is not the most breathtaking story, I could have gone years without connecting with them again, but thanks to the mug, I did!
It's remarkable how often this happens too, and it's crazy how it may allow you to remember the most random occasion ten years ago. Unfortunately, it goes the other way too. You may have an amazing night out with friends, but if there is nothing to show for from that night, it's possible that night may be forgotten in a year.
Luckily, one of the pleasant byproducts of doing a DIY craft project is the memory you create while making them. Not only do you create those memories while you create the craft, but you are remembered of those memories (and who knows what other memories) every time you look at that finished piece. Whether it is Wood-Burned Tree Slice or Ink-Dyed Coasters, every time you look at it or use them, you'll remember the day you made them and the people you made them with.
Maybe you'll even do a craft kit on a date, end up getting married to that person, and be able to look at the craft you made on that date 50 years later, it could happen! Or maybe it goes nowhere after the date, but (hopefully) you can look back at that craft a year later and have a good laugh.
Holding a party where crafting is included is a great way of providing everyone a keepsake from the occasion. Check out these awesome string art kits a bachelorette party in Buffalo made from a craft party pack we provided.
Now, everyone that made one of those kits will not only get a new handmade piece to hang in their homes, but they will all remember the party and occasion for years to come.
By signing up for our monthly craft subscription box you'll be able to use a new craft kit every month to your advantage. Whether you want to make it yourself or perhaps give it as a gift, we can guarantee it'll help you jog your memory. Over time, doing a craft kit every month could do wonders for your memory!
We encourage you to do some crafting with friends and loved ones and see what kind of memories you can create (and remember)! Every DIY craft kit project we send out has a way of leaving an everlasting, pleasant aftertaste:)
Thanks for visiting Adults & Crafts!
]]>One aspect of "the chase" that I do enjoy, is the chase itself. The roller-coaster ride of trying to woo one's heart brings about emotions (good and bad) you just don't get at your day job. Sure there will be some downs along the ride, but as a wise man once told me, you need the downs to make the highs that much better. I am here to help you get to those highs.
Now let's get into the actual activity: doing a DIY Craft Kit. At first glance, you may think of this as a fairly amateur attempt to take her back to the innocence of elementary school art class. Sure that would be the case if you do some finger painting and "accidentally" get some on her face, but we aren't talking about finger painting, we are talking about some pretty legit crafting. Beer caddies, wine racks, hammocks, among many others... some things that you can actually use and require some teamwork and skill to get done.
Building a DIY craft from scratch together surfaces natural characteristics of both of you that don't just come out over a chat at dinner. First, you both have your minds occupied with the task, promoting natural conversation and limiting the amount of "awkward silences". Second, our projects require a bit of creativity and "figuring it out", a perfect way to show her what you have shown your boss over the years to get promoted. Third, you are working together and better yet, you are seeing how she operates on a fundamental level. Not only do you get to show her what you're all about, but you be able to see if maybe she isn't the one if she gets lazy and just gives up (or maybe you like that). The point is compatibility, you have a task at hand and you get to quickly see how you two go about that task together. It's very similar to traveling with a partner, but to a smaller degree, you really get to see into who she is.
So far I have taken a somewhat serious approach to this idea of crafting as a date. While you do have a (non-finger painting) task to get done, making a mistake or having a little fun with a design can show her your humble and silly sides. The beauty of it is, the activity of crafting allows you to take your natural route to get the project done.
OK now great, you had some fun making your craft kit, but now the even better part, you have something tangible to show for it. This satisfies even the most practical guys out there (me included) because an actual useful product comes from it. If it isn't that useful, then you still have something to remember the (hopefully happy) occasion by for years to come.
Bottomline, give craft & chill a try, I promise that doing a DIY craft kit as a date will at least create some memories. It may even go well enough to get to the "chill" part! Who knows, if you guys really like it, you can subscribe to our monthly craft subscription box to make it a monthly tradition.
Thanks for visiting Adults & Crafts!
]]>For us, crafting was always a nice thought, we knew it was a super fun activity, but when push came to shove, it always just remained a nice thought. We were simply too lazy to craft. We would find DIY craft projects on Pinterest and would fall in love with them, but when it came time to actually do it, going to the stores to find all the materials just seemed like too daunting of a task. Thus the idea of Adults & Crafts was born. Our goal is simple, we want to make crafting as easy as possible for busy (or lazy) people like ourselves. Making those wonderful Pinterest projects a reality by assembling all the materials and instructions needed and then sending them directly to your door became our reality. And while our individual craft kits are great, we believe our signature product is our subscription box. Crafting is just like yoga or exercise, if you do it just once or twice, you will not see the positive results, but if you do it on a (semi) regular basis, then you will start to feel better and refreshed.
Believe it or not, crafting has a ton of positive benefits for the mind and soul. One of the best is that it is a fantastic mood-enhancer. If you are having a bad day, sitting down and using your creative side to make a DIY craft can turn that frown upside down! Adding in some friends to mix can sweeten the pot and turn it into a unique social activity. Our craft parties have provided people an easy and fun way to have a different type of get-together that is not only fun to do, but everyone gets to leave with something to show for and remember the occasion by!
Another aspect of crafting that we absolutely love about the DIY craft subscription box is it gets you away from your phone and computer. Obviously running an online store keeps us a little too close to our phones and computers and judging by observing people out in the real world, we aren't alone! That makes our craft time especially meaningful as can put all our devices aside and just focus on the task at hand. OK, maybe we do take a picture or two when we are finished (#adultsandcrafts!), but for the most part, we can escape the digital world and use our hands for something else besides texting!
So our message is simple, crafting is a beneficial activity that would be a positive addition to your routine, and we make crafting as easy as possible! If you are interested in our monthly DIY Craft Subscription Box, try it out for a month and see if you like it, after all, you can cancel anytime:)
Thank you for visiting Adults & Crafts!
]]>If you have ever visited the Adult & Crafts Facebook page, you will already know that "crafting is cheaper than therapy" is one of our favorite quotes. For example, we recently had Anna Rodriguez review our Wood Burned Tree Slice Kit and she said "Once I got into the groove of burning this design into the tree slice, I went completely zen. I became one with the wood. It was awesome". This is coming from someone who admittedly said activities such as drawing are a bit anxiety-provoking (don't worry, we don't sell drawing kits). Many people assume the end product is why you would want to purchase a craft kit, but we find that most people enjoy the process of making it just as much, if not a little more.
For many of us, there are areas of the right-side of our brains that have been dormant since maybe our middle-school art class. Those juices only become more and more stagnant when entering into the professional world where everything is so process driven. Craft kits offer the opportunity to get those juices flowing again and use your creativity to make your own work of art. That's one of the beautiful aspects of our craft kits, we simply provide the materials and an outline, while you get to put your own personal touch on the project. You'll be amazed how effective focusing on something you really want to do is at zoning out all the distractions that life presents. People commonly rave about the zen or trance they get into while crafting, so much, in fact, they sign-up for monthly craft subscription box after doing just one craft kit.
Crafting solo can be a fantastic hiatus from everyday life, but when throwing in a loved one or a few friends, the community aspect of crafting provides that camaraderie that is usually only found in team competitions. You'll find yourselves supporting each other to make the best piece possible. Whenever an obstacle arises, figuring out what to do next together has a funny way of building stronger relationships. The social benefits are aplenty, but maybe the best part is you'll always remember the occasion by not only the finished products you all made, but by the positive emotions felt while doing something fun and unique. Our party packs are the absolute easiest way to have an awesome craft party for almost any occasion.
By now you can see how crafting has the potential to be a great mood-improving. What makes it even better, is that it is the gift that keeps on giving. Every time someone sees one of your crafts and asks you about it, you'll be getting that good ole' warm and fuzzy feeling. The sense of pride you feel with pieces you create and having unique talking pieces around your house will have you hosting your friends more than you ever have before.
Let us not forget that doing a craft kit with your partner can be one of the most therapeutic dates of all time. First of all, it brings you together in a setting where you can forget about everything else except each other and the craft. Creating a piece together can invoke organic conversation that perhaps has been missing a bit. And finally, when you do finish that piece, every time you two look at it, you'll be reminded of the happiness you felt while making it.
All in all, whether you are by yourself, with your significant other, or with a group of friends, crafting simply makes you happier. Don't believe us? Well just try one of our kits and see for yourself ;) Just like many of our customers, after you try one, you'll want to sign-up for our monthly subscription box.
Thanks for visiting Adults & Crafts!
]]>
3) Abundant (Natural) Lighting - It's pretty safe to say where there is crafting, there will also be colors and plenty of them. To truly see the vibrancy of those colors, make sure to have plenty of lighting in your craft room. We have always been fans of natural light, but just in case you are crafting in Northern Norway in the middle of winter, make sure to have ample overhead lighting and some lamps on hand. For more delicate projects like crocheting and sewing, it's imperative to get every stitch perfect, and I would bet my house you couldn't do that in a dimly lit room. Plus when you are finished with your projects and want to take pictures, natural lighting can do wonders to make your project seem even that much better, kind of like a natural photoshop ;)
4) Racks & Drawers - While we do have our pegboard to hang lighter tools and utensils, it just doesn't make sense to hang a ream of construction paper. For the less aesthetically pleasing materials and heavier tools, get a nice rigid rack or set of drawers for them to be stored. Better yet, you can even decorate your drawers or shelves to match the theme of your craft room.
5) DIY Photo Studio - Perhaps you want to make a few bucks with your crafts and sell them on Etsy or your blog. Well, let me tell you from experience you will need great pictures! Luckily creating great product images has never been easier. The two most important elements are your background and lighting. Once you have a nice white background and a generous amount of natural light, you're well on your way! After you take your pictures, services like Mister Clippings can edit them for under $10/picture to make them look as professional as ours ;) (Spoiler: we use them too).
6) Display The Crafts You've Made! - Nothing adds flair and more importantly your personal touch more than the crafts you have already made. There are a few reasons why we make crafts, but one of them is to show them off. What better place to show them off than your craft room.
7) Desk Organizers - These are great because 1) you can make them yourself and there are a million ways to make them and 2) when you're in the middle of a project, you don't want to keep reaching up to your pegboard for the pair of scissors. Desk organizers are great to keep the tools you are actively using for a project within reaching distance. When they are not in use, go ahead and put them back on the pegboard to keep your desk/table nice and clean.
8) Ventilation - This may go without saying, but it is important to have pristine air quality in your craft room. For projects that require staining or painting, it's crucial to get fresh air flowing through, or you might be feeling a bit funny halfway through the project. Also, for projects that require a lot of time, pleasant cool air will help you stay concentrated on the task at hand.
9) Emergency Clean-Up Station - Part of what makes crafting so fun, is that it allows you bring out your inner kid and get a little dirty. That being said, it's all fun and games until you spill stain or paint all over the floor. Depending on the type of tables (wood, glass, metal, etc.) and the type of flooring (carpet, wood, etc.) you have in your room, have some cleaning stuff nearby in case of emergency. Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have some stain remover close by in case you decide to craft in your Sunday best.
10) Trash & Recycling Bin - Another one that may be common sense, but is essential for any craft room. For those of us that don't like to keep every scrap, having a bin close by can keep your craft room nice and neat. It will save a lot of space on your table and help avoid getting stuff on the floor. Plus it just gives you another chance to decorate another element of your craft room!
There you have it, if you can accomplish these ten steps you'll be well on your way to creating a crafting heaven. If you have any more ideas for craft rooms or want to show us pictures of your own, post to any social media and use the hashtag #adultsandcrafts and we would be happy to share it with our followers.
Happy Crafting!