How to Pick the Best Monthly Subscription Box For Yourself

As monthly subscription boxes grow in popularity you might be wondering what the right type of box is for you. The options may seem a little overwhelming but I'm here to share my experiences with my own monthly subscription box and to help you find the perfect monthly subscription box for yourself.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my disclaimer page. Thanks!

How Subscription Boxes Started

If you are new to the whole monthly subscription box trend you have come to the right place. The trend started back in 2010 with Birchbox who introduced a budget-friendly beauty box filled with high-end brands of beauty products. Birchbox provided its customers with an affordable luxury experience. This experience was the hook for many customers who looked forward to a new well-packaged surprise in a box filled with unique and surprising beauty treasures. 

Fast forward to the present day and you will find an overwhelming number of monthly subscription boxes available to everyone no matter your abilities, interests, or demographics. 

Want to learn how to make gourmet meals, or how about trying your hand at watercolor painting? Subscription boxes are the way to go if you want to try something new. They allow you to try something new without having to invest a lot of money in supplies upfront or committing to a long-term class. Best of all, you can enjoy learning something new in the comfort of your own home! 

How To Pick The Best Subscription Box For Yourself 

Since there are so many options I thought I would put together a brief list of some great monthly subscription boxes I recommend so you don't have to spend hours looking for subscription box options. I've divided the list into categories to help you easily find what you are looking for such as Craft & Hobbies, Cooking/Food & Beverage, Beauty, and Clothing. 

There are many more categories than these so if you don't see one that appeals to you please know that my list below couldn't possibly include all options out there. This is just a springboard to get you started!

CRAFTS & HOBBY SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

Cratejoy Monthly Subscription Boxes

Cratejoy is HUGE and has something for everyone! I'm not kidding - they offer subscription boxes for almost anything you could possibly be interested in! Here are a few of the craft & hobby boxes you might like - there are tons more but here are a few I thought you might be interested in:

• DIY Decor Subscription Box - this is a seasonal craft box that not only includes all of the supplies needed to make the project but will help you create a Pinterest-worthy final project you will be proud to display in your home. Perfect for a beginner or seasoned DIY'er. 

• DIY String Art Kit - create your own one-of-a-kind string art masterpiece! The kit includes all the supplies needed to make the project - all you need is a hammer.

 

Home Chandler DIY Custom Candle Subscription -  Have you ever wanted to make your own candles? This kit comes with all of the supplies needed to make several different kinds of candles as well as a variety of scents to add to your candles. 

Annie's Monthly Kit Club 

Annie's is another wonderful monthly subscription kit club that I'm sure you will love too! I've done a few of the monthly farmhouse-style kit clubs and I LOVED it. I'm looking forward to trying their other types of subscription box clubs in the near future. Here are some of the monthly kits you can get from Annie's:

Farmhouse Style Kit Club Make something beautiful with this farmhouse style kit. A mix of modern and traditional styles all in one kit. Everything you need including easy-to-follow instructions arrive at your doorstep each month. Here are a few of the farmhouse style projects you can expect to receive with this kit - 

(I made the framed thankful sign with my kit!)

Daydream Quilt Block of the Month Club  All the fabric you need along with online video instructions provide everything you need to make a special quilt block each month. At the end of the year, your quilt blocks will become a 68" x 87" quilt. 

BEAUTY SUBSCRIPTION BOXES

Birchbox - Get a box of high-quality beauty products delivered right to your door every month. Up your beauty routine as a member of the Birchbox monthly subscription boxes. As the pioneers in the subscription box industry, this one is sure to please you!

Skylar Clean Beauty - No worries for those with sensitive skin issues this monthly subscription is just right for you! A fragrance-lovers dream is the best way to describe this box. Members receive a new rollerball with a new scent with the option to customize. In addition, a portion of all proceeds is donated to a company dedicated to making the world a better place. 

Dermstore BeautyFIX- Five expertly curated beauty products, including travel and deluxe sizes shipped to you each month. Each beauty box contains products worth $100+!  

Ipsy - Get the best of makeup and skincare with this subscription box. Five beauty products arrive at your door each month allowing you to try products you might not have considered before. 

ART SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Let's Make Art - This company offers 3 different kinds of art subscription boxes including watercolor, acrylic, and art journal. I've personally used the watercolor and the art journal boxes and they are AWESOME! The art supplies are high quality and the instructional videos are easy to follow. 

Smart Art Box - All your supplies for the monthly art project are included in the box. Learn a new skill or hone a skill you already have tried. 

FOOD / COOKING / BAKING SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Mix Box - Do you love baking or want to learn how to bake? This subscription box comes with all you need to make delicious desserts "from scratch" you and your family will love. Say goodbye to store-bought box mixes and say hello to homemade treats!

via: Mix Box

Platterful - A Charcuterie Experience - charcuterie boards are all the rage right now so why not jump on the bandwagon and build your own! This box comes with all you need to create a beautiful charcuterie spread. Learn how to become a charcuterie artist by following the detailed instructions and videos in order to make the perfect charcuterie board. 

via: Platterful - A Charcuterie Experience

Blue Apron - This monthly kit allows you to try different recipes with guaranteed success as you follow the step-by-step instructions. Portion control, flavor, and quality ingredients are all that help this subscription box stand out. 

Sips By - Are you a tea lover? I certainly am! This monthly subscription box allows you to try a variety of different teas from around the globe! Doesn't that sound fun and exciting? Enjoy finding your new favorite tea with this subscription box. 

CLOTHING / FASHION SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Stitchfix - Need a little help updating your wardrobe but have no time to shop? Let StitchFix do the hard work for you! Receive a few new pieces to help you transform your wardrobe. Perfect for the busy mom who wants to look stylish without the hassle of shopping.

Fabletics - Find great athletic wear (athleisure) through Fabletics. Performance wear with a wide variety of sizes and styles perfect for everyone. 

Le Tote - Want to try out the latest fashion trends from the comfort of your own home? Le Tote brings you the trendiest styles through a monthly subscription box. No need to shop by yourself instead let Le Tote do the work for you while you get to sample the latest trends in fashion.

Subscription Boxes For Kids

Make sure to check out these posts to learn about subscription boxes for kids! These boxes are so much fun your kids won't even know that they are learning. My kids have tried several of these boxes and loved them so I hope your kids will enjoy them too.

Homeschoolers Review of The Doodle Crate

10 Best Subscription Boxes For Kids

4 Super Cool STEM Project Kits For Middle Schoolers

Monthly subscription boxes are a great way to learn or try something new that you might not have had the chance to do before. There are kits to fit anyone's interest and a price range to fit any budget. 

Have you ever tried a monthly subscription box? If you haven't which one would you like to try first? Click on any of the links to go directly to each individual subscription box website to learn more! 

Homeschoolers Review of The Doodle Crate Monthly Subscription Craft Box

Do you have a child who loves to craft? How about one who has insatiable curiosity or a love of science and building? If you answered yes to any of these questions I have an amazing solution for you and your child.

A monthly subscription box tailored to their interests!

Monthly Subscription Box - Doodle Crate by Kiwi Co.

**This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase an item I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer at the top for more information.

We discovered KiwiCo.'s Doodle Crate monthly subscription boxes this year and totally fell in love with them. Here is my honest review of what we experienced with the Doodle Crates. By the way, I did not receive any compensation for writing this review. I just wanted to share with you our experience.

The Doodle Crate is part of the KiwiCo.'s Kiwi Crate line of monthly subscription boxes specifically designed for girls ages 9-16. Each monthly box includes all of the materials and detailed instructions for the specified project like soap making, stained glass or paper lanterns.  The Crates encourage individual creativity while providing a new challenge to tackle resulting in a completed craft project.

Each project can easily be done in the comfort of your own home within a few hours of time (times will vary depending on the craft project). There is no need to run to the store to buy additional supplies because EVERYTHING you need is included in the box along with extra supplies!

The monthly cost is quite reasonable at $19.95/month or if you purchase an entire year (12 months) of Doodle Crate you get a discount bringing the monthly cost to $16.95/month.

My 10 year old daughter, who is an amazing crafter/artist was the one who did all of the Doodle Crate projects we received. She was able to work independently with little to no help from me. She is extremely proud of the final results from each of the Doodle Crates she completed and has even found new passion in various media she had not been previously exposed to like soap making and sumi-e painting.

Since we homeschool we incorporated these monthly art/craft boxes into her school work. She was required complete a written review with the following questions to answer as she worked on the project:

• What questions do you have about this kit before you started working on it? 
• Demonstrate a new skill you learned
• Tell me how your kit is used
• Show the finished project and how it can be used

What I liked best about the Doodle Crates are:

• high quality supplies
• well written detailed instructions to follow
• sturdy box to keep supplies stored in
• creative projects with lots of variety that expose kids to something new.
• allows you to add your own creative ideas to each project
• reasonable and affordable price 

If you have a Maker in your house this is a must have! The quality of the materials, the well written and easy to follow instructions and the introduction to new and interesting art media and projects are top notch!

Here is a collage and a complete list of the completed Doodle Crate projects my daughter did:

Paper lantern making kit with string lights
Sumi-e ink wash painting
Stained glass kit
Leather portfolio
Watercolor calendar
Felt slippers
Soap making kit
Plaster mold animal mask

I'm sure your tween / teen will enjoy Doodle Crate just as much as mine did! You can start your monthly subscription HERE. Currently if you sign up to get a kit you can save $10 on your first kit with the code: WEEKEND.

KiwiCo. has several different monthly subscription boxes for various ages and interests so check them out today!