This Month's Craft

Editorial Verdict

This Month's Craft is designed for people whose favorite hobby is trying hobbies. Each monthly box contains one complete project rather than a recurring supply refill, moving through techniques such as soap making, embroidery, pottery, needle felting, wood burning, carving, kintsugi, and terrazzo. The appeal is straightforward: experiment without researching materials or buying a full-size package of every supply.

There are now two subscriptions at the same $35.97 base price. The Creative Box emphasizes artistic and relaxing projects such as candles, soap, needlework, and stationery. The DIY Box favors tactile, practical builds such as trays, coasters, macramé storage, pyrography, and carving. Choosing a lane makes the surprise less random, although subscribers still cannot select the exact monthly project.

The true recurring cost is $41.94 before tax after the current $5.97 U.S. shipping fee. That is reasonable when the kit includes a reusable tool or enough material for another attempt; it feels expensive when the finished object is small or the components look easy to source. This is a convenience-and-discovery product, not a guaranteed way to acquire $42 worth of raw supplies.

Our verdict: This Month's Craft is a strong sampler for curious beginners who value variety and a ready-to-start experience. Its weaknesses are inconsistent perceived value, occasional fulfillment complaints, and the lack of project-level choice.

Best for: someone who regularly saves craft ideas but stalls at choosing and shopping for materials.

Skip if: you already know which medium you love, want control over every project, or mainly judge value by the retail cost of the components.

The Projects Themselves

Past-project examples show unusually broad range. Creative subscribers may encounter soap, lip balm, candles, embroidery, needle felting, pottery, crochet, or marbled vessels. DIY examples include wood burning, leather pyrography, linoleum carving, ring carving, kintsugi, moss art, storage pieces, trays, and coasters. The exact sequence can evolve, and returning subscribers are advised to reactivate an old account so the company can continue their sequence rather than send a duplicate.

This breadth is the defining advantage and the main compromise. A general craft box cannot match the depth of a dedicated pottery, knitting, or woodworking course. It introduces a technique through a manageable finished object. If the project clicks, expect to buy better tools, more material, and deeper instruction elsewhere.

The company labels both tracks suitable for all skill levels. In practice, “beginner-friendly” does not mean every subscriber will find every project equally easy. Fine-motor demands, drying time, carving pressure, pattern reading, and precision vary substantially. An independent Trustpilot reviewer described a multi-piece wood project as more advanced than expected, while many others praised the kits as accessible learning experiences.

Some crafts may involve sharp tools, heat, fragrance, dyes, adhesives, or small components. Read the guide fully, protect the work surface, ventilate when appropriate, and supervise younger makers. The service is marketed as an adult craft experience, even when a project can be shared with an older child.

What Comes in a Box

Each shipment is built around one featured project and promises:

• The primary consumable materials needed for the project
• Project-specific tools or implements
• Step-by-step printed instructions
• Tips intended to help first-time makers
• Enough components to complete the featured object or set
• Packaging suitable for storing the pieces until craft night

Recent customer reviews suggest that some kits include extra material for a second attempt, but that should be treated as project-dependent rather than guaranteed. Household basics may also be useful even when a page says everything is included: scissors, water, paper towels, a protected table, a ruler, or common kitchen equipment can make execution easier. Review the complete guide before starting so a timed or messy step does not reveal a missing household item halfway through.

The box cannot be customized beyond choosing Creative or DIY. Allergies, color preferences, décor style, prior experience, and tool ownership do not change the shipment. That simplicity helps the service curate at scale, but it means occasional misses are inevitable.

If a box arrives damaged, incomplete, incorrect, or duplicated, the company asks customers to photograph the issue and email support. Independent reviews include both reports of missing or damaged contents and accounts of prompt replacements, so documenting the package immediately is worthwhile.

Pricing and Value

Both the Creative and DIY subscriptions currently cost $35.97 per renewal. Standard U.S. shipping is $5.97, making the delivered subtotal $41.94 before sales tax. Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and military regions is listed at $9.97. A prominently advertised first-box discount may reduce only the initial charge.

The product FAQ says the first box's subscription price carries forward while discount codes apply only to the first order. That wording can be confusing: evaluate the checkout's recurring-price disclosure and save a copy. The durable comparison figure is the undiscounted $35.97 box price plus shipping.

Raw-material value varies by craft. Buying exact small quantities can be surprisingly costly after separate shipping, while buying full retail packages may cost more but leave substantial leftovers. The subscription also prices in concept development, portioning, instructions, and the avoided effort of locating compatible pieces.

The most useful value test has three parts:

1. Would you have tried this medium without the box?
2. Is the completed project or learning experience worth about $42?
3. Will the included tool or leftover material be used again?

If the answer is usually yes, the service can beat scattered impulse purchases and abandoned bulk supplies. If subscribers routinely dislike the project theme or already own the tools, an à-la-carte kit is more efficient.

How the Subscription Works

Start by selecting Creative or DIY. The first payment is charged at checkout, then the subscription renews monthly until canceled. The FAQ says later charges occur on the 7th and later boxes ship on the 7th. Payment options include major cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

The website gives conflicting first-delivery estimates. The product FAQ promises the first box immediately with arrival in two to six days, while the dedicated shipping page says orders process within one to two business days and that first subscription boxes may take seven to fourteen days because of demand. Buyers should allow the longer window, especially when ordering for a dated occasion.

After ordering, activate the account using the same email used at checkout. From “Manage My Subscription,” subscribers can skip an upcoming box or change delivery frequency to bimonthly, quarterly, or another available interval. Support can arrange a longer pause.

Project contents are preset and remain a surprise. The two-track choice reduces mismatch but does not reveal the next craft before billing. Subscribers who strongly dislike surprise should buy individual project kits from the shop instead.

Flexibility, Cancellation, and Returns

The subscription can be skipped, paused for an unlimited period, adjusted, or canceled. Portal self-service is the cleanest route; support is available at support@thismonthscraft.com and by phone at 1-888-605-4081. Make changes before the next charge on the 7th. A cancellation after processing may stop future renewals without intercepting the current shipment.

Save the cancellation confirmation and revisit the portal to ensure the plan is inactive. If returning later, reactivate the old subscription instead of opening a second one; the company specifically recommends this to preserve the project sequence and prevent duplicates.

The published return policy permits returns within 30 days of receipt and says the company will provide a prepaid label. The product page frames this as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Contact support before sending anything and keep the tracking receipt until the refund posts.

Trustpilot feedback is polarized despite a favorable average. When checked, 64% of reviews were five-star and 24% were one-star. Positive reviewers repeatedly praised variety, completeness, and helpful support. Negative themes included unclear instructions, low perceived material value, damaged or missing components, wrong boxes, and difficult support interactions. The company had responded to all negative Trustpilot reviews, typically within two weeks, but a public reply is not the same as guaranteed resolution.

Giving It as a Gift

A craft kit is often easier to gift than a taste-dependent beauty or food subscription because the activity itself is the present. This Month's Craft works particularly well for someone who enjoys hands-on evenings, wants less screen time, or talks about learning new skills without committing to one medium.

The site has a gift-subscription section, but offer structure may vary. Confirm at checkout whether the selected product is prepaid for a fixed term or automatically renews. If using the ordinary monthly subscription, the purchaser remains responsible for canceling it.

Choose Creative for a recipient drawn to cozy, expressive, decorative, or self-care projects. Choose DIY for someone who likes tools, practical objects, surfaces, and technique-focused building. These labels describe project style, not gender; ignore older “women's” and “men's” imagery and match the work to the recipient.

Order early because the website's shipping estimates conflict and popular periods may lengthen fulfillment. Consider presenting a note explaining which track you chose and that future boxes are surprises. For a one-time gift or uncertain taste, an individual kit avoids renewal and gives full control over the project.

Who It Is Best For

This Month's Craft is best suited to:

• Beginners who want materials and instructions in one package
• Serial hobbyists who enjoy changing mediums
• Adults seeking a planned screen-free evening
• Couples, friends, or parents and older children crafting together
• Apartment dwellers who do not want bulk supplies for every experiment
• Gift recipients who value activities more than another finished object

It is less suitable for:

• Experienced specialists seeking advanced technique or premium tools
• Subscribers who need to approve each project before shipment
• Makers with fragrance, adhesive, latex, or material sensitivities
• People with limited dexterity unless a helper can adapt projects
• Minimalists who do not want a growing collection of tools and décor
• Anyone expecting every kit's components to exceed the delivered price at retail

The strongest use case is intentional sampling. Finish the project, decide whether the technique deserves more time, keep the useful tool, and move on without feeling obligated to transform every introduction into a permanent hobby.

This Month's Craft vs. Alternatives

This Month's Craft vs. Adults & Crafts: Both center adult-friendly, complete projects across multiple mediums. Adults & Crafts is an established direct comparison; compare the current project archive, shipping-inclusive cost, and gift terms. This Month's Craft's Creative/DIY split provides a useful preference filter.

This Month's Craft vs. Crafter: Crafter kits and workshops tend to focus more deeply on a named artisan technique, often with elevated materials and video instruction at a higher price. Choose Crafter for depth and presentation; choose This Month's Craft for lower-cost monthly variety.

This Month's Craft vs. KiwiCo Maker Crate: Maker Crate is aimed more explicitly at teens and emerging makers, with educational content and engineered projects. This Month's Craft feels more adult-lifestyle oriented. Age, independence, and aesthetic matter more than the nominal craft category.

Subscription vs. individual kits: A one-off kit is better when you know the desired project or have a deadline. The subscription is better when surprise creates motivation and you want someone else to choose the next skill.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does This Month's Craft cost?
Both Creative and DIY cost $35.97 per month. Standard U.S. shipping is $5.97, for a $41.94 subtotal before tax. Introductory promotions usually affect only the first box.

What is the difference between Creative and DIY?
Creative leans toward expressive, cozy crafts such as soap, candles, needlework, and pottery. DIY emphasizes hands-on, useful builds and techniques such as carving, wood burning, kintsugi, trays, and storage.

Can I choose the monthly project?
No. Customers choose a track, but the specific project and materials are preset as a surprise.

Are all supplies included?
The company promises the materials, tools, and instructions needed for the featured project. Ordinary household items and workspace protection may still be useful, so read the guide before beginning.

Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, it is designed for beginners, though difficulty varies by technique. Some carving, wood, or precision projects may require more patience and coordination than relaxed crafts.

When does it ship?
Future boxes generally ship on the 7th. First-box estimates conflict: the product FAQ says two to six days, while the shipping page allows seven to fourteen days. Plan around the longer estimate.

Can I skip or cancel?
Yes. Subscribers can skip, change frequency, pause, or cancel through the portal or with support. Complete the change before the next charge.

What if something is missing or damaged?
Photograph the box and affected contents, then email support. The company says it will arrange a replacement or other resolution.

Is there a refund policy?
The site advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee and prepaid returns. Contact support within 30 days of receipt and follow its return instructions.