Real People Crafting: Darby Smart Garden Surprise Box

Disclosure: This box was paid for by me. There are no affiliate links in this post.

I decided to call this “Real People Crafting” because there are not many blog posts about craft subscription boxes. I know that my crafts do not always come out the way they should! I suspect that not producing picturesque crafts is a reason for the shortage of craft subscription blog posts.

Despite having the craft box corner of shame, I thought it would be a good idea to buy another craft box. Darby Smart sent out an email where I could select either a Beauty, Garden, or Decor Surprise box. I selected the Garden Box thinking I will do it shortly after it arrived. It arrived the week of June 29th.

 

Subscription: One time purchase of Darby Smart Surprise DIY Garden Box

I can’t figure out how to link the box because you have to be signed in to see the Darby Smart website.  It is still available for purchase on the website.  There is no guarantee that you will receive the box in this review.

Price: $24.00

What to Expect: Everything that you need to complete a craft except for basics such as scissors.

 

Link - My trouble-maker cat.
Link – My trouble-maker cat.

The first problem I ran into when I decided to do the craft is Link. He loves being in the middle of things. He decided that I was clearing the table for him to take a nap. He knew I was going to move him, hence the pathetic face.

I’m going to make a sad face so she won’t move me.

 

Bee in younger son's flower garden.
Bee in younger son’s flower garden.

I did not know that Darby Smart and I have different ideas about what is a garden.

How can a garden box not be a garden box?

 

Darby Smart  Mystery Garden Box Contents
Darby Smart Mystery Garden Box Contents

I opened it up and found poor innocent air plants.  Darby Smart includes a postcard with a code that you enter online for directions. I could not find it. Not only did I have what I consider to be a home decor box, but no directions! I found the postcard in between the bottom tissue paper and box when I went to recycle the packaging. I should know by now to check my craft boxes right away. I remember receiving a huge, gooey aloe leaf in a HomeGrownCollective box.

This project was doom from the start.

 

Bathing air plants.
Bathing air plants.

This craft is the magnetic terrarium craft that seems to be very popular on Darby Smart. I failed this project in many ways. I couldn’t cut my plastic circle perfectly so it would sit inside the lid to prevent the rocks, stones, and bark from falling out. I tried gluing my plastic half circle to the lid and nearly gagged over the adhesive smell. The adhesive had a warning that the vapors were possible carcinogens. I tried to take a picture of the warning, but my camera wouldn’t pick up the print. My younger son’s butterflies emerge from their chrysalises and need attention.

I was too busy flirting with the boys in kindergarten to learn how to cut proper circles.

 

Creating the terraium.
Creating the terrarium.

The beautiful craft pictures that I was going to post on this blog were not happening.  I gave up. I took the tins, added in the stones and the bark.

Where’s the beautiful crafty pictures?

 

The completed project.
The completed project.

I added the moss and air plants. I went on the computer and look at the beautiful, imaginative  pictures of other people’s completed terrariums on the Darby Smart website. It’s not happening here.

Here are the terrariums for the boys. My younger son is excited about bathing his plant once a week and is going to add shells to the terrarium.

Wait, no butterfly pictures?

 

8 hour old butterflies
8 hour old butterflies

This is what happens when you send your younger son to a 3 hour Butterfly camp. He comes back with 4 Painted Lady caterpillars and instructions on how to raise them into butterflies. It takes a day or two for their wings to dry off and straighten out. At that time, they will be released in his flower bed. The hanging net is hanging on a planter hook up high and safe from cat paws.

No, Darby Smart. Indoor plants and indoor butterflies do not a garden make.

 

The third plant.
The third plant.

I placed one outside. I also finished weeding the flower bed after taking the picture.

How many irrelevant pictures are in this post?

 

Verdict: The reason I like Darby Smart is because all the materials are included. It’s a great way to try out different types of crafts and build up your craft extras. I hadn’t made crafts for years until last year when I started to subscribe to craft boxes. It is hard to start crafting again when there are no supplies.

This is a craft I would had enjoyed under different circumstances. The craft wasn’t what I expected. I couldn’t find the directions. It did not turn out right.

I hope you enjoy the post in the spirit in which it was written.

***Check out Subscriptionista’s Darby Smart Reviews***

Have you ever had a craft project that went wrong? Do you have craft boxes that need to be completed? Share below and anything else on your mind.

 

  13 comments for “Real People Crafting: Darby Smart Garden Surprise Box

  1. Pnut
    July 17, 2015 at 5:09 am

    Love it! Have 2 out of the 3 air plants from a one time doodle?crate purchase for one of my wee ones still up. They are not the best quality as I previously bought some airs pre-kid that lasted a long time even for a brown thumb like me. Wee one has more of a green thumb than her parents but she nommed the baby basil plants from one of the past Popsugar boxes.
    The cute terrainium from Prosperly is not looking so great but my husband said it had to to do with the bowl shape restricting oxygen to the plants.
    Want to do the butterfly project one day as well.
    Thanks for the great review!

    • July 17, 2015 at 1:53 pm

      Our terrarium from Prosperly shattered when a cat knocked it over 🙁 . I felt bad for my little guy because he worked hard on putting it together with me.

      Air plants are fun. They are my first ones. Do you like Doodle Crate? Yay on the wee one having a green thumb.

      The butterflies are fun They were active last night crawling and fluttering their wings. Today they are flying around a little bit.

      • Pnut
        July 17, 2015 at 3:12 pm

        I like all the Little Passports series for the wee ones. One is a 1 year sub and the other 2 you can sub up to 2 years. Only got Doodle Crate for the terrainium review done by Ramblings. Got some mini-Kiwi crates on occasion.
        Sad face for the Prosperly it is a cute fun project but yea for the butterflies!

        • July 18, 2015 at 4:47 am

          I’m thinking about subscribing to Little Passports. Maybe in a few months.

          • Pnut
            July 18, 2015 at 5:09 am

            Wait for a code I think I got them at 15%ish they do not come out with codes often.

  2. Kelly
    July 17, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Little air plant looks sad in your garden. Butterflies and kitties = happy place. Thank you and I need to finish a Hawaiian quilt for my craft.

    • July 17, 2015 at 1:57 pm

      I’m hoping the plant will perk up. Do air plants perk up? I’ll bring the plant in if it doesn’t work out well being outside. It’s going to be warm and humid for the next week. What is a Hawaiian quilt?

    • Pnut
      July 17, 2015 at 3:13 pm

      Ooohhhh… Love Hawaiian quilts (and I am not into quilting lol) they are soooooo expensive. Are you in Hawaii or just a professional quilter those are very difficult I have heard to create.

      • Kelly
        July 17, 2015 at 7:58 pm

        I am a rank amateur who picked a simple pattern when I went to a quilt store on the Big Island.

    • July 18, 2015 at 4:48 am

      They are beautiful!

    • Pnut
      July 19, 2015 at 2:46 am

      So gorgeous if I ever would buy a quilt it would be an Hawaiian …. Definitely an heirloom with those prices!!!

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