Doodle Crate

Doodle Crate inspires creativity in kids ages 6-12 with hands-on art and craft projects that teach real techniques. Each monthly crate includes quality materials and instructions to create something beautiful - from weaving and embroidery to printmaking and jewelry design. Projects result in finished pieces kids are proud to display or give as gifts.

Doodle Crate is for kids who want to create real art, not just crafts. Each project teaches authentic artistic techniques with quality materials - the kind of projects that end up framed on walls or given as gifts.

Pricing Plans

Plan	Price	Savings
Monthly	$23.95/month	-
3-Month	$22.95/month	Save 4%
6-Month	$21.95/month	Save 8%
12-Month	$18.50/month	Save 23%

What’s Included

• Art/Craft Project: Learn a real technique with quality results
• Premium Materials: Quality supplies that make a difference
• Technique Guide: Step-by-step instructions with artist tips
• Inspiration Ideas: Ways to apply the technique to future projects
• Doodle Zine: Extra creative activities and artist spotlights

Sample Projects

Past Doodle Crates have included:

• Weaving: Create a woven wall hanging on a real loom
• Embroidery: Stitch a custom design with quality floss
• Printmaking: Make block prints with carving tools
• Jewelry Design: Craft wire-wrapped pieces
• Macramé: Tie a plant hanger or wall art
• Candle Making: Pour and decorate custom candles

How It Works

Doodle Crate’s monthly subscription cycle delivers authentic art and craft projects designed to inspire creativity in kids ages 6-12:

1. Subscribe and Set Expectations: Choose your subscription plan (monthly, 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month) through KiwiCo’s website. Doodle Crate is designed for ages 6-12, though best fit depends on fine motor skills, artistic interest, and patience level rather than age alone. No topic customization - KiwiCo rotates through various art techniques (fiber arts, printmaking, jewelry, candle making, etc.) to provide broad creative exposure over time.

2. Monthly Crate Arrival: Around the same date each month, your Doodle Crate ships and typically arrives within 5-10 business days. Free shipping is included in the subscription price. Each crate is sized to accommodate art supplies (approximately 12” x 9” x 3”) and arrives in KiwiCo’s recognizable colorful packaging featuring creative designs that excite kids from the moment they see it.

3. Unbox Art Supplies and Instructions: Open your crate to discover that month’s art technique and materials:

• Complete project materials (all supplies needed for the craft)
• Quality art supplies (premium over typical craft kit quality)
• Step-by-step instruction booklet with clear photos
• Technique guide explaining the art form’s background
• Inspiration ideas for future projects using the same technique
• Doodle Zine with extra creative activities and artist spotlights

Before starting, review all materials to understand what you’ll be creating and gather any household items mentioned (scissors, tape, optional embellishments).

4. Learn About the Art Technique: Before diving into creating, read the technique guide which explains:

• History and cultural background of this art form
• Traditional uses and modern applications
• Famous artists who work in this medium
• Where this technique originated and how it’s practiced today

This context helps kids appreciate that they’re learning real artistic methods, not just making crafts.

5. Set Up Creative Workspace: Doodle projects need appropriate workspaces:

• Flat surface with good lighting (kitchen table or desk)
• Protective covering for messy projects (painting, candle making, dyeing)
• Organization for small components (beads, threads, papers)
• Adult supervision available for sharp tools or heat-based projects

Most Doodle projects take 45-90 minutes, perfect for weekend afternoons or after-school creative time.

6. Create Following Step-by-Step Instructions: Work through the project at a comfortable pace:

• Instructions include full-color photos showing each step clearly
• Techniques are broken down into manageable sub-steps
• Tips highlight common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Kids can work independently or with parental collaboration depending on age and skill

Unlike open-ended craft supplies, Doodle’s structured approach teaches specific techniques - by the end, kids know how to weave, embroider, print, etc., not just “made something.”

7. Complete and Display Finished Project: Doodle projects are designed to produce display-worthy results:

• Woven wall hangings suitable for bedroom decoration
• Embroidered art worthy of framing
• Block prints that can be reproduced on paper, fabric, or cards
• Wire-wrapped jewelry kids actually want to wear
• Macramé plant hangers serving functional and decorative purposes
• Candles beautiful enough to give as gifts

Finished pieces look genuinely artistic - not obviously “kid-made” - which builds pride and confidence. Many parents frame or display Doodle creations prominently.

8. Explore the Doodle Zine: Each crate includes a Doodle Zine magazine featuring:

• Additional creative activities related to the month’s theme
• Artist spotlight profiles showing professionals using similar techniques
• Challenge prompts encouraging creative thinking
• Reader submissions showcasing other kids’ Doodle creations
• Trivia and fun facts about the art world

The zine extends engagement beyond the main project and inspires further creativity.

9. Apply Technique to Future Projects (Extension): After completing the Doodle project, kids can continue practicing the technique:

• Embroidery skills transfer to personalizing clothing or making patches
• Weaving techniques work with homemade looms from cardboard
• Printmaking blocks can create multiple prints for cards and wrapping paper
• Jewelry wire-wrapping extends to found objects and beads from craft stores
• Macramé knots apply to friendship bracelets and decorative items

Doodle provides the foundation; kids take techniques as far as their interest leads.

10. Discover Lifelong Creative Interests: Over multiple months, Doodle exposes kids to diverse art forms. Some discover passions that become lifelong hobbies:

• A child who loves weaving might request a larger loom and continue creating
• Embroidery enthusiasts might start designing their own patterns
• Printmakers might explore linocut and screen printing
• Jewelry makers might expand into beadwork and metalsmithing

Many Doodle alumni cite a specific crate as the moment they “found their thing” creatively.

Frequency: Monthly crates ship consistently on your subscription date. You can pause, skip months, or cancel anytime through your account dashboard. Some families prefer 6-month subscriptions during the school year, pausing in summer for outdoor activities.

Who It’s For

Doodle Crate works best for creative kids ages 8-11, the sweet spot where fine motor skills have developed enough for techniques while projects still feel exciting and achievable. Art-focused families who value creative expression and want structured art education beyond school offerings will find this subscription perfectly aligned with their priorities. Kids who naturally gravitate toward hands-on creation rather than passive entertainment thrive with Doodle’s monthly projects.

Tweens outgrowing basic crafts appreciate Doodle’s sophisticated projects that feel grown-up rather than juvenile. Gift-oriented kids who enjoy making presents for family and friends discover that Doodle projects make impressive handmade gifts. Parents seeking screen-free activities that compete with digital entertainment find Doodle provides engaging offline experiences. Kids motivated by creating display-worthy results take pride in showing and displaying their genuinely impressive finished pieces.

Technique learners who appreciate structured instruction and want to learn real artistic methods benefit from Doodle’s educational approach. Patient crafters willing to spend 45-90 minutes focused on a project rather than needing instant gratification find the time commitment rewarding. Artistic explorers unsure what creative hobbies they might enjoy can use Doodle to sample diverse techniques monthly, discovering passions they never knew they had.

Who Should Skip This

Kids under age 6 will struggle with Doodle’s fine motor requirements that exceed most younger children’s abilities, making Koala Crate (ages 3-6) a more age-appropriate choice. Teens 13 and older often find Doodle too basic by middle school, and should consider Maker Crate (ages 12+) for more sophisticated projects with premium materials.

STEM-only interested kids who engage exclusively with science and engineering topics should look at Kiwi Crate or Tinker Crate for their STEM focus rather than Doodle’s art orientation. Children who find art tedious or frustrating should not be forced into creative projects, as this creates stress rather than joy. Impatient children needing immediate results will likely abandon projects mid-way since Doodle requires sustained 45-90 minute focus.

Messy-averse families should note that some projects involve paints, dyes, or materials requiring workspace protection and cleanup effort. Families wanting daily activities will find one monthly project insufficient since 30 days pass between crates. Minimalists should consider that monthly deliveries create accumulating finished projects requiring display or storage space.

Budget-restricted families should calculate that at $23.95 per month ($18.50 with an annual plan), Doodle represents $222-287 annually, whereas craft supplies from stores cost less for budget-focused households. While Doodle works for all genders, some boys may resist projects perceived as traditionally feminine, though many find techniques like printmaking, leather working, and candle making broadly appealing regardless of stereotypes.

Doodle Crate works beautifully for creative kids in the ages 7-11 range who love making things and appreciate learning real artistic techniques with quality materials. Projects feel sophisticated enough to engage tweens while remaining accessible to younger elementary students with some adult help. The display-worthy results build genuine pride and may spark lifelong creative hobbies. However, the art focus means this doesn’t appeal to STEM-focused kids, and the monthly pace provides one project per month rather than ongoing daily activities.