Craftiosity is a UK craft subscription service that sends a different creative project in each box, with the materials and guidance needed to complete it. I was sent a Craftiosity kit free of charge to test for this review.
The appeal is straightforward: you can try a new craft without buying full packs of materials, searching for suitable tools or working out every stage yourself. The main question is whether that convenience, along with the variety of projects and level of guidance, justifies paying roughly £25 per kit.
Craftiosity Review: Quick Take
Craftiosity is best suited to people who enjoy trying different crafts but don’t want to buy full packs of materials and work everything out themselves.
- Best for: Trying new crafts and beginners who want a guided project.
- Main strength: A complete, curated project with materials and clear guidance supplied.
- Main drawback: Around £25 per project can become expensive if you already own plenty of craft supplies.
- BYF tested: Yes.
- Price: From around £25 at time of checking.
Craftiosity: Key Details
| Detail | Craftiosity |
|---|---|
| Type | Craft subscription box |
| Typical price | From £24.95 |
| Frequency | Monthly / bi-monthly options |
| Instructions | Digital or printed option |
| Video tutorial | Yes |
| UK delivery | Included |
| Skip boxes | Yes |
| Cancel subscription | Yes |
| One-off kits | Available |
| Intended audience | Adults |
| BYF tested | Yes |
Best For
- Beginners wanting a structured introduction to different crafts
- People who enjoy trying something different each month
- Gift buyers
- Crafters who don’t want to source lots of individual materials
Pros
- Most materials supplied
- Different craft techniques rather than repeating one type
- Step-by-step guidance
- Video tutorials
- Can skip or cancel
- One-off kits available
- UK delivery included
Cons
- Around £25 per project isn’t cheap
- You don’t have complete control over the normal monthly project
- Some household basics may still be required
- Subscription billing/despatch cycle needs understanding
- Less compelling if you already own extensive craft supplies
What Is Craftiosity?
Craftiosity is a UK-based craft subscription built around completing a different project with each box. Rather than receiving assorted supplies, you get the main materials, instructions and supporting guidance needed to make a finished item.
Projects vary across techniques such as embroidery, macramé, lino printing and bookbinding, letting you try crafts without buying full packs of specialist materials. Instructions are available digitally or in print, with supporting video tutorials for the practical stages.
What I Received From Craftiosity
Craftiosity sent me the Stitched Robin Hoop Hanger Craft Kit to test. The kit contained everything I needed for the actual craft project, so I wasn’t left halfway through needing to source specialist materials or tools myself.
My first impression was that it had been put together with care. The materials felt good quality rather than simply being the cheapest components available, and the kit felt like a properly considered project rather than a collection of craft supplies bundled into a box.
There wasn’t really much material left over when I had finished, but equally I had enough to complete the robin without running short.
My Experience Making the Craftiosity Kit
The robin took me around a couple of hours to complete from memory, although it was some time ago, so I wouldn’t treat that as an exact working time.
I found the project enjoyable and the tutorials were excellent. The guidance made it easy to understand what I was supposed to be doing at each stage, and I never felt as though I had been given the materials and then left to figure the difficult parts out for myself.
What impressed me most was the result. I managed to make my finished robin look pretty much like-for-like with the example, which says quite a lot about the quality of the instructions and the way the project had been designed.
Embroidery and beading aren’t really something I would personally take up as a hobby afterwards, but I still enjoyed making it. That’s actually one of the strengths of this type of kit: you can spend an evening trying a completely different craft without having to invest heavily in equipment first.
Overall, the experience felt more like having a guided workshop at home than receiving a box of craft supplies. The main benefit was that the decisions had already been made for me, while I still had enough hands-on involvement to feel that I had genuinely made the finished item.
Materials & Kit Quality
The materials felt good quality and carefully selected for the project. Nothing stood out as cheap or included simply to bulk out the box, and the whole kit gave me the impression that somebody had put thought into how the project would work from start to finish.
Everything needed for the specialist side of the project was supplied, and I had enough material to complete the robin successfully. There wasn’t much left over afterwards, so this particular kit was quite closely portioned around making the finished piece rather than supplying lots of spare craft material.
I think that’s perfectly reasonable for this sort of product: you’re primarily buying a complete guided project rather than a general supply pack.
Sustainability
Craftiosity says it uses sustainable materials and plastic-free packaging wherever possible. Packaging and materials can vary between projects, so I wouldn’t assume every box has exactly the same environmental credentials.
Instructions & Difficulty
The tutorials were one of the strongest parts of the kit. I found the guidance clear enough to follow through the whole project, and the fact that my finished robin came out very close to the example suggests the instructions did a good job of translating the design into something achievable at home.
The combination of instructions and supporting tutorial also removed much of the guesswork that comes with trying an unfamiliar craft. Rather than having to search separately for techniques or work out what a step meant, I could simply follow the project through.
A complete beginner should be able to follow the project, provided they are prepared to work slowly and check each stage before moving on. The guidance generally explained enough for me to continue without needing to search for outside instructions.
Is Craftiosity Good for Beginners?
Based on the robin kit I tested, I’d be comfortable recommending the format to someone trying an unfamiliar craft. The tutorials do much of the heavy lifting, and you have a clear finished example to work towards.
Individual Craftiosity projects will naturally vary in difficulty, but the robin demonstrated that a fairly detailed finished piece can still be approachable when the instructions are good.
The Finished Project
My finished robin came out pretty much like-for-like with the example, which was probably the best indication that the kit had been designed well.
It was satisfying to end up with a proper finished piece rather than simply having experimented with a technique for a couple of hours. Although embroidery and beading aren’t crafts I would personally continue with, I enjoyed making the robin and was pleased with how it turned out.
That probably sums up my experience best: embroidery and beading aren’t really for me, but I still enjoyed making the robin and thought the Craftiosity experience itself was very good.
What to Know Before Subscribing
Monthly or Bi-Monthly
Craftiosity offers monthly and bi-monthly subscription options, allowing you to choose between receiving projects more frequently or spacing them out. The better option depends on how quickly you craft and whether you want a regular creative activity or a less frequent project.
Printed vs Digital Instructions
Digital instructions start at around £25, while printed instructions cost slightly more. Digital suits you if you are comfortable using a phone, tablet or computer while crafting. Printed instructions may be preferable if you want to keep the guide beside you without handling a screen or if you are buying the kit as a gift.
Skipping and Cancelling
You can cancel the subscription and skip boxes. If a box has already been paid for, it will still be supplied, so it is worth checking the timing before assuming a cancellation will stop the next delivery.
Billing and Delivery
One timing quirk to know: renewals are currently taken around the 21st, with boxes normally dispatched around the 7th of the following month. Depending on when you join, this can mean a second payment is taken before your first box arrives.
UK delivery is included in the listed price. The parcel is not designed to fit through a standard letterbox, so you may need to be available to receive it or collect it from a delivery point.
Don’t Want a Subscription?
Craftiosity also sells individual kits. This is a useful option if you like the idea of a guided project but do not want an ongoing payment or the uncertainty of receiving a project you may not choose yourself.
Craftiosity Price & Value for Money
Current pricing starts at roughly £25 per box, depending on the subscription and instruction option.
The value is not just in the raw materials. You are also paying for the project development, the selection and preparation of the components, the written instructions, video guidance and the convenience of having everything brought together. That can matter if you would otherwise need to buy full packs of materials or specialist tools for a craft you might only try once.
When It Makes Sense
Craftiosity is more likely to feel worthwhile if you:
- want to experiment with unfamiliar crafts;
- value convenience;
- enjoy guided projects;
- would otherwise buy several separate materials;
- want an unusual recurring gift.
When It Makes Less Sense
It is less compelling if you:
- already have extensive craft supplies;
- specialise in one established craft;
- want to choose every project yourself;
- primarily want the cheapest possible materials.
For the kit I tested, I would have felt satisfied paying the normal price because I think the price is fair for what you get. The materials were good quality, the tutorials were excellent and the finished kit felt as though it had been produced with thought and care.
You could undoubtedly source individual craft materials more cheaply if you already knew what you needed, but that’s not really what Craftiosity is selling. You’re paying for a complete project that has already been designed, tested, portioned and explained for you.
The strongest value came from the convenience, instruction and novelty of trying a new craft. The kit was quite closely portioned, with very little material left over once the robin was complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Current subscriptions start at around £24.95, although prices vary depending on the subscription and instruction option. Check the latest price before subscribing.
Each box contains the materials and guidance for a particular project, with tools supplied where required. Ordinary household items such as scissors, water, a pencil or a ruler may occasionally be needed.
Yes. The combination of step-by-step instructions and video guidance makes the service accessible to beginners, although difficulty naturally varies between projects.
Yes. Normal subscriptions can currently be cancelled, and already-paid boxes will still be supplied.
Yes. Subscribers can currently skip a box if the upcoming project doesn’t appeal.
Yes. Craftiosity sells individual kits as well as subscriptions.
Craftiosity can make a good gift for somebody who enjoys hands-on creative projects. A one-off kit avoids committing the recipient to a subscription, while a gift subscription provides several projects to try over time. It is particularly suitable for someone who likes learning new skills but may not know which materials to buy themselves.
