Disclosure: If you make a purchase through the links posted below, I may receive a small compensation. Read the full disclosure.
Doodle Crate
Cost: $19.95/month.
Ships To: United States and Canada.
Coupon Code: Use code “SUMMERTIME” to save 30% off your first month of Kiwi Crate and their family of boxes!
Doodle Crate is one of the new(er) lines in the Kiwi Crate family. Designed for girls ages 9-16, Doodle Crate includes all the materials and inspiration for DIY projects such as patterned pouches, friendship bracelets, or colorful candles. Crates encourage girls to tackle new challenges and gain creative confidence!
Doodle Crate ships via FedEx Smart Post and usually takes about a week to arrive to me. Unlike last month, this month’s box arrived right on time.
The August Doodle Crate project was “Make Your Own Faux Leather Portfolio” and explored the techniques of Stitching and Embellishing.
Materials
The box included everything you needed to complete the project – with the exception of scissors. Boxes included the faux leather portfolio, a pocket form, thread, brads, elastic cord and a sketchbook.
Step #1 – Plan Your Portfolio
The first step was to plan your portfolio. You first needed to decide if you were making a blue or brown portfolio (it’s reversible) and then decide what color pocket (again blue or brown) you want to do. Same thing for the thread and your elastic cord – you could pick between blue and brown. I decided on a brown portfolio, with brown thread, a brown elastic cord, and a blue pocket.
Step #2 – Attach the Pocket
The second step was to attach the pocket. In my opinion, the instructions were much to complicated. Or really, they just made seem lacing thread back and forth very complicated. All the holes were pre punched, so you just had to lace the thread through the holes once and then double back and fill in the gaps. Your thread would then “meet”, and you could tie off the ends and tuck them into the pocket so they can’t be seen.
Step #3 – Sew the Sides
Again this more just lacing (or “stitching” as they call it) up one side and then back down again to fill in the holes. And then you do the same on the other side. All the holes were perfectly lined up, so this was a breeze!
Step #4 – Embellish the Flap
The next step was to embellish the flap with the included brads. You could be as creative as you wanted with the design. Again all the holes are pre-punched, so you just needed to attach the brads. I completely wrecked my nail polish securing the brads (they are so hard to open), but it turned out cute, so it was worth it.
Step #5 Add the Elastic
The final step was to add the elastic to keep the portfolio closed. It closes awkwardly if nothing is inside, but if you have a book (or your sketchbook), it’s perfect
The Final Product
All done! I am super happy with the way this came out and had a lot of fun completing it. It was easy to make, and portfolio seems to be sturdy enough for a backpack. Super cute!
What do you think about Doodle Crate? If you are interested in subscribing, you can sign up here and use the coupon code “SUMMERTIME” to save 30% off your first month of Doodle Crate and their family of brands.
