Do-it-yourself with Craft Kits

I loved craft kits when I was a kid: embroidery kits, latch hook, paint-by-numbers, those fake stained glass things with plastic granules that you bake in the oven. What were they called? 

Everything you needed was right there in a neat little packet, in the correct quantities for completing the project. Just follow the instructions, and you ended up with something that looked roughly like the picture on the package. Sometimes Mom would have to help with the tricky parts, but you still had a feeling of accomplishment when you showed off your new project to the family. "Look what I made!"

Lately, I've been thinking more about the venerable craft kit tradition, and have noticed some new kits by independent designers on the market that are a bit more interesting than the typical mass-produced hobby store kits I grew up with. Here are just a few that have been on my radar.

 

Puppy Love cross stitch kit, by Chez-Sucre-Chez

Sarubobo pin cushion kit, by Mairuru

"Kiss & Hug" needlepoint pillow kits, by Emily Peacock Tapestry

Fire Hydrant dog biscuit kit, by Brown Dog Boutique

Moss terrarium kit, by Warm Country Meadows

Make your own Baby Yeti, by Love and a Sandwich

Because I am a dog freak, I'm especially tempted by the Chez-Sucre-Chez cross stitch, which would look fab on my wall of dog art. And of course the dog biscuit mix, which I'm sure my furry little companion would gobble up (although I don't fancy turning on the oven until the weather cools). But looking forward to fall—the only thing I do during our categorically dreadful New York City summers—I can certainly picture myself whipping up a batch of Brown Dog biscuits, or nestling on the couch with a small kit project.

[[photos: Chez-Sucre-Chez, Mairuru, Emily Peacock Tapestry, Brown Dog Boutique, Warm Country Meadows, Love and a Sandwich]]