Colourful crafts with KenziBox (Review)

As a mom who actually took up crafting only to keep her toddler busy, anything to do with arts and crafts for kids immediately catches my eye! I heard about KenziBox, a monthly craft box available by subscription in the UAE, and I was really happy to see it. Let me explain why.

Because I share my crafts in the Busy Hands series, I know the amount of effort that goes into setting up interesting crafts for kids. First, you have to come up with an idea that suits your child's age, teaches them some basic skills, and is easy to do. Even if you don't have an original idea, sifting through the hundreds of craft ideas online can be time-consuming. Next, you have to source the supplies. This can be a headache, as there are few shops that will have everything you are looking for. Believe me, I have gone halfway across town for googly eyes! And then, you must have the time and patience to execute your idea, which can be difficult for working parents. In short, it's not easy.

That's why seeing KenziBox made me happy! Because, it just simplifies the whole process for crafting with your child and delivers it to you in a box. No more searching for ideas and supplies - everything will be given to you ready made - except for the craft of course.

KenziBox (derived from Kenzi, which means 'treasure' in Arabic) is the brainchild of two moms - Leyla Lahsini and Shirin Benamadi - who come from corporate backgrounds, have stayed in many countries, and are now settled in Dubai. They faced the same difficulties in organizing crafts for their kids, and created this service to help other moms. Good thinking, isn't it?!

They were nice enough to offer us their KenziBox for March, which has an Art Studio theme (they have a new surprise theme every month). Usually, the box has four crafts, but this time, there's a bonus activity too. Since the theme is art, the crafts are very colourful.

The box came with five individually packed crafts, each with their materials and set of instructions, and a card with illustrations of all crafts contained in the box.

We tried two of the crafts so far, and I'm sharing them with you.

RAINBOW LANTERN
This was one of the colourful crafts that caught Little Dude's eye. We have never tried the paper mache technique before, but it looked like fun!

We used a mixture of glue and water to stick the crepe paper on to the balloon, and this was done in many layers. I had to do most of the layering as it got a little too messy for Little Dude! The dried layered paper became our lantern.

The balloon lost some air (I should have knotted it) and so the lantern isn't as round as it should be, but I still like how it looks! I placed it on a jar lid, and put in the electric tea light, and it looks great, almost like it's made of fabric.

COLOUR WHEEL SPINNERS
This is a craft and activity in one, and a good way to explore colour mixing.

We cut out the first set of wheels, and coloured in the second one. When we stringed through two wheels and pulled the yarn, it merged the colours. This was a fun activity for Little Dude!

I will be sharing the rest of our crafts from Kenzibox this month, so make sure you're following me on Instagram!

These are the things I love about KenziBox:

1. The crafts are packed in separate clear bags, with their own set of materials and instructions. So, you can just pick one up and start working on it.
2. Only illustrations are provided instead of photos, so you don't have a perfect result to replicate, only a guideline. I like that they believe that 'the fun is in the process', something I always aim for.
3. The instructions are very clear, and even some one with no crafting experience will have no trouble following them. In fact, I've been told that many Dads like using KenziBox with their kids!
4. The crafts cater to a wide age range of 3 to 8 years, so there's your kids can share it. The crafts are also gender neutral.
5. Your child may need help with some of the crafts, so this is a great way to spend quality time with them, which is also screen-free.
6. All of the crafts are educational, and there are tips included on extending the concept understanding further.
7. KenziBox is great for busy Moms and Dads, who just don't have the time to set up activities for their kids, but wish they did.

If you would like to order the Art Studio KenziBox, visit their website to order now. It costs AED 185 and will be delivered for free across the UAE.

You can also gift a box to a child. They also do party favors.

The boxes are also available on subscription. A 3-month subscription means the box only costs you AED 175, while if you subscribe for 6 or 12 months it will cost you even less at AED 155.
Visit the KenziBox website on www.kenzibox.com for further details, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

We were provided with the product for the purpose of review, but all views and opinions are my own.