Reviewing the Smile, Create, Repeat December 2016 Box
Since I really liked my first subscription box, I've decided to try several different art subscription boxes. For this post I am reviewing the Smile Create Repeat box for December 2016. If you want to try out some of the products yourself, I have included my Amazon Affiliate links down below.
When you open the box this is what you see. I think wrapping the supplies in brown paper with a piece of rope-like twine is a cute idea.
The first item that you receive is a first time subscriber gift pencil with the Smile Create Repeat logo on it.
The next item I received is a Prismacolor Premier Illustration Marker. This marker was a black color.
This marker has a 05 size fine tip nib. These markers are highly pigmented, lightfast, and water resistant. I really like to use these kind of pens for inking final details on a watercolor picture. These markers are available at Amazon in a nice pack of 7 with assorted tips including the 05 tip.
The next item was a General's Kimberly Drawing Pencil with an HB lead. Smile Create Repeat is giving out one of these pencils every month so you can collect the entire set from 9H to 9B. You can find these at Amazon, Dick Blick, etc.
Next I received some Manuscript CalliCreative Italic Markers. The colors I received were gold and red.
These pens have a bullet and chisel nib and are used for calligraphy. These markers can be found on Amazon or Dick Blick. You can buy individual colors at dickblick.com.
One of the best things about this box is that it comes with a project to do and this month's project is a Christmas card. The directions show how to use each supply in the box to make the card.
There were also 2 Strathmore Watercolor Postcards, 2 Strathmore Watercolor Cards, and 3 Color-aid papers in the box. You can use markers, watercolors, and acrylics to paint on the cards and postcards. They are available at Amazon, Dick Blick, and lots of other craft stores. The Color-aid papers are great for paper crafting and collages. They are also available at Amazon and Dick Blick in large packs of 220 or 314 pieces. The box also includes a postcard with the monthly winner of the best artwork using the previous month's supplies. There is also a Smile Create Repeat sticker included every month.
This is a good box for beginning artists and especially young artists. It introduces basic art supplies and the lesson is easy to follow even for children. Another plus for this box is the YouTube video lesson that goes along with every month's box. This box cost me $25 with free shipping. It only ships in the USA. Check them out at www.smilecreaterepeat.com.
Doodlin' Time!
So naturally I had to check these items out! The General Pencil is very nice for sketching and makes a nice gradation from dark to light. The Prismacolor Premier Illustration Marker makes a very fine line and works great for inking watercolor paintings. I doodled a little teddy bear and totally messed it up, haha! (Which is why I always do my drawings in pencil first and then ink them.) The CalliCreative Italic Markers were great for making thick and thin lines. The gold would probably show up really well on some black paper. I plan to use the Strathmore postcards and greeting cards for some watercolor paintings later on.