I can’t think of a better company to highlight for Earth Day than Arrterro. Artterro is all about creating eco-friendly, high-quality craft kits that can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults, novices to experienced crafters. The kits use materials collected from authentic sources around the globe, as well as recycled cardboard packaging. They are assembled by Goodwill. Best of all, they are fun to work with and result in projects worth framing or giving as gifts.
When Artterro invited me to choose a craft kit to review, I was stumped. It took me a week to get back to them, only to reply that I couldn’t choose. Honestly, I wanted them all. They have a Canvas Storybook Kit that I thought would be a great project for celebrating a birthday. There is a Wool Felt Bug Kit that I thought the kids would enjoy working on. In the end, I asked them to decide and was delighted to received the Paint with Wool Kit.
The kit arrived with four 4″ x 4″ pieces of white wool, 3 felting needles, and 14 pieces of wool roving in a rainbow of vibrant colors. I provided my own sponge to use as a base for the felting (as recommended in the directions). The kit comes with directions, but they are merely there to explain how to do the felting, not what to do with the kit. I like that the kits are open-ended, but I would have liked to see a bit more inspiration for people new to the craft. Create your favorite shape or flower, make a card for a loved one, design your own monogram, etc. Just some ideas for people who immediately go blank when faced with a blank canvas.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this particular craft, but it’s so easy. You place some roving on your felt, poke at it with the needle, and the felt melds together enough that it creates a piece of art. But the cool thing is that if you change your mind or make a mistake, you can still just pull the roving off the backing. I’m still partway through my first piece, but it takes awhile to create a solid piece of artwork. The only real challenges of this particular craft are that the needle is sharp and can easily be broken. The kit is designed for older children (8+), although a patient and attentive younger child would do just fine.
I can’t say enough good things about this kit. Every bit of it, from materials to packaging, are of wonderful quality. My only complaint (other than the wish for a bit more suggestion in the directions) is the lack of foam/sponge. Sponges are inexpensive, and can easily be reused around the home, so I’m not sure why they don’t include one. This is a small complaint, however, as most people have a clean sponge or a left over scrap of foam packaging that they can use. It just keeps the kit from being one that you can toss without thought into a bag for a vacation or camping trip.
Are you wondering what you’ll pay for all of this eco-friendly quality? The Paint with Wool Kit retails for $19.95, as do most of the other kits. A few of the kits are $26.95, but those look well worth it as well. I already have these on my mental list for birthday gifts for some of my nieces… these are perfect for tweens who still like crafts, but are ready for something nicer than cheap plastic beads and acrylic pom-poms.
Disclosure: I received a craft kit for review from Artterro. There was no promise of a positive review and the opinions contained in this post are my own.
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