Why not stay inside with a hot cup of tea (or maybe some mulled wine) and get artsy, whether by yourself, with a mate or with your favourite person? 

We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to try Crock’d’s new pottery, painting and yarn gift sets – here’s what we thought! 

Date Night Pottery Bundle

As with most date nights, we grabbed our favourite drinks and a $5 Aldi tiramisu, put on the Studio Ghibli soundtrack, and cleared some space.

First on our list was Crock’d’s Date Night Pottery Bundle. This Bundle comes with a whole range of goodies, including:

• A pottery kit for two people. This includes:
  • 2 large bags of Crock’d clay, which is more than enough for 4 creations each. 
  • 1 crockbook, which outlines easy to follow instructions for a wild variety of pieces you can make.
  • A Claybreaker convo card set, which includes great conversation starters (be prepared to get deep).
  • A custom pottery tool set.
  • A reusable tote bag, so you can keep everything neat and tidy.
  • Air-dry or firing details, so you know exactly what to do with your finished masterpiece.
• Two non-slip silicone mess mats, with gorgeous decorations on them.
• A mindfulness cards set.

Even better, it comes packaged in a stunning, eco-friendly gift box.

As we got into it, we appreciated several things. The instructions were incredibly thorough and easy to follow, even for those of us with no artistic background. It was refreshing to pick it up and have fun with it, and everything about the kit made that accessible. Another aspect of the instructions that we loved were the illustrations. They were playful and entertaining, and they included a QR code for video tutorials, which is perfect for folks who are visual learners. Big thumbs up!

We especially appreciated the conversation starter card sets. Having the space and opportunity to open a can of worms and discuss our fears, dreams and desires whilst making pottery was fun. Once again, loved the illustrations – funky and cool. 

Speaking of card sets, let’s touch on the creative mindfulness cards, which offered a fun way to discuss, process and release feelings. There were 32 cards in total, with 16 focused on releasing emotions, and 16 providing practical, simple activities to help “clear the brain fog and hit the big reset button”. What’s best about these cards is that they aren’t a one-and-done card set: they can be reused as many times as you wish, with different people, or even on your own, to process and persevere. 

When we finished our creations (two mugs, one cat statue and one Totoro look-alike), we had two options: we could let it air dry, or get it fired. We decided to let it air dry, so we could paint it with acrylic colours. Two things to note here: it takes two weeks for the clay to air dry, and air dried clay isn’t waterproof or food safe. 

If getting it fired in a kiln is more your style, you let your creations dry for two weeks, and then you take it to your local kiln. No reason to feel glazed and confused: it’s an entirely easy process!

Ultimately, we had a fantastic time getting our hands dirty and having a laugh. We would highly recommend giving it a shot – whether you do it by yourself, with a friend or with a partner, you’ll have a blast. 

Date Night Paint Bundle

Next on our list was Crock’d’s Date Night Paint Bundle. This Bundle comes with a whole range of goodies, including:

• A Paint n’ Pot kit for two people. This includes:
  • 10 acrylic paints and sealant tubes: think high quality, with a great range of colours, perfect for your painting needs. 
  • 3 premium nylon paint brushes, for your painting needs. 
  • 2 100% Eco-Friendly Recycled Plastic Planter Pots: we love that these are made from recycled bottles, and are ideal for our indoor plants. 
  • An easy to use funky design guide: get inspired! 
• Two non-slip silicone mess mats, with gorgeous decorations on them.
• A mindfulness cards set.

With a love for indoor plants, this was the perfect date night idea for us. What we especially appreciated was the funky design guide. It was a great source of inspiration, and provided really easy to follow, straightforward steps on how to paint: great for beginners.  

With the guide in hand, and some inspo music in the background, we got to painting. The paint was easy to use, and the pots were a fantastic size. Top tip: to speed up the drying process, you can use a hairdryer to dry in between coats. When we were happy with the designs, we put the sealant on and let it air-dry. The next day, the pots were ready to use. One was a medium size, the second a larger size. Another thing to note: we loved the range of colours. They were very easy to mix and match, and they painted on beautifully.

All in all, it took us a couple of hours (excluding the sealant), and we loved the results. Two unique pots, brightening up our home. Next (optional) step: a trip to your local nursery, for a fun indoor plant!

Side Step: Watercolour Paint Set

Crock’d also provided us with their lovely portable watercolour paint set. With ultra-fine brushes and cute colours, it was a lovely addition to the kits. I loved being able to take it with me to the Botanic Gardens, and painting one of the flowers that we saw.

What sealed the deal for me was the quality of the paper. It was high-quality and easy to paint on, and the 24 colours to choose from made the experience incredibly easy and fun.

Chunky Thread

Last on the list was the Chunky Knit Starter kit. I’d always wanted to dip my toe into knitting, but had never known where to start, and this kit seemed like the perfect pool to dive into. The kit is advertised as creative mindfulness DIY Chunky Knit Starter Kit, intentionally crafted to bring the benefits of hands-on creativity anywhere.

It comes with:

• 2x super soft 100% Cotton Chunky Thread balls (40m)
• Different creations to choose from (including a Dog Bed, Throw and Tote Bag)
• Printed guides to learn the arm yarn basics
• Beautiful look-book for serious inspo to style your chunky thread

There was also the opportunity to add a virtual workshop led by one of their superstar Crockd hosts to elevate your piece.

I decided to give it a shot myself, using the thread and tote bag design. Initially, I felt overconfident, wandered away from the guidebook and got tangled up – but when I detangled myself and returned to the guidebook (humbled), I found it significantly easier to use. 

When compared to using needles, using arms is a lot more immersive and relaxing. The repetitive motions were soothing, and doing something so hands-on let me relax and focus on being creative. 

If you’ve wanted to give knitting a go but haven’t been sure about it, I would recommend starting with a Chunky Thread kit. I found the kit easy to use and most importantly of all: fun! If you’re a seasoned pro, you’ll love the new approach to knitting.

I love my new tote bag: it’s cute and bright, and best of all, I made it. Side note: I love the variety of colours you can choose from! This time, I was blessed with the fun yellow thread.

Whether you’re looking for a fun date night, a way to try something new with your friends, or wanting to treat yourself, Crock’d’s kits are a unique way to get out of your comfort zone and have fun. The entire process, from ordering to crafting, was smooth from start to finish, and was overall a fantastic experience. 

– Daniela

Daniela Koulikov is a freelance writer who loves all things sustainability. 

To pick up a kit for yourself or a loved one, head on over to Crock’d’s website. While you’re there, why not browse their upcoming studio classes too?

The Plus Ones were invited guests of Crock’d.

Image credit: supplied.