My daughter and her cousins enjoy making jewelry of all kinds, so when I saw this lovely set from Nebulous Stars, I just had to get it for them to try. This set also works as an entry to amateurs working with epoxy resin, which I had never worked with before. So, working with this set was a real learning experience for all of us, a memorable one that we will always treasure. I have had the pleasure of receiving a few sets from Nebulous Stars recently and they are always so beautifully packaged; this one is no exception. The design of the box alone gives this set high marks for presentation and makes it incredibly giftable. The kids always “ooooh and awwwww” over the Nebulous Stars sets, so these really do make great gifts, particularly for older kids in the 7 – 10 age range. Inside the box you get everything you need to make 8 pieces of epoxy jewelry/bag charms all packaged neatly into a sturdy, plastic tray. Included in the set are: 8 plastic molds in various shapes for making charms, 108 beads, 2 bottles of epoxy resin, a page of beautiful stickers that go inside of the resin charms, sequins, glitter powder, nylon cords for making bracelets and necklaces, keyring hardware, a small mixing bowl, a mixing stick, disposable gloves, Eclipsia's complete story, and a manual. Each of the pieces are so pretty, they inspire children to use their creativity and imagination to make beautiful and functional jewelry pieces. The pieces of the set are also very good quality, so you know your child's creations aren't going to fall apart as soon as they make them. The manual that comes with the set was also really well done; it takes your child step-by-step using very clear and concise instructions to help them create the jewellery of their dreams. My daughter, her cousins, and I had a blast working with this jewelry making set together! I can't think of anything we needed other than what was in this set to make all of the pieces. And it was so easy! The kiddos really didn't need my help, but I wanted to be part of the fun, anyway. I just want to caution you that you may have to supervise some children with this set since you don't want the resin spilled all over your precious surfaces. I suggest finding a big, flat surface and covering it in newspaper or other protective covering, just in case. We didn't have any major spills, thankfully, but there were some drips, so the paper I put down wound up being a godsend. It's also a good idea to go over the instructions first before starting, just so you can visualize how everything is supposed to come together. There will be less mistakes that way and it gives your kids time to think out the process, figure out what they want to make, and the pieces they want to use to flesh out their creation. Making and using the resin was incredibly easy. Probably the hardest part of this process, at least for me and my arthritic fingers, was threading the beads for the necklaces and bracelets. So, in reality, you could probably buy this set for children younger than 7, just so long as you are going to supervise them, at least with the resin part. Like the other Nebulous Stars sets we've tried, the Portal Jewelry making kit is not only beautifully packaged, comprehensive, and inspirational, it's also part of a magical world of characters that intrigue young minds. Each of the Nebulous Stars characters has their own story, which further enhances the creative aspect of this set. My daughter and her cousins not only enjoy working with sets like this one, they enjoy getting to know more about the characters involved with each set. For instance, this set includes Eclipsia's story for children to further delve into the Nebulous Stars world. It's an added feature of these playsets that help to spark little imaginations. This set is regularly $25.99 and it's worth every penny, in my estimation. It can be so hard finding interesting toys/activities for children in this age range, but you just can't go wrong with Nebulous Stars playsets, in my opinion. My daughter and her cousins wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment! Not only do they engage and entertain your children, they help to further their imaginations and creativity. I hope this review has helped you to make the purchasing decision that is right for you and your child(ren).
