Many times, we find ourselves wanting to do more with our downtime, but many do not know what to do. Many have bottled up creativity that they don’t know how to use. These 5 crafts are meant to get anyone out of that slump and not let that creativity go to waste. Each craft brings its own set of difficulties, though they can all be made with things around the house. Whether you’re doodling, designing, or decorating, these activities are perfect for doing solo or with friends—and they’ll leave you with something that’s totally your own.
Make Your Own Coloring Pages
Materials Needed:
- Printer paper
- Pencils
- Sharpies
- Coloring supplies (crayons, markers, or colored pencils)
Time Required:
15–30 minutes
Why This Craft Works:
You enjoy doodling, like group activities, or want a fun twist on traditional coloring books.
How-To:
Looking for a low-stress, high-fun group activity? Try making your own coloring pages! Each person draws a simple line design—think flowers, monsters, or abstract doodles. Once you’re done, go over the pencil lines with a Sharpie to make them bold and clean. Then, trade your pages and color in each other’s art. It’s like a homemade coloring book, where every page is one-of-a-kind. Plus, it’s a great way to laugh, share, and get inspired by how differently everyone sees the world.
Create Mini Stories: AKA Zines
Zines are short, diverse stories that can be made with any idea in mind. Zines have a rich history, evolving from early fan publications to become a prominent form of self-expression in punk, DIY, and various subcultures.
Materials Needed:
- Printer Paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Coloring Supplies
Time Required:
45 min – 2 hrs
Why This Craft Works:
You like storytelling or sequencing
How-To: Tutorial here.
Think of any story you want to tell. Is it compelling? Does it have fun characters? Why not try and create your own mini book! To create this craft, fold your paper horizontally in the middle. With that, unfold the paper and fold it in half vertically. Fold each half once again vertically, and unfold it all. Cut a line through the middle between the two middle sections to create a gap. The gap allows for an easy fold and turning of the pages.
Growing Your Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Materials Needed:
- Pipe Cleaners
- Scissors
Time Required:
15-45 Minutes
Why This Craft Works:
Wish you could keep your favorite bouquets forever?
How-To: Tutorial here.
With chenille stems, or more commonly known as pipe cleaners, you can create flowers that will stay fresh forever. You can make them as elaborate or as simple as you want, and the colors are all up to you. Optional things, such as beads or different ribbons, can be added for extra decoration. But this craft only needs two things, and no glue!
Carving Your Stamps
Materials Needed:
- Unused Eraser
- Exacto Knife
- Acrylic Paint
- Paper
Time Required:
30 min – 1 hr
Why This Craft Works:
You like simble but effective crafts, and customizable designs
How-To: Tutorial here
Though this requires a little more concentration, this craft can be just as fun! You can create stamps without being much of an artist yourself. Draw the design on the eraser, either with a pencil or Sharpie, up to you. Using the exacto knife to carve out the image, taking away the negative space. This is a fun way to project any image you want, and these can be used in many ways! You can customize any sheet of paper, including cards, envelopes, notes, and more!
A Touch of You: Bottlecap Pins
Materials Needed:
- Bottlecaps
- Safety Pins
- Poptabs
- Acrylic Paint
- Needlenose Pliers
Time Required:
45 min – 2 hr
Why This Craft Works:
You like to reuse materials
How-To: Tutorial Here
This is the most time-consuming of the list, but this craft is worth it! You can reuse those bottle caps and create your own designs. Using paint, or any other material, you can paint on top of them to create whatever you like. The possibilities are endless! To attach, use the needlenose pliers to bend the edges of the cap over the poptab to keep it in place. This is where you will attach the safety pin through the pop tab. Now, this bottle cap has turned into a functional pin!
