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Whether you love getting creative or you just want something to get stuck into at home, crafting something by hand can be great fun.
Immersing yourself in a DIY project can help you to relax and engage your imagination. Plus, it’s nice to feel proud of the finished product.
Crafting isn’t just for kids. There are all sorts of interesting projects that allow us as adults to explore our artistic sides and inject some entertainment into the day.
From making clothing, accessories, and practical household items to creating quirky things like DIY instruments and figurine terrariums – hopefully there’s something for everyone here.
1. DIY desk tidy
For an enjoyable afternoon’s work that’ll also help you with future craft projects, why not make your own desk organiser?
If you’re into woodworking, you could make a classic, sturdy wooden desk tidy. You could even make one out of recycled materials.
Or, if you don’t want to create something from scratch, you could simply decorate an existing desk organiser instead. There are lots of neutral wooden desk tidies available online that are perfect for painting, adding stickers, or adding your own personalised stamp any way you’d like.
If you don’t have much space on your desk, these DIY clip-on desk organisers from Brit + Co are another way to use your space efficiently while having some creative fun.
2. Calligraphy
If you’d like to make your own personalised greeting cards or write letters to your friends and family, learning calligraphy could be a rewarding long-term project.
Written correspondence has fallen by the wayside in the last couple of decades, but that just means that any letters we do receive are extra special.
If you’re curious and would like to get started, check out our beginner’s guide to calligraphy.
3. Polaroid album
Physical photo albums are another item that’s fallen out of fashion with the rapid development of technology. But once again, the less common they are, the more special they seem.
While you can always use a photo printer to commemorate pictures of family and friends, why not take it one step further and use a Polaroid camera?
Polaroid cameras were once used as the standard for taking snaps. The smaller, instant-printing (and often overexposed) photos they produce have a certain timeless charm – one that the high-quality smartphone cameras in everyone’s pockets just can’t quite match.
You can buy a variety of Polaroid cameras online, along with photo albums to fill (just make sure your album is for the right photo size).
For more inspiration, you might like our article: 8 fun photography projects that you can start today.
4. Tote bag
It’s always a satisfying feeling to make use of something you crafted with your own hands.
If you’re a fan of sewing, you could think about making a tote bag for yourself or a friend. Check out this sewing pattern from Megan Nielsen Patterns to craft your own oversized tote bag that’s perfect for carrying about on the go.
Or, if you’d prefer to skip sewing, you could tie-dye an existing tote to create your own expressive accessory.
This tote bag tie-dye guide from Laura’s Crafty Life has all the details you need, and you can get all the necessary materials, including your tote and tie-dye kit, on Amazon.
5. Embroidered clothing
If you’ve always fancied creating your own custom clothing but aren’t keen on making items from scratch, why not try embroidery?
You can use embroidery to create designs on a wide range of outfits, though it looks especially good on denim. The panel on the back of a denim jacket is the perfect canvas to let your creativity loose, and Cutesy Crafts has a guide to help you do just that.
Alternatively, a baseball cap also looks great with an embroidered pattern. You could try making your own with this cap embroidery guide from Swoodson Says.
For a complete guide, check out this embroidery for beginners article from Gathered.
6. Flower pressing
Flowers can spruce up just about any environment, and there are many ways to make beautiful arrangements.
Flower pressing can be a charming alternative to a traditional bouquet or vase arrangement, and can be used in a variety of ways. You might want to frame your creations, or you could even add them to cards and gifts for friends.
You can buy your own flower press if you’d like to get serious and dive into the hobby. Though, many people find that a heavy hardcover book works just as well!
If you’d like to get started, this complete flower-pressing guide from FTD By Design will have you covered.
7. Photo coasters
The beauty of DIY is that whatever you create will contain a unique piece of you. And one way to run with that idea is to craft a practical household item using your family’s memories.
Photo coasters are a great way to display pictures of family and friends – and they make great conversation starters, too.
They’re also incredibly simple and easy to make. All you need is square tiles, something non-stick for the bottom, printed photos, and the right glue and sealant. To learn how to make your own photo coasters, check out this photo coasters guide from Lomography.
Or, for a fun twist, why not make coasters with album cover artwork, or even with comic book panels? The proportions of an album cover and the blocky stylised art of a comic book page both work great for square tiles. Check out this guide from the Mod Podge Rocks Blog for some ideas.
8. Homemade bath bombs
Bath bombs are a classic gift and self-care treat. And while it’s fun to browse the different colours, shapes, and scents in a shop, you can easily make your own at home.
You’ll no doubt feel extra relaxed as you lie back and bathe in the results of your own handiwork – and they make cute gifts, too.
To make DIY ones using readily available ingredients, check out this bath bomb guide from BBC GoodFood. Or, if you’d prefer, you can buy a bath bomb kit on Amazon.
9. Terrariums
For a beautiful alternative to the classic flower vase, why not try making your own terrarium?
There are all sorts of ways to capture your own little piece of nature in a bottle, from quick and simple mason jar succulents to more intricate, expensive arrangements.
To make your own, check out this terrarium guide from The Spruce. Or, if you’d like to create something a little more ambitious, DIY Terrariums has a wide range of high-quality materials available for purchase.
For children (or just the child at heart!), you could try making terrariums with small toys and figurines. It can be a lot of fun to create a miniature forest home for a dinosaur, or even submerge a dolphin in its own undersea reef.
10. Bookends
Another household staple that makes a fun craft project is bookends.
There are endless ways to get creative with the materials and designs of bookends.
This article from The Spruce has 15 great designs you can easily try at home. Or, you could get creative and see what you already have lying around the house – just about anything can be crafted into a quirky but sturdy bookshelf accessory.
11. Photo holders
The traditional picture frame is the go-to method for displaying memories around the house. However, why not shake things up with your own handmade photo holders?
There are all sorts of ways to craft cute displays for your photographs. And if you’re looking for an excuse to vary your displays, it’s much easier to swap out photos when they’re held by a clip rather than a full frame.
This DIY photo holder guide from Little Red Window has loads of great styles you can make from home out of all sorts of things, from wood blocks to toy dinosaurs.
12. DIY instruments
Decorations are lovely, but sometimes the best craft projects are the ones that leave you with something to play with. So, why not have a go at building your own instruments?
So, why not have a go at building your own instruments? You might struggle to craft a full 88-key grand piano (though don’t let us stop you!), but there’s a wide variety of simple instruments that you can easily make yourself for an afternoon of musical fun.
Percussion and plucked string instruments are the easiest. You might want to try making a drum, a rain shaker, a guitar, or even a banjo using rubber bands and a bottle lid.
You can also make simple wind instruments, such as a whistle, kazoo, or even a set of panpipes. You can even make rudimentary flutes out of fruit and vegetables.
And if you’d really like to let your creative spirit out, there’s no need to follow a pre-existing plan. Instead, you could try creating your own original instrument. There’s truly no limit to what your instrument can look like or what materials you use, as long as it can make a sound.
To get inspired, you might want to check out this gallery of original DIY instruments.
13. Kumiko
Kumiko is a unique form of Japanese architecture and design in which intricate wooden patterns are constructed without nails, screws, glue, or any kind of fastening materials.
Instead, the wood pieces are held together in symmetrical geometric patterns by equally distributed pressure. This means every piece needs to be perfectly sized to within 0.1mm.
You may already recognise Kumiko patterns from some Japanese shoji doors and screens. But Kumiko can also be used to create independent art pieces and frames.
To find out more about this ancient art style, check out this kumikio article from Japan Objects. And if you want to have a go yourself, have a read of this Mek Woodworks guide on how to get started.
Final thoughts...
We hope that our list has inspired you to get started on a fun and unique craft project. Whether you want to create bespoke gifts for friends and family, add something personal to your look, or just let loose and have some no-holds-barred fun.
If you’d like to explore more fun DIY projects, why not check out our articles: 10 interesting craft ideas to try at home and 12 fun and creative projects that you can do at home? There are also plenty of other creative articles and guides in our art and culture section.
Have you attempted any of the projects on our list? We’d love to read about your creations in the comments below.
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