Arts and crafts are back in style and it’s easy to see why when you consider the advantages. Aside from providing you with ways to express your personality, crafting can also help reduce stress and sharpen the mind. Making anything from scratch provides a sense of accomplishment and it’s also a fantastic way to spend quality time with family and friends.
How to Choose a Craft to Start With
With so many projects to pick from, it’s easy to become overwhelmed about where to begin. The goal is to do something that you enjoy and has a positive impact on your overall well-being. We’re talking about your leisure time here. Nobody is giving you homework or grading you. You’re constructing for the sheer thrill of creating something out of nothing.
Remember that you don’t have to do everything. Some people can accomplish everything, but they are few and far between. Most individuals stick to one or two crafts that they like. Also, consider how much you want to invest in materials. Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of pricey equipment to get started with many crafts. You can operate within your own budget while still creating magic.
If you’re unsure of which craft to take up, consider the list below before you visit an art & craft store. While not all of them cater to beginners, most can be learned with a little bit of practice and can be mastered over time. That way, you won’t get discouraged and can explore the activity until you find your niche.
Cardmaking
This involves creating greeting cards, gift tags, invitations, and thank-you notes. You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you want, depending on your skill level.
All you need is a stack of cardstock, some scissors, a paper trimmer, adhesive, and any embellishments you want to use, such as ribbon, sequins, or stamps. As your skills develop, you can start incorporating other materials, such as vellum, to give your cards a more professional look.
Scrapbooking
As much as we love taking pictures, most of us don’t do anything with them once they’re printed. Scrapbooking gives you a way to display your photos in an artistic manner while also telling a story. This gives you complete control over how your memories are presented.
To get started, all you need is a blank scrapbook, some photos, and some adhesive. From there, the sky’s the limit. You get to decide what goes on each page and how you want it to look. Whether you want to keep it simple or go all out, scrapbooking is a great way to show off your personality.
Decoupage
Decoupage is the art of gluing paper cut-outs to surfaces to create a pieces of art. It’s a great way to repurpose old magazines and newspapers, as most of us have at lest a few laying around. So instead of throwing them out, put them to good use by decoupaging them onto a blank canvas, wood panel, or furniture.
Your first step is to gather your materials. In addition to paper cut-outs, you’ll need Mod Podge (or a decoupage medium that you’ll be using as a base), a paintbrush, and the surface you’re working on. Once you have everything, start by covering your surface with a layer of Mod Podge. Then, begin adding your paper cut-outs, one at a time. Once you’re happy with the design, add another layer of Mod Podge over top to seal it all in.
Painting
There’s truly no limit to what you can create with a paintbrush. You can turn a plain old canvas into a masterpiece or repurpose an old piece of furniture by giving it a fresh coat of paint. There are no hard and fast rules that dictate what you can or can’t paint, so feel free to let your creativity run wild.
You just need a few supplies to get you going. A bit of acrylic paint, brushes, a cup of water, and a piece of paper to use as a palette will do the trick. If you’re painting on canvas, you may want to invest in an easel to make the process easier. Otherwise, a tabletop will suffice.
Pro tip – if you’re out of ideas or feeling uninspired, try looking for painting tutorials online. There are plenty of step-by-step guides that can help you get started, no matter what your skill level may be.
Candle Making
Both beeswax and regular candles are easy to make at home with the right ingredients. You can find most of what you need at your local art & craft store, such as wicks, wax, moulds, and fragrance oils. The key to making a good candle is to take your time and pay attention to the details.
The first step is to melt your wax. This can be done in a double boiler or in a slow cooker set to low. Once the wax is melted, add your fragrance oil and stir until it’s fully combined. Then, carefully pour the wax into your moulds and let them cool completely. When they’re solid, you can remove them from the compartments and trim the wicks.
