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It’s well known that crafting can stimulate thinking, increase creativity, and even reduce stress, which can have a positive effect on your mood. Even if you’re not an expert crafter, you can still have fun with these easy craft projects for adults. From simple projects with paper, yarn, and paint to creative upcycling ideas, make the most of what you already have at home. And the best part? When you’re done, you’ll have a beautiful piece to keep or give to a loved one as a handmade gift.
While we’ve listed some projects that take longer to complete (like this DIY coffee table), most can be completed in under an hour. You’ll find tutorials and step-by-step instructions for making a variety of DIY fashion accessories, personal care items, and beautiful home decor. Examples include hand-painted bracelets, rose petal bath salts, and butterfly photo frames, just to name a few. As you browse through this list, you’ll find easy projects that are perfect for beginners, as well as more challenging options (like this crochet pillow) to test your skills.
If you’re looking for craft ideas for this season, there’s no shortage of inspiration – check out our roundup of summer crafts, easy fall projects, and DIY Christmas decorations! Remember, these easy craft ideas are for adults, but we’ve got plenty of craft ideas for kids, too.
Cut some branches from your favorite houseplant or a nearby tree and use them to create beautiful plates for decoration. The hardest part is rolling the imprint into the air-dried clay with a rolling pin.
With a few flower stencils and acrylic paint, you can transform a simple tote bag into a unique accessory. You can also buy letter templates that can be used to write inspirational phrases or the name of a loved one, such as “Mom.”
Make your own bath salts and transform your bathroom into a luxurious spa. Even better, this recipe will give new life to your fading bouquet of roses!
When guests walk into your charming entryway, you can introduce them to a hand-woven rug. All you need is a natural coir rug, some outdoor acrylic paint, and a couple of brushes to create a design on your doormat!
Make this classic wooden game more colorful! Using a small foam brush and acrylic paint, lightly paint the sides of each Jenga brick. The entire process should take no more than 30 minutes.
Whether it’s a birthday or a special occasion, these eye-catching paper flower decorations will make any gift more personal. Once you master this simple origami technique, you’ll be using it often!
Most mid-century modern side tables cost at least $100, but this DIY option is a lot cheaper. It even comes with a round cake pan that can be painted any color you want and has hidden storage.
Let your imagination run wild and draw or carve your favorite design on a wooden bracelet. Handmade bracelets are fun to wear, and you can also draw a bracelet for a friend.
Decorate your home with these beautiful flower lanterns or make them in batches for an upcoming party. Of course, you can emboss the flowers yourself, but it’s much more economical to buy a kit online.
This farmhouse wall shelf design was inspired by an antique apothecary cabinet and can be recreated for under $15. You can decorate it with all sorts of embellishments, from seasonal ornaments to office supplies and vintage trinkets.
Bookworms will love marking pages with this smiling bumblebee bookmark. Plus, this little craft lets you use up any felt scraps left over from previous projects.
With just a little spray paint and some masking tape, this DIY decorating project is a breeze! The hardest part was deciding what color to paint the vase.
Decorate your home with taper candles to make it more attractive, especially if you are planning a party. In this craft, we used markers (acrylic paints would work too) to create a flower pattern.
Do you like to draw but don’t know how to paint? Follow this step-by-step video and create a masterpiece with ease. Place the finished product in a simple frame and you will have a truly unique piece of art.
Do yourself a favor and use this delicious soap… and make it yourself. You’ll only need a few ingredients: goat’s milk soap base, dried lavender, lavender oil, and a silicone soap mold.
This is a great craft idea that will take less than five minutes to make. To create this unique pair of earrings, you will need a few supplies, including silk tassels, gold studs, and earring hooks.
Use old window frames to hang photos, greeting cards, and favorite artwork to add a personal or seasonal touch. Use a glue gun to attach small clips for a vintage look.
Whether you have a talent for gardening or not, you can still create a garden that will never wither. Download these templates and follow the instructions below to make paper flowers in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
All you need is some scrap vinyl and cheap glasses from IKEA or the dollar store to create these eye-catching cocktail glasses. This method is super simple, but the results are stunning and will surely wow your cocktail party guests.
Burlap coasters not only add texture and warmth to your presentation, but they also protect your tabletop from stains and spills. Sew a colorful border to a plain burlap square or run thread along the edge to create fringe and complete the effect.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the Lifestyle Editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Before joining GH in 2022, she wrote for ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine, and LODGING Magazine, and has written for home brands including BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle topics. Mariah has over four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women’s Health, and Avocado Magazine. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from the Craig Newmark School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart & Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Feelings, in 2019. She is also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creative people of color to connect, learn, and showcase their work.
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