Do you remember being a kid? Between the piles of math homework, time spent playing outside, and mandatory hour of playing video games or watching your favorite cartoons, you still found time to create. And it was the best thing ever.
So why is it that finding the time for crafts and other forms of creation is so difficult as an adult?
Whatever the reason, there is some good news: Finding that time has never been easier! There are tons of craft kits for adults that you can find online or at your local arts-and-crafts store. These kits contain all of the tools and accessories you need to get started with your favorite hobby (or any hobby you’d like to give a shot)—and most of them are super-affordable, too!
Top 3 Picks
Best Overall: Crockd DIY Pottery Kit
The Crockd DIY Pottery Kit is our pick for “Best Overall” due to its affordable price, solid collection of beginner materials and tools, and for its unique conversation starter cards. Quality and fun wrapped into one!
Best for Price: Ohuhu 128 Pcs Artist Painting Set
For roughly $100, you get a crazy-huge set of beginner painting supplies: 2 easels, tons of paints and brushes, and so much more. And you don’t get just one type of painting set—this one provides materials for acrylic painting, water color painting, oil painting, and sketching.
Most Versatile: YRYM HT Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginners
The YRYM HT Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginners is our pick for “Most Versatile” because you can use epoxy for just about anything once you get the hang of it! This set is affordable and provides all the materials you need to get started.
Why Crafting as an Adult is Good for You
We often associate arts-and-crafts with young children and high-on-life individuals with a penchant for all things crafty. But thinking about crafts in this light doesn’t give us the whole picture: there are tons of reasons why you, as an adult, should consider taking up a craft or two.
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Relief
Arts and crafts are an excellent, non-medicinal way to relieve depression, anxiety, and general stress. There are several reasons for this:
- The act of creating releases dopamine, making us feel happier.
- It can also put us into a “flow state,” which can be quite therapeutic.
- It gives us a way to distance ourselves from the things that bother or depress us.
- On the other hand, creating can also help us reflect and work through those things subconsciously.
Pain Relief
Nope, no BS. Engaging in certain arts and crafts can actually help reduce physical pain. There are two reasons for this:
- Better blood flow. When you feel relaxed, your blood flow and circulation is faster and more efficient. This is good for not only your brain, but also your body as a whole!
- Enhanced fine motor skills. Some art-related activities, such as painting or woodworking, are especially good for enhancing your fine motor skills. This is important as you get older and lose some of your former flexibility and kinesthetic ability.
Creativity Boost
Tapping into your artistic side does wonders for your overall creativity and broadens your mindset. The more time you spend creating and the more into it you get, the greater your creative benefits will be! This will not only enhance your art skills, but also give you the skills needed to make better real-life decisions and overcome obstacles.
More Self-Confidence
By beginning to create something, you’re simultaneously placing confidence in yourself and your abilities. By finishing something—and seeing that it’s good or has potential—you’re allowing that confidence to grow and are ultimately fostering a headspace that will help you create better and better things as time goes on.
This newfound confidence can be applied to several other areas of your life: asking for a promotion or pay raise at work, relaxing before a big university exam, or fine-tuning your skills in a hobby you’re even more passionate about.
Less Risk of Cognitive Decline
The older we get, the more we have to face the inevitable: our brains will one day start to slow down, or fail us altogether. But the future doesn’t have to look so glum. Arts and crafts are known to ward off or slow down cognitive decline in older people and keep younger minds fresh for longer!
Something as simple as painting for an hour each day, writing a couple of journal pages every night before bed, or practicing your embroidery for thirty minutes in the morning, can prevent early onset dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.
New Skills
Depending on the art hobby you pick up and your prior experience with hobbies in general, you can gain some new skills in the process—or hone some of the skills you already have! Learning new skills is fantastic for your brain, makes you feel good about yourself, and makes you more valuable in your professional life. Who knows? Maybe you can even turn that new hobby into a small business or side hustle.
Encourages Communication
Perhaps a less obvious benefit of crafting is that it opens up new doors for communication. Many art-related activities are solo and introspective by nature, but there are plenty of ways to share in the act of creating: joining a knitting group, attending a cooking class, or simply sharing your works of art with others. So, if you’re finding it difficult lately to connect with others over something meaningful, discovering a hidden passion might be just the thing you need!
Craft Ideas to Try
The possibilities are endless when it comes to craft ideas and potential creative hobbies for you to try! This is both a wonderful thing and a debilitating thing—to help you get the most “wonderful” out of your endeavors, here are just three ideas to help you brainstorm.
Wood / Epoxy Resin Crafts
If you spend any amount of time on YouTube, you’ve probably seen a wood/epoxy resin video or two. It’s just so satisfying to watch these expert woodworkers craft shiny, glittery, colorful tabletops and other furniture pieces. But did you know that, with a bit of practice and guidance, you can make your epoxy resin table at home?
Homedit.com has an article outlining a few popular tabletop projects using epoxy resin—check it out and consider giving it a whirl yourself!
Candle Making
If candle making was enough to destress Jan from The Office, it can work for you too! As outlined in this article, making your own scented candles at home really isn’t too difficult—all you need is a quality kit, a positive attitude, and some patience. This type of craft is perfect for you if you often find yourself walking out of Bath & Body Works with $100-worth of candles and have realized your budget just can’t handle it anymore.
Fairy Gardens
Fairy gardens are a brilliant craft idea for anyone who wants to tap their whimsical, fantasy-loving side—and it’s something that anyone can afford to get started! You can purchase fairy or critter figurines, some fake (or live) plants, and maybe a few other odds and ends to create a basic garden. Alternatively, you can purchase a full kit with more elaborate pieces and settings.
Basic Materials to Always Have on Hand
While different crafts require different tools, there are a few basic materials you should always have on hand as you begin your crafting journey. Feel free to scour through our list and determine which of these materials make the most sense for your craft or hobby of choice.
- Hot glue guns (and sticks)
- Scrapbook paper
- Crafting scissors
- Jute twine
- Thread
- Yarn
- Ribbon
- Single-hole punch
- Popsicle sticks
- Buttons
- Fabric scraps
- Painter’s tape + washi tape
- Stencils
- Laminator
- Paint (acrylic, spray paint, chalkboard, water paints)
- Foam paint brushes
- Colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc.
- Pallet wood
- Wood burning tool
If this list sounds extensive, don’t worry! Just focus on the materials you think you’ll need most, and build up your supply as time goes on and as your crafting needs evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions you want answered before you pull out your wallet, roll up your sleeves, and get crafting? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked crafting questions!
What are creative activities for adults?
There are plenty of creative activities for adults; the real question is how to find the best one for you! Here’s a small sample of the different crafts you can try:
- Sewing
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Painting
- Coloring
- Writing
- Photography / Scrapbooking
- Stenciling
- Pottery
- Woodworking
- Epoxy resin crafts
What crafts are trending for 2021?
Honestly, what crafts aren’t trending?
While many of the “staple” crafts have grown in popularity during the pandemic, so have a few new ones!
All of the crafts mentioned above are quite popular right now, with epoxy resin crafts perhaps taking the front seat in this regard. Another craft that’s rising in popularity is—have you guessed it?—sewing face masks!
What are some “do it yourself” activities for adults?
If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the waters of DIYing, you might be feeling overwhelmed with the vast number of “DIY” projects out there. As a beginner, you should probably keep things simple for now and build up your skillset (and tool collection) over time. Here are a few beginner-friendly DIY activities for adults:
- There are plenty of easy, straightforward sewing projects you can tackle as a beginner. A few examples include making your own coin purse, overnight duffel bag, hair band, or face mask.
- As a beginner, you can focus on making smaller and less intricate wood crafts. Some examples include candle holders, a DIY wine rack, or bookends.
- You can try your hand at making plates, bowls, plant containers, or even small jewelry pieces out of clay. It’s hard to go wrong with pottery, especially since every “mistake” will help you improve your skills.
What crafts can I make at home?
With the right materials and equipment, you can do any craft at home! Whether you want to give one of the DIY projects above a go or want to try something a bit more “artsy,” the most important thing is to make sure you have everything you need on hand and ready to go.
Of course, an all-in-one craft kit will make this essential step so much easier…
The Best Craft Kits for Adults
Keep reading for our top adult craft kit picks! We’ve included our favorite kits for a variety of activities, from painting to wood burning. Pick your poison.
Luxury Candle Making Kit
What better way to unwind after a long day than with some soothing music, a glass of wine, and a flickering scented candle? But alas, two of these three things are quite expensive—so why not learn how to make your own scented candles? The Scandinavian Candle Co. Luxury Candle Making Kit is the perfect tool for total beginners to learn this simple yet fulfilling art. For a reasonable price, you get literally everything you might need to make your first batch of candles, including:
- 6 soy candle wicks
- 6 gold-coated candle tins
- 6 stirring sticks
- 1 thermometer
- 2 cotton gift baggies
- 2 scented oils
- A large container for melting
What are you waiting for? Try candle-making for yourself today, and never look back!
Artist Painting 128Pcs Set
You can only watch so many Bob Ross episodes (read: one) before you find yourself longing to paint and unleash your inner artistic genius. If you’ve caught the fever, it might be time to invest in a quality beginners’ set, such as the Ohuhu 128Pcs Artist Painting Set. No, 128 pieces is not a typo—this set has so many different components for a variety of painting styles, so it can cater to whatever style your muse is pointing you toward. For your money, you’ll get (among other things):
- 4 brush types to accommodate oil paint, water colors, acrylic paint, and sketching
- 2 adjustable and portable easels (1 aluminum and 1 wooden)
- 3 sets of 24 colors for acrylic painting, water painting, and oil painting
There’s no time like the present to get started on your dream…begin your painting adventure today and watch yourself improve with time!
Little Planters Paint & Grow Fairy Garden
Painting isn’t the only way to create new worlds with your bare hands—fairy gardens are an increasingly popular craft that allow you to explore your creative side and look within yourself for the magic of childhood. One of our favorite fairy garden kits is the BRYTE Products Little Planters Paint & Grow Fairy Garden. This set provides you with real flower seeds, a non-toxic tin planter, and everything you need to plant and care for the flowers (including instructions!). In addition, you receive a paint set with eight different colors and two paint brushes (fine tip and medium tip) so that you can paint the planter and the two included fairies. This set is the perfect way to spend some thoughtful alone time, though it also makes a perfect “family” activity for the kids!
Prime Garden 600W LED Grow Light
Indoor gardening has become a popular activity in recent times, maybe because it allows you to bring a little bit of “springtime” with you into the winter. If you’re looking for an efficient and healthy way to grow plants indoors, you should consider purchasing the Prime Garden Indoor Plants Growing Complete Kit. This set provides you with:
- a durable, double-stitched grow tent made of 96% reflective polyester film and non-toxic oxford cloth.
- a ventilation kit.
- other essential accessories (hanging ropes, hygrometer, shears, etc.).
It’s a bit pricier than many of the items on our list, but it’s a safe, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly way to grow plants indoors. Why not give it a shot?
Crockd DIY Pottery Kit
Earlier, I listed “encourages communication” as one of the reasons to take up a new craft—and none of the products on our list encourages communication quite like the Crockd DIY Pottery Kit.
“But, it’s a pottery kit. How much is there to talk about?”
Well, in addition to providing you with custom carving tools, illustrated instructions, and clay, this kit comes with “Clay Breakers.” These are little cards with conversations starters written them, so you can get to know your peers like never before while crafting your first set of (probably cruddy) plates. Interested yet?
WeeYo DIY String Art Kit
Are you looking for a structured activity to do with the kiddos? Then take a look at the WeeYo DIY String Art Kit 3 Pack. The set includes:
- 3 wood boards
- 14 colored threads
- 600 nails
- 10 wooden clips
- 1 hemp rope
- 8 fake flowers
With these items, you can either follow the three patterns included (one for a deer, one for a cactus, and one for the word “Family”) or ditch the rules and create your own unique stick designs. This is a wonderful family activity, though you can also go it alone!
Professional Wood-Burning Pen Tool
Wood burning is such a unique art concept. It might take the perfect balance of innate talent and practice to perfect but giving it a try might be the most fun you ever have. The AOUTK 84pcs Wood Burning Kit gives you everything you need to get started! It features a soldering iron, numerous tips you can switch out, an on/off button, and additional accessories you can use to make the most of your work (colored pencils, sharpeners, etc.). You’ll also find a pair of gloves included, as well as a heat-resistant protective case. Many reviews of this kit rave about how easy it is to use and how effective it is—purchase your kit today and see for yourself!
Embroidery Beginner Kits for Adults
Embroidery is such a calming hobby (or so I’ve been told). If this is something you’d like to try your hand at, we recommend the NUBERLIC Embroidery Beginner Kits 3 Pack. This simple kit comes with all the items and tools needed to begin your first cross-stitch project:
- 1 hoop (per pack)
- 1 cloth (per pack)
- 2 needles (per pack)
- Plenty of thread (per pack)
The cloth comes with an imprinted blue pattern to help guide you along your first few projects and comes with detailed instructions—perfect for beginners!
Bonsai Tree Seed Starter Kit
Are you the green-thumb type (or know someone who is)? Then consider purchasing the GARDEN REPUBLIC Bonsai Tree Seed Starter Kit! Whether you’re a veteran of indoor plant growing or have never given it much thought, you have high chances of success will this thoughtful set. For your money, you get:
- 4 bonsai tree seed types
- 4 burlap growing bags
- 4 soil discs
- 4 plant markers
- 1 pair of shears
- Instructions
- Enough extra seeds for a do-over (if necessary)
You can rest assured that these seeds are of high quality, as they’re grown in the USA, are non-GMO, and are tested for high germination success. Why not give it a try and discover the calming affects of indoor plants firsthand?
Framed Rock Art Painting Kit
Are your living room or home office walls a bit bare? Why not spruce them up a bit with some homemade wall art? If this sounds like something that would be up your alley, then check out the BC BINGO CASTLE DIY Framed Rock Art Painting Kit. This is a great activity to with the whole family, especially if your little ones or significant other have a creative, crafty side. The set includes a black frame, stones and fake moss/plants, a piece of faux driftwood, acrylic paints with brushes, nano tape, and an instruction manual to help you along. You can also use the included hooks and nails to hang up your finished art piece—what better way to remember good times with loved ones?
Bonsai Starter Kit
Were you really into that whole “bonsai tree” idea, but didn’t feel confident enough in your abilities to actually grow something with the previous kit? You might want to consider the Planters’ Choice Bonsai Starter Kit. This kit features a total of 18 pieces, including 4 different tree seeds—each of which is stored in a special “seed-safe” vial to ensure their survival and germination. In fact, the Planters’ Choice brand is ranked #1 as far as growth performance is involved! Best of all, this kit includes detailed instructions to make things go even smoother for you.
Luna Bean Keepsake Hands Casting Kit
The birth of a child, the wedding of two people, the final days of a person’s life…all of these things evoke strong emotions in us, emotions and memories we may want to hold onto forever. With the Luna Bean Keepsake Hands Casting Kit, you can cast a mold of you holding the hand of a loved one—the mix results in a durable, finely detailed mold you can cherish forever. Look no further for the perfect way to create an unforgettable gift or heartwarming keepsake.
Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginners
Epoxy resin is all the rage right now in the world of arts and crafts, and there are so many ways to use the stuff! If you want to give this a try, we recommend checking out the YRYM HT Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginners. You’ll get 15.5 ounces worth of high-gloss epoxy resin, which also happens to be:
- Non-toxic
- SOV-free
- Non-flammable
- Self-degassing
- Self-leveling
- UV-resistant
Even if you’ve never used epoxy resin before, you’ll be able to get a lot of value from this kit as it comes with detailed instructions. Have fun!
The Verdict
Crafting—whatever that looks like for you—is one of the best things you can do for your mental and emotional well-being as an adult. We hope this guide gave you some practical ideas regarding how you can start crafting today, and that one of the hobbies we listed caught your eye!
Which of these kits are you most likely to purchase? Are you picking up a new hobby or revisiting an old one? Whatever your plans are, we wish you luck!
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