Anytime Crafts For You And Your Family To Enjoy

To create stunning DIY anytime crafts that will dress up your home, you don’t need to be an expert at crafting. However, you will need a little extra time and some basic supplies.

A good craft project is the best way to bust your boredom. Making something yourself is a great way to feel satisfied, especially when you can do it from the comfort of your couch. We have composed a list of our top, simple craft projects that are budget-friendly, kid-friendly, and easy to use with materials you may already have in your home.

Simple Crafts You Can Make at Home

1. Printable Coloring Cards

Everyone loves coloring. You can download some free, printable, coloring card templates from the DIY network for a virtual craft party. Send them to friends and family as an interactive gift — and you’re going to want to print a few copies for yourself.

2. Blue Monogrammed String Art

String art used to be straight out of the ’70s. But there is a new graphic version that’s back in a big way. In just a few steps, you can make your own modern monogrammed string artwork.

Materials Required:

- Precut wood plaque 9 x 12 inches
- Acrylic craft paint
- Foam paintbrush
- Scissors
- Small nails
- Hammer
- Tweezers
- String or heavy thread
- Download: String Art Letter Template

Paint Surface of Plaque

Apply a thin layer of acrylic paint to a wood plaque using a foam paintbrush.

Cut Out Template.

Download, print, and cut out the starburst monogram template so that it fits onto the plaque. Note: You can make your template using a word processing program and some clip art.

Attach Template to Plaque

Center template onto the plaque.

Keep the paper taut as you begin to hammer nails into the starburst points.

Keep adding nails about half an inch apart around the letter and starburst edges.

Removing Template

To remove the paper template from the plaque, you can use household tweezers. In addition, you can use tweezers to remove any small paper scraps stuck between nails.

Apply String

Tie the string in a double knot until to the point of one nail. Cut the excess string from the ends. Continue to tie the string and wrap it around your nails, making sure to not cross over any negative space within the monogram.

Finish String

You can finish your artwork once you are satisfied that enough string has been used to cover the letter’s surface. Next, pick an endpoint (preferably on the outside) and tie a tight knot around it. Tip: It’s important to tie it securely so that your project doesn’t unravel.

Display

To hang the plaque on the wall, apply adhesive strips or a picture hanging kit.

3. Bohemian Inspired Vases & Jars

With a few simple drawing methods, make these bohemian-inspired jars to decorate your home.

Materials Required

- Clear glass jars in different sizes.
- Oil-based paint markers in the desired color

Draw Center Design

Begin by creating a central motif such as a flower or a geometric form.

Add Details

Add design details around your central design. Next, add details to the central design and repeat the process around the perimeter.

Cover Front of Jar

Continue to work in a circular fashion, adding design details until the jar’s front is covered. Try different types of motifs such as lines, circles, triangles, and flowers.

Display Cuts

You can use the jars for displaying found objects on hikes and in your garden.

4. Picture Perfect Poms-Poms in Minutes

These super-simple tricks will make posh, picture-perfect pom-poms in no time. These pom-poms can be used as decorative door hangers, to add color to basic sandals, or as gift wraps.

TEENY, Tiny POM-POMS

Materials + Tools

- - One skein of yarn
  - scissors

Cut about 2 feet of yarn. Keep it aside for later. Next, take the yarn skein’s loose end and wrap it around the fork 20 times.

Wrap the yarn loosely but securely around the fork. Cut the yarn from the rest of the skein.

Then, take the pre-cut piece of yarn and push it through the center tine of the fork. Tie the basic knot in the middle.

Next, take the pom-pom bundle from the fork and use scissors to cut the loops at each end). Finally, trim any uneven edges to create a round shape.

HAND-WRAPPED POM-POMS

Materials + Tools

- - One skein yarn

The simplest way to make a pom-pom is to use your hand. Cut about 2 feet of yarn. Keep it aside for later. Start by removing the yarn from the skein.

Wrap the yarn around the largest part of your hand. Wrap the yarn 50 times. Wrap the yarn approximately 50 times. To keep the pom-pom fluffy, be sure not to wrap the yarn too tightly.

Tip: For a thicker pom, use bulkier yarn.

Wrap the pom-pom in a towel and gently slide it off your hand. Grab the cut piece of yarn and place the bundled pompom in the middle. Tie a basic knot around the middle of the bundle.

Once tied, use scissors to cut the loops at both ends carefully. Lastly, trim any uneven edges to create a classic, round shape.

5. DIY Finger Paints

Make easy, non-toxic, and flour-based fingerpaints.

What you’ll need:

- - 2 cups flour
  - Two tablespoons salt
  - Two tablespoons cornstarch
  - 3 cups hot water
  - Food coloring
  - Recycled jars and containers for leftovers paint

This recipe takes only two minutes to make. It’s as non-toxic as it gets, uses simple ingredients that you probably already have at hand, and it all comes together in one bowl, making it very hard to mess up.

Mix together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and water. Your children may also special-request pancakes at this time, as it looks exactly like batter when you combine the ingredients.

Cornstarch and flour are the magic ingredients that control how thick your finger paints are, so add more if you want.

Let them go wild, poking, smudging, and enjoying the thick texture of the paint you created.

It is so thick that it drys with a nice texture. It’s a little bit puffier than regular acrylics. You’ll never run out of finger paints again.

Refrigerate leftovers for up to one week.

Divide the paint into several bowls. Mix food coloring with the paint to create your custom colors.

Consider putting some of each of the colors in smaller containers depending on how much paint you need to use at one craft session. Remember that this is food coloring, so while it is diluted in the paint, it could still stain clothing and surfaces.

6. Plant And Grow Seeds

Newspaper Seed-Starter Pots

For the price of a few packets, you can grow hundreds of plants that will fill your garden with bright colors and great flavor. You don’t even have to buy seed trays and plant pots. Instead, you can take a few pieces of newspaper from the recycle bin and make them into great containers for planting seeds.

Cardboard Tube Seed-Starting

For a low-cost way to start seeds, you can use old paper towels or toilet paper tubes. Gayla Trail, HGTV’s garden expert and contributor, suggests using old cardboard boxes to start finicky plants such as beans, sunflower, and dill.

7. Simple Ombre Artwork

Even beginner artists can recreate this eye-catching artwork. Choose the gradient colors you like and apply them to a canvas.

Materials Required:

- Pencil
- Ruler
- 24″ x 18″ stretched canvas
- Seven disposable plates
- Red Tempera paint
- White Tempera paint
- Mixing stick
- Polyester paintbrush, 1 inch

Use a pencil and a ruler to draw a 2-inch border around the canvas to center the painting. The pencil lines at the edges will guide your first brushstrokes.

Red will be your starting color; pour this paint color onto a plate. Next, mix the red and white paints in the remaining plates, so you have six more shades, from dark to light.

Start with the darkest paint and make a single brushstroke on each side of the canvas from top to bottom. For guidance, follow your pencil line.

Wash the brush, pat it dry, then repeat with plates 2 through 7. The single-center stripe will be the lightest color.

8. Monogram Faux Floral Wreath

These are the steps you need to create this monogrammed wreath with faux flowers in bright pinks, creams, and greens.

What you’ll need:

- Faux flowers: A variety of large, medium, and small fillers
- Large chipboard letter or paper mache letters
- wide ribbon

Attach Ribbon

To hang the letter, cut a piece of wide ribbon. Then, attach it to the top of the letter using a few dabs of hot glue.

Add Faux Flowers

Take out stems from flowers. Attach big flowers first using hot glue. For a seamless look, Attach the flowers to the ribbon and then distribute the flowers around the letter randomly. Next, add medium flowers and then small flowers.

Fill Gaps

Fill any gaps with filler flowers

Hang

For a seamless look, hang from a wreath hanger or tape the top of the ribbon to the top of the door. The letter also looks great displayed in a kid’s room or at a wedding.

9. DIY Upcycled Wine Cork Board

Have you saved some of your wine corks? They’ll help make this simple recycled memo board.

Materials + Tools

- - white chalk paint
  - Acrylic paint
  - tray
  - wine corks
  - tacky glue
  - Permanent craft adhesive
  - Twine
  - Paintbrushes
  Purchase the Supplies
  
  Organize Your Corks
  
  Find out how many wine corks you can fit into your tray. The tray, which is 10 1/4 inches round, can hold 91 corks.
  
  You can also paint your tray.
  
  Paint your corks
  
  Glue Together -To glue all corks in the tray, use tacky glue
  
  To make a hanger, glue a piece of twine to the tray using permanent craft adhesive. To hold the twine in place while the glue is set, use clothespins.
  
  Hang On Your Wall. Hang your corkboard on a sturdy nail on the wall.
  
  10. Use Nail Polish to Create Marbled Votives
  
  This quick and easy technique will make you want to marble everything! These colorful candleholders are just in time to make for summer festivities.
  
  Materials Required
  - - nail polish remover
    - nail polish
    - cotton balls
    - clear glass votive cups
    - Container with water
    - Toothpicks
    - Clear spray sealant (optional)
  Prepare the Water
  
  Fill half of a container with water. The marbling will work best with water that’s just somewhat warmer than room temperature.
  
  Mix Your Colors
  
  This part has to happen promptly so that the nail polish doesn’t have time to dry. Start with the first color. Let a few drops of a polish drop onto the water. Tip: Place them close to the water’s surface. If they fall too high, they will sink to the bottom. Once the polish touches the water, it will spread. Once you’ve used a few drops of the first color, add another color, and it will spread a bit as well.
  
  Swirl It
  
  To swirl the colors and create a marble effect, gently and quickly drag a toothpick along the water’s surface. These two steps should not take more than a minute.
  
  Dip Votive
  
  While holding the votive sideways, smoothly dip and roll the surface across the nail polish on the water. The nail polish will stick to the votive and pull off of the water. Roll the votive so that all sides are covered. If you’d like marbling on the bottom as well, dip the bottom into the water to pick up more nail polish. Set the votive upside down to dry.
  
  Let It Cure
  
  Nail polishes dry quickly. However, it is best to wait at least one hour before handling them to allow the polish to cure. To remove any smudges, use the nail polish remover with a cotton ball.
  
  If desired, take to a well-ventilated area and spray with a clear sealant to protect the marbling.
  
  Just Add Candles
  
  Fill your marbled candle holders with candles and enjoy!
  
  11. Tin Can Utensil Bins
  
  Rescue vegetable cans and coffee tins and repurpose them as colorful utensil-storage bins. Dress them up with paint and washi tape, then use an “S” hook to attach to a kitchen towel bar.
Enjoy your time trying out these different projects. Get the kids involved as long as you think they can handle the level of complexity, so pick the crafts you think they will enjoy. Also, most of these are easy to clean up afterward.