Whether you’re a creative beginner or thinking of starting your own Etsy store, the latest craft range will take your making to the next level. With easy-to-use items like stencil sets and chic embellishments – ribbons, pom poms, paper flowers and more – you’ll be able to start making lolly jar party favours or a holiday-inspired money box as soon as you get your new materials home. Plus, if you decide to try a game-changing Cricut machine, the crafting possibilities are endless. Ready to get started? Here are seven easy projects to set you on the craft path.

Create Cute Painted Terracotta Pots

Brighten up any space with DIY painted terracotta pots.

Plain mini terracotta pots are begging to be painted. You don’t need to be an artist or have taken classes – just pick up a brush and get started. You can also use Posca pens over the top to layer your designs. When the cute-as-a-button painted terracotta pots are dry, simply add some potting mix and a little plant. They’re the perfect addition to your desk or dining table. Wrap one in cellophane and you even have a cute gift. 

What To Try

You’ll need mini terracotta pots, acrylic paints, Posca pens and clear varnish for this adult craft project.
Start by using acrylic paints to create bright designs on the mini terracotta pots.

Step 1: Take your mini terracotta pot and choose a paint brush to suit the style you want to achieve. For nice clean edges on a small surface, a small, sharp-edged brush is a great choice.

Step 2: With your acrylic paints, create your design, leaving each colour to completely dry before adding the next.

Make the design of the terracotta pots more intricate by adding a layer with Posca pens.

Step 3: Once the paint is completely dry, take your Posca pens and add a hand-drawn design to give the pot a more dynamic finish.

Step 4: When the final layer is touch dry, lightly spray the whole pot with clear varnish to seal the colour. Add a second coat if you need.

Step 5: Add some potting mix and a small plant. Your finished terracotta pots will brighten up any workstation or, if you gift wrap them, a friend’s day.

Make a Length of Leopard-Print Bunting

See how to make a simple length of leopard-print bunting, one of seven great craft ideas for adults.

Looking for a creative outlet? This bunting idea is like the craft version of mindfulness – you’ll find yourself mesmerised as you draw tiny leopard-print patterns on each of the wooden tags. Painted wooden beads fill out the length of bunting. String it over a bed, in a party space or around a light fitting.

What To Try

Start the bunting by using spray paint to give the wooden tags and wooden beads a smooth finish.

Step 1: Take your wooden tags and give them a quick coat of spray paint for a smooth finish. It will also prevent the Posca pens from bleeding into the porous wood.

Step 2: If you want to add colour to your wooden beads, give them a spray too – it will keep your design consistent.

Step 3: Once the spray paint is completely dry, start creating a design on the wooden tags using the Posca pens. Leopard print is so easy because there are no right or wrong shapes, but it adds lots of wow factor.

String the leopard-print wooden tags and the wooden beads on twine to finish the bunting.

Step 4: When all the tags are dry, start stringing them onto your twine, interspersing wooden beads between the discs, until you have a length of fun bunting.

SEE ALSO: 13 Art and Craft Ideas for Adults That Will Boost Creativity

How to Make a Personalised Tote Bag

Use a Cricut machine to create personalised tote bags for a hens’ party or kitchen tea.

Personalised tote bags add a special touch to any event, and a Cricut machine makes it easy to create one for every guest. They’re perfect if you’re making thank you gifts for a hens’ party, kitchen tea or important birthday, and make a fun keepsake for anyone who comes along. Oh, and if you’re new to the Cricut machine, prepare to fall in love.

What To Try

You’ll need a Cricut Explore 3, Cricut EasyPress and Cricut tools to make personalised tote bags.

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Once the Cricut Explorer 3 has cut the Cricut iron-on vinyl, you need to remove the excess vinyl.‍

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Step 1: On your computer or tablet, open the Cricut Design Space app to create your design. It’s so easy to navigate, and you can easily change fonts or add images like the diamond and star shapes we included in this design. When using with iron-on vinyl, as we are doing here, you need to ensure you mirror your design.

Step 2: Trim your Cricut Smart iron-on vinyl to size, then place into the Cricut Explore 3 and follow the steps to cut the design.

Step 3: Once that’s done, place it onto a cutting mat so you can carefully remove the excess vinyl – use the weeding tool from the basic tool set for any small pieces – leaving your design ready to transfer onto the canvas tote bag.

Use the Cricut EasyPress to press the vinyl iron-on design to the canvas tote bag.

Step 4: Turn on the Cricut EasyPress 2 and choose the right heat for this project according to the Cricut Heat Guide. For this tote bag, it’s around 140ºC. Once heated, lay the tote on the Cricut EasyPress Mat and move the EasyPress 2 over the bag, smoothing out creases and warming the material.

Step 5: Place your design onto the tote, with the shiny plastic side up. Take the Cricut EasyPress, move it onto the design and hold for the recommended time (around 15-30 seconds) before removing it. (You may want to use the Cricut EasyPress Mini Machine on smaller designs.) Flip the design and press on the other side for the time stipulated on the heat guide.

After using the Cricut EasyPress and removing the plastic backing, your keepsakes are done.

Step 6: When you remove the Cricut EasyPress machines, the plastic will be very hot. Wait until it is cool to touch, then gently peel back a corner. If the vinyl hasn’t fully adhered to the canvas tote bag, repeat step 5. If the plastic comes away smoothly, carefully remove all the backing from the designs to reveal the finished bag.

Make Personalised Glass Lolly Jars

It’s easy to make these cute party favours using mini mason jars and chalkboard labels. Use them as fun and unexpected place holders at a sit-down party or as a take-home gift. And while we’ve filled them with lollies, you could mix it up depending on your guests – coffee beans or even bath salts are a couple of other ideas. Change up the labels and you’ve got gifts for teachers, a surprise for a friend or Christmas stocking fillers. Mini mason jars are one of those craft materials that have so much potential.

What To Try

Fill mason jars, add chalkboard labels with people’s names and this adult craft is almost done.

Step 1: Start by filling your mini mason jars with colourful lollies or another filling of your choice, so you get an idea of where the best place is to stick the labels.

Step 2: Take a chalkboard label and, using a Posca pen, carefully write your guest’s name.

Step 3: Peel off the label and stick it directly onto the surface of the mason jar.

Use a Sharpie to create a scallop edge on the lid then braid ribbons for a finishing touch.

Step 4: To give the lid some personality, add a design in a permanent black marker. A scalloped edge is an easy way to transform the plain white lid.

Step 5: Take some ribbon and either tie it directly around the neck of the jar in a bow or dial up the fun by plaiting three different-coloured ribbons together then looping the braided length around the jar and tying it off.

Create a Personalised Money Box

For this craft idea for adults, use shell art to make a money box to save for holidays.

Need some motivation to start saving for that next big getaway? Take a humble wooden trinket box and transform it into a beach-inspired holiday money box. Pull out the glue gun and create some shell art for a textural finish. 

Hot Tip: As an alternative to shell art, you could cut out images from glossy brochures and magazines to whip up some old-school decoupage.

What To Try

Get out the glue gun to create a money box using shell art.
A unique adult craft is to make a personalised money box decorated with shell art.

Step 1: Give your wooden box a coat of spray paint to seal the wood. It will also give you an attractive base if you’re not planning on covering the entire surface of the box with your shell art design.

Step 2: Place shells and pretty pebbles onto the box to give yourself an idea of what kind of pattern you want to try.

Step 3: Using a glue gun, add a drop of glue (you only want it to be the size of half a pea) onto each shell or directly onto the box before pressing the shells and pebbles into place.

Step 4: Continue all the way around, covering the top, front and sides. As you work on the front panel, open the lid to make sure you don’t overlap any shells across the join – you want to be able to open and shut the box easily.

Use a Posca pen to personalise a money box.

Step 5: Finish by using a Posca pen to write yourself a motivational message inside of the box lid to keep you saving for that big trip.

SEE ALSO: 5 Amazing Benefits of Art Classes for Adults

Make Desk Shelves from Wooden Crates

Add some serious office storage space with these desk shelves made using wooden crates.

Who knew creating desk storage could be so easy? With lightweight wooden crates and some glue, you can make shelves to house your desk accessories and stationery while adding wow factor to a plain work space. For this particular design, we’ve used four mini crates and three medium crates, but you can adjust the number to make the design smaller or larger.

What To Try

For this adult craft project, decorate wooden crates and arrange them to create desk storage.

Step 1: Start by playing around with your wooden crates to decide how to configure your desk shelves to best fit in the space you’ve allotted them.

Use the wooden crates to trace around decorative paper and cut it to fit. 

Step 2: Take some decorative paper and decide which of the walls in the shelves should be lined to create interesting focal points. Use the wooden crates to trace the correct shapes onto the paper then cut it to size – take a few millimetres off each side so it lays flat when you put it inside the box. 

Step 3: Using some glue or spray adhesive, gently attach the decorative paper onto the chosen walls of some of the wooden crates. You may decide not to glue in the paper, so you can swap it over later.

Glue together the wooden crates and hold or clamp them until the glue dries.

Step 4: Add glue to the edges of your wooden crates and carefully press them together in your desired configuration. Use small clamps or hold the crates together until the glue dries.

Once your desk storage is finished, add stationery, plants and other office supplies.

Step 5: Finish by adding decor pieces, stationery, plants and other office supplies to your new desk storage.

Make Personalised Stencil Art Wrapping Paper

Give your presents the personal touch by using stencils to create unique wrapping paper.‍

Stencils unlock a world of possibility, even for craft newbies. All you need is some kraft paper, spray adhesive and spray paint to give you a cool, crisp finish.  

Hot Tip: If you’re working with thicker card or paper – maybe to create matching handmade cards for the wrapping paper – apply paint to the stencil area with a sponge.

What To Try

You’ll need kraft paper, a stencil set, spray paint and spray adhesive for this adult craft project.
Create stencils with a wider border then hold them in place on the kraft paper with spray adhesive.

Step 1: Cut out the shapes you like from your stencil set. You may want to use just one or all of them.

Step 2: Because spray paint travels so far, you’ll need to create a wider border around your stencil. Trace it onto a big, thicker piece of card (you could even use the piece that comes with your stencil set) then cut out the shape.

Step 3: Ensure the stencil doesn’t move as you spray on your paint. The lightest mist of spray adhesive will hold the stencil in place, and you can easily pull it off after. Note, though, it will give the wrapping paper a rougher feel in the end.

Use spray paint to add the pattern from the stencils right across the personalised wrapping paper.

Step 4: Once the stencil is in place, spray paint directly over the design, trying to keep the can’s nozzle fairly close so you avoid the paint going over the edges of your stencil’s border. Repeat all over your paper. 

Step 5: Once the paint is dry you can start wrapping your gifts. Jute cord makes for a stylish finishing touch.

SEE ALSO: Family Craft Projects: Jewellery Box

This article was originally published in June 2022 and has been updated.