If summertime makes you nostalgic for summer camp days spent doing arts and crafts, we’re right there with you. This season, we’re putting our phones down and getting in touch with our inner child (or granny, depending on how you look at it) with crafty hobby ideas that are all about channeling creativity, having fun, and ~feeling something~. In short, we’re having ourselves a crafty girl summer.
From painting to quilting to working with clay, there are so many ways to get crafty this summer. If you’re looking for something to do in your free time besides scrolling on your phone, digging into a craft project is a great way to put your hands to work, try something new, and get a little creative. Plus, many of these crafty hobbies are easy to pick up whenever you have a free moment—you don’t have to try to finish the whole project in one sitting. That means it’s easy to fit in a little crafting time whenever your busy summer schedule allows, whether that’s in the evenings after work or on a free weekend afternoon.
Ready to embrace your own crafty girl summer? Here are 14 crafty hobby ideas to try this season whenever you’re craving some creative time.
1. Learn how to needlepoint
Needlepoint is a great hobby if you like keeping your hands busy while relaxing. Once you get into the rhythm of stitching, it’s surprisingly calming, and you can work on it while watching TV, listening to a podcast, or hanging out outside on a warm afternoon. Plus, there are so many fun designs these days, from classic florals to quirky sayings, so it’s easy to find a project that matches your style.
2. Paint with watercolors
Watercoloring is the perfect crafty hobby to pick up in the summertime. It requires minimal supplies (just a watercolor palette, some brushes, and a cup of water), so it’s easy to take outdoors or dabble in throughout the day. Plus, classic summer scenes like flowers, fruit, or beachy landscapes provide perfect inspiration for your paintings! Follow along with a workbook to learn some basic techniques, or just put brush to paper and let your creativity flow.
3. Take up bedazzling
Anyone else have a bedazzling phase as a kid? This Y2K-era hobby is making a comeback, and it’s such a fun way to lean into a little nostalgia this summer. All you need are some rhinestones and a trusty glue, plus whatever you want to bedazzle—whether that’s an art canvas, a book cover, or everyday items like your phone charging block or favorite lip gloss. To pull off this craft, many TikTok creators use adhesive caulk to stick on their pieces instead of regular glue. If you go this route, grab some tools like a plastic spreader and tweezers so you can avoid getting adhesive on your hands. Then, arrange, stick, and let it dry!
4. Work with air-dry clay
Air-dry clay has become a super popular way to make pottery quickly and without traditional equipment like a throwing wheel and kiln. From trinket dishes to candle holders to miniature figurines, you can create a ton of different objects with this quick-drying clay. Mold your clay into your desired shapes, use sculpting tools to create texture and detail, then let it set. Once it’s dry, you can add color with paint and seal it with a coat of Mod Podge for protection. Start a whole collection of homemade trinkets or gift your creations to friends!
5. Start a junk journal
You can think of this crafty hobby as a hybrid of scrapbooking, collaging, sketching, and journaling. A junk journal is a homemade booklet crafted from “junk,” such as magazine scraps, admission tickets, business cards, old newspapers, fabric samples, envelopes, buttons, stamps, wrapping paper, and any other materials you have lying around at home. Junk journals are a cool way to document your memories at a lower cost (and with less pressure to make it look “pretty”) than a traditional scrapbook. Just grab what you’ve got and start piecing it all together!
6. Pick up needle felting
Needle felting is one of those crafts that’s easier than it looks and surprisingly addictive. Using a special barbed needle, you repeatedly poke bits of fluffy wool to form them into unique 3D shapes or 2D designs on a fabric backing. It’s a great hobby if you enjoy making cute, handmade pieces, and because projects can be finished fairly quickly, it’s perfect when you want a creative activity that doesn’t take weeks to complete.
7. Get into quilting
Quilting is perfect for the girls embracing a coastal grandma summer—it’s one of those hobbies that’s equal parts creative and cozy. There’s something really satisfying about turning a bunch of fabric scraps into a blanket, table runner, or tote bag that feels completely unique. Whether you’re following a pattern or making it up as you go, it’s an easy way to slow down, spend less time on screens, and end up with something you can actually use or gift. You’ll need a sewing machine to get started with quilting, so be sure to learn some sewing basics before you dive in.
8. Try bead embroidery
Bead embroidery is such a fun way to get crafty this summer. It’s surprisingly easy to learn and more forgiving than traditional needlework (only basic stitching skills required!). Get the hang of the hobby with a beginner-friendly kit, or create your own design if you’re already a seasoned embroidery girlie. Then use your skills to make beaded keychains, ornaments, framed hoop art, or patches you can add to clothing or a tote bag.
9. Make DIY mosaic decor
Mosaic art is such a cool way to create personalized decor, whether you try something as ambitious as this accent table or start with something smaller like coasters. Pre-cut glass tiles are great for mosaics and come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. For a less structured look, you could also raid your cupboards for old chipped dishware or grab some from your local thrift store and break it into small pieces (using eye protection, of course!). Then, lay out your mosaic design, and glue each piece in place. Create a specific pattern or image, or go for something more abstract—there are no rules! Once your design is set, fill in the gaps with tile grout to finish off your mosaic.
10. Make your own jewelry
Statement jewelry is back, and making your own jewelry is such a fun way to try out this trend. Snag a basic jewelry-making kit with chainlink and fasteners, then peruse your local craft stores for unique charms or beads to create customized necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. You can also try thrifting beads and charms to add an extra special layer to your DIY pieces—not only will you have made it yourself, but the jewels will also be treasure hunt finds.
11. Paint-by-number
If you like the idea of painting but don’t feel you can come up with a good design on your own, opt for a paint-by-number kit. This craft idea has gotten a major upgrade from the kiddie version of our youth—there are seriously stunning kits available that look like legitimate works of art when finished. Paint a piece to frame and hang in your home as unique decor and a great conversation starter when hosting guests.
12. Pick up knitting or crocheting
Crochet and knitting are ideal crafty hobbies because they’re portable and easy to pick up whenever you have a little downtime. You can work on a simple scarf, lightweight top, tote bag, or even cute little stuffed animals while sitting on the porch or at the park. Watching a ball of yarn turn into something handmade is incredibly rewarding, and once you learn the basics, it’s a hobby that’s easy to keep coming back to.
13. Create a scrapbook
Scrapbooking is a fun way to preserve your favorite summer memories without letting them disappear in your phone’s camera roll. You can combine photos, colorful paper, stickers, and washi tape into pages that tell the story of a trip, celebration, or everyday moments. It’s creative without being complicated, and flipping through finished albums years later is always worth the effort.
14. Fill up a mini sketchbook
A large, blank sketchbook page can be daunting, especially if your drawing skills are amateur at best, so try a miniature version instead! You can purchase a mini sketchbook or create small window-style sketches on a standard-sized sketchbook page for a grid-like look. Sketch in pencil as you practice, then graduate to paints, pastels, and other mediums as you get more comfortable with the hobby.
Alyssa Modos, Contributing Writer
Alyssa Modos is a freelance writer specializing in home, lifestyle, beauty, and entertainment content. She studied English at Indiana University and has since produced articles for publications including SheKnows, Architectural Digest, and Well+Good, to name a few.
Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant
Jenna began working as an Editorial Assistant for The Everygirl in 2024. With her eye for detail, she assists the team with content creation, sourcing products and images, and works behind the scenes to support The Everygirl in uploading and updating content.
Images featured in graphics credited to: Amanda Macdonald | Dupe, Alyssa Melani | Dupe, Emily Andie | Dupe, Teghan Keating | Dupe, Sarah Barna | Dupe, Ana Beatriz Sabatini | Dupe
