Crafts for adults

Earlier we wrote a blog about crafting with kids. Now it’s the adults’ turn! Nothing is nicer than to clear your head once in a while and make something with your hands. You don’t even have to be good at it, it’s all about being busy. A little time for yourself! And the nice thing is: the more you practice your new hobby, the better you become at it!

Diamond painting

Something that is totally in is diamond painting. I had no idea what it was at first, until my mom got totally hooked on it. This form of crafting has been around a bit longer and is wildly popular. It turns out that suddenly a lot of people are “painting”. Diamond painting has nothing to do with painting: you are like crafting with shiny stones in different colors. Slowly you see your artwork grow. Anyone can do it and it is great fun to do!

Nailing

Nailing is still quite a tricky hobby! Because you can’t see the end result right away, it’s very difficult to do. But it is a lot of fun. You can start small or challenge yourself right away. On this website you will find a good explanation and some examples for making wire figures with nails. Before you know it you will be hooked!

Handlettering

Hand lettering is incredibly difficult but also incredibly fun to do. You really have to take some time to master the technique. But once you master it, you can make very cool things with hand lettering. You can also buy very nice (expensive) brush pens with which you can make the most beautiful creations. But first practice with regular felt tip pens. If you are a bit skilled in handlettering you can apply the technique for example on cards, in your bullet journal or even on wood! But more about that later.

Bullet Journalling

A bullet journal is actually a kind of notebook, but one with dots (bullets) instead of lines. It allows you to create perfect schedules. You can use a bullet journal as a diary, but also to keep lists (for example which books you’ve read, how much you’ve lost or which cleaning jobs you’ve done) and to set goals (such as a savings goal for the next vacation). Super fun to do and very organized! You can keep a bullet journal very simple and minimalistic, but you can also go crazy with drawings, photos, pictures, stamps and stickers. Nothing is wrong because it is your project. In the beginning it seems scary to start, but you just have to do it.

Handlettering is also great to do in your bullet journal. There are lots of great videos, websites and Facebook groups (like Bullet Journal Netherlands) that you can follow so you’ll be a pro in no time!

Pyrography

Pyrography is drawing or hand lettering on wood. This requires some practice, but the results are amazing! Also very nice to give away. You need a firing pin and a wooden board, such as a breadboard or a board to hang by the door. Preferably a soft wood such as lime or birch. A firing pin often comes with multiple pins so you can make wider or finer lines. Draw in pencil what you want to draw or write and then get to work with your firing pin. Be careful: it gets very hot while you are working, so don’t touch the pen itself!

Cutting Lino

A German friend of mine is into lino carving. You use a sharp knife to make a cut-out of your choice on a piece of linoleum and turn it into a stamp, so to speak. Incredibly fun to do! You can make cards and small posters, among other things. The linoleum can be used over and over again with different colors of paint. So with a successful design you can do anything! Because how fun is it to send homemade cards to your loved ones? This link explains this fun form of crafting for adults.

Crochet

For a long time crocheting was seen as a boring hobby, but nowadays it is totally hip and happening again! You can also make the cutest things out of it, so you really don’t have to stick to the standard potholder, although it might be handy to start with. There are millions of videos on Youtube that beginners and advanced crocheters can use to have a go at crafting.

You can also opt for a booklet, although you must first master the different stitches as well as be able to read stitches. At many hobby stores you can buy nice ready-made kits to make nice things. You can also find inspiration in the books of Bobbie Eden, because she can crochet very well and makes very nice things.

Colors

Coloring for adults has been a great success for years. Perfect for clearing your head for a while. The advantage of coloring is that you can stop at any time and continue at a later time, so it does not necessarily have to be finished. Coloring for adults is also very different from coloring for children. There are lots of coloring books for adults with all kinds of fun themes.

Personally, I really like the drawings of Masja van den Berg. She has now made several coloring books. You can also join her private Facebook group Masja van den Berg: Colouring & Drawing Group.

Credits photos: www.canva.com