Get Creative With A DIY Craft Kit
Maybe you like the idea of being creative but don’t know where to start. Perhaps you’re looking for a fun way to unwind in the evenings after work. Or maybe you’re after a vase to jazz up your coffee table or a necklace to go with your new dress.
These wellness-boosting DIY craft kits are the answer to all those things.
From pottery and pasta-making to soy candle and soap-making, just about every craft you can think of comes in a stylish, have-a-go kit with all the instructions, tools and materials or ingredients you need to make a finished product from the comfort of your own home.
Some kits are quick-makes that can be done in a day whilst others will take several sessions to complete. And some are for enjoying solo whilst others are designed for two people to do together. You may need to forage for one or two basic household items or ingredients but otherwise the kits come with everything you need.
I love a good craft kit. It’s all-absorbing good fun that gives my brain some downtime (the heat’s on you, hands) and gets my creative juices flowing.
What’s not to love about whiling away a wet and wintery weekend being wrist-deep in clay or licking chocolate off the spoon of your truffle-making kit? And what could be a more perfect way to dabble in a brand-new hobby without setting foot outside your front door or breaking the bank? If you’re lucky, you’ll discover one that tickles your fancy as a long-term ‘divertissement’ - or even side gig if you become a real pro.
And then there’s the therapeutic factor. Getting crafty and creative is the ultimate way to unwind and feel calm. Because when you make, you become so focussed on what your hands are doing and so engrossed in bringing your creation to life that you slip into a state of flow and forget everything that’s on your mind and disturbing your inner peace - your to-do list (groan), your worries, the bicker you had with your other half. Naturally, the kit’s calming effect will be much-enhanced if your craft session includes a glass of wine, your favourite chill-out tunes and the soothing aroma of a scented candle.
On top of that, once you’ve finished your DIY knitted pom pom hat or your terrazzo coasters, you get to enjoy the satisfaction and pride of having accomplished something. Who knew you had the skills to produce a tassel lampshade which wouldn’t be out of place at Pooky, or brew your own sloe gin? And who needs to fork out a fortune sprucing up the house when there’s a craft kit for just about every conceivable home accessory and soft furnishing?
The one bucket you probably won’t fill is Order. Because it’s quite likely you’ll make a mess. A very big mess if anything vaguely gooey or sticky is involved. But I figure that’s a hit worth taking and a fair trade-off for all the goodness you’ll reap from the kits.
I’ve tracked down the crème de la crème of adult craft kits for you to explore. Share your experiences and show off your finished products! #myrainbowtarianlife
Sculpd Pottery Kit
Get your hands gooey with a big wet lump of clay and mould and squish to your heart’s content! The possibilities are endless; you could make a vase or candlestick holder, a biscuit jar or hanging plant pot, a trinket dish or mug. The sensation of the clay on your hands, the messiness, letting yourself go, switching off your mind and letting your hands do the work, the fact you can stab and pummel and take out all your angst on the clay without breaking it (when it’s wet at least)…all of this makes clay amazingly therapeutic. The kit comes with tools and enough clay for two makes or two people to have a go together.
Honeywell Biscuit Co. Rainbow Bagel Bread Kit
Your hands will love kneading and pummelling the dough, the rainbow swirls will be a visual feast and your taste buds will drool over the toasted bagel with avocado or cream cheese. The kit makes six bagels and you just need to add water to the pre-weighed ingredients included in it. We recommend adding sprinkles and glitter for added dazzle and joy.
Stitch & Story Luca Pom Hat Knitting Kit
Get ready for winter with this oh-so stylish pom pom hat made by your own fair hands. Whether you’re a beginner knitter or a pro, snuggle up on the sofa and relax to the rhythmic repetition of clacking needles. Your mind will switch off as your hands do the work and you’ll feel really chuffed watching the hat take shape. The kit comes with everything you need including a range of gorgeous colour combinations to choose from and the option to pay a bit less if you already have your own needles.
Robotime Rolife Papercraft Miniature Garden Dollhouse
This DIY miniature wooden papercraft kit is sensational. It takes time and patience but you’ll be totally immersed whilst making it and come away with an absolute show-stopper and sense of accomplishment when you’re done. Every tiny detail needs to be carefully assembled, from the wooden frame to the miniature wooden bench and intricate paper flowers. You’ll be cutting, sticking, folding, moulding, quilling, using tweezers and pliers. The kit includes all the materials you need and easy-to-follow instructions – no experience is needed. You may want to give the wine a miss and stick with something that doesn’t make you see double though. If cafes are more your thing, check out this coffee shop as an alternative to the garden.
Pasta Evangelists Pasta Making Kit
The feeling of pasta dough between your fingers and the taste of real Italian pasta; this kit is double whammy happiness. It comes complete with all the ingredients and tools you need including rolling pin, cutters and stamps to make your very own Italian gnocchi, Ravioli, Tagliatelle, Orecchiette, Trofie and Malloreddus. You’ll also get recipes designed by an Italian chef so you can bring the sumptuous flavours of Italy to your kitchen. You’ll need some good arm welly to roll out the dough!
Hedgerow Sloe Gin Maker’s Kit
Sloe by name, slow by nature. Take your time making this sloe gin. It won’t take the usual six to nine months but it will take two weeks and is the perfect antidote to the instant gratification of modern life; the wait will make the gin taste all the sweeter once it’s ready. The kit comes with all the ingredients and equipment you need including a stylish Italian glass bottle, dehydrated sloe berries, pipettes, filter papers, funnel, label and four varieties of botanicals for you to be creative and experiment with once your sloe gin is made.
The Ultimate Cheese Making Kit
We all know eating cheese and happiness go hand-in-hand but making the stuff is fun, satisfying and strangely empowering! Not to mention the perfect activity for a stay-at-home date-night. You have everything you need with this kit to make ten different cheeses including mozzarella, feta, ricotta, halloumi and goats cheese. And once you’re done, you can get creative with recipes like lemon, ricotta and almond cake which come with the kit. Or just throw a super cheesy pizza in the oven of course.
Tanner & Bates Make Your Own Belt Kit
Try your hand at leather-crafting and while away a lazy afternoon making an Italian leather belt from scratch. There are three colours to choose from for the leather – cocoa, saddle tan and black – and four for the buckle colour including solid brass and stainless steel. Give it as a gift and they’ll be seriously impressed!
Lume Lampshade Making Kit
Why splash out on fancy designer lampshades when you can enjoy all the fun and satisfaction of crafting your own! Choose from a range of sizes and fabrics and create a bespoke drum-style shade that can be used on a table lamp base or ceiling pendant. Alternatively, gather together some scraps of fabric or paper and make a set of gorgeous miniature fairy lights.
Hazel & Blue Soy Candle Making Kit
Few things are more calming and soothing than the flickering wick, soft light and smell of a scented candle. But have you ever tried creating your own? This eco-friendly soy candle making kit makes two natural candles scented with geranium and cedarwood. Watch as the wax melts and let your kitchen fill with the gorgeous aroma of the candle oils. Once you’ve mastered the basics of candle-making, you can get creative with different shapes, colours, scents and decorations and give the candles as gifts.
Simply Make Pyrography Wood Burning Kit
This wood-burning kit is very cool (or should that be hot?). You’ll be totally absorbed in designing then scorching your chopping boards with the pyrography tool to create your own unique chopping boards. And once you’ve mastered the art of wood-burning, you can create all sorts of lovely wooden décor for your interior or to give as presents.
The Workbench At Home Ring Carving Kit
These at-home ring-carving kits aren’t just original creative fun, you’ll also come away with a beautiful bit of solid bling on your finger! Choose from The Workbench’s selection of Silver, Signet, Gemstone and Diamond kits and, using the tools provided, design and carve the ring yourself before sending it off for casting and polishing. For added joy, get two kits and make and exchange rings with a loved one.
Badger + Birch Terrazzo Round Coasters White Speckle
These terrazzo coasters are so good-looking and sophisticated you’ll be amazed you made them with your own fair hands. But that’s exactly what you’ll be doing with this kit. You’ll start by mixing and moulding the resin before playing around with the coloured terrazzo chips to create your own unique design. It’s hard to believe it’s possible but your glass of wine will look even more inviting perched atop one of these.