Create Craft
11 Easy and Profitable Crafts to Make and Sell in 2023
A worldwide pandemic has taught us that everyone can create things with their hands. DIY content surged on TikTok and other sites. Craft instructions covering everything from embroidery to woodworking were easily found on YouTube. And sourdough was enjoying itself.
It makes sense that during a time of solitude, we all turned to crafts. Working with your hands has many advantages for your mental health, according to studies. Making something creative diversifies brain activity, especially for those who use computers for work. Additionally, the satisfaction of building something from scratch can lessen tension and anxiety.
Even better, pursuing your imagination can give you a business idea. Let’s get crafting if you’re seeking for a pastime you can make money from! Explore popular crafts to make in the section above for inspiration at every level. Learn how to create things out of your passion and sell them online, at craft shows, and anywhere else.
Try our quiz first if you’re new to DIY. Based on a few straightforward inquiries about your hobbies, we will suggest a craft project for you to try. Are you prepared? Let’s move on.
11. DIY crafts to make and sell
- Resin and polymer clay jewelry
- Tufted rugs and mats
- Textile dyeing
- Paper flowers
- Home fragrance
- Ceramic or clay plant pots
- Face masks
- Vintage upcycle
- Tote bags
- Woven and knotted home décor
- Handmade beauty products
1. Resin and polymer clay jewelry
Due to their adaptability and popularity as DIY crafts, both resin and polymer clay jewellery creations, which first became popular a few years ago, are still appearing all over the internet. The most typical type of polymer clay jewellery is made up of opaque geometric patterns in vivid colours, whereas resin jewellery is frequently characterised by materials like dried flowers that have been “preserved” in a hard, clear substance.
Because of its adaptability and appeal as do-it-yourself crafts, jewellery made of resin and polymer clay, which both became popular a few years ago, is still showing up all over the internet. Objects like dried flowers that have been “preserved” in a hard, clear substance are a common feature of resin jewellery, whereas the majority of polymer clay jewellery is made up of opaque geometric designs in striking hues.
Tips:
- Because resin jewellery requires mixing chemicals and might be dirty, it is a little more difficult to make. You’ll learn to prevent bubbles in your masterpieces through trial and error.
- Jewellery made of polymer clay can be created by cutting forms by hand or with small cookie cutters, then connecting the pieces with jump rings. For a more polished result, spend the extra money on a rolling pin made specifically for this use.
- Think of the possibilities for this medium beyond jewellery. Consider seasonal furnishings like picture frames or Christmas ornaments.
2. Tufted rugs and mats
Making rugs using the hooking or tufting technique is still a popular trend. You can make one-of-a-kind rugs, mats, or textile wall art with a mechanical or electric tufting gun or by hand-hooking with a punch needle and your own designs. The best designers regularly charge hundreds of dollars for a two by three foot rug. If you can find your niche, it can be a successful business.
Tips;
- Offer a custom or made-to-order service, creating tufted rugs to your customers’ specs.
- Starting out in this space will cost you a few hundred dollars for materials, especially if you opt for the tufting gun method. Try a class, if one is offered in your area, to see if you enjoy it before investing.
3. Textile dyeing
Tie-dye cycled back in popularity (again) in 2019 and is holding strong, popping up in fashion retailer collections on everything from sneakers to underwear. Tie-dyed goods are easy to make and sell from home, requiring very few materials and skills.
You can buy and dye bulk blank t-shirts or tie-dye fabric to sew into one-of-a-kinds products, depending on your skill level. Also try traditional Japanese shibori, a trending method of resist-dyeing using natural indigo dye.
Tips:
- Both synthetic and natural fabric dye can be bought commercially. Additionally, you can experiment with creating your own colours from pantry staples like avocado skins, turmeric, or teas.
- String or elastic can be used to repel dye during tie-dying. However, anything can be used for this purpose; consider using clothespins, bulldog clips, or a wax-resist technique like batik.
4. Paper flowers
Simple crafts like making and selling paper flowers have the potential to be lucrative small business ideas. Despite being severely affected by the pandemic, the wedding services market is recovering and is projected to reach a value of more than $414 billion by 2030.
You may get a piece of that very large pie by selling paper flowers as eye-catching décor for weddings and other occasions. It’s simple to get started thanks to a wealth of free online patterns and tutorials for paper flowers. Even better, making paper flowers is among the simpler crafts to master and costs relatively little up front.
Tips:
- To reduce transportation expenses, find or create designs that can be folded and unfolded by the consumer.
- Instead of constructing and cutting parts for paper flowers that customers may put together at home, why not try creating and selling craft kits for children or adults?
5. Home fragrance
Home fragrance goods like candles don’t require any prior creating skills, making them one of the simplest crafts to manufacture and sell online. And people want them. By 2026, it is anticipated that the home fragrance industry would grow to $9.2 billion.
To practise with the technique of adding essential oils to melted wax, you can buy a simple candle-making kit. But there are other ways to stand out, from imaginative packaging like those made by Yui Brooklyn, to strong branding like Boy Smells, to uncommon aroma combinations like those found in Frostbeard candles.
Tips:
- Natural diffusers, personalised essential oil blends, and room and linen sprays are some other home scent crafts that can be made and sold.
- Be aware that candles are a product prone to melting and breaking if you intend to create and sell them online. Consider including this in your shipping and packing plan.
6. Ceramic or clay plant pots
At the start of the pandemic, the population of plant-parents exploded like a weed, and companies that sell plants and plant accessories reaped the rewards. Furthermore, since plant maintenance requires a long-term investment, ancillary firms will profit for many years to come.
Due to the requirement for specialised ovens (referred to as kilns) in order to fire the clay, there is frequently a greater entry barrier for pottery. Although they are frequently too expensive and limited in capacity, you can typically locate community centres or clay studios that hire out kiln time.
Plant pots that resemble pottery can also be created using cement or air clay and poured into moulds without needing to be fired.
Tips:
- Learn how to work with clay and gain access to a kiln by enrolling in a pottery workshop or class.
- Other plant accessories to take into consideration include window boxes, hanging planters, watering spikes, garden markers, and hanging planters.
7. Face masks
Face masks are still in demand even if some places no longer require them due to the spread of COVID variations. Additionally, face masks are frequently used in several regions of the world to prevent the spread of colds and the negative effects of smog.
If you have a basic understanding of sewing, you can create your own fabric face mask template or follow internet guides to create and sell fabric face masks.
Tips:
- There are face masks for sale everywhere you look. Why ought someone to purchase yours? Think about how you can make the typical mask better, either through design or functionality. The creator of Second Wind found success with her collection of face masks, which contributed to the acceptance of masks as fashion items and brought her famous clients like J.Lo and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- Face masks are sufficiently flat to be sent via lettermail. Provide free shipping and incorporate the small fee into the retail price.
8. Vintage upcycle
Vintage upcycling may be the answer if you’re seeking for a sustainable hobby you can undertake at home. Finding old or worn clothing—possibly with items that have rips, stains, or out-of-date shapes—and using parts to create new things are part of the process.
An old t-shirt may be transformed into a baby cap, a vintage sweatshirt could be cropped and coloured, and remnants from a torn maxi skirt could be upcycled into a tote bag. This DIY trend has countless potential applications.
Tips:
- To upcycle vintage clothing, you don’t even need to know how to sew or a sewing machine. Try cropping and dying tees or distressing denim. Etsy highlighted pre-owned jeans and ’90s/Y2K as trends for autumn 2022.
- Think about what people want. Which previous fashion fads have made a comeback? How can less appealing cuts be transformed into chic silhouettes?
9. Tote bags
With alternatives for every level of creativity and experience, this is one of our list’s most adaptable craft ideas. Blank cotton tote bags can be purchased for a bargain price then customised using silkscreening, beading, hand painting, textile dyeing, or embroidery.
For more experienced sewers, create your own tote bag pattern and sew it from scratch. Add pockets, closures, and other elements to make it uniquely yours.
Tips:
- Make a useable tote bag out of vintage clothing or fabric as a sustainable alternative. Consumer preferences are continuing to lean towards companies with a focus on sustainability.
- In this saturated market, think about finding a niche. What about bags specifically designed to hold wine bottles, bags that can be folded up to fit in a pocket, bags that can be converted into backpacks, or bags that are screen printed with memes and pop-culture references?
- Consider uploading your designs to a print-on-demand partner and having them mailed directly to your consumer if you genuinely lack the creative flair.
10. Woven and knotted home décor
Along with midcentury house styles, woven and knotted textile art has experienced a significant resurgence. There are several possibilities for every skill level in these home décor crafts. Belts, textile art, and hanging plants can all be created with macramé, a knotted technique that first gained popularity in the Victorian era and was brought back in the 1970s.
In 2020, “hanging planter” searches peaked, but interest has remained high ever since. It may be learned quickly and with little to no equipment.
Other textile crafts, such as wall hangings, can be created using a weaving technique on a loom, which can be anything from a small hand loom or wooden frame to a big electrical power loom.
Tips:
- Beginner weaving kits can be purchased for as little as $30 and come with everything you need to weave a sample piece.
- What other woven goods can you produce and market? Think about jewellery, placemats, bathmats, soft baskets, and homemade rope bowls.
- When deciding what to collect, consider current design and home decor trends. Bold colour and textural play were selected by Etsy as trends for autumn 2022.
11. Handmade beauty products
Even if you lack creativity, making and selling DIY beauty items might be simple. Before moving on to more difficult craft projects like nail polish or lotions, experiment with testing simple things (like homemade bath bombs) in your leisure time.
Tips:
- Build your collections around gift-giving occasions since homemade beauty goods are wonderful presents. Gift sets are a fantastic way to combine products and simplify the shopping process for your clients.
- Use upcycled materials like Mason jars for product packaging to save overhead costs when you’re first establishing your creative business. These suggestions can frequently be found at nearby secondhand stores.