How To Get Started With Crafting

This article is written by Creative Fabrica’s writer on The Artistry and talented crafter Wendy Boulay.

Being creative and making something with your hands and creative mind is something that is growing in popularity. On social media we see more and more people picking up DIYs such as knitting, paper crafting, clay crafts, digital drawings and much more!

But what if you are completely new to the world of home crafting and have no idea where to begin? With the seemingly endless variety of artistic practices out there, it can become quite overwhelming when trying to decide on where and what to start with. Read on to find some helpful tips to get your very first project underway…right away!

If you prefer to listen rather than to read about some tips on how to get started with crafting, Creative Fabrica has a feature together with the British radio show Ginger and Nuts every month, and in their latest episode ‘Getting Started as a Crafter with Creative Fabrica’ they spoke about how to get started with crafting as a beginner. Listen to the episode below!

Finding Your Craft

Trying to figure out what particular craft to start with is probably one of the biggest reasons why many people back away from ever picking up a glue stick! There are so many different kinds of crafts, from painting to decoupage, and sculpting to die-cutting – the possibilities really are endless! So how can you even know what craft to start with if you have no idea what you are doing? The solution is simply a little research combined with a little bit of trial and error – and let’s not forget patience.

First, grab a pen and paper and jump onto Google. Search keywords like “different types of crafts” or “crafting ideas” to see some different projects that may pique your interest. Don’t worry about your skill level, just write down your favorites to get you started with experimentation.

You may eventually discover that after trying a couple of projects, you are not quite as into it that particular practice as you first thought – and that’s okay! It’s all a part of discovering your own inner crafter and talents. Just search Google again for some more ideas and eventually everything will fall into place!

Online Tutorials

Once you have a list of crafts that interest you, choose one that gets you the most excited to try, and then jump back online and start reading and/or watching some tutorials that are centered around your crafting choice. Here are a few of my personal favorite sites for learning a new craft:

• The Artistry: A marvelous blogging community that offers tons of free tutorials, tips, and tricks, all completely focused on crafting in a huge variety of practices. While I might be a little biased when it comes to The Artistry, as I have my own author’s page, I genuinely love the vast array of writers and inspiration found there.

• Pinterest: Although some of the tutorials found on Pinterest are lacking in detail, it’s still a great place for inspiration when trying to figure out what to make next.

• YouTube: Another fantastic channel for watching hands-on video tutorials. Videos can be extremely helpful when you’re feeling a little confused or intimidated by your project. 

Connect With Other Crafters

One of the absolute best ways to troubleshoot some beginner errors is to connect with other like-minded crafters. Not only can they offer you some advice on honing your skills, but becoming involved in a community of crafters can offer you unlimited inspiration and support. 

Facebook Groups is one of the best places to connect with others – I, myself, am a member of multiple groups! All you have to do to gain access is to search on Facebook for a group in your craft interest and join! Eventually, as you gain more experience, you might find yourself answering a few beginner questions!

Craft With A Friend

Taking up a new craft with a friend can bring you a more personal level of connection, not to mention the added benefit of learning together over a glass of wine! I have so much fun when I get the chance to create a little art with a good friend. You can even make it a girl’s/guys night event. Not only will you save money on dining out, but you’ll have some quality bonding time!

Affordable Supplies 

Perhaps another major deterrent for a beginner crafter is cost, but it’s important to know that there are so many places to shop that allow you to maintain full control over your budget. While the selection may be plentiful at the “big box” craft stores, you can find so many materials elsewhere for much cheaper – and even free! 

• Dollar Stores: The dollar store is a dreamland for crafters, with extremely affordable materials that you can create into gorgeous works of art. They have a bunch of essentials such as paints, markers, glitters, etc – as well as photo frames, shadowboxes, canvases, and more!

• Garage Sales: You can also check out some local garage sales. Many have some unused supplies and even blank canvases.

• Thrift Stores: Another great option is to visit a thrift store. Not only are you supporting a local business, but thrift stores can be a paradise for crafters!

• Creative Fabrica: By far my favorite place for all things Cricut! Creative Fabrica is usually my one-stop shop when I am searching for unique SVG’s for my crafting and business needs. The costs are low, and the sales are plentiful. I especially love that a lot of their designers are crafters like you and me – and I always love to support fellow crafters!

• Amazon: Some great supplies and beginner kits can be found at Amazon. Some of the kits might be a little more costly upfront, but overall you can get an ample supply for a better price than if you were to purchase each item separately. Drawbacks: some kits are shipped from China, so delivery can often take longer.

• Freebies: You can get some free fonts, graphics, SVG’s (cut files), and embroidery files from the “Freebies” section over at Creative Fabrica! Even some of the Facebook groups offer free files and designs. You can also try searching for some freebies on Google.

Beginner Projects to Try

If you’re still stuck on some “entry-level” projects to try, check out these great starter ideas:

• Cricut Crafting: Pillow Cases for Your R.V.
• Paper Crafts: Create Paper Flowers at Home
• Resin Art: Making a Resin Keychain for Beginners
• Sculpting: Line Art Jewelry Dish Made from Air Dry Clay
• Painting: 3 Different Crafts You Can Make with Glass Jars
• Crafts with Kids: Rainy Day Crafts for Kids

Whichever craft you decide to try, remember, the most important thing that you need in your crafting toolbox is patience – and above all, always have fun!

Keep on Crafting! 💖