I feel like my central heating needs to go on this week, so it’s not too early to talk about winter crafts! If you’re anything like me, you’re already eyeing your cozy blankets and much as I like to binge watch Netflix series, I know there’s a better way to spend my time.
That’s where crafting saves the day. Not only does it give you something fun to do indoors, but it also keeps your hands busy, your brain calm, and your space filled with things you actually made. And these winter crafts work beautifully for seniors too.
So grab your glue gun, a mug of tea, and let’s get into these easy winter crafts for adults.
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Painted Wine Glasses (or Jars): Functional Art
Transform ordinary glassware into something beautiful. This is a brilliant way to add a personal touch to your kitchen or create unique gifts.
- What you need: Wine glasses or mason jars, acrylic enamel paints (specifically for glass), small paintbrushes, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls.
- How-to: Clean your glass thoroughly with rubbing alcohol to ensure paint adhesion. Paint your designs with dots, swirls, winter scenes, abstract patterns. Let it dry for 24 hours. For durability, bake them in a cool oven (put them in a cold oven, then set the temperature, follow paint instructions for temperature and time, typically 325°F for 30 minutes, then let cool in the oven, don’t remove from the oven until fully cooled to avoid cracking).
DIY Bath Bombs: Spa Day at Home
Winter can be rough on the skin, and a warm bath is pure bliss. Making your own bath bombs is surprisingly easy and allows you to customize scents and colors. Treat yourself, or your friends!
- What you need: Baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salts, cornstarch, essential oils, carrier oil (like coconut or almond), food coloring (optional), bath bomb molds.
- How-to: Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients (carrier oil, essential oil, coloring). Slowly add wet to dry, mixing until it has the consistency of damp sand. Pack tightly into molds, let dry for several hours (or overnight), then gently remove. Wrap them in brown wrapping and tie with ribbons for gifts.
DIY Macrame Plant Hangers: Boho Chic for Your Greens
Macrame might sound intimidating, but it’s really a simple plant hanger with just a few basic knots to make it. It adds a lovely bohemian touch to any room, and it’ll add depth 7 colour to any room.
- What you need: Cotton rope or cord, scissors, a measuring tape, a metal or wooden ring.
- How-to: Start by cutting several long strands of rope. Fold them in half and attach them to your ring using a simple hitch knot. Learn a couple of basic knots (square knot and spiral knot are great for beginners) and create a pattern. There are tons of easy tutorials online; YouTube is your friend here!
No-Knit Scarf (Seriously, No Knitting)
Ever wanted a cozy, handmade scarf without the hassle of learning how to knit? Welcome to the magic of fleece. This is, without a doubt, the easiest way to make something wearable and warm.
- What you need: Fleece Fabric, Scissors, Ruler
- How-to: All you need is about 1.5 to 2 yards of fleece fabric. You can get wild with patterns or stick to a classic solid color. Just lay it flat, trim the edges so they’re straight, and then cut fringe along the two shorter ends. Make the cuts about 1 inch apart and 4-5 inches deep (free cut or use the ruler if you want more precise cuts). That’s it. You’re done. No needles, no yarn, just pure, simple coziness. It’s almost suspiciously easy, right?
Glitter Twig Bouquet
Bring a little bit of that winter outdoor sparkle inside. This craft is perfect for creating a dramatic and elegant centerpiece that costs next to nothing.
- What you need: Twigs, adhesive spray, paint, glitter and vase
- How-to: Clean your twigs off and let them dry. Then, spray them with a bit of adhesive spray (or paint them with glue) and sprinkle them with glitter. Silver or white glitter gives a beautiful icy effect, you can also paint the twigs and then add the glitter on top. Arrange your sparkling twigs in a tall vase for an instant touch of winter glam.
Scented Orange and Clove Pomanders
The smell of orange and cloves is basically the official fragrance of winter. Pomanders have been around for centuries, and for good reason, they’re simple to make, smell divine, and look beautifully rustic.
- What you need: Oranges, cloves, skewers/knitting needles/toothpicks
- How-to: Get comfortable and start poking holes in the orange with the skewers (make them larger than the size of the cloves as the orange will shrink when it dries). Start inserting the cloves into the orange. The more you put in the easier it will be to dry out. You can roll them in different spices like cinnamon to help with the drying and prevent mould. Leave them in a paper bag in an airing cupboard to dry out. Check every day and ensure none have gone mouldy (remove if they have). After a few weeks, they should feel lighter as the orange dries, it will release its citrusy, spicy scent for weeks.
Wine Cork Ornaments
Don’t throw away those wine corks! They’re the building blocks for some seriously cute and rustic ornaments like making tiny reindeer.
- What you need: three/four corks, twigs or pipe cleaners, ribbons, marker pen, cardboard and glue
- How-to: You just need three/four corks: one for the body, one for the head, and one/two cut into pieces for the legs. Hot glue them together in a reindeer-like shape, use your imagination! Add some small twigs or bent pipe cleaners for antlers, draw on some eyes with a marker, cut the cardboard to make the ears and tie a little red scarf around its “neck” for a festive touch. It’s a great excuse to, you know, collect more corks. For science. 😉
Hand-Poured Scented Candles
Making your own candles sounds complicated, but it’s surprisingly straightforward. It feels a bit like a cool science experiment, and you end up with a custom-scented candle that’s way cheaper than a shop-bought one. FYI, starter kits are available online that make it even easier.
- What you need: wax flakes (soy is great for beginners), wicks, a container (like a mason jar or teacup), and your choice of fragrance oils.
- How-to: Melt the wax slowly in bowl over slowly simmering water, stir in the scent, secure the wick in your container, and pour the melted wax in. The hardest part is waiting for it to set. Wrap with decorative ribbons for gifts or leave as is to use at home.
Easy Arm-Knit Blanket
If the no-knit scarf felt too basic, but you’re still not ready to commit to needles, arm knitting is your answer. It creates those super trendy, chunky knit blankets you see in fancy home decor stores for a fraction of the price.
The Basics:
- Yarn: You’ll need some super bulky “jumbo” yarn. The thicker the yarn, the faster it goes.
- Your Arms: That’s it. Your arms are the knitting needles.
There are tons of video tutorials online that can show you the casting on and knitting process in about five minutes. It looks intimidating, but once you get the rhythm down, you can whip up a lap blanket in less than an hour. It’s a fantastic sensory experience and incredibly satisfying to complete a project so quickly.
DIY Scented Pinecones: Rustic Aroma Boosters
Bring the outdoors in, without the frosty fingers! Scented pinecones are super easy to make and make your home smell wonderfully festive and natural.
- What you need: Pinecones (foraged or shop-bought), essential oils (cinnamon, pine, orange, clove are great!), ziploc bag
- How-to: Clean your pinecones and place in the oven to dry out and kill any bugs. Mix a few drops of essential oil in a ziplock bag, you dilute a little with a carrier oil to help reach all parts. Place dried and cooled pinecones inside and shake to distribute oil all over them. Leave them overnight. Fish out with tongs and place in a decorative bowl. Refresh with more essential oil as the scent fades.
So that’s it, easy winter crafts for adults that’ll keep you or the seniors in your life busy and smiling all season long. From pinecone natural aromas to cozy fleece scarves, there’s something here for everyone, no matter your skill level.
These projects are perfect for those cozy afternoons, offering a chance to relax, learn something new, and maybe even discover a hidden talent.
Now tell me, which one are you trying first?