Let’s be real—life as a mom can be messy, chaotic, and wonderfully unpredictable. But one thing that always brings a little sparkle (and sometimes glitter everywhere) into our days is crafting. The best part? You don’t need fancy supplies, hours of patience, or Pinterest-worthy perfection. Just a little bit of creativity, your kids, and an open mind for chaos. Here are five of my absolute favorite easy crafts that we do all the time in our house! With budget-friendly tips!
1. Homemade Clay
There’s nothing like the smell of homemade clay in the kitchen. We mix a few simple ingredients (flour, salt, water, and food coloring if we’re feeling fancy) and let the kids sculpt whatever their little hearts desire—dinosaurs, unicorns, or the occasional “abstract blob that might be a cat.” Once it dries, you’ve got little keepsakes or fridge decorations that will make you smile for years. We usually paint them as well! This is a very budget friendly craft!
Pro tips, you can make Christmas decorations as well!
Recommending some cookie cutters and clay tools down below. You probably don’t need them, but they are very fun!
Dino cutters & Dino cutters 2.0
Kids Clay Cutters Set & Kids clay Tools Set
Farmer Cutters & Mini animal cutters
2. Canvas Painting
Canvas painting is perfect for when you need a little break from the chaos but still want to be “productive.” We don’t worry about matching colors or painting inside the lines—honestly, that’s not the point. Sometimes it’s splatter art, sometimes it’s a very literal rainbow (or rainbow-ish).
We use watercolor, acrylic paint, and sometimes the glue gun makes an appearance too. You can add just about anything, beads, recycled cardboard or plastic lids, let the fantasy flow! Things from nature are fun too—and free! For the canvas, we use both thick and thin boards. Some are bought new from some cheap store and some are recycled thrift finds.
Bonus: You now have custom artwork to hang on the wall, even if it looks like a tiny tornado hit your studio.
Some tips on what you can use for your paintings. And, you probably don’t need it, but I will be fun!
Mini Hot Glue Gun & Cordless Glue Gun
3. Painting Plaster Figures
If you’re looking for a craft that’s almost guaranteed to absorb attention for a solid half-hour, plaster figures are it. Sometimes I grab ready-made plaster figures, but most of the time we make them ourselves! I keep a stash of plaster and silicone molds ready for whatever little masterpieces we feel like creating. Making your own figures also takes a bit more time, which means longer crafting sessions from start to finish—my kids love it, and so do I.
You can buy what ever silicone mold you like, it doesn’t matter if it’s for baking och candle making, it works just fine as long as it’s silicone! And of course, experimenting with paints is half the fun—watercolor is neat and tidy, acrylic is gloriously messy. Pick your adventure!
Some tips for plaster casting and painting! You actually might need these
3 Pack Silicone Molds – Dino, Flowers, Animals & 6 Pack Silicone Mold – Hearts & Flowers
3 Pack Bubble Plate Molds & Bowl 3D Mold
4. Light Clay
Light clay is a game-changer. It’s soft, squishy, and doesn’t make a huge mess (mostly). We use it to make tiny food, jewelry, or little decorations. My favorite part? You can squish it back into a ball and start over. Perfectionists, rejoice! Kids get to play, moms get to laugh at the weird shapes that come out, and everyone ends up a little proud of their creations.
Tips:
Air dried Light Clay Set & Regular Air Dried Clay
Clay tools & Glace & Wooden Clay Tools Set
5. Beaded Bracelets
Beaded bracelets are a classic for a reason. Simple, colorful, and incredibly satisfying. Stringing beads can keep little fingers busy. And the best part? They make adorable gifts for grandparents, teachers, or just for showing off at the playground. Bonus points if the kids start negotiating trades like little jewelry moguls.
Tips:
Crafting at home doesn’t have to be perfect—or Pinterest-ready. It’s about the laughter, the connection, and the little moments of joy that sneak into the chaos of our everyday life. You can buy the cheapest stuff you can find—it doesn’t matter, the kids will love it anyway. Pro tip: use what you already have at home, and go outside on a treasure hunt!
So grab some clay, paint, or beads, put on some tunes, and let the creativity flow. No rules, no pressure—just pure, messy fun.
Next level parenting hack: Sibling hack
Thank you for reading, see you soon!
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