Budget friendly craft projects

Crafting can be expensive hobby, especially if you get stuck in the trap of spending more time buying supplies than you do actually using them! But you don't need to spend a lot of money, or even any at all, to indulge your creative side and create something that allows you to enjoy both the creative process and the finished product. 

Here are some craft activities that are either free or very low cost.

Collage

You can use all sorts of things to create collage art. Even if you don't buy magazines, there are always free magazines and junk mail being posted through the letter box! There are plenty of places to find free magazines and leaflets, like supermarkets, tourist attractions, garden centres...or ask around among friends and family for ones that they've finished with. Then you can just have fun cutting out the pictures and text that you like and arranging them in a way that appeals to you. You can create mood boards, or collect images that appeal to you and stick in a scrapbook. Maybe you enjoy looking at relaxing beach scenes, or want to collect ideas for your home or garden. Or create fantastical collages, playing with perspective or mixing vintage with modern.

Photo credit Francisca Silva via Unsplash

Ephemeral art

Ephemeral art is created using natural materials and is not designed to last. You can create ephemeral art anywhere - maybe on the beach with stones and shells or in the forest with leaves and twigs. If you want to document the art then you can take a photograph, and then either destroy it or leave for others to enjoy. Just be careful not to do anything damaging to your surroundings, for example don't create sturdier structures like stone stacks which will not naturally disappear.

Pressed flowers

Don't go out picking flowers from parks or people's gardens, and you need to be careful picking wild flowers to avoid rare or endangered plants (see some guidance here - The rules about picking wild flowers). But if you have a garden or can collect things when you are out and about like fallen leaves then it's easy to press them. You don't need a proper flower press (although they do make it more convenient) you just need a few heavy books and some kind of tissue or blotting paper to prevent marking them. There are some great tips from the RHS here - Pressing flowers and leaves. I like to use pressed flowers in my journal as a reminder of some of the flowers that I managed to grow in my garden.

Photo credit Cary Bates via Unsplash

Recycled fabric crafts

Old t-shirts can be cut into strips to create a thick yarn that can be used for knitting or crochet, or you can use smaller strips to craft rag rugs You can also make quilts from old fabrics like clothing or bedding. Hunt through wardrobes to find clothes that are past their best but not good enough to pass on, or use fabrics with meaning like baby clothes or sporting memorabilia. Making a quilt doesn't need to be complicated and can be done by hand. English Paper Piecing is a style of quilting that uses paper templates and can be as simple or as intricate as you like - find some advice here - The English Paper Piecing Guide. 

Photo credit Olga Ferina via Unsplash

Photography

Most people already own a camera of some sort, and it doesn't need to be a special one to take interesting photographs. You can get out and about in your local area and look for the things that others miss, or create still life groupings with things from around your home. Favourites can be printed and displayed around the home.

Digital art

Digital art is a great way to engage your creative side without needing expensive materials. An emerging form of digital art is AI generated art, where you can experiment with different prompts and see what you can come up with. Maybe start by thinking about somewhere that you've visited or a scenario that you've imagined.

Drawing

You may want upgraded supplies at some point, but to start with all you need is a pencil or pen and some paper, and most people have those lying around! If you don't know where to start then look for an online tutorial, there are many YouTube videos that can help with both technique and inspiration. Look for challenges too, maybe with a different starting point every day.

Photo credit DHANYA A V via Unsplash

Writing and journalling

You can write by hand in a journal or write on your computer or laptop. You can write just for yourself, in the form of a journal or diary, or write for a larger audience with a blog or website. Putting your thoughts on paper is a great way to get your thoughts in order, or you can experiment with poetry or creative writing.

I hope that this gives you some ideas for ways to bring out your creativity without having to spend a lot of money or invest in too many supplies!