The Therapeutic Benefits of Crafting

Are you in a mental rut? Are the winter blues getting to you? Do you want to celebrate National Craft Month in a relaxing way? Maybe you’ve been working hard and deserve a break. No matter the reason, it’s always a good time to explore the therapeutic benefits of crafting. Even if your everyday life is filled with mental activity, crafting and the act of creating uses a different part of the brain, relieving your mind and preventing burn out. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking for a way to unwind, these activities are sure to do the trick.

Think Abstract

You don’t have to be Van Gogh to make great paintings. Happy Abstracts shows you how to be fearless with color, texture, and technique. Go beyond the classic still life painting and play with whatever shapes and colors you want. While this book will guide you through each painting, it also teaches you how to take risks with creativity and create your own works of art. Give yourself the gift of a free imagination.

Heavy Petal Artist

The repetitive action of crafting is scientifically proven to reduce stress. Working with paper is a great way to use that repetition to make something beautiful. You can start with a simple flower arrangement or jump right into projects like this shadowboxed set seen above. The art of paper crafting has been around for a long time, but this is a fresh and modern take on it.

I Can Smell the Relaxation From Here

This one is a twofer: a craft that’s relaxing to make and to use. Making your own candles is a fun and relaxing way to create your own ambience. Use found and collected items to make your candles, like jars, shells, coffee cups, and more. Whatever you use, this book is there to guide you to delicious scents, beautiful presentations, and inspiration to keep you making!

Lava Yourself

Jewelry isn’t usually thought of as a self-care necessity, unless you do a lot of retail therapy, but these projects were designed to take care of you! Aromatherapy has been used for centuries as a method of healing, and today it’s no different. With lava beads and essential oils, you can have relaxation on the go in a stylish little accessory.

Punch It

Is your growing yarn stash overwhelming you? Try something new with all that yarn. Punch needling is super easy to master and beautiful to look at. Full of color and texture, the options are endless when you pick up a punch needle. Even if you've never done it before, this book will help you learn the basics and progressively build your skills until you can freestyle your next punch needle project!

However you like to relax, there’s always a way to bring crafting into it. It’s just about finding the right activity for you. Next time you craft yourself some self-care, be sure to tag us @leisureartsinc or #leisurearts, we love seeing what’s happening in your crafty corner!

Happy Relaxing!

-Leisure Arts Team