Understandably, arts and crafts activities saw a surge in popularity during the pandemic. For some, hands-on activities were a way to endure isolation, while others used their creative forces as a form of self-care to practice mindfulness.
Whatever the case, the trend has stuck, with curious crafters still roaming the aisles of Goodwill Central Coast stores in search of inspiration. Did you know that there is even an entire month devoted to the practice?
In 1994, the Craft & Hobby Association created National Craft Month, celebrated every March. It’s a great excuse to embrace your creative side and start a new project, learn a new skill, or explore a fun hobby.
In honor of this crafty holiday, we’re sharing these easy crafts you can make using Goodwill supplies:
Repurpose an old chair into a drink stand: Call it upcycled or repurposed, but an old chair can make a beautiful, interesting decor item (and conversation piece) for your next party. It’s quite simple. Just find a wooden chair with a woven seat that can easily be removed, leaving an open circle. Goodwill always carries a wide variety of small furniture items. Once secure, all the chair needs is a little TLC. Some mineral oil can help bring out the natural wood color! Find an appropriately sized galvanized, watertight bucket and you’re ready to fill it with ice and beverages!
Jean jacket applique: Appliques are a fun way to embellish and personalize plain articles of clothing, such as jean jackets. Applique simply means transferring one fabric onto another to create a unique design. Head to your nearest GCC store to look for clothing you can use as scrap fabric for your project. While you’re there, you can also find a jean jacket for much less than retail stores. Use a stencil to trace and cut out a design from the scrap fabric. Then, attach the fabric to your jean jacket by using fabric interfacing, a special material that makes the fabric stiffer. Sometimes sewing is required, but you can also find iron-on versions that are heat activated.
DIY candles: Homemade candles make great gifts, and they only take a few simple steps! Melt craft store wax in a glass dish in the microwave or stovetop, stirring occasionally. When the wax is melted, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance. Once the solution is cooled but still liquid, pour it into a small glass jar or container and add the wick. Here’s a fun idea: repurpose a teacup or coffee mug into a decorative candle holder! Goodwill has a fantastic selection of colorful mugs and cups to choose from.
Frosted glassware: Glass etching is a technique that gives plain glassware a beautiful, frosted appearance. You’ll need an etching cream (available at craft stores), glass cleaner, plastic gloves, painter’s tape, and glassware such as a vase, bottle, jar, or pitcher. Of course you can find a variety of great glassware at Goodwill. Use the glass cleaner to polish the glass piece, then dry thoroughly. Adhere painter’s tape to any area of the glass that you don’t want to be etched. Then, put on the gloves to protect your skin and apply the etching cream to the glass carefully. The cream takes five minutes to work its magic, and then you can wash it off with hot water. Once you get a feel for it, try using stencils or sticker letters to create custom etched designs.
Repurposed thrift store finds make amazing craft projects, and at Goodwill, you can find the supplies you need for less! We are your DIY headquarters for everything from fabric to furniture. And with our ever-changing inventory, you never know what you might find from one day to the next to inspire your next crafting masterpiece.
You don’t have to be a professional embroiderer, knitter, or paper folder to get crafty this National Craft Month.
With a little bit of paint, glue, a pair of scissors and some decorative pieces, you can decoupage and upcycle just about anything.
The beauty of crafting is that there are endless possibilities for creativity, and for stepping outside your comfort zone. This could lead to some amazing innovation on your part — you never know if you don’t try.
Crafting can work wonders on your inner self as well. Having the freedom to create without boundaries stimulates both the imagination and the spirit. We may even gain the confidence to think outside the box in other realms of our lives, including in education, our profession, even relationships. And who knows, channeling those creative energies into one of your hobbies could even turn into a side career.
And speaking of careers, every purchase you make at Goodwill fuels our never-ending mission to empower others through life-changing employment.
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Repurposed thrift store finds make amazing craft projects, and at Goodwill, you can find the supplies you need for less! We are your DIY headquarters for everything from fabric to furniture. And with our ever-changing inventory, you never know what you might find from one day to the next to inspire your next crafting masterpiece. And do you know what else is crafty? Our ability to turn your donations and purchases into life-changing jobs for people in our community facing barriers to employment.
You don’t have to be a professional embroiderer, knitter, or paper folder to get crafty this National Craft Month. With a little bit of paint, glue, a pair of scissors and some decorative pieces, you can decoupage and upcycle just about anything. Just type the words “Goodwill upcycle” into the Pinterest search bar and a world of opportunity awaits.
Homemade candles make great gifts, and they only take a few simple steps! 1) Melt craft store wax in a glass dish in the microwave or stovetop, stirring occasionally. 2) When the wax is melted, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance. 3) Once the solution is cooled but still liquid, pour it into a small glass jar or container and add the wick. Here’s a fun idea: repurpose a teacup or coffee mug into a decorative candle holder! Goodwill has a fantastic selection of colorful mugs and cups to choose from. DIY has never been easier when you thrift from Goodwill.
