Making Time for Crafting

If you are like most crafty people in the modern world who also happen to have a life and a full time job, it can be difficult to find time for creative endeavors. Sometimes it may seem impossible for you to fit your crafts in amongst all the 100 other things you need and want to do in a given week, especially if that life of yours involves kids.

If you are a creative person, however, making that time for your artistic side is an important part of leading a less stressful life. You may think it isn't as important as some of the other items on your agenda, but if you let crafting go once it has been a big part of your life, you will eventually feel its loss keenly. Here are some ideas for fitting crafting into your regular routine without your schedule exploding at the seams.

Buddy System Chances are "time with friends" in on that weekly or monthly mental to-do list of yours. Why not take one of your social evenings and add crafting to the mix? If you are artistic, you probably have at least one friend who is, too. Find a craft you and your friend(s) enjoy and choose a simple project, preferably a useful one. Combine that with a bottle of wine, your favorite snacks, your favorite TV show or just some fun gossip. If you can't make time or space for it at home, sign up for a class together.

Pass It On If you have kids, then quality family time is the perfect place to add in crafting. Set aside at least half an hour a couple of times a month to devote to teaching your children some of your craft skills. If for some reason they can't learn the crafts you know how to do, use the time to learn new ones with them, from a book, internet tutorial, or by taking a course together at your local parents co-op or craft store.

Mix It In Another way you can work crafting into your schedule is by adding it into another activity you enjoy, one that doesn't require your full visual attention. If you watch television, choose simple projects you can make while watching. If you enjoy reading, consider swapping paper books for audio books on occasion so your eyes and hands will be free to work on other things.

Quick project ideas, also by this author:

30 Minute Scrapbook Project

Polymer Clay Magnet Idea

Woven Charm Bracelet