How about hosting a craft party for your next Moms’ Night Out?
I’ve attended three craft parties since October. Two were at friends’ homes and another was at a local winery. Before you dismiss this idea out of hand simply because you don’t consider yourself crafty, I’ve found that women who claim to have the least creative ability, seem to have the most fun at these events. 🙂
Craft parties offer a light-hearted opportunity to laugh at your own imperfections while exercising the creative side of your brain. You might just surprise yourself!
Since the materials are all provided for you, along with basic instructions for those who prefer guidance, you don’t have to overthink the process. You can follow the posted instructions or follow your creativity wherever it leads.
This type of event is also ideal for attracting friends who tend to avoid large gatherings, which can be too intense, intimidating or overwhelming to someone who prefers one-on-one or small group conversation. The focus becomes the craft and conversation can easily flow from there.
Here are a few ideas for craft parties:
Invite a local artist to facilitate the party. Artists will charge a nominal fee to cover their service and the materials. You can either have participants pay up front or pay when they are finished with their project. All you need to do is provide the space, beverages and some yummy snacks to nosh on.
Choose a Pinterest project. Participants will either need to bring their own supplies or rsvp and pay a fee for the materials which the host gathers. The host provides food and drinks. Examples of Pinterest projects include bath salts, dream catchers, tile coasters, journals, signs and more.
Host an ornament party. Purchase a variety of ceramic holiday shaped ornaments or glass ball ornaments that participants simply paint and decorate. Provide examples of completed projects, as well as, materials like paint brushes, paints, glitter, sequins, ribbons, glue and any other craft items you have laying around the house. Don’t forget the paper towels and water cups for paint brushes. Set up tables and chairs around the room. Cover the tables with craft paper or plastic to protect your furniture. And don’t forget to turn on some fun tunes!
Create space for a vision board event. Vision boards can be created on poster board, in sketch books or in journals. You simply cut words and photos from magazines and paste them into a collage. Let your intuition guide you as you work. Don’t second guess, just cut and paste and see where the project takes you. To plan such an event with friends, schedule an afternoon or evening at the beginning of the month or new year. Invite participants to bring their own art supplies, stacks of old magazines and poster board or sketch books. Have extra magazines and materials on hand like feathers, beads, glitter glue, paints to help inspire your guests. Either have your friends bring potluck items or provide food and drink.
Attend an event outside the home. Gather a few friends for a moms night out at a local Paint and Sip studio or look for other venues that host craft nights like hobby stores. We have a winery that hosts wine cork craft events throughout the year as part of their wine tastings, which is fun too. You pay a fee up-front which covers the wine tasting and the craft. They provide the venue, the materials and the wine. Anytime you don’t have to clean your house is a win for all!
Exercising your creativity is a practice in self-care. It can be meditative, playful and a wonderful antidote to stress. And when done with a circle of friends, the process can be especially fulfilling.
Have you ever hosted or attended a craft party? What did most enjoy about it?
