Banish that brain rot by discovering a world of creative crafts to do when bored
You have the whole of the internet at your fingertips, unlimited entertainment available 24/7… and yet, somehow we still have the capacity to be bored!
While technology and AI only get more evolved, as humans we’re becoming less satisfied… and more impatient. The Oxford word of the year for 2024 was in fact ‘brain rot’ - perfectly summing up our overconsumption of trivial and unchallenging information and media.
Social media in particular has become orientated towards fast-flowing content – quick dopamine hits that become incredibly addictive. And while you will find a wealth of people showing off their fabulous creations on these platforms, it’s all served to you in quick snippet formats that do an injustice to the slow and meditative process of making.
If you’re looking to really banish boredom, you’ll get far more satisfaction from finding enjoyment in a craft than you ever will from the latest TikTok trend.
Crafts and the art of making are doubly beneficial. As well as requiring time and concentration which helps us to slow down and focus, learning new skills has been proven to make you happier.
The good news is that you don’t have to dedicate your life to becoming an expert artisan or spending years studying (although that’s no bad thing). Even handicrafts can help improve your self-worth and can start you on the road to developing a passion for your new-found hobby.
But where to start? Fortunately, there are loads of crafts to do when you’re bored, ranging from quick 5-minute makes that you can complete with everyday items, to crafts that require more committed engagement that you can enjoy over a longer period.
5 Crafts to do when bored that you can start right now!
1. Origami
If you’re after proof that picking up a new craft really can be that simple then try the ancient art of origami. All you need is some paper, and it doesn’t even need to be fancy paper – you can use that junk mail that came in the post this morning!
Origami is an ideal craft for beginners, as all it requires is attention and a bit of dexterity – both of which will focus and engage your brain.
To see the benefits of origami, try not only to make it but also to memorise the process. Once you’ve made something once, try it again… and again the next day. You’d be amazed at how satisfying it is when you realise a skill has developed into muscle memory and you now know something you didn’t know before.
We have a wide range of origami projects here on Gathered, so take a look at our easy origami for beginners and find your first project.
2. Drawing
It’s a strange fact that almost all of us draw when we’re children, but the majority of people leave it behind as they become adults. But humans have been drawing and mark-making throughout our history, and it can have so many more benefits for us than simply acting as a record.
Many people who enjoy drawing find that it acts as a form of escapism, allowing them to block out the stresses and distractions of their everyday lives. Ever notice how you start doodling when you’re on a particularly long and boring phone call?
The beauty of drawing as a craft is that it can serve as a quick fix or a deeper form of focus – many art classes will start with quick exercises and conclude with a longer challenge. And you don’t even have to be particularly good at it either, as even doodling can improve your memory and concentration in minutes.
So why not grab a pen or pencil and give it a go? You can check out our 25 easy drawings for when you’re feeling uninspired, or take a deeper dive into our guide to pencil drawing for beginners.
3. Weaving
Really? Weaving? Surely that’s not a craft for beginners? Well, you’d be surprised – you don’t have to go back far to find a time when weaving was a common household skill (it still is in many places of the world).
The simple act of interlocking threads and fibres to create fabric is a skill that we often take for granted, now that it’s mostly done by machines. But learning how to weave by hand can be a fulfilling and meditative experience, as well as developing a healthy respect for our fabric’s humble beginnings.
You don’t need a full-size loom and loads of fibres to give it a go, try starting simple by learning how to weave with paper.
From there you can try gathering some bits of yarn and threads and try our how to weave tutorial, which also includes instructions on how to make a basic DIY loom.
4. Bracelet making
Jewellery making is a fun and engaging craft, but one that requires quite a few materials once you start getting really into it. However, you can enjoy a taste of this craft by learning a few braiding and plaiting techniques.
If you’ve got any old cord hanging around in the garage or shed you can try learning how to make a paracord bracelet. Or if you have any coloured string or embroidery thread in the house, making friendship bracelets is also a good starting point.
While braiding and plaiting can initially seem quite complicated, once you’ve learnt the basic repeated sections it quickly becomes intuitive. It’s a brilliant slow-focus craft and one that’s particularly suited to anyone with an interest in knots.
If you’re wondering what else you can make with some simple cordage, you might also enjoy the inspiring craft of Macramé!
5. Digital art
It is possible to enjoy the benefits of craft while embracing the wonders of technology, and one of the ways of doing this is through creating digital art.
While it can be an effort to gather your materials and clear a space to start crafting, most of us have a smartphone or digital device easily to hand.
Creating digital art used to be quite a niche past-time, but there are now a wide range of apps and programs to help you bring out your creative side, most with free trials available so you can have a taste. It is easier to use a drawing tablet if you have one, but even creating a quick sketch on your phone or ipad could be the creative outlet you’ve been craving.
Why not see if any of the best drawing apps inspire you?
5 crafts to try with a starter kit
One of the troublesome parts of trying a new craft is the materials. Until you’ve tried it you often don’t know how much you need, and you don’t want to spend loads on supplies only for you to never use them again.
So here are five crafts that are perfect for trying with a starter kit that includes everything you need!
1. Lino Printing
Many reproduction printing methods require large machines or lots of space, however, lino printing allows you to make all kinds of prints on a small scale.
But it’s more than just repeating prints – part of the joy of lino printing is being in control of the process from start to finish. From drawing your initial design and carving it out of the linoleum sheet to applying the ink and pressing your print, it’s a craft that incorporates and teaches you many different creative skills.
Although the individual materials required aren’t expensive, there are quite a few different parts to the process so a kit is an ideal solution for beginners. You’ll find loads of options as well as more details on this fun printing process in our Lino printing for beginners guide.
2. Needle felting
Sometimes you need a craft that helps you unleash all that pent-up frustration, a way of working through your troubles in a wholesome way. Well, let us introduce you to the craft of needle felting – because what could be more wholesome than stabbing some wool over and over again?
Needle felting is where you stab unspun wool fibres with a barbed needle, which makes the fibres felt together into a soft but solid shape – It’s essentially sculpture but with wool fibres.
It’s fabulous for a bit of slow crafting as it does require your full attention, as you don’t want to stab yourself with that sharp needle! Why not see if one of these Needle felting kits for beginners takes your fancy?
3. Mosaic making
The Romans are credited with many inventions that we still use today, but when it comes to crafts, there’s one form that is synonymous – mosaics!
Making images from small segments of tiles has been practiced all over the world, but you can also easily do it yourself at home. Mosaic making went through a bit of a trend recently, popular with both children and adults alike.
There’s a range of mosaic kits available to suit all kinds of crafter, whether you want to create your own designs or follow a paint-by-numbers style kit to create a specific image. Take a look at what’s available in our Guide to mosaics and best mosaic kits.
4. Pottery
Perhaps you’ve been watching the Great British Pottery Throwdown and wishing you had a hobby like that. While attending a class is all well and good, most of us don’t have the space (or money) for a potting studio and kiln at home.
But the good news is that you can enjoy pottery without the expense in the form of air dry clay. This fun alternative lets you enjoy all the joy of hand sculpting and decorating at home without the need for expensive equipment.
There are many different Air dry clay kits available that are great for a bit of mindful crafting, or even just to try out and see if pottery is for you – be warned though, it won’t be long until you want your own kiln!
5. Diamond painting
When it comes to crafts to do when bored, diamond painting is up there as one of our favourites!
This relatively new crafting trend is essentially a combination of paint-by-numbers and mosaics, but instead of tiles uses tiny sparkly resin diamonds. It gives you the same satisfaction as a jigsaw puzzle, finding the right place for the right piece.
Most diamond painting is orientated around kits and sets rather than creating your own designs, and there’s a wide range available – from simple sets for kids to epic painting sets. You’ll find some of our favourites in our list of the best diamond painting kits.
5 classic crafts that can quickly become your new obsession
If you’re getting sick of staring at your phone and are determined to learn something new, here are five of our favourite traditional crafts that have stood the test of time.
You’ll need some basic tools and materials to get started, but with each of these crafts that initial investment and commitment can lead to a lifetime of joy and contentment.
1. Needlecraft
There’s so much more that you can do with a needle and thread than just sewing a button back on. People have been getting creative with embroidery and cross stitch for centuries, and stitching can be one of the best crafts to do when bored.
Cross stitch designs are a little bit like a paint by numbers set, where a coded grid shows you exactly where to put each stitch and in what colour. Cross stitch is perfect for people who enjoy following instructions and like the feeling of putting their hand to a task.
Embroidery has the potential to be a bit more creative, either following pre-designed templates or coming up with your own custom designs. Whereas cross-stitch generally sticks to 2D image creation, embroidery can also be used to embellish or even mend clothes, as well as customising your own creations.
If you fancy giving them a try, you’ll find loads of resources and free patterns on Gathered. The perfect place to start is with our how to cross stitch for beginners or embroidery for beginners guides.
2. Knitting and crochet
Whatever preconceptions you have about knitting and crochet – forget them! Gone are the days of being seen as a craft exclusively for the elderly.
People of all ages find the repetitive process of knitting and crochet to be relaxing and therapeutic, as well as enjoying the ability to create their own clothes and accessories.
While the two crafts are heavily intertwined, they each have their own specialisms and characteristics.
Knitting is ideal for creating stretchy fabrics making it ideal for clothing, whereas crochet creates a more solid fabric that is perfect for 3D shapes like soft toys as well as intricate lace stitches. However, that is just a general overview, there’s so much more that can be made with these two crafts.
Start your journey with our how to knit for beginners and how to crochet for beginners guides.
3. Painting
When it comes to creative hobbies we can’t possibly miss out on the classic medium of painting.
From portraits to landscapes and all kinds of abstract art, painting has been used as a form of artistic expression for millennia. But when it comes to picking up a brush for the first time, it’s fair to say it can be a little overwhelming.
Paint by numbers kits are a great way of introducing yourself to painting, as it avoids those tricky decisions about what paints or brushes you need to buy.
If however, you want to create your own masterpieces, you’ll need to decide what sort of paints you want to use.
Watercolour paints are perhaps the most accessible for beginners and are normally more affordable than other paints. Watercolours are generally used to create translucent and blended colours and are great for capturing seascapes or creating washes of colour. Find out more in our guide to watercolour painting for beginners.
When it comes to creating paintings with thicker solid colours, you’ll need to move onto a medium such as acrylic, oil or gouache paint. Each of these paints has its own unique qualities… and challenges. For example, acrylic is fast drying and great for textured paint effect, whereas oil paints are vivid but slow drying, meaning you need to take your time.
To decide on the best medium for you it’s worth doing some research and looking at examples first, fortunately, we’re here to help. Find out everything you need to know about acrylic painting, take a look at our oil painting for beginners guide or check out our in-depth guide to gouache painting.
4. Sewing & Quilting
We’ve covered needlecraft already, but taking it one step further and discovering the potential behind your sewing machine is also a surefire way to beat boredom.
Many people begin sewing from a desire to make their own clothes, but it does take some practice to get to that point. However, there are plenty of projects to start your journey with, such as accessories or homewares.
It’s a hobby that does require some dedicated time and space, but one that is incredibly satisfying and in some ways liberating. Find out how to get started with our complete guide to sewing for beginners.
Many people also enjoy the creativity in quilting, as the nature of making blocks or patchwork pieces fit together allows you to play with colour and patterns. It’s another case of being great for people who like to follow a prepared plan, a bit like making a mosaic or painting by numbers. Take a look at our complete guide to quilting for beginners to see if it inspires you.
5. Calligraphy
Our last classic craft has been going through a bit of a resurgence recently, possibly as a result of our increasing reliance on technology. People are enjoying going back to the traditional tools of pen and ink, appreciating the slow focus and personal feel of hand-written words.
It’s one of those crafts that looks incredibly difficult at first, but actually is quite easy to pick up. Plus, you don’t need expensive supplies to get started, and there are loads of starter sets available to help you on your creative journey.
Why not give it a try? Check out our beginner’s guide to calligraphy to find out everything you need.
Find your favourite craft
Now that you’ve read our guide you’ll hopefully have plenty of inspiration for crafts to do when bored.
Remember that the most important thing is to have fun and that no one becomes an expert overnight. You might need to try out a few different crafts to find your favourite, but once you do discover your crafty passion you’ll wonder what you ever did without it.
Get your kids into crafts
If your little ones are always claiming to be bored, keep them occupied with these boredom-busting craft kits for kids.
