13 Types of Crafts for A Ladies' Night In (Part 1)

A ladies' night in centered on making crafts doesn't have to be an expectations versus reality event, where participants labor over pouring plaster of paris or dealing with paper mache projects that are too complex. 

The Social Aspect of Crafts

When it comes to crafting, there really is something for everybody. And lest you think it's a solitary activity, you can do a craft project with a group of girl friends within a low-key, intimate environment. 

Why Incorporate Crafts on A Ladies' Night In? 

A ladies' night in can be a frugal way to bond with friends. 

You might be low on funds so everyone decided to hold off on watching concerts, going to music festivals, or going on a trip or vacation for now.

Well, crafting with friends can be a frugal way to bond. It can also serve as an excellent opportunity to mix your introverted friends with more extroverted ones.

Focusing on crafts can be a good way to taper off on alcohol.

If you and your friends have agreed to quit (or at least, taper off) on drinking and using alcohol as a social prop, getting together at someone's home to bond over crafts can be a good alternative to working the bar scene or a pub crawl.

It doesn't actually have to be a "night in." 

A "ladies' night in" doesn't automatically equate to a group of young, 20-something women. It could be 30- and 40-something moms hoping to unwind, talk, and do something creative during a Saturday afternoon. 

It could also be elderly ladies at church regularly meeting up for a Wednesday Bible study, or a quilting group wanting to try a different craft. 

Or, how about turning it into a pajama party and asking your pre-teen or teenage daughters to invite her friends over to craft?

The menu can be simple and fuss-free.

Another frugal aspect about hosting a crafty ladies' night in is, you don't need a menu with elaborately prepared dishes to wow your guests. 

You can serve platters of canapes and quesadillas as appetizers before you craft, and cap off the event with subway or clubhouse sandwiches. 

You can turn it into a Mexican-themed buffet with tacos, burritos, and nachos and dips. You can make spaghetti with meatballs and order pizza.

You can fill a couple of charcuterie boards with crackers and pretzels, fruits like grapes, oranges, and berries, vegetables like carrot and celery sticks and roasted asparagus, and slices of deli meat.

For teenage girls, you can serve hotdog sandwiches and fried chicken, with ice cold orange juice, lemonade, or non-alcoholic punch for a refreshing drink. 

Some types of crafts can be modified to suit a guys' night in. 

A crafty night in can be modified to suit a group of guys. They can choose a superheroes-themed crafty night in, or one that features their favorite video game characters. 

Guys can also choose a sporty craft after watching their favorite NBA or NFL team on TV.  

Should you be convinced to host a craft-centered ladies' night in, here are some key takeaways to keep in mind: 

• You need to consider everyone's level of skill and creativity, so choose an inclusive craft. 
• Have enlarged or blown up copies of photos of the finished craft, so guests can have an idea.
• Allow your guests to customize or personalize their craft.
• Get a friend or 2 to assist all your other guests. 
• Prepare a playlist of upbeat tunes for background music.
• Don't craft on an empty stomach! Get yourself and your guests fueled first by having a meal.

Having mentioned these crucial takeaways, here are 13 types of crafts for a ladies' night in:

(**DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, which means I'll be collecting a commission any time you click on those links and make a purchase.)

(1.) Drawstring pouch

This simple, colorful pouch can be used as a fancy way to wrap and present accessories and other small trinkets. 

Photo from Paper & Stitch
Click here for complete procedure

Ladies can choose their favorite colors, and use other materials like tassels, craft buttons, bag charms or keychains, and even miniature Christmas balls to adorn their drawstring pouches.

(2.) Bath and beauty essentials 

Bath and beauty crafts aren't just for a bachelorette party or bridal shower. They can also be given as a present on Mother's Day, or to a female colleague, a favorite aunt, that female barista who regularly makes your coffee at a nearby cafe, or that elderly lady next door who brings you her baked goodies. 

Photo from Online Labels
Click here for full tutorial

Body scrub in a jar 

The good thing about this homemade craft is you can fill several jars out of body scrub made out of common, everyday ingredients like oatmeal and coffee.

Photo from That's What Che Said
Click here for complete procedure

Mani-pedi in a jar

This is an incredibly chic and practical craft that even your girl friends who claim to be low-maintenance will love.

(3.) Hot cocoa in a mug 

Photo from Flour on My Face
Click here for full tutorial

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, you may wish to make a lot of these to give away.

(4.) Framed calligraphy 

Image from The Crafty Angels
Click here for complete procedure

menriquezartsupplies'
Sakura Koi assorted
coloring brush pens

You can jazz up a plain wall, a corner of your home office or workspace at home by writing a word, quote or maxim, Bible verse, or poem using a calligraphy pen on parchment paper. Have it framed by taking any ordinary wooden or plastic frame.

Tip: You can modify this craft by using calligraphy pens to write on blank postcards. You can then decorate theme with stickers, washi tapes, and ephemera.

DIY blank mailable
watercolor painting postcards
4" x 6" 300 gsm, white
by Main's Art Venue

(5.) Refrigerator magnets 

Refrigerator magnets are sooo much fun and easy to make, and you can craft a bunch to give away to family members, friends, colleagues, etc. They can even be excellent and inexpensive stocking stuffers for Christmas. 

Resin accessories for crafts
and DIY by Medeer.ph

 

10 pieces/set Sanrio resin figures for
crafts by yanshangshininmain.ph

Materials: 

• resin charms 
• Merry Christmas greeting resin charm 
• magnets
• multi-purpose glue/adhesive

Flexible magnetic dots with strong
adhesive by ILOVESHOPPING

Tool Corner's B-7000
multi-purpose glue/adhesive

Procedure:

(1.) Take a Merry Christmas greeting resin charm and match it with a holiday symbol or pop culture character (in this case, Sanrio cartoon characters) resin charm. 

(2.) Get a magnet and use multi-purpose glue to stick the matching resin charms on the magnet.