Feel-Good Crafting with Friends

Category: Features

Feel-Good Crafting with Friends

Karen Jones

Creative Artisan

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Finding time to slow down and do something creative can make such a difference to our wellbeing. Whether it’s painting, upcycling, decoupaging or simply gathering around a table with friends for a good chat and a slice of cake, crafting has a unique way of lifting our spirits. There are so many reasons for crafting and here are just a few that mean the most personally to me.

A get together with friends

This is my number one as we all lead busy lives and sometimes days turn into weeks turn into years! My small group of friends always makes time every few months to craft and have a natter, a giggle, a cry, and a moan. We always go away feeling lighter (not physically obviously because there is almost always cake involved!) happier, refreshed and proud of what we have created. It gives feel-good hormones by the bucket load.

A get together with friends

This is my number one as we all lead busy lives and sometimes days turn into weeks turn into years! My small group of friends always makes time every few months to craft and have a natter, a giggle, a cry, and a moan. We always go away feeling lighter (not physically obviously because there is almost always cake involved!) happier, refreshed and proud of what we have created. It gives feel-good hormones by the bucket load.

Achievement and pride #IDIDTHAT!

There is no better feeling than looking at something that you have made, upcycled, or repurposed and being proud of yourself for achieving, something you didn’t think you could. I used to run lots of workshops and just loved seeing happy crafters so excited to be going home with something that they’ve created themselves.

Taking time out

Put some music on, get the paints out and go to that calming and relaxed place where all other day to day worries just seem to disappear. We all need time out, and crafting and being creative is a way to build this, very important, “you time” into your week.

Crafting, working with your hands and the huge wellbeing benefits of picking up a paintbrush has been proven to help with mental health and Frenchic’s partnership with the Samaritans echoes this sentiment. Frenchic has curated a collection of seven colours to create a special Samaritans Paint Collection and 10% of every sale from this collection will go directly to Samaritans.

Taking time out

Put some music on, get the paints out and go to that calming and relaxed place where all other day to day worries just seem to disappear. We all need time out, and crafting and being creative is a way to build this, very important, “you time” into your week.

Crafting, working with your hands and the huge wellbeing benefits of picking up a paintbrush has been proven to help with mental health and Frenchic’s partnership with the Samaritans echoes this sentiment. Frenchic has curated a collection of seven colours to create a special Samaritans Paint Collection and 10% of every sale from this collection will go directly to Samaritans.

Budget

We haven’t all got oodles of cash to splash around, so making something you already have, or that would have been discarded or hidden, into something that now takes pride of place, not only gives you the feel-good buzz but saves you money too.

Gifting

I don’t know about you, but I love to both give and receive homemade items. Some suggestions to craft and gift are coasters made from leftover tiles, painted, and decoupaged, frames sourced from charity shops, personalised by you, bowls painted and decorated, making memory boxes, the list really is endless.

So, how to choose a project?

Which items in your house have been bugging you for ages? What have you seen on social media that you fancy having a go at? What skills can you share with your friends and what can they do that you have always wanted to try? What have you seen in a charity shop that just needs a makeover?

A crafting session usually always starts with paint, but in addition why not try two colour distressing for the aged look, making something new look old by using wax, decoupaging using Finishing Coat or Tuff Top Coat, or, my favourite creating an aged effect using Easy Crackle.

So, how to choose a project?

Which items in your house have been bugging you for ages? What have you seen on social media that you fancy having a go at? What skills can you share with your friends and what can they do that you have always wanted to try? What have you seen in a charity shop that just needs a makeover?

A crafting session usually always starts with paint, but in addition why not try two colour distressing for the aged look, making something new look old by using wax, decoupaging using Finishing Coat or Tuff Top Coat, or, my favourite creating an aged effect using Easy Crackle.

Karen’s top tips for crafting

Get some dates in the diary for meeting up with friends as co-ordinating diaries can be a nightmare.
Book onto a workshop with one of the lovely Frenchic Stockists.
Source items to upcycle from flea markets and charity shops or just look around your home for potential items, there is usually something that needs a refresh.

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