March is National Crafting Month, which is so close to my heart and one of my favorite subjects to talk about. It means it’s time to grab your glue gun, flex your creative muscles, and fully embrace the chaos of crafting. As someone who loves a good hands-on project (and has personally experienced the heartbreak of an epic Pinterest fail), I figured this was the perfect time to clear up a common debate:

What’s the difference between crafting and DIY? Because let’s be honest—some people use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Let’s break it down. The key difference in a nutshell?

• Crafting requires more artistic skill and is often seen as a traditional form of creativity, passed down through generations.
• DIY is about problem-solving, resourcefulness, functionality and doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional.

But DIY is a subset of Crafting – Craft is like a large ocean and DIY’s are like small rivers.

Crafting: The OG of Creative Expression

Crafting is all about art, aesthetics, and skill. It’s the process of making something beautiful, decorative, or functional, often with specific materials and techniques. Crafts require patience, talent, and (sometimes) a willingness to accept that your Pinterest inspiration and your final product might not be twins—but rather distant, very distant cousins.

🔹 Examples of Crafts:

• Knitting a scarf (that hopefully isn’t too lopsided)
• Painting a picture (or at least attempting to make something other than a glorified stick figure)
• Throwing pottery (and praying it doesn’t explode in the kiln)
• Designing and sewing a quilt (and hoping you don’t end up using the seam ripper too much)

DIY: The Resourceful Problem-Solver

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects are practical, hands-on solutions to real-life problems. Think of DIY as the “let’s fix or build something” category. It’s less about artistic flair and more about getting things done—though that doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful, too! Personally, when I think of DIY, my brain goes straight to home improvement. Anything that makes me feel like a very unqualified contractor.

🔹 Examples of DIY Projects:

• Fixing a leaky faucet (and not flooding your house in the process)
• Painting a room (while wearing more paint than the walls)
• Building a deck (because why not take on a project that requires power tools?)

• Patching a hole in the wall (because accidents happen)
• Painting a dresser you found on the side of the road (free furniture, hello!)
• Making your own skincare products (because you’re basically a scientist now)
• Installing a light fixture without electrocuting yourself (bonus points if you succeed on the first try)

For the purposes of this blog post I’m going to call the whole thing “DIY Crafting” because in the end, both are about creating something with your own hands—and hopefully not ending up with a hot-glue burn or a missing finger in the process. For some, DIY means rolling up their sleeves and tackling a home improvement project—painting walls, installing shelves, or single-handedly wrestling a piece of IKEA furniture into submission. For others, it’s about creating something from scratch, like sewing their own clothes, decorating a cake, or even making their own bath bombs (because why buy relaxation when you can craft it yourself?).

The Physical & Emotional Benefits of DIY Crafting

Beyond the joy of making something with your own hands, DIY Crafting has real benefits. Engaging in DIY Crafting provides a much-needed break from the demands and stresses of daily life. It offers a creative outlet for self-expression, relaxation, and personal growth.

The act of creating something with your own hands can boost self-esteem, promote a sense of accomplishment, and enhance cognitive abilities. It can also improve mood, reduce stress, and provide a form of emotional release. Studies have shown that working on creative projects can reduce stress, improve focus, and provide a sense of accomplishment—whether you’re painting a masterpiece or assembling an IKEA dresser without screaming into the void.

Some overall benefits of DIY Crafting:

Improves Fine Motor Skills – Crafting activities like knitting, painting, and jewelry making strengthen hand-eye coordination and dexterity by engaging small muscle movements. This is especially beneficial for maintaining or improving fine motor skills, whether for everyday tasks or rehabilitation.

Promotes an Active Lifestyle – Many DIY Crafts involve physical movement, from standing and using tools in woodworking to kneading clay in pottery. Crafting keeps you engaged and active, blending creativity with light physical exercise for a healthier lifestyle.

Pain Management  – The immersive nature of crafting helps shift focus away from physical discomfort, reducing pain perception. By engaging the brain in a creative task, crafting can provide temporary relief and mental respite for those managing chronic pain.

Different Types of DIY Crafts and Their Unique Benefits

Engaging in DIY Crafting opens up a world of possibilities with various types to explore. Each type of DIY Craft offers its own set of unique benefits, allowing individuals to find the perfect fit for their interests and preferences. In this section, we will delve into different types of DIY crafts and the specific advantages they bring.

Painting and Making Art

Painting, drawing and making art are expressive forms of DIY Crafting using various mediums and techniques. These crafts offer a form of self expression and emotional release. It’s a creative outlet for self-reflection and promotes mindfulness and focus since it requires concentration. You have to be fully present in the artistic process.

These simple pieces of art just involved buying some old pictures, touching up the frames, printing two of my favorite hip-hop lyrics on photo paper and then spray adhering them on top of the old art. Voila!

 My Mom gave me a huge bag of her old macrame materials and one day I just decided to  take some of them out and make a wall hanging. I had been seeing these boho wall hangings everywhere so I took a chance. I think it came out beautiful. What do you think?

By taking strips of magazines and decoupaging them to an old chair I found on the side of the road, a totally new chair was born. This is an extremely easy project that anyone can do and get a big bang for your buck. All you need is modge podge, a brush, old magazines, spray poly and a little creativity.

Sewing and Quilting

Sewing and quilting involve stitching pieces of fabric together to create garments, accessories, wall hangings, etc It also requires you to focus and contrate. You have to have attention to details so it can increase cognitive ability. The sense of accomplishment you get from completing a project can boost self-esteem and give you a sense of accomplishment.

As an ode to the Philadelphia Eagles, I made this quilt a few years ago for a really good friend who is from Philly. Since they are Super Bowl champs, it’s so appropriate now. Go Birds!

Here is an oven mitt & potholder set I made for a customer who picked out the fabrics they wanted to use. I had never worked with metallic before and the gold came out great and she was so happy.

Another side of the road find. I’m known for spotting stuff when I’m on a walk with my dog. This one had quite the transformation. A new wood top, woven strips of fabric and a coat of black paint.

Side of the road again. Just a lot of sanding for this one before applying a matte black coat of paint. I used this table in one of my staging projects and it was a perfect breakfast table.

Woodworking and Carpentry

Woodworking and carpentry involve working with wood to create functional or decorative items. This offers physical activity and strength building. It requires physical effort and promotes strength and coordination. Another big benefit is it promotes problem-solving and creativity.

Making frames was on my to-do list last year. I decided to take baby steps and give these old resin pictures a little something by adding some wood molding. I think they came out cute.

My craft room is still a work in progress, but this shelf is one of my proudest DIY projects. I just glued some old jelly and jam jar tops to the underside of a wooden shelf that I cut to size, found some jars that had handles and added some cup hooks. I now have the perfect place to store some of my craft/sewing materials.

This was literally pieces of junk that I found while out walking my dog, but I could see that it used to be a stool. So I painstakingly put it all back together along with a new upholstered top and it’s now a cute little stool.

Knitting and Crocheting

Knitting and crocheting involve creating fashion, accessories and anything you can think of by interlocking loops of yarn with needles or hooks. It is very meditative because the repetitive actions create a sense of relaxation and makes it an excellent stress-relieving activity. Besides increasing your fine motor skills, it can be done anywhere making it a very desirable craft.

I can attest to the meditative action of crocheting. I’ve taken my crochet on trips with me and pulled it out whenever I needed to calm down. Below, is a bunch of leftover yarn and I turned it into this beautiful scrap crochet blanket with pom pom edging. Too cute and one of my favorite projects.

Sculpting and Pottery

Sculpting and pottery involve shaping and molding clay or other sculptural mediums to create three-dimensional artworks. This is still on my bucket list of things to learn, but it offers a tactile experience that is grounding and therapeutic. It also requires problem-solving abilities and fosters creative thinking.

The Rise of Crafting & DIY in the Social Media Era

With platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok fueling the creative fire, DIY and Crafting have never been more popular. Whether it’s a mesmerizing resin pour video or a five-minute craft hack that somehow turns an old sock into a chandelier (seriously, how do they do that?), people are more inspired than ever to try their hand at making something.

Scroll through the #Crafting and #DIY hashtags on Instagram, and you’ll see everything from homemade candles to full-on kitchen renovations. It’s a broad category, and at the end of the day, if you’re doing it yourself—it counts.The internet has turned it into an accessible, step-by-step adventure where you can learn to do just about anything.

Whether you’re someone who loves a good hands-on project or just wants to avoid calling a professional for something you can probably figure out on your own, DIY Crafting is for everyone. So go ahead—grab your tools, unleash your creativity, and remember: there’s no such thing as a failed project—just a very creative learning experience.

How Do You Get Started?

By exploring these different types of DIY crafts, you can find the craft that resonates with your interests and offers the specific benefits you are looking for. Whether you prefer the calming rhythm of knitting, the expressive nature of painting, or the hands-on experience of woodworking, there is a DIY craft for everyone to enjoy and benefit from.

Find Your Interest – Explore different crafts, experiment with small projects, and see what sparks your creativity.

Gather Materials – Start with basic, quality supplies and repurpose items where possible.

Learn Techniques – Use books, online tutorials, and workshops to refine your skills.

Create a Crafting Schedule – Set aside regular time for crafting and treat it as a self-care ritual.

Join a Crafting Community – Connect with fellow crafters for inspiration, support, and new ideas.

The Transformative Power of DIY Crafting

Throughout this blog post we have discussed Crafting vs. DIY, explored the therapeutic benefits of each, from its psychological and physical advantages to the various types of crafts and how to get started. DIY Crafting is not just a hobby; it is a transformative practice that has the power to positively impact your life in numerous ways.

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, DIY Crafting can bring a sense of purpose, happiness, and well-being. So, why wait? Embrace your creativity, unleash your imagination, and let DIY Crafting become a source of joy, relaxation, and personal fulfillment in your life. Pick up a paintbrush, a ball of yarn, or a piece of wood and start creating something beautiful today. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.

Are you the crafty type, always making things that are as beautiful as they are intricate? Or are you a DIY-er, tackling home projects with enthusiasm (and possibly a few swear words)? Let me know in the comments and just remember: no project is complete without at least one moment of wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into.

See ya next time.