Easy Party Idea: Host a Craft Camp

Looking for a fun and easy party idea? Here’s how to host a cozy craft camp so you and your friends can get creative together. Plus, read on to get a free invitation you can download and customize for your party.

I have always loved hosting card-making parties at my house. I haven’t been able to host any due to chronic illness for years, so I figured a virtual craft afternoon was the next best thing!

I’ve found virtual birthday parties are much easier on me in the cold winter months when my chronic health conditions are especially flared up. I’ve found not having to travel or prep (or cook!) means I have less fatigue immediately after the party, and my post exertional malaise (PEM) is a little better over the following several days.

Sharing my birthday party ideas has become a bit of an annual tradition on the blog. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out how I customized the theme for an Ancient Egypt Escape Room and a Cyberpunk Escape Room Party.

I also share tips for making escape room parties work virtually.

Hosting a Cozy Craft Camp

Once I’d picked my theme, I sent the invitations below, along with a list of crafts ideas to spark my guests’ imaginations. I’ve included a list of suggestions in the invitation download, as well as a blank invitation so you can easily customize it.

This type of party could easily be hosted in person. If everyone is bringing their own project, that will save you a lot of set up and prep. Or feel free to go all out and have supplies ready for a craft of your choosing.

(Also, s’mores or a s’mores cake would be so fun for this theme!)

You could do what I did and encourage everyone to work on whatever craft project they like. Or you could choose a theme (say, painting) and everyone could work on a painting of their choosing. (The party could be like a “paint and sip” party—two friends and I went to a class like that several years ago, and we ended up having the whole studio to ourselves! It was so fun!) Or, you could all work on the same project—having everyone purchase the same kit or gifting everyone the same kit would work great.

I was partly inspired to host a craft camp after taking part in the King’s Daughters Writing Camp last November. It’s a virtual camp, and I got to thinking—what other kinds of virtual camps would be fun?

Pssst… my first short story was published in the King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp collection. Find out more here.

Plus I really enjoyed earning virtual badges at that camp, and I wanted to make my own.

I also made little badges on Canva to send my friends at the end of the camp. They were pretty Cassie-specific, but you can create some for your camp too! Canva is free to use (there is also a paid version) and easy to navigate. Or you could craft paper or fabric badges to give your friends as party favors.

I’ll include one birthday-themed badge for you to download (details below).

Hosting A Successful Party

My friends and I enjoyed getting together (via Zoom!) and doing something crafty and cozy on a chilly day. (This kind of party would work any time of year too!)

It was fun seeing the progress each of us made throughout the party.

My friends worked on quite diverse projects: they made a necklace, bound a book, cut out stickers for a planner, embroidered, and worked on a digital design.

I worked on my first ever embroidery project!

I really enjoyed seeing what everyone was creating lately, and while we were chatting, several people were able to share tips for various kinds of crafts.

We also played a fun virtual game, which I might share in a future post…

I hope this post inspires you to think outside the box when planning parties and get-togethers! I’m glad that a little planning can make parties possible for me, in spite of chronic illness. I hope this helps you celebrate and connect with your loved ones too!

Want more ideas for virtual games and hang-outs?

What would you make at a cozy craft camp?

 

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