42 of the best craft ideas and DIYs for teens and tweens

Entertaining teens has never been easier. We’ve rounded up 42 DIY’s for teens so that no matter how fussy yours is, you can find them a creative project for the summer holidays.

Check out our 42 crafts for kids and our papercraft for kids posts for more crafty ideas.

Craft ideas for teens

DIYs for teens are best when they’re personalised. Teach them how to make their own fabric banner using our tutorial and then let them customise it with their name, school or year group.

Use our how to make a pom pom tutorial to pick up everything you need then let them make their own bear pom poms!

Buy some colourful beads and let their creative flags fly with this ice cream brooch tutorial.

Amazon, £11

Hama beads are hours of fun and can be made into loads of different designs. Hours of fun to be had.

Craft ideas for teens don’t have to be complicated or expensive! Mollie Makes have this fab tutorial for turning beach pebbles into cute fridge magnets.

This beginners embroidery project is the perfect craft for teens. Show them our step by step tutorial and watch them stitch away.

Amazon, £24.99

Jewellery making is always a hit with teens and this jewellery making kit comes with tons of charms, beads and threads for them to use.

We’ve got plenty of sewing crafts for teens up on Gathered including this easy sew envelope bag.

Cross stitch is a great craft idea for teenagers because it’s really simple and uses only a few pieces of equipment. Let them stitch Lucie Heaton’s heart to wear as a necklace or hang in their room.

Amazon, £11.45

Crafts for teens are always better if they involve cute cupcakes and doughnuts! Teach them how to make their own bath bombs which they can then use or gift to a friend.

Use our simple to follow video and let your teens and tweens make these friendship bracelets.

Set them up with different coloured yarn and our weaving loom tutorial – it’ll keep them entertained for hours.

Amazon, £25.88

String art is super easy and gives beautiful results. These kits from Amazon come in a range of different designs, there’s everything from whales and plants to candy canes to rainbows.

This plant hanger tutorial is a great project to introduce teens to the world of macrame.

Cute art ideas for teens have never been easier with our origami cat tutorial.

Amazon, £9.99

Colourful crafts for teens are a staple for the summer holidays and they don’t get more colourful than tie-dyeing kits!

Colouring is not only a fab activity to entertain bored teens but it’s also really relaxing. Download and print Mollie Makes’ free colouring pages.

Sew some hair accessories with our headband tutorial. If you’re looking for a sewing machine for your teen then check out our top sewing machines for kids.

Amazon, £9.99

Diamond painting is a relatively new craft that’s become really popular over recent years. These kits are ideal for teenagers wanting to express their creativity.

Decorate a purse with simple botanical stitches using our free embroidery pattern.

Up next is art ideas for teens inspired by the deep blue! Sew these sea life plushies and turn them into keyrings.

Amazon, £13.99

Sequin art comes in hundreds of different designs and kits for all ages. This unicorn kit is the ideal craft for tweens.

Craft this paper floral garland together and hang them around your teenager’s bed for a handmade touch.

You’ll need to help your teens with sewing the zip in but making a pencil case ready for when they go back to school is a fab project to work on together.

Amazon, £9.99

Learn how to make lip balm with DIY kits. Not only is it crafty it’s also scientific.

Embroidery is a great craft for teens and these notebooks can be customised into whatever designs you’d like.

All your teens will need is some wooden blocks and paint and then they can make their very own picture holders. These would be fab gifts for their friends too.

Amazon, £12.99

Scratch and sketch skylines and London scenes with these kits.

Pineapple pom poms are the ultimate summer craft and could be strung together into a tropical garland.

These cute little paper clip toppers are the ideal little companions for back to school teens.

Amazon, £15.99

There’s no craft ideas for teens sweeter than these Russian dolls. Let your kids paint and customise theirs, they could even make a replica of your own family.

For older teens this macrame heart bunting tutorial is a lovely project. We also have a library of macrame knots which they can follow along with.

Candle making is really simple once you have the equipment and these pink ombre candles are no exception! Use our free tutorial.

Amazon, £20.88

Yarn wrapping is a simple craft that teens can do by themselves. There’s lots of different shapes on Amazon including these colourful little elephants.

Another great back to school project is this simple tote bag tutorial. Art ideas for teens are always better when they’re practical!

This craft idea is for older teens who have their ears pierced. Let them choose their favourite colours and create these funky earrings. For a younger tween alternative help them make their tassels into necklaces

Amazon, £11.99

DIY dreamcatchers are a lovely craft to do with teens and the kits are a really reasonable price for an afternoons entertainment.

Stamps, stickers and scrapbooking craft ideas are always a winner with teens. Let them carve their own stamps from old rubbers using Mollie Makes’ free tutorial.

Handmade cards are always a winner so get your teens to stitch some birthday cards ready for the celebrations.

Amazon, £14.49

This sewing kit comes with all the fabric, needles and stuffing you’ll need to make a flamingo.

DIYs for teens don’t get more colourful than this beautiful rainbow mobile.

Download our free cross stitch chart and let your teens make some cute hair accessories!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our craft ideas for teens. If your kids try any of them we’d love to see some pictures. Tag us in them on Instagram with #gatheredmakers.