Crafting Mindfully: Doing Instead of Buying

Justine Lemoine
Feb 11
2 min read

In a world that constantly nudges us to click, add to cart, and move on, choosing to sit with a puzzle or finish a half-used sticker book feels almost radical. For me, being mindful about waste starts with hobbies.

Hobbies and crafts invite us to make rather than buy, shifting our focus from convenience to intention. They allow us to create something with our hands instead of refreshing a tracking number.

Of course, most crafts require basic supplies. But there are many ways to approach them intentionally: printing a few colouring pages instead of buying multiple books, borrowing tools from neighbours or local Facebook groups, and making use of what you already own.

Lately, I decided to be more intentional with my crafts and avoid letting collecting crafts become the craft itself. So I put myself on a “craft ban”: I had to finish what I already owned before getting anything new.

In doing so, I slowed down and noticed which projects I genuinely enjoyed, which ones had less appeal, and how long it actually took to go through them (spoiler alert: longer than you think!).

In a world of constant consumption and choice, these small, intentional practices helped me reduce decision fatigue and create space for awareness, focus, and choosing progress over accumulation.

If you are curious about trying a similar experiment, my advice would be to start small. Choose one craft category you already own and commit to finishing it before buying anything new.

With that in mind, here are my honest thoughts on each one to help you make your decision in case you want to pick a craft to be more mindful and connected to the moment.

🧩 Puzzles: 10/10

My lifelong go-to. I love supporting artists, and illustrated puzzles. If you are starting out, I recommend 500 pieces.

🎨 Sticker & Colouring Books: 10/10

Huge success. Sticker books are wonderfully mess-free and easy to return to. I recommend having one detailed colouring book and one simpler option, depending on your energy level.

🧱 LEGO & Models: 8/10

My only complaint is the space they take up. Following step-by-step instructions and seeing something come to life is incredibly satisfying.

🪡 Cross Stitch: 7/10

I prefer small to medium projects over large ones.

🎮 Cozy Games: 7/10

Puzzle games and slow-paced, narrative games work best for me.

🧶 Knitting & Crochet: 6/10

Requires patience and effort, but it’s deeply rewarding to see progress over time.

🖌 Paint by Numbers: 6/10

I would choose a sticker book instead. Still lovely to have art you can hang.

💎 Diamond Painting: 6/10

If you try it, I would recommend starting with a small format. I probably won’t repurchase once I finish my current kits.