Community-based arts and crafts inspiration for a cozy autumn

A handful of activities that combine creativity with companionship

As fall takes hold and winter approaches with each passing day, you may find yourself inclined to spend your free time on hobbies that are cozier and calmer. Arts and crafts can be both relaxing and gratifying, making them a great way to fill October evenings and add meaning to your down time.

Crafting doesn’t have to be a solitary activity, however. There are many ways to combine artistic pursuits with community, making the experience more beneficial and the finished products all the more special. While these arts and crafts can be completed alone, doing them with loved ones can bring extra magic into your autumn experience.

With the convenience that our devices give us, it is easy to forget that there’s an infinite realm of possibilities in the act of doing something by hand. While these tasks require sustained effort and creativity rather than speed, this is precisely what makes them so satisfying and worthwhile.

Instead of texting your friends, consider writing them a letter. Instantaneous communication has become a given in our lives thanks to our devices, but slower forms of correspondence have their own value. Texting often resembles a verbal conversation, with participants exchanging short messages back and forth. Letter writing, however, demands a different sort of communication that can allow you to express yourself more thoughtfully.

A letter gives you the chance to speak at length about whatever topic you choose, and mindfully prepare questions based on what the recipient shares with you. You have more room to untangle your thoughts and express your feelings in depth. Likewise, you might find yourself more willing to discuss thoughts that are harder to articulate in the moment.

You can also tuck little gifts, such as stickers or handmade crafts, into your letters for a personalized touch. Press a flower into the corner of a page or doodle images of your recipient’s favorite animals in the margins. Letter writing is a rare form of communication that leaves room for artistic expression, and there are countless creative ways to take advantage of this quality of this medium.

Creating an aesthetic is another major component of existing online, but it doesn’t have to be restricted to a screen. Collaging is a hands-on way to combine images and ideas to make something entirely unique that reflects your personal passions and imagination.

You might cut up a magazine, use an unused sticker book or simply print out an assortment of pictures and quotations that you feel drawn to. By organizing them and gluing them onto a notebook page or poster board, you can create a collage of aesthetics and ideas that are completely unique to you.

For a more community-oriented approach to this craft, invite a friend and make collages for each other. You might create collages that capture each other’s essences, or string together images of the fictional characters or songs that remind you of one another. Not only does this allow you to engage your creative side, but it offers you a chance to artistically express your appreciation for your companion.

If you prefer a creative activity with more structure, try picking up a coloring book! Coloring pages are often associated with childhood, but there are countless coloring books designed for adults. Slowly filling in a page while a comfort show or favorite album runs in the background is an especially soothing way to spend a free afternoon.

To add a social twist to this activity, invite a handful of friends over and have everyone choose a coloring page. Then set a timer right as you begin to color. When the timer goes off, pass your page to the next person over and reset it, taking over where they left off. Giving each person a certain single color or medium — such as markers, colored pencils or crayons — can produce vibrant, chaotic results.

If you prefer words to pictures, this same activity can be done with a couple of blank pages and a handful of pencils. Instead of coloring, participants can use each block of time to write as much of an original story as they can, whether serious or absurd. You and your friends will build on each other’s narratives in imaginative ways, taking each story into unexpected (and often hilarious) directions.

Just about any craft can become a group activity, whether everyone works independently side-by-side or collaborates on a shared project. Try hosting a craft night, choosing an artistic activity for friends to enjoy together Whether you’re engaged in a passionate group discussion or working in comfortable silence, sharing your creative pursuits with others can make them all the more comforting and magical.

Written by: Natalie Salter—arts@theaggie.org