Five Road Trip Ready Crafts
Crafting on the Road
By Jennie Lennick
Crafting on the go
There’s nothing more American than hitting the open road. Road trips gained popularity in the middle of the 20th century with the expansion of the interstate highway system in the United States. Suddenly it was possible (and affordable) for a family to make a trip from one state to another. A ride down Route 66 in the 1960s is an iconic example of this era of road travel.
My dad was big on road trips. So each summer, we would pile into our trusty station wagon (complete with fake wood paneling on the outside) and head out on a two-week vacation. We set out from our home in Minneapolis and explored all sorts of places, from Yellowstone National Park to Vail, Colorado. My dad tried his best to keep us busy but sometimes I needed a little project to distract myself from the seemingly endless hours in the car.
Here is a collection of crafts that are perfect for travel. I’ve included activities great for all ages and projects you can work on as a family or group.
1. Watercolor Postcards
When you reach a new destination on your trip, take a moment to soak in the scenery. When I have the time at the end of the day of travel, I like to paint my surroundings. Any of our watercolor sets would be perfect for painting on the go. You can keep your paintings together in a bound travel journal or send them out as postcards to friends and family!
These watercolor postcards make great DIY souvenirs to share. Just don’t forget the stamps!
Ready to get painting? Check out our selection of paints, brushes, and sketchbooks!
2. Coloring Posters
Image via OMY
I love to zen out and color. These giant coloring posters are a relaxing activity for the entire family to enjoy together. They are perfect for poolside, campsite, or hotel room hangouts. I especially love the Atlas poster, as it is travel-themed. Make sure to pack some markers or colored pencils!
3. Embroidery Kits
Embroidery is my favorite craft. I love how affordable it is, how accessible the materials are, and that it’s super portable! You will always find me with an embroidery project on any extended trip. I especially like to stitch while on long plane rides.
Our embroidery kits include everything you need to get started with embroidery (minus the scissors). You will keep your hands busy during tedious travel and arrive with something beautiful.
JENNY LEMONS EMBROIDERY KITS
Learn embroidery with these fun kits! Great as a gift or as a treat for yourself, our kits have everything needed to get started with embroidery!
CROSS STITCH KITS
These sweet and simple kits are best for someone with newbie skills. They comes with everything you need to make your own cross stitch art!
Pro-tip: After losing at least six pairs of scissors to TSA agents, I found the perfect scissors for plane rides. They’re TSA-approved!
I have also used fingernail clippers instead of scissors for my travel embroidery projects. It works excellently, and those pesky agents won’t take it from you. Just make sure to remove the nail file attachment if your set has one.
4. Cyanotype
Cyanotype printing is a UV-sensitive photography technique that's super easy and magical! This process, which originated in the mid-1800s, has been used by photographers, artists, and architects to quickly and easily create copies.
Collect treasures from your trip, like leaves, stones, or other ephemera, and make cyanotypes on the go. Once your trip is over, you will have a meaningful souvenir. Use the cyanotype sheets in sewing projects or frame them as prints. They’re super beautiful.
I love this kit; it includes everything you need, minus the water. Check out our blog for a step-by-step tutorial on how to use our cyanotype kit.
5. Paint by numbers
Nostalgic and straightforward, these paint-by-numbers kits are a meditative and fun way to unwind after a long day of travel. The kit includes everything, so there is no need to worry about packing colors or brushes. Just relax and paint.
I especially love the San Francisco-themed kits!
I hope you can find some time to get crafty while on the road this summer! What are your favorite crafts to do while on vacation?
Make sure to check out our other blog posts for more crafty ideas!
JENNIE LENNICK
Designer, entrepreneur, and lover of crafts! Boss Lady at Jenny Lemons in San Francisco
