15 Easy Crafts Kids Can Make and Sell
Want to keep your kids busy and have them actually earn a little money at the same time? This list is for you. Handmade items sell well and people love buying from kids even more.
Most of what you need is probably already around the house. Kids pick these up fast and don't need much guidance once they get going. A free afternoon is really all it takes.
Here are 15 easy craft ideas kids can actually make and sell. No fluff, just ideas that work.
Key Takeaways
- Find 15 simple crafts kids can actually make and sell without a lot of help or expensive supplies
- See exactly what each craft costs to make and how much it can bring in at a sale
- Pick up practical tips on helping kids price, display, and sell their work the right way
1. Handmade Greeting Cards
Kids can start here and do really well. People buy handmade cards for just about every occasion and they rarely settle for something generic.
Kids can make:
- Birthday cards
- Thank-you cards
- Holiday greeting cards
- Personalized name cards
- Friendship cards
- Get well soon cards
- Baby shower cards
Time to Make: 15 to 30 minutes per card
Cost Per Item: $0.50 to $2
Selling Price: $3 to $8 each
Profit Potential: High
Small details make these cards stand out fast. People skip the store because a handmade card carries something a printed one never will.
2. DIY Pencil Toppers
Kids absolutely love pencil toppers. They are one of the first things to sell out on school market day and at just about any event with younger kids around.
Kids can make:
- Animal pencil toppers
- Flower designs
- Cartoon-inspired characters
- Seasonal themes
- Food-shaped toppers
- Mini monster designs
- Sports-themed toppers
- Initial or name toppers
Time to Make: 10 to 20 minutes each
Cost Per Item: $0.25 to $1
Selling Price: $2 to $5 each
Profit Potential: High
These pencil toppers are small and easy to switch up. Selling them as matching sets is a smart move and almost always bumps up the total sale.
3. Pom-Pom Wreaths
These things sell themselves. A pom-pom wreath sitting on a table at a craft fair will pull people in before kids even say a word.
Kids can create:
- Holiday wreaths
- Rainbow color themes
- Seasonal decorations
- Monogram wreaths
- Pastel spring wreaths
Time to Make: 45 to 90 minutes
Cost Per Item: $4 to $8
Selling Price: $15 to $30 each
Profit Potential: Medium to High
Bright colors do most of the selling on their own. Smaller wreaths come together faster and tend to move quickly, especially at craft fairs where people want something they can carry home easily.
4. Decorative Painted Rocks
Painted rocks are simple to make and people actually pay good money for them. They are one of those crafts that always finds a buyer no matter where kids sell.
Kids can paint:
- Inspirational words
- Cute animals
- Flowers
- Funny faces
- Nature scenes
- Mandalas and patterns
Time to Make: 20 to 40 minutes
Cost Per Item: $1 to $3
Selling Price: $5 to $12 each
Profit Potential: Medium
One thing worth doing is sealing the rock when the paint dries. It keeps everything intact and buyers who use them outside will notice right away.
5. Painted Wooden Spoons
These painted wooden spoons are an easy win. They cost next to nothing to make and people snap them up as gifts or kitchen decor with little convincing.
Kids can decorate:
- Floral handles
- Holiday designs
- Colorful patterns
- Personalized names
- Animal faces
- Inspirational quotes
- Seasonal themes
- Abstract brush strokes
Time to Make: 30 to 45 minutes
Cost Per Item: $2 to $5
Selling Price: $10 to $20 each
Profit Potential: Medium
Keep in mind these are for display only. Food-safe paint and a proper sealant are needed before anyone uses one near actual cooking.
6. Decorated Tissue Box Covers
Plain tissue boxes look boring. A decorated cover instantly makes them more fun and people are always willing to pay for something that makes their space look better.
Kids can decorate them with:
- Fabric
- Paint
- Stickers
- Seasonal themes
- Washi tape designs
- Decoupage patterns
- Ribbon and trim
Time to Make: 30 to 60 minutes
Cost Per Item: $3 to $6
Selling Price: $12 to $25 each
Profit Potential: Medium
Matching popular home decor colors gives these a better shot at selling. Buyers prefer something that already fits the look of their space.
7. Beaded Drink Stirrers
People love a little extra touch at parties and these fit right in. Beaded drink stirrers are fun, colorful, and the kind of thing hosts grab without thinking twice.
Kids can make:
- Colorful bead patterns
- Fruit-themed designs
- Personalized color combinations
- Monogram bead toppers
- Ombre color sets
- Floral bead designs
Time to Make: 15 to 30 minutes per set
Cost Per Item: $2 to $4
Selling Price: $8 to $15 per set
Profit Potential: High
The good thing is how little time these take to make. Kids can knock out several sets in one afternoon and have enough stock to sell for days.
8. Clay Ornaments
These ornaments aren't just a holiday thing. People buy them as gifts and decorations, which makes this one of the more reliable crafts on the list.
Kids can make:
- Animal ornaments
- Holiday decorations
- Name ornaments
- Handprint keepsakes
- Floral designs
- Heart-shaped ornaments
- Zodiac sign ornaments
- Mini food shapes
Time to Make: 45 to 90 minutes including drying
Cost Per Item: $2 to $5
Selling Price: $10 to $20 each
Profit Potential: High
The drying time is really the only wait in this whole process. Once the clay sets, kids can paint and seal it and have something ready to sell the same day.
9. No-Sew Fleece Pillows
Most kids can make these things without any major help. There is no sewing involved and the whole process is straightforward from the first cut to the last tie.
Kids can make:
- Heart-shaped pillows
- Animal pillows
- Holiday pillows
- Colorful bedroom decor
- Tie-dye fleece pillows
- Sports-themed pillows
- Character-inspired pillows
- Initial or name pillows
- Seasonal accent pillows
Time to Make: 45 to 60 minutes
Cost Per Item: $5 to $10
Selling Price: $20 to $35 each
Profit Potential: Medium to High
The fabric pattern does a lot of the work here. A bold print or a fun design on a craft table stops people and gives them a reason to pick it up and take a closer look.
10. Popsicle Stick Picture Frames
DIY picture frames made from popsicle sticks always surprise people. They look way better than buyers expect and that's usually what gets them to pull out their wallet.
Kids can decorate frames with:
- Paint
- Glitter
- Buttons
- Shells or beads
- Washi tape
- Twine and ribbon
- Fabric scraps
- Stickers and stamps
- Dried flowers
Time to Make: 20 to 40 minutes
Cost Per Item: $1 to $3
Selling Price: $6 to $12 each
Profit Potential: High
Adding a sample photo inside the frame is a smart move. This helps people picture it sitting on their desk or hanging on a wall, so they buy faster.
11. Mini Drawstring Bags
These mini bags are practical and people always find a use for them. They work as gift wrap, jewelry pouches, party favors, and a handful of other things buyers think of on their own.
Kids can make:
- Holiday gift bags
- Jewelry pouches
- Coin bags
- Party favor bags
- Dice bags for gamers
- Crystal and gemstone pouches
- Wedding favor bags
- Aromatherapy sachet bags
Time to Make: 30 to 45 minutes
Cost Per Item: $2 to $4
Selling Price: $8 to $15 each
Profit Potential: High
Simple patterns and bright fabrics sell better than anything too busy. People want something that looks clean and works for more than one occasion.
12. Mason Jar Cookie Mix Gifts
People are always looking for a good gift and this one fits that perfectly. It looks impressive on a table and buyers can picture exactly who they are giving it to.
Kids can prepare:
- Chocolate chip cookie mix
- Brownie mix
- Oatmeal cookie mix
- Holiday baking kits
- Snickerdoodle mix
- Double chocolate mix
- Peanut butter cookie mix
- Sugar cookie mix
- S'mores brownie mix
Time to Make: 20 to 30 minutes
Cost Per Item: $4 to $7
Selling Price: $15 to $25 each
Profit Potential: High
A handwritten recipe card and a ribbon tied around the lid actually make this worthy. It gives buyers something they feel good about handing to someone as a gift.
13. Coconut Shell Planters
Plant lovers need something different and coconut shell planters are exactly that. They stand out on a craft table because most people have never seen one up close before.
Kids can decorate them with:
- Paint
- Natural rope
- Small designs
- Colorful patterns
- Macrame wrapping
Time to Make: 30 to 60 minutes
Cost Per Item: $3 to $6
Selling Price: $12 to $22 each
Profit Potential: Medium
Pairing the shell with a small succulent inside bumps the price up and makes it an even easier sell. People love getting the whole thing together instead of having to find a plant on their own.
14. Tin Can Desk Organizers
Empty tin cans are free and kids can turn them into desk organizers people actually want to buy. It's one of the smartest upcycle crafts on this list because the main material costs nothing at all.
They can decorate them using:
- Fabric
- Wrapping paper
- Paint
- Twine
- Decoupage paper
- Ribbon and trim
- Chalkboard paint
- Scrapbook paper
Time to Make: 20 to 40 minutes
Cost Per Item: $1 to $3
Selling Price: $8 to $15 each
Profit Potential: High
Bright colors and bold designs make these popular with students, teachers, remote workers, or anyone with a small home office. Group a few different sizes together and it becomes an even easier sell.
15. Fabric Crayon Rolls
Any parent who has dug through a bag looking for a single crayon gets this immediately. A fabric crayon roll fixes that problem and sells itself before kids even say a word.
Kids can make:
- Simple crayon holders
- School-themed designs
- Holiday gift versions
- Marker rolls
- Colored pencil rolls
- Travel art kits
Time to Make: 45 to 60 minutes
Cost Per Item: $3 to $6
Selling Price: $15 to $25 each
Profit Potential: High
Parents buy these because they are practical and hold up well over time. A crayon roll is the kind of thing they grab once and keep using for years.
How to Help Kids Sell Their Handmade Crafts Successfully
Making the craft is the part kids already love. Helping them sell it is where you come in and it makes a bigger difference than most parents expect.
- Start with one or two crafts and do those well before adding more
- Price things fairly so buyers feel good about what they are getting
- Set up a clean display that makes the crafts easy to see and pick up
- Let kids talk about what they made and how they made it
- Ask family and friends to help spread the word early on
- Set up a simple online shop with a parent helping out if needed
- Put some of the money aside to restock supplies for the next round
- Take a photo of every finished craft before selling it to build a portfolio
Wrapping Up
A kid with a good craft idea and a little motivation can go further than most people think. These 15 craft ideas give them exactly that. Start with one simple idea, make it properly, sell fairly, and watch what happens when kids realize their work is actually worth something.
FAQs
Q1: Where is the best place for kids to sell their crafts?
School market days and neighborhood sales are great starting points. An online shop run with a parent's help brings in buyers additionally.
Q2: What should kids do with the money they earn from selling crafts?
Set some aside for more supplies and save the rest. Letting kids decide what to do with what they earned teaches them more than any money lesson ever could.
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