Let’s face it: who doesn’t wish there was a little more extra cash in their wallet? We’d all love to have more money, but taking on more work hours can cut down on time available for our favorite hobbies (and you know what they say about all work and no play!)
Padding your bank account doesn’t have to be a drag. If you’re crafty, you can turn your passion into a lucrative extra income stream.
Table of Contents
Ten Best Sides Hustles For Creatives
It can be a challenge to find the right side gig, especially if you’re creative. Here are ten awesome side hustles that turn your crafts into cash.
1. Upcycled Furniture
Upcycling furniture is a great side hustle that combines sustainability with craftiness to bring you extra income.
With a bit of elbow grease and some stylistic vision, turn discarded or unwanted items into unique, high-quality pieces that people are willing to pay for.
Check thrift stores, garage sales, and online marketplaces for affordable pieces, and dress them up with new paint or stain, fresh hardware or upholstery, or anything else your creative vision dictates!
Sell your creations on online marketplaces like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace or at local flea markets and craft fairs.
2. Soy Candles
Making soy candles can be a fun and profitable side hustle for those who enjoy crafting. With a few essential supplies and some creativity, you can create unique scents and packaging that will appeal to customers.
Soy candles can be sold online through platforms like Etsy or Amazon Handmade or in person at local markets, craft fairs, and boutique shops. Consider offering custom scents or personalized labels to attract more customers.
3. Crocheted Accessories
Crocheted accessories are a craft fair staple, as these items are always in demand! Hats, scarves, and mittens are popular choices, but you can get creative with products like amigurumi, home decor, and jewelry.
Once you’ve built up some inventory, sell your creations online through platforms like Etsy or at local markets and craft fairs.
If you still need to learn how to crochet, a beginner’s kit is a great place to start, as it will include all the necessary materials and instructions to get started.
4. Handmade Greeting Cards
If you enjoy illustrating, hand lettering, or scrapbooking, you can harness that creativity into a handmade greeting card side hustle!
Greeting cards can be sold throughout the year for different occasions, and they provide a unique, personalized product for the buyer.
Be creative about what you offer and set yourself apart. Are your cards funny? Sparkly? Themed? Handmade cards can be sold online through platforms like Etsy or at local markets and craft fairs.
5. Handmade Pet Accessories
Animals lovers with a creative side might consider creating handmade and personalized pet accessories. There are tons of options to make in this niche, including collars, leashes, bandanas, and even toys.
Sell your handmade pet accessories online through platforms like Etsy or Amazon Handmade or at local markets, pet stores, and craft fairs.
To attract more customers and set yourself apart from the big-box stores, offer custom designs and personalizations that are as special as each pet.
6. Homemade Jams and Preserves
Creating homemade jams and preserves can be a profitable side hustle for those who love cooking, especially if you have a garden.
Consider setting yourself apart and harnessing your creativity with unique combinations like blueberry-lavender or peach-bourbon.
Consider selling your homemade jams and preserves online through platforms like Etsy or at local farmers’ markets, specialty food stores, and craft fairs. These products are also sure to be a favorite at holiday markets.
7. Personalized Wedding Centerpieces
Making wedding centerpieces can be a lucrative side hustle for creative people who love romance.
One popular trend is to create centerpieces from old books. They’re inexpensive and easy to source, and you can incorporate them into various designs, such as book page flowers or book stack vases.
Handmade wedding centerpieces can be sold online through platforms like Etsy or Amazon Handmade or at local markets, wedding expos, and craft fairs.
Wedding decor is also a perfect market for offering personalization and customization because every bride wants something unique for her wedding.
8. Handmade Jewelry
If you have an eye for fashion and a skill for working with beads, wire, thread, and other delicate materials, consider jewelry making as a side hustle.
You’ll never get bored with this craft hobby, as you can always branch out into a new jewelry type or technique. The endless possibilities include wire wrapping, beading, metal stamping, macrame, and more!
Handmade jewelry can be sold online through platforms like Etsy or at local markets, craft fairs, and boutique shops.
9. Customized T-Shirts
Creating customized t-shirts can be a fun and profitable side hustle, and it’s an exciting option because there are so many ways to make this side hustle dream come true.
If you’re a crafter who likes to be hands-on in everything you do, you can use techniques like screen printing, vinyl cutting, and heat transfer to create unique designs yourself.
Then, use platforms like Facebook Marketplace to get your creations out there. Why not even approach local boutiques to carry your merch?
If you prefer to focus on graphic design rather than the printing process, platforms like Etsy, Amazon Merch, or Printful will print and ship your design for you.
10. Homemade Bath and Body Products
Imagine turning your passion for creating handmade bath and body products into a fantastic side hustle. It’s a lovely way to bring others joy while making extra money.
To turn your love of all things bath and body into extra cash, whip up delightful bath bombs, invigorating body scrubs, luxurious lotions, and soothing bath salts.
Of course, they’ll be crafted with love and natural ingredients. Get creative with unique scents, vibrant colors, and skin-nourishing elements.
Bottom Line
There are plenty of options when it comes to selling your fabulous creations. You can set up an online shop on platforms like Etsy or explore local craft markets and boutique shops that appreciate the beauty of handmade goods.
Don’t overlook any of these side hustles for creatives if you need to earn a little extra income.
What’s your favorite way to make money on the side?
About the author: Jake Cain is an entrepreneur and traveler from Cincinnati, OH. He shares stories from the road as he travels around the US with his wife and 3 boys at Sampling America.
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
