7 Creative Hobbies To Try Even If You Have Zero Artistic Skill
And they're all friendly on your wallet too!
By Gene Aaron Immanuel — 25 Apr 2025, 04:12 PM
Many people assume that you need to be incredibly artistic or have expensive supplies to enjoy crafting, but that's not true at all
You can begin with simple projects that require only a few basic tools, most of which you can easily find at local shops or online without spending much.
Here are eight beginner-friendly hobbies you can try without much fuss, complete with local suggestions and affordable tools to help you get started.
1. Try digital doodling and sticker-making with just your phone or tablet
Affordable apps (sometimes completely free) like IbisPaint X and Procreate Pocket make it easy to start drawing digitally or designing your own stickers, even if you're using your fingers.
Styluses can help with control, but are optional. If you're not sure where to begin, look up beginner tutorials on TikTok or Pinterest.
Shopee has styluses for under RM20. You can even print your stickers using local services like Printcious, or DIY it with sticker paper.
Difficulty: 3/10 - Extremely easy to get into, but you'll need effort to refine your own style and perfect your technique.
2. Personalise your own beaded jewellery and phone charms
With just a few materials such as beads, elastic string, and basic clasps, you can create bracelets, necklaces, or decorative phone straps.
A good place to start is by making matching pieces for friends or as small gifts.
Starter kits can be found at stores like MR.DIY and online on Shopee for very low prices, making this something you can try without committing too much cash.
Difficulty: 2/10 - No special tools required, mistakes are easy to fix, and even basic designs can look great.
3. Try using air-dry clay to craft small items like trinket trays or charms
If you loved playing with Play-Doh as a kid, air-dry clay is a great starting point as it doesn't require baking and is very beginner-friendly.
You can simply use your hands, or go with simple tools like toothpicks and tweezers to shape your desired creations, such as mini animal figures, jewellery dishes, or keychains, before finishing up with acrylic paint.
You can get affordable air-dry clay sets from Daiso, Kaison, or Shopee.
Difficulty: 4/10 - Still beginner-friendly, but shaping and smoothing the clay can take some patience. You also need to wait for it to dry before painting and sealing.
4. Experiment with aesthetic journalling and collage spreads for some no-stress fun
Journalling is a popular fad that's actually really easy to get into. Just grab a notebook, some washi tape, a few old magazines or printed cut-outs, and start creating mood boards or journal pages.
To start, you don't need to get a fancy bullet journal — any blank notebook will do.
You can get journalling supplies from Typo, Muji, or dedicated stores like Stickerrific.
Difficulty: 1/10 - Relaxing and low-stakes. There's no right or wrong — just cut, paste, draw, and arrange however you like.
5. Turn your doodles into keychains with shrink film sheets
Turning your artwork into functional keychains is easy! All you need are shrink film sheets, permanent markers, scissors, and an oven.
All you need to do is draw your design onto a sheet of shrink film using permanent markers. Make sure to keep your design a few times larger than the size you want, as it will shrink in the oven. Next, cut out the design with scissors, then punch a hole near the top if you plan to turn it into a keychain or charm.
Finally, place the piece on a baking tray lined with baking paper and pop it into a preheated oven. Within a few minutes, the plastic will curl up, flatten out, and harden into a mini version of your original drawing.
You can get shrink film on Shopee or at specialty craft shops.
Difficulty: 5/10 - This one requires a bit more care with getting the design size right, using the correct markers, cutting neatly, and baking properly.
6. Refresh your wardrobe by upcycling old clothes with fabric paint or patches
Tired of your basic tote bag or denim jacket? Grab some fabric markers or iron-on patches and give them a fresh new look.
You can find affordable fabric paint and patch designs for every aesthetic on places like Shopee, with sets starting from as low as RM5.
Idea: Add your name, favourite band, or cute drawings to personalise your stuff.
Difficulty: 3/10 - Easy to get into, especially if you're using iron-on patches. Painting freehand on fabric takes a bit more confidence, but simple designs (and some mistakes) can still look great!
7. Try out origami for a super easy relaxing hobby
No mess, no tools — just paper and a bit of folding. From paper cranes to jumping frogs, there's something very therapeutic about origami.
YouTube channels like Origami Princess or Origami with Jo Nakashima have tutorials for all levels.
You can pick up colourful paper at Daiso, or reuse magazine pages for an eco-friendly twist.
Difficulty: 3/10 - Beginner shapes like hearts or cranes are easy to learn through tutorials, and you can move on to more complex shapes with practice
