6 Handmade Crafts That Embrace the Feel-Good Aesthetic Everyone’s Talking About

Pinterest is a go-to hub for creative inspiration, so when their team spotlights a trend, it’s worth paying attention. One of its latest, the “handmade aesthetic,” is a feel-good crafting movement centered on uplifting DIYs that make you smile both through the process and the messaging.

From thoughtful scrapbooks to pocket-sized tokens of comfort, here are a few ideas perfect for adding a little light to your next crafting session.

1. Handmade Affirmation Cards

The most straightforward way to send yourself a joyful message is through a positive affirmation, and the ones that resonate the most are highly personal. So, instead of ordering a preset deck, make your own mindful craft. Come up with sweet sayings like “I will acknowledge how far I’ve come” or “Growth takes time,” and use a handwritten style font and marker accents. For a beginner-friendly craft, print off your favorite sayings as index cards, then add some color by hand. 

2. Watercolor Hearts

Painting is inherently calming, but it becomes even more meaningful when the subject matter inspires joy or positivity. This heart-centric watercolor tutorial shows you how to create a different type of affirmation card without the computer printouts: Here, you’ll paint colorful hearts, cut them out, then write a self-directed message in marker (“You are brave” or “You are kind”). Put the hearts in a jar, and add a little sign that reads “Take as needed”—and make sure you do!

3. Playlist-Themed Scrapbook

You can use the “handmade aesthetic” to create joyful moments for your loved ones, too. This playlist-themed scrapbook has CD-shaped photo collages and meaningful sayings, like “Meeting you was like listening to a song for the first time.” It’s a heartfelt way to preserve shared memories while adding a personal, creative touch. And you don’t even need to make this into a gift for someone else, either—create a musical scrapbook for your future self as a way to document good times.

4. Pocket Hugs

Quilters, sewers, and embroiderers (or anyone with a little ambition) can create pocket hugs to keep a dopamine boost on hand. The felt fabric is soft and warm, the heart shape is loving, and the patterns are beautiful—all elements of the perfect hug. Tuck these small tokens into lunchboxes, care packages, or even your own pocket as a comforting reminder that love is always close by.

5. Positive Sticks

Like the watercolor hearts, these offer an adorable pick-me-up when you're in need. You’ll color some sticks, then add friendly reminders, like “You don’t need to be perfect.” Gather them into a jar with a label that encourages you to pick a stick any time you’re in a rut, or hang them on your wall so they're always visible.

6. Smiley Jar Planters

You don’t always need the words to bring joy to a craft: A smile is often enough. These creative hanging planters are the cutest way to brighten up any space, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money on supplies to make them. Repurpose a small jar or two, paint the inside white, and draw some smileys on the outside. Then create a little porch swing using popsicle sticks and some twine. Miniature plants are the cheerful finishing touch.