If you’re a crafter, I encourage you to join me in pursuing “Random Acts of Handmade”. What is that? Read on!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Have you ever been out, running errands, or just going about your day, only to stumble across a beautiful piece of art or a lovely little handmade toy?
Generally in such an instance, these things are in a shop or on display somewhere.
But imagine the excitement you might feel if you could just… take it? Enjoy it at home, forever.
I don’t know about you, but I’d love that.
As crafters, we can give that joy to others through something I’m calling “Random Acts of Handmade”.
What are “Random Acts of Handmade”?
It’s simple—leave something handmade out somewhere in public for someone else to find and take home. Ideally, this would be something small. Items that are particularly cute or unique are ideal for this. We’re going for surprise and delight!
Why should I give away my art?
If you’re here, there’s a good chance that you make art to sell. Or would like to make art to sell. And there’s nothing wrong with that—I do it! But I think there’s value in occasionally separating the act of creation from commerce.
There is joy in creating something and leaving it for someone else to find. There is joy in knowing that someone, somewhere, has had their day brightened by something that I made.
Of course, I’m not advocating that you pour a ton of time and money into this. Art can be expensive to produce.
This is ideal for small products. In particular, projects that use up “waste” or leftovers from other pieces of work you’ve done. If you’re a sewist, perhaps try a few projects that use up scraps you have lying around. If you work with clay, maybe projects that use up odd mixes you have left over from other projects.
It’s also a great opportunity to try projects that differ from your normal form of art/making. If your primary mode of art is sewing, maybe this would be a great opportunity to try working with clay or graphic design.
There are no hard and fast rules. Random Acts of Handmade are just that, random. You don’t always have to make the same things, and you’re not confined to any set schedule or locale. If you only want to make one thing to give away, then just make one thing! If you love it so much that you end up making it a weekly goal, that’s awesome too.
Where should I leave my handmade art?
I’ve recently given away a variety of little plushies made on my embroidery machine. I put them in a little plastic bag and attach a sticker that says they’re free to take, handmade, and brand new. Then I pin them to the bulletin board in my apartment lobby. There are a ton of kids in the building and they always go fast.
You can leave something on the table of your local coffee shop, at your local library, out in the park, or pinned to a bulletin board somewhere… the options are endless. Just make sure that you’re not doing anything that might be considered littering or vandalizing.
What should I keep in mind while doing it?
I recommend packaging your art in a way that lets the finder know that it’s free to take and that it’s new/unused. This doesn’t have to be complicated—as I mentioned, I bought some little bags at the dollar store and printed some stickers on my label printer. You can also get sticker/label paper and print stickers on your home printer.
This also keeps the handmade art safe until someone decides to take it home.
If you don’t want to use plastic, you could wrap your lovely art in wax paper or tissue paper. Or leave it unwrapped altogether—but only do this if it’s placed somewhere inside where it’s safe from the elements.
Also, if you’re giving away art that might be deemed more “adult” in nature, leave it somewhere appropriate, where the finder is unlikely to be offended by it.
Can I promote my business in this way?
Technically, yes. I haven’t because the things I’ve given away have been things I don’t sell. However, if you’re giving away art that is a smaller version of, or related to, the products you sell, you could include a business card or even a link on the sticker advertising your work.
However, the goal of Random Acts of Handmade, at least to me, is to spread joy—no strings attached. So if you’re going to use this as a way of marketing your business, I encourage you to make that secondary to the goal of spreading joy and delight.
Does this devalue handmade products?
No, not at all!
Often we’re afraid that if someone gets something for free, or at a discount, they won’t appreciate it. That’s true of some people certainly, but not all.
As crafters, particularly crafters who sell our products, we know all too well the struggle of pricing. Are we charging enough? Too much? Too little? And we face these insecurities at every market as someone looks at or asks the price of something and then walks away.
But I don’t believe for a second that someone finding a free little plushie, a coin purse, or a magnet, will subsequently believe those things should be free all the time.
If it’s particularly well-made and unique, it might cause them to question some preconceived notions they have about handmade items in general.
There are lots of people who don’t go to craft sales. People who don’t make things and who don’t have friends and family who make handmade goods and gift them. This can be because they have no interest, but it can also be because they have the idea that handmade just can’t stack up to store-bought.
By giving them an opportunity to find and delight in something that was made by hand, there’s the chance that they might think—hey, this is pretty great. Maybe they’ll become lovers of handmade goods in the future.
And maybe not. I could be too idealistic.
Either way, I don’t believe that giving away some free handmade products will do anything to devalue handmade in general. If nothing else, it’ll add a bit of excitement and that’s always good in my books.
I like the idea, but I don’t have the time. Can I buy handmade products to do this?
Of course you can! Don’t buy mass-produced products, as that defeats the point. But handmade products? Sure! Go to your local market and buy some cute little things. Or order some small handmade products on Etsy.
The goal is spreading joy, delight, and handmade goodies.
That said, I think making things yourself is more fun.
Okay, I’m convinced. But what can I make?
Yes! Let’s do this.
Check out this list I’ve compiled with ten examples of things you could make and leave out for others to find.
10 “Random Acts of Handmade” Examples
01. Small dolls or plushies
This has been my go-to one of late. I have an embroidery machine, and I love making “in the hoop” plushies. The embroidery machine does pretty much all the work for you, except stuffing and closing the finished plushie. It’s quick, it’s easy, and I can make a bunch in a short period. Plus there are so many cute patterns out there.
02. Magnets
You don’t have to have a pin/magnet maker to make magnets! (Although if you’re in the market to buy a pin/magnet press, check out this We Are Memory Keepers one.)
Why not get a magnet-making set on Amazon (like this one!) and print out a bunch of inspirational or cute pictures? You can give away sets of two or individual magnets. Either way, they would be really fun for people to find.
Would you rather just buy some handmade magnets? Check out my “Let’s Make Art!” magnet here.
03. Pins
If you want to make round pin-back buttons, you might need a pin maker. (Something like this.)
However, you can get flat pinbacks at craft stores like Michaels and attach them to shrink-plastic art, polymer clay creations, or flat-beaded art. The sky is the limit.
Here’s a YouTube video showing how creator Paloma the Peach makes her clay pins.
04. Clay Figures
Perhaps I’m a little biased as I’ve fallen in love with polymer clay. But if I found a little clay figurine out in public that was free for the taking, I’d be thrilled.
If you haven’t worked with this medium at all, I highly encourage you to give it a try.
Here’s a YouTube video showing how creator Rosa DIY makes adorable polymer clay veggies. There are also tons of other cute tutorials online for clay figure-making!
05. Scrunchies
Who doesn’t love scrunchies? (Okay, maybe people with very little hair…)
Scrunchies are quick, easy, and don’t take too much fabric or elastic. They’re a great project for Random Acts of Handmade.
And guess what! I have a scrunchie tutorial here on the blog already, waiting for you!
06. Keychains
There are so many options when it comes to keychains that you can make. You can make fun beaded keychains, keychains with your We Are Memory Keepers pin press (Something like this), or wristlet keychains like the one shown above.
I have a tutorial/free pattern here for you on how to make that wristlet keychain! It’s another quick, easy project that doesn’t use a lot of materials and is great for fabric scraps.
07. Coin Purses
Why not utilize some scrap fabric to make cute little coin purses? For an extra bit of fun, throw a “lucky penny” in each coin purse before you package it up and leave it out to be found. (Or, if you live in Canada like me and pennies aren’t a thing anymore, maybe a lucky… nickel? Or an American penny; those are still in circulation.) This multi-compartment coin purse is a lot of fun and can be made in all sorts of bright-colored fabric.
08. Stickers
The idea of making your stickers may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! If you already have a Cricut, this might be a great project for you. (You can do it without a Cricut too, you’ll just have to manually cut the stickers out.)
A Country Girl’s Life has created what looks like the guide to making stickers at home. She walks you through the different types of sticker paper, the design and making process, etc. If this is of interest to you, give this post a read.
09. Reusable Coffee Cozies
I’m always asking for a cup sleeve when I go out to buy coffee because I have sensitive hands. When places don’t have them or are out, I have to suffer in silence. (Am I being a little dramatic? Yes. I am.) I’d love to find a reusable coffee cozy just hanging around to take. I love the idea of a reusable coffee cozy so much that I made a pattern for it. The pattern, and tutorial, are completely free and here on my blog. Why don’t you check it out?
10. Affirmation Cards/Postcards
Graphic design is handmade too—even if you’re drawing on a tablet or computer. This means if you’re more of a designer than a sewist or a clay artist, you can still participate! Why not design affirmation cards and leave them out for people to take? You can easily fit four to a page if not more. Leave them in places where people might need a little dose of encouragement.
Prefer to just buy some affirmation cards and distribute them? The photo above is from GiuseppinaShop on Etsy!
Will you participate in Random Acts of Handmade?
I’ve found a lot of joy in making products and giving them away—particularly when they’re given away randomly. I trust that the right person will find them and that I’m putting a little happiness out into the world.
As someone who makes things to sell and gift, there can be a lot of pressure when it comes to art and creation.
Random Acts of Handmade allows me to create for the sake of creation, with no expectations, nothing to prove, and nothing to gain except the joy of art itself. It also allows me to try projects that I wouldn’t necessarily want to keep for myself, or that I don’t have a person in mind to gift it to.
I don’t like to limit myself to one type of handmade project and create on a whim. This, therefore, also keeps me from filling my tiny apartment with… things.
It’s also a great outlet for those perfectly imperfect things that you make. Perfectly useable things, but maybe not up to your standards when it comes to the things you sell. Don’t toss them out; give them the chance to find a new home with someone who doesn’t care about their imperfections.
For a few more ideas about things you can make and put out randomly, check out my free patterns/resources posts.
Let me know in the comments if you intend to participate! When you leave something out, post it on Instagram with the hashtags #randomactsofhandmade and #theserialcreative so I can take a look!
Looking forward to seeing the beautiful things you leave out in the world!
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