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Hosting a Craft Night

A craft night is the perfect antidote to a busy week. You can learn a new technique, work on a neglected project or swap unused supplies while spending time with friends. Here are some ideas for hosting a fun, low-stress evening:

• Purchasing pre-assembled kits is an easy way to get started. For example, some friends of mine agree on a specific dollar amount for their craft nights and then take turns finding kits that feature a technique they want to learn.
• Or, instead of organizing a group project, ask each friend to bring a craft project that she's been meaning to work on. I did this once and it was really fun to see what everyone else was making. Several people brought knitting, one brought decoupage, one brought scrapbooking and another brought beading. It was a nice introduction to several different types of crafts.
• Everybody loves party favors. Keep it low-key and inexpensive by inviting people to swap unused or surplus supplies. Remember, one crafter's trash is another crafter's treasure! Old craft magazines and idea books, "bead soup," patterned scrapbook paper, yarn and stickers are all great candidates for a swap.
• Ask everyone to bring a snack to share with the group. Emphasize that this can be something easy and convenient. You don't want them to miss the party because they didn't have time to make something! Here's my standard craft night menu: chips and salsa, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, some kind of spread and something chocolate, of course.