The end of winter brings so much change. The weather warms up, and we are met with rain instead of brutal New England snow. Campus comes alive as students enjoy spending time outside, and unfortunately, it brings the end of the semester. For some of us, that means graduation and a new chapter in our lives; for others, it means preparing for finals and traveling home for summer break. Whether you are anxiously awaiting summer or nervous about your finals, these arts and crafts projects are intended to bring a little more rest and relaxation into your days.
The first craft to make is a vision board! Vision boards are especially popular to make at the beginning of the year, outlining what you want your time from January on to look like. Making a vision board can help you plan what you want to do and prioritize your goals. It can help you set goals or simply give you things to look forward to. Making a vision board for summer, for the upcoming school year, as this one finishes, or just as a reset on your focus, can feel relaxing to get out of your head and into a physical medium. They are also fun because there are no rules! There are endless ways to make a vision board. You can print out pictures from Pinterest, cut out pictures from magazines, or use drawings or materials you already have (junk journal-esque). Whatever feels right and brings you hope can go on your vision board!
Another craft that many of the girls I know have tried and loved is customizing their items. This could be bedazzling lip gloss tubes, using shells and beads to decorate a hairbrush, painting a wooden storage box for bathing suits, and drawing on picture frames. All of these crafts are customizable and trending right now, so they would be fun to do with friends. As opposed to the vision boards, which might be more individualized or personal. You can get supplies for these ideas at craft supply stores such as Michaels, use Amazon (especially for bedazzling kits), or use materials you may already have in your dorm, apartment, or house.
Speaking of places to collect supplies, great resources for UMass students include the Maker Space and the Student Union Craft Center. The Maker Space is in the Agricultural Engineering building on campus. It features a wide range of great machines and materials for woodworking, sewing, metalworking, and more! The SUCC is located on the first floor of the Student Union. It offers more opportunities for crafting, including photography, stained glass, painting, and more. They also have magazines and paper materials you could use for whatever you want. Whatever you’re looking for to de-stress, these two places definitely have it. They also offer classes and workshops if you are interested in learning.
It is very important to take care of yourself, make time for relaxation, and prioritize your mental health. I hope that as the new seasons approach, peace comes along with it.
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