Summer break is the perfect time for creative teens to turn fun hobbies into cash by selling handmade crafts.
Finding crafts for teens to make and sell isn’t just about making money, it’s about discovering hidden talents and building confidence.
With basic supplies and creativity, teens can make cool things that people actually want to buy.
But what easy DIY crafts can teens sell to make money without breaking the bank or requiring advanced skills?
This teen craft ideas list includes simple projects for beginners and advanced crafts for teens who want to challenge themselves and potentially earn more.
Teens 13 years and older can make money online with Swagbucks. It won’t make you rich, but it will help you earn a little extra cash each month!
10 Fun and Easy Teen Craft Ideas
These summer DIY projects can easily turn into a crafting business for teens to make money at craft fairs, bazaars or even from home with online sales.
1. DIY Room Decor Aesthetic
The teen room decor market is booming and is expected to reach 147 billion dollars by 2033.
That makes this opportunity to sell DIY aesthetic pieces a great way for teens to earn money while doing something fun and expressive.
It’s amazing how everyday items like cardboard and twigs can be transformed into beautiful wall decor that looks upscale and professionally made.
These easy DIY projects are perfect for teens who want to decorate their own room and make trendy pieces to sell to friends and classmates.
Suggested Read: Paper Crafts to Make and Sell for Serious Profits
2. Random Crafts from Goodwill Finds
Thrift store finds you can turn into treasure are always fun craft ideas because they let you get creative while keeping costs low and profits high.
For example, one savvy TikToker creates custom succulent gardens from random Goodwill finds and flips them for a profit.
You can use this clever repurposing approach to turn secondhand items into beautiful planters, jewelry stands or room decor.
The best part is that each piece will be completely original, giving you a competitive edge in the summer craft market!
Suggested Read: Best Side Hustle Apps for Students to Earn Money
3. Button Pins
A button pins printing business is a low-cost, high-demand way for students to make money.
It involves creating custom, wearable pin-back buttons with personalized artwork, messages, or logos.
These can be attached to clothing, bags, hats, or backpacks, making them a fun way to express style or promote a message.
They make great souvenirs and sentimental gifts that people will treasure and are often willing to pay more for.
That means this business idea has strong profit potential!
4. DIY Charm Photo Frame
One of the easiest crafts for teens to make and sell are DIY charm photo frames.
They’re fun, easy to make, and can be highly profitable when personalized with names, quotes, or themed decorations.
These can also be turned into craft kits to sell and promoted as fun and creative tween craft ideas for party activities.
With just a few basic supplies like wooden frames, decorative charms, paint, and strong adhesive, teens can create unique gifts that customers will love displaying in their homes.
5. Decoupage Seashells
If you live near a beach like I do, you can turn your beach day treasures into quick cash with this next summer side hustle idea for teens.
Decoupage seashells are fun to create and easily rank among the best things to sell in the summer to make money.
Simply collect free seashells during your summer beach walks, and transform them into gorgeous decoupage art pieces.
Gather some colorful magazine cutouts or printables from Creative Fabrica, and seal everything with Mod Podge.
Add a decorative gold trim or pearl beads around the edges, and you’ve got yourself a beautiful summer craft project to sell.
6. Wax Seals for Envelopes
Creating custom wax seals for fancy envelopes is another fun way for teens to make money on Etsy this summer.
All you need is some inexpensive wax seal stamps (which you can find online or even carve yourself) and sealing wax in trendy colors.
Then use creative packaging to make your products look professional.
You can design unique stamps with popular themes like zodiac signs, flowers, or initials.
Customers will love using these for special occasions, such as birthdays, Valentine’s Day and wedding invitations.
Once you’ve practiced the technique and taken some bright, clear photos of your finished seals, setting up an Etsy shop only takes about an hour.
With each custom seal costing just pennies to make but selling for $3-5 each, you could turn this creative craft into a serious summer business that continues even when school starts again!
7. DIY Decorative Flower Vase
Summer is a great time to sell decorative flower vases as people refresh their spaces with seasonal decor.
You can keep costs low by picking up plain ceramic Dollar Tree vases and adding fun designs with clay.
It’s a clay craft idea to make and sell that’s affordable, easy to customize, and always in demand during the summer months.
Try creating beach-themed designs with seashell imprints or vibrant summer colors that catch the eye at craft fairs and online marketplaces.
For an extra sales boost, include care instructions and suggest seasonal flower pairings that complement your unique designs.
Your Dollar Tree crafts have the potential to be highly profitable items this summer!
8. Resin Hair Clips
Recently, while visiting a friend in Rhode Island, I stumbled upon a local shop selling resin hair clips for $18 each.
I was a little surprised by the price, but people were actively shopping and buying them.
Now just imagine how well you could do selling these online on marketplaces like Etsy!
You can create these trendy accessories with simple resin kits and molds, and customize them with gold flakes or colorful designs.
The profit margins can be substantial since materials cost just a few dollars per clip.
That makes this an excellent summer business opportunity for creative teens to learn new skills and make extra money!
Suggested Read: Popular Resin Crafts to Make and Sell
9. Gelli Printing Photo Transfer Crafts
Gelli printing is an art technique where you use a squishy gelatin-like plate to create colorful prints that can be transferred onto paper, fabric, or other surfaces.
You can create unique Gelli print photo transfers by printing family photos onto thin paper.
Then apply them to your colorful Gelli prints, and sell these one-of-a-kind artworks as personalized gifts.
The awesome thing about this craft is that each print turns out different.
So customers get something truly special that can’t be mass-produced in a factory.
You can keep your costs low by buying a single Gelli plate (around $15-25) that will last for hundreds of prints, plus some basic acrylic paints and paper.
With prices ranging from $15-30 per finished piece depending on size and complexity, you could earn several hundred dollars over the summer!
10. Diamond Painting Artwork
Diamond painting is a relaxing craft where you place tiny, sparkly resin “diamonds” onto a sticky canvas to create dazzling pictures that shimmer and catch the light.
As a teen entrepreneur, you can buy diamond painting kits online.
Complete the designs yourself, frame them nicely, and sell the finished artwork at local craft fairs or on Etsy.
What makes this craft business idea so perfect is that you can work on these while watching TV or hanging out with friends.
This way you can turn your downtime into money-making opportunities.
You can even turn this into a sustainable year-round business by taking pre-orders during the school year.
Then complete more complex, higher-priced designs during summer break when you have extra time.
Final Thoughts on Crafts for Teens to Make and Sell
I hope you enjoyed this list of crafts for teens to make and sell!
Use these ideas to launch your own crafting business this summer, and turn your free time into a money-making opportunity.
The best part about starting with crafts is that you can begin with minimal investment and scale up as you discover what customers love most!
Next, you may be interested in reading about the best side hustle apps for students to earn money.
