9 Grownup DIY Activities to Do with Your Whole Family

We’re firmly in holiday planning mode and are looking forward to all the food and family Thanksgiving will bring! To make the most out of the quality time we’ve been thinking about new ways to bring everyone together—so we’ve rounded up our favorite group DIYs that are perfect for beginner to intermediate skill sets and will easily fit in a suitcase. Plus, learning something new as a crew is great for when you feel like you’ve run out of things to catch up on. Our favorite picks for whiling away an afternoon below. Just add apple cider!

Board games are a classic family affair, but Almost Makes Perfect puts a new spin on it by making a custom version featuring familiar faces. Put all those holiday card photos to use and create your own—or snap photos on the fly and print them out at home to use for the game.

Keep the whole fam nice and cozy with a DIY slipper station, as seen on Sugar & Cloth. All you need are a few pairs of basic, plain slippers; some colorful pom poms (create your own with a pom pom maker!); and a hot glue gun. Now everyone can easily make their new favorite holiday gear. 

You don’t have to fight the holiday traffic to find a wine and paint studio. You can do it at home! Take inspiration from Paper & Stitch and break out the colorful paints and paper once the food has been cleared. Open a bottle of wine, then settle in for a relaxing night at home.

The holidays are full of nostalgia, so what better craft than an updated childhood classic? Make clay rope bowls together so everyone can start the new year a little more organized. Get instructions at BlissMakes.

Does your family prefer cider or hot cocoa? Whichever side of the debate they land, everyone can agree that these DIY mugs from The Pretty Life Girls are a great way to bring everyone together.

Speaking of mugs: Give them a beautiful resting spot with botanical resin coasters. It could be fun to go on a post-lunch, leaf walk to forage for local plants and create memorable keepsakes. Find instructions at The Lovely Drawer.

Grab the clay and paint again for the plant lovers in your family to make adorable mini faux-glazed pots, as seen at Fall for DIY. You can take this a step further by ordering a succulent assortment so everyone can pick a plant for their new pots.

A little luxe and a lot practical, stamped keychains are another DIY that are perfect for personalization. Order a big batch of brass keychain blanks and let the group hammer out their favorite sayings using a metal stamping kit. Get instructions at ctrl + curate.

Because this is the season of giving, we’re saving the last spot on the list for a little give-back activity. Find a cause you’re passionate about and check your local organization to see what items they need. Make the items feel like personalized gifts by creating individualized gift bags, as seen at A Beautiful Mess. Some ideas: fuzzy socks or personal care items for a women’s shelter or blankets, towels, or toys for an animal shelter.