How to Start a Creative Hobby: 5 Simple Ways to Rediscover Your Creativity

There seems to be a quiet shift happening at the moment. More and more people are looking for ways to spend less time scrolling and more time creating, and I don't think it's because everyone suddenly wants to become an artist. I think we're simply craving something slower, something that helps us reconnect with ourselves and the people around us. At Bundabubs Art Play, I've noticed it too. People come along because they want to paint or make something beautiful, but they often leave talking about something completely different. They talk about how relaxed they feel, how nice it was to sit around a table with other people, or how they hadn't realised how much they needed to do something just for themselves.

If you've been feeling that pull towards creativity but you're not quite sure where to start, here are five ideas that have shaped not only my own creative life but everything we do at Bundabubs.

1. Find People to Create With: Your Creative Hobbies Might Be Theirs Too!

I've always believed that art play is better together. Finding creative hobbies you can do with friends brings so much joy!

With Friends, Community Art Play

There is something incredibly special about sitting around a table with other people whose hands are busy creating while conversations flow naturally around them. Without even realising it, you stop worrying about whether you're "good" at art and start enjoying the process instead. Someone shares an idea, another person experiments with a different technique, and before long everyone is creating something completely unique.

That's the beauty of creating in community. It's never really about the finished artwork. It's about feeling connected, encouraging one another and remembering that creativity doesn't have to be something we do alone.

I think that's why community has become such an important part of Bundabubs. Yes, we make art, but what we're really creating is space for people to slow down, connect and simply enjoy making something together.

2. Make It Easy to Begin

One of the biggest obstacles to starting a creative hobby isn't talent. It's simply getting started.

We tell ourselves we'll paint when we have more time, buy supplies when we know what we need or wait until we feel creative enough. Before long, weeks or months have passed and that little spark has been pushed aside by everyday life.

That's one of the reasons I created the Bundabubs Art Play Kits.

I wanted to make creativity feel easy again. Each kit includes beautiful, quality materials and an invitation to explore, but there are no step-by-step instructions telling you exactly what to paint. Instead, they're designed around open-ended creativity, giving you the freedom to experiment, follow your curiosity and create something that's entirely your own.

Whether you spend twenty minutes painting after work or lose yourself in a whole afternoon of creating, the goal isn't to produce a masterpiece. It's simply to make it easier to begin because sometimes that's the hardest part.

3. Try Art Journaling

If there's one creative hobby that has found a permanent place in my life, it's art journaling.

I love that there are no expectations attached to it. My journal doesn't have to impress anyone, match a colour palette or even make sense. Some pages are layered with paint and collage, while others are little more than a few scribbled thoughts and a splash of colour. Every page reflects exactly where I was on that particular day, and I think that's what makes it so special.

Creative Art Journaling

It's also become one of my favourite ways to step away from my phone. Instead of picking it up every spare moment, I've been trying to reach for paint, paper and pens instead. It's a small habit, but I've noticed it changes the whole pace of my day and reminds me that creativity doesn't have to be productive to be worthwhile.

4. Forget Perfect and Embrace Open-Ended Creativity

If you've spent any time around Bundabubs, you'll know that open-ended creativity sits at the heart of everything we do.

There are no examples to copy and no pressure for everyone's artwork to look the same because I truly believe that's where creativity begins to disappear. When we're busy trying to recreate someone else's idea, it's easy to forget that our own imagination is more than enough.

Open-ended art gives both children and adults permission to explore without worrying about getting it right. It builds confidence, encourages problem-solving and reminds us that there isn't one correct way to create. In fact, some of the most wonderful moments happen when things don't go according to plan because that's often where the best ideas begin.

Creative Art Play Kit by Bundabubs

5. Bring More Whimsy Into Everyday Life

I've realised recently that creativity isn't always about setting aside hours to paint. Sometimes it's found in much smaller moments.

It's choosing colourful stationery because it makes you smile, collecting interesting leaves on a walk, displaying your child's artwork around the house or lighting a candle before you open your sketchbook. It's giving yourself permission to make something simply because you feel like it and finding joy in ordinary moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

I think that's why I love the idea of bringing a little more whimsy into everyday life. It reminds us that creativity isn't another task on the to-do list. It's a way of noticing beauty, embracing curiosity and making life feel just a little lighter.

DIY Art Play Party

Why Creative Hobbies Matter

People often tell me they're "not creative", but I honestly don't believe that's true.

I think most of us were creative once. We painted, built, imagined and experimented without worrying whether what we made was good enough. Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped creating because we became more focused on the outcome than the experience itself.

Creative hobbies invite us back to that way of thinking. They remind us that painting, journaling, crafting or simply making something with our hands isn't about being talented. It's about slowing down, being present and allowing ourselves to play again.

That's the philosophy behind everything we do at Bundabubs Art Play. Whether you're joining one of our art experiences, opening an Art Play Kit at your kitchen table or filling the pages of an art journal, my hope is always the same: that you'll discover the joy of creating without pressure and leave feeling just a little more connected to yourself.

Because art play has never really been about making perfect art.

It's about making space for joy.