Summer vacation is just around the corner, which means more time for fun family activities! Nothing is more relaxing than getting creative together, whether you're at home in the garden, at the campsite, or on your way to your holiday destination. In this blog post, I'll share inspiring DIY ideas that are perfect for warm summer days.
These creative projects are not only fun to make, but also ideal as personalized gifts. Think of a homemade thank-you gift for the teacher at the end of the school year, or a handmade baby shower gift for family or friends.
My own favorite hobby spot
My favorite spot for DIYing on vacation is in front of our campervan, on this lovely, relaxing holiday chair. And see that cute macrame shelf hanging from our campervan? I made it myself a few years ago with the sustainable macrame yarn from my own webshop. Jinske (former owner of IMAKIN) once wrote a blog post about how to make such a cool wall shelf yourself. I didn't have a clipboard with me, so I used my toes to crochet a macrame ring onto it. That works too. So you see... DIY is possible anywhere.

Why outdoor activities are so great for DIY projects
If you want to DIY outdoors, it's especially helpful to have a limited supply, as you won't have to lug a full bag or drag all your supplies outside. The best option, of course, is to choose a ready-made DIY kit , so you have all the materials together at once.
Ideally, choose a creative activity that doesn't require electricity. You might be able to run an extension cord in your garden or on your balcony, but if you don't want the entire campsite to be without power, you might want to leave the wood burner at home...
Beforehand, also check carefully whether you need any other materials besides the contents of the DIY kit, so that you don't find yourself without something important when you want to get started.
1 - Macrame: the perfect travel activity
Macramé is perfect for outdoor activities because all you need is yarn and scissors. You can make beautiful keychains (perfect for the car) or decorative garlands for the garden or camping.
What do you need for a macrame keychain:
- 4 pieces of yarn of 1.20 meters
- 1 piece of yarn of 30 cm
- A key ring
- Scissors, comb and measuring tape
The technique is easy to learn, and the result is always unique. Moreover, handmade keychains make perfect gifts that you can personalize with different colors of yarn. DIY Macrame Keychain Kit - €14.95
2 - Clay: Creativity for all ages
This creative summer activity requires a bit more preparation, but it's ideal for all ages, and wonderfully relaxing. You couldn't make my daughter (9) happier than when she gets to spend an entire afternoon playing with clay. And I'm happily joining in with my own project. For example, choose this handy air-drying clay; it's natural, mess-free, and odorless.
Inspiring clay ideas:
- Make prints from found flowers and twigs in nature
- Shape small bowls for your holiday finds
- Create animal figures inspired by the environment
- Build a mini altar for your most beautiful discoveries
Let your creations dry for a few days and paint them at home with acrylic paint for a professional finish.
And have you seen my latest DIY Clay Altar Kit? This kit contains a whopping 1kg of clay, enough for the whole family to get started. Display your favorite holiday finds in your altar, creating a beautiful memorial to your summer! Clay Altar DIY Kit - €34.95

3 - Embroidery on the go: compact and soothing
Embroidery is not only my favorite creative hobby but also the perfect outdoor hobby. You don't need much, don't have to carry bags full of supplies, and it can easily be done in the car, in front of the camper/tent, or even on the beach or in the garden.
Embroidery is the ultimate travel activity. It's compact, relaxing, and suitable for both beginners and experienced crafters. Children aged 8 and up can easily create simple patterns themselves.
Why embroidery is perfect for holidays:
- Handy and lightweight
- Relaxing and meditative
- Suitable for short breaks
- Fun to do together
Practical tip: Let children embroider their own designs on clothing. Small flowers or simple designs on a plain T-shirt make the garment unique and personal.
With the DIY Canvas Bag Kit - €19.95, you'll not only get a great embroidery project, but you'll also have a beautiful canvas bag to store your embroidery supplies or holiday essentials. Win-win!
4 - Painting by Numbers: The Surprising Hit
This "old" hobby has made a fantastic comeback! Modern paint-by-numbers sets feature beautiful illustrations that are a far cry from the boring pictures of the past.
Benefits of painting by numbers:
- Everything is in a compact box
- All necessary paints and brushes are included
- Suitable for hours of relaxation
- Perfect to do together
- No prior knowledge required
The beauty of this activity is that you can clear your mind and focus completely on filling in the numbered boxes.
Paint by Numbers - Beach €22.95 is my personal favorite. I spent hours working on it and secretly find it sad that it's almost finished. Luckily, the next canvas is already finished, and I can happily move on to the next set.
The value of creative summer days
For parents:
- Rest and relaxation through a focus activity
- Quality time with children without screens
- Practical and easy to carry
For children:
- Development of fine motor skills
- Proud of the homemade end result
- Unique memories of the holiday
For the whole family:
- Creating together strengthens the bond
- Original souvenirs that tell stories
- Activities suitable for all weather conditions
Your creative summer
This summer, you don't have to look far for fun activities. With just a few simple materials, you can get started anywhere and create beautiful memories. Whether you choose the soothing knotting techniques of macramé, clay shaping, meditative embroidery, or relaxing paint-by-numbers, the most important thing is to enjoy the process and the time together.
Do you have any more great hobby ideas for your vacation? Leave a comment below this blog post and inspire each other! Best, Marjanne from IMAKIN

The author: Marjanne Bruins
Marjanne Bruins is the creative mind behind IMAKIN . With her love of DIY and years of experience leading workshops, she inspires others to make things themselves, relax, and be proud of their creativity. She writes fun DIY blog posts for Happlify. Marjanne's blog posts >
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