Let’s be honest—most parents are desperate for activities that’ll keep their kids busy without involving screens! Seasonal craft kits are a goldmine if you love making things and need extra cash. You’re basically packaging up crafty skills into grab-and-go kits that frazzled parents can use during holidays or birthday parties without the stress of hunting down supplies or figuring out instructions.

Halloween is a perfect time to sell these kits. Start with simple pumpkin decorating packages (way less messy than carving!), ghost garlands, and spooky suncatchers that kids can make themselves. The trick is making sure they’re age-appropriate and actually turn out cute—nobody wants to spend money on a craft that looks terrible when it’s finished! You can typically charge between $8-15 for individual kits, but birthday party packages for 8-10 kids can easily go for $20-30. Parents happily pay this to have a ready-made activity that keeps a group of sugar-hyped children engaged!

The beauty of this hustle is you don’t need to go all-in right away. Start with just one holiday and see how it goes! Many successful craft kit creators have a “seasonal rotation”—focusing on Halloween in fall, Christmas stuff in December, Valentine’s in February, and outdoor crafts when summer hits. This approach lets you reuse some basic supplies while keeping your offerings fresh and relevant.

The best part? The marketing is super fun! Just snap some photos of finished projects (borrow friends’ kids if needed!) and post them on social media or local mom groups. Partner with a children’s boutique in your neighborhood to display seasonal kits near their register. Even better, do a few demonstrations at local events where parents can see how simple and engaging the kits are. The light bulb moment when a mom realizes she can entertain her kids without planning or cleanup? That’s when you make a sale! Plus, you can create inventory during evening Netflix time, which works perfectly around family schedules.

Example Craft Kit: “Spooky Lantern” Halloween Kit

Kit Contents

Materials Included:

• 1 pre-cut black cardstock lantern template (5″ x 7″ when assembled)
• 4 sheets of colored tissue paper (orange, purple, green, and yellow)
• 1 battery-operated LED tealight
• 5 pre-cut Halloween silhouettes (bat, cat, ghost, witch, pumpkin)
• 1 small tube of craft glue
• 1 length of black string for hanging (12″)
• 2 adhesive googly eyes
• 1 small packet of orange and black sequins

Pricing Strategy

• Cost to produce: $4.50 per kit (when materials purchased in bulk)
• Retail price: $12.99 individual kit
• Party package: $89.99 for 8 kits ($11.25 each) with bonus Halloween-themed tablecloth

Marketing Points

• Age range: Suitable for children 5-12 (younger children may need assistance)
• Completion time: Approximately 30-40 minutes
• Skill development: Fine motor skills, following instructions, creative expression
• No additional tools needed: Everything included for immediate crafting
• Reusable: LED light can be turned on nightly throughout the season

Key Selling Features

• Mess-free crafting: No paint, no cutting required
• Impressive results: Looks store-bought when completed
• Indoor activity: Perfect for rainy October days
• Photo-worthy: Creates Instagram/social media-worthy moments
• Educational elements: Includes fun Halloween facts on instruction card

Display Ideas for Craft Fairs or Partner Stores

• Completed lantern with light glowing
• Before and after photos showing simple assembly
• “Make and Take” workshop opportunities
• Bundle with other Halloween-themed kits for discounted seasonal packages

Start Small

Starting a craft kit business doesn’t require a huge upfront investment – you can absolutely begin with just $50 and smart planning. Use those initial funds to purchase basic supplies like cardstock, tissue paper, glue sticks, and inexpensive embellishments from dollar stores or craft store sales. Focus on creating 10-15 simple kits that require minimal cutting and assembly on your part, packaging them in clear cellophane bags with printed instructions on regular paper.

Market these starter kits through local Facebook parent groups or neighborhood apps at an attractive price point, emphasizing their screen-free entertainment value.

As orders start coming in, set aside 30-40% of your profits specifically for equipment upgrades. After selling around 30-40 kits, you’ll likely have enough to invest in a Cricut machine ($200-300), which becomes a game-changer by dramatically reducing your production time and allowing for more intricate designs that command higher prices.

This gradual scaling approach lets the business fund its own growth while you test market demand without financial risk, eventually enabling specialty purchases like custom packaging, higher-quality materials, and even subscription box shipping supplies that transform your kitchen table operation into a streamlined side hustle.