Crafting by the Campfire: Relaxing DIY Projects for Your Next Camping Trip

September 6, 2025

There’s nothing quite like sitting around a glowing campfire at night — the crackle of wood, the smell of smoke, and the stars overhead. For most people, that’s the moment for marshmallows. But for creative souls? It’s the perfect time to bring out a little crafting.

Camping doesn’t just have to be about hiking and roasting hot dogs. It can also be a chance to slow down, make something with your hands, and create memories (and keepsakes) that last far longer than a weekend in the woods.

Here are some easy, packable campfire crafts to try on your next adventure — plus the tools you’ll need to make it happen.

🧵 1. Friendship Bracelets Under the Stars

Friendship bracelets are the ultimate camping craft. All you need is a small pack of embroidery floss, maybe a clipboard or safety pin, and you’re set.

✨ Tip: If you’re camping with kids, have them each pick their own “camp colors” — colors that remind them of that trip. Every time they wear the bracelet back home, it’ll bring them right back to the firelight.

🪵 2. Whittling with Wood

There’s something timeless about carving by the fire. With just a small block of wood and a pocket carving knife, you can make spoons, tiny animals, or even tent stakes.

Beginner Whittling Knife Set (includes safety gloves and blocks)

🔥 Story moment: I once camped with a group of friends in Montana where every night, someone whittled a different little creature. By the end of the trip, we had a whole “forest” of tiny wooden owls, bears, and foxes lined up on the picnic table.

🎨 3. Rock Painting

Collect smooth stones during your hikes and paint them at night. They make great decorations, paperweights, or souvenirs to leave as “kindness rocks” along the trail (just be mindful of Leave No Trace — take painted rocks home if you’re in a wilderness area).

✨ Idea: Paint the date and location on the back of each rock. It becomes a mini keepsake from every camping trip.

🔥 4. Campfire Macramé

Yes, you can knot macramé while sitting in a camp chair! Bring along some cotton cord and a simple wooden ring or stick. You can make keychains, bracelets, or even start a small wall hanging to finish at home.

It’s soothing, repetitive, and way more meditative than scrolling your phone under the stars.

🕯️ 5. DIY Camp Lanterns

Turn empty mason jars into glowing lanterns. Pack a few jars, battery-powered tea lights, and some washi tape, pressed leaves, or paint pens. You’ll have instant mood lighting around the campsite.

✨ Bonus: Kids love decorating their own lanterns — and they’ll be excited to carry them around camp at night.

🌌 6. Nature Journaling & Collage

Collect leaves, pine needles, or wildflower sketches during the day, then create a collage or journal entry by the fire. Pair it with pressed-flower kits or glue pens for easy use outdoors.

This one is especially magical because it blends art and memory-keeping. Your camping journal becomes both a sketchbook and a scrapbook of the adventure.

🔑 Quick Tips for Campfire Crafting

Pack light: Choose compact supplies that fit in a small, durable pouch.
Go flameless: Battery-powered lanterns or headlamps help you see without juggling flashlights.
Keep it safe: If using knives or paint, bring a tray or cloth to protect camp furniture.
Make it communal: Share supplies and turn it into a group activity.

✨ Conclusion

Crafting by the campfire is more than a hobby — it’s a way to slow down, connect with nature, and make your camping trip memorable. Whether you’re braiding bracelets with friends, painting rocks, or carving little wooden creatures, the projects you create will keep the conversations going for ages to come.

So next time you head out, tuck a few craft supplies into your pack. You may just find that your favorite camping memory isn’t the hike — it’s the handmade bracelet, painted stone, or glowing lantern you made under the stars.

Lastly, check out these fun tees to wear at your next campfire!

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