Clear the table, cue the playlist, and pass the snacks. An Ikonart craft party is part creative lab, part hangout, and all good vibes. With reusable stencils and a handful of beginner-friendly supplies, even first timers can host a fun and creative craft party.
Thinking about inviting friends over to make something special together? Use this guide to pick the right project, set a realistic budget, dial in your setup, and host with confidence so everyone leaves smiling and proudly showing off what they made.
How To Host Your First Ikonart Craft Party
An Ikonart craft party blends a creative workshop with a cozy hangout. We recomend starting small and doing an easy craft for your first paint party workshop before moving on to a larger space with more people like Tina did for her Valentine's Paint & Sip Workshop shown above.
With reusable Ikonart stencils, you can set up beginner-friendly projects that look polished, feel personal, and finish in under two hours. Here are our top tips for a successful craft party using the Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit.
1. Start With Three Quick Decisions
- Guest count: 6 to 10 people works well for a first event so you don't feel too overwhelmed
- Vibe: are you looking for a more relaxed social night or a more structured learn-a-new-skill session?
- Location: kitchen table for low mess, patio or garage for messier projects, or a public place for larger groups
2. Pick a Beginner-Friendly Project
When it comes to hosting your first party, the less options the better. Choose one project that is relatively easy and that you have made yourself so you know how to troubleshoot. For textured items like wood and fabric, reach for Ikonart Textile Film. For smooth surfaces like clay, glass, and ceramic, use Ikonart Stencil Film. If you want the look of wood-burned signs without a laser, pair your stencil with Torch Paste.
NOTE: Scroll to the end of this post for 10 Ikonart craft ideas to make at your first craft party.
3. Budgeting Made Easy
| Tier | Per-person cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | $8 to $12 | One project, basic disposables, BYO snacks |
| Comfortable | $12 to $25 | Nicer blanks, wider color range, simple snacks, small favor |
| Treat yourself | $25 to $50 | Premium blanks, grazing board, themed decor, take-home mini kit |
Line items to plan: blanks, inks or pastes, brushes or squeegees, table covers, wipes, gloves, rinse cups, sealer or heat set step for fabric, and a 10 percent oops buffer. If you are getting started, the Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit and the Textile Add-on Bundle simplify shopping. Also check out our What To Buy guide for a list of items needed depending on which type of craft you are doing.
4. A Two-Hour Craft Party Timeline Example
- Welcome and set expectations (15 minutes). Show a finished sample and outline steps.
- Demo (10 to 15 minutes). Apply the stencil, add ink or paste, lift the stencil, and explain drying or heat setting.
- Create time (60 to 75 minutes). Keep drinks on a side table and put on a chill playlist.
- Showcase and photo (10 minutes). Do a quick gallery walk and a group picture while projects dry.
5. Simplify Setup
- Duplicate stations for every 3 to 4 people to reduce waiting.
- Surface protection: plastic table covers or kraft paper, plus individual placemats.
- Drying zone: a spare table or wire rack with painter tape labels for names.
- Cleanup cart: baby wipes, paper towels, trash bags, extra water cups, and hand soap.
- Ventilation: open a window or work outside when using pastes, sprays, or etching cream. Follow each product label.
6. Consider Safety And Accessibility
- Offer aprons or old shirts and nitrile gloves for inks and pastes.
- Keep pathways clear and lighting bright.
- Store unexposed film away from bright light and keep finished stencils flat in a dry place.
- Place open beverages on a separate table away from projects.
10 Paint Party Ideas Featuring Ikonart
When hosting your first Ikonart craft party, we recommend keeping it simple with something like making cards or color-me tote bags or shirts. However, as you host more parties you may want to branch out to more in-depth crafts like clay earrings, hand painted wood signs, or even putting together a full gift basket. Click on the image to learn more about each craft.
Screen printed shirts – Use Ikonart Textile Film with fabric ink to make screen printed shirts. Heat set per your ink instructions. Optional: Use fabric markers to add color to your designs, or create a multi-color design using multiple stencils and setup a screen printing station with frames like Sheena did in the examples above.
ON THE BLOG: Tips For Screen Printing with Ikonart Stencils
Card making – Use the blue IkonartStencil Film on card stock or watercolor paper and add your design with acrylic screen printing ink, then use watercolors or markers to hand paint your cards like Natacha did in the example above.
WATCH VIDEO: DIY Hand Made Cards with Ikonart Stencils
Color-me tote bags – Use the purple Ikonart Textile Film to make a stencil out of a coloring book outline design, then let guests color inside the lines with fabric markers to create a custom tote bag, like Teresa did for her craft party above.
ON THE BLOG: How To Create Easy Color-Me Tote Bags with Ikonart
Torch Paste – Stencil the design, apply Torch Paste, let it absorb, then heat to reveal a burned look like Jody did in the example above. You can use Unicorn SPiT gel stain or regular stain to add color over your design, then seal with a mineral oil or cutting board oil.
ON THE BLOG: 11 Crafts to Wood Burn with Ikonart Stencils
Onesies – A DIY onesie station is such a cute idea for a baby shower. Use the purple Textile Film with fabric ink and a tacky mat insert to screen print some custom designs on the onesies like Fawn did in the example above. Heat set to finish.
ON THE BLOG: 20 Mother's Day Gifts to Make with Ikonart
Planters or Flower Pots – You could either do a paint pouring class and create a custom flower pot like the one Fawn made above, or just have everyone paint the background of their planter and add a quote or design over the top using an Ikonart stencil. Include a small plant with potting tips to finish off the workshop.
ON THE BLOG: 13 DIY Gifts for Teacher Appreciation Month
Sublimation mugs – Yes, you can use Ikonart stencils with sublimation ink, no sublimation printer needed! That's exactly what Nancy did for the stenciled sublimation mugs pictured above. This would require slightly more supplies and time, but it is a fun and unique idea for a craft party.
ON THE BLOG: How To Sublimate Without a Sublimation Printer Using Ikonart Stencils
Polymer clay earrings – Use acrylic paint and the blue Ikonart Stencil Film with polymer clay to create custom earrings. Just cut the shapes, bake, assemble, and seal if desired. Head to Artsy Fartsy Mama for lots more examples of clay earrings made with Ikonart, including step-by-step tutorials.
ON THE BLOG: How To Make Clay Earrings With Ikonart Stencils
Hand painted wood sign using a stencil as an outline guide – This would require a little more time, but the end result is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted wood sign like Renee's above. Just apply your design outline with a stencils, then hand paint over the top with acrylic paints.
ON THE BLOG: Tips for Creating Woods Signs with Ikonart Stencils
Gift basket with tea towel and etched wine glasses – Here is an example for a slightly more expensive craft party. Have each person screen print multiple items, such as a tea towel, wine bag, candle, etched wine glass and/or small wood shelf sitter sign, then assemble them all into a custom themed gift basket like Patty did in the example above.
Ready To Host?
If this is your first Ikonart party, try one practice project a few days before your event so you feel confident and your guests feel supported. When you share, tag @ikonartstencil so we can cheer you on, and join the Ikonart Crafters Group for ideas, troubleshooting, and inspiration.