28 Apr 2025Mont Marte

Turn your passion into income with one of these crafty side hustle ideas! Whether you’re into painting, sculpting, crafting, or upcycling, there are plenty of ways to turn your creativity into a business. Here are some fun and unique ideas to help you get started!

Clay trinkets

 

Image: @raissvania

Clay creations are a great way to add charm to any space, and they make thoughtful handmade gifts or shop items. From tiny food-inspired trinkets to intricate miniatures, the inspiration is all around you (maybe even in the pantry!). Try using air-dry or polymer clay to sculpt, then add colour with acrylic paints or pastels. Seal your finished pieces with a protective varnish for a polished look!

Denim jacket paintings

 

Hand-painted denim jackets are a trendy and personalised way to showcase your artistic flair. Whether you paint celestial designs, floral patterns, or custom portraits, wearable art is always in demand. You could even offer commission work, so your customers get to choose the design! Fabric paints work best for durability, so you can heat-set your design to make sure it lasts through washes. If you’re stuck for ideas, see how we made this jacket in our free lesson video.  

Decoupage stool

 

Upcycling furniture is both eco-friendly and creative, and decoupaging is a great place to start. Use decorative papers, napkins, or even magazine cut-outs to cover the surface, then seal with Deco Pudge. This technique works great for chairs, tables, trays, storage boxes, photo frames, and more. We can show you how to get started in our tutorial video.

Art inspired by Van Gogh


Capitalise on trends to kick-start your side hustle! Van Gogh’s swirling skies, vivid flowers, and textured landscapes make stunning statement pieces that are totally in-style. Use acrylic or oil paints to create thick, layered textures that mimic the movement in his work. Canadian artist and Van Gogh enthusiast, Natasha Kotwal, has a whole lesson dedicated to making the moon painting above – check it out!

Homemade fall décor

 

Keep it seasonal with holiday-themed crafting. Make pumpkins for fall, flowers for spring, beachballs for summer, and snowflakes for winter – or whatever is trending each season! Tic-tac-toe is a great base to adapt across loads of trends, so see how we make a board with air dry clay in our how-to video.

Handmade paint palette 

 

Image: @raissvania

Why settle for a plain paint palette when you can make one-of-a-kind creations? Handmade palettes are not only functional but also add a unique, artistic touch to anyone’s studio set-up. You could open for commissions or brand yourself with a unique style (maybe cottagecore?). Just remember to varnish so your clay is waterproof and ready for paints!

Paint pen skateboard

 

Customising skateboards with paint pens is a fun and creative way to share your art with the world. Whether you go for bold, graphic designs or playful cartoon characters, paint markers work brilliantly on wood surfaces. These make great gifts or display pieces so your customers can choose from a range of trendy designs for all their loved ones (and themselves!). See how we used paint pens to DIY skateboard art in our project tutorial.

Selling artworks

 

Image: @jenniferpaganelli

If creating is your life, why not sell your own paintings and illustrations? From vibrant florals to abstract pieces, there’s always a market for unique artwork. Use high-quality paper, canvas, or wood panels to give your work a professional look. Selling on online platforms, local markets, or even by word of mouth can help you find your ideal audience. You got this!

 

 

Follow your dreams and why not try turning your passion into a side hustle. You never know – it may become your main gig!

 

Share your creations using #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see what you’re up to!

 

If you want to see more art, browse our Inspo collection. You can sign-up to Creative Connection by popping in your email down below to get stacks of free art projects sent straight to you. We’re here to keep you inspired!