There comes a time when we all need a little extra cash now and again, whether it’s for a vacation or just so you can splurge a little without tapping your savings. Luckily, we live in the digital age, which means it’s easier than ever to create a successful side hustle.
Whether selling homemade crafts or offering services you’d usually do for yourself at home, there are tons of creative hobbies you can monetize. And you know what they say — it’s not really work when you’re having fun doing it.
So, what are some side hustle options for the creative mind?
Gemstone Tumbling
Gemstones are like snowflakes; there’s not a single naturally made stone out there that resembles another. So there’s always a market for gem collecting. Sure, you could buy gems in bulk and sell them off for a profit, but where’s the fun in that?
Stone tumbling involves using a tumbling machine (child’s versions are also a thing) to slowly spin rocks over time, gradually sanding them to a smooth and often shimmery finish. You add different levels of grit to the machine as days pass, starting with the coarsest and ending on the smoothest. Essentially, the machine does most of the work after you close it up and leave to literally tumble from four to 10 days, depending on the firmness of the stones. You can take any stone from pretty much any environment — a pebble from your garden, a piece of quartz from the beach, beach glass, or unpolished minerals online such as pyrite.
The wonderful thing about lapidary art is that the ugliest, dirtiest rock can be turned into something incredibly pretty, with a little time and love. You can sell these stones as is — gemstone collecting is a common activity for all ages. You can also make the gems into jewelry. It sounds complicated, but all you really need is a small drill, some bracelet or necklace chains, some O-rings, and any trimmings you desire.
Crochet Everything
From crocheted baby toys to cardigans, crop tops, and even cosplay items, crochet is a skill with never-ending possibilities. Beginners can easily sell colorful scarves and hats, as the internet is full of free designs.
More experienced crocheters can build a niche for themselves over time with items you’ll never find in the average store. Crochet cannot be replicated by a machine, as its intricate free-flowing chains can only be done by dexterous human hands. This means crochet skills are highly sought after, since many clothing stores mostly sell machine-made items. Taking your crochet to an online store such as Etsy or eBay means you can choose your own prices that are fair for how much work you’ve put in. People may ask, why wouldn’t I buy this at Target or ASOS? The answer is twofold.
Like we said before, most stores don’t stock handmade items, especially not ones with such unique themes as trending TV show designs or Disney princess dresses. Secondly, if you do see crochet in fast-fashion stores (e.g., Shien), then it usually means one of two things: The workers have not been paid adequately for their backbreaking labor, or it’s not crocheting; it’s just knitting. The latter is just misleading marketing, and the former directly attacks basic human rights.
Tarot Readings
Whether or not you believe in the power of tarot in a literal sense, it sure is fun to get a reading. Tarot cards are beautifully illustrated pieces of art that make for stunning collection pieces, so why not spread that love to others? Readings can be done in many different ways — via zoom call, in person one on one, at events, even via email.
These days, however, a very popular method among fortune tellers is via TikTok and Twitch livestreams. YouTube Live and Instagram Live are also great options. Viewers can send donations via the app or through PayPal and receive a live response. One of the best parts, other than getting a real person to do your reading over a webpage bot, is that these lives are often turned into permanent videos on demand (VODs). So you can rewatch them later if desired. Learning how to read tarot cards is a simple process; just learn what each card means and how to draw from the deck.
Interpreting how each card sums up someone's reading, however, is very subjective, and you can bring your own unique spin to each reading with practice and research. Viewers aren’t paying just for their fortune but also for the charisma and entertainment you bring to the channel.
Resin Crafts
There are two types of resin: epoxy resin and UV resin. Epoxy comes in two liquids, an A and B solution that you mix together and leave overnight in a mold, resulting in a hard plastic-like item. UV resin is when you pour one liquid into a mold and cure under a UV light, kind of like when you cure gel nails. UV resin is usually for smaller pieces such as earrings and pendants, whereas epoxy can be used for larger items, from pencil holders to tabletops.
Resin crafting is a fairly simple skill that relies on your ability to pour cleanly (with the right measurements) and experiment with different colors, glitters, and even dried flowers. That being said, safety is your main priority, as the fumes generated during curing can be dangerous, so good PPE is essential. You can buy ready-made beginner kits if building a collection is intimidating. They usually include everything you need, such as the resin, gloves, mica powder, and a few molds. Resin possibilities are endless — initial keyrings, mirror compacts, holographic coasters, tarot card holders (for your livestreams!), custom jewelry — if you have the mold, then you can do pretty much anything. And if you can’t find the mold? Make your own molds with silicone, and you really can make anything. Well, within reason …
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
