How to Host a Craft Party with iHeartArt and Re:line Kits

Quick answer

Host a craft party by choosing one main kit per guest, setting up a dedicated station with all supplies, and building in a show-and-tell break. For kids, pick iHeartArt Paint by Numbers Dogs' Day Out or Wish*Craft DIY Charm Jewelry. For adults, try iHeartArt 12 Acrylic Paint Markers with blank canvases. Keep the group small, prep ahead, and let the crafting be the party.

A craft party works best when the craft is the main event, not a side activity. The goal is to give everyone a project they can finish or nearly finish in one sitting, with enough variety to keep different ages and skill levels engaged.

This guide walks through hosting a craft party using kits from iHeartArt and Re:line, two lines that cover everything from paint by numbers to miniature furniture. You will find a step-by-step plan, project picks for kids and adults, and checkpoints to avoid common party pitfalls.

Pick a project that fits your guests and your space

Start by matching the kit to your guest list. For kids 8 and older, iHeartArt Paint by Numbers Dogs' Day Out gives each child a complete scene with 16 colors and 2 brushes, plus a tray that pulls out to become a work station. For a mixed-age group, Wish*Craft DIY Charm Jewelry lets guests sculpt and paint air dry clay charms at their own pace, with no wrong answers.

For adults, iHeartArt 12 Acrylic Paint Markers work on rocks, shells, wood, ceramic, glass, and more, so you can set out a mix of surfaces and let people choose. If your group loves miniatures, the DIY Room KIDS' BEDROOM kit builds a complete Mouse Mansion bedroom with pre-applied adhesive strips, no glue needed. One kit per guest is the simplest rule; sharing a single large kit can cause bottlenecks.

• Check the age recommendation on each kit before buying; iHeartArt Paint by Numbers Dogs' Day Out is suitable for kids 8 and older.
• For a 90-minute party, choose projects with fewer than 20 steps or ones that can be paused easily.

Set up stations before guests arrive

Set up one station per guest or per pair, with all supplies within arm's reach. Cover tables with a wipeable cloth or butcher paper. For paint projects, place a shared water cup and paper towels in the center. If you are using iHeartArt 12 Acrylic Paint Markers, test them on a scrap surface first to confirm they flow well; the paint is waterproof once dry, so protect clothing with aprons or old shirts.

For miniature kits like DIY Room KIDS' BEDROOM, keep the printed cardboard pieces flat until guests are ready to assemble. The pre-applied adhesive strips mean no glue, but you still want a clean, flat surface. Set out small trays or bowls for tiny pieces so nothing rolls away. A labeled zip-top bag per guest helps store in-progress projects if the party runs long.

• Do a quick dry run of one kit yourself to spot tricky steps and estimate timing.
• Keep a damp cloth and a dry cloth at each station for quick cleanups.

Run the party with a simple timeline

A 2-hour party works well with this flow: 15 minutes for arrival and instructions, 60 to 75 minutes for crafting, 15 minutes for cleanup, and 15 minutes for show-and-tell. Give a 10-minute warning before cleanup so guests can finish a section or find a stopping point. For paint by numbers, that might mean finishing one color area; for charm jewelry, it might mean setting the clay aside to dry.

During crafting, circulate and help where needed, but resist the urge to take over. The point is the process, not a perfect result. If someone finishes early, have a backup activity like coloring sheets or a second small kit. For adults, a playlist and snacks keep energy up without distracting from the craft.

• Announce the cleanup time at the start so no one is surprised.
• Have a designated drying area for wet projects, away from foot traffic.

Handle cleanup and take-home projects

Cleanup goes faster if you assign roles: one person collects brushes, another caps markers, another wipes tables. For air dry clay, any unused clay should be wrapped tightly to keep it soft for later. Painted projects like the iHeartArt Paint by Numbers canvas need to dry flat; the deep 1.25-inch canvas can hang or stand once dry, so guests can take it home carefully.

Send each guest home with their project and any leftover supplies in a labeled bag. If you used a kit with small parts, double-check the floor for dropped pieces before vacuuming. A quick final sweep prevents lost charms or miniature furniture pieces.

• Take a group photo before cleanup to capture the mess and the makes.
• Ask guests to write their names on their projects or bags to avoid mix-ups.

Craft party steps at a glance

1. Choose one kit per guest: Match the kit to age and interest: iHeartArt Paint by Numbers Dogs' Day Out for kids 8+, Wish*Craft DIY Charm Jewelry for mixed ages, iHeartArt 12 Acrylic Paint Markers for adults or teens, and DIY Room KIDS' BEDROOM for miniature lovers. Checkpoint: confirm each guest has a complete kit so no one is waiting for supplies.
2. Set up a station for each guest or pair: Cover tables, place supplies within reach, and add a shared water cup and paper towels for paint projects. For miniature kits, keep pieces in small trays to prevent loss. Checkpoint: do a dry run of one kit to estimate timing and spot tricky steps.
3. Run a 2-hour timeline with a show-and-tell: Allow 15 minutes for arrival and instructions, 60–75 minutes for crafting, 15 minutes for cleanup, and 15 minutes for show-and-tell. Give a 10-minute warning before cleanup. Checkpoint: have a backup activity for early finishers, like coloring sheets or a second small kit.
4. Clean up and send projects home safely: Assign cleanup roles, wrap unused air dry clay tightly, and let painted projects dry flat. Bag each guest's project and leftover supplies with their name on it. Checkpoint: do a final floor sweep for small parts before vacuuming.

Kits that work well for a craft party

• iHeartArt Paint by Numbers Dogs' Day Out: Classic paint by numbers with a joyful scene of 3 dogs in a park, suitable for kids 8 and older. Includes 16 colors of paint and 2 brushes, and the tray pulls out to become a work station. The self-contained tray and pre-printed canvas make it easy for kids to start without extra setup, and the finished canvas can hang or stand for display.
• Wish*Craft DIY Charm Jewelry: Sculpt and paint air dry clay into charms, then add real crystals and metal charms to create necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Includes molds, tools, pearlized pastel paints, gold chains, and gems. This kit suits mixed-age groups because the process is open-ended; guests can make simple charms or more detailed pieces, and the results are wearable.
• iHeartArt 12 Acrylic Paint Markers: 12 vibrant colors with waterproof paint that works on rocks, shells, sticks, leaves, ceramic, wood, glass, and more. One set can serve multiple guests if you provide a variety of surfaces; the markers are easy to cap and pass around, and the paint is waterproof once dry.
• DIY Room KIDS' BEDROOM: A complete all-in-one miniature craft set that includes everything needed to build, furnish, and decorate a Mouse Mansion kids' bedroom. The printed cardboard room assembles with pre-applied adhesive strips, no glue needed. No glue means less mess and no drying time, making it a good choice for a party where guests want to assemble and play in the same session.

A craft party does not need to be complicated. Pick kits that match your guests, set up clear stations, and let the making be the main event. With iHeartArt and Re:line kits, you can host a party that keeps everyone happily creating and sends them home with something they are proud of.