How To Host A Last-Minute Sip and Paint Party: Wooden Craft Edition
One of the best things about last-minute plans is that there’s absolutely no pressure for perfection. You don’t have to spend lots of money trying to match a specific aesthetic or recreating the perfect Pinterest picture. Instead, the focus falls entirely on what really matters: the essentials, the people, and the vibes. That’s exactly how my friend’s sip-and-paint night came together. She spotted the cutest wooden pen holders in Hobbycraft and decided they’d make a great project for a spontaneous girls’ night in. And when I say last-minute, I mean a three-hour turnaround—so naturally, she called me to help pull it all together. Here’s how you can host your own last-minute sip and paint party at home.
Step 1: Grab Your Essentials
A speedy Amazon order or a last minute run to your local craft store (e.g. Hobbycraft or The Works) is all it takes to gather your supplies. It’s a super quick job, and you only need a handful of essentials to bring your sip and paint night to life:
A wooden item to paint (we used one mini pen pot per person!)
- PVA glue (perfect for priming your wooden pieces)
- Paintbrushes (wider brushes for the base and thinner brushes for details)
- Acrylic paints (they dry quickly and sit well on wood)
- Your drink of choice – whether that’s wine, cocktails, or soft drinks for a sober-friendly sip
Step 2: Check What You Already Have
Before you start adding unnecessary things to your basket, take a quick look at what you already have. We repurposed old plastic takeaway containers, using the lids as paint palettes and the bases as water pots for cleaning our brushes. Maybe not what you’d see on Pinterest, but completely functional. It didn’t take away from the night at all, and my friend was happy it saved her a little money.
If you prefer something a bit more traditional, you can of course pick up paint palettes in addition to the essentials. Just remember they aren’t necessary for your night to run smoothly, so if you already have something at home that does the job, there’s no need to buy extras unless you actually want to.
Step 3: Set Up Your Living Room
This part doesn’t need to take long at all. Focus on cosy and practical rather than overly decorative. Everyone just needs a small, comfortable workspace where they can paint without juggling supplies on their lap. My friend pushed two small tables together in front of the TV, spread out all the materials, lit a few candles, and put on a cute romance movie. It was really simple, but worked perfectly at creating a super chill vibe where everyone could easily get creative.
Step 4: Painting Your Wooden Item
Follow these simple steps to paint your wooden pot, and remember to give your guests a quick run down before getting started. This way, everyone can go at their own pace, and any questions can be answered right at the beginning.
- Prime with PVA: Paint a coat of PVA glue onto your wooden item. It gives the acrylic paint a nice base and helps it stick better. Let it dry for about 20 minutes.
- Paint the first layer: Choose a solid background colour to cover your pot. One coat worked for us, but feel free to add a second if you want it a bit more vibrant.
- Add your design: Now it’s time to get creative with some fun details. I looked to Pinterest for inspiration and decided on a flowery design for my pot.
Take your time, sip your drink, and really enjoy the process. Remember, this is all about having fun, getting creative, and sharing a relaxed, happy moment with the girls – not about making everything perfect.
Cute Extra Touches
Adding a few thoughtful touches can make your sip and paint night feel even more memorable, but they’re completely optional and should only be included if you have the time, budget, or energy. Here are some ideas:
- Food: Last-minute plans mean there’s little time to cook, so takeaway or a few snacks work perfectly. For larger groups, you could ask friends to chip in a small amount to cover shared food. Since the focus is on crafting, there’s no pressure to offer a full meal – a few snacks or a “bring something to share” approach will work well as an alternative, and the same goes for drinks.
- Decor: Simple touches like a cute table cloth, fairy lights or a small bouquet of flowers can instantly make the space feel a bit more cosy and inviting. Look around your home first – you probably already have something that works without needing to buy new items at the last minute.
- Preserving memories: Set up a camera in the corner of the room so you can capture the night on video and have something cute to look back on. We made sure we spoke into the camera with mini updates on our craft projects and took plenty of photos throughout the evening.
- Mini games or challenges: If your friends enjoy a bit of friendly competition, small challenges like a “fastest base coat” contest or a “most creative detail” vote at the end can add an extra layer of fun to the night.
And That’s Really It
Let this be your reminder that hosting doesn’t need to be a perfectly curated, weeks-in-advance event. Sometimes the best memories come from simply deciding to spend quality time with your friends – no pressure, no perfection, just good vibes and good company.
Even though this night was pulled together at the very last minute, you would have never known! The experience was just as fun and memorable as any carefully planned event. I loved that it was a twist on the usual sip-and-paint night (painting wooden pen pots instead of a standard canvas) and I honestly can’t wait to host something similar at my own place.
I hope this guide helps you see that a last-minute girls’ night like this can be just as special and stress-free as anything planned far in advance. Happy hosting!
Kyra xx
FAQs
Q: How long does paint take to dry?
A: Acrylic paint typically dries in 20–30 minutes per layer, but drying time can vary depending on thickness and room temperature.
Q: Can I reuse leftover paint or supplies?
A: Yes! Store leftover acrylic paint in airtight containers. Brushes can be washed and reused, and old containers make great palettes for future projects.
Q: How do I clean up after the party?
A: Use warm soapy water to clean brushes and palettes. Cover tables with a disposable tablecloth or old newspapers to save on cleanup.
