Rochelle Criswell, the associate director of the Student Union Building (SUB), has been hosting Crafternoon events at the SUB’s Games Center Lounge for almost three years.
The idea is simple — provide students with some much needed rest and relaxation along with an opportunity to try something new amidst their packed class schedules.
“This is an event any student can participate in. I try to plan it so that students can stop by at any window of time they have available,” Criswell said. “Crafts make a great fifteen minute break during your day.”
“When I’m looking for crafts,” Criswell continued, “I look for things students may have never done before that could spark interest in a new hobby — or maybe even something they’ve seen that they haven’t had the opportunity to try. Students are busy and likely don’t have time in their schedule to stop at a craft store, so this gives them the opportunity to try something that might connect with them.”
Crafternoon events are held the first and third Thursday of each month, with every event being themed with a new craft. Criswell explains that she comes up with ideas for the various craft options by researching trends on TikTok and Pinterest, as well as outsourcing student opinion.
At the most recent Crafternoon, students were invited to make friendship charm bracelets.
Unity Halcomb, a freshman studying Radiology, has attended almost all of the Crafternoons since she began attending Boise State in the fall. As an out-of-state student, the monthly events have played a significant role in providing her opportunities to make friends and try things in a new environment.
Halcomb came to the event with a few close friends to make matching charm bracelets for themselves.
“Especially since it’s free, you can just come here and relax to do things with friends or even yourself — it’s super open,” Halcomb said. “[Crafternoon] gets people out and talking to other people. We go to almost all of the events here.”
Kayla Brunton, an Elementary Education major, found out about Crafternoon via the monthly “Toilet Talk” flyers hung throughout campus. This was Brunton’s first time as a “crafternooner” and she attended the event with her friend Jaymie Helm, a Kinesiology major.
“I think it’s awesome,” Brunton said. “We met through BSU — and we’re both here, so we might as well come and hang out here together. Things like this provide opportunities for that.”
“It’s been really lowkey and chill,” Helm said. “You can just come here and decompress.”
The next Crafternoon will be held on March 6, 2025, and the craft will be button making. Students can find out about future Crafternoons and similar activities via the Student Union’s Campus Groups page.
“My favorite part [of hosting these events] is seeing all of the students that come in here because these events reach such a broad audience,” Criswell said. “Sitting in here and seeing the friendships that are made and students helping each other — that’s really fun and special. It creates this really cool sense of community.”
