Hayao Miyazaki’s films capture a rare mix of cozy nostalgia and quiet wonder. Bringing that atmosphere into your home does not require a huge budget or advanced skills. Grab a glue gun, turn on a Joe Hisaishi soundtrack, and try these 25 Studio Ghibli crafts you can build at home today.
1. Polymer clay Totoro plant pots
Transform plain terra cotta pots into forest spirits. Sculpt Totoro’s ears and belly outline using gray and white polymer clay, bake the pieces, and attach them to small planters. Paint his whiskers and belly arrows with acrylic paint to give tiny succulents a fun home.
If you love working with clay, check out our guide on clay crafts for boyfriend gifts for more sculpting inspiration!
2. Calcifer felt coaster set
Keep coffee table surfaces safe from hot mugs with Howl’s favorite fire demon. Cut flame shapes from red, orange, and yellow craft felt, then layer and glue them together. Stitch on Calcifer’s wide white eyes and black pupils to complete the set.
3. Fluffy soot sprite keychain pom-poms
These small critters from Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro make an easy afternoon project. Wrap black yarn around a pom-pom maker, tie the center tightly, and trim the yarn into a sphere. Glue on two small white felt eyes, attach a keychain ring, and take your Susuwatari anywhere.
4. Glow-in-the-dark Kodama statues
Bring the ancient forest from Princess Mononoke to your bookshelf. Roll off-white glow-in-the-dark clay into bobble-headed tree spirits and carve out three dark holes for their eyes and mouth. Place these miniature figures inside indoor houseplants, turn off the lights, and watch them glow after dark.
5. Kiki’s oversized red bow headband
Channel Kiki’s signature hair accessory with a simple sewing project. Fold crimson cotton fabric into a large structured bow, filling the inside with poly-fill to keep the shape upright. Glue the finished bow onto a black fabric-wrapped headband, pair it with a navy dress, and complete the classic look.
6. Howl’s Moving Castle stained glass suncatcher
Catch the sunlight with a piece inspired by Howl’s secret garden. Trace detailed floral designs onto acrylic sheets using black liquid leading tubes, then let the lines dry overnight. Fill the compartments with colored glass paint to throw bright pattern reflections across your room every morning.
This soothing project fits right in with our list of peaceful arts and crafts projects for a relaxing weekend activity.
7. Spirited Away No-Face glass terrarium
Build a mini ecosystem starring Kaonashi. Layer small pebbles, charcoal, moss, and small faux ferns inside a glass globe terrarium. Sculpt a small No-Face out of white and purple clay, place him among the greenery, and display your finished tabletop garden.
8. Studio Ghibli wooden music box makeover
Turn an inexpensive wooden craft box into a hand-painted keepsake. Sand down a plain wooden box, paint the exterior with muted acrylics, and decoupage printed Ghibli sheet music onto the lid. Install a small wind-up musical mechanism playing “A Town with an Ocean View” inside the box to store small jewelry pieces.
9. My Neighbor Totoro leaf umbrella bookmark
Keep track of your reading with a simple botanical accessory. Cut green cardstock into the lotus leaf shape Totoro uses as an umbrella, then draw leaf veins using a fine green gel pen. Laminate the paper leaf, punch a hole at the top, and tie a braided jute tassel to complete the bookmark.
10. Ponyo resin water drop jewelry
Capture the ocean themes of Ponyo using clear epoxy resin. Mix UV resin with a single drop of cyan alcohol ink and fine glitter, then pour the mixture into teardrop-shaped silicone molds. Set a small printed film cutout of Ponyo swimming inside, cure the resin under UV light, and attach jump rings to create custom ocean earrings.
11. Spirited Away bath token wall art
Recreate the wooden herbal bath tokens from Yubaba’s Bathhouse. Cut rectangular wooden craft strips, drill a hole at the top of each piece, and burn traditional kanji symbols into the surface with a wood-burning pen. Stain the wood an amber shade, string the tokens on hemp twine, and hang them as wall decor.
12. Kiki’s Jiji felt plushie
Make a small black cat plushie to keep on your desk. Cut black felt pieces using a basic feline template, stitch the edges together with embroidery floss, and stuff the body with cotton fill. Add purple felt eyes, white inner ears, and a tiny pink nose to give Jiji his distinct look.
13. Castle in the Sky Aetherium crystal pendant
Craft Sheeta’s floating crystal pendant using raw clear quartz points and translucent blue glass paint. Wrap brass wire around the top of the crystal, shaping it to match the Laputa royal crest. Wear the finished pendant on a dark leather cord for a subtle nod to the film.
14. Arrietty clothespin & miniature needle props
Turn everyday household items into oversized prop replicas inspired by The Secret World of Arrietty. Paint a standard wooden laundry clothespin bright red to match Arrietty’s hair clip. Pair it with a large silver plastic sewing needle wrapped in red yarn for an intriguing desk display.
15. Howl’s wire-wrapped gemstone ring
Make your own version of Howl’s iconic red and blue rings. Wrap non-tarnish silver or gold craft wire around a teardrop synthetic ruby or lapis lazuli cabochon stone. Secure the wire neatly along a ring mandrel to match your finger size.
16. Catbus paper mache storage box
Store your crafting materials inside a custom Catbus container. Build a rounded body base around an oval cardboard box using newspaper strips and paper-mache paste. Once dry, paint Catbus’s multi-legged body, yellow headlight eyes, and wide smile with acrylic paints.
17. Whisper of the Heart Baron doll statue
Build a custom Baron Humbert von Gikkingen figurine for your bookshelf. Modify a plain plastic cat figure by crafting a top hat, suit jacket, and walking cane out of polymer clay and fabric scraps. Paint detailed turquoise eyes that catch the light when placed on a desk shelf.
18. Calcifer faux flame desk light
Light up your workspace safely with a faux fire demon. Wrap orange and red tissue paper around a flickering LED tea light candle, pulling the paper points into flame shapes. Draw Calcifer’s face on the front tissue layer with a black marker to finish your warm desk light.
For more bright ideas that elevate your mood, check out our roundup of uplifting DIYs to spark joy!
19. Nausicaä Ohmu clay shell sculpture
Build a detailed desktop sculpture of the giant insects from the Toxic Jungle. Layer overlapping clay plates over an oval armature base to form the Ohmu’s armor shell. Insert small red glass beads for the eyes along the sides, then dry-brush olive green paint into the grooves to create a weathered texture.
20. Painted acorn Totoro garland
Collect smooth, large oak acorns on your next nature walk for a simple fall project. Paint the lower body light gray with a white patch, adding dark gray chest arrows and small black eyes. Drill small holes through the acorn caps, string them onto rustic jute rope, and hang your finished garland.
21. Spirited Away paper lanterns
Illuminate your patio space with red lanterns inspired by the Spirit Realm night market. Assemble round red paper lanterns, using black waterproof ink to paint bathhouse kanji and Ghibli silhouettes across the tissue sides. Place cordless LED fairy lights inside for a soft evening glow.
22. Princess Mononoke wolf mask wall art
Craft San’s red and white mask using lightweight EVA foam sheets. Sculpt a round face base, attaching white foam ears and long faux-fur trim along the edges. Hang the completed mask on your bedroom wall as a striking statement piece.
23. Kiki’s Bakery wooden chalkboard sign
Bring bakery vibes to your kitchen with a DIY replica of Osono’s chalk sign from Gütiokipänjä Bakery. Frame a small rectangular chalkboard with pine wood trim, staining the wood a dark tone. Use white liquid chalk markers to write daily notes or draw small illustrations of Kiki flying on her broomstick.
24. Studio Ghibli soy scented candles
Make custom scented candles themed after your favorite film scenes. Melt natural soy wax flakes, stirring in fragrance oils like rain and moss for Totoro, or warm bakery bread for Kiki. Pour the liquid wax into glass jars decorated with Ghibli character decals for a cozy evening lighting project.
25. Cozy soot sprite fluffy slippers
Keep your feet warm during movie marathons with customized house shoes. Glue large black faux-fur patches onto plain black slide slippers. Stitch white felt eyes with black button centers onto the top of each slipper to create cozy Susuwatari footwear.
Wrapping up your crafting session
Bringing the charm of Hayao Miyazaki’s films into your home takes only a bit of time and basic supplies. Whether you sculpt a glowing Kodama for your houseplants or stitch a soft Jiji plushie for your desk, these projects offer a fun creative break. For official inspiration and artwork details, visit the official Studio Ghibli site or browse historic archives at the Ghibli Museum. Pick a project, fire up your glue gun, and start building today.