Looking to get creative and make money? Turning arty hobbies into serious income can be challenging.

The good news is the top cash-generating crafts boast massive markups of up to 98%, according to an analysis by makers' software specialist Craftybase, which compares real material costs with Etsy selling prices.

From scented candles to botanical bookmarks and lip balm, read on to discover the handmade ventures that deliver the most impressive profit margins.

All dollar values in US dollars

The Craftybase analysis looks at gross material margins, meaning it doesn't fully factor in costs like labour or packaging.

Some crafts in this round-up require more time and effort than others, which can quickly eat into profits. Once those are included, the real profit margins typically fall to between 45% and 55%.

That might sound like a steep drop, but it's still exceptionally strong. In fact, these numbers are on par with the world's most profitable large companies, such as Nvidia and Visa, which operate at margins of around 50%.

Unlike simpler arty projects like candle-making and flower-pressing, crafting a piece of jewellery calls for time, practice and a certain level of skill to get a clean, professional finish.

The upside is that raw materials are relatively inexpensive, which helps keep costs low and markups high. For a fairly basic hand-stamped metal piece, materials come in at only $2.50 (£1.85) typically, yet the average sale price stands at $18 (£13.30), a margin of 86%.

When it comes to money-making crafts, this is about as easy and quick as it gets. You don't need specialist skills or training to make a sugar or salt body scrub. And mixing and jarring a batch can be done in next to no time.

Bought in bulk, the base ingredients for a standard jar that sells for $14 (£10.35) cost only $1.90 (£1.40), a tidy 86% margin. And that includes the jar itself and lid.

This go-to Etsy side hustle is actually among the most profitable. Perennially popular, scented candles are cheap to make yet they can sell for big bucks, with a typical gross material margin of 87%.

Relatively little skill is required. That said, creating unique aroma combos, getting the scent/wax ratio spot on, and nailing a distinctive brand identity and packaging are key to standing out in a crowded market and commanding premium prices.

Hand embroidery is having a moment, with everything from botanical designs to modern lettering selling briskly online. The materials are cheap, costing peanuts per piece, which is why the margins look so high on paper.

This is where the reality kicks in. Embroidery demands real skill and, more importantly, a lot of time. Detailed pieces can take hours to complete, making it one of the slowest crafts to produce. The margins may be strong, but the time investment can seriously limit how much you actually earn.

Think of wax melts as candles without the jars, which makes them even cheaper to produce. You're basically skipping one of the biggest costs, so the margins look riobust from the outset.

The trade-off is price. Wax melts typically sell for less than candles, meaning you need to shift higher volumes to make the same kind of money. They're quicker and more cost-effective to produce in batches, but success tends to come down to scale rather than higher individual profits.

Bath bombs are among the easiest crafts, with endless tutorials online covering everything from budget mixes to more premium blends. It can take a bit of trial and error to perfect the formula, but once you've got it right, they're quick and economical to produce.

With a typical cost of around $0.80 (£0.59) per bomb and an average selling price of $7.30 (£5.40), they deliver explosive margins of around 89%, making them one of the most accessible high-profit options.

Fabric hair accessories like scrunchies, ties and headbands are a strong option if you're handy with a sewing machine or confident with basic needlework. They're a breeze to make once you know how, and each piece uses very little material and precious time.

That keeps costs ultra-low. Based on the outlays for fabric and elastic, the typical gross profit margin wows at 90%.

As we've mentioned, jewellery-making isn't the most accessible craft given the level of skill involved. Creating delicate handmade pieces takes time to learn and even longer to master, far more so than producing basic hand-stamped designs.

The upside is an even stronger margin. At around 90%, the markup is significant, with low material costs and high selling prices. But the time investment can of course be considerable, eroding profitability.

This old-fashioned craft can make for a savvy way to drum up some extra cash. Transforming dried flowers and greenery into botanical bookmarks is remarkably simple and cost-effective. You just have to dry your specimens and seal them onto cardstock or between adhesive sheets. And it's even more profitable if you can forage the raw ingredients.

All in all, the gross material profit margin typically amounts to 91%, and more if you get the blooms and foliage for free.

Like embroidered hoops, this crafty endeavour appears immensely profitable. Needle-felted accessories like brooches and small ornaments have extremely low material costs, with just a small amount of wool needed for each piece. But they can also be time-consuming to create.

Given each piece can take multiple hours to complete, the net profit is nowhere near as high as the 92% gross material margin.

Latching onto a craze can pay off handsomely, especially if you catch it while it's still hot.

Polymer clay earrings blew up on Etsy a few years ago and are still going strong. Unlike more complex jewellery-making, they're easy to make and require only basic tools. And with simple, minimalist designs tending to sell best, there's no need for intricate or time-sapping work.

A pair can cost as little as $1 (£0.74) to make and sell for $12 (£8.87), delivering stellar margins of 92%.

If you've got a cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette, vinyl stickers are one of the most cost-effective crafts to produce. Once set up, they're super-cheap and quick to churn out and easy to make in batches.

Designs can be created yourself or generated with AI, which makes the process faster still and even more economical. Based on the cost of materials, a single sheet offers a gross margin of 93%.

Art prints are a classic high-margin option because once the design is done, the hard work is over. Whether you create your own artwork from scratch or use AI tools, you can keep selling the same design repeatedly with minimal extra effort.

Production costs are low, especially if you can print at home, though on-demand outsourcing tends to be reasonable. With prints costing roughly $1 (£0.74) to $2 (£1.48) to make and selling for $15 (£11.09) to $25 (£18.49), the gross margins are picture-perfect.

Who knew lip balm could be so lucrative? As it turns out, Etsy customers can't get enough of the soothing salve, which sells at a humongous 94% markup. Craftybase notes that lip balm is often overlooked as a money-maker, suggesting there's plenty of room in the market for new sellers.

With ingredients like beeswax and essential oils cheap to bulk-buy and production a cinch to get the hang of, lip balm is a no-brainer for anyone looking to turn minimal skill, effort and upfront capital into maximum returns.

Digital downloads sit at the top of the list thanks to their ultra-low running costs. Once a file is created, it can be sold repeatedly without any additional production outlay.

Plus, AI tools have made it much quicker to produce designs at very little expense. That keeps costs close to zero, though it also means more sellers entering the space.

With prices typically ranging from a few dollars up to $15 (£11.09), the potential margins can be staggering over time.

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