There was a time when you came upon a brilliant do-it-yourself idea in a library book and hunted around for weeks to gather the list of required items. It might even have been easier to just buy a readymade version of it, but where’s the fun in that?
DIY has become far easier over the years with dedicated stores that sell all that you might need – from distressed wood to multi-coloured strings and everything in between. Not to mention the glut of websites that give you new ideas for a project. We aren’t just talking small craft projects anymore – there’s tutorials for just about everything from making a card for Mother’s Day to putting together your own bookshelf to getting your makeup skills on point.
Here are a few useful websites where you could find inspiration for a new project, learn a new skill or two, or find projects to keep children occupied during school holidays.
Home décor, art and craft: A small home project to redo a room, or make furniture, or something far less ambitious like making a wall hanging – whatever your crafting level, there is a tutorial for that. Look up Nifty for some cool ideas and video tutorials for your home, or the DIY Network that has a plethora of DIYs for every occasion. Interested in gardening? Check out the outdoor section on Doityourself. From making jewellery to toys to cupboards, Instructables has users sharing their DIY ideas and experiences.
Crafts for kids: When it is school holidays and you have a little one to keep entertained, bring out the craft supplies! And the internet sure makes the job easier. The YouTube channel 5-Minute Crafts has some fun and easy craft ideas that children can attempt. Older children who would like something a little more technical? Check out Make, where you can learn how to assemble a simple circuit or make a bot. Don’t forget to check for ideas on Pinterest, which has a seemingly unending collection of pins with ideas, step-by-step pictures and links to child-friendly art and craft.
Make your own makeup: Ever thought of making your own cosmetics with natural ingredients? There is plenty of help out there, with recipes that use easily available ingredients. Wellness Mama has a great collection of recipes you could follow to make your own foundation, eyeliner, blush and several others. While you are there, look up the many other DIYs for gardening and cleaning products as well. Head to Coconut Mama for a natural, coconut oil-based deodorant as well as other homemade makeup recipes.
Put your face on: Now that you have made your makeup, it’s time to put to it good use. There are enough and more YouTube channels out there that help you with every step of your beauty and makeup routine – from professional makeup artists to experts with a huge following on social media. Check out Mr Jovita George, Corallista, and Delhi Fashion Blogger for some fun makeup tutorials, product reviews and some great tips.