There are a lot of incredible and original DIY projects out there. But what if you're like me and want to come up with some of your own tutorial projects once in a while? Well, not to worry I have come up with 5 ways to create your own DIY project!
1. Find a subject or category that you are interested in. One of the things that sometimes holds me back is wanting to much. There are just so many things that I would like to do: redo my kitchen, learn to knit a new hat, start a portrait photography project, etc. I think that the first step to a DIY project is to think of the things that you would like to do the most, and what is the most fun for you to do. You can't do it all at the same time, so pick one for now and focus on that.
2. Let's get some inspiration! This has always been my favorite part of a project, finding the right inspiration. Now that you have chosen your category/project, let's find some inspiration that fits in your style. Let's start looking for images, materials, artist that inspire you, etc. This will help you to come up with ideas to personalize your project. For example: let's say you want to start an upcycling project in the category fashion. There are so many things to upcycle and so many ways to do it in, that it can be confusing sometimes. I usually start looking for upcycling projects online and see what has already been done. Then I combine those finds with things that inspire me: pictures, fashion, prints, etc. You will see that all the things that you find will fit together in one way or another and start to blend in to a very original and personal DIY idea!
3. Let your project stand out from the rest. One of the things that can make me insecure about a project is that there is that pressure to be original. Just keep in mind that everything has already been done, but it has not all been done by you! Nobody has seen your version of a project, so let's show them, shall we :) The most important thing about standing out is to stay true to yourself. Don't try to imitate someone else's style just because they have more online followers. When you keep following your own taste and believe in your own style, then people will start to notice the originality and will recognize your projects. Just try to think of what defines your taste and how you would describe your work and projects, and you will see that there is a pattern there and that everything already seems to match.
4. Let your camera do the work. I find that one of the most important things about a DIY project is that it is mostly visual. You can write everything down step by step, but pictures say so much more. Just start with capturing the process step by step. If you are doing a before and after project, make sure that you photograph the before part, and maybe think of how you would like to show people your before and after pictures. And always make sure that you put your best effort in the finished 'product' photographs. That is the 'product' that you would like people to see as an example of what they can achieve by following your DIY.
5. Start sharing your hard work. Now that you have finished your project, let's get some people to notice it! First decide what your target group is. Did you make a photography DIY, or a fashion DIY, etc? Who do you think will be interested in your tutorial? If you have a blog, then post it on there and ask people to comment and see if they liked your tutorial. Share your project on Pinterest, you can do this by sharing your end endresult image or choose to use one of your tutorial images as a teaser and link it back to your DIY blogpost. You can also go bigger, and contact websites, blogs, magazines that you like and ask them to feature your project. Let the world know that you have created something great and that you are willing to share!
Please let me know if you have any more advice, I would love to hear it!
Please let me know if you have any more advice, I would love to hear it!
This post will be part of a '5 Ways' series. I will be posting tips and results of my own researches on how to improve anything creative in 5 ways!
I am very excited about this and can't wait to start sharing all my other research and ideas!
I think this is a fantastic post Lana and I couldn't agree more on everything that you said. There is so much pressure to be original and I follow all of these steps as best I can. Normally the first thing I try and do is work on something I need or want and go from there. Like I need to send out some thank you cards to people, so I'm gathering ideas on Pinterest and hoping to make my own versions of thank you cards. What I like most about what you said is, "Just keep in mind that everything has already been done, but it has not all been done by you! " I tell myself this so often. Like right now I'm making my own breakfast tray. It's been done, time and again, and is all over pinterest. But we have to find that way to do it our way. So the one thing I did different is I made it out of a tv stand shelf and upcycled. I think I'll always feel this pressure to be so original and probably will never feel like I fulfilled that but we just can't compare ourselves with others, like you said, and have to work with what we have, gather that which inspires us and just go with it! Great post Lana!
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Hi Aubrey! Thank you for your lovely words! And I can also see a part of my process in what you describe, about thinking of things that you need or want.
DeleteAnd I checked out your breakfast tray and it looks great!
xx
I know a DIY project is really good if my brain starts going off in lots of different directions thinking of ways I'd make it different from the one posted - from color, materials, textures, size etc... That's why I've posted a lot of your DIY projects! Actually most of my original best crazy big ideas come to me just as I'm falling asleep. My most successful original ideas always start out as, "What if..." or "Would it be possible to..." Really good post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this! I also get some of my best ideas at night :)
DeleteSuch a well thought out post. I find that the key is taking inspiration from what others are doing and putting your own twist on it. While everything may have been done before, there is always a different creative way to do it to make it yours. :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm so excited you like my book clutch diy, and (Shhhh... I'm not playing favorites, but...) it's my favorite too! ;)
:) Your book clutch is the best! And don't worry, I won't tell ;)
DeleteYour "5 ways" series is an awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteThank you, there is a new one coming up pretty soon!
DeleteThanks for sharing this Lana. I have only just started getting interested in crafty stuff over the past 12 months and found that I thought of myself as not very creative, which holds me back sometimes. These 5 points are so simple yet were exactly what I needed to hear. Hope you're having a wonderful crafty weekend. x
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! And I am so happy that my post was helpful to you!
DeleteAnd I think everyone has something creative inside of them, and by looking at your blog it seems like you have nothing to worry about;)
Thank you for this great article. I just started a DIY blog, so this was very helpful. I especially know the thought that everything has already be done and that probably there's a tutorial for everything I could make, and this can be very demotivating. I decided to share my projects and do some tutorials anyway, because I myself like to look at a lot of different projects or tutorials when I'm making something, because every one of them has it's own unique ideas and tips.
ReplyDeleteHello Lana. I am Nektaria from Greece. I am a fun of your blog! Your article is so helpful and I will try to follow the "5 ways" to create original DIY for my little blog (http://metonikaimetosi.blogspot.gr/). Thank you!
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