5 DIY Takeaways + Embracing the Pinterest Fail
I am a huge believer in a little DIY. And no, not because I’m some creative genius who thinks I can do it better, but because I believe whole heartedly in making memories, and embracing a little mess.
I’d also like to forewarn you, I have about 2.5 hours total of sewing experience under my belt in my lifetime, and this is not a DIY costume tutorial. Because guess what? These shark costumes I am about to reveal were a total disaster and took 8x the amount of time I had allotted. The heads are too tall and flop down. I couldn’t figure out how to sew on the white belly so just used a hot glue gun. I got too tired to think of a way to assemble the head to the body. And, let’s not forget the disaster in my home with a 1 and 3 year old as I tried to have them partake in the creation process. (And yes, thats a pic of my husband helping out at 11:30pm drinking a beer… I told you these took a long time!) But, I LOVE it and it was all worth it!
So, what I am going to share with you are my biggest DIY takeaways. And while I may not have the tips to impress the world of Pinterest, I do have some sweet things to consider next time you’re eyeing up a project.
1. Just try it.
Don’t know how to sew? Never baked a layered cake? Clueless on where to even start with furniture refurbishment? Well guess what, everyone was in the same boat you are in when they started. And, it’s totally okay if you don’t have the desire for perfection, but just want to give something new a whirl. I’ll probably be a master sewer by the time my kids have outgrown Halloween and retired making their annual costumes, but that is 100% okay. We’ll look back on the learning curve and memories made together.
2. Memories are worth the mess.
Trust me, I get it. With a 1 and 3-year-old, as well as a hyperactive 80lb. Labradoodle, big messes happen quick and often in our household. Adding in a project with endless ingredients or supplies can seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s really a fraction of the price you pay for the endless memories associated with the creative process. There was music blasting, thread everywhere because I couldn’t figure out the tension of the sewing machine, tape measurers scattered around because my kids thought they were the coolest toys ever…you get the idea. I believe in getting the kids involved as much as I can. For this project, we picked out the fabric together finding the perfect fuzziest grey felt and even had my 3 year old son take a stab at the sewing machine (he loved the foot pedal!).
3. Get the kids involved
Feeding into their vast imaginations and curiosity far outweighs the desire for perfection and control. The confidence your little ones build being involved in a creative process and seeing it come to fruition is such a rewarding feeling. I mean look at these costumes, our measurements are all off, the hats are too tall, but they helped and think they are the coolest costumes ever.
4. Photograph the process
It’s so easy to take pictures of the grand finale where everything is Instagram-worthy. However, it’s been known that we remember when there is a strong emotion attached. Photographing the chaos as your project unfolds will trigger all the feels for years to come and be the best to look back on as family. (Yes, like my husband slamming a beer livid he got wrangled into helping with this crazy project that led into the wee hours of the night!)
5. Don’t overthink it
Is your Pinterest board overflowing with endless project ideas? Or is there one project you are set on but keep overanalyzing instead of getting your feet wet? Think Marie Kondo wisdom here…pick one project that “sparks joy” to you (Halloween costume, baking recipe, furniture refurbishing etc.) and focus your energy and heart on that alone.
