diy Archives - Girls Who Brunch

September 16, 2019

How To Get Your Creative Projects Started!

Ever wanted to get started on a creative project? And yet, for some reason, doing so can be such a hard process. You may feel overwhelmed even by the first steps, or maybe you’re confused and unsure of how to start. Thankfully, this is something you can grow and develop out of, but for those just getting started, getting started is a scary process.

So, finding measures to help kickstart your goals in this capacity can be a truly worthwhile venture. Here is how to get started:

Just Start
It sounds so simple. But sooner or later, you’re going to have to start this practice in the scope that makes the most difference to you. You cannot evade step one. As Lao Tzu said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Just start. If you wish to be a writer, start writing something in a note taking application, even if it’s absolutely terrible. If you want to paint, buy some paints and try to paint something. If you want to sing, sing to your favorite songs and take up classes. You will tell yourself one thousand reasons as to why you aren’t ready just yet, and then by the time you’ve settled all of those you’ll tell yourself one thousand more.

The only step forward is to begin, even if you’re far from perfect, you’ll get there. Consider the term ‘writer’. Is a writer someone who writes for an online content company as a subcontractor? Is it an author? Is it someone who has written the best stand up comedy to live life as a professional? Yes, but it’s also just someone who writes. That is all you need to get started.

Get Your Ideas Down
Getting your ideas down on paper is the most important step. You might have a great idea strike you while you’re brushing your teeth, and then if you fail to note it down, or draw it, or use a mind map, or scrapbook stickers to keep yourself within this creative output, getting your ideas down is going to be a troubling issue.

Develop An Understanding
Learn from those who have developed a project you care about before. Study the greats, or those within your peer group. Join writing groups. Care for the craft, because you need to learn the rules before you subvert them. If you can do this, you are sure to develop the correct understanding to help guide your action towards skill.

Alright, now go get started!

August 26, 2015

How to Create a Gallery Wall

“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” – Oscar Wilde

When Becca and I moved into our new apartment, we discussed putting up art work in our living room. I had a gallery wall in my old apartment which was filled with a lot of personal photos as well as some other artwork. Sharing a common space, we decided to both pick out artwork that we love and tried to create a cohesive gallery wall. I’m absolutely in love with this gallery wall that we have, it’s one of my favorite parts of the apartment. We mixed quotes, with some of Becca’s sketches and other personal touches. My favorite part of the wall is the California board, which my friends back on the east coast put together at my going away party. It has random notes from all of the people I love back home. Having a gallery wall is a great way to display some of your favorite items.

Here are a few tips I have for those of you who want to create your own gallery wall:

1. Pick out your favorite artwork. Whether it’s inspirational quotes, drawings, pictures or whatever else you want, choose the items that mean the most to you.

2. Create a layout. Before you start hammering things onto the wall, lay out all of your pictures on the concrete floor and make sure each item has a specific location.

3. Choose a color scheme. This is optional, but I love having things look super cohesive. We decided to go with pastels and golds in our gallery wall. Everything, although different, looks very similar because the colors flow.

4. Hang it up. Bite the bullet and just start putting things up. If you don’t like it you can always remove it.

5. Enjoy!

November 5, 2014

Make Your Own Dreamcatcher

When I was in sixth grade, my step-dad’s mom, whom I didn’t know very well yet, asked me if I collected anything. She loved collections and was known to randomly give gifts that made her think of you. As far as I knew, I didn’t collect anything, so she, being a lover of all things feng shui and mystical, gave me a dreamcatcher – the first of many – to start off my collection. Since then, I have accumulated too many to count and hang them everywhere, and anytime I see one, I have to resist the urge to buy more. The great thing about dreamcatchers, though, is that you can make your own! There are so many different ways to make them, and you can customize them with anything beautiful you’re looking for a use for – beads, fabric, jewelry, etc. Here, I show you how to make one with items you probably already have laying around.

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Directions:

1) Take your leather cording and make a knot around your metal hoop. I used an old hoop earring, which made it easy to tie the cord around the backing.

2) Wrap the cord tightly all around the hoop. You may have to twist the cord around the hoop every once in a while to make sure it is tightly secured.

3) Once you have wrapped the cord all the way around the hoop, knot it off. You can either cut the excess cord off, or make a loop with it to hang the dreamcatcher from later. I opted to cut it off.

4) If the applique you chose is larger than the hoop, you can simply snip off any excess to make it fit inside the hoop.

5) Once your applique is the right size, take your needle and thread and sew around the edges of the applique, connecting it to the hoop. I chose to double my thread to fill in some of the extra space, but this is optional.

6) Finally, add your finishing touches! I cut strips of fabric with some added beads and tied them along the bottom. I also used the extra leather cord I had and attached feathers to the bottom with beads. I simply looped a piece of thread around the top to hang it, but you can also tie it to a twig for a more bohemian feel. Get creative!