People talk about whether we are left-brained or right-brained but the truth is that we all have some ability to be creative within us. It doesn’t matter what you do for your day job as long as you carve out the time and have the inclination to nurture this part of your personality. And with the dawn of Pinterest, the possibilities to do so are endless. If you feel like you’re a straight numbers cruncher or are a self-proclaimed science nerd but are dying to explore a more artistic side of yourself, try any or all of the following five DIY projects. Now get up and Van Gogh.
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Have Fun With Candles
Do you love the smell of coffee? Get creative with a set of ramekins, some coffee beans, and tea lights. Fill the ramekins with the beans and light the tea lights and set them atop the beans. The room will smell and look amazing. This would be perfect for your next brunch.
Looking for a way to make your friends gifts? We’ve got something that’s ideal for the wine and candle-lovers in your life. You’ll find many different approaches to creating these wine candles online but, as this DIY article from Cambria Wines notes, the best way to go about it is to purchase a bottle cutter. Once you’ve secured this, heat a full pot of water and set it aside. Hold the bottle with one hand and move the cutting tool around the circumference. Run cold water over the top of the wine bottle while pouring the hot water with your other hand onto the score line. Once the bottle has heated up, apply a small stream of cold water directly on to the score line. Repeat the hot and cold water steps until the top portion of the bottle falls off. Use an emery board to smooth out the edges. Now that your bottle is ready to go, refer to the aforementioned Cambria Wines article to get further directions on how to make the candle to fill the bottle. Wrap the final product with some raffia or string for the perfect finishing touch. It takes a few times to get it down but, once you do, this will be something you’ll likely do whenever you need some time to unwind.
Create a Visually Stimulating Music Composition
With Magic Music Visuals’ custom audio visualizer, you can create music presentations from scratch. Draw abstract 3D geometric patterns that can spin and dance in time to your favorite songs. It also performs real-time video manipulation of multiple movie files. And if you want to share or relive your musical composition, you can download it and share it to video sharing sites like Vimeo and YouTube.
Create a Chalkboard Painting
A chalkboard is a great way to stimulate creativity within your household. Whether you use it to ask a daily question (i.e.) what would do with a million dollars?) or you write down your weekly calendar on it, it can be a creative life-changer. Some have even used chalkboard paint to make a whole wall, but we personally love these chalkboards made from vintage frames. They look fantastic and you can find plenty of fodder at yard sales in your area.
Create Your Own Floor Cushions
Beanbags are great but you don’t need to go out and spend the money on them if you know how to sew. Instead, use pillowcases you already have or go out and buy five cute patterned ones. Sew together at the seams but leave the openings clear so you can insert the pillows once you are finished. Leave the sides open once pillows are inserted or add snap buttons to close them. Either way, kids will adore this on your next family movie night. Just don’t forget the popcorn!
Create a Sharpie Mug
This should be filed under “Creativity for Dummies”, as it’s seriously that easy. And all you need is a porcelain coffee mug and a Sharpie in your favorite color. This is a particularly perfect project for those with great handwriting. Simply write your message and then bake the cup in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. On a budget? No problem. This can even be done on coffee mugs from the Dollar Store. The only catch is that it doesn’t fare well in the dishwasher, so these will be handwash-only. They are perfect for party favors, extra gifts during the holidays, and/or “his” and hers” items.
You don’t have to be the next Martha Stewart or be a Pinterest guru to get creative. Try any or all of these DIY projects and let the compliments from those around you roll in.
