In order to get good at something (anything, really), you need to constantly challenge yourself. There's no way around it. But these challenges also have to be reasonable. You don't want to throw yourself into something too big too soon. Especially at crafts. Otherwise, you might end up featured on the subreddit r/DiWHY.
"Ever try fixing things on your own? Didn't come out the way they were supposed to? Do you stand there questioning your whole life?" the online community asks in its 'About' page. If so, they are inviting you to post the results for everyone to see. But if you come across someone else's do-it-yourself endeavor that shouldn't have seen the light of day, you're welcome to share it on r/DiWHY too.
It's the place for sh***y projects. The ultimate proof that "just because you can doesn't mean you should."
We at Bored Panda already covered the subreddit here and here, but its 1.7 million members keep delivering, so we have to keep up!
This post may include affiliate links.
The Cry Of A Desperate Man
Cardening, I Can't Possible See What Could Go Wrong With This, Strange Hobby
For our earlier article on r/DiWHY, moderator IAMmojo told Bored Panda that they look after the sub every day and, sometimes, things can be a bit overwhelming when there are many reposts to sift through. "It's not too difficult in general, but certain days there are influxes of [crap]posts and reposts which can get crazy. Even with rules, these will continue to happen. It's why i use Automoderator to handle rejections of any new accounts or low karma accounts as a baseline," they said.
My colleague Jonas was curious to get their opinion about what most DIY fails have in common. IAMmojo said: "If you ask the sub, they will surely mention the hot glue gun as the main ingredient. I think most posts in generally have a humor element to it in common."
But the moderator thinks the possibility of failure should not deter any DIY crafters. "Keep working on your craft! What you make today maybe be the next big thing tomorrow! Not everyone is a skilled artisan, we can only try our best."
Trying To Fashion A Face Mask Out Of A Brassiere
Glove Angel
Guess Someone Actually Watches 5 Minute Crafts
During the pandemic, many people have put their hands to DIY, looking to address the parts of their home they have been meaning to fix and improve for some time. One 2020 study, for example, found that an astonishing 81% of Brits believe this was the best chance they have had to carry out some much-needed TLC.
The study also asked participants what were their biggest DIY fails during the lockdown, and the list comes as follows:
- Laying laminate flooring – 58%
- Tiling walls/floors – 52%
- Fitting small bathroom fixtures (e.g. tap, showerhead, sink, etc.) – 47%
- Plastering walls – 45%
- Laying decking – 43%
- Putting up wallpaper – 41%
- Repairing/fitting doors/windows – 36%
- Painting walls – 30%
- Assembling/fitting small furniture (e.g. table, chairs, shelves, etc.) – 24%
- Fitting new door/window/cupboard/cabinet handles – 19%
Excuse Me What
I Made A Sweater Out Of Dryer Fluff
This Is So Stupid I’m Actually Mad Rn
MyJobQuote, the platform that organized the study, suggests these tips for people who want to make the best out of their home projects:
With the internet providing a wide range of information on just about any topic from various reputable sources, a simple search into Google will be your savior. DIY guides will help you to find the perfect solution to your DIY problems in no time.
If you are a visual learner, you may want to use a video to help you with the DIY task you are having issues with. There are multiple ‘How To' videos available online from industry professionals, especially on video-streaming platforms like YouTube.
Ewwwwwwww
With Just Basic Tools And A Little Paint You Too Can Turn An Old, Unusable Door Into An Ugly, Unusable Table
With Some Hot Glue, Tiny Babies, And A Lot Of Time, You Get Baby Tree
Turning to a tradesperson such as a flooring specialist, bathroom specialist, plasterers, or tilers for help could be a quick and easy solution to your problems. Even though they won't be able to come around to help, they should be able to provide some helpful advice via a phone call or a chat over Zoom/Skype.
Watching a few videos or reading a few articles might give you the false confidence to think you can handle any DIY task. Take caution and apply a safety-first attitude – especially when it comes to dealing with complex aspects such as plumbing and heating as well as electricity and lighting. Leave those to the qualified electricians, heating engineers, and plumbers.
As A Landlord, I Am Constantly Amazed At Some Things My Tenants Do. I Installed New Curtain Rods Before The New Tenant Moved In, But She Still Felt It Necessary To Nail The Curtains To The Wall
"Upcycled" Knife Block...
That was actually pretty cool. Maybe another solution than that string though
Trying but failing is never a bad thing and don't put yourself down. If you think you don't have the confidence or sufficiently understand how to rectify the DIY problem in hand, it may be best to wait until the lockdown is over and then get a reputable professional to sort it out.
Happy crafting!
What
Looks like someone moved the tables to the swingset. This is not how the Dept. of Parks & Rec. wanted it.
Spaghetti Balls??
This Dread Bed
My friend got his dreads cut off, his mom turned them into a cat bed.
Forbidden Jello Lamp
I Have No Words For How Strange And Mildly Disturbing This Is
Cow Tag Earring
Was it done as a form of activism for the humane treatment of cows? Because it's different in this case.
My Heart Aches For The Waste Of A Beautiful Antique
Time To Ruin Some Artwork For The *~aesthetic~*
The Paint Job In My Apartment Hallway (Its The Whole Building)
Faux Library
There are many, many unwanted or damaged books that its perfectly fine to upcycle. Why anyone would make a fake library just for decor tho
Load More Replies...faux library? why go through all that trouble? Here's an easier way...here me out this may sound crazy. KEEP THE DAMN BOOKS WHOLE AND PUT THEM ON THE SHELVES. Follow me for more decorating and DIY tips.
THEY SLICED UP A PATRICK O'BRIAN BOOK!!! THIS PERSON IS THE RMBODEMENT OF EVIL!!! EEEEEEEVILLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
OTTER OTTER OTTER Take a deep breath, hold for 3 seconds, exhale slowly. Repeat.
Load More Replies...My heart is so sad! So many books ruined!!!! What is the point of a library with books that you cannot read? As an avid reader, I must say this one made me tear up a bit.
I've seen a 3 of these before, one in a bar in Edinburgh. They are usually to camouflage doors / hidden passages. If the books are of dubious value (Mills and Boon), i think it's ok.
for clarification, I have around 1000 books so don't assume I am not a bibliophile. I just don't think all books are created equal.
Load More Replies...what the hell is the point of this? If I meet this person I need to talk some sense into them.
Movie sets. It makes them look authentic without all the weight and none will desire to walk away with an interesting book.
So just get a sh1t load of dust jackets and put them around plywood. Don't deface/destroy perfectly good books by cutting them in half!
Load More Replies...I can tell you exactly why this was done. We've done it ourselves. They were cut this way to create the effective illusion of an large, deep bookcase for a theatrical production that was taking place on an extremely shallow stage. Yes, it's a waste of literature. But these were all books that had been discarded for years and were in fact on their way to the dump. After this production was finished, the entire bookcase was preserved and will be used to employ the same effect on the same stage for other productions for years to come.
Too bad I didn't know you when I had the whole law library on my hands... two dumpsters full of beautiful volumes would have made a gorgeous stage set, and would be much better than trotted off to the landfill.
Load More Replies...I mean, if you would build a shelf like 1-2 inches deep to the wall to make it look more roomy and then use old discarded ruined books like these, then it's pretty cool actually. There are few publications that can't stand to suffer from a few old copies ruined by time or water or something to be repurposed for their backs. If you have an old copy of a massively reprinted book, what is it worth if libraries already have all the copies they need and the book has water damage and nobody wants it? If you have a full depth shelf and don't intend to keep something behind the cut books, then it just seems weird anyway.
We do this on tv shows and movies bc we have to move these bookshelves often to get cameras into specific angles. We also reuse them, so it's not a complete waste. Their is a prop house that actually rents fakes books to tv shows and movies. Its called Faux Library.
Okay for those who wish to appear more cultured and literate than they really are, this is a massive amount of book butchering and work. It comes across as the library of a book hater. No idea why the covers are chopped off. Also the books are in poor shape so the library looks neglected anyway. Not a thing to show off. Better they spare the books this fate. If you really want this illusion do this instead: make a cabinet with a recessed door. On that door glue pieces of wood to make shallow shelves and use various sized plywood scraps for books. Print out book spines on card stock and glue them on. Then you have a faux library door with a hidden cabinet behind it. You can customize the colors and titles to your heart's content and even add some punny joke ones if you like.
You don't need a fake library. Need something interesting on that wall paint a mural not butcher books. Your mural can be mixed media. After painting and fake plants and attach add small gemstones ect.ect.
This is just wrong, why go to all that trouble instead of just have a library 📚 Imagine someone coming to visit want to borrow a book then you’ll look like a right pillock
Books are scared creations......this person should rot in hell for this desecration...
For those readers who don't have the time or patience to wait for the mid-point crisis.
I think it's almost a sin to ruin a book. Maybe if they had read them they would know better.
That looks like a really interesting collection....somebody rescue it!!!!
I could see somebody doing this with 4 or 5 and gluing them together to make a secret space to hide something but still a waste. I hope they didn't do that to all those books.
It would be funny if the ends of the pages had oversimplified summaries of the books though
great for theatre (library sets), not for home use, dumb. - i had walls like that for my theatre company i got from Yale Rep. very kool looking on stage.
No one who has ever loved a book that they had to stop reading every night so they couldn't wait
Couldn't wait to read more the next night, could ever commit such an atrocity of removing a book from its spine to fake their love of the written word by an actual human soul.
Load More Replies...Looks like a at least a couple hundred. Why have books if you aren't going to read them?
At least we burned them in 1933. A Nazi crowd and Nazi students were kept warm and could get pissed while transforming themselves to an insult to human kind. This is just useless.
"I love books, they're SO decorative" Points to anyone who can clock this quote.
Woah wait a minute you actually had a library and then did this to it?
First you mutilate and slaughter it and now you're proudly presenting the corpse? Who are you, heathen?
Just thinking about the cost of that and the amount of books wasted... Why??
I presume this was done so that it wasn't very deep and wouldn't encroach into the room. However, it doesn't seem to be the case when you see the books lower down. To do this would take so much time and work that I don't believe this has been done.
Oh no!!! Such waste. This would be a room in Hell for me. I would reach out to get a book and...
Books are literally just too easy to accumulate to go through this kind of extra for the "look". Tell me you don't read without saying you don't read.
Is it just me, or is that a LOT more work than just putting the actual book on the shelf.
When you don't read but you don't want anyone else to enjoy the books either.
*https://youtu.be/xnFWO1bcCsU?t=87 plays* Rip and tear, until it is done. *insert footage of this guy being beaten up*
This took me a while to comprehend, I have a "book" that says on the back "Ceci n'est pas un livre" (French for "this is not a book"). It's actually a bookshelf with hidden screw holes so it looks like you have a floating pile of books on the wall. I thought this was something similar at first. but they cut up actual books? Psychopaths! EDIT: "author" is S.E.L.F. Shelf
Why would you do that. If you're too lazy to read, but want the look of a library, buy shelves, buy cheap books, put together.
It's not just horrible it's an idiotic waste of time because it took someone 6 hours to make this awful thing. Why not just put books on a damn shelf you monster
What an asshole Idea - I have to scrimp and save to buy books - you related to Hitler?
As an avid reader I want to hurt the person who destroyed the literature just to make a "statement piece". Books are invaluable people! It's how we keep tabs on history. And learn and love. Sorry, I'm just passionate about this and it breaks my heart. It's why I cringe watching Farenheit 451 lol.
Big Brains
This Is How My Father Has Decided To Rig Up The Router
Bring The Great Outdoors In!
Someone Decided This Is How You Should Show Off Your Plants.... And Dolls
Making A Tie-Dye Carpet
It's Probably Very Dependable
Harry Potter, But With Human Teeth Instead Of Glasses
Who Needs A Frame Anyway
So Do You Have To Take Your Pants Off To Rob The Bank?
Run Out Of Clips? Use An Old Glasses Case
It's ok I guess, chip bag is gonna be eaten soon anyway and most probably this person couldn't find clip to seal it right away.
I Heard You Guys Like Hot Dogs In Epoxy. Here's My Dad's Trophy Dog That He's Had For Nearly 20 Years
For Sale In The Neighborhood
Replica
This Looks Exactly Like A Mirror Covered In Insulation Foam
Note: this post originally had 66 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
Dolls and items involving animal/insect/people parts make me question humanity.
So many "Whys?" This is a bit disgusting, disturbing, gross, WTF, ...... so many levels of wrong! And the book destroyers!!!! What is wrong with humanity????
I could start making a list but we'd run out of internet... ;-)
Load More Replies...What I learned today: people need a resin license or something. Preserving scary nonsense is a bigger hobby than I realised
Art is like beauty. In the eye of the beholder. Creative, yes, out there, yes, disturbing, meh, some of it. Good on taking the plunge
LeilaOdins: You are a very nice person to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Load More Replies...I dunno. I'm not a fan of this whole "upcycling" nonsense. Where I come from (the West of Scotland), if someone throws something out, there's usually a damn good reason for it.
Seems like the foam mirror "shabby cheek" description should have gone with the knitted toilet seat cover.
I cant believe people actually spent time making these monstrosities. Boggles the brain.
the only one I like (the others are unbelievable) its the rug one but I hope the rug was not in good shape
I am going to try answer why. I will only be able to touch on a few possibilities though. 1) They have nothing else going on in their lives 2) They have EXTREMELY poor taste. 3) They have an extremely poor sense of humor and think what they made is fun or funny. 4) The fact that some if these items are for sale tells me the person thinks there are suckers waiting to be offered a "unique" item no body else in their right mind would have 5) um.... nah...I got nothing.
One can't help but wonder what kind of special morons exist in the world where they think it's "normal" to make things TO SELL out of old teeth, bits and pieces of human and animal parts, dolls with their faces cut out....man, I never want to meet any of the people who do these things as (their sick idea of) "crafts"!
#22 - those works were painted when downloads were painfully slow. #32 - that dress would most certainly come in handy in case of an 'accident'.
Yep, 99% terrible. One really good. So it was a good article. It matched its name
Joanna....which one did you like.... I'd love to know which entry here was good.
Load More Replies...Some of these do look genuinely good. The rest however, if I have a nightmare, I know whose to blame.
So many conformist commenters here, so little sense of humor or the ability to tell when something was created with the intent of yanking chains.
Dolls and items involving animal/insect/people parts make me question humanity.
So many "Whys?" This is a bit disgusting, disturbing, gross, WTF, ...... so many levels of wrong! And the book destroyers!!!! What is wrong with humanity????
I could start making a list but we'd run out of internet... ;-)
Load More Replies...What I learned today: people need a resin license or something. Preserving scary nonsense is a bigger hobby than I realised
Art is like beauty. In the eye of the beholder. Creative, yes, out there, yes, disturbing, meh, some of it. Good on taking the plunge
LeilaOdins: You are a very nice person to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Load More Replies...I dunno. I'm not a fan of this whole "upcycling" nonsense. Where I come from (the West of Scotland), if someone throws something out, there's usually a damn good reason for it.
Seems like the foam mirror "shabby cheek" description should have gone with the knitted toilet seat cover.
I cant believe people actually spent time making these monstrosities. Boggles the brain.
the only one I like (the others are unbelievable) its the rug one but I hope the rug was not in good shape
I am going to try answer why. I will only be able to touch on a few possibilities though. 1) They have nothing else going on in their lives 2) They have EXTREMELY poor taste. 3) They have an extremely poor sense of humor and think what they made is fun or funny. 4) The fact that some if these items are for sale tells me the person thinks there are suckers waiting to be offered a "unique" item no body else in their right mind would have 5) um.... nah...I got nothing.
One can't help but wonder what kind of special morons exist in the world where they think it's "normal" to make things TO SELL out of old teeth, bits and pieces of human and animal parts, dolls with their faces cut out....man, I never want to meet any of the people who do these things as (their sick idea of) "crafts"!
#22 - those works were painted when downloads were painfully slow. #32 - that dress would most certainly come in handy in case of an 'accident'.
Yep, 99% terrible. One really good. So it was a good article. It matched its name
Joanna....which one did you like.... I'd love to know which entry here was good.
Load More Replies...Some of these do look genuinely good. The rest however, if I have a nightmare, I know whose to blame.
So many conformist commenters here, so little sense of humor or the ability to tell when something was created with the intent of yanking chains.