50 Times People Failed At DIY So Badly, They Just Had To Share The Results Online

First off, let’s give a big round of applause to these wholesome people who decided to entertain everyone by sharing their funny masterpieces online. Because poking fun at your blunders is an excellent way to show that humor is a powerful tool that can boost your mood in no time. And crafting is a complicated business — only dedicated crafters succeed in creating flawless objects on their first try. So seeing the funny side of the handmade world can immediately lift the weight off any enthusiast's shoulders.

To learn more about the most common crafting mistakes and how to keep the creativity flowing, we reached out to Emma Jewell, a Cricut expert and all-around craft lover who shares inspiration and knowledge to help people in their crafting journey. "A lot of common crafting mistakes I see are not having everything you need at the start of a project," Emma told Bored Panda.

After all, it’s easy to get caught up in the joy of making new objects and fail to notice you’re bound to end up with a questionable product. "I often see projects that have gone wrong because they are using the wrong type of glue for the material used or the wrong type of paint, it just ends up in a bit of a mess! Make sure to read the bottle and get clued up on what kind of materials you are working with before you start."

With so many mishaps floating around online, it’s clear that some enthusiasts bite off more than they can chew. According to Emma, people sometimes tend to overestimate their abilities.

"As crafty-minded people, our first thought is always 'I can make that!' So wading into a project that might be way above our capabilities happens a lot," she said. "But that’s also the fun of crafting — having a go, and finding out if it’s going to be a success or not!"

"I think a lot of crafters are winging it, but that’s where the joy is, in the making part — even if the finished project isn’t what you set out for it to be, you still had a lovely time making it," Emma told us.

But some people can’t help but feel discouraged if their project didn’t turn out as expected. After all, even the smallest crafts can take us hours, days, or weeks to finish, so it’s perfectly normal to get bummed out when your expectations swiftly fall apart. And the digital world doesn't make it any easier.

You rarely see the weird and the ugly side of failed attempts at making craft projects. As our Instagram feeds are filled with carefully curated and choreographed finished products, looking at these messes is a refreshing sight. Thankfully, lists like this one provide us with a slight sense of relief by reminding us that, in reality, everyone can make a mistake. Because crafting isn’t always pretty, and it’s absolutely fine.

Emma pointed out that if you ever feel hesitant to continue elevating your craftwork after a hilarious disaster, just keep going. "Part of the skill in crafting is creative problem solving, so finding a way to switch up the project halfway through or finding a creative way to cover up a mistake is part of the fun!"

"A lot of the time as adults, we haven’t crafted since school, so don’t be hard on yourself. You are flexing a muscle that you haven’t used for a while," she added.

Moreover, we sometimes forget that even the most minor tweaks and changes can make a huge positive impact on our projects. "I always say that there is no such thing as too many embellishments, adding a bit of sparkle has helped me disguise many a mistake," Emma told us. "There is always something small you can do to cover up a mistake or level up the finished project, be it adding a pom-pom or flipping the project over to show its good side."

Emma was kind enough to offer a few pieces of advice: "Always have fast-drying glue to hand, a glue gun is my weapon of choice as that will stop you from getting into a gluey mess. Take time to enjoy the process and the problem-solving aspect of the craft, and don’t be too hard on yourself! We all started somewhere!"

When you do pick up a new form of art, you’ll see the benefits in no time. Working with your hands and engaging in creative and meaningful occupations has the special power of getting your mind into the flow state. And there’s an abundance of evidence suggesting that it leads to countless physical and mental health benefits.

A worldwide online survey of over 3,500 knitters found respondents reported they derived a wide range of perceived psychological and social benefits from the practice that contributed to their quality of life. The majority said they felt relaxed, relieved from stress, and got a boost of creativity and a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, there’s a significant relationship between knitting frequency and feeling calm and happy.

"Crafting can help move people from inactivity to engagement and it tends to make them feel good," Gayle Torres, a board-certified art therapist at Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, said. "While it isn’t art therapy, crafting does offer stress reduction."

Torres explained a few physical benefits our bodies feel when we carry out activities involving repetitive, similar motions. "Crafting projects can help the brain send signals to the body that all is well. Blood pressure and tension are reduced, resulting in a sense of well-being."

The next time you feel anxious or think the world around you is too much to handle, try turning to crochet, fabric work, or any other craft you find pleasing. It’s nice to participate in activities that engage our imagination, bring us back to the present moment, and allow us to come up with something beautiful. Or utterly hilarious! Whatever makes you happy, we’re not here to judge.