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    21 Products For Realistic DIY Projects That Won't Just Sit On Your Pinterest Board

    For everything from your walls to your food and clothes!

    Amy Glover
    by Amy Glover

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Love those lil' embroidery circles, but hate the fact that they can be super expensive? Same! This beginner's set has everything you need to make your own, and it's really highly-rated too.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    The set includes everything you need to get started, including two stencilled embroidery hoops, thread, needles, scissors, and instructions. Customers say the handy outlines are both pretty and easy to follow, making it the perfect way to relax screen-free, even if you're new to embroidery.

    Price: £12.99.

    2. Got an old frame that you just know you're never going to fill with a picture? Hear me out here – you can just fill it with this blackboard paint instead for an adorable and reusable lil' memo board that requires zero installation. (If you haven't got an old frame but love the idea, this rustic-looking dusty pink one would offset the black paint perfectly).

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk, Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This quick-drying paint works on glass and on the wooden backing of your frame, so even if you can't remove the pane, it'll still be really effective. It's super easy to wipe clean once you've applied it, and there's more than enough paint in this 750ml tub to help you decorate much more than just your frames – other ideas include coating the inside of your cupboard door so that it becomes a chalkboard shopping list, or just using it to turn a boring wall into a fun decoration zone. This frame is a perfect canvas IMO thanks to the gorgeous colour and thick frame (you'll want a definite distinction between the frame and the board to keep this looking unique and fun).

    Chalkboard paint price: £9.99.

    Frame price: £9.58 for a 30 x 20cm frame.

    3. These door knobs are an easy but effective way to upgrade your cabinets, drawers, shelves, and more. Just remove your current handles and slot one of these in instead!

    Etsy

    An easy and effective way to make your cheap furniture look WAY more expensive, these geode door knobs are 1) stunning, 2) highly-rated and 3) incredibly easy to apply.

    Price: £4.99 each.

    4. Speaking of making your furniture look more ~expensive~, this textured dark wood-look contact paper can be cut to fit almost any part of your cabinets, drawers, desks, and more.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    The texture on the surface of this contact paper combined with its matte finish makes it look super realistic, and it's coated in a waterproof and oil-resistant layer too to keep your stuff looking good for as long as possible. The handy grid on the back of the sheet means you can accurately and neatly cut this stuff to size!

    Price: £11.98 for 3m.

    5. You can make your own fake masks mess-free with this nine-in-one mixing kit! There are tonnes of great recipes out there, including lemon and honey, oats, and more – but bentonite clay is a common base for lots of them.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk, Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Including everything from measuring spoons to a handy mixing bowl, a hygienic silicone applicator brush, a lil' pot for storing your mask , and so much more, this bowl kit is absolutely perfect for any DIY mask maker (and it's surprisingly cheap, too). Mix whatever you like in there for a fun night-in activity by yourself or with friends! This bentonite clay is always useful for masks – you can use it on its own with water as a detoxifying clay mask or in conjunction with other ingredients.

    Mixing bowl set price: £5.99.

    Bentonite clay price: £3.50 for 250g.

    6. I'm not saying you have to decorate a jar with these glass paints and then fill it with these lil' fairy lights. I'm just saying, it would look pretty great if you did.

    Amazon, Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    The glass paints come in a variety of colours including dark ultramarine, red, and black. They're translucent, so you'll still be able to see light through them, but the colours are vibrant enough to look seriously impressive (plus, there's a fine brush included in the pack). Once you've decorated your jar how you like it, you can pop these battery-operated fairy lights inside for a unique glow that's all your own!

    Glass paints price: £13.52.

    Fairy lights price: £3.79.

    7. These iron-on patches are a great way to customise your bags, clothes, and more!

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    These embroidered patches have a heat-activated adhesive on the back, which means you can just pop the back over whatever fabric you want to decorate, flip over the material, run an iron over the covered back of the patch, and it's on! As if that wasn't enough, the sealant can be removed and reused just as easily as it was first applied(!!!) – run an iron over the patch you want to remove and the glue should release as easily as it came on, and it'll stick to another fabric too using the same method if you want it to (no wonder these bad boys are so highly-rated).

    Price: £5.89 for four.

    8. If you want to make your own chocolate eggs this Easter or just fancy trying to create a chocolate bombe at home, these moulds are seriously helpful.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Pour some melted chocolate inside here, roll it around slowly so that the chocolate is evenly distributed, and then wait for it to cool. Once the two halves have hardened, remove them from the mould, gently heat up the edges of both sides and stick them together (there's a perfect opportunity there to fill your egg with your favourite chocolates, or even to chuck in a little note it you're gifting the egg to somebody else!). You'll be able to pick how much white, dark, or milk chocolate you use (though FYI, white chocolate can get very brittle). Customers have been wowed by how easy to use and consistent it is!

    Price: £7.77.

    9. Did you know that all you have to do to make the designs you create with one of these porcelain pens permanent is to bake your ceramic mug after? Because I didn't, and I'm starting to regret not knowing sooner.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Just draw over a mug you've got at home, let the ink dry for a couple of days - 72 hours is recommended to prevent blurring - and then place the whole thing in the oven for about an hour at 240°C. Then, you're good to go! The cheaper the mug the better too, because inexpensive glaze is easier to penetrate (nab this one for £2.00 if you don't have a spare handy!). The result will be dishwasher-safe up to a temp of 50°C, but if you're unsure, hand washing is a safer option.

    Price: £7.93 for six pens.

    10. This lavender-scented soap-making kit is cruelty-free and really easy to follow! There's everything you need in the kit to get you started.

    Etsy

    The kit contains lavender and jojoba oils, a soap base, a stirring rod, a soap mould, instructions, and a soap base, which means making your own bars will be easy! Customers love how great the soap smells and how easy it is to assemble, too.

    Price: £16.99.

    11. Yes, pre-made terrariums are gorgeous, and no, I can't afford one (WHY are they £60+??). Don't worry, though – this incredible kit allows you to grow your own for less than a tenner, and if the reviews are anything to go by, it looks like it's really easy to use.

    Etsy

    The kit contains a jar, some soil, some gravel, plant seeds, a care sheet for your plants, and some stones, so your plants will have everything they need to start growing. I mean, how cute does this stuff look?

    Price: £9.99.

    12. If you want to make your own jewellery but don't love the usual crystal-and-wire aesthetic that sets often come with, you can make your own using this empty chain and then decorate them with whatever pendants you choose. I love these cheap lil' celestial ones!

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk, Etsy

    The chain can be cut to size depending on whether or not you're making a large necklace or a bracelet – it's perfect for people who can never find bracelets that fit them the way they want them to. Just put whatever pendants you like (the internet is full of gorgeous and cheap ones) over it and attach the clasp! There are 30 clasps and attaching loops included, so you'll have enough to make loads of custom ~lewks~.

    Chains price: £5.99 for 33 chains.

    Boho charms price: £0.50 each.

    13. These reusable flowerpot-shaped silicone cupcake holders will transform your bakes into lil' plant-shaped pots of edible happiness.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    They're made from a flexible and easy-to-clean silicone material that can withstand temperatures of up to 230°C, and they're freezer-safe and dishwasher-safe too! Just do some botanical-themed icing over a chocolate muffin in one of these and voila, you'll basically have an instant showstopper.

    Price: £7.49 for six.

    14. You can bend these fairy lights into whatever shape you like.

    Urban Outfitters

    The lights are connected by bendable wire that'll stay put once you've shaped it, and because it's battery-powered, you won't need to worry about putting it near a socket when you're deciding where to place it. With 3m of neon lights, 3m of shaping wire, and 1m of fixing wire, this set should give you enough length to create a whole variety of different shapes!

    Price: £12.00.

    15. After you've folded this origami paper into lil' shapes (there are heaps of tutorials online), you can hang them from your ceiling with thread for a sophisticated-but-whimsical look.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    The sheets fit into a handy box for easy storage, and customers say the paper is really high-quality!

    Price: £6.41 for 360 sheets.

    16. Yes, macramé wall hangings look great, and no, they're not actually that hard to make either! Create your own for less with this super helpful kit.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Complete with 100m of cord, 100 cute wooden beads, six wooden hoops and six hanging bars, this kit is perfect for beginners and pros alike. It's the perfect way to create wall hangings and baskets that fit your home (and your aesthetic) exactly!

    Price: £10.49.

    17. You can make your own personalised decorations with these fairy light pegs! Use them to hang up everything from photos to ticket stubs to pressed flowers – basically these lights can become a scrapbook for your wall.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    All of the clips have a light inside them, which means you can illuminate, display, and store all your photos and memorabilia at once! Plus, the 3.2m-long set should be more than enough to cover that boring wall in your room (a double win, IMO).

    Price: £9.99.

    18. Make your own lip balms with this organic kit!

    Etsy

    With ten lip balm pots, beeswax, a handy guide, shea and cocoa butters, and almond oil, all you'll need to own already is a jug and some time. There are blank sticky labels included too, so if you want to shake up the formula by adding scents or colours, you'll be able to tell which pot has which balm in it at a glance!

    Price: £9.75.

    19. This felting kit contains all you need to make this mini penguin (awww!).

    Notonthehighstreet

    Made in the UK, this kit is the perfect introduction to felting! All you'll need to get going is the contents of this pack (there's a detailed instruction booklet inside). Customers say the result is adorable and easy (but satisfying) to achieve!

    Price: £9.95.

    20. You can make your own stunning coasters by using polymer clay combined with some metallic paint (I love black and gold together for a celestial vibe, but you can go with any combo you like).

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk, Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Roll the clay flat, cut it into circles (or you can pick another shape – hexagons look really sophisticated!). Then, pop them in the oven to bake, remove them once they're done, and leave them to cool. Once they've hardened, you can run this paint along the edge of the coasters for a super ~expensive~ look, and then either leave it there or paint a pretty design on top. I love a stencil for this sort of thing – just download and print a simple image, cut it out of the paper, and paint over it!

    Polymer clay price: £3.40 for 85g.

    Paint price: £2.40.

    21. And last but not least, this flower press is perfect for keeping your fave blooms after their season has passed (ideal for scrapbookers!).

    Etsy

    The concept of this is really simple – just place a flower, leaf, or petal between the boards, tighten the bolts to add pressure, and wait for about a month. You can customise the text on top of this press, and customers say the device is incredibly easy to use and the results are gorgeous!

    Price: £15.00.