Special Guest: Bethany Mota Fun Projects Inside!
DIY Mag DORM EDITION
FALL 2015
Top 5 DIY Trends
Quick Organizing Hacks
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CONTENTS 4
5 Big DIY Trends of 2015 6 Bring On Bethany 8 Dorm Photospread 10 DIY Tape Pictures 12
This project is found on page 14!
DIY Upcycled T Shirt Rug 14 Getting Fancy: Quick Organization Hacks
Color squares are a good way to make plain walls interesting.
big DIY
Trends 5 of 2015
The
craft world saw a lot this year: cute mason jars for drinking, chalk labels for anything, the burlap and lace combo everywhere. Taking cues from the likes of master trend predictor Lidewij Edelkoort of Trend Union, lifestyle and redbook.com, we’ve put together our own list of DIY trends. We were looking for low cost, uncomplicated projects that a busy college student on a budget could easily do. Lightweight, portable projects vat could work with a limited, often temporary, dorm space were also key.
#1. Coloring In
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Whether it’s watercolors, color pencils, or crayons, it has taken off as people reconnect to their inner child and studies boast its therapeutic effects. A big plus is you can frame pages from a good coloring book after you finish them.
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#2. Knitting & Crochet Yarn has exploded all over the place these past few years, and it continues to grow, with the latest trend using oversized yarn and fabric so finishing projects is a lot faster. It’s definitely not for old ladies anymore.
#4. String Art #3. Upcycling As people become more eco-conscious, crafters contribute by finding creative ways to reuse old belongings. It’s very easy to make something with what you already have, and curbing mindless consumerism is just a bonus.
Tying in with knitting and crochet, no pun intended, here comes the perfect counterpart: macramé, ropes and weaving. Rope crafts made a lot of appearances this year, on bowls, as rugs, as lamp shades. They add a very earthy, cozy feel to whatever they end up covering.
#5. Gallery Walls
A chic way for a college student to spice up a drab exposed brick wall, gallery walls have been all over Pinterest and DIY websites alike. It has grown past just a photo display to a visually appealing display of whatever can be hung on a wall.
Bring On
Bethany Bethany Bethany MOTA SHARES HOW SHE OVERCAME BULLIES AND GOT STARTED ON YOUTUBE
With more than 7 million subscribers, Bethany Mota rules YouTube. Bethany opens up about how being bullied inspired her to start filming YouTube videos at 13. Find out how she built an empire by being true to herself—and how you can, too!
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How Being Bullied Inspired Her To Start Filming Beauty Videos At 13
“It was so cool seeing girls being positive and spreading happiness. At first, I made beauty videos that were like everyone else’s – I’d try to act perfect. But then I realized it might be more fun if I was just myself. So I showed my silly side and kept in the bloopers. I liked those videos way more, and people appreciated that realness.”
Dealing With Haters
“I say do not respond with hate, because you might make that person feel terrible, and you feel terrible. So who wants that? Respond with positivity or just ignore it and don’t let it get to you. And focus on all those positive comments.”
How She Makes Her Own Rules
“Even now I feel like I’m still figuring things out, and I’m still finding my way through things. When I was going through YouTube and making videos, I didn’t really have anyone to look at like, ‘Okay, this is what I’m going to do.’ It kind of just happened on my own.”
Connecting With Her Fans I wouldn’t say that my viewers on YouTube are any less my friends than my real-life friends. If anything, they understand me better. Sometimes I open up more to my viewers because I can help them if they’re going through the same situation.”
What It’s Like To Grow Up On YouTube “I think it’s taught me to be a lot more self-motivated and has taught me how to encourage myself and not rely on a teacher or a boss telling me what to do. I’m my own boss. My biggest thing to overcome has been not being afraid to be different. It’s safer to do what everyone else is doing, but it pays off way more to be yourself.”
Advice to Other Girls Finding Their Place In The World
“You have to be your own motivator! A lot of teens say they’re bored. Before I got on YouTube, I’d say the same thing. But there is always something you can be doing. If YouTube isn’t your thing, maybe it’s a sport or something else you’re good at. There’s always something you can be the best at—you just have to look for it.”
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From
our 2015 Trends list, we bring you DIY tape picture frames. This is the college student’s adaptation of the popular gallery walls. This classy yet easy project is perfect for the temporary dorm situation. It doesn’t break the no frame policy that many rentals and dorms enforce. And the fact that the supplies are lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to move is just another bonus. It’s genius! -Adapted from Design Sponge
Bored of the picture collage idea? Try this one
DIY TAPE PICTURE FRAMES
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difficulty cost $$$$
MATERIALS A few images to frame One or more kinds of decorative tape Scissors An X-Acto or similar blade
DIRECTIONS It’s important start by taping up a single image. Doing them one at a time lets you know how much surrounding wall space you’ll have left.
Once your image is up, take a roll of tape and make a frame around your image, adjusting the size and amount of interior space to your liking. As illustrated in the first image, you can go far beyond a simple rectangular frame. Mix it up!
If there are bits of tape that are longer than others or overlapping in awkward ways, use your X-Acto blade to carefully trim off the excesvs. Move the blade lightly over the tape to avoid putting marks on the actual wall. This technique is especially useful when making non-rectangular frames. We used Japanese washi tape, available at many craft stores or online, black masking tape and copper foil tape. Tape comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures, so do some browsing and find what you like best.
DIYUpcycled T-Shirt Rug MATERIALS scissors or rotary cutter 2’ x 3’ no-slip rug pad with holes in it pencil or other pointy object (5-7) t-shirts
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Have
difficulty cost $$$$
a lot of free t-shirts hanging around from orientation that you’re never going to wear? Make them into a rug. Don’t throw away those old t-shirts. Turn them into a fun knotted rug or bathmat. No sewing skills required, you just have to know how to tie a knot! -Adapted from diynetwork DIRECTIONS Cut the t-shirts into long 1/2” strips.
Cut the strips into 5” pieces. There is no need to be specific, simply eyeball it.
Using a pointy object — like a pencil — thread strips into rug pad by pushing one end of a strip through the holes on the bottom of the no-slip rug pad.
Knot Each Strip by tying the fabric strip in a knot.
Fill It In. Repeat the previous steps, pushing the strips through all of the holes on the noslip rug pad until it is completely covered. Double up on the strips for a fuller rug. Looking for a Cheater Method? Simply hot glue the strips in place directly on the top of the rug pad, bunching the strips together on top of the glue. Place a piece of cardboard under the rug because the hot glue will seep through the holes and make a mess. Once the glue dries, run your hand over the top of the rug to remove any loose pieces. Enjoy your new bathmat, knowing that you put those old ratty t-shirts to much better use.
Getting Fancy: Quick Organization Hacks These projects look simple enough that we won’t include many instructions.
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Confetti Walls Circle template from online or anything circular + cute paper + tack or tape to a wall.
10 Minute Caddy Shoe box + fancy paper + fill with toilet paper rolls. Fancy Trash Bin Wrapping paper + trash bin.
Keep Cords Neat Put binder clips to the edge of your desk to keep your cords neatly in place.
Fancy Storage Drawers Cheap plastic storage drawers + wrapping paper or any other decorative kind of paper. Drawer Organizer Cereal boxes + fabric or paper. Fancy Mirror Fake flowers + glue gun.
Cell Phone Holder Trace along an empty bottle of your choice + scissors + mod podge Soda-can tabs To extend your hangers.
Scarf Hack Tie the scarves in a loop around themselves. Hanging Jeans With shower hooks to save space.
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