We're all about how-tos and DIY projects this month on Ohdeedoh, and once you're a parent, a whole new world of possible projects and things you can make with or for your children seems to open up. We're starting to realize- we just can't make them all...
...so we've come up with a few guidelines and questions that we ask ourselves when we're thinking about adding a new project to our already long to-do list.
• Will we end up spending just as much or more money if we make it ourselves? Very often, we start out a project ourselves to save money, but by the time we've purchased all of the materials we need- we've spent more.
• If we try to make it ourselves, will we actually ever get around to it? Especially if it's a project for our daughter, we realize that it might be time-sensitive. She may outgrow the stage the project's for before we get around to making it! In that case, we'd much rather buy it so she can use it right away. We find having pieces of another 1/2 finished project laying around drains us of our energy.
• Is it going to be fun to do or just add stress to my life? If it's not going to be fun, why do it?
• Will I sacrifice quality time with my child to make this for her?
• Can we find something already made that's just what we're envisioning?
• Are our skills up to the task? Sometimes someone else could just do it a lot better than we can.
Yes, you can bake your own bread, sew your own clothes, build furniture for your kids, make crafts, and sheets, and pillows, and play dough, and clay, and etc. And yes, we often find ourselves thinking: "I could make that myself." But sometimes DIY is just not the way to go. (at least for us) If we find that's the case, we'll happily peruse Etsy or other handmade sites and look forward to the item being delivered right to our door!
(Image: Keith Scott Morton for Country Living)
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
In buying, don't forget the fact that you might also be helping support a stay at home to be able to afford to stay at home w/ her kids. I know that is the case w/ many Etsy Moms.
view abbygraykit's profile
my deal-breaker is if i won't enjoy the process of making something myself. that being said, we do attempt to diy or customize a lot, and i love that my 4-year-old is begging for a kitchen, a doll house, and weapons that we will make ourselves because, as he says, "the stores don't have what we want." i also appreciate that thrifting and making have helped him delay gratification.
view doubledutch's profile
Even if it costs the same, it's the actual building process that teaches and inspires -- and the child can help.
view stickyricemama's profile
I so hear you!
I struggle with this all the time.
Most days I end up doing stuff at my daughter's nap time,
because most things aren't worth sacrificing my time with her.
But I still keep hoping I'll get a lot of time one day and I'll be able to sew and craft to my heart's content.
view anshupoints's profile
I think a mix of both is a good approach - the pt about "Is it going to be fun to do or just add stress to my life?" resonated the strongest with me.
Grace Hester Designs
Silhouette- and typography- based artwork and prints
Shop my designs at http://gracehesterdesigns.etsy.com
view gracehesterdesigns's profile
SMART! I am bookmarking this site for future reference. I probably need to print this out and hang it up right near my computer where I can see it at all times. I have SO MANY unfinished DIY projects that start out as good intentions and end up leaving me frustrated and cranky. Wow, I needed to hear this! Thanks!
view craftylildevil's profile
This totally applies to sewing for me. Just last night I attempted to make a pair of my old jeans into some bibs for my daughter. I have seen pics of this project and they turned out SO CUTE! They were embellished with ribbon and they were just darling. I thought "I can totally do that!" Um, no. First of all, I hate sewing. Secondly I tried this and couldn't figure out how to adjust the tension on my machine so the ribbon wouldn't pucker. I tried every combination of settings I could think of and nothing helped. Maddening!!!! I did end up with two very wonky looking but functional bibs when all was said and done but looking at them kind of makes me mad so they are far less cute to me now. One of those "that looked much cuter in my head" kind of projects.
view craftylildevil's profile
THANK you for this! I get so mad at myself when I (a) pay money for something that I "could have" made myself; (b) spend more on materials than I would have just buying it pre-made; or (c) have half-finished projects sitting around forever. So basically, I can't win!! I have this crazy compulsion to save money, have totally unique things around my home, and somehow find time to make things myself (especially all of the super-cute things I see on blogs). It's just not possible, and I need to accept that!
view AmberM's profile