Have you ever tried making your own clothes and accessories? Have you ever upcycled your old furniture? It’s a great way to save money and more importantly, have something unique that you can be proud of.
You might be thinking, “I haven’t got the skills for that,” but trust us, it’s not as complicated as it seems. With easy, step by step guides available on the Internet, anyone can become an expert.
If you have clothes that you don’t wear anymore, don’t chuck them out. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube showing how to create beautiful outfits from old clothes. It can be easier to craft you have a sewing machine, but you don’t need one if you can sew by hand.
If you haven’t got any clothes you want to revamp, have a look in places like Fabric Land. They have a wide choice of cheap fabric and accessories for sewing, making your own jewellery and making things like cushion covers.
Another way you can get crafty is by upcycling old furniture. People often sell their unwanted furniture on sites like Freecycle, Gumtree, and Facebook. If you're lucky, you might not even have to pay.
You don’t need a lot to transform a piece of furniture. For simple DIY, all you need is sandpaper, undercoat, samples of paint (you can buy these in DIY stores from £1 per pot) and some creativity. If you’re feeling experimental, try using deco mache paper to add details to a chest of drawers, brighten up a wardrobe with your favourite coloured paint, or add new fabric to an old armchair.
Projects are much more rewarding than shopping. They give an opportunity to discover new skills and often are a fun way to keep the family occupied on rainy days. There's also one more bonus, they can save you money!