Your creative juices are going into overdrive, and you aren’t sure what to get your hands on next. Turn your skills over to a few new household projects that can also serve a purpose in the home. Show off your creative skills and save a few bucks by making your very own DIY crafts for adults.

1. Focus Board: First off, what is a focus board? It’s similar to a bulletin board, comprised of a collection of little thoughts, everyday functional notes, and overarching life goals. It’s a board to help keep you on task with meeting the goals that you set personally for yourself. Do you want to write a book and have it published? Then that’s a great focus board goal! Set out little steps to accomplish every day/week/month/ etc. until you reach your goal.
   To get started creating your very own DIY focus board, first you’ll want to decide where to put it. Once you know how large it will be, you can then think about what the material it is made out of. The most traditional materials are cork boards and chalkboards. Buy the supplies that you need, such as chalkboard paint, a frame, brushes, paints, etc. Cover your board with a color to go with the room, while leaving much of the space empty to be filled with notes. Buy chalk, post-it notes, pens, and other markers to add organizational color and flair to the board.
2. Mini Picture Wall: Are your walls glaringly white? Create a unique piece of artwork to spice up the dull walls. Find small 4×6 picture frames with a simple design. Mod Podge magazine clippings, drawings, paintings, and other little creations to fit in the perfectly little frames. Hang them side by side for an interesting collage of all the things that you love.
3. Calendar Chalkboard: The old school paper calendars are outdated and tacky. Make a calendar that will never go out of style, and can rotate with every passing month. You can paint directly onto a wall or buy a piece of wood to create your calendar. Use painter’s tape to give your design clean lines and perfectly square boxes. Mark out seven boxes going across and five going down (make six if you want to write the days of the week at the top). You’ll have a few extra boxes left over at the bottom, but those are great spots for writing special events and notes. Give your prepared surface several thick coats of chalkboard paint, and let it dry for about 2-3 days before using.
4. DIY Dog Toys: Everyone has a few shirts or linens that they no longer want. Instead of throwing them away or donating them, you can repurpose them into pet toys. Dog love to play tug-of-war. Cut your old fabric into long strips. Tie the ends into a knot and twist them. Braid the pieces into a long strip, and knot again at the desired length. Cut any ends. There you have it – a brand new toy that any dog will love.

Making something out of nothing will make your apartment reflect who you are, letting your personality ring. You can be guaranteed that no one else has that item, and you can be proud to show it off. It is even a little sweeter when you know that you made something useful.