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As I began thinking about all the Do-it-Yourself Projects that I wanted to share with you it seemed logical that someone would ask, “How much experience will I need to complete a project like that?” The word “Project” is my very general term for any do-it-yourself experience whether it involves crafts, cooking, painting a room, or building an addition on your home. I use the word loosely because I believe do-it-yourself projects come in a massive variety based on your current needs (or wants). The range for projects can go from easily completed within one to two hours with others going on for days, weeks, or even months.
The basic overview of my personal emoticon ratings scale is above and I will attempt to explain things in a little more detail. Again, this is my personal ratings scale for projects it does not represent any one person’s abilities or skills. Please do not take this scale too seriously, it is just my basic guideline. 🙂
- NEWBIE – This one is pretty obvious and doesn’t require much explaining. If you have NEVER done any kind of project (landscaping, crafts, cooking, etc) this would be the category to begin your DIY adventure.
- PRACTICALLY A NEWBIE – This category would be for people who have done a few small projects such as cooking a new recipe, planting a few shrubs, anything that can easily be completed in 1 day or less.
- JUNIOR DIY’er – The Junior DIY’er has completed 1 maybe 2 projects that has lasted MORE than 1 day such as putting together a child’s swing set, landscaping their front yard, or building some shelves.
- COMPETENT DIY’er – This Do-it-Yourself”er is experienced with a variety of projects that last MORE than 1 day. They love to jump in and learn new skills to complete their projects. This DIY’er is not afraid to tackle something more difficult than previous projects they have completed.
- CRAFTSMAN/ARTIST – This group includes individuals who are professionals in their field. Such as builders, artists, or other skilled craftsmen.
Personal History with Projects
Do-it-Yourself has grown into a worldwide sensation where everyone wants to tackle a bathroom or kitchen remodel because they have watched the DIY Network or HGTV believing it can be completed in a weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to watch tv shows that show unbelievable makeovers or money-saving “create your own light fixtures for less.” What I don’t like about them is the false sense of security they give to individuals who have a modest amount of hands-on skills, not to mention the time frame for completion fantasy that’s represented. Any project that requires more than one day’s worth of work is pretty challenging to you physically and emotionally as it impacts other parts of your life as well. If you have never completed a project that last more than one day be sure that you have the time, skills, and finances to cover any potential pitfalls. Also be willing to modify your original plan should something pop-up unexpectedly. The more difficult a project becomes the more it takes on a life of itself and should be viewed as a work of art. Art is original not a carbon copy of something in a book or on tv. Art expresses who you are and what you see taking shape, be willing to compromise and change plans. It is not an exact science and that is the beauty of it. 🙂
My family has completed numerous projects over the past 30 years, however my husband is a third generation carpenter and now supervises construction of multi-story commercial buildings. I grew up very poor and as they say necessity is the mother of invention. My lack of funds as a young person motivated me to find ways to mimic the more expensive things that I wanted in my room or apartment. My mom was extremely artistic and resourceful, my younger sister is too. She designed her high school’s mascot image. 😀 Sadly I didn’t get that particular gene, however I do have an eye for color and the ability to visualize the finished project. My husband and I make a great team, we balance each other out on projects. He’s very precise and likes everything symmetrical where I like things a little more imaginative, being more flexible when it comes to the overall appearance. We have designed and built (yes, I mean physically built) a couple of homes, remodeled a few others, and had an unlimited number of projects both inside and outside the home.
The DIY Emoticon Ratings Scale is just my interpretation of “projects.” It is meant to aid you in evaluating your time, ability, and commitment to a project before starting. Once you start a project and feel that it is too much to handle you’ll scrap everything or hire a professional, either way you have lost both time and money. We don’t want to lose time or money so be sure to evaluate your project thoroughly prior to starting. If you have any questions you would like to ask don’t hesitate to contact me at 911MOM@raising5girls.com. I will do my best to answer them as honestly as possible. Good luck on your future “projects!” 🙂
Till Next Time,
Romona
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