Name: Abby @ Trial & Error Creativity

My Blog: http://trialanderrorcreativity.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatabbyrose

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/156077943305967450/

What I Did: Now, this should’ve been a simple dress. A simple, simple, simple dress. A simple, simple, simple pattern for a simple, simple, simple dress. And it was: Take a yard of fabric, cut it into 4 long rectangles, sew it all together (save for arms and head), sew in some elastic. Viola.

So — how do you completely mess up something so easy? Get the wrong #%&ing fabric.

I found the fabric online and I was enamored. Of course, anyone worth their weight in sewing equipment will tell you that you need to feel the fabric before you buy it. But I wasn’t thinking about that. All I thought was cherry blossoms — pretty, pretty! So the above is what I ended up with before the elastic. Pretty in its own right, right? Wrong. I tried it on and the fabric had no give to it. I looked silly, to be quite frank. To call it a red rectangle would be a misnomer, since even rectangles look better than this mess.

Now it was time to just wing it. So, I clipped, I hemmed, I tried on again. Terrible. Lathered, rinsed, repeated — still terrible, only with thinner straps.

So I tried one.more.time. And I made them thinner than I ever thought they were going to be. The upshot is that I got to trim the straps inwards toward the neck, a European style for dresses that I love but can never seem find in stores. And then, I pinned, I hemmed, and it didn’t matter how bad it looked. I was done with those straps. I didn’t care if I looked like a homeless person mugged a transvestite. I was done.

I ended up with what you see below, which isn’t bad, but is terrible getting on and needs a belt to hide how unflattering it is.

Blog Post Detailing The Experience: http://trialanderrorcreativity.blogspot.com/2013/02/pinterest-fail-simple-stitch-dress.html

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  Get better fabric! I can see this working with a nice cotton fabric — something with a little give!

Name: Sarah

My Blog: http://sarahandbrandonsollars.blogspot.com

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/149252175122047799/

What I Did: I loved the idea of a non-mural accent wall for my toddler’s room. We really did follow the instructions, we are still scratching our heads on that one!

Blog Post Detailing The Experience: http://sarahandbrandonsollars.blogspot.com/2013/02/diy-dont.html

My Result:

Next Time I Will: Stop it before I started! We painted over it and did some simple stripes.

Name: Audrey

My Blog: http://anaudblog.blogspot.com

Original Inspiration: http://ruffledblog.com/diy-paper-lace-doily-lanterns/

What I Did: We are getting married in August, and my fiance has allowed me to make our wedding to my grandma style. With that in mind, I chose this project because it changed the look of a classic paper lantern with doilies. I did change the idea slightly by using a hot glue gun instead of double sided tape, but the real problem was when I realized this project would take FOREVER.

Blog Post Detailing The Experience: http://anaudblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/di-why.html

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  Not bother. I don’t have time to do 50 of these…

Name: mjfcositas

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/220113500509450558/

What I Did: I took inspiration from an Etsy site, as well as several others describing DIY spray painting with glass. I have been collecting glass jars and wine bottles for months now, and decided to try projects over winter break. Like a good Pinterest-follower, I ransacked Michaels art store, buying spray paint and other accessory items for mason jar salvaging. I spray painted this jar with one coat of gold and waited a whole day for it to dry. The next day, I carefully placed rubber bands on the jar, and gave it a coat of purple. I then waited ANOTHER day to give it a chance to dry and removed the rubber bands. Instead of the pic from the Etsy site, I came out with this wonderful masterpiece…. My faith in Pinterest is gone…..What am I supposed to look at during class now?!

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  there is NO saving the soul of this project. time to throw it in the recycling bin

Name: Abby @ Trial & Error Creativity

My Blog: http://trialanderrorcreativity.blogspot.com

Twitter: twitter.com/thatabbyrose

Original Inspiration: http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2012/07/diy-sharpie-dinnerware/

What I Did: I knew what I was getting into when I started this. I had heard almost universally that this project was doomed. Besides, it sounds too good to be true. You’re telling me I can make whatever design I want using nothing but Sharpies, and all I need is to bake it for a little bit?

I decided that I’d have to go big or go home with this project: 400*? Try 450*. Thirty minutes? Try an hour and a half. I decided that I’d risk burning the porcelain (if such a thing is possible) to really, really, *really* bake the Sharpie in.

I should have known I was in for it when, after the porcelain was cool, I picked it up with damp hands, only to smudge some of the porcelain. I gave it the benefit of the doubt: maybe I had just smudged the excess Sharpie.

The benefit was squashed when I gave it a gentle cleansing with soap and water. No sponge, either — just my hands. Half of the design came off as a result. The above picture is the result of washing with a textured sponge. It came off completely when I put the pitcher into the washing machine.

Oh well — at least I still have a cute pitcher!

Blog Post Detailing The Experience: http://trialanderrorcreativity.blogspot.com/2013/01/pinterest-fail-baking-sharpies-onto.html

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  Buy porcelain paint, because this project does NOT work with Sharpies!

Name: Robin

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/32932640996162446/

What I Did: I made this as a present and decided to give it for a laugh. I used a 2x size silky shirt from goodwill.

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  I would use sharper scissors, a cotton t-shirt (so the fabric doesn’t stretch and bounce so much), and a smaller size shirt!

Name: Amy

My Blog: http://sparkbyamy.tumblr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyeb007

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/248401735666698434/

What I Did: I saw the inspiration link and thought it would a cheap way to make a wreath. I tried it and the kinks just got worse and worse. Then I saw this link: http://pinterest.com/pin/248401735666782452/ and redid the whole wreath using this information. It didn’t work either.

Blog Post Detailing The Experience: http://sparkbyamy.tumblr.com/post/39389377256/pinterest-fail-cheap-wreath-form

My Result:

Next Time I Will: This project cannot be saved. I’ll buy a real strofoam wreath foam and redo it all.

Name: Lacey Kae

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/139048707216670759/

What I Did: With two crafty daughters and a birthday coming up, I thought for sure this would be a great way to save money (and reduce exposure to potentially lead based Chinese sparkles). Instead it was a massive waste of time. No matter what I did, it came out like sand. Add more dye… sand. Bake for longer… sand. Rub the salt onto the foil (to try to transfer the metal)… sand. Freaking sand. Same deal with sugar. Googled the craft finally to see what I was doing wrong, and surprise! The salt/sugar only sparkles as it naturally would alone. Like, when you stare at it on a normal day, and decide to add some high powered lights to heighten the experience. Baking dries the dye faster, and the foil protects the pan. Lame.

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  Next time, I’ll look at it through the eyes of a crunchy Earth mama, and embrace Nature’s sparkle in all its glory. Bah hah hah! Just kidding. Next time I’m totally just going to buy real glitter.

Name: Bianca

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bcadloni

Original Inspiration: http://blog.freepeople.com/2012/11/diy-mason-jar-snow-globe/

What I Did: I saw the inspiration, thought they would make great gifts. WRONG

A simple project turned into an expensive nightmare from hell, after I had to start over twice. The first lids wouldn’t work, so I had to unstick the animals and start over. The gluing process was the easiest, but finding glycerin and distilled water when you live in downtown Denver is close to impossible.

I ended up having to buy anal suppositories made from Glycerin and melt them down, then pour the molten glycerin into the jars.

In other words, fail.

My Result:

Next Time I Will: 1 – Order Glycerin online
2 – get larger jars or animals
3 – avoid Martha Stewart Crafts glitter
4. Don’t add stupid sequins thinking it would be cute, because it wasn’t
5. Buy two bottles of distilled water vs. 1

Name: Tressa Jocelyn

Original Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/pin/98164466847950750/

My Result:

Next Time I Will:  Get a different utility that cuts glass, get nicer flowers, anything other than the dead leaves of a plant.