Recently, my boyfriend and I started to hand make make many of the things we want to take back to college. My DIY craze started when I decided I wanted to revamp last year's picture frames with some cute Washi tape. I took those old, dull white frames and covered them flawlessly with light blue, vintage-looking tape. I was proud of my little DIY project, and I obviously bragged about how this would save so much money compared to buying new frames.

After that, we collectively decided to make some things we want in our dorm rooms this fall by hand in an effort to save money. After the updated picture frames, I personalized a lame bulletin board and then my boyfriend decided he wanted to make an ottoman for his dorm room. I really had nothing to do with this one, but after a trip to the fabric store to pick out the perfect upholstery, his ottoman turned out awesome. It was way better than anything he could have bought at Target, and it was totally original.

Our next project was making the perfect new pillowcases to match my room at home, my dorm and my sister’s room. We had so much fun making these and using a sewing machine was easier than I thought!

Now my boyfriend is making sunglass cases, I’m making headbands, and we are totally on a DIY kick. But here’s what also happens when you start to think you’re a master crafter:

1. You think you can make anything.
“Yeah, I can totally make that,” you say as you walk past anything constructed out of wood or fabric.

2. You brag about what you made.
Your pride and joy is dependent on the bracelet you made out of fabric and copper wire.

3. You value what you made much more than you would if you just bought it.
This is really true. You respect what you make yourself way more, and you take better care of it. Let’s face it, if you break something you bought from Target you can always just go back and buy another one.

4. You’re constantly on Pinterest.
You have to get your inspiration from somewhere, and there’s no better place than the Pinterest account of a stay-at-home mom’s who is desperate to save money.

5. You save money, but probably not that much.
Fabric is sold by the yard, and I promise you, it’s not cheap. Look in the scrap bin first.