DIY, Dammit!: A Practical Guide to Curse-Free Crafting

by Joselyn Hughes

Doing it yourself always seems so simple. Only 3 steps! Just 5 supplies! Less than 30 minutes! Yeah right.

The truth is, craftin’ ain’t easy. But it also doesn’t have to be an exasperating lesson in your own clumsiness.

Joselyn Hughes knows the struggle. She’s lived it. And now, with  DIY, Dammit!, she offers up foolproof craftables that deliver maximum cute with minimal effort. There are easy-to-follow instructions and realistic shortcuts—because waiting for paint to dry is as boring as…well, you know.

With Joselyn by your side you’ll laugh, learn, and end up with handcrafted creations that will impress your friends, family, and strangers you accost on the street. She’s already made all the mistakes, so you don’t have to. What are you waiting for? DIY, Dammit!

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Humor, Art, Adult

272 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2015

About the author

Joselyn Hughes is a Los Angeles based writer and performer. She was recently named as one of "30 Under 35: Female Comedians to Watch" by JaneDough.com, "25 Female Comedians Everyone Should Know" by Flavorwire.com, "18 Funny Women You Should Be Following on Twitter" by the Huffington Post, and "30 Under 30: Comedians You Should Watch" by Splashlife and Funny or Die.

Joselyn has appeared on Chelsea Lately, Tosh.0, MTV, VH1 and has written for Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, OWN, TBS and the Huffington Post.

Her web series DIY, Dammit! can be seen on the Nerdist Channel and her DIY, Dammit! QUICKIES are posted every week on her YouTube channel. And her first book, "DIY, Dammit! A Practical Guide to Curse-Free Crafting" will be available everywhere November 2015.

To find out where you can see her, check out her schedule on joselynhughes.com and be sure to follow her on Twitter.

Reviews

[CraftyChara]

Finally a crafting book that embraces the imperfections of crafting. You don't have to have name brand products, you are (most likely) not going to get it right on your first try and most importantly don't compare your finish creation to other creations on the internet.

[Robin]

I usually don't include craft books in my read pile as those books do not usually lend themselves to be read front to back but I am including this one because I did just that. As a craft book it has some obvious blunders such as the two headed poncho cozy template that I had to stare at to make sure I was not reading the pattern wrong and some of the blithely written directions that encourage you to just google it if you need further instructions. The crafts are made to be simple and curse free and they are but the real reason I gave this book four stars is because it is hysterical. The author captures the real reason for crafting-it's fun! I enjoyed her irreverent attitude,the drinking guide to doing crafts and her overall non perfectionism. It is not a book I would necessarily recommend to do the crafts but would recommend for a crafter that has had too many Pinterest fails. It is a quick fun to read book.

[Gladys Gonzales Atwell]

**This book has been provided by publisher/author for an honest review**

As many of the Nerd Girl fans know I am pretty old school. I collect my books but still keep my review books handy on my Kindle for the late night (lights out insomnia reading). I love to make things and always have!! It's a great way to relax!!

I always search the Internet for fun ideas, but then I will have to print them out, shuffle through unbound pages and stand to loose something along the way!! Well well well, just like my beloved recipe books, the DIY, Dammit!: A Practical Guide to Curse-Free Crafting by Joselyn Hughes is stress free and bound. On to do that it's bound in a book so you don't have to waste time on the Internet, print and then sometimes loose paper (and patients)

Joselyn is fun and witty and her DIY projects are fun for you and your family!!!

A perfect gift for someone into up cycling and being well crafty!!!

A crafty 4 stars! Grab it today!!!

**This review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official**

[Joanie]

Glad that I checked this book out at my local library. It had a couple cute ideas and also some really ... not cute ... ideas, too. I'm looking at you (not so) Classy Clutch and(W T F) "Cute"-as-a-cupcake liner garland (dead serious). I guess (I'm being nice here) this would be a good book to laugh with (at) if you're a crafter, but not much else.

Also, in the author's attempt to be "hip" with her flippant attitude (which is usually fine by me), she's made a few big (rude) blunders. Some bigger than others. That being said, I did laugh sometimes, took the quiz - was told I was Martha Stewart (not, but I'll take it), and want to make one thing. My light switches are truly hideous and I like to cover stuff with fabric. It's worth a whole star, to me.

As for me, this "DIY, Don't!" is back at the library waiting for someone else, hey, it might be their cuppa tea. To each their own.

[Jessica]

Enjoyed the humor presented in the book; not so much the projects presented. The couple I were interested didn't give very detailed instructions (the author basically told us to "Google it")


"Wine is great for everything. Don't let the people around you say any different. People in Europe drink vino at lunch and it's considered classy and progressive. So, anyone who tells you different is closed-minded and probably racist." pg. 147

Vodka: It's basically Russian Windex. pg. 143

"See if you like it, and if you do, try some more.
God, I sound like a drug dealer. EXCEPT MY DRUG IS MOTIVATION." pg. 149

[Carol]

Well, this book was the most fun I've had for a while! If you've ever tried to do a craft and ended up wanting to take a hammer to your sewing machine (and be honest, who hasn't?) this is the book for you. Warning: Don't read if 4-letter words offend you, because there's a lot of 'em in here! I found myself laughing a lot as I turned through the pages. Here's the author's take on X-ACTO knives: "You're packing when you've got one of these in your craft den. I'm sorry, did you think I was just a helpless little crafter? Wha-BAM! Think again!"

[Rachel]

Cute colorful comical craft book! I perused it in about a half hour and determined that although it's kinda funny to read, I would not actually do the crafts. Good instructions and pictures though.
My problem was that they were crafts my daughters would do, but it was not a book I would let them have because of the language used in it. If you craft at a 5-10 year old level this could be the book for you. Or if you want your kid to know what crafts pair well with vodka.

[Tina]

Anyone else sick of the same ole craft books? I was and so I picked up the e-galley of this one hoping for something new. While most of the crafts presented aren't new or spectacular, how they are presented will have you howling with laughter. I'm not sure which one liner I could label as my favourite since there are so many good ones, but definitely pick this one up and give it a flip.

[m klein]

I was expecting more reasonable and usable craft projects. I will use maybe 2 projects. I hoping that I did not spend much money for this book.

Did not like most of the projects. Seemed like things that humored her and entertained her= a project. Her commentaries where funny at first. Became annoyed with it in end. Not much substance.

[Leigh]

The crafts are extremely easy and Joselyn's banter is funny most of the time and insulting some of the time. She shows some ageism in her stereotyping of "old women". Watch it dear, if you're lucky, you'll be one some day.

[Molly]

Didn't read much of this- skimmed for the crafts, which just didn't grab me. Sorry.

[Alicia Bayer]

Big book of various craft ideas for twenty somethings. I needed more photos. In some cases like the dog bed made out of the sweatshirt, I had no idea what the finished product was supposed to look like because it’s a closeup shot and the dog is in it. In many cases the instructions were too vague. I am not a sewer and don’t do things like saw PVC pipes (and wouldn’t want to), and things like gold cupcake liner garlands don’t do anything for me. I didn’t end up wanting to make most of the crafts in here other than maybe the cement plant pots which I’ve already seen how to make online. Talk about stuff like which hard liquor goes with which type of craft and swearing makes it not suitable for kids, but the cutesy designs and ageism make it not great for many adults. A thick book though and worth a library read if you’re in the demographic.

[Jess]

This boos is by far one of the best DIY Books I have read this year. I have been on the hunt for a DIY book that would spark my creativity and make me excited to craft. This book did all of that and more. The book was super detailed, super funny and the instructions are easy to understand and read with good pictures. Joselyn makes you feel like even if you fail you can still rock it later on something else. I normally get my books through my library but I will be buying a copy of this book for later use and that is saying something. Love it.

[Debbie]

weak

[electrajoy]

Just okay. Since funny parts but mostly mediocre.

[CA]

I enjoyed this book as was a cross between a crafting autobiography and a ‘how to’ book. Some great craft ideas.

[Tawnee]

Now this is a fun witty craft book I can get into. A few crafts I absolutely plan on doing.

[Kristin Wilson]

This was a chaotic mess. Some of her banter was funny, most just wasn't. There wasn't a single craft I found in the book worth doing.

[Katie]

I don’t normally add craft books to my read list, but this one was hilarious! I read it cover to cover and want to try a few of the crafts in the book! I’ll definitely be looking up her website!

[Beth]

not my kind of stuff..... some humor in the book but the crafts were kind of tacky I felt.

[Mckinley]

Fun. Wide variety of projects to make or use as a starting point with own tweaks.

[Heather F]

As someone who has threatened to buy the "The Only Craft I do is beer" pint glass, I liked this book. The crafts were do-able and ones i would consider. The book is also funny (obviously, I suppose given Hughes is a comedian) and oddly inspiring. Also, Mamrie Hart has a great interlude on crafting cocktails. I bought this book because I am a fan of Hughes, but I would also buy it as a gift.

[Lauren]

There are some really cute things to make in here, but nothing earth shattering. I liked how she made a point to talk about the problem with everyone making their craft attempts look perfect and pinterest worthy-- sometimes it does NOT work out that way and that's just life! Especially loved her alcoholic beverage/project pairings.

[Autumn]

Totally basic craft ideas that you've seen a million times presented with ATTITUDE! Teen librarians will find some ideas in here, but don't buy it for your collection unless you want them to make F You in pompoms.

[Jessica Sorenson]

**I received this book as part of Goodreads Giveaways**

This book was very cute!

I felt like I was writing it, or we could be friends lol

I loved the mid section with drink recipes from Mamrie Hart!

I have plenty of great ideas now!

[Sherry]

Many projects, most are shown in simple and how-to steps, I really like the Permanent Planter on page 73 and the Tablet Tote on 245. Extremely motivational, unique projects combine to make a good DIY book. However, the frequent use of 4 letter words abound.

[Kristal]

I found a lot of fun ideas in this book. None of the projects seemed overly complex but a few seemed a little too simple. There were at least two I'm sure I made in elementary school. But overall, the book makes me want check out the writer's website to see what other ideas she has.

[Chuck Knudsen]

Didn't really do anything for me. Somewhat humorous banter in between mediocre crafting. Which, I guess is good, if you're looking for some good starter crafts, but none of them seemed like things where I would be particularly proud of the results.

[Sara]

Ah, well. Also good-looking (and she's even a funny writer!), but useless.
This is the book for people who think they can't glue pom-poms to a piece of cardboard without explicit instruction, and also they don't have access to the internet.

[Donna Hutt Stapfer Bell]

Reverence guide, seriously

Not only does it have crafts, it also has good advice! Can take the p!ace of a bestie in a pinch. About the only down bit is its dependence on web sites that can poof in the blink of an eye. Other than that? Craft on!