Summer Vacation: Only eight days away. Eight days until we can sleep in, sit out in the sun, travel, and not have to stress about school. Of course this is all very fun, but happens when we get tired of the routine of  sitting around on our phone or watching TV? Instead of complaining about how bored you are, try out these cheap, easy and fun projects that are perfect for summer.

Over a week long period, I was able to complete seven summer-themed projects that I had never tried before. But instead of scrolling through the depths of DIYs and new trends, use these ideas, and your creativity, to DIY your way through summer.

The best thing about DIY is you do not have to make it exactly like the instructions say too. You can make it yours. One of the best projects for this is canvas art There three projects I enjoyed. The first I enjoyed trying was using melted crayons on the canvas. A lot of the pots I saw in this particular project involved using crayons to replicate a colorful rain. I used crayons and melted a hombre pattern, and used a punny quote on my colorful canvas. In this way, instead of sticking to Pinterest, I turned this idea into a creative and personalized work of art. Three other easily personalized projects are coating leaves from a tree or bush around the house or outside to replicate the plant. Instead of spray painting red and black over the plant, I painted the plant itself and pressed it on the canvas. I didn’t like the way the dark colors, so I made it my own and used light colors instead. Another painting project I found really fun was spray painting a canvas black, and then splatter painting many colors on to the canvas. The black background really brought out the colored splatter paint, and made the canvas look better than the colors on the white canvas.

The next three projects all involved mason jars. One project I found online used sand, shells and a large candle to make a beach like setting inside the jar. However, I could find sand anywhere, so I instead filled the jar with seashells with smaller shells at the bottom, and created a small hammock out of string so I Could hang it up. This way, instead of making something I didn’t really like, I used the idea to create my own project. A luminaria is also a simple little project. By gluing gems onto the outside of the jar, and putting a candle inside, this creates a very unique and fun project.This is also a very easily customizable project. You can glue different colored gems to have the luminaria shine in different colors, or even create fun patterns with the gems. The final project I made was a lantern. I attached a chain the mason jar, and placed a candle inside the jar. However, unlike the original idea, I filled the jar half full of pebbles to personalize the latern for a unique backyard decoration.

These six projects are just a few of the many DIYs you can find online, and personalize with a little creativity. What I really loved about making these projects is you don’t have to change the whole project to make it your own. You just have to add a little something to make it one of a kind. So next school-year, when you come back to Wilcox, and your friends ask what you did over the summer, don’t tell them. Show them.