Need a new hobby? These three viral crazes are here to stay—even when quarantine fades away
Quarantining has definitely brought out our creative sides. From parents fashioning toys out of toilet paper rolls to non-bakers pulling off Top Chef-worthy banana breads, it’s a great time to learn something new.
And three hobbies are taking over the internet. They’re so fun that we’re willing to bet they’ll last far longer than stay-at-home restrictions. Scroll down for tips on diamond painting, tie-dying and making the most delicious breakfast ever—cereal pancakes. Prepare to get hooked.
Diamond Painting
Diamond painting has become 2020’s Bedazzler craze—remember that? It’s a mix between cross stitch and paint by numbers, and there are kits on the market that have everything you need to get going. Soon, you’ll end up with a gorgeous frame-worthy mosaic.
All you do is apply small resin “diamonds” to a color-coded sticky canvas using a stylus. The bigger the diamond, the more suited it is for the younger set. Square diamonds get tightly packed in, but getting them to line up perfectly can be tricky. Round diamonds stick to the stylus a bit better but you can see gaps, making it feel a little less complete.
Grids range from cats to landscapes, even Johnny Depp—really. You’ll love the zen factor and the satisfying “snap” of the diamonds as you fill in gaps.
Diamond painting fanatics are swarming social with tips on best practices. Popular tricks include using credit cards to line up square diamonds perfectly and making the conscious effort to alternate squares so you get that sweet snap. There are friendly debates on how to tackle the canvas, from filling in one color at a time to farm plotting—squaring off small areas and filling them in first. But regardless of your preference, this hobby is a crowd-pleaser for ages 5 to 99.
22 Pieces 5D Diamonds Painting Tools and Accessories Kits
Cereal Pancakes
The latest TikTok trend is cereal pancakes—and we’re betting this craze will last awhile, as there are whisperings of a national chain looking to bring it to the masses. But until that happens, let’s learn how to make a bowl of cakey, crispy goodness you can spoon right up.
Giving butter-drenched pancakes the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” treatment is easy. First, mix up your favorite pancake batter as you normally would. Next, transfer the batter into a squeeze bottle or a freezer bag with a teeny triangle snipped from the edge. Heat your skillet and add butter or oil. Starting on the outer edge of the pan, begin squeezing dime-sized pancakes. Heat typically concentrates dead center in the pan, so working your way in will ensure the pancakes won’t burn before you have a chance to flip them.
Use chopsticks to flip the mini pancakes over one by one, or a spatula to get it done in warp speed. You may need to cook three batches before you have enough for a full bowl—but it’ll be worth it. You’ll love the crispiness around the edges that makes it feel crunchy and cereal-like. Don’t forget to add a little extra butter and maple syrup on top!
8-Pack of 4 Oz Plastic Small Squeeze Bottles and Caps
Tie-Dye
It’s amazing how tie-dye can feel nostalgic yet fresh and modern at the same time. It’s a huge trend this season and has gotten a nice upgrade since you were a kid with monochromatic color schemes and flushes of pastel watercolors that make it feel more delicate and less psychedelic.
I love the idea of tie-dying loungewear pieces, bringing new life to clothing that’s been collecting dust in your closet and camouflaging stains on baby onesies to save some cash while keeping kids looking fashionable.
Look around the house: You can tie-dye tablecloths, tea towels, socks and scrunchies. For kids itching for a quick 15-minute project, you can even tie-dye baby wipes.
Pick up a tie-dye kit—it’ll have everything you need. While setting up outdoors is ideal, you can pull this off inside. Grab a stainless steel bowl (it won’t absorb dye) and top it with the metal rack from your toaster oven—yep, we’re making it work, people! After you’ve strategically folded your item or tied it off with rubber bands, place it over the wire rack and squeeze dye directly on top. For an ice tie-dye, make a paper ring to fit around the garment to keep the ice in place.
To pull off the muted pastel color schemes that are trending right now, allow the dye to absorb for just 15 to 20 minutes, not the full 5 to 6 hours. In no time you’ll breathe new life into old threads and find yourself rummaging through the house for more things to dye—I know I did!
Tulip Tie Fabric Dye Kit
Video by Kat Vasquez
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