20 Apps All DIYers Need DLed

Hannah Schmitt
Aug 28, 2014

We’ve given you endless ways to put a DIY touch on your house, your wardrobe, your accessories and even your parties and patios. While there’s no shortage of inspiration, do you ever have trouble pulling the trigger on a project? These apps will take you from the planning stage all the way to the finished product. From brainstorming your next endeavor to purchasing the materials and picking the perfect colors, these apps deliver.

1. Skitch: It’s no secret that we love Evernote, and now we’re obsessed with their Skitch app. Use fewer words and more visuals on this app, which allows you to snap a photo, jot your ideas down on top of it and seamlessly share with others. Perfect for planning that next room makeover! (Free on iOS and Android)

2. Adobe Ideas: On the growing list of Adobe’s awesome new mobile tools, this app shines for creatives. Because you can draw freeform illustrations straight from your device, you can keep the creativity flowing no matter where you are. Sketch your DIY ideas now and tackle them later. (Free on iOS)

3. Sewing Guide: We love no-sew projects as much as the next girl, but knowing how to sew can really come in handy. Learn with this app then start tackling a brand new DIY world. ($1.37 on Android, $.99 on iOS)

4. Paper: If you’re a visual brainstormer, there’s nothing better than being able to doodle away and turn those passive ideas into real innovations. This app lets you do just that, but is so much better than pen and paper because you can instantly share with others. (Free on iOS)

5. iHandy Carpenter: Accurate measurements and precise angles are important elements of big DIY jobs. This app keeps you on point with a protractor, level, ruler and more. ($1.99 on iOS and Android)

6. ColorSmart: If you’re a big fan of color (who isn’t?!), hunting for the perfect hue can be as intimidating as it is exciting. This app helps you coordinate, match and find the perfect color for every DIY endeavor. (Free on iOS and Android)

7. iDarkroom: Even the best DIYer doesn’t always have access to a darkroom. This app puts the old school spin on your pics with plenty of filters and textures. ($.99 on iOS)

8. Penultimate: If you want serious interaction with your doodles, Penultimate delivers. This Evernote innovation even lets you search your handwritten notes! We love it so much we’ve named it a top app for writersand a top organizational tool. (Free on iOS)

9. Home Depot: If you’re serious about your DIY game, you’ve made a trip or two to a home improvement store. Make your trips much more efficient with this app, which can guide you through the purchase of everything from lumber to cement so you can get in, out and back to your awesome project. (Free on iOS and Android)

10. Home DIY With Craig Phillips: If you’ve done some simple projects and are ready to go deeper, this app will get you there. Simple to-do lists accompany in-depth videos of Phillips showing everything from how to use a power drill to how to lay flooring. (Free on iOS)

11. Bamboo Paper: If you want a doodling app that more closely mimics real drawing, purchase the Bamboo stylus to pair with this free app. It truly is as straightforward as drawing on paper, but with added features made possible by technology. (Free on iOS and Android)

12. IDEO Method Card: Every creative knows the ideas don’t always flow as fast as you wish they would. If you find yourself stumped, the app delivers a deck of 51 ways to spark inspiration. (Free on iOS)

13. myPantone: If you still can’t get enough color, download this app to have the entire Pantone library on you at all times. ($9.99 on iOS, $7.99 on Android)

14. Curator: When your creative mind has outgrown notebooks and slideshows, it’s time to download this app. Collect and organize your ideas in the most visually appealing way possible, then present them to others straight from the app. (Free on iOS)

15. Rookie: Don’t leave the photography and design to the experts! This app will make you feel like a pro with awesome filters, sweet text overlays and professional tools. (Free on iOS and Android)

16. DK Kids’ Crafts: While the name suggests this app is for kids, what DIYing adult doesn’t want to learn to cross-stitch? A short lesson and you’ll be making beauties like this, this and this. ($6.99 on iOS)

17. Mural.ly: If you’ve ever gotten a burst of inspiration right after that important meeting, this tool can help. Organize and collect your creative thoughts on a platform that can be shared with a team and combined with ideas from others. (Starts at $29/month)

18. Clear: Between your nine-to-five gig, putting an awesome meal on the table and taking care of yourself, you might have trouble finding time to DIY. Don’t worry, this app will let you schedule it out seamlessly and make the most of your crafting time. ($4.99 on iOS)

19. Yard Sale Mapper: Every DIYer knows how to treasure hunt. Whether you’re looking for a piece of furniture to upgrade or hunting for spare fabric for a brand new project, yard sales lead to great finds. (Free on iOS)

20. Brushes: As you might expect, this app lets you create beautiful paintings digitally. What you would never expect is that it keeps track of each stroke so you can track missteps and learn something new with every project. (Free on iOS)

Are you a DIY genius? What are your favorite apps for getting the job done?

'Gilmore Girls' Star Keiko Agena Just Revealed How She REALLY Feels About Controversial Lane Kim

Gilmore Girls simply wouldn’t be the same without Lane Kim. Played by Keiko Agena, Lane is much more than just Rory’s best friend. She’s feisty, hilarious, and can totally keep up with Lorelai and Rory’s hectic conversations (something not EVERYONE in Stars Hollow can do cough Kirk cough). However, the actress recently revealed how she really feels about playing a complicated, and sometimes controversial character like Lane.

Here's what Keiko Agena had to say about playing Lane Kim on Gilmore Girls.

Even though Lane and Rory are inseparable throughout the series’ seven-season run, Keiko recently revealed she’s actually super close to two other Gilmore Girls cast members: John Cabrera (who played Brian) and Sean Gunn (who starred as our beloved Kirk)!

“There is this kind of lovely nostalgia for that time, and yet also we have years since then,” she says on a recent episode of the Dear Felicity rewatch podcast (via People). “I [have] gone to both of their weddings. Our friendship is part Gilmore Girls and appreciation for that crazy time, and then part just like a million other things.”

Saeed Adyani/Netflix

The insane nostalgia surrounding Gilmore Girls means that everyone has their own annual Gilmore Girls rewatch…and that as we get farther away from the 2000s, the more glaring some of the show’s choices are. Fans have been vocal about Lane’s story arc on the show (namely the fact she had to shelve her dreams of being a rockstar when she got pregnant), and Keiko herself has thought about it more critically in recent years.

“The best thing is to have a Korean American writer [and a] Korean American actor,” she says. “I don't think that that role, cast that way, would happen today. But at that time, in 2000, it was such a different time that I definitely know I wouldn't have said no or pulled myself out of that situation at that time...Now it's just a mix of just having gratitude for having gone through that experience and having that experience.”

But even with its flaws, no one can deny how special Stars Hollow and the Gilmores are — and how much Lane has meant for people. Brit + Co writer Aleena Malik notes how Lane's experiences "mirrored many of my own, and, at a time when there was such little Asian representation, this was extremely impactful."

“In a weird way, I feel like I want to honor the experience that people had from the show, and what it meant to them, especially young Asian people," Keiko Agena says. "Because I get that comment a lot, about what it was like for them to see someone like that on screen.”

“I think I'm at a transition point in my life where I have to let go of the pressure that I put on myself to be the best version of who it is that I think that you love,” she continues. “Because I love her too. I can tell, when I meet someone who knows Gilmore Girls or who loves Lane, it's like, I recognize that love. I see that you love that person.”

What do you think about Lane Kim's character arc when you rewatch Gilmore Girls? Let us know on Facebook!

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Mindy Kaling's Book Club Is The Reading List I Didn't Know I Needed

I thought I'd discovered all of the best celebrity book clubs this year, but writing about the new novels debuting in 2025 proved I haven't. I saw an upcoming book — a riveting story that reads like how Succession might unfold in a Black family — was was surprised to find Mindy Kaling's stamp of approval. She's one of the brilliant minds that wrote for The Office, one of the best fan-favorite NBC shows to date. Also, she gave the world six seasons of The Mindy Project and multiple seasons of The Sex Lives of College Girls, continuously proving that she's as great of an actress as she is a screenwriter or producer.

Knowing this, I think it pans out that the 8 books on her book club list have intricate stories and equally pretty covers for reading that feels attainable.

Keep scrolling to learn about every book picked by Mindy's Book Studio

Amazon

The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev

Anyone would be happy to be a million dollars richer, but not Bindu Desai. She's shocked, but she's also dreading the discovering of something that happened when she was younger. The only way she feels she can bypass this unfortunate event is by choosing to move to Florida. The problem with that is her daughter-in-law Aly still lives with her. As unexpected as this move is, Aly tries to find the bright side in it. She figures that this will give her a chance to reach a turning point in her career.

Then there's Aly's daughter, Cullie. As successful as she once was in the tech industry, Cullie's been struggling and has to face her investors. She's not completely helpless because they're in love with the idea of a dating app, but Cullie doesn't really know what it means to be immersed in the romantic world. Left with no other choice, she'll have to lean on her grandmother Bindu and her mom Aly to help her do what's felt impossible — date. You know, for research purposes.

Amazon

I'll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman

The deaths of Justin Warren's grandparents have followed him most of his life and he can't stand it. He's also over the fact he lives in a town where opportunity and excitement don't exist. Despite never meeting his grandparents, it seems nothing good has come from him being born.

Stuck with making odd choices left and right, Justin eventually meets Rose Yin. The ironic thing is that he discovers she lives in a time before he was born, meaning he's somehow landed himself back in time. And guess who's still alive at this point? His grandparents.

In order to get Justin back where he belongs, he and Rose have a short amount of time to figure out what could've cause this time jump. Also, they'll have to try to rewrite history by preventing something that triggers his grandparents' deaths.

Amazon

The Better Halfby Alli Frank & Asha Youmans

Nina Morgan Clarke has been through a lot between her divorce and making sure her daughter Xandra settles in nicely at boarding school. But now it's her time to shine as a the head of Royal-Hawkins School. She's been waiting for this moment and it's finally hers.
To celebrate, Nina and her bestie Marisol decided to go on a girls' trip. Just as she's finally trusting that everything's going according to plan, Jared Jones makes an unpleasant appearance. He's all ego with his Harvard education and knows how to get under Nina's skin. Suddenly, Xandra's making huge accusations at school while Nina's embracing something that she never thought she would.

Only one question remains: Is this truly the better half of Nina's life?

Amazon

Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea

Charlotte Wu takes her organizational skills seriously and wants to make sure prom is flawlessly executed. She's doing well until a little mishap causes her to face-plant into J.T. Renner. He's the last person she wants to run into, but she doesn't remember much besides waking up years later as a 30-year-old woman. By her side is the sexy bane of her high school existence — J.T. Renner.

They're both confused about their adult lives and how they went from hating to loving each other, so they let curiosity lead the way. What they both discover is there was also more to their high school selves than they initially knew about. As much as they yearn to be teenagers again, they'll have to figure out if they want things to change or stay the same now that they know there's love between them.

Amazon

Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar

Dunia Ahmed went from being an amazing pharmacist to having her case talked about in the world of true crime. No one knows where she is as she's disappeared without a trace. Prior to that, she lived in New York and was dealing with the fallout from her engagement as well as the grief from losing her mom. In her mind, things couldn't get any worse until she realizes someone wants her dead.

Amazon

Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar

Raj and Rachel Ranjani are excited to spend time with their trusted friends in Napa Valley. They have a beautiful itinerary that includes spending time at their mansion, wine tastings, and more! But, these friends haven't seen each other in a long time.
From a cold welcome to the fact the Ranjanis don't seem to be on the same team, one weird thing after another happens. There's old arguments and rekindled crushes that rips this friend group to shreds. Worse, one of them doesn't make it make home because they're discovered dead. But, who could've wanted to kill them in the first place?

Amazon

Sorry for the Inconvenienceby Farah Naz Rishi

Farah Naz Rishi's freshman year of college was amazing in her eyes. She managed to move on from her last relationship and mom's marriage expectations, making her feel like she could do anything. She even stopped looking for love until Stephen came into view.

Neither of them feel butterflies at first, plus Farah knows there's no way Stephen would gain her mom's approval. But time gives way to a burning flame that becomes a solid bond because Stephen is there for all of Farah's ups and downs. He's become the one person she trusts with her all of her feelings and intimate moments in a platonic way.

But, sometimes love is hard to ignore when it's a slow burn that gives way to something that defies familial and societal rules.

Amazon

Drop Dead Sisters by Amelia Diane Coombs

Remi Finch doesn't get along with her family at all and knows there's nothing she has in common with her sisters. She has too many anxious thoughts in her mind that makes her keep everyone at arm's length. But, a family reunion convinces her to at least try. It all sounds great until someone dies where they've been camping.
The sisters develop an elaborate scheme to dispose of the body and eliminate the chance others will discover what happened. It's an odd way to start bonding, but sometimes traumatic things have a way of making people realize what's important.

Don't forget to check out Jenna Bush Hager's December book club pick after this!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Your ‘Love, Actually’ Character, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

With the holidays in full swing, it seems only right to snuggle up on the couch and watch Christmas movies. And the first movie that’s at the top of our list? It’s none other than 2003’s rom-com Love Actually, which stars Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Alan Rickman, Andrew Lincoln and Emma Thompson. Sure, the movie will forever tug at our heartstrings. (We are STILL upset that Sarah and Karl didn’t end up together.) But what makes the timeless holiday classic so great are the relatable characters. And, while watching the film, if you ever resonated with Natalie because she gave off major Gemini vibes, then you’re certainly not the only one.

Keep reading to find out which Love, Actually character you are, based on your zodiac sign.

Universal Pictures

Aries (March 21 – April 20): Colin Frissell

Aries like to take action and go after what they want. So are we really surprised that Colin Frissell embodies this zodiac sign to a T? Not only does he move to America to find a girlfriend, but his plan actually works, and he ends up taking her back to London with him. Talk about a man who’s bold and ambitious.

Universal Pictures

Taurus (April 21 – May 21): Jamie

Tauruses are known for being as loyal, dependable and hard-working. This is the case for Jamie, who is diligent writing his book when he meets Aurélia, who is hired as his personal housekeeper. If that wasn’t enough Jamie is patient and steady. So, when Jamie enrolled in a class to learn Aurélia’s native language and flew to her hometown in order to propose to her, we couldn’t help but think how Taurus coded he was.

Universal Pictures

Gemini (May 22 – June 21): Natalie

With Geminis, they are referred to as the sign with “two faces.” When Natalie first meets the Prime Minister, she is nice and respectful…until she utters the word “fuck” right in front of him, which he makes him smile uncontrollably (and us too!). On one hand, Natalie can be shy, sweet and polite. But whenever she’s around someone she’s comfortable (i.e. her family), she has quite the potty mouth. Could it be her celestial twin peeking through?

Universal Pictures

Cancer (June 22 – July 22): Karen

When it comes to Cancers, they are known as the nurturers of the zodiac signs. After Karen finds out about her husband’s brief indiscretion with a co-worker, one would think that her first thought would be to get a divorce and leave him. But in the end, they stay together for the sake of their children. Consider Karen a true “ride or die” partner.

Universal Pictures

Leo (July 23 – August 22): The Prime Minister

Being that he holds a high ranking position, the Prime Minister is well accustomed to being in the spotlight. While Leo’s are considered to be natural-born leaders, it comes as no surprise that the Prime Minister exudes a sense of confidence and comfortability when it comes to being the center of attention. And they are willing to protect the ones they love, which makes the Prime Minister’s remark toward the President of the United States (after he saw the commander in chief behaving inappropriately toward Natalie) that much more iconic.

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Virgo (August 23 – September 21): Sarah

Sarah was willing to do anything for her brother: even if that meant sacrificing her own happiness. Similarly, Virgos have this impeccable ability to focus and hone in on their skills or whatever they put their mind to, hence why Sarah put all of her energy into supporting her brother, who was struggling with mental illness.

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Libra (September 22 – October 22): Juliet

Some may think Julie was unfaithful when ran up to Mark (AKA her husband’s best friend) and kissed him after professing his love through cue cards. But many Libras may fall victim to this: they tend to be indecisive, and as a result, this zodiac sign could end up putting other people’s feelings before their own. And the same thing can be said for Julie, who kisses Mark after he confesses his love for her. Nevertheless, Libras are just lover girls/boys at heart.

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Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Harry

Known for being quite intense and mysterious, Scorpios can be misunderstood in many ways. (Yes, even more than Geminis…) So, it’s not hard to see clear parallels between Harry and Scorpios when he *coughs* starts having an affair with his co-worker and keeps it a secret from his wife *coughs*.

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Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Jeannie

Sagittariuses are vibrant, fun-loving individuals who enjoy a good adventure. When Jeannie meets Colin in a bar upon his arrival to the States, she is so enamored with his British accent. And she is so open to exploring a romance with Colin upon first meeting him. Well, her and her three friends, that is…

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Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Mark

Similar to how Capricorns are incredibly loyal and dedicated to their relationships (whether romantic or platonic), Mark is determined to not ruin his friendship with Peter (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor). Even though he is madly in love with his best friend’s wife, Juliet. NBD.

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Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Joanna Anderson

Joanna Anderson really is THAT girl. When she performs “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at the Christmas concert, she truly steals the show. (Not to mention that her voice is undoubtedly angelic.) So, it goes without saying that Joanna gives off major Aquarius vibes. This zodiac sign is known for being authentic and creative. Plus, Aquariuses are considered the humanitarian astrological sign. Need we say more?

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Pisces (February 19 – March 20): Sam

Sam is compassionate, empathic and sensitive; just like a Pisces. In case you need a refresher, Sam learned how to play drums so he can perform alongside Joanna in the Christmas concert, not to mention he ran through an airport to profess his love for her before she left for America. If that’s not true love, then we don’t know what is.

Who is your favorite character in Love Actually? Let us know on Instagram and Sound off in the comments below and follow us on Instagram and check out the cozy new Christmas movies coming out in 2024!

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