Make an Edit of Your Bestie #DTIYS
Create a playful portrait edit of your best friend using drawing, collage, and safe craft supplies, and always ask permission before using any photos.
About this tutorial
Create a playful portrait edit of your best friend using drawing, collage, and safe craft supplies, and always ask permission before using any photos.
What you need
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Ask your best friend or their parent for permission to use their photo and to post the finished portrait.
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Step 2
Choose one clear photo of your bestie that shows their face.
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Step 3
Gather the materials listed and bring them to your workspace.
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Step 4
Smooth your drawing paper flat on the table.
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Step 5
Place the photo in the center of the drawing paper.
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Step 6
Lightly trace the photo's outline with a pencil to make a guide for your edits.
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Step 7
Cut shapes from magazines or patterned paper for fun costumes props and background pieces.
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Step 8
Arrange the cut shapes around and on top of the photo until you like the look without gluing.
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Step 9
Glue the chosen collage pieces onto the paper and smooth them flat.
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Step 10
Use coloring materials to draw playful details like bright hair funky glasses or a silly hat.
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Step 11
Add stickers or small embellishments for extra sparkle.
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Step 12
Write your name and the date on your portrait.
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Step 13
Share your finished creation on DIY.org with your bestie's permission.
Fun facts
How do I make an edit of my bestie for a #DTIYS?
Start by asking your best friend’s permission to use a photo. Choose a clear portrait or take a new shot together. Print or open the photo on a device, then plan your playful edits: sketch over the print, add collage pieces, stickers, or cut-paper shapes, and use non-toxic paints or markers. Photograph or scan your finished mixed-media edit, or import into a simple app to layer digital stickers and filters. Remember to credit your friend and get consent before sharing online.
What materials do I need to make an edit of my bestie #DTIYS?
You’ll need a printed photo or a device with the image, drawing paper or cardstock, pencils, erasers, colored pencils, markers, glue stick, child-safe scissors, patterned paper or magazine clippings for collage, non-toxic paints, stickers, and optional glitter glue (use non-toxic, washable). For digital edits, use a simple photo app and a tablet or phone. Always keep parental approval for photos and use protective coverings to avoid stains on furniture.
What ages is the Make An Edit Of Your Bestie #DTIYS activity suitable for?
This activity suits many ages: 6–9-year-olds enjoy simple collage and drawing with supervision; 10–13 can plan edits, add mixed-media details, and learn basic digital editing; 14+ can create more sophisticated digital or hybrid edits and manage sharing responsibly. Younger children (3–5) can join with adult help for cutting and glue. Always supervise sharp tools, adhesives, and online sharing — get explicit permission from friends and a parent before posting.
What are the benefits and safety tips for Make An Edit Of Your Bestie #DTIYS?
Making a playful bestie edit boosts creativity, strengthens friendships, and teaches consent and digital responsibility. It practices fine motor skills, composition, and photo-editing basics while encouraging self-expression. Safety tips: always ask written or verbal permission before using or posting someone’s photo; avoid including private details or locations; use non-toxic materials and supervise scissors/glue for young kids; if sharing online, set privacy controls and get parental approval.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use if I don't have magazines or patterned paper to cut shapes from?
Use scraps of colored construction paper, old greeting cards, wrapping paper, or printed patterns from a home printer as substitutes for the 'Cut shapes from magazines or patterned paper' step.
My collage pieces keep shifting or the glue makes the photo wrinkle; how can I fix that?
When you 'Arrange the cut shapes around and on top of the photo without gluing,' test placement with a repositionable glue stick, then use an even layer of white craft glue and smooth each piece with a ruler or the back of a spoon to prevent wrinkling and shifting.
How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older kids?
For younger kids, pre-cut shapes and help with the 'Lightly trace the photo's outline' and gluing steps on larger paper, while older kids can add finer 'coloring materials' details, mixed-media fabrics, or edit the photo digitally before printing for more complex edits.
What are some fun ways to personalize or extend the finished portrait before sharing it on DIY.org?
Personalize the portrait by adding a fabric collar, glitter glue highlights, a hand-written friendship note on the back, or create a short time-lapse video of the 'Glue the chosen collage pieces' and drawing steps to share with the DIY.org post.