Alert: Regardless of the fact that I say Pinterest ten million times (drinking game, anyone?) this wasn’t paid or perked by them or anyone else. We’re just eye-candy obsessed gals who love a good pin-fest. Sometimes while eating Oreos.
You guys know my Pinterest addiction runs deep from this heartfelt post of yore. So when Katie called me to say that she thought we should challenge ourselves to make one thing each season that’s inspired by all the amazing stuff that we’ve pinned over there (and call it… wait for it… The Pinterest Challenge) I thought it sounded like fun. It’s a welcome slap of stop-pinning-and-start-doing. Because I’ve pinned 738 things. And I’ve done four (this one, this one, this one, and this one). Well five if you count this haircut – but I outsourced that.
Look, Katie even whipped up a spiffy little graphic:
Oh and because Katie and I geek out whenever we’re together (even just virtually for a little self-issued challenge) we got more than a little goofy and decided to make this video to explain the whole idea of the challenge. And there’s a pretty exciting cameo in it (and I’m not talking ’bout Burger- although he does try to steal the show). So don’t scroll down before watching the video unless you’re a fun-hater and you wanna ruin the surprise (or you’re at work so you can’t watch videos – well I would still watch it on silent before scrolling, but that’s just me):
Ah outtakes. They’re my favorite thing ever. I’m working on a theory that outtakes are the window to the soul. My soul’s apparently a total nerd, but hey, nerd is the new jock. Anyway, I told you Katiekins and I go crazy when we team up, so you were adequately warned. Or maybe it’s just the camera that makes it impossible for me to act normal (as demonstrated here). That’s another theory I’m working on. Camera-induced-insanity.
But back to my Pinterest project. John and I were brainstorming a chandelier or hanging pendant light for the laundry room and came up with the idea of using a mega-amount of clothespins to create some sort of shade. And what do you know, when we searched Pinterest to see if anyone else has tackled something similar, the perfect pinspiration (har-har) popped up in the form of this project (originally from here) and this project (originally from here). What are the odds? Not one but two clothespin light fixtures to use as a jumping off point. Oh happy day.
So far we’ve installed a $5 light kit from Ikea…
… and have picked up these materials for the shade part of the pendant:
We’re definitely going to put our spin on things (so it might end up looking like sort of a hybrid between the two amazing fixtures above) but we’ll just have to see where we end up. I know I’m weird, but sitting on the floor playing with various clothespin patterns sounds like a good time to me.
Oh and did you catch the part in the video where we invited you to partake in the challenge along with us? First, here’s the “us” breakdown:
- Katie from Bower Power
- Emily from Style By Emily Henderson
- Lana from Making a House A Home
So here’s the part where I extend my arm with a warm smile and a wobbly curtsey and humbly invite you to join in and do your own spin on something you pin. You know, if you’re into that sort if thing. We figured we’d give everyone (and ourselves) the weekend to work on stuff and reconvene next Tuesday morning (the 2nd) to share our projects. We were hoping this thang (yes, I got twangy on you) could turn into a fun little creative par-tay for anyone else who wants to get in on the fun, so just drop in next Tuesday to see what we’ve done – and submit links to stuff that you’ve done so we can see what you’ve been up to. Maybe we’ll even pin it. And so the vicious cycle continues…
Psst- We’re talking about how photo albums are dead to us over on BabyCenter today. Check it out and tell us what you do with all your pics.
Update: If you want to get in on another challenge (with prizes), we just learned that Rebecca over at BetterLifeBags does one every month. So be sure to check that out too!
Oh em gee oh em gee! Imma gonna get pin-projecting. Love this! I think you should make it more frequent though – weekly, or monthly. Let’s face it, we’ve all got pins that would take literally five minutes to put together, but we’ll never actually do them.
I’m in!
I have to wait until tonight to watch the video but this is a great idea! I am super obsessed with Pintrest (it’s the best thing that’s happened to my wedding since getting engaged) and am hoping to incorporate all (okay, fine, most of… there are too many pins on my boards to do them all..) of the ideas I love!
Pinterest: the best thing that’s happened to my wedding since getting engaged.
Worthy of stitching to a DIY banner, I dare say…
I’m completely obsessed too- and my wedding is almost completely Pin-inspired. Virtual high five!
Glad to know I’m not the only bride filling her wedding with details from Pintrest!
Such a great idea! I definitely have my share of undone pinterest projects!
Yay! A project! This is good motivation to tackle something that I have pinned too and blog about it. It’ll keep me busy until this baby of mine decides to come. She’s already 2 days late!
Oooooh.. I’m so excited to see how your project (and everyone else’s) turns out!
You girls are hilarious. :P
Love the idea! I have the prefect project in mind.
Wait a sec! Do you know Emily Henderson? You guys are so big time. She is my style crush and I am so super jealous.
Don’t know her at all… until now! How crazy is that? She tweeted us after we mentioned her in a post and now we’re “internet friends” (thud, I just fainted).
xo,
s
That is AWESOME!!!
O.M.G. that is awesome!!! Love Emily!!! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with. How very exciting you guys. LOVED the video and the outtakes!!! I’m still laughing. :)
Honestly, I thought you were cutting her talking from something else, until the outtakes and I realized she actually filmed for you too! I was like “wow!” :)
Totally thought the same thing. I even wondered if you guys were too big time to be hacking Emily Henderson into your video as if she were *really* on board. That’s so cool!
What a great idea! I have pinned my fair share of things too, but have yet to really tackle anything on it! Perhaps this will be the week.
Thanks,
~Blair
Off to go pin more things!
super fun! can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Super exciting! And Emily! I will have to see if I can whip something up…hmmm…what to choose.
I totally thought you took outtakes from an interview with Em Henderson and made them work for you at first. You are so cool.
I’m in!
Thank you for making my morning!
My husband and I found the perfect puppy this weekend and ended up losing him….get this….in a COIN TOSS! I’ve been Debbie downer for days and completely appreciate your awesomeness to pull my out of my funk. All four of you ladies together! Holy cow this is going to be good! And I better get pinning so I can join in on the fun : )
Oh I’m so sorry Maryellen! I know an even more perfect-for-you pup will come along. Maybe you can pin a dog bed in the meantime!
xo,
s
Hi Maryellen –
I just want to tell you that I’ve been there too! We thought we were getting the perfect puppy and it fell through. I was so crushed. I tried to remember that I was only upset because things hadn’t turned out the way I expected them to… I hadn’t actually lost anything because I didn’t have it yet.
Anyway, not sure that helped so much but the puppy that we eventually got sure did. He is totally perfect and now I would never want things to have turned out differently.
And Clara’s pinata came from Pinterest, right? So 5 things. :)
I was just telling my significant other last night, “I need to set a Pinterest quota! After I reach 100 pins I can’t pin ANY MORE until I actually make something I’ve pinned!” But my BFF has also pinned stuff and she’s coming cross-country to visit next week and we are DEFIITELY making some goods! Yay!
Oh yeah! You’re right! Yesss. Five out of over 300. What are those odds? Haha.
xo,
s
In my life I have never laugh-snorted. Until today. That video is ridiculous and funny. I don’t pin myself (yet – I’m trying with all my will (bower) power not to get sucked into something new online – trust me, it’s only a matter of time). HOWEVER, I am soooooo looking forward to see what you come up with.
Also, I have no idea how you two got Emily involved but I bow down to you. She’s awesome.
I’m an avid pinner not doer. Especially for wedding stuff… Wedding planning + Pinterest is a recipe for fabulous disaster!
Amazing!! You 4 are hilarious… I will try to participate as well… weekend whip-ups here I come!
Hahahahaha, Great Video!!!
I can’t wait to see the awesome inspirations that come from the Pinterest Challenge! :D
SUPER EXCITING!!! I will accept your challenge, I WILL make that paper wreath that I have pinned ages and ages ago, and have started but left sitting there…a summer wreath, just in time for fall. Better late than never, huh?
OhEmGeee. I think I just tinkled in my drawers. xo
ha! i just did a week of menus from pinterest on my blog :D this sounds awesome!!!
Well this video made my Tuesday. If not my week. You silly girls are the bestest :)
Not design related, but I just made this delicious fake ice cream thing out of frozen banana, cocoa powder, and peanut butter last night. http://pinterest.com/pin/56748366/
I think I have a good project for the challenge though!
Mmmmmm… food definitely counts!
xo,
s
This is the BEST video yet. Seriously!!!! You and Katie even via long distance work well together. And I love the “akward” part.
I finally just got a Pinterest account, mainly because my man is OBSESSED and looks at it all the time for ideas for our new house. This way we can keep it all together and I can see where his mind is going project wise. I have a feeling that it can/will become the same type of addiction for me. Can’t wait to start some projects from it post honeymoon! Maybe I’ll pick up some Scottish plaid to make something.
This is such an awesome idea! Let me go look at my 819 pins (no joke) to see what I should make…but I’ll probably get distracted and start pinning some more. Is there a Pinners Anonymous support group I can join?
Seriously. I need that too.
xo,
s
That’s totally what happened to me. I didn’t pick anything to make but I pinned 10 more things.
Y’all are too funny!
I guess I’m a newb, but what does “pinning” actually entail? I get the concept, but is there a program or something that actually uses pins?!
Help me so I can play too!
Oh yeah- go to pinterest.com to check it out. And then head over to our facebook page to ask someone to invite you (it’s a start up, so there’s a waiting list unless you get a direct invite, which is pretty easy to score if you ask for one on our FB page). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Brandi – email me and I’ll invite you.
the wait is like five minutes… seriously, I request an invite and five minutes later there was a welcome email in my inbox.
Oh my gosh ! Dude, this is a great idea especially since I was creeping around Pinterest boards last night looking for DIY art inspiration ! I love the panel Emily Henderson ! I’ve got mad love for her :) Thanks again, guys !
Awesome idea! I’m all into fall projects right now, this is the perfect excuse!
I’m on board (get it?).
I’ve actually completed a few projects and I’m in the midst of one right now, all inspired via Pinterest! Heck, I’m pinning more as we speak…
In!! In!! I’ve got the perfect pin to try. Now, to source materials… looking forward to hearing how to submit! Maybe a collaborative pinboard? Hmm.
You just do your project and come back on Tuesday and link to it on your blog in the comment section (if you’re a blogger) or on Flickr or some other photo storage site (if you’re not on the whole blog train!).
xo,
s
Ohhemmgie. To much pinning fun! What a challenge! To bad its the one weekend where all my crafts & even food is packed since we’re moving to Richmond this weekend! I’ve wanted to make that octopus made from a pepper & hummus! Is there a winner of this challenge? Prize? a winners pin?!
We thought it made sense to make it a self issued challenge. So anyone who completes it (even if it’s a total bust) is a winner! I think we all should pin an “I did the Pinterest Challenge thing” at the end- haha.
xo,
s
Omg omg omg – this was awesome and such great morning inspiration. I’m am so in on this challenge! :)
OMG! OMG! OMG! I am SO in on this one.
I love this! Way to motivate us pinners. I’m totally in.
I’ve been wait listed for pinterest! I don’t know whether to be offended or amused! Hmmph.
Sherry and John eternally rock, however. :)
Ooh head over to our Facebook page and request an invitation. Folks are really nice about sharing them and then you can get on instantly!
xo,
s
I LOVE THIS!! And what timing… I am actually working on a pinterest project RIGHT NOW!! (Just needed to take a little YHL break) Can’t wait to see your finished project. And, that video was awesome; couldn’t stop laughing.
Um Sherry how did I miss you cutting off all your hair? You look great!
Aw thanks! It’s still in a ponytail when I’m painting or doing yard work- but otherwise I’m trying to keep it down. Just to see how long I can take it. Haha.
xo,
s
Wow! Sherry I didn’t know you cut your hair? It looks fabulous. I enjoy reading your blog and catching up on all of your home improvements. Thank you for sharing everything with us. The video is adorable!
Have a great day.
~Melissa
“Less shrill”. HAHA. I died laughing…. on the inside… because i’m at work.
I am so into this challenge! I definitely agree with the above commenter that it should be monthly. At least I’ll try to do it monthly. Thanks for introducing me to pinterest with your original post. I can’t. stop. pinning. It’s like a million crafty, style inspiration bees are buzzing around my head! Also, can’t wait to see your “chandy”, as you say!
I have most of those supplies already at home! I should do it too.
I just saw this on Emily’s blog (it came through my reader first) and I cannot wait! You turned me on to her (and BowerPower) and I think this week is going to be so funny between you guys and Katie! Thanks for sharing!
PS – Sherry I love the new cut!
For your list, don’t forget the old party pinata you created! Wasn’t that Pinterest-inspired?
Yes you’re right! I have to add that!
xo,
s
LOL – thank you for brigtening my morning here…. you guys are mega nerds – said with mega amounts of love and admiration! Laughed out loud at your wackiness :) Projects – here I come!
(FYI – we just finished our dining room gallery wall, complete with the Petersik trick of hanging magazine/newspaper pages in spots where photos will go… flawless hanging ensued :) thank you for tip!!)
I am in as well….after I finish a paper and take the pharmacy school entrance exam tomorrow. Boo tests and homework I want to DIY!
Question – is there any way to join pinterest *without* going through facebook? Because I’m just not a fan of handing over my friends’ information to a faceless company. I don’t really have the right to make that decision for them.
You can just head over to pinterest.com and get on the wait list. That’s how we joined but it took two weeks. Maybe they’re getting faster at generating profiles now though? They’re just a start up so sometimes there’s a delay…
xo,
s
I HATE Facebook. lol
They are getting faster. I went to the YHL facebook page and requested an invite after being placed on a wait list too. I was invited within two days by a fellow YHL’er but the next day I was “approved” by Pinterest anyway. So, if you are more comfortable with going that route then I would just wait for them to get you set up.
Hope this helps.
Hooray! They work so hard over there. That’s awesome!
xo,
s
True story: My mother told me that she wanted to make all of our Christmas gifts this year, and if I had any idea of what I wanted, I should let her know now so she had enough time to finish it. Of course, being the Pinterest geek I am, I remembered that I had pinned this little ditty (http://pinterest.com/pin/17025980/) and told her that was exactly what I wanted. She ended up ordering the yarn from… wait for it… Sweden.
Two weeks later, my Dad called her while she was away, furious because she had ordered “a TON of pickles from SWEDEN!” for no good reason. Apparently, the yarn company was listed as Pickles on the credit card statement, and he didn’t understand why she needed specialty, international pickles when she could have gone to the grocery store.
Anyway, it’s become the family joke, and I can’t wait for Christmas. The end.
Hilarious! International pickles of mystery. Haha.
xo,
s
Well that was about the silliest, giggliest thing i’ve seen all day. Too much fun. I have a pretend internet friendship with you and Katie. Enjoy your challenge!
Bah! I do too! I am like “OMG, What would Sherry and Katie think about this?!?!?!?”
Bwahaha- love outtakes, and LOVED John’s directing skillz (“Less shrill”)!
Squeeeeeeel! So excited yo. The work I had to do to actually view the video was worth it. I have no speakers at work so I tried to watch it on my phone but I could only get the sound. So I set up my phone to play while the video played on my computer. Dedication pays off.
Aaaaah, I have so much pinning to do! We’re expecting our first baby in a few months so now I have an excuse to start making all the baby stuff I’ve been pinning :)
Wahoo! Thanks for that die hard dedication! Haha. And congrats on the little one on the way!
xo,
s
Love the clothespin light fixture idea. So much fun! Can’t wait to see the finished project!