Young House Love

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It’s Baaaaaaack…

Yup, this highly embarrassing video can only mean one thing: we should never be on camera it’s Pinterest Challenge time (not sponsored by Pinterest or anyone else, just dreamed up by Katie Bower to make us stop pinning and start doing). My favorite part is the outtake. Yes I’m saying I’m going to pee on myself at one point. Elegance is my middle name.

The whole Pinterest Challenge thing started over a year ago 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 gorgeous stuff that we’ve pinned (and call it… wait for it… The Pinterest Challenge). It’s a welcome slap of stop-pinning-and-start-doing. And we ended up having such a great time with our first Pinterest Challenge last summer, our second one in the fall, and our third one in the winter that we’re psyched to be back with the summer edition (oops, spring got away from us – how is it July already?). So put on those slap bracelets and bodysuits (what? that’s not your choice celebratory attire?) and let’s get this DIY party started!

Pinterest Challenge Banner

The only rule is to do your own personal take on something inspirational that you’ve pinned (and link back to the original creator of the project that inspired you, be it a company like Anthropologie or a personal blog that got your wheels a turning). We especially love to pin things from sites that have “Pin It” buttons at the bottom of their posts since it indicates that they enjoy popping up on Pinterest. The project can be anything: big or small; decor or sewing or cooking related – or beyond! The first time around John and I made a clothespin light fixture for the laundry room, the next time I tackled 38 homemade holiday ornaments, and the last time I faced my sewing demons head-on and somehow made a beanbag-ish pouf for Clara’s reading nook in her closet.

This time I thought I’d paint something. Not a wall or a piece of furniture, but a piece of art. I’ve only really blogged about one attempt that I’ve made in the past few years (this guy) but it’s high time that changed – especially since art is my first love. I actually went to an art university in NYC (I have a bachelor of fine arts – which I never use!). Thankfully, John got me an awesome art supply gift card as part of my Christmas present (and all the supplies I got with it have sat unused in my closet mocking me for the past six months). I’ve already pinned some ideas, but I’m not sure what style I’ll end up going with – but I’ll be back with all of the deets when I (fingers crossed) complete the challenge next Tuesday. In the meantime, here’s what’s inspiring the pants off me (figuratively speaking – no worries I’m still wearing pants):

  1. Fabric by John Robshaw. My dad used to doodle little repeating geometric things, so maybe that’s why I’m drawn to them?
  2. Clara art. She painted me something with reckless abandon (more on that here) and I’ve always loved it. It hangs right over my desk, so it totally counts as inspiration.
  3. Here’s a cool DIY art project that I saw on Pinterest (she actually used a toothpaste lid to make a grid of charmingly irregular circles). You can read all about it here.
  4. Kristen over at KFD Designs is always inspiring me. I actually emailed her to make sure she was ok with me pinning her art since she’s a legit artist and I didn’t want to insult her by pinning it (as if I’d ever be able to do anything this awesome). She was so sweet about it and said she didn’t mind at all. She does commissioned art for anyone who wants to get this look, and as for me – I’m just using her as my muse. Haha. The color palette definitely has me drooling.
  5. Here’s another DIY art project that was actually done for a Pinterest Challenge with us. So I thought that was awesome – our little challenge inspired her to make something, and in turn, her result inspired me! Full circle, baby.
  6. Here’s a watercolor card project, but the happy colors and rough imperfect strokes are definitely speaking my language.

As for other places that I’ve found art inspiration – Michelle Armas is unparalleled (seriously, total girl crush going on) and this post about making abstract art over on Oh Happy Day has me feeling excited to tackle this challenge. Sure, I might bomb it, but at least I’m not sitting around wishing I could get back into painting! There was actually a time when my room was covered with watercolors, acrylics, and oil-paintings that I had made. Ah to be young and artistic again, haha. Oh and you’re probably wondering who else is playing along with me and Katie Bower (aka: The Esteemed Bacon-Eating Pinterest Challenge Founder). Well, we thought it would be fun to ask different folks to “guest host” with us each time, so we’re thrilled to have:

Pinterest Challenge Faces

So here’s the part where I extend my arm with a crooked smile and true paranoia of bombing it in the art department and humbly invite you to join in on the fun by doing your own spin on something you pin! We figured we’d give everyone (and ourselves) the weekend to work on stuff and reconvene next Tuesday morning (the 10th) to share our projects. We’re hoping this’ll turn into the same über fun share-fest that we soaked up for the last few seasons (check out all the amazing linked-up projects here, here and here). So just drop in next Tuesday to see what we’ve done – and to submit links to stuff that you’ve completed so we can all check it out. Maybe we’ll even pin a few things. And so the vicious cycle continues. In the meantime, do you have any ideas what you’ll tackle this time around? Is it food, craft, sewing, painting, or furniture related? Would love to hear about what you guys think you’ll do!

Psst- One more time, for the people in the back: regardless of the fact that I say Pinterest about thirty times, this wasn’t paid or perked by them or anyone else. We’re just eye-candy obsessed gals who are sick of coveting things and downright ready to do them. Well at least one of them… 

Comments

  2. Liz says

    Great timing! I’m making my friend a pinterest inspired art project for her wedding shower next weekend. Now I’ll have to take some pictures :) I laughed so hard when Sherry got knocked over…I definitely had to go back and watch that part again!

    Reply

  4. Ally says

    A BIG THANK YOU HUG to both you belly bumpin’ cuties, and the behind the scenes camera crew! This was a real bright spot in an otherwise tough day :)
    Xox

    Reply

  5. Brenda says

    I have to say that after a horrendous night of my car breaking down in some insane heat, the absolute best thing was to watch that video. I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. I think the lawn mower segment is my favorite for the sheer randomness and ridiculousness of it.

    Reply

  6. Tara says

    Had to rewind twice to watch u get baby bumped! I thought tht lawn mower was funny!! Boy did that fall take the cake. U guys crack me up!

    Reply

  7. Heidi P. says

    Ha! Loved the video :). Especially the baby belly bump. I hope her baby’s ok! lol

    I am sooooo doing this. I love your art inspirations. Hmmm, and I did just buy some canvas from Hobby Lobby the other day…

    Reply

  10. Amanda says

    oh God, that was Hilarious!!! Watching this bright and early with my son and he keeps telling me, “Stop laughing!” Yeah, he’s trying to watch his cartoons and mommy’s laugh is obviously annoying. LOL Favorite part: the smacking of the baby bump. Oh…my…God! lol

    Reply

  11. veronica bellotti says

    I saw your artical in The Sunday Times newspaper.What is the name of the colour on your bedroom wall please?

    Reply

  12. Julia @Chris Loves Julia says

    Yessss. Another Pinterest Challenge! I have completed each one so far and will definitely be playing along for this one, too. I pinned a gallery of frames with all sorts of black and white photos and art that I have been wanting to implement on my staircase wall. Thanks for lighting the fire…and giving me an excuse to go to Ikea. :)

    I just finished 6 paintings (!!)

    http://www.chrislovesjulia.com/2012/07/six-abstract-ikat-inspired-paintings.html

    And can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

    Reply

  14. designgratis says

    I was only JUST able to see the video. OH MY GOD. I cant stop laughing!

    I have decided as well I will do something (very small) for the challenge, rather than just watching from afar. Is it alright to use the sign above for my blog?

    Reply

  15. Brynn says

    Hilarious video! Love being silly like that with friends!

    So your video has prompted me to join in and I found two things I could probably get done in a weeks time, but I cannot find the original source for either! What is a girl to do? Should I just keep looking?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Maybe try posting on facebook or even on Pinterest to see if anyone knows the source?? Or try finding something similar (that has an original source) that you can link over to?

      xo,
      s

  17. Meg says

    I’m not going to admit how many times I’ve replayed the belly-bump portion of this video! I laugh every time. Seeing you guys together makes me so happy, but also makes me miss my best friend!

    Reply

  18. abby says

    Yay!!! Perfect timing! This past weekend I created curtains for my soon-to-be-born son’s nursery from a pinterest inspiration and I have yet to reveal my hard work on my blog. (I was waiting for a full nursery reveal, but this will be more fun to link to since the full reveal isn’t ready yet!) I’ve never done one of your pinterest challenges. Did I miss somewhere a Challenge button to link back to your blogs?

    Reply

  19. Elizabeth says

    So excited about the Pinterest Challenge. I also can’t wait to watch the video when I get home (no video abilities at work :( ). My BFF is coming to visit me in TX from MA next Friday!! So pumped!! We also frequently make fools of ourselves in public. Thanks for your uplifting and fun posts!

    PS The Pinterest Challenge photo is a beautiful picture of you.

    Reply

  21. Christina says

    There is one of those windtunnel things at a mall that my boyfriend and I like to visit frequently. For probably a year now, every time we pass it he begs me to go in it. He informed me that before we marry I must do it. He likes to create ridiculous ultimatums for funzies. Well I finally did it on the 4th of July. It was hilariously anticlimactic, haha!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I know right? Other than my sunglasses flying off it sort of just felt like sticking your arm out of the car while driving on the highway…

      xo,
      s

  22. Brooks_25Years says

    Ok — I feel like a failed blogger asking this question. But I am totally lost on the link up party idea. Will somebody please help me? Do I just link to your blog in my blog post…? Help! THANKS!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ll explain it all on our Tuesday morning post, but basically you link to all of the hosts and can even borrow the Pinterest Challenge banner if you’d like and at the bottom of our post there will be a link party button that you can click on to make a little thumbnail of your project pop up on our page with a link to your post! If you check out the previous challenge posts I linked to in this post it’ll probably explain it better! Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

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