Young House Love

DIY Home Decorating Projects, Tutorials, & Shenanigans

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Let’s Get A Little Spring Mojo Up In Here

First of all, I’m sending a huge wet internet kiss (yup, you’ll need to wipe your mouth afterwards) to everyone for their awesome excitement and kind words about yesterday’s announcement. We’re freakishly giddy to share this new chapter of our lives with you guys. There may have been misty eyes going on…

Speaking of sniffling, can you smell that smell? It’s spring Pinterest Challenge time (not sponsored by Pinterest or anyone else, just dreamed up by Katie Bower to make us stop pinning and start doing). The whole thing started nearly two years 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 fun stuff we’ve pinned (and call it… wait for it… The Pinterest Challenge). So break out your painting flip-flops (am I the only person who has those?) and let’s get this DIY party started.

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 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, the next time I tackled homemade ornaments, then I faced my sewing demons and made Clara a beanbag pouf, next I tried my hand at homemade art, then we built a leaning chalkboard, and last time we added some hallway board & batten. And this time around since my allergies are awesomely active spring has sprung, we thought we’d tackle something we’ve had on our to-do list for over a year: window boxes.

We think a few front window boxes will be the final touch to add some dimension and soft greenery to our long boxy ranch. Especially because now that our house is on the market (for all of one day, haha!) they’ll hopefully attract people more than whipping up some Pinteresty art or a furniture makeover would this time around (we’ll save those projects for the new place).

I’ve actually pinned two window-box related pics, this picture just for the eye candy of it (at $90+ bucks per box they’re purely for inspiration) and this tutorial for making them (which we might do if we can’t find ready-made ones in our price range).

We’ve already started hunting for stuff, so it’s on like Donkey Kong. Oh and you’re probably wondering who else is Pinterest Challenging along with me and K-Bo. Well, we thought it would be fun to ask different folks to “guest host” with us each time (both of whom have done something fun in the previous challenge), so we’re thrilled to have:

So here’s the part where I smile at you with red itchy eyes and pollen in my hair and humbly invite you to join in on the spring fun by doing your own spin on something you pin. We’ll reconvene next Wednesday morning (the 8th) to share our projects (you can check out all the amazing linked-up projects from past challenges here, here, here, here, and here). So just drop in next Wednesday to submit a link to your project and to see what we whipped up. In the meantime, do you have any idea what you’ll tackle this time? Is it food, craft, sewing, painting, or furniture related? Perhaps a little outdoor action is on the agenda? Wait a minute, that sounds like it involves removing your clothes…

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  1. Oh FUN! I think I’ll actually participate in this one. I better get scrambling, so much to do already before we leave for the summer. This will be a last fun final challenge.

    I still can’t believe the HOUSE news!! :) Awesome stuff though! :)

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  5. I’m so happy to see the Pinterest challenge…I love looking through the projects! So was yesterday a top comment post for you guys…over 2600?!?! Wow-za!

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  8. Yes, I have several projects started, finished yet not hung, or haven’t even begun! This will give me the push I need. Thanx for all that you do in spite of your crazy about to get even crazier schedule!

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  9. Ooh, my neighbor has window boxes that I’m totally envious of. They’re up on stilts, not attached to the house, and in the spring and summer she trains vines up the legs. And in the winter she puts evergreen branches in them. So pretty! Looking forward to seeing yours!!

    (Also, if your allergies are really getting to you, try a spoonful of LOCAL honey each day. It’s very helpful. Obviously, if it’s not local, it might still be yummy but probably won’t do much for the specific allergens in your area.)

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  10. Excited to see the results of the challenge, but I really wanted to tell you that I also have painting flip flops. They are the $2 kind from Old Navy. No worries if they get ruined and easy to slip off if I need to step away from my painting project.

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  11. NOOO today is not a good day for the pinterest challenge post! I’m dying for more details about the house!!!! :-)

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    • yes!!!!!! can’t wait, Sherry!

      also, maybe it’s just me, but I feel like you guys JUST did the board and batten – was that really the winter Pinterest challenge??? time flies!

    • I feel like I should have known as I think there were references during the board-and-batten and crown molding posts about adding value and selling points in a house. But instead I was completely blindsided and way more emotional than I should be about someone I’ve never met buying/selling a house. :) Now that I’ve sat on it for 24 hours, though, I’m totally on board. Bring on the wallpaper stripping!!!

    • Alissa, I am sure that John and Sherry can sleep now that they know that you are on board with their decision to move. Jeez……

  12. We must be “lucky” in Va Beach………….it’s just pouring rain so the pollen is thwarted for now, haha!! We are building a backyard pergola for our Pinterest challenge, I have been pinning tutorials like crazy!!!

    I’m so jealous of your new house despite the sweet wallpaper. I absolutely LOVE what I’ve seen so far especially the exterior. I can’t wait to see more!

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  13. Awww… bummed that there was no cute video this time around announcing the challenge! That’s one of my favorite parts :)

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  15. AHAHA! Yes, painting flip flops! I also have my trusty pair of painting yoga pant and painting glasses. Last spring when we painted every room in our house, I had an eye infection which had me wearing my glasses full time. Goodbye tortoise frames, Hello paint splatter frames! A year later I am still chipping it off.

    Speaking of Pinterest challenge – I challenged myself to make a new recipe from Pinterest each night. Two nights down and successful so far.

    Congrats on your new home! I can’t wait to follow your journey!

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  16. I not only have painting flip flops, I have a whole painting outfit. The same pants and t-shirt… every time. I am pretty sure every color in my house is on that t-shirt! So if anyone asks what color my dining room (or any other room or piece of furniture) is, I can just point! Haha :)

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  17. OH MY GOD! I just saw yesterday’s post and I am soooooooo excited for you guys. The new place is just gorgeous on the outside and I am so looking forward to you guys working your magic inside. Am I a sad person that I’m texting my husband and friends about your guys home purchase? Haha!

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    • I had a whole conversation with my husband about it last night in the car on our way to check out a house to potentially buy. I was like, “John and Sherry finally got their dream home! Maybe that’ll be us one day!” So, if you’re sad, so am I. :)

    • haha, I messaged my sister at work to tell her… and then when I mentioned it to my husband, who has never read your blog, he said, “that’s their third house, right?” So I guess I’m keeping the people around me informed as well. :) (My sister would totally have messaged me if she had checked your site first!!)

  18. Yay! I started a “pinspired” project last night & I was thinking that I wished there was a Pinterest Challenge going on.

    Now this gives me the push I needed to get it finished this weekend!

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  20. Ha ha! When you mentioned pinning the photo for the eye candy of it I figured you were talking about the photo you’ve got posted below there. Then I wondered if you were going to make some comment about the guy in the picture – which would have surprised me for a few reasons… Anyway, just a funny and a bit warped thought I felt I needed to share. Hope yesterday’s house showing went well!

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  24. Yay! I LOVE window boxes! I would love to add some to our house, but my husband is hesitant. He has heard that you should never add anything right against your house, because it could cause damage or be a breeding ground for pest. Obviously, you don’t have the same feeling (and I’m with you), but do you have any thoughts on this. Ever heard that wives’ tale?

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    • …because you don’t want to become a breeding ground for pests… >.<

      Ah, I can still hear Beavis and Butthead in my brain…

    • This is mostly problematic with wood and vinyl-sided houses. Moisture can get trapped between the planter and the house, leading to rot and insects attracted to the plants can find their way into the wood or vinyl seams. Brick houses like J&S’s are not so much a problem.
      One way to avoid the trapped moisture problem is to install shims on the back of the flower boxes so it leaves a wider gap between the planter and the house and reduces the chance of moisture accumulation — you don’t notice the gap from afar.
      To avoid pests, choose flowers that are naturally pest-resistant, such as marigolds and nasturtiums. Hint: If you don’t like these flowers, plant what you like and add some insect-repelling herbs among them: chives, rosemary, sage, basil, and mint.
      Sorry for the long comment. Gardening nerd here!

  25. So it won’t be in time for this challenge but at the end of the month I am throwing a Pinterest Potluck at my house. Everyone has to bring a recipe they have pinned but not yet made to the party! Should be fun!

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  26. Fun! I just started a project that I can sumbit for this. It would actually be done by now but I ran out of glue sticks for my hot glue gun. Such a crafting tragedy…

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  28. So exciting you guys are moving and for the pinterest challenge, they are always great projects. Also, random side note. Your book is being displayed (with whale bookends) on Anthropologie’s website, so awesome! I’m sure you already know about it, but it was still so cool to see! Congrats on all your success. :)

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  29. Guys, my whole life is a Pinterest Challenge! I co-author a blog that is strictly Pinterest projects. How many can I share in your linky party? Haha, jk. I’ll do a fresh one just for you. :)

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  30. Oh i’m so excited to see the tutorial for the window boxes!! My house could really do with some softening up and some colour going on…
    Congrats on the new house :) xx

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  31. Is it weird that I noticed that Sherry pinned some window-boxes this week and immediately thought, “It’s totally Pinterest Challenge time!!!”

    I’m extra excited because I’m going to be tackling a few Pin-spiration projects this weekend. It’s my first time “participating” in the Challenge!

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  33. Windowboxes will be perfect! Also, you said “Perhaps a little outdoor action is on the agenda? Wait a minute, that sounds like it involves removing your clothes…” – were you making a timely reference to the awesome song “First of May” by Jonathan Coulton? (Not safe for work or for kids in case anyone YouTubes it!)

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  35. I have painting flip flops! I think they help me avoid getting paint splodges all over the house coz you can just slip them on and off if you need to go to another room!

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  37. I was so shocked about the new house post!!! But then again I really wasn’t. It was sooo weird because,as I was reading the post about the carport pergola and thought, ” Wouldn’t it be so cool if John and Sherry ever sold their house and one of us reader would buy it?! It would be so neat to own a house John/Sherry renovated.” Then, the next a.m I almost fell out of my chair when I read that it really WAS for sale!! Lol that was weird! I would love to adopt your old house but I love my home state of WV too much:) You guys have been such an inspiration to me when I got my first place! I almost emailed you to come house crash me the last time when you were coming to WV (for your grandmas bathroom remodel) but I didn’t have the courage:) Cannot wait to see what you do with the new house!! This is as exciting waiting for your book to come out. :)

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  38. I have a full summer painting outfit… paint stained tank, paint stained shorts, and paint stained sandals! haha. Whenever my fiance comes home from work and sees me in it he gets this “oh god, what now” look on his face. lol

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  39. Yay! I just bought a super cute Fossil purse to DIY a new camera bag and that was on my agenda for this weekend, so this is perfect timing! This will be the perfect motivation to keep me accountable to making that happen!

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    • Oh! I’m excited to see this. I work at Fossil and am constantly telling people they can DIY our stuff to do whatever they need it to do (diaper bag, camera bag, tote to crossbody, etc., etc.).

  41. I’m so excited for the new house! I was looking to buy a house until I lost my job a few months ago, so I will absolutely be living vicariously through you guys!

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  42. Lots of fun! I’m kind of in the same boat as you guys, except we’re only renting the house we’re currently living in, so there’s not a lot of incentive for completing or taking on any projects until we find the new place, but maybe I can find something to do that we can take WITH us (whenever we find that place)!
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  44. Is it hard for you guys to stay motivated to make improvements on this house when you’ve got a new house with lots of fun new improvements to be made??

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    • I think we’re weird because we do this for the love (it really is not about resale since all of these things were on our to-do list even over a year ago when we weren’t even thinking of selling) so to us it’s more like closure to do the things we can’t wait to see so we can actually see them done! Haha! So weird, I know!

      xo
      s

    • I totally get that and I appreciate and admire your commitment. Going ahead and getting them done now will save you all the “what ifs” and “I wonders” about what it would have looked like if left unfinished. One question though, will Listy McListerson get a new name for the new house? Personally, I think it has a nice ring to it.

  45. I love your comment “it’s on like donkey kong”. Recently I saw a show, “Duck Dynasty” where one of the characters used that saying and said that it was coming back. Made my day. Congrats on the new house. So excited to see what you bought and your plans.

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  46. Maybe you should make a few extra window boxes while you’re at it and use them at the new house :)
    So did yesterday’s post break the record for most comments?

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  47. whaaaat! i don’t think I slept last night in anticipation of a “new House” post! C’mon guys, I’m dying here! If we all start chanting “HOUSE PICTURES! HOUSE PICTURES! HOUSE PICTURES!” would you put some up?

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  49. Yay! I think I can actually participate in one of these, since I just (as in yesterday when I was home with a sick kid) finished up a Pinterest-inspired project! Now to just take some halfway decent photos in my dark cave of a house (the drama of the brown paint continues) without one of 3 pint-sized photobombers doing their thang.

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  50. I live in the teeniest one bedroom apartment with my fiance. We dream of having a house with a yard, a garage, closets, a pantry, an office, cabinets, a bathroom vanity(i hate pedestal sinks)….

    I am so excited for your new house! I long for the day I get to walk into a house and make it mine! Can’t wait for the post tomorrow!

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