Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 440 Comments

Another Unsuccessful Attempt To Keep It Cool

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:

Pinterest Challenge

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…

CPL Light Kit In Close

… and have picked up these materials for the shade part of the pendant:

CPL Supplies

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.

CPL Bag Fun O Clothespins

CPL Wire Mesh In Circle

CPL The Clothespins Fit

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:

Pinterest2

Comments

  1. annabelvita says

    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!

    Reply

  2. Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says

    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!

    Reply

  4. Leigh says

    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!

    Reply

  6. Amber V. says

    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.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

    • Jen @ The Decor Scene says

      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. :)

    • Amanda says

      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!” :)

    • Susan says

      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!

  7. Blair says

    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!

    Reply

  11. Maryellen says

    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 : )

    Reply

    • Ruth says

      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.

  12. Rachel says

    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!

    Reply

  13. heather says

    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.

    Reply

  16. Sarah says

    Hahahahaha, Great Video!!!
    I can’t wait to see the awesome inspirations that come from the Pinterest Challenge! :D

    Reply

  17. Debra says

    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?

    Reply

  22. Jodi says

    This is the BEST video yet. Seriously!!!! You and Katie even via long distance work well together. And I love the “akward” part.

    Reply

  23. Allyn says

    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.

    Reply

  24. Crystal says

    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?

    Reply

  26. Brandi says

    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!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

    • kelly says

      the wait is like five minutes… seriously, I request an invite and five minutes later there was a welcome email in my inbox.

  27. Julia says

    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 !

    Reply

  29. Katherine O says

    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…

    Reply

  30. Monica M says

    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.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

  31. Robin @ our semi organic life says

    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?!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

  35. Diane Clayton says

    I’ve been wait listed for pinterest! I don’t know whether to be offended or amused! Hmmph.

    Sherry and John eternally rock, however. :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

  36. Courtney Renegar says

    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.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

  38. Meliss's Heart and Home says

    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

    Reply

  39. Janelle says

    “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!

    Reply

  41. Nikki says

    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!

    Reply

  43. Lauren says

    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!!)

    Reply

  44. Kristina says

    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!

    Reply

  45. sophie says

    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.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      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

    • Heather W. says

      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.

  46. Brita says

    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.

    Reply

  47. Kimberly says

    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!

    Reply

  49. Alisa says

    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 :)

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *