Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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There’s something in the air…

Nope, not a crisp fall chill. Not falling leaves. Not the smell of apple pie and pumpkin spice. Ok, so maybe those are in the air too, but you know what else is floating around? A certain challenge, that’s what.

Pinterest1

So who’s with us? Here’s how to play along. Just pin some inspiration and do your own spin.

Pintrest3

Pinterest4

Pinterest5

Yup, this highly embarrassing collection of our old Halloween photos can only mean one thing: we were into odd things as children it’s high time for a fall Pinterest Challenge (not sponsored by Pinterest or anyone else, just dreamed up by Katie Bower to make us stop pinning and start doing). I’m laughing the most at my wolf costume. Is that schnoz doing it for you, or what? Also, I’m going to totally own that Jersey Shore pic of myself as a “lady gangster” from 1996 (I’m not kidding, it was actually taken in one of those dress-up boardwalk booths at Seaside Heights).

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 last fall, our third one last winter, and our fourth one this summer (oops, spring got away from us). So slip into your Snuggie, heat up some hot cocoa and fire up those glue guns! It’s time to get this DIY party started.

Fall Pinterest 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, then I faced my sewing demons head-on and somehow made a beanbag-ish pouf for Clara’s reading nook in her closet, and last time I tried my hand at some homemade art.

This time John and I laid in bed brainstorming things that might be fun to tackle. We’re not 100% sure where we’ll end up yet (it’ll probably evolve a bit over the course of the week) but we think it’ll be big (measurements-wise), and something that we can build (but it won’t be too involved, so you guys can build it too – without any fancy tools or saws), 100% moveable (as opposed to fixed on a wall or built-in), and it’ll involve some chalkboard paint (since it’s probably the most Pinterest-tastic material out there, haha). But that’s all I’m sure about yet. And since I like a good link-fest, here are a few projects that are inspiring us:

  1. This big arse chalkboard from here
  2. This leaning easel board found here from this awesome blog
  3. This door-chalkboard from here

Oh and you’re probably wondering who else is playing 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:

Pint Banner

So here’s the part where I extend my arm with a dorky grin and a little bit of pumpkin muffin in my teeth 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 30th) 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, 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? Perhaps a wolf costume is on the agenda?

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

    • Kathryn says

      You know, Pinterest and I have a love/hate thing going on. I just feel kind of violated when someone repins something I’ve pinned. I’ll be all up in this challenge the day they have optional private pinning (in fairness, I do understand that was a key component to their swift success, the kind of viralness of it. I’m just crazy like that.)

      And Whoa! Can I just digress for a moment and say Anele, what an inspirational blog you have yourself. Congratualtions and subscribed!

    • Lauren says

      Here’s a tip – get a secondary or work email address and set up a pseudonym Pintetest account! That’s what I did for planning my upcoming wedding since I don’t want all my friends to get a sneak peek of the shindig :)

    • Melissa Breau says

      Hey Sherry
      I notice this question popped up a bunch yesterday and again today.. maybe it would be helpful to include in itals at the top of the days post the day after a book signing when the recap will be up? Or at least that it is forthcoming and that readers should stay tuned?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s a good idea! Sometimes we have so many different things in the hopper (Pinterest challenge, basement stuff, tour stuff, etc) that we just let it roll out on the blog as the posts get finished (so we don’t always know exactly when it’ll be up and don’t want to sound too cryptic and teaser-ish, ya know?)

      xo,
      s

  9. Tracey says

    Uhm, Hi, you’re in my Country Living!!!! I’m sure I’m slow to this party, but I got the November issue the other day and as I turned the page and saw your projects, I squealed, “It’s John and Sherry from YHL!!!!” My husband was not as excited as he should have been. :|

    Reply

  10. Petra says

    Too funny! Katie looks innocent while Sherry shows the funny side :)

    I’m too addicted to Pinterest, and I should do something!

    Reply

  12. Christine Schwalm Design says

    I’m pretty sure there’s some sort of metal medium you can mix in with the chalkboard paint so that it’s use your new board for chalk and magnets. And perhaps, since it comes in so many pretty colors, a little color-blocking with the chalkboard paint? Very fashion forward….

    Reply

  16. Nicole says

    Haha. Love all the old Halloween pics. My mom made a killer whale costume for my sister one year, so I have mad love for the wide range of costume choices. Sherry, what on earth are you in that picutre from 1994?? I totally thought you were the rabbit thing from Donnie Darko. I thought that was pretty hipster for a middle schooler, but then realized the movie hadn’t even come out yet! Originally I thought that was the wolf costume, but realized the wolf was the 1988 pic.

    Can’t wait to see what Clara (and Burger?) are going to be for Halloween this year!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hahaha, I have no idea! My mom and aunt dressed me up (that was my turtleneck pulled up over my head with my aunt Kay’s coat on and my mom was all “ok, smile, I’m taking a picture”).

      xo
      s

  17. Maureen says

    How the h#ll are you finding time to even do this challenge??? LOL – I have said it before, but you guys are my DIY heroes. Now, off to choose my project!

    Reply

  21. Krista says

    Not too long ago I got into some chalboard paint myself!

    I have an electrical panel in my porch. BAM! Right in your face as soon as you enter my house. So instead of covering it up or leaving it in its original grey glory like most people do in this town, I decided to do something different. (I live in a town with company built houses from the 70’s so the town of 6000 only has about 6 different styles of houses.)

    First I was going to paint it the same colour as my walls (I think you did that in your laundry room) but as I was browsing the spray paint section at the hardware store saw this glorious chalkboard paint and knew it was meant to be! So now my ugly elextrical panel has become a cute little chalkboard to write notes, reminders and since its magnetic functions as a keyholder and a place to “pin” things so I don’t forget them on my way out the door!

    So perhaps “magnetic” should be a feature you add to big and moveable :) Goodluck!

    Reply

  26. East Coast Creative- Monica & Jess says

    Hey Sherry,
    So excited to see Sarah involved in this edition! I met her at Haven and have been following her since- she’s too cute!

    Also, we have a chalkboard back splash in our kitchen and my kids love coming up with a theme every season (I let the older two 8 & 10 take care of it).

    I don’t know if Clara is cool with markers yet, but I just did a huge whiteboard wall in Kira’s room bc she wanted bright colors and to use markers. I love it and it’s a fun alternative to chalkboard. I’ll shoot you a pic of it.

    -Monica

    Reply

  30. Lisa says

    Question. I’m partially through a project and the rest will be finished this week. Does that count or is it considered cheating since it was started before the official notification? It also happens to involve chalkboard paint!

    Reply

  32. Ashleigh says

    Awesome, these are so much fun!

    I did the chalk board paint last time round for our pantry cupboards. http://www.madeinmorningside. This time I have already got a plan, it was one I wanted to do last time round but didn’t have time to save up the wine corks.

    Looking forward to seeing what else comes of it :-)

    Reply

  35. Sarah in Indiana says

    Yay! I love the Pinterest Challenge. I was just thinking this weekend that with your book and Katie’s impending baby, you wouldn’t have one this fall. So impressed that y’all are making time for it!

    Reply

  37. Amy says

    Oh man, I have a fall craft story that happened yesterday. When my grandparents moved away they gave us an enormous metal filing cabinet. I decided not too long ago that it needed to be ORBed. Last night it was relatively warm/not humid so I asked my husband to help me move the cabinet to a spot in the garage where I could paint it. Well, he got all excited and wanted to help spray paint. I kid you not – he was super excited about it and was GOOD at it. Since I had never seen him spray paint anything before (and I’ve painted multiple projects over the last year or two) I asked why he was so willing to help and said that spray painting was “manly” because he used to spray camoflague on the humvees when he was stationed in Iraq.

    Reply

  38. skeeter says

    I’ve been toying with the idea of painting my doors black, and those look awesome. Also the gold leaf map might be the coolest thing ever.

    Reply

  44. Christina @ Homemade Ocean says

    Can we talk about Sherry as a blonde?

    If I am not mistaken (which I think I remember you being blonde in your brush with gangster stardom) but dang Sherry! You look great as a blonde!!!!!

    So excited to finally be joining you for a pinterest challenge :)

    Reply

  47. Jessica says

    I will see if any of my DIY projects work well to post for Tuesday! In the meantime. I know you guys are sticklers for typos, and I have an insane ability to find them. So here you go(don’t hate me!) In the paragraph right above the chalkboard: “We’re not 100% sure where we’re we’ll end up yet (it’ll probably evolve a bit over the course of the week) but we think it’ll be big…” The “we’re” shouldn’t be there.
    I found you guys about 2-3 months ago and you’re one of my favorite parts of the work-day morning. Thanks for all you do!

    Reply

  49. Ally says

    OK…I am laughing my head off at the evolution of your Halloween costumes, $herdog :)))

    From ‘unidentified object’ in ’94 to HUBBA HUBBA MAMA in ’96! Quite the transformation! I *love* old pictures :)

    Can’t wait to see what you gals (and your men folk :) come up with :)

    xox

    Reply

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