Question: How Do YOU Use Pinterest?
So let’s have a little chat about…
My question to you is this: How do YOU use Pinterest? Do you actually use the information that you gather?
Here’s why I’m asking…
I have a Pinterest account. I created it early last year when everyone else was. It was all the rage, and I wanted in on it.
After a couple of months, it kind of lost its luster with me, and then I neglected Pinterest completely for several months…maybe even a year.
Well now I’m back, I’m using it, I’m pinning, and I’m loving it. The problem is that I find that I have these great boards with lots of beautiful images, inspiring projects, helpful hints and tips…
But I’m like the Pinterest version of Mr. Scrooge. I don’t ever use what I have. I simply want more and more and more. In other words, I have never even once referenced back to my boards. I’ve never actually used any of the ideas I’ve hoarded. I’ve never gone back and created any of the projects I found and loved so much at the time. I kind of find the whole thing a bit overwhelming.
So do you actually use your boards? Do you reference back to them? Have you actually used the tips, hints, recipes, and other goodies that you’ve gathered? Have you actually put your decorating inspiration boards to good use?
Feel free to share any info you have! Help me get out of my rut of pinning but never using.
If you’ve done a Pinterest-inspired project, I want to see it. If you’ve found a tip on Pinterest that is now part of your life and you wonder how you lived without it, I want to hear about it. If you have a Pinterest board that you now reference on a regular basis (e.g., daily, weekly), and I mean actually use, I want to see it. (Shameless plugs for your own Pinterest boards are welcome here.) 😀
Give me the scoop! I want to learn from you. I know that Pinterest is an invaluable tool, so show me how you’ve used it and incorporated the info into your daily life, your decorating, your routine, etc.
(Psstt…did you see my post on the A2D Facebook page about my personal victory? I’m pretty darn excited.)
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I have found it extremely helpful with storing recipes and random household tips. I am also saving inspiration pics for our (hopefully!) upcoming trip to London in a few years for our 10 year anniversary. My cousin and I collaborated on one board to help in planning her wedding. I wish it was around when I was planning mine!
Probably one of the more practical uses I have found is that I pin wishlist items of things I would like to give and/or receive as gifts. My husband has my wishlist link saved, and he said he will find it very helpful when he is Christmas shopping. 🙂
The wishlist idea for gifts is brilliant! I never would have thought about that. Of course, getting Matt to sigh up for Pinterest might be quite a challenge. 😀
I use Pinterest as inspiration and reference, but it’s turned out to mainly be a social media tool for my blog. I get a large percentage of daily visits from Pinterest. I have one project that that’s been seen over 110,000 times and another thats up to about 90,000 ~ all due to Pinterest. I do however, use reference my gardening and board with recipes in it. My used to be a chef husband has made many recipes from Pinterest.http://pinterest.com/designfanatic/
Pam, Pinterest has definitely given us blogger a huge boost, hasn’t it? I looked at my Google Analytics yesterday and was SHOCKED to see that Pinterest has now become my #1 referrer!! That position used to be held by Google, but Google is now #4.
I love that your husband uses the recipes. 🙂
Hi Kristi, I love your blog etc. I use my pinterest a lot. I save recipes on there (and use them), and mainly copy decorating ideas that I think I can handle and are reasonable enough for me to do without tearing walls down to accomplish. I made a picture wall that I love, and two nightstands for my daughters room with toulle stapled to the underside, I also had a “mudroom wall” created in our garage with hooks attached that has changed my life 🙂 We have no space inside for a mudroom, but we have a large wall in the garage. The idea came from Pinterest. I’m not sure how to attach pictures to this post or I would share.
Rebecca, wow! You really do use the ideas you find! I love the idea of doing the mudroom in the garage if you don’t have inside space you can use for that. I’ve seen that idea floating around, and it’s a great use of space.
I look at my recipe board quite a bit when I’m trying to figure out what to make for dinner. I’ve started a “stuff we’ve done” board where I repin things once we try them, along with comments such as whether we liked the recipe. http://pinterest.com/bookgirl/stuff-we-ve-done/
Rachel, I LOVE the idea of the “stuff we’ve done” board! As soon as I post this comment, I’m going to head over and look at it. Such a great idea so that you can leave your own feedback as to how the different projects and tips work out in the “real world”.
Oh I love that idea – the ‘stuff we’ve done/made’ board – I need to start one of those to see what I’ve actually achieved/used from the Pinterest stuff.
Hello again, Kristi! I LOVE Pinterest! I am trying so hard to get my sister hooked. She is quite the gardener and would love the inspiration. I was showing her some stuff last night and I could tell she was getting the itch! 🙂 I am planning on trying the homemade mod podge on a project this weekend (should be a blog post next week). I have used some of the tips for vinegar uses. Cleaned my washing machine to like-new. It was great! I find Pinterest, for me, is more about inspiration. Even if I don’t try what others are, it inspires me to do something. And that is key for me. Amongst varies boards, I have a miscellaneous board of stuff I pin just for my daughter, to help inspire her with her love of fashion. She has made eternity scarves out of old t-shirts, one for her, one for me! I love that, too. 🙂 You can find my boards at http://www.pinterest.com/onepinner. Happy pinning!
Laurie, sounds like you get a lot of use out of the stuff you pin! I’ve seen sooooo many of those vinegar tips floating around. I’ve probably even pinned a few, but never referred back to them to actually try them out. 😀
I LOVE my Pinterest account!!! I have made several of the projects I’ve pinned and most of them have turned out exactly how I thought they would [or better]. One of my favorites is this pin on shredding chicken: http://pinterest.com/pin/18999629647525939/ It really does work!
One thing I do is purge my boards every so often. I look over my boards and decide if I still like a certain project/idea and if so I’ll keep it for now and if not, then I delete it. I also try to always use my pins first when I’m looking for a new idea. I had a dozen bookmark folders filled up before Pinterest came along, though, and I looked through those when I needed an idea so for me it’s kind of second nature.
I also love looking at family and friends’ boards when there is a gift giving occasion coming up. It has made birthdays and baby showers much easier when I can know exactly what types of things a particular person likes.
Excellent idea to purge boards/pins. I’ll have to check mine!
If you purge an idea what happens to the connection if someone else re-pinned it? I expect the connection to original source gets lost. I have been leaving all my pins to allow for connections to stay in place, but I am really not sure if that is the case. Does any one know? I know I once tried to change the name of a board and that caused errors on links – so I changed it back.
Okay…well this is going to be overdramatic, but maybe a safe place I can confess a “pinteresting” yucky experience. I found pinterest, got obsessed, and starting designing my house with it…putting pins together of my ideas for each room. A friend and I signed up to build custom houses in the same neighborhood. Through a series of horrible events we lost our ability to build our home and mostly because of some lies of the “friend” who wanted to make sure hers was done first. Seems weird for adults…trust me, it was! Halfway through the process (while we still thought we were building) she was complaining about how to make decisions on her home and I gushed about Pinterest. I helped her get signed up and she said it helped a great deal. When everything finally came to a halt for our home and hers was finished I decided to drop in on her and see the house. Wouldn’t you know her kitchen could have been pieced together photos of my “for the home” pinterest board. Nice. I thought it was weird she seemed hesitant for me to see her new home since we were planning them together. Of course, when the builder brought a lawsuit against us, all the “discovery” truth came out about what they had done to us and what I thought was my best friend…well, it’s all history now. It’s a painful part of my past….but on to the present…I still use pinterest! We live in a fixer foreclosure and I get tons of ideas for our next projects that way. I love using the search function because it seems like anything and everything is there, with DIY instructions. I’ve found some great blogs that way. The thing I’ve used the most is the recipes. Let yourself off the hook about doing the things you’ve pinned. Even though I do a very small percentage, every once in awhile I’ll be doing something and remember seeing an easier way on pinterest 🙂
My boards are here: http://pinterest.com/bobij/
and seriously, feel free to copy them and make yourself a house just like my boards. I’M OVER IT 😉 lol.
We are still very much in the planning stages of what’s likely to be a 20 year renovation, and I find Pinterest to be the best way to keep my inspiration and idea organized. I was never one to rip pages out of magazines (can’t stand the clutter!), so Pinterest is a mess free way for me to have “style boards”.
I’ve made a few things that were inspired by something I saw on Pinterest, but no exact copies!
I have a gazillion boards (one for every room in the house and then some), but I find it helpful because then I can actually FIND things. Some of them could be consolidated (like Outdoor Decor and Curb Appeal, whoops!). You can see my boards here: https://pinterest.com/FirstHomeDreams/
I absolutely use Pinterest for ideas. That’s how I found a lot of the wonderful blogs I read and that’s how I found the project I just finished, the chrysanthemum flower mirror (sound familiar?). Wonderful recipes and the best diy laundry detergent going….all thanks to pinterest!
Oh my goodness, how can you NOT use Pinterest?! It’s the best ever! I use nearly all the recipes I pin to spice up things in the kitchen. There’s also a ton of handy hints, like dryer sheet tips and stain removers, and how to remove tarnish from jewelry. It’s been awesome, since I’m not really a “Suzy Homemaker”. I have a board filled with furniture inspiration to try building and post tutorials for on my blog. Another for things I want to include in the home we’re building. Lots of sewing projects (which are great!) and ways to keep my baby entertained. I love looking through my boards whenever I need a jolt of creativity! http://pinterest.com/lbrookeburnett/
I LOVE pinterest and been hooked since day one! I use it to keep all the ideas and inspiration that I find in one place 🙂 however with all the new things that are always popping up, I rarely have time to go back and look through them all, lol 🙂
Kristi,
It’s funny you asked these questions. I started using Pinterest over a year ago. It started out as a fun way for me to collect ideas and recipes. One day, I thought, “What am I doing? I should be making these things I am pinning!” So I started at it. Refreshing furniture, painting wall, crafting, etc… After just 2 months I decided to start a blog to share my own ideas and creativity. Of course I still use Pinterest, now as a way to “get my stuff out there”, to connect with other bloggers (such as yourself), and to keep those creative juices flowing!!
I seem to mostly use Pinterest for saving recipes. I have a weird food allergy (corn) so finding food I can eat is a challenge. A Facebook group I belong to started a couple group boards for collecting corn-free products and recipes. At this point I’m up to about 100 recipes, so it’s time to reorganize! I use it also for bookmarking the recipes I want to use again. Instead of googling the recipe again, I just go to my boards and find it from there.
I also recently made a skirt for my daughter I saved on Pinterest. And a tee refashion to go with it. I have saved a good amount of household ideas and organization items that I have yet to put to use. But I know where to find them when I’m ready!
I need to take a break from Pinterest, but it wont happen. I am on ALL.THE.TIME!! There are so many things I will never eat/bake/buy/create, but I have come up with a plan to help with the overwhleming feeling I get when I start clicking away.
I am currently planning a heavy DIY wedding and while Pinterest is perfect in helping with ideas, there is just too much. Much of it does not match, does not fit the theme, or there is just TOO MUCH. lol In regards to decor for the wedding reception I have told myself to stop pinning. I have told my friends who have been pinning for me to stop. I am going to print out my top 20 favorite decorations for our space and narrow it down to a clear THIS IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. After that there are no changes.
As far as the other categories, I may take the same approach but not as severe. Someone needs to look productive on my page!
Boy, we are buying a house next year…..pinning is going to take on a whole new meaning then.
Oh yeah, I’ve used the heck out of my Pinterest account. Mostly for DIY project inspiration, but I just started pinning recipes too – maybe someday I’ll be inspired to cook, and then my husband will support my Pinterest addiction! 😉 But I’ve proudly executed more Pinterest-inspired projects than I can count. Painting and distressing furniture, cleaning tips, wall art, coasters, toddler crafts and activities, gift ideas… I recently redid my bathroom and framed the mirror using a fabulous idea I saw on Pinterest, and I refinished an old table with using lace as a stencil, also an idea inspired by pins. I don’t know how to post pictures in a comment, but I have just started blogging about my projects, and almost every post so far credits Pinterest for the inspiration!
I’m a busy mostly SAHM to 5 kiddos. Mostly in that I work at our church on Sundays, watch other children in our home during the school year & we have a seasonal food concession biz (summers). Blogs have become my way of satisfying my love of reading & thirst for knowledge & connection. Pinterest is similar to blogs in this sense. I luv Pinterest & pinning for varied reasons. Here’s a few: (a) I’m visual & creative in the very fiber of my soul & being. However, my life circumstances don’t line up w me having much time to creatively play or peruse others work daily/weekly or even monthly. This has become a daily/weekly outlet for me that feeds my very soul & I’m sure makes me nicer to be around. (b) I have used a few recipes to add to our family’s menu variety w great success. (c) I have boards of inspiration for ea of my kiddos, things I think they would like & even things they have contributed. Helps me to get to know them a little better & pick things I know they would like to do or receive. Again lines up with my visual nature. I also have party ideas…who has time for thinking up & planning w this many kids? Not me I don’t need to reinvent the wheel all the time no matter how creative I am at heart. My kids will still appreciate even if I copied someone else’s ideas. (d) I have my own personal wishlist…so when someone asks I don’t have to be a deer in headlights (not thinking of myself often enough to elicit an appropriate response). Yes, classic mom & caretaker syndrome. So now I have a list of ideas to share. A list on paper or even saved on my pc, I would undoubtedly lose or forget to update. (e) I have many boards of things in the crafting; sewing; kids crafts; diy realms. I have just started to chip away at that huge ice berg of inspirations & information. But it’s there whenever the mood or need arises & is very helpful as a resource. (f) I have boards for every room in our home. Might be furniture pieces that make sense for our space or room layouts that could work for us. Might be styles or just moods those spaces elicit that I’d like to replicate. Might also be future remodel info. (g) I have dream boards that are truly about inspirations/potential goals for myself or my family. Maybe for a future time in my life. Maybe for a future living space. Maybe for something I haven’t even tried yet in life. h) I have a parenting board w resources that I know undoubtedly I will use in the coming years. (We have a DD almost 16, DD almost 13, DS 12, DS 10 & DD 2 /12. There isn’t much territory that we won’t encounter at some point with our mixed bunch.) (i) I have boards that are only for me (fashion, health, fitness, beauty)…granted right now they are just boards & pins but as my kids get older I see more opportunity for me to take time for me again in these areas.
I have a “visual candy” board which are just things that I find beautiful or soulful & inspiring to me. I have a “spaces & places” board w places I’d either like to one day visit or I simply find inspiring & like a momentary vacation in my head when I need a couple of refreshing/soulfully transporting moments in my day/week. I figure it doesn’t hurt to pin things, even if I can’t use it right now. If a board gets unwieldy, then I simply create a new one & title it as a dream (xyz) board. That way I can separate actual use for now from future use in maybe a different home/space. Lastly it’s a free resource that I can count on to be there. I don’t have to take time out of my already hectic schedule to use or get to. If I only have 5 mins, I can still get some pinning in or find information I need for all sorts of things in my daily life. Cleaning, organizing, time management, household tips & tricks, money saving, enhancing our home etc… it’s all there. It’s all there in one place, my personal reference library for living “my life”! How great is that.
I’m ADDICTED to Pinterest! Seriously, i have more than 7000 pins already and i’m pinning more and more each day. Half of my boards are wedding-related because i am selling wedding items in my Etsy shop and i absolutely love all things weddings. If Pinterest had already existed when i planned my own wedding i would probably have at least 25000 pins 🙂
The other half are DIY boards and random stuff i like, so i am pinning partly because i actually plan to use those ideas, recipes or tutorials, but i am also pinning photos simply because they look nice. I created a board with pins of DIY ideas i already tried, but most of the times i am too lazy to go through all of my pins and repin them to that board.
That is the problem with the usefulness of Pinterest in my opinion, because it won’t let you use the search function within your own boards. It happens quite often that i need a recipe or tutorial and i know for sure that i had it pinned sometime ago, but how am i supposed to find it in a board with 400 or more pins?! So i end up searching on Google instead.
But i do actually use most of my boards, just not as often as i would like to.
I use Pinterest for recipe ideas and probably use it at least once a week. In fact, I just made the ham and swiss sliders a few minutes ago 🙂 And I post DIY ideas; I’ve actually done a few of those from my board. But yeah, I have way more inspiration than I could ever actually use or accomplish 🙂
Kristi, you do pose questions that make me think about the way I interact with the world! I was just starting to use Pinterest some time ago when a post of YOURS brought attribution issues to the fore. I’d never write without citing a source, but I’d been Pinning… I decided not to Pin unless I could find the original, and unfortunately that extra step has made Pinning more cumbersome for me. It’s not that finding the original is hard (it’s usually pretty easy), but it adds an extra step and I am lazy! I do very little of it. I do, however, refer back to what I’ve Pinned.
Hi Kristi. Yes…I do use my Pinterest boards for inspiratiion and ideas and have recently completed a project that was inspired by Pinterest images. Last fall I purchased 2 garage sale side tables and knew immediately that I would transform them into beautiful bedroom stools to be placed at the foot of my bed. I had been pinning inspiration for my master bedroom makeover onto a pin board and bedroom stools were in several images. Once I had the stools/tables, the pictures were a great resource to guide the makeover and project.
See my post about the stools here;
http://elegantnest.blogspot.com/2012/08/bedroom-stools-reveal.html
And my Pinterest Master Bedroom Pin Board here;
http://pinterest.com/elegantnest/master-bedroom/
This project was a definite Pinterest inspired success!!
I do use my boards, especially recipes (my thighs protest though).
~Bliss~
You know- I do reference back to them often. In fact I have made so many of the tasty recipes that I have now had to cut back a bit because they were just too sinful & my waistline is paying for it. 🙂 But you know- we have found so many new things to change up meal time or add a little something new to our decor that I am so happy I have it available. Like I was telling the hubs- I used to spend all my time in my magazines ripping out pages of things I wanted to remember- ( I still do that ) but with Pinterest I am able to have them all categorized & orderly. They are not taking up any space in my house & I have them readily available at my fingertips whether I am at home or out & need to see something from my phone. Plus it gives me something to do while I sit in the waiting room at dance class or the Dr’s office 🙂 I love it! http://pinterest.com/firefam5/
I think you’ve found a popular topic!!!
Actually I’m a fan of Pinterest. You can find me here: http://pinterest.com/AnExtraODay/ It for me has been a great way to collect ideas. And, if you ask my husband, it’s way better than hauling my boxes of magazines across the country!!! LOL! I even wrote a post on it: http://anextraordinaryday.net/are-you-pinteresting/ 😀
But…to answer your question. YES! I do use it. I love quotes, printables, verses, and such and I’ve pinned over 600 of them on my “Inspiring Words” board. Generally I use them on my Longaberger Lifestyle Facebook page. It’s a great way to have them at my fingertips. My “Delectable Delights” & “Organics ~ Health ~ Nutrition” boards have been super helpful in keeping great recipes and healthy living ideas handy. My seasonal boards like “Merry Christmas” or “Fabulously Fall” or “Red White & Blue” have been great when I’m looking for inspiration. One of my favorite board is “DIY Household Tips” – how would I ever remember those tips if they weren’t in some easy to find place. It’s so quick and easy for me to think, “I wonder if I pinned how to?” And often I have. Last winter I was trying to decide on a paint color for my ‘studio.’ I created a paint color board, which I have since deleted. It helped me to decide on a color of pale warm aqua blue – which is a color I generally would never have chosen, but love in my ‘studio’ -all because of the ease of Pinterest. Obviously….I’m a fan and could go on and on. I’ll be over to check out your board Kristi!!!
Kristi,
I actually have a blog series called, 2 Pin or Not 2 Pin? where I take Pins, claiming to be the miracle cleaner, best exercise, and beauty related recipes, each week and test them. I give you my review and a Pin (thumbs up) or Pass (thumbs down). It’s my small way to help with the Pin hoarding. BTW, the last Pin I tested involved putting chocolate on my face 🙂
Feel free to check it out here… http://www.letsgetcrafty.org/category/pin-or-pass/
I actually use Pinterest like Wikipedia.
When I needed a DIY Copper Cleaner (http://www.letsgetcrafty.org/diy-copper-cleaner/) or when I wanted to make a shelf with old rulers (http://www.letsgetcrafty.org/my-shelf-rules/) I just went to Pinterest. I’m working on a few things off of Pinterest and I can’t wait til I can blog about it!
The MOST IMPORTANT THING Pinterest has done in my life….
Recently we lost my niece to cancer. She was 25. She was using Pinterest to plan her wedding but when it came time for her funeral, some wonderful people used recipes and flowers and the wish-lantern idea all from her boards. It was really special.
You can read about Austen’s story and her Foundation in my most recent post.
I love using it for those useful ‘tips and tricks’
Like, having Martha Stewards Measuring chart for when I’m like, ‘How do I convert ounces and pints and quarts??’
And then of course once I saw the ‘line a bowl with foil to pour your excess fat and grease into and then toss when cool’ I have been doing it ever since.
It is also useful for those little things you’ve always wanted to do but never knew how.
I now know how to make a mermaid braid and when I sleep on it, it makes the most awesome waves in my hair!
I also pinned board and batten treatments along with a tree silhouette for my daughters room for inspiration and accomplished both of those along with a very large idea for a door casing that is in the process.
Oh, one other great thing for Pinterest, when you are deciding on a paint color, I usually type it into the search and it pulls up so many great rooms and then you can see how other people have used it and if it will work for you! :’D
I love Pinterest. I used to be a major magazine picture clipper with tons, and tons of files of things I liked. Then the internet came along, I started “saving” pictures of things I liked on my computer, then came Pinterest. It was made for someone like me. I do a lot of hoarding too, but I definitely have tried some of the things I pin. I don’t pin too many recipes, but if I do, I try them out. I pin graphics from the Graphics Fairy because I use them quite a bit on the furniture I sell, and I can’t find it if I go back and try to search. I have far too many crafts, but I can’t help myself, there is always something new. I have tried several of the things I have pinned here. I tend to only pin Crafts, etc. if there is a very good tutorial to go with it. I am a very visual person, so sometimes I will even round up the pictures I pinned of things I want to try and print it so I have a visual blue print in front of me. Very interesting question! I am sure everybody uses it different ways.
I really enjoy Pinterest! I definitely use it in my decorating. My living room is designed base on a lot of what’s on that particular board. Same with my bedroom. I’m working on the hall bathroom right now. I don’t use it for recipes so much, because I already had a blog going years before pinterest, where I post a lot of recipes, but I do save a lot of the craft idea I come across, and that’s fun 🙂
I use it A TON.. I mostly use it by searching for what I want “bathroom vanity” or “clam chowder” etc.
I think the part that inspires me the most is when people have “done this” boards. I have one for ONLY my projects that I have completed. It reminds me of how much I have actually accomplished
http://pinterest.com/kimb0bimb0/i-ve-actually-done-this/
I love Pinterest, I’m a total addict. I could (and have) spent hours on there. But I pinned all loosey goosey and when I realized where my real interests were- it was going to be too much work to “repin” or edit my boards. That is one area I wish Pinterest would change- make it so you can mass select items on your boards and “move” to another… That would have saved me some heartache. Sooooo I deleted them. *GASP* and started over. I figure if it peaks my interest twice – it’s a keeper. Plus I was sick of all the broken links or the ones that were a needle in a haystack at the original source. It’s forced me to pin more responsibly. I do make a lot of the recipes. The one for the Dijon chicken is Uh-Mazing! I also found a cute tutorial on zombie charms that I made. Oh and the cleaning recipe for original Dawn and Vinegar for soap scum shower cleaner (OMG! it works like buttah, except I soaped it up too much and had suds coming out the ying yang… Other than that it’s been fun starting over now that I understand what I like a lot more. 🙂
I love Pinterest and use it daily as in I follow recipes, use DIY tutorials etc. I also store images for my future salon and for my own house, love it!
Hi there,
Well first of all – reading your post – I may have easily written that myself :D!! haha!
I do LOVE Pinterest but have noticed the same thing too – that I pin away with the intention of using all these very useful ideas in the near future, but it doesn’t always directly translate in to action.
BUT, firstly, I discovered you and your blog there which I’m very happy I did. You’ve given me LOTS of ideas, so thank you very much for that 😀
Secondly I’ve noticed that I’m far more inspired after being on Pinterest – for example, my little ‘home office’ corner of the living room actually looks nice, with a table I sanded, primed & painted, and plant and lamp and pen pots ‘just so’ and a lovely print of Louise Brooks (that famous picture that’s mainly black with just the white face and long string of pearls) strategically sitting on the back of the table, and I’m still on the lookout for a lovely ‘French/Louis’ style chair to complete the look and I’m going to jazz I’m my filing cabinet too. All inspired by my Home Office board: http://pinterest.com/clairhebblelake/home-home-office/
And then we had ugly boring lampshades; so inspired by this lady:
http://pinterest.com/pin/97601516895063796/
And using this image and others like it:
http://pinterest.com/pin/97601516895063796/
I renovated four of my lampshades (3 table lamps, one ceiling light). I’m actually pretty happy with them.
So I do think it’s had a lovely overall inspiring effect, but I do think it’s also 10 times harder for me to drag myself away from than Facebook! ;-D!!
All the best,
Clair
http://pinterest.com/clairhebblelake/
I definitely use my Pinterest boards. I think I use the recipes more than anything BUT that’s because all the decor ideas I want to use/do are things I don’t have yet or don’t have the money to go out and get. I have so many things pinned that I want to make/repurpose but I have to actually get the items first. I have tried A LOT of recipes on Pinterest though and I try to only re-pin recipes that I’ve already tried so that I can add my two cents to the caption. Normally I’ll leave something in my “like” section until I’ve actually clicked it and checked it out. One of my pet peeves with Pinterest is when someone re-pins something I’m interested in and I click it and it doesn’t take me to where I need to be. It drives me bonkers!! Other than recipes I have tried some house cleaning, organization and a few DIY craft/projects. I made an American flag yarn wreath and I pretty much love it. I use dryer sheets to dust my baseboards. I live by the Magic Eraser. I have a board dedicated to nursery ideas and kids because my husband and I are going to try to start growing our family next year. I have used a couple of the sewing techniques and tutorials I’ve found. I also have a board dedicated to my forever home because my husband and I plan on building a house within the next X amount of years and there’s some great ideas on there. Seriously, Pinterest is a great mother board for all things you don’t want to forget.
I will say that for awhile I did pin pin and pin some more without actually using them. It is kind of overwhelming, but just find a pin you absolutely love and stick with it. Try to look at the pins one at a time instead of seeing it all and going, “okay too much”. Slowly but surely you’ll do/make all the cool things you find on Pinterest! Lastly, (sorry for the year long comment) Pinterest does make me see things differently. When I’m at a thrift store/yard sale I tend to see/look at things I normally wouldn’t. I do that because I remember something on Pinterest and think, “well I could do this or that”. I think it definitely opens up your creative side to turn one thing into something completely different or new. And when I’m at a regular ‘ol retail store, I might look at something and love it but then wonder if I could make it for cheaper – I’d probably love it even more if I made it myself right? Just don’t start doing that with EVERYTHINGGGGGG. If you see a good deal on something you love – get it. And if you truely want to make it sometime later than do it. Just because you think you can make it doesn’t meant you can’t spoil yourself with something ready made now and then. =]
I use mine all the time. My biggest success was when trying to figure out what color cabinets I wanted to put in our new kitchen… My husband wanted Cherry, and I was trying to go along with it. I pinned and pinned and pinned kitchen that I loved and then realized by looking at my pinterest that most of the kitchens I pinned had white cabinets…. so we end up with White cabinets and a dark floor.
YES!! I do use Pinterest – a lot!! However, I did finally make a board of pins I’ve actually done. I didn’t browse for several weeks because I was busy doing many of the ideas I found there. Pinning to my “I did it!” board is actually incentive for me to do more, not unlike scratching items off a to do list. I have 62 pins on that board, I’ve done 4 this week, and will do 2 more today! Leslie, from http://www.thebeardediris.com, posted a blog entry about my granddaughter’s christening gown, which we then pinned to Pinterest. (I don’t have a website.) See that story here. http://www.thebeardediris.com/2011/09/08/inspired/ Thank you, again, Leslie!! Kristi, have fun with Pinterest…however it floats your boat!
My two cents: I pin a lot and I use a lot of my pins. I force myself to stop collecting sometimes and review those I have not actually reviewed. I delete if the pin is cumbersome or ends up not really being what I was looking for, didn’t work, etc. I really should set up an “I DID THIS” board to be a better community member. All in all, I LOVE PINTEREST! It organizes and inspires me all in one great place. No, they didn’t pay me for that — LOL!
Initially, I loved to pin, but never used it for anything. Now, it is a great organizational tool that I use every day. Because of Pinterest, I now make all of my laundry and cleaning products. Do you have any idea how much money you can save by doing that? It was more than I ever expected! I gather recipes and try out new ones from the ones that I have pinned… if the family doesn’t like them I delete the pin. I have done projects that I found and activities with the kids, I think of it as my little bag of inspiration on those days where I’m not quite sure what to do. Hmmmm… let’s see what I’ve pinned and maybe there is something there to entertain me for a bit. The scraps of paper on my desk are gone, all thanks to Pinterest!
Oh gosh! I use Pinterest a lot for inspiration, as a handy place to store things I’d like to make, try… as well as a place to show off. 🙂 Not long ago I wrote a post about Pinterest and some of the tips I tried: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/very-pinteresting.html
And I’ve been inspired by Pinterest a lot! Should I list the projects?
The lost socks sign: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/lost-socks.html
The tiny birdcage made of wire: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/teeny-tiny-birdcage.html
The teapot chime: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/teapot-chime.html
The garden ornaments: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/pretty-garden-well-not-quite.html
The window mirror shelf: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/good-morning-sleepyhead-mirror.html
The suncatcher: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/glitter-sparkle-and-rust.html
The retro tin storage: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/retro-look-tins.html
The jar vase on a bit of timber: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/here-little-piggy.html
The handwritten lampshade: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/tomorrow-lampshade.html
The modified old serving tray: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/diy-wine-anyone.html
The chippy paint frame: http://zefisblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/diy-word-art.html
Hm. Makes you wonder if I ever have any of my own ideas, doesn’t it? LOL
I have been pinning for maybe 4 months and I can not stop and to answer your question, yes! I actually use the ideas I pin and am loving them. Thus far I have made some DIY braclets, tried differant nail art designs, and cleaned my makeup brushes with a quick and easy mix of house hold items I already had. I have even created a home office in the corner of my bedroom, all inspired by Pinterest. My next projects include painting wine bottles and making weight watchers pumpkin muffins. Also you may want to know Pinterest is what led me to your wonderful web site.
Hello Kristi,
I’ve only been with Pinterest for a short time but love it. Having just moved my craft room from the summer kitchen in the barn to the house for year long use, I use my “What to do with:” and “What to do for:” boards as inspiration. I copy a picture to a flash drive and use it as wallpaper on my craft room computer so it is staring me in the face until it’s done. 🙂 I have used many of the ideas from Pinterest for organizing my craft space…ribbon storage, a decoupaged ball jar, a Pringles can makeover etc. My husband and I refinish furniture so I’ve also used the boards for inspiration for those projects. I had to reign in one idea to paint a china cabinet I picked up for $35 at a yard sale when I found out what it is worth..it is now holding my fabric stash “as is” in my craft space. I’m looking forward to winter when I can spend more time indoors with so many of the ideas people have shared on the internet.
I use it…and that’s how i found you. and i promise that when i make the crysanthamum (sp?) mirror for a nursery one day…you WILL get the credit!!! i love your blog! So glad i found it!!!
I use it like google now, as a search engine for tips & recipes. If I’m looking for an easier way to do something, I always check pinterest first. My sister was complaining about de-silking corn on the cob and so I looked it up on pinterest and we tried the microwave method immediately. Worked like a charm, the corn fell completely out of the shuck, no silk…effortlessly. The tip that I have used the most is using a thick rubber band to aid in unscrewing a stripped screw head. Amazing!
http://pinterest.com/bksuperstar/ and http://pinterest.com/gumptiondecor/
I have a love/hate relationship with Pinterest. I like yourself, started out with total enthusiasm over it.
Then one day I stopped. And then went back. Then stopped. And then I caught myself re-pinning the same home decor pin that I forgot I pinned and went Ok I obviously know my style by now, what do I need all these pins for if I am not translating them into real life.
So I finally did translate some inspiration photos by making a Rainbow Themed birthday party for my daughter and a lot of the ideas and inspirations came from the pins. It was great!
In turn I thought I’d pay back the favour to other parents that inspired me, and pinned my own pins from the party on it to inspire other parents who many want to do the same thing:
http://pinterest.com/northofseven/rainbow-birthday-party-ideas/
Home Decor on the other hand…I’m working on that. Still.
I’ve just stumbled upon your blog and this is the first article I’ve read and I smiled and nodded the whole way through. I was having the same thoughts yesterday. I have files of articles, pictures, recipes that I go through only when I feel like organizing my house but don’t feel like doing any actual work. Pinterest is the same thing only I won’t need to buy another file cabinet. My first week of pinning I got a warning ‘slow down’. My boards are a mess because I didn’t know what boards I wanted or needed so I saved them all into 1 big board. Plus I’m a perfectionist and everyone else seemed to have such cool names for their boards. Geek Confession – I write down all the names that I think are cool, original, inventive – they’re all saved in a spreadsheet along with the respective categories. I actually dreamt that I had made a board titled Best. Board. Names. Ever.
So now I’m going through my boards and putting things where they belong. I’m also slowing down (well trying to anyways) and started clicking on the links to see where they went but that was taking a lot of time. Plus if they went to blogs then yeah – totally distracted. One night it took me over an hour to check out 6 pins. And I added like 30 more pins – kind of defeats the purpose. So I’m makign a compromise and now I’m only looking at what I’m pinning. And now since the item is larger than matchbook size – there’s been a few where I’ve thought ‘And why did I pin that again?’
I have a few questions and I’m wondering if people can help me – by giving me their thoughts and/or directing me to where I can find this information
1. Can you have too many boards?
2. Can you have too many pins per board?
3. What happens when I move pins that people have pinned? Is their pin deleted or does it go with the pin? I know in Windows if you move a file then any shortcuts you’ve created are no longer usable. But in Windows you can also drag and drop (it was only my 2nd day when I posted on Pinterest’s wishlist).
4. Is there a way you can see what other people have pinned from you?
5. When I move a pin and/or re-pin a pin does this show up in my followers list? I was using the Pinterest App on my tablet for a couple of days before I realized that I had repinned items to boards multiple times because the Android app just re-pins – it doesn’t actually move the pin from the original board.
Thank you!!
PS – Reading through these comments gives me the same feeling I get when I’m at the self-help section of the book store “if they’re describing my thoughts, feelings, actions – ME – in words – then it means I am NOT the only one!! It means I might just be normal 🙂
I actually have a Pinterest board entitled “SAW IT ON PINTEREST AND DID IT!”. Once I do a project I got off Pinterest, I move it to that board and provide a comment about how it turned out.
I have referenced things that I have pinned but I also pin things for inspiration – not duplication. For example, many of things I pin for the fall season are simply pins that I enjoy looking at and may inspire me – even if it is something completely different. I also pin a lot of things that I use for ideas with my furniture, but it may not make sense to others. For example, I may pin a piece of art but within that artwork is a pattern or color combination that I think would be great on a dresser. I also bank pins for future reference such as the next home we build, the next wedding we have to plan, etc.. I may not use them at all right now, but I consider it no different than ripping out pages from magazines on a “just in case” basis. I follow you on Pinterest and hope to see more pins from you 🙂
I use my fashion wishlist board probably more than any other board that I have and here’s the reason why; about a month ago I completely cleaned out & organized my closet and did not hold onto any piece of clothing that I a.) thought I might wear at a future date if I hadn’t worn it in the past year b.) if a piece did not fit me currently it went into the donation pile c.) if I held onto it for a sentimental reason (exception wedding gown) it too went … and on and on… so I was left with a lot of gaps (pieces) that I need for my new “classic” wardrobe. So, I have been comparing prices by pinning, reminding myself of exactly what I need by pinning, and also a few “treat myself to” pieces by pinning. I just want to add that found a great home for my” to donate” clothing, I gave them to the girls that help out with my housework and they were so happy to receive the items. This system has worked out well for me so far, and pinterest is actually a great place to “window shop” for items. I also have a DIY Clever Ideas Board that I love! I must admit I haven’t created anything from it but I am an artist and paint daily so that keeps me busy. I love your blog btw! Wishing you many happy days ahead working on your blog & projects!