Yes, Katie B (and Will & Jeremy) drove up to Virginia to visit us this past weekend. They arrived quietly, like playful guests who know exactly how to surprise you. Among other things, we posed in the yard holding large white signs and enjoyed a relaxed get-together. We’ll share more details about what we did later this week, but for now we want to announce the second Pinterest Challenge. Just to be clear, this challenge isn’t sponsored or endorsed by Pinterest — it’s something we do because we love the site and the endless inspiration it offers.
My fondness for Pinterest runs deep, as I’ve mentioned before, so when Katie called a few months ago suggesting we turn our pinned ideas into seasonal projects, I loved the idea. She proposed making one thing each season inspired by pins — and thus the Pinterest Challenge was born. The goal is simple: stop pinning and start creating. I’ve personally pinned hundreds of ideas and completed only a tiny fraction of them, so this challenge is the perfect push to do more.
We had a lot of fun with our first Pinterest Challenge this summer. For that challenge, John and I made a DIY clothespin light fixture for the laundry room. For the fall edition, we decided a seasonal project would be fitting. With the holidays approaching, I chose to focus on creating a collection of Pinterest-inspired ornaments to achieve a charming, homemade holiday aesthetic.
I’ve already saved dozens of ornament ideas to my boards, and John and I will experiment with a few different techniques and materials. We’re not sure yet exactly which concepts we’ll use or how our versions will turn out, but we’ll document the process and share the results when the challenge wraps up next week. The fun part of this challenge is putting our own spin on familiar ideas and discovering how small adjustments can create unique, personal pieces.
We invited a few friends to join us and guest-host different editions. We’re excited to have talented and handy contributors who bring diverse skills and perspectives. Their participation helps make the challenge more engaging and offers readers a broader range of projects and how-to tips. Collaboration like this turns a single project into a community event and encourages everyone to try something new.
-
Ana, known for practical and inspiring DIY projects, will share her ideas and tricks for executing creative builds with basic tools and materials.
-
Erin, who impressed us with a beautiful DIY orb chandelier during our first Pinterest Challenge, brings elegance and innovation to the table and will showcase her take on seasonal decor.
We invite you to join us and create your own version of something you’ve pinned. The only rule is to make something inspired by your pins — it can be big or small, decorative, sewn, cooked, or anything else you find inspiring. We’re giving everyone the weekend to work on their projects and will regroup next Wednesday morning (the 2nd) to share what we’ve made. We hope this becomes an ongoing event where readers link up their projects, share photos, and exchange tips.
Last time the link-up turned into a terrific showcase of creativity, and we’re looking forward to seeing what people come up with this season. Drop by next Wednesday to see our completed ornaments and to submit your own links and photos. We’ll highlight a selection of entries and celebrate the creative momentum. Maybe we’ll even re-pin a few favorites as inspiration for future challenges. The goal is simple: create something, share it, and inspire others to do the same.
One final note: although we mention Pinterest often, this challenge is independently organized and not paid for or sponsored by any brand. It’s just a group of creative people who love to collect ideas and turn them into finished projects—sometimes while watching a favorite reality show for extra entertainment.