This awkward little video can only mean one thing: it’s Pinterest Challenge time. The idea wasn’t sponsored by Pinterest or anyone else — it was dreamed up by Katie Bower to help people stop pinning and start doing. My favorite part of the clip is the outtake. Yes, I jokingly say I’m going to pee myself at one point. Charm and grace, right?
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The Pinterest Challenge began more than a year ago when Katie called to suggest we each try to make one thing every season inspired by items we’d pinned. Calling it the Pinterest Challenge was her cheeky way to encourage action instead of endless bookmarking. We had a blast with our first summer challenge, followed by a fall installment and a winter edition, and now we’re excited to bring back the summer version. (Spring slipped away from us this year—how is it already July?) So get set for a creative push and let’s dive into this DIY celebration.
The only rule is to create your own version of something you’ve pinned and to give credit to the original creator or source that inspired you. Anything goes: large or small projects, decor, sewing, cooking, painting, or something completely different. In past challenges John and I made a clothespin light fixture for the laundry room, I crafted dozens of homemade holiday ornaments, and I tackled a pouf-like beanbag for Clara’s reading nook. Each project was inspired by pins, adapted in our own way, and then shared back with the community.
This time I decided to paint. Not a wall or a piece of furniture, but an original piece of art. I haven’t shared many of my painting attempts here — I only posted one a few years ago — so it feels overdue to get back into it. Art is actually my first love; I studied at an art university in New York City and earned a BFA, a degree I rarely bring up but still value. John even gave me an art supply gift card for Christmas, and the materials have been waiting in my closet, nudging me to use them. I’ve collected several pinned ideas as reference, but I’m still deciding which direction to take. I’ll post the finished project when I complete the challenge next Tuesday. For now, here are the sources that are inspiring me:
- Fabric designs by John Robshaw — I’ve always loved repeating geometric patterns, perhaps because my dad used to doodle similar motifs.
- Clara’s art — she created a piece for me with bold, unrestrained strokes and it hangs over my desk. Her fearless approach is a constant reminder to let go and just create.
- A clever DIY technique using everyday objects to stamp patterns — the handmade, slightly irregular circles have a charming, approachable feel.
- Work from Kristen at KFD Designs — her color palettes and compositions are a major source of inspiration. I reached out to her to make sure she was comfortable with me pinning her work, and she kindly agreed. I’m using her pieces as a muse while developing my own voice.
- A past Pinterest Challenge project that inspired me in return — it’s rewarding to see how this project loop motivates others to create too.
- Simple watercolor cards with joyful, imperfect washes — those loose, happy colors are speaking my language right now.
Other artists and posts I’ve been enjoying include Michelle Armas’s work and a playful tutorial about making abstract art that encourages experimentation. I’m excited to dive back into painting even if the result is messy — at least I’m creating instead of just wishing I had time to paint. There was a period when my room was filled with watercolors, acrylics, and oil paintings I produced. I’d love to get back to that place of regular practice and creative risk-taking.
We also invited a few guest hosts to join Katie and me for this edition of the challenge. Kate from Centsational Girl has tackled projects like sweater pillows, and Michelle from Ten June has created clothespin vases in past collaborations. It’s been fun to meet and work with fellow creators along the way.
Consider this your invitation to play along. Pick something you’ve pinned, put your own spin on it, and share the results. We’ll give everyone the weekend to work and then reconvene next Tuesday morning (the 10th) to showcase projects. In previous seasons the linked-up projects created an inspiring and uplifting share-fest, and we hope this round will do the same. Drop by next Tuesday to see what we’ve made and to add links to your completed projects so we can all admire and learn from one another. Maybe we’ll pin a few favorites and keep the creative cycle going.
For the record: despite saying Pinterest many times throughout this post, this challenge isn’t paid or sponsored by Pinterest or any other company. It’s simply a group of people who love beautiful ideas and want to stop collecting them and start making them.