Nope, not a crisp fall chill. Not falling leaves. Not just the scent of apple pie and pumpkin spice. Those things are in the air, sure, but there’s something else floating around too: a creative challenge.
Who’s in? Here’s how to join. Pin some inspiration and put your own spin on it.
This slightly embarrassing collection of old Halloween photos can only mean one thing: it’s time for another fall Pinterest Challenge. (This project isn’t sponsored by any company — it was originally dreamed up to push us from pinning into doing.) I still laugh at my old wolf costume and at that “lady gangster” Boardwalk photo from the 1990s. We were clearly having fun, even if the outfits were a little odd.
The Pinterest Challenge began when a friend suggested we pick one pinned idea each season and actually create it. The goal is to stop collecting ideas and start making things. Over the past year we’ve tackled a range of projects: a clothespin light fixture for a laundry room, dozens of homemade ornaments, a beanbag-style pouf for a kid’s reading nook, and some painted artwork. Each time we pick an inspiring pin and adapt it to our own style and needs.
This season we brainstormed in bed and landed on something that will probably be large, movable, buildable without fancy tools, and include chalkboard paint — because chalkboard projects are undeniably Pinterest-friendly. The final concept may evolve as we work through it, but we wanted to share a few pieces that inspired us:
- This oversized chalkboard concept
- A leaning easel-style board
- A door-sized chalkboard idea
We also invited a few guest hosts who have joined us for previous challenges and brought great projects before. They’ll be helping to showcase submissions and add fresh perspectives:
- Carmel from Our Fifth House, who tackled a stylish door project in a past challenge
- Sarah from Ugly Duckling House, who created gilded map art during a summer challenge
Here’s the invitation: pick something you’ve pinned that inspires you, adapt it, and make it your own. Credit the original creator of the idea when you share what you made — whether it came from a company catalog, a magazine, or a personal blog. The project can be any size and in any category — decor, sewing, cooking, painting, woodworking, or something else entirely. The point is to execute an idea rather than letting it sit on an inspiration board.
We’ll work through the weekend and regroup to share our finished projects the following Tuesday morning, the 30th. The goal is to recreate the fun, community-driven share-fest from past seasons where everyone linked up their finished projects and inspired one another. Stop by on Tuesday to see our results and to post links to your own creations so the whole group can enjoy them. We’ll browse entries, highlight favorites, and maybe pin some standouts for future inspiration — continuing the creative cycle in a productive way.
If you’re wondering what to tackle, think about categories you enjoy: food, crafts, sewing, painting, furniture, or imaginative costumes. The project doesn’t need to be complicated — pick something doable so more people can participate. The key is originality and effort: take the original idea and make it yours with personal touches, color choices, materials, or scale adjustments.
One final note: despite how often I mention the platform that inspired us, this event is not paid for or endorsed by any company. It’s simply a seasonal push from people who love browsing inspiration and finally want to turn that inspiration into finished projects.