Pinterest Tips Found Worthy

by Katy on July 20, 2012 · 18 comments

If you’re on Pinterest, you’re already familiar with all the tips ranging from household, to beauty to cooking to lifestyle. They’re all so easy, so why-didn’t-I-think-of-that, so handy-dandy, so perfect. But are they too good to be true?

I decided to try a few and report back on their ease and success. And because I’m not interested making my own oreos and don’t give a shit hoot about hairstyles, I thought I would start with the stuff I like. Specifically, getting free stuff, fixing my household items using stuff I already own and creating new things from old things.

First off, those free Redbox codes that have been floating around. This tip is from Pretty Providence. And part of why this tip has had such staying power, is that it comes with a pretty graphic:

The premise is that there are Redbox DVD codes that do not expire and give you free DVD rentals, worth $1.20 apiece. I have a Redbox machine a few blocks from the house, so this was a nothing to lose endeavor. I tried three different codes:

DVDONME — Worked
BREAKROOM –Worked
REDBOX — Didn’t work
Verdict — Successful Pintest tip.

The next project was to remove water marks on my antique desk, which I my kids like to use to set their hot drink on. I ignored the Pinterest tip to aim a hot blow dryer on the water mark as that A) Is a waste of electricity and B) This is hardly a tempting mid-summer endeavor.

Here’s the water mark before its Pinterest intervention:

Here’s the during:
Here’s the after:
I left the mayonnaise on overnight, wiping it off in the morning. The water mark was still there although noticeably less apparent, so I repeated the overnight-mayo step the next night.
That water mark is still there, but barely so. Really not noticeable in real life. I had been tempted to combine this project with using up the Nayonaisse in my refrigerator, but wanted to follow the directions in able to report back to ya’ll. (Seriously, that stuff should be called “Natty-ass-aisse.” It is that disgusting.)
Verdict — Successful Pinterest tip.
The last Pinterest inspired project I attempted was to create my own version of the Urban Outfitters vintage doorknob curtain tie-back:
See? So cute, so totally ripe for a DIY lookalike project. I already had a pair of vintage glass doorknobs from Goodwill, so all I needed was the round backplate piece, some extra hardware and a tube to cover the center post. The backplate I found at an architectural hardware store down the street. I explained myself to the owner, and he helped me problem solve the project and even drew me up some plans.

This is again another reason to support locally owned businesses. Would the “owner” of Home Depot help you figure out a home improvement project?!
The only piece I was missing was the tube. I ended up dismantling a curtain rod and using a pipe cutter to cut off a few small lengths that overlapped in the center, which made me feel like a freakin’ genius. I used leftover gold paint from my chalkboard cupboard project to coordinate the metallic elements.
The Silver doorknobs, black tubes and gold backplate need a little coordination.
The Midas touch:
I still need to shorten the central posts enough to install the curtain tie-backs, but am otherwise done with the project.
Bow down to the awesomeness:
I’ll make sure to post pictures when they’re installed.
Pinterest project —  Successful!
Have you attempted any Pinterest projects? Please share your stories and links in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

Lili@creativesavv July 20, 2012 at 12:31 pm

My favorite use for vintage doorknobs is as a series of “hooks” for our jackets at the kitchen door.

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Diane July 20, 2012 at 12:53 pm

I adore those vintage doorknob curtain tie backs….so elegant, yet simple! Hooray for your DIY.

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Katy July 20, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Thank you, it’s on my short to-do list to finish them up and get them installed.

Katy

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That Other Jean July 20, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Those tiebacks are, indeed, awesome.

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Karen July 20, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Nice work!

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Alyssa July 20, 2012 at 1:06 pm

Glad to see the tips worked!

I love shopping local. However, I will say I’ve always had excellent customer service at Home Depot. I refinished a chest of drawers a few years ago, a project I’d never done before, and they walked me through each step while giving me the more cost-effective options. I love local, but when I have to go corporate, you can’t go wrong with the HD.

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Kirsten July 20, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Don’t write off all vegan mayo! Vegenaise is really good:-)
I love the vintage glass knobs!

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Katy July 20, 2012 at 2:21 pm

This is where we are going to have to disagree.

NASTY!

Katy

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Carla July 23, 2012 at 6:38 am

No, seriously Vegenaise is awesome! Regular mayonnaise eaters like it.
I do agree with you that Nayonnaise is just plain ick!

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Nancy from Mass July 23, 2012 at 6:53 am

Carla is right! Veganaise tastes like Hellmans (I think it’s called Best Foods in your area). My husband hates mayo, but loves veganaise! He even dips his fries into it!
Nayonnaise is gross.

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PigPennies July 20, 2012 at 2:12 pm

Yup, those doorknobs are hawt!

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Mindy July 20, 2012 at 2:48 pm

I’m constantly making recipes off my boards. I go back and make notes in the comment section for anyone who comes across them. I also post all the “keepers”. I’ve done several new ones this week. Here’s the link to my boards: http://pinterest.com/rindymae/
And here’s the link to the ol’ blog: http://rindymae.blogspot.com/

I tried the mayo thing on an old wood ice chest we have in our kitchen. I left a bottle of floor cleaner sitting on it and it ate through the finish, leaving an oval white mark that looks like a water spot. The mayo didn’t work on that. 🙁

We get a Red Box movie every Friday for family movie night. I’m SUPER excited to see that tip! I’m givin’ it a shot here in an hour or so! Thanks!

I actually just sat down here to search for a homemade tile and grout cleaner on Pinterest. My shower tile needs some love. Off I go….

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AnnW July 20, 2012 at 2:50 pm

Your desk looks like it needs a little love. My favorite thing is Old English furniture polish. It seems to make everything look like new again. If you don’t want to buy that, you can use brown shoe polish to touch up all the nicks. One of the best things about Pinterest is the recipes. I found a 3 minute oatmeal (real steel cut oatmeal) recipe that you make 5 days worth at a time. Look it up on my board Anngwilson – Healthy food. It has changed my life. I like the hardware store DIY jewelry tips. Ann

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Shelagh July 20, 2012 at 5:13 pm

While not all of my Pinterest experiments have worked out, I’ve dusted off my sewing machine and am making tshirt bags (http://bit.ly/MxExad) like a crazy woman, and the crusty bread from NY Times article (http://bit.ly/PsbNCs) was off the charts!

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AFS July 20, 2012 at 7:56 pm

I know that if I even look at pintrest I will get sucked in so I have stayed clear. But I’m Soooo tempted now. I love the glass door knob tie-backs. GREAT JOB!
Glass knobs always remind me of my grandmother’s house.

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Holly July 22, 2012 at 7:22 am

Wow I bet those will be beautiful! I have used a few pinterest tips. Recently I just installed our new carbon monoxide alarm and since I have drywall I drilled holes for the anchors for the screws. I remembered a tip from Pinterest about putting a post it note a couple of inches under where you’d be drilling to catch the dust that would come out. I had some freebie posties that I got at a conference so I tried it out and it worked very well! No dragging out my vaccuum for that little bit of drywall dust. If any of my tshirts get worn/won’t fit anymore I want to make those tshirt bags!

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Angela July 22, 2012 at 4:08 pm

“Pinstrosity” is a great blog about Pinterest projects gone wrong! Moral of the story: Don’t believe everything you see on Pinterest. 😉

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Rosa July 23, 2012 at 6:01 pm

I just have to ask – how much did you pay for those doorknobs?

Because I have a “vintage” house and every time we’ve had to replace or repair a doorknob it’s been ungodly expensive. The local reuse store used to sell them for like $35 – just the square metal rod for the inner workings cost me like $12 a few years ago (the front door sticks and after 10 or 11 decades something in the knob has to give…)

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