Pinteresting, Very Pinteresting
by Katy on March 15, 2013 · 25 comments
I find all kinds of amazing ideas and inspiration on Pinterest. Yes, some of it is complicated and expensive, but mostly it’s just clever uses for old stuff, and new ways of using under appreciated household items.
When I saw this gorgeous arrangement of cheerful tall forsythia stalks, I knew I could recreate the look using what I already had, because:
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My forsythia was in bloom.
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I already owned a lovely large vintage glass jar.
Yes, my forsythia is not as thickly flowered as the inspiration pin, but it’s lovely nonetheless. (My yard is shady, so I’m lucky anything blooms at all!)
My cost? Free!
I saw a pin where the person used a gold leaf pen to freshen up a dowdy picture frame. I realized this was a perfect project for indoor months, so I walked over to my favorite art supply store for my own pen. Unfortunately they didn’t stock gold leaf pens, (although they offered to order it for me) so instead I bought the gold-but-not-leaf variety.
I own this wonderful vintage embroidery panel of a peacock, but I’ve never been too in love with the frame, which was a muddy white color. I would have spray painted it at some point, but it’s professional framed, which means that there’s kraft paper glued onto the back.
Luckily, all it took was a bit of time with the gold pen to make it truly shine. And I didn’t worry about getting ink/paint on the glass, as it easily came off with a razor blade.
My cost? $3.50.
When I spied these Mod-Podged map clothespins, I knew this was the perfect project for me. Because, hello . . . maps and clothespins? Katy likey.
So I set to work with a vintage map and my trusty pot o’ Mod-Podge. It’s hard to tell in this photo, but I used grey and weathered clothespins for this project, as it’s a perfect opportunity to freshen them up. I ended up making around thirty of these bad boys, as once I started it was hard to make myself stop.
I’m already using them as cereal bag clips, as well as to clip drying Ziploc bags to my kitchen cupboards. Much cuter than a regular clothespin!
Cost: Free!
So cute painted bright apple green in my son’s room?
My husband stood on it to reach the ceiling, and this was the result. Yup, free “Chair Kit.”
So far, no takers. But I did just place a Craigslist ad to see if I could drum up a new owner.
Update: Someone took the chair. Hooray!!!
Are you a fan of Pinterest? I know it gets a bad rap as a colossal time waster, but I only spend time on it when I’m watching TV, so really there’s a no harm.
Plus, I get so many great ideas!
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Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Love the clothespins! I don’t have any maps but I will try and remember to hold on to subway maps and such from vacations. It’s a great way to reuse stuff. 🙂
Just about anything paper would work, so the possibilities are endless!
Katy
What’s not to love about a no cost souvenir! Easy to carry, and virtual weight less!
I love the “free chair kit”! You are so creative!
Yes…adore Pinterest. I limit my boards, have all my favorite recipes on
there now as well as projects to do and inspiration for all sorts of things. Pinterest is a creative person’s delight!
Love the fact that the flowers are blooming in your area. Nothing here in upstate NY except some snow in the forcast. But it does make me look forward to spring!
I’ve seen a few “chair kits” around my neighborhood waiting for trash pickup, but they weren’t marketed as effectively as yours. 🙂 Also none of them ever have a cute paint job like that.
Imagine all the possibilities:
Chair kits
Pair of shoes kit (just a single shoe)
Dry book kit (a soggy book)
It never ends! 😉
Katy
My brain may have exploded. I don’t understand… “Kit”???!?! Someone explain? ;p
Sure. With some glue, clamps and a wee bit of pixie dust then a chair can rise from the ashes!
Or not.
Katy
I had to come back and find this post so I could tell you about my sighting of a “free peanut butter sandwich kit” – loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter sitting on the sidewalk near my house. Wonder what happened there?
I love it, but where was the jam?!
Katy
What a shame about the chair breaking. I know quality chairs are getting harder and harder to find. I hope a replacement come your way soon.
I’m sure I would love ( and waste too much time on) pintrest, that’s why I have never looked at it.
Free blooms are the best! I actually picked orange lilies from a vacant house down the street for my wedding bouquet last year. Best bouquet ever. 🙂
So now I have to find a pot of Mod-Podge! Thanks for the inspiration!
Have fun, it was a super easy project!
Katy
I think I’d advertise my HUSBAND on Craigslist if he broke a cute chair like that! LOL But that said, I hope your hubs didn’t get hurt.
Yep, Pinterest was a giant time suck that made me feel bad because I didn’t have time to do all those cool projects or money to buy all that cool stuff, so I ditched it.
Glad it works in a positive fashion for you, though!
I’m afraid my “guilt” might tell me that I could be doing something more productive than gluing maps onto old clothespins! Cleaning for one thing. They’re cute, though, and might be a good project for my collection of security envelope patterns (seriously, google it). I once set out a chair kit; it needed refinishing and recaning. I added a half-used sheet of sandpaper and it was gone in a flash.
I love forsythia blooms. One of my favorite signs of spring (which out here in Atlantic Canada won’t be for a while still).
They look beautiful in your house.
Thank you, and agreed!
Katy
Love the clothespins!!! Are there specific instructions? I’ve got an old atlas lying around…
I am eagerly awaiting the forsythia blooming this year. Someone donated me part of their plant last fall on freecycle and I can’t wait to see if it survived and winter and if it will bloom. This is my favorite sign of early spring.
I know you are a Goodwill scourer, but I find it easier to scour the emails of the local Freecycle listserve. Since I have access to my email most of the time I have a speedy reply-time. I just got a food dehydrator! The previous owner said she only used it once. Super excited to use that this summer!
I use Pinterest like I use boutique shopping. See ideas and figure out what I have at home. I don’t need more clutter–each monthly cleaning lady day I try to fill a bag and get it out of here. I look at Pinterest for specifics–cross stitch patterns; card making ideas, etc. They are stored in folders–someday I should go and clean them out. I did find some great cross stitch patterns to use up stash in the house to make representative ornaments for family and friends, which I am presently working through (and I will give as I finish).
I forget about Pinterest at this point and click into my account maybe twice a year.