The Pinterest Challenge 2012

600 followers, 46 boards, and 5,594 pins and counting. Yes, you could say I'm into this whole Pinterest thing...just a little. Okay, a lot! Like, I have to check Pinterest at least 3 times a day to see if anyone has shared anything new that I might want to pin. Man, when I say it that way I sound a little bit addictive. (If you haven't heard of Pinterest, it's a virtual pin board for things you want to save: ideas, pictures, recipes, tutorials, etc. Genius, if you ask me...)

 

The funny thing is that I one of those rare people who actually uses the things they pin. We try a new recipe at least once a week (usually more). I search for inspiration and/or directions when I have an idea for a project. As one of my friends once told me, "If I see you pin an outfit or a hairstyle, I think to myself, 'I will probably see Marissa wearing that.' And I do!" (Of course, that was pre-baby #4 and haircut.)

Despite all that, I could probably handle a lot more "doing" and a lot less "pinning." I see my Pinterest boards as a to-do/ to-try list and it bothers me just a little bit that I'm saving all these ideas but doing very little. I mean 5,500+ that's a pretty big to-do list! Well, I saw a friend, who just had a baby- literally like 3 or 4 weeks ago, doing a Pinterest challenge on her family blog and I thought, "I should totally do that! What fun!" and then my next thought was, "Wait, can I really do this?" But then I thought, "If she just had a baby and can do this, and my baby is 4 months-old, I can totally do this. Right?" Yes, I talk to myself...moving on.

(image source)

So, here is my 30-day Pinterest challenge:

•  I will do one pin a day.
• Any projects must be at least inspired by a pin. I'm not much of a copycat. I'm more of an"inspired by" rather than "copy of" type of person. Of course, when it's a great idea why mess with it, right? So sometimes, I copy...)
• No more than 2 Pinterest recipes a week may be used. (Personally, this is where I use most of my pins, so I'm trying to expand my efforts here.)
• If the project is large (like building or organizing something), it can take up more than one day. Because, in reality, some things just take time.
• I must share my results here on the blog. I gotta be accountable, right? I'm thinking recap at least once a week...
• I am allowed one skip a week, as long as it is made up the following day. Life gets busy, especially with a baby and preschooler at home, so sometimes I have to give myself a break. However, I won't let myself of the hook...

But wait Marissa, you might be thinking, didn't you just get into Project Life? Yes, yes I did. I actually just got my stuff and I'm super excited to get started. However, I first need to organize my old photos and order some prints of new ones, probably something I should have done while I was waiting for my supplies. (I know...). Don't worry, I'll still be working on Project Life. I see Project Life as more of a marathon. (Something I'll always be doing.) While, this challenge is more of a sprint. (Short and sweet.) Don't be surprised if you see a few Project Life pins being used as well... :)

What do you think? Can I do it? Do you want to join me? Make yourself some rules, set some terms, and play along. I will start November 1st. (After all the Halloween chaos.) I picked November because:
a) there are 30 days and not 31.
b) I'd like to get it done before the holidays and the end of the year and
c) I'm totally excited to get some of these things done! So the sooner the better.

I'm thinking that I might do this at least 2 times a year, maybe 3 (spring, summer, fall), so if you just want to sit back and watch this time a round feel free. I have a sneaking suspicion that I am going to love this and you will too. ;)

Project Life Printables

If you read my last post, you know that I'm anxiously waiting my Project Life supplies. I ended up ordering mostly the page protectors and some of the cards. I opted not to order a core kit for two reasons. First, I'm not completely in love with any of the editions currently released. Ask me again in December when all the new editions are in stock. (I love the Seafoam, Baby and all 3 of the Childhood editions.) I'm holding out for the ones I love.

Second, I have a TON of cards that I found online and printed. I've spent a lot of time searching, printing, and cutting out freebies. I think I used at least two packs of card stock printing everything I found and there are 2 to 4 cards per page. No official count but I'm sure it's in the hundreds. Plus, I've made some of my own. (More on that to come.) I have a Pinterest board full of freebies, inspiration, and the digital ones that I want to buy. Let's just say I have pinned a lot! Follow me as I will probably be adding more. :)

(Sorry I can't make this bigger, Blogger is being weird.)

 

Here are a few of my favorites:

 

The Live Free: Love Life collection of freebie journaling cards from Miss Tiina. I love, love, love these. There are 3 sets so browse her freebies to find them all. I think I printed all of them out 2 or 3 times and probably will a few more times as I use them. I just discovered a few more freebies on her website that I'm excited to check out.

I love these bright filler cards from Dear Brighton. I haven't printed them out yet (ran out of card stock and ink) but I expect that I will love them and find many uses for them.

I also love the Summer Fresh collection from Simply Stories. I love this set as well. I had a little trouble getting it to print out at the right size, so I ended up with a few copies of it.

Here's a fun collection from Persnickety Prints. I love the bicycle one!

Last but not least, the Life Quote cards from the Project Life dream team at BeckyHiggins.com. Each card was designed by a different person. These ladies (all talented designers) use Project Life and contribute monthly to the website. These are a great addition to a core kit or used on their own. (This link also has other printables by Becky.)

 



So there you have it, a few of my favorites so far. However, that barely scratches the surface of what I have and what is out there.  Even if you don't do Project Life, check these out. They are great resources that can be added to traditional scrapbooking! Later, I'll share with you my own cards and how to resize digital freebies to create your own cards. Happy scrapping!

Project Life

Okay, I may be a little obsessed...I don't remember how (probably Pinterest), but I stumbled across Project Life. Mind blown. Don't know about Project Life? Basically, it's a solution-based way of scrapbooking created by Becky Higgins. This video has a little more info.
(Checkout Becky's inspiration page to see Project Life in action.)

So easy right? I love the simplicity of it. Seriously, it takes me like an hour to put together a traditional scrapbook layout. I'm a little bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my creative endeavors. Probably why the last time I "scrapbooked" was over 5 years ago. Plus, I love how much more of the story I can record. Also, I can make this as easy or as "crafty" as I want, and totally personalize it. I can use it as a quick way to catch up on years of pictures, or a more labor-intensive way to record the everyday like Project 365. I can choose one way or the other or have a mixture of it all. Love it!

I am so excited. How excited? So excited, I had everything in my Amazon shopping cart, waiting for payday. Seriously, I would check on it like everyday just to make sure that nothing had sold out. So excited, that I would spend hours looking at people's Project Life photos, layouts, and blog posts. Yeah, can we say obsessed? So obsessed that I have spent the last month searching the web for free journaling and filler cards. (Which I'll put together a post of links and share with you later.) I have spent countless nights printing and cutting out cards. I think my husband is sick of it. I have a serious little stash just waiting for my pages. I even created some cards myself! (I'll share those too, once I make sure they fit in the protectors.)

Well, guess what?! Yesterday was payday, and I got the green light from the husband to buy them today. Yay!!! So, I'm off to check out (because you know it's already in my cart online)!

So, tell me, have you ever had a something that just clicks for you and you get super excited about doing it?