Papertrey & Pinterest

Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest...how I love thee? To the depth of my soul, my computer time belongs to you. And it seems I am not the only one. I saw an article on CNN Online on you (a sign that you've hit it big time) and my husband comes home everyday with stories from people who are talking about you. In a tax office, so something good must be going on to be a topic of conversation in that harsh environment.

And now, Papertrey has opened an account and has started uploading project files into organized boards. Finding inspiration has never been easier. Whether you are going right from the source (the Papertrey Boards) or working off an inspiration piece, Pinterest means your crafting life has never been easier or more fun. Let me show you what I mean.

I had two pins on different boards that I used for our inspiration challenge.

The first was color (btw, I'm dying to try macaroons like this).

And the second was design.

And this is what I came up with. All the fun of creating, none of the frustration that comes with hitting the brick wall of the uninspired. Heck, I came up with this at 10 PM after a day with the kids. I put on a little Netflix, shut the door to the world, and had some time to myself. It was wonderful!

Why do I really like Pinterest? It is a way to live an inspired life.  I resisted it for a long time, despite the rave reviews and over the top gushing of my friends. I finally just jumped in feet first and life around the Lincoln household has not been the same since. I heard Pinterest described as "fantasy football for chicks". I think that pretty much nails it. So much inspiration in one place. And I'm not just talking about papercrafting. It's a lifestyle makeover. I cook off Pinterest, I decorate off Pinterest, I organize purchases on Pinterest. But probably my absolute favorite is my board of fun kid ideas. This time of year, I'm at my wit's end for entertaining the kids inside. Pinterest to the rescue. The most frequently heard request from Hank around here is, "Can I do a project?" He just doesn't realize that all my project ideas come off Pinterest! We've got very happy and creative kids and a chilled and relaxed mama around these here parts as we "project" the winter away. Hank will tell you he loves his mama "because she does art projects all the time with me." Melt my heart, you know!  I like to think I'm a creative person and the gift of creative play is one I love passing on to my children--I've got Pinterest to thank for that on an almost daily basis. 


Just a few of our activities:

Salad Spinner Art

The Ubiquitous Crayon Melt Canvas (if you are on Pinterest, you have seen this a million times)

Light board play. Although I can't recommend the Squishy Baff. I'm very mess tolerant and this stuff had me running for the hills. Maybe outside this summer I can use up the rest. 

And toddler finger painting. I should have given her yellow paint as well so she looked more like a hot dog than a crime scene from Dexter. Side note: I tossed her in the shower with her brother. Gave him a wash cloth and a bar of soap. She came out clean. I didn't have to do a thing! YAY!

So go on, jump on in. Be inspired. All the time. With everything. Never mind the laundry that is piling up, you wouldn't be doing that anyway. Perhaps a laundry room remodel will inspire you to be more productive? You just never know! You can start today with our Pinterest inspiration challenge. All the details on Nichole's blog. Happy pinning.


Supplies: 


Stamps: Wise Owl
Cardstock: Berry Sorbert, Plum Pudding, Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush
Plum Pudding Topnotch Twill and Berry Sorbert Saddle Stitch
Copics
Block Alphabet dies