When you’re feeling down, there’s nothing quite like creating something special. We all love that positive rush of gathering the materials, getting your project organized, and giving it shape with your own two hands. When times are hard, we can lift our spirits with engaging crafts. Crafting holds many other benefits, such as improving dexterity and keeping your mind sharp. This is a therapeutic activity you can do at home and share with others.
There are many excellent resources available to help you, but one that has exploded in popularity is Pinterest. There are so many crafty people posting on Pinterest daily, you can spend all day just looking at what they’ve created. Best of all, many of the projects you’ll find there include step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions. Let’s look at how you can use this free website to find new ways to express yourself.
How to Use Pinterest
Pinterest is a social media site, which allows people a way to gather together ideas and “pin” them for future use. These pins are visual bookmarks for images or websites. Each board is a collection of these pins. For instance, you can have boards dedicated to quilting, knitting, or recipes. Not only will you be making your own pins, but you can see what other people have pinned.
It’s easy to get started! Make an account at pinterest.com, and create boards for projects you’d like to do. You can look at other people’s boards to give you an idea, then use Pinterest’s’ search bar to find inspiration for that next unique creation! You can start adding pins to your boards either by adding other people’s pins, or you can use the Save Pin button to add your own links. Before you know it, you’ll have access to all the projects you could ever want!
Sometimes you’ll find a person with great taste on Pinterest you want to follow, and you also probably have friends who already use the site. When you’d like to keep up with what people post on Pinterest, click on their name or profile picture, click the “follow” button, and you’ll be alerted when they’ve added something new. You can also follow a person’s board, which is excellent for keeping track of a specific subject.
From Pin to Finished Pinterest Crafts
Once you’ve filled a board with some pins, you might want to start working on a project. As we said, many of the pins you find will lead to full step-by-step instructions. For instance, a quick search of “needlepoint” turns up countless free needlepoint patterns you can do at home. But if you find a craft you’d love to do and the instructions aren’t included, don’t give up; try searching for the name of the pin, or search for similar projects. Eventually you’ll find instructions for what you’d like to do, or close enough to get the job done.
Of course, you might want to try your hand at something new. Perhaps you’d like to try scrapbooking or leatherwork, but you’re not sure how to begin. Don’t worry, there are plenty of guides to getting started! Everyone had to get started in that craft somehow, so there are plenty of resources for first timers. Simply add the word “beginner” to your search, to better help you get started.
Sharing the Joy of Crafting
If you’re planning a craft, why not invite a friend to join along? Depending on the craft, a second person wouldn’t add too much extra expense. Make an afternoon or evening of it, and the craft itself can serve as a reminder of the wonderful memory. If you know someone who is feeling down, show some compassion and ask if they’d like to do a fun craft with you.
If you’d like to craft with children or grandkids, Pinterest has you covered. Simply add “for kids” to your search, and you’ll find more positive activities than you could do that are kid-friendly. When crafting with children, it’s important to remember that the skills they learn—and the time you spend together—are far more important than the final product. The more you allow the child to do for themselves, the more they’ll treasure the finished craft.
Whether you just need a short break, or some serious art therapy, we hope we’ve given you what you need to get started with Pinterest crafts! At Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, we know the value of expressing yourself, which is why we develop memorial services celebrating the personality of each unique individual. For more information about our services, please visit our website.
What are some of your favorite Pinterest crafts? Please share them in the comments below.
