Pinterest has revolutionized do-it-yourself project inspiration-seeking, with a never-ending library of inspiring ideas at your fingertips, waiting to be replicated. But there is a gap between inspiration on Pinterest and the actual creation of your own handiwork, which involves a series of vital steps. SaveMyPins.com steps in to bridge that gap, translating virtual inspiration into actual works.
Taking Great References
The biggest problem with taking Pinterest photos for DIY projects is keeping the visual guide in a form that still has all the most crucial details. When you find the ideal craft tutorial, home decor inspiration, or woodworking project, you want good pictures that display techniques, measurements, and end results. Taking standard screenshots leaves you with low-resolution images that are blurry when you finally get around to crafting.
SaveMyPins.com fixes this by allowing you to save pins in their native high resolution. You just need to copy the URL of the pin and paste it into our software, and you can save the image with all its details. You’ll then be able to see fine stitching patterns, close-up woodworking joints, or precise color combinations when you’re not at your computer and elbow-deep in your project.
Project Folders Setup for Enhanced Organization
Before you embark on any DIY project from Pinterest, categorize your saved images into particular folders on your device. Label these folders by the specific project (“Kitchen Cabinet Makeover”), technique (“Macramé Basics”), or materials (“Reclaimed Wood Projects”). Within these folders, you can further sub-divide images into “Materials Needed,” “Step-by-Step Instructions,” and “Inspiration Images.”
This organizational system allows you to easily go back to some sections of your project without having to browse your whole Pinterest account looking for that one perfect example you viewed weeks ago. You can easily populate these folders with good images as your offline reference for your project using SaveMyPins.com.
From Digital to Physical: Printing Tips
Though web sources can be handy, most DIYers prefer to maintain hard copies that can be supplemented with notes, taken to the hardware store, or left on the workbench without concern over screen reflection or battery life loss. The high-resolution photos captured at SaveMyPins.com printed beautifully and are perfect for fine-detail endeavors.
For optimal results, use these print tips:
- Apply color printing to projects where color matching is a priority.
- Print reference sheets at size when size is important.
- Create a mini-project notebook with key images and notes for multi-step projects.
- Print materials lists separately so you can take them shopping.
Learning about Image Limitations and Adaptations
Even the best Pinterest pictures don’t always say everything. When using saved pins as a guide for projects, anticipate having to make changes based on materials you have to work with, your skill level, or your own personal taste. The pin is a guide, not an exact blueprint, in most cases.
Go through your saved images carefully before you begin, noting where you might need additional information. For more complex projects, attempt to find supporting tutorials or videos that might fill gaps in information not presented in the original pin. SaveMyPins.com allows you to create an entire reference library from multiple pins on the same project.
Adapting Techniques to Your Level
One of the issues with Pinterest DIY projects is that the beautiful end pictures might not always be commensurate with the skill required. Be practical when you are designing your project, and perhaps begin with simple versions of complicated designs.
Keep your stored reference images for inspiration but don’t hesitate to alter the techniques to suit your present skill level. When you are more advanced, you can return to more complex versions of the project. Some DIYers maintain folders of “someday projects” demanding more advanced techniques they are still learning.
Gathering Materials from Visual Sources
Taking your saved Pinterest photos to the hardware store or craft store is a huge help with finding similar materials. SaveMyPins.com’s high-resolution images are an even better representation of matching wood finishes, paint colors, or fabric designs. Store employees will most likely be able to help you find equivalent materials when you have good images to reference.
For online shopping, having close-up pictures on your monitor allows you to match the postings with your inspiration photos so you know you are purchasing materials that will lead you to your dream look. This is particularly important with color-dependent products like interior decorating or clothing.
Tracking Your Progress Against the Inspiration
As you work through your DIY project, compare your work to your reference images occasionally. This keeps you true to your inspiration but allows you to make the changes you must. Photograph your own work from the same perspectives as your Pinterest references so that you can compare side by side.
Most crafters also find it helpful to take notes along with their stored photos, recording changes they made, problems they encountered, and techniques they discovered. This is a helpful reference for future projects and allows you to build on your do-it-yourself experience.
Sharing Your Pinterest-Inspired Work
Once you have finished your project, think about how the project began on Pinterest inspiration and finished as your completed project. Most crafters love to recreate their own version of favorite Pinterest projects, similar to the original but with different variations.
Remember that the most successful DIY projects are typically a combination of many various sources of ideas with your own spin. The Pinterest image stored on SaveMyPins.com is only a beginning, but the finished project is one that you’ve created on your own.
Respecting Original Authors
While it’s fine to take Pinterest photos as inspiration for personal DIY projects, always be considerate to the original artists. If you display your completed projects online, you may want to give credit to the original pin that sparked your idea. This demonstrates respect for the creative inspiration that created your project and contributes to the positive crafting community.
SaveMyPins.com helps you turn Pinterest inspiration into reality by providing you with high-quality visual references to refer to whenever you need. Stop by today and start building your DIY project reference library and turn those virtual pins into reality.
