The latest social-media craze is a virtual pin board, or scrapbook, to collect and organize your favorite images and ideas from around the Web. While the site has something for everyone, it’s dominated by home decor, fashion, food and crafts, and has become the new Internet darling — make that obsession — among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

“Pinterest is like fantasy ootball for girls,” said Jeannette Appold of Rosemount, Minn. The 44-year-old attorney and mother of two says the social bookmarking site has added value to her life by bringing out creativity that she never knew existed. “Michael’s (craft store) has gotten so much of my money lately,” she said of her newfound passion to imitate craft projects she’s found on the site.

Pinterest has been around since March 2010, but its popularity has recently exploded, making it one of the 10 most popular social-networking sites. The site grew to nearly 5 million users in November, from just 418,000 in May, according to metrics firm ComScore.

Here’s how it works: When you see an image that you want to “pin” to your “board,” you can capture it using a “pin it” plug-in and add it to your online profile. Everyone who follows you can view your pinboards, comment on them and add to them if they have permission. They can “re-pin” the images to their own boards and you can do the same with what you see and like on their boards. Clicking on the image usually takes users to the original source, so a pin of, say, chicken curry, should take you to the website or blog that provides the recipe.

Make sense? The best way to deeply understand how Pinterest works is to join the site and start pinning.

Many users are crediting Pinterest for adding inspiration and creativity to their lives in new and challenging ways. Appold has 17 different boards organized by books she wants to read, recipes she’s inspired to try and clothes she dreams of owning, to name a few. She also has a board of Pinterest-inspired things that she’s actually made: gifts for her children’s teachers, a prayer pot and chore chart for her kids and a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Appold also uses the site to organize ideas she has for her basement remodeling and a bridal shower she’s planning.

Other Pinterest users like the site for its abundance of practical ideas. Did you know you can use an empty egg carton to organize your junk drawer? How about using toilet paper rolls to store those pesky electronic cables? Such ingenious solutions leave Pinterest users asking — “Why didn’t I think of that?” — and keep them coming back for more.

“An addiction” is the best way for University of Minnesota student Courtney Reigh to describe her Pinterest use. The 21-year-old prefers “pinning” over Facebook and logs into her account five to 10 times a day, spending 10 to 25 minutes each visit scrolling for images of home decoration ideas, recipes and clothes. She’s expanded her style and wardrobe, and learned to make the “perfect poached egg, all to the credit of Pinterest.”

“I can get lost in that site,” she said. “I check it first thing in the morning, right before I go to bed and everywhere in between.”

Some Pinterest users are just getting the hang of it, but are devoted fans nonetheless. As the director of social media for Bentz Whaley Flessner, an Edina, Minn.-based fundraising consulting firm, Justin Ware is well-versed in all aspects of social media. He first became interested in Pinterest as a tool for nonprofit organizations, but he quickly began using it personally, too.

The 32-year-old Minneapolis man has started looking for vegetarian recipes and pinning them to his “good eatin’ ” board. He also has boards to house pictures of dogs, camping gear and photos of his favorite places.

But in the Pinterest world, Ware is an anomaly. Guys haven’t jumped on the Pinterest wagon the way women have. About 70 percent of Pinterest users are female and according to Experian Hitwise, most are 25 to 44 years old.

Not only are most Pinterest users female, but most of them live in the Midwest, where the site first caught on.

Midwesterners are up to 102 percent more likely to visit Pinterest.com than the average U.S. Internet user, according to ComScore.

By Aimee Tjader
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

The three recently opened their separate shops under the same roof in a former mercantile space at 51-59 Broadway.

At Fancy Tiger Crafts, owners Jaime Jennings and Amber Corcoran have created an open, airy shop featuring shelves bursting with yarn from more than 30 vendors. Many of the vendors are small, local companies like Lonesome Stone of Granby. Bolts of colorful printed cloth line shelves along one wall, while a rack of Liberty of London prints sits front and center. Bookshelves brim with guides to knitting, crocheting and other needle arts, and an upholstered chair gives customers a place to peruse the works. Old-fashioned lettering painted on the wall advertises “Handsomely Decorated Cloth Fabrics.” In the back of the store is a long community table where people can gather on open crafting nights and for classes on making everything from baby quilts to Japanese coin purses. A fireplace and cheerful yellow- print wallpaper lend a homey feel. “We wanted it to be like an old prairie schoolhouse,” Jennings said.

And in two rooms farther back, the real magic happens: 15 sewing machines and several cutting tables are available during classes and for rent by the hour.

Next door, Jennings’ partner Matthew Brown runs Fancy Tiger Clothing. The store has a contemporary yet rustic feel, with plenty of hand-hewed wood furnishings by Fin Art and barn- wood-paneled dressing rooms.

Brown carries a number of lines for men, including Top Man, Kill City jeans and Billykirk Bags. Among the women’s clothing lines

Read more: Like-minded fiber and clothing merchants team up in Baker neighborhood’s “anti-mall” retail area – represented are Tulle, and such local designers as Melissa May and Fallene Wells. Many of his jewelry offerings are created by local designers, and Brown also likes finding select vintage bags and jewelry to resell. “Our goal is to try to buy local and repurposed as much as we can, and to educate people on what we’re doing,” Brown says.

Buffalo Exchange has been doing a brisk business since it opened early this month on Broadway, according to owner Todd Colletti. It buys, sells and trades clothing at the store. Men’s is up front, while women’s clothing and accessories are at the back of the store. Free parking alongside the building is a nice perk (but mind the signs and don’t park in the urgent-care spaces across the lot). After more than a dozen years at 226 E. 13th Ave. (which remains in business, selling clothes) Colletti says he’s happy to be near like-minded merchants.

“I love Broadway. It has a long Denver tradition and was once called the ‘Miracle Mile,’ ” Colletti says. “With all that drive-by and walk-by traffic, we’re a lot busier. And because we bought the space, we were able to do things with it. We have more light, garage doors we can open up, evaporative cooling, storage for back stock, a kicthen and space for employees for functions.”

A former Woolworth’s and J.C. Penney location, the building has features that work for retail, including shelving and a conveyor belt.

“I’ve always dreamt of doing an anti-mall and now we have it,” Colletti says.

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Tigalo time

What do you get when you cross a tiger and a buffalo?

A Tigalo, of course, which is the amusing moniker created by the trio of merchants who have joined forces at 51-59 Broadway. The name calls to mind the quirky movie “Napoleon Dynamite,” whose title character draws a “liger” and says: “It’s pretty much my favorite animal. It’s like a lion and a tiger mixed … bred for its skills in magic.” Tigalo Block Party grand opening celebration, 7-10 p.m. Feb. 3.

More at buffaloexchange.com and fancytiger.com; complete class roster at fancytigercrafts.com

By Suzanne S. Brown

You will need newspaper, a stapler, tape, and a dowel rod.
1. Crossbars: You will want to have around 4 Sunday papers handy and use 4-5 sheets of newspaper per crossbar for strength! You’ll make 25 of these crossbars from newspaper and tape.
To make a crossbar, open a newspaper and lay out 4-5 full sheets stacked. Starting at a corner, lay down your dowel rod and roll the newspaper diagonally around the dowel rod, then remove the dowel rod and tape the crossbar securely. Make sure the lengths are all around the same size. I clipped a couple of inches on each end to make the structure more sturdy.

I used clear packing tape to reinforce all of the joints and cover all of the staples!
Preschoolers and older children will love to decorate their playhouse with your help!

As a first-time mom who left her professional career in Texas, Brooke is learning about parenting–and Colorado–as she goes. She offers ways to be more intentional with your family’s time and resources including frugal shopping, toddler activities, travel deals, and inexpensive projects at her blog, Intentional Mama.

I have vowed to make this year different.

Of course, the most obvious way to salute the legacy of Martin Luther King is at the annual MLK Day Marade. The combination march-and-parade starts at City Park, where walkers will assemble on Monday, January 16. Go here for more information.

If you want to stay closer to home, I have compiled a list of easy activities and crafts you can do with your children.

*In honor of the gifts Dr. King gave our nation, try these five creative ways to help children celebrate his vision of hope and sense of humanity. They include creating a multicultural banquet, decorations, “walking the walk” and visiting a different house of worship.

*This is a simple look at how we can look different on the outside, yet be the same on the inside. Designed for preschoolers.

*Being Treated Equally. This is a powerful way to really drive the message of equality home. Designed for kindergartens, but easily adaptable to all ages.

*Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with this beading rainbow pin. Children will enjoy creating this craft which demonstrates that people of all colors are part of one family. Even more fun than making your pin is wearing it on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

*Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by learning facts about Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, his life, and his career and accomplishments as a civil rights leader.

*These Martin Luther King Jr. Day crafts can be used to teach children about other colors and cultures, and discuss the principals that Dr Martin Luther King Jr stood for.

*Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Coloring Pages. Get out your interactive crayon and color some of these famous Americans in history, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

*Check out children’s drawings that illustrate the milestone moments in MKLJ’s life.

*Friends come in all colors and sizes! Teach kids about diversity and freedom with these cute little Freedom Friends puppets.

*How much do you know about the young Martin Luther King Jr.? Test your knowledge with this informative quiz.

What are some of your ideas for celebrating the holiday?

When Tessa was born, my friend Juli (scrapbooker extraordinaire) gave me a beautiful handmade calendar that she designed especially for my daughter.

I’ve previously written about my documentarian tendencies. So it seemed natural when my children were born that I would add my kids’ journal entries to my nightly routine. Call it anal retentive, obsessive or rigid (as my husband jokingly has), but I am happy to capture each day of their lives until they are able to do so themselves. I plan to turn over documenting duties to them on their 12th birthdays, but for now this is how I’ve captured every single day of their lives — nearly 4000 for Tessa and  than 3200 for Reed.

Here are some of Tessa’s calendars (Juli’s creations are the two in the upper left) — several year’s worth of covers…

and snippets of early entries (I can’t share any current ones with you — she’s a Tween now — with secrets!):

Reed has calendars, too. The covers of his calendars are at the top of this post, and below are some of his entries (and yes, the second child’s is sloppier; what’s it to ya?).

Thanks to my mom for filling in on the overnights she’s had them. And yes, the kids LOVE scanning a month of their lives and remembering an earlier time.

All you need to do the same is a 2012 calendar (marked down by now) for each child, one that have room to write in each square. You’ll also need the discipline to write one sentence a night.  That’s all! You and your kids will be reaping the rewards  far into the future.

And from the future, even the most vitriolic of temper tantrums (your kids’ or yours) can appear quaint.

Lori is a mom via open adoption to Tessa, 10, and Reed, 8, and they live in the metro-Denver area, just 2 miles from where Lori first fell into her own journal habit.  Which evolved easily into a blogging habit, which she feeds at WriteMindOpenHeart.com. Her first book, The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption, will be published by Rowman & Littlefield and available in mid-2013.

Activities:

1. Divide a piece of paper into eight sections. In each section, paste a newspaper picture or word of something that tells about Hanukkah.

2. In your newspaper, circle words and pictures of items people could use for their Hanukkah celebrations.

3. Write a paragraph telling how your family’s holiday celebrations are like those of Hanukkah and how they are different.

4. How are these important to the people who follow the Jewish religion: (a) menorah, (b) yarmulke, (c) synagogue, and (d) gifts for children?

5. Use the Internet or interview someone who practices a religion different from Judaism to learn about that religion. Find out about an important historical event, special clothing, holidays and religious leaders.

This content was originally posted here.

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Star of David Craft

Make a beautiful Star of David Card. All you need are scissors, glue, and two different colors of construction paper.

1. The Star of David has six sides, so the first part of this project involves folding a piece of paper into sixths. To begin, fold the piece of paper in half, then fold over one side, then the other, to make two 60-degree folds. You can do this by eye, or you can use a protractor. This is a good exercise in geometry and measuring angles.

2. Cut off the middle part of the wedge (this will make a Star of David shape when you eventually unfold the paper). Cut different shapes away from the sides if you like.

3.  Unfold your star carefully. Glue the star onto a folded piece of construction paper for a great Hanukkah card.

Optional: Decorate your star with glitter.
 

Menorah

Why not make a menorah to bring some color to your Hanukkah-filled house?

1. All your kids need are a little imagination, an egg carton, scissors, and any of the following: construction paper, pipe cleaners, foam crafting material, and Popsicle craft sticks.

2. Cut egg carton in half (making sure to cut off the lid) so that you are left with a six-cup row.

3. Attach three extra cups (from the other half of carton) to the first six.

4. Turn egg cups upside down and cut a slip to fit whichever material you choose to create a “candle” (construction paper, pipe cleaners, foam crafting material, Popsicle craft stick).

Fun suggestion: Add one candle for each day of Hanukkah!

David Gift Box

This Star of David Gift Box can be used to hold a great present for your family!

1. Print this template here.

2. Decorate the box and cut it out. 

3. Fold all the interior lines of the box. Glue the one tab that is marked to glue, and attach it to the other end of the template, forming a box.

4. Fold over the tabs on each end and close the ends.

 Do you have any suggestions for Hanukkah activities?

However, my latest obsession Pinterest.com has surpassed them all.

And believe me, that’s really saying something.

I’ve gone from being a bored cook to being constantly inspired to try the onslaught of new, fabulous recipes. The endless barrage of crafts and styles motivate me to action and I am completely addicted to the holiday section where I have found a collection of the most innovative, creative and delicious offerings on the Web that are updated every second.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself here. If you’re not familiar, here are a few basics.

What is Pinterest?

According to Pinterest’s “About Us” page, it is a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and “follow” collections created by people with great taste. People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things — recipes, holiday ideas, travel, crafts, kid’s activities. You name it, people are pinning it.

Why I love it

I am a visual creature and my computer’s bookmarks just don’t cut it. The process is simple: if you see a Web site you like, simply copy-and-paste the URL. Or, if it is already on Pinterest.com, simply “repin.”

How Do I Get Started?

Sorta Crunchy posted a great tutorial here. It’s very simple to get started and so very worth it.

My Favorite finds (so far!)

Honestly, there are too many great finds to really count (and I’ve only been active for a couple of months). Go to my page to see a few of my inspirations but some favorites have included:

Sure, we’ve all heard of gingerbread men but why not flip them the other way around to make reindeer?

This amazing autumn salad with spinach, pears, craisins, feta, green onions, bacon, candied walnuts.

I am totally making this edible tree on Christmas morning.

Harry Potter would be so pleased with this recipe for Butter Beer that has been floating around Pinterest.

These Santa brownie hats are fun and easy.

I’m totally going to do a family tree like this for my picture wall.

I love this site that has many ideas for Crazy Hair Day.

Want to spend more quality time with your kids? At dinnertime, here are 30 questions to ask them, one for every day of the month. This blog writes a new set of questions every month; some are silly, some are serious.

I appreciate all the great organizational helps on Pinterest. I really love this idea.

There are so many funny quotes floating around that make me chuckle every day.

See? Funny.

And fashion. Don’t even get me started on my fashion finds. I love this necklace: one half is your fingerprint, the other is your significant other’s.

And these boots? To die for!

I could go on but the important thing is for you to get on Pinterest.com. And if you’re already a part of the Pinterest community, what are your favorite things to pin? Note: Since it is still in Beta, leave your email in the comment section below if you’d like an invitation. Updated: Rumor has it there is a waiting list to join (a testament of its popularity). Be sure to leave a comment to get on it now!

Happy pinning! (But don’t say you haven’t been warned….)

Moms are crazy about cookie swaps this time of year. There are a few simple steps to make your party a hit.

1. Invite your friends to bring their favorite cookie recipes to share (preferably at least a dozen, depending on how many people are planning to arrive). Ask them to bring a container so they can bring some cookies home.
2. Have a large table available to arrange the beautiful colors and assortments of cookies. Be sure to have enough plates and maybe even some Saran wrap in case they forgot to bring a container.
3. Once everyone has socialized a bit, lead them to the room and have each person introduce themselves and which cookie they baked; and perhaps even where the recipe came from (I.e.: family recipe, Internet, cookbook, etc.)
4. Swap til’ you drop. Slowly go around the table and grab your cookies!
5. If you would like, you can even do a contest.  Place a voting box with a few pencils and scrap pieces of paper by the cookie table and let people vote! The person with the best cookie gets a prize. You can do anything: a gift card, a bottle of wine, or perhaps even a cookie cookbook!

Tip: Number the place cards that labels what kind of cookie they are, in case there are duplicates.  It’s also good for those with food allergies.

There are also some important Cookie Exchange planning tips to remember:

1. Send invitations early. December is a busy time for everyone.

- If you need some help designing a few Cookie Swap party signs, check out how to get a free printable collection, which include: 5 X 7 invitations (with customizable text fields), cookie labels, a sign to use as a centerpiece, 3 X 5 recipe cars, and 2” circle tags. Visit here to find out more.

2. Inform everyone to bake their cookies at least two days in advance (the biggest reason people don’t show is that they didn’t have enough time to bake).

If you don’t have the perfect Christmas cookie recipe to bake for your Cookie Exchange party, here are a few ideas.

Peanut Butter Rudolph Cookies- Here is a holiday cookie your kids will love to help you with! These Peanut Butter Rudolph Cookies have chocolate pretzel antlers and red M&M noses. You could even make gingerbread cookies instead of peanut butter. Click here to learn how.

Christmas Tree Sandwich Cookies- These cookies are perfect for the moms who don’t feel they are good at baking. Right side up or upside down, there’s a cute Christmas tree shape on both sides to these easy cookie sandwiches. All you need are Pillsbury cookies, icing, and some sprinkles. Click here to find out more.

Melted Snowman Cookies- With the recent cold days followed by even colder nights, this recipe could really liven’ up your holiday spirit and put smiles on those chilly faces. All you need are a sugar cookie mix, icing, and marshmallows! Find out how you can bring your whole family together with this fun, easy, and sugar-filled activity.

White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread- Bring some color to the holiday table with these delicious cookies. The red and white colors will brighten your home, and the delicious taste will bring smiles to all your guests’ faces. Click here and learn how to make these beautiful and delicious cookies.

Christmas Cake Pops- Have a delectable Christmas with some fun and new Cake Pops. You can make all different designs such as reindeer, Christmas trees, and even penguins! These take a little more time, but they are totally worth it when they melt in your mouth. They are great for kids as stocking-stuffers too! Click here to find out how to make some festival pops!

Snowman Cookies- This is another great cookie you can make with your kids. All you need are Nutter Butter cookies, almond bark, M&Ms for the buttons, orange tic-tacs for the “carrot nose,” and icing for the eyes and mouth. Click here to begin a fun baking experience with your little ones!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies- Christmas baking doesn’t have to be unhealthy. If you’re gluten-free or just want healthier options, these cookies are made with almond flour and low glycemic coconut sugar. Go here for 10 healthy Christmas cookie recipes from Elana’s Pantry.

Have you ever hosted a cookie exchange? Do you have any favorite recipes?

Lately, that storm is decreasing into flurries.

“We only get about 20, 25 cards by Christmas,” says Elissa Auther of Denver.

“When I was growing up, we got dozens, and they were always so beautiful, especially the ones from the 1960s and ’70s.”

Christmas and Hanukkah cards still account for a little more than one-fifth of the nearly 5 billion paper greeting cards sent last year, says Susan January, president of the National Greeting Card Association and vice president of Colorado’s Leanin’ Tree company.

“Holiday card-sending is flat and slightly down across the industry at large,” January said.

“We don’t believe, as an association, that holiday card-sending is going away. It’s still a tradition. Rumors of the death of holiday cards are greatly exaggerated.”

What has changed is the way people are selecting or designing the cards and how they’re being sent.

Jess Eaton, manager of the craft store Fancy Tiger in Denver, sends Christmas cards, “kind of as a joke, with my boyfriend,” with an ironic photograph employed in a generic online card design.

Auther mails holiday cards “every couple of years,” bypassing seasonal designs in favor of more personal artwork. The card she and husband Adam Lerner are sending this year features the watercolor of a landscape design for their Lower Highland home’s front yard.

Greeting Card Association analysts estimate that one e-card is e-mailed for every 20 printed cards sent. More commonly, people who once bought boxed cards from stationery stores and retailers now turn to Web-based programs that can customize photo-collage cards.

“I would say that our business is 50-50, boxed cards and personalized cards,” said Lin Logan, whose The Stationery Co. is a 28-year Denver institution, outlasting its recently closed neighbor, the Cherry Creek Card Co.

“We do more and more with photograph holiday cards that we print digitally for customers. People want their card to stand out, and not be just an ordinary little Hallmark card. They want it special — die-cut, layers, light-up, music. They want their card to be a keeper.”

Most cards are bought and sent by women between the ages of 35 and 65, according to Kathy Krassner, communications director of the Greeting Card Association.

“You don’t really start sending greeting cards or holiday cards till you’re a little older and living on your own,” Krassner said.

That demographic includes technologically savvy people who know how to download their address book into their home computer, sparing them wrist-numbing hours of hand-addressing envelopes.

“There’s still a tendency to want to touch the card,” January said.

“A card is a very tactile experience. People who’ve sent cards all their lives still prefer to make a purchase of a paper product from a rack of cards or a boxed set. A lot of younger people shop for cards online, but have the card shipped to them so they can sign it personally.”

January counts herself in that company. She spent two snowy days last week writing personal notes in 700 cards she’s sending to family, friends and business associates.

“I’m a typical holiday card- sender,” she said, although she acknowledges that she sends about 650 more cards than a truly typical card-sender.

“I have children. I have family across the country. I’m a perfect example of a working mother with children at home and children in college. I really enjoy writing a small personal something. I do that in my role as a mother and keeper of family relations, and in my role professionally.”

On the other end of the spectrum are correspondents, like Robin Lohre, owner of the eccentric Talulah Jones shop in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood.

“At our store,” she says, “we get the young 20-somethings that like the uber-cool quirky cards, the traditional people my mom’s age who always have to send Christmas cards, the gay couples, the business associates.

“We have a card this year I like that has Rudolph with a compact-fluorescent bulb for a nose. We have a funny little German card of a house with snow around it, and Santa in a tree with a big black dog underneath. I want to take a box of those home, but I’m not letting myself.”

Why not?

“Because at home I still have a couple boxes of cards I addressed, like, two years ago. I really need to mail those before I can get more cards.”

-Claire Martin

Do you send Christmas cards or letters? What are some of your favorites?