If you’ve ever cut out pictures from magazines in an attempt to collect ideas that might work for your home, office, garage or yard, I have a question for you.

What did you do with those pictures, and did you ever look at them again once you’d filed them?

To be fair, I’ll share my own sorry history.

Places I’ve stored things I’ve cut out:

  • File folders;
  • Vision board collages;
  • Binders, divided into sections;
  • Spiral notebooks and hardcover blank books (pictures pasted in).

Never looked at them again.

So I tried storing ideas, articles and images on the computer.

  • In MS Word documents;
  • In Evernote, a virtual notebook that syncs with all of your devices;
  • On my blog;
  • Email — I’d send stuff to myself;
  • Posterous — a free online posting service to stash interesting stuff;
  • Etc.

Never looked at them again either. The files were bulky, awkward, used up too much memory or were too hard to navigate to (i.e. I forgot where I put them).

Cork-a-Doodle

Then a few weeks ago I discovered an online solution that’s freakishly addicting because it actually works; you can look at your ideas any time, share them with your friends and even borrow images from others. It’s fun and it’s free.

It’s called Pinterest, and it’s a virtual cork board collection where you can create an unlimited number of categories and ‘pin’ images you find online. All in one place, available any time, from any computer, anywhere in the world.

Search for whatever you’re interested in — for example, "porch swing" — and you’ll see images from hundreds of other pinners who’ve been rooting through the Internet looking for the perfect porch swing design.

For crafters, hobbyists, interior decorating enthusiasts, woodworkers and home improvers, Pinterest is like discovering the Hope Diamond in the pocket of an old coat.

The Eyes Have It

Your online collection will fuel and inspire you because it’s intensely visual. Open any of your boards and instead of seeing a list of descriptors or tiny thumbnails, your screen floods with big beautiful images that you’ve stashed on your pinboards.

No matter what you’re interested in — decorating, food, welding, knitting, felting, photography or travel — you’ll find hundreds of gorgeous images on Pinterest to get you started. Or search for new ones by running Google image searches and posting fresh photos to your boards.

You can also add your own digital photos to your boards, and you’ll be flattered when other people pick them up and pin them to their collections.

Pick of It All

If you need solutions for one specific element — say, a headboard for your bed — Pinterest can help you with a deluge of ideas.

TIP: It helps to be picky in your Pinterest searches so you find images that suit your tastes. For example, searching "rustic headboard" yields a fantastic array of headboards made from pallets, fences and doors, whereas "antique headboard" nets a huge range of froufrou headboards. Try "metal headboard" and you’ll see everything from sheet-metal roofing used as a headboard to classic brass beds. Search "DIY headboard" and you’ll be dazzled by human creativity as you scroll through pictures of wacky padded undertakings or headboards made from plumbing pipes.

When you click on any Pinterest photo it instantly enlarges so you can see more detail. Then you can either repin it to one of your own pinboards, or you can follow the link back to the original site on which the photo was posted. (This is helpful when you want to understand how the piece was created, since many of the photos are originally part of tutorials).

In my opinion there’s currently no better place than Pinterest to become inspired and share your own creativity. Pinterest is an invitation-only site, so you can request an invitation at Pinterest.com, or ask someone you know who’s already a Pinterest member to send you an invitation. (The first option is slower — it takes about a week to get an invitation from Pinterest). If you’re in a hurry, email me ( mag@toolgirl.com) and I’ll send you one.

If you have an Android device, iPhone or iPad, you can continue pinning and consult your collection any time with apps like Pinterest and PinScape.

While you’re at it, why not enter the How Hard Can It Be contest sponsored by Stanley Tools and the Chronicle Herald. We’ve extended the deadline to this weekend, Saturday, February 18 at midnight. Just send us a picture of your own home and a brief description of what you want to improve about it — you can win a huge Stanley Tools gift pack worth more than $300. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Find Herald Homes on Pinterest too.