Beautiful Idea

Partnering with A Beautiful Idea a few weeks ago has brought new meaning to the purpose of my craft. I am thrilled to be a part of something bigger than myself. The idea behind A Beautiful Idea is that artists partner with them and create a product(s)and sell them and donate the money to the current charity via A Beautiful Idea’s donation center (currently all donations are going towards the Haiti relief fund.) This print is currently being offered for sale over at there shop. Being able to take what we create and offer it up for a greater good? It's a beautiful idea, for sure ;)

**Find out how you can enter for your chance to win this print over at the lovely Simply Hue blog! Thanks Vicki for helping me spread the good word ;)

DIY: Business Cards

I'm always looking for thrifty, creative ways to promote me and my photo business. I posted about this DIY a while back, but wanted to share it with a special lady and with all of you lovely readers!

I'm excited to share this DIY project with you to help you create your custom business cards!

I'm a big fan of finding new print materials to play around with and these Avery clear labels + manila shipping tags are all you really need to create cards that look as stylishly presentable as you are!Enjoy making these in a wide variety of sizes (because the clear labels are actually 8.5" x 11" sheets of printable goodness!) Make an afternoon of designing, printing, and putting these together.BONUS: I've included these labels as a free printable download in my Freebies and Tutorial section located on the right side blog.

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STEP 1: Design & Layout

Using Photoshop or another photo editing program create a new 4 x 6 sized document. I find that designing one label in this smaller document size is easier and allows you to save a smaller file for future revisions. After I'm happy with my design and type placement I create an 8 x 10 document (this is a little smaller than the 8.5 x 11 Avery paper size). Copy & paste your finished label into this new document and arrange your label to desired printable size. (see photo below) For my labels I printed them 3.5 x 1- 3/4 to fit onto my shipping labels. Continue to copy & paste your label until you fill your 8 x 10 document. I was able to fit 17 onto one page. Make sure to leave enough space in between each label to allow for cutting.(Make sure to save this layout file, to update your info, and to make more cards later ;)

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STEP 2: Printing

Once you've completed your finished layout, adjust your printers settings to match your paper size & paper type. For this printing material I used the paper size 8.5 x 11 and the setting for luster paper. Let the sheet dry for at least 15 minutes for the ink to really settle into the paper.(The colors may look a little washed than they do on your screen, but that's only because the paper is clear. Once your ready to apply these to the shipping tags, the color should be as bold as you your screen). It printed beautifully for me, no smears or ink runs!

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STEP 3: Cut/Peel & Paste

Once your sheet is dry, I recommend using a straight edge and exacto knife to trim away the excess white around your labels. Cut as close as you can to the labels edge as possible.

Gather your shipping labels and freshly trimmed labels. Peel the backing off your printed label (yes, these are like stickers!) Place and secure onto the shipping label. Neat, huh?

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STEP 4: Add Personal Touch

Add your finishing touch to your personalized cards. I used a simple brown half inch ribbon to complete mine. No more excuses to not keep any business cards handy! These look so lovely, you'll always keep a stash of them in your purse! Get ready to start handing them out, you'll be so excited to! I'd love to see what goodies you come up with! Enjoy & happy promoting!

Shop Update

I've spent this morning updating my shop with playful new prints that I've been looking forward to sharing since last Fridays photo shoot ;) Below is just a preview of my newest prints. Stop by my shop to view more! As a special bonus for this week, check out Courtney at you will won't you? for all the details about her lovely first giveaway and for a chance to win one of my prints! Good luck ;)

{Threads and Ruler}

{ i Heart Moss}

{Let Love Lead the Way.}

Free Font Friday

It's been a lovely Friday so far. Cheers to the weekend and to my font pick for the week. Print clearly is my favorite for this week. With its clean sharp lines it makes me want to sharpen some No. 2's and practice my penmanship. As an added bonus, this download comes with a dashed font version too! Enjoy, and Happy Easter to you ;)

Art Tour

A pen pal of mine recently asked me about sharing some of my work. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to share with all of you a little art tour. I am extremely picky about what goes up, my thinking is, if it doesn't make me smile every time I walk past it, it's not worth hanging up. The first photo is of my living room. Above the couch I have 2 long picture rails, that are just the right size for frames to lean against. I like this option of being able to rotate and rearrange my black and white photos whenever I wish. This wall of photos are my favorite. I love coming home to the people I love the most, my family. Even if I can't see them everyday, they are in my apartment in spirit! The second photo is of my workspace and the art I keep above it are framed prints from my shop. They help keep me inspired and are nestled next to boxes that help keep my supplies in order. All of the frames I use have been rescued from the thrift store or where made in a frame building workshop I took in college. I've spray painted them in neutral colors (silver, white, and cream) so my photos really get to stand out on there own. All of the photos I have up have also been printed either in the darkrooom, or by my Epson R1800 printer. Thanks for taking this little art tour with me. Want to see another fabulous art tour? Stop by Courtney's blog and see her awesome rotating collection of art!

Loving: Earthy Inspired Pattern

Spring is all abuzz in my head which made me even more excited when my findings came together for my loving weekly post! Today I'm loving earthly inspired patterns. Textiles, wallpaper, and photography are all elements that help make a home feel welcoming, worn in, and loved. That's how I hope people feel when they come visit me in my tiny space I call home ;) What is inspiring you this Spring?

{Amy Butler Rugs}

{Ikea textiles}

{Wallpaper from Zeixs Pattern Design book.}

{EV Photography}

Wednesday Wishes

Good afternoon on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon! I'm especially excited today because I'm writing to you on a sunny 70 degree Spring day! Thanks for joining me for another installment of Wednesday wishes!

1. Summer plans. I wish to take out a map and plan out our summer road trip. While driving the other day, Joe turned to me and said, we should go on a road trip this summer! Since then I've been super excited to plan out the details of this trip. I'm not sure what coast we will head towards, I would love to travel to California or Portland area. Any recommendations?

2. Craft night ideas. I wish to find a fun Spring craft for next months craft night. My photo stylist friend Jill hosts this seasonal craft night and she's asked me to come up with some ideas.

3. Spring cleaning. I wish to make the time to start my spring cleaning. My tiny 700 sq. foot apt needs some serious loving asap.

4. Hunting. No, not the animal kind. I wish to find a gently used desktop iMac to help me work more efficiently, I love you laptop but I need to step it up!

5. Schooled. I wish to expand my creative wings and learn new web/design programs that can be useful to me in the future. As a first step I am buying the Adobe CS4 master collection.

I would love to know some of your wishes for today too! Also be sure to check out Courtney's, Kellie's, and Katie's blog to see what they are dropping into the wishing well today too!