Wednesday, September 25, 2013

DIY Idea for Fundraising with Teespring

Taylor from Pink Heels Pink Truck created this t-shirt via Teespring for the Hope Mission
Once again, baseball is in full swing in the Winslett household. When I'm at the baseball field watching the game on the bleachers, a parent will ask me which one of the bodies on the field is mine. I get to point to one of the bigger bodies and say the coach. 

That's right, ladies. My husband has no children of his own, but devotes a good part of his time to coaching 10-year-olds for the local baseball recreation league. Swoon, right? I told you I nabbed a good one!

By default, I'm honored with the duty of organizing and executing the fundraiser for the end-of-the-season party among many of my other "team wife" duties.

This year, I'm considering designing some shirts through Teespring for our fall ball fundraiser. After all, who doesn't love a good t-shirt?

Teespring is a platform that allows groups, causes or communities to create and sell custom apparel. The best part? There is no upfront cost. Being in the design and printing business myself, I can tell you from experience that it usually costs a nice chunk of change up front to have the t-shirts made. This alone usually knocks custom t-shirts off the fundraising possibility list.

Another neat-o-cheeto thing about Teespring? You can use their online designer to create your perfect t-shirt. Of course, you can always upload your own design too.

After designing your t-shirt, you can do everything from setting a sales goal to sharing your fundraising t-shirt on Facebook.

I don't know about you, but I'm about ready for a t-shirt fundraiser. I'm getting tired of the candy bar and doughnut fundraisers. They're putting a strain on my waistline!

See ya later!
Miranda

Compensation for this post was provided by Teespring. Opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Free Fall Printable

Happy Fall Ya'll!

I've been working on some fall-inspired Project Life cards which I'm hoping to share with you all next week. However, I thought I'd share a free printable with you today which is inspired by my soon-to-be-posted fall Project Life cards!



I know what you are wondering right now...will the Project Life cards be free? YES! See, good things come to those who wait!

Until then, I hope you all enjoy the free fall printable.

Miranda

This post was linked at:





Monday, September 23, 2013

DIY Framed Burlap Monogram


In our living room, I'm trying to incorporate some burlap into the decor. I'm just really digging the burlap fad right now and plan on embracing it as long as socially acceptable.

There for a while I saw this pin every time I was on Pinterest. Chances are, you have too!

http://media-cache-ec3.pinimg.com/736x/65/f1/c6/65f1c6dfe1f623822e588d8170ac7c6d.jpg

We have a fairly large photo gallery display on one of the walls in our living room. I was left with a frame that was pictureless so I thought this would be a good addition to the gallery.

However, to my dismay, I could not find the original source for the pin. Time to get creative. I researched some tutorials on how to print on burlap. I altered them slightly to fit my needs and this is the result:


This project was so simple and easy to do. Seriously, it probably took me 15 minutes start to finish. Ready for the tutorial? 

What You Need:
Burlap
Printer
Cardstock
Spray Adhesive
Scissors

Step One. Cut the cardstock to the size of your frame. (Mine was a 5x7) Spray the adhesive on one side of the cardstock. Lay the sticky, adhesive side on the burlap. Cut around your cardstock.


Step Two. Stick your burlap paper in the printer. Make sure you've got it facing the right way for your printer. 

Step Three. Open your word processing software like Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, etc. (I used InDesign) Using your word processor, format your monogram.

Step Four. Print out your monogram. Remember to format the printer settings to the size of your paper in your program. 

Step Five. Peel off that cardstock, stick that burlap in the frame and there you have it folks!


During my research, I did run across some tutorials that used freezer paper as the adhesive element. However, I had spray adhesive in my supplies not freezer paper so...yeah! 

Keep Crafting!
Miranda


This post was linked at:






Friday, September 20, 2013

Friday's Letters


Dear husband, I'm so excited for your first baseball game of the season tomorrow. Too bad they gave you an ugly coaching shirt this year. Oh well! You'll still look cute in it. Dear work/PaperLark/blog, holy moly! You kicked my behind this week. I put in some long hours this week for sure, but I'm certainly not going to complain. Dear Project Life, I have sorely neglected this month and I am sorry. I have been doing so good at keeping up with you all year, but somehow I've fallen behind this month. My goal this weekend is to catch up! Dear Joann's, I am so happy you decided to come to Newnan. I purchased some fabric for some burp clothes this week. Can I just say that I love your 50 percent off coupons? Dear Hobby Lobby, no worries. I still love you the most, but they do have your fabric section beat. Dear sibling, happy 21st birthday! Man, I'm getting old.

Until next week!
Miranda

In case, you missed it...


Thursday, September 19, 2013

DIY Weekend 9/19



Happy Thursday fellow bloggers and readers! Another DIY Weekend is upon us. YES!

A huge thank you to those of you who participated last Thursday. I was a little worried I wouldn't get any link up because we were on vacation. However, you all did not disappoint! Frankly, I was blow away by how beautiful and creative all the link ups were last week. Ya'll are definitely on the top of your game. I need to step it up!

What is DIY Weekend? Every Thursday, I host this link party to showcase my top three DIY project picks from last week's link up party and give you a chance to show off your latest projects. You can link up just about any topic and share your tips, tricks, projects and more! If you don’t have a blog to link up with, take a minute to browse the links! There really are some great blogs out there with wonderful ideas. For example, our three showcase projects above:



**Please note: By linking to this blog party, you are giving Mr. and Mrs. Winslett permission to use your photos and content as part of the weekly features if selected.**

All featured projects will also be pinned to my Pinterest boards. What are you waiting for then? Oh! The house rules, of course:

1.) Link up any crafts, recipes, home decor, tips, etc. but don't forget to link back here!

2.) PLEASE be sure to link to your specific post not your general blog.

3.) PLEASE visit and comment on the post before you and after you, on top of any others that catch your eye. Everyone loves comment love!

4.) And most importantly... HAVE FUN!!



 photo b92cce52-2537-4336-b4d1-0e473a1623fe_zps754d2ffb.jpg

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Liebster Award

This week, I received the honor of being nominated for the Liebster Award by Darcy over at The Ruffled Stitch. If you haven't seen some of this girl's sewing tutorials, you are missing out. In fact, I featured her DIY Duvet Cover a couple of weeks ago for DIY Weekend.  I couldn't not be more excited (or honored!) seeing as the Liebster is somewhat considered a right-of-passage in the blogging world.

What is the Liebster Award? It is an award passed from blogger to blogger to recognize upcoming and promising blogs. With the award, comes the duty to answer a series of questions from the nominator and pass the award on to another nominee.

Without further adieu, let's celebrate by answering the questions!

1. What made you want to start blogging?

I graduated in May 2012 with a B.A. in Journalism. Since graduating my interest in journalism has waned, but my love for writing never died. I missed it dearly! Through blogging, I found another avenue to foster my love for writing AND crafting. It feels great to be putting my degree to use as well as having readers who enjoy what I am writing again. 

2. What is something you have learned lately?

Running a small business! I've been really blessed that PaperLark Studio has taken off so much this year. Running your own business is really hard work and you learn so much doing it like dealing with taxes or finances. However, it is beyond rewarding and so worth it. 

3. If you had to live in a decade other than the current one, what would you choose?

The 90s! I was a kiddo back then. Life was easy and fun. No bills. No job. Just school and someone to cook dinner for me. Haha! I love you mom!

4. Cheesecake or normal cake?

Cheesecake. Nuff said.

5. What is the worst meal/recipe you have ever made?

After we came home from New Orleans, I tried my hand at a gumbo recipe I found on Pinterest. I hated it and thought it tasted like burnt flour. However, the hubby really liked it. Clearly, his taste buds were not working that day.

6. Name a dream of yours.

My dream is for PaperLark Studio and blogging to be my full time job. To be able to make a full time income from doing something I love and enjoy so much would truly be a dream-come-true for me. This dream will become a reality though. I just know it!

7. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

If I couldn't pick my hometown, I'd say Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World. Who wouldn't want to live at the most happiest place on earth. And you think I'm kidding...

8. What is one thing you can't live without?

Besides my loved ones? Pinterest. Isn't that terrible?! I'm addicted.

9. Do you follow directions/recipes/instructions or wing it?

I'm naughty. I follow directions/recipes/instructions loosely. I guess that means I wing  it which may have been why my gumbo didn't turn out so great. Ha!

10. Name a memorable childhood moment.

So many! First one that pops into my mind? Our epic family vacation to Florida when I was 9. 

11. What have you learned from blogging?

Perseverance. It is easy to get discouraged from blogging. You post something that you think is craft gold that will take over Pinterest, but you get no feedback. No comments. No re-pins. Not even a like. However, you can't give up because that one post you think no one will read (or care about) like my How to Buy a House in Your 20s series will go viral. Then all of a sudden, you're reading comments daily about how your post or tutorial helped someone. That alone is worth a million craft duds. 

There you have it! Now then, I would like to nominate Anderson and Grant for the Liebster Award. Only blogging since May 2013, Jamie of Anderson and Grant has published some beautiful and impressive projects. Actually, her blog planner printable served as the inspiration for my blog planner which I have yet to share with the world. (Click picture for link)  


Be sure you check her blog out. You won't regret!

Alright, Jamie! It is your turn:

1. Who has had the biggest influence on you?
2. What do you like about blogging?
3. What do you dislike about blogging? (Be honest!)
4. Three favorite online shopping websites.
5. Something you've learned recently.
6. What is your favorite quote and why?
7. What is your favorite form of social media?
8. What is your favorite season?
9. If you could travel anywhere without money being an object, where would you go and why?
10. What is the hardest thing you have ever done, or the biggest obstacle you have faced in your life?
11. What are 3 of your future goals?

Monday, September 16, 2013

Increase Curb Appeal By Spray Painting Your Shutters


Like I've said before, the outside of our house was in need of a little TLC when we bought it...clearly.


Notice the missing shutter? Yeah...Thankfully, I found it buried under some pine straw on the side of the house. After cleaning the gutters and pressure washing the vinyl siding until it looked new again, the shutters were looking very sun-worn. 

I looked up the price for new green shutters. It was a little more than $50 for a pack of two. Are you kidding me?! To buy new shutters, we'd have to fork over $200. I wanted pretty, new shutters, but not for $200!

I was complaining to my mom about paying for new shutters when she suggested I spray paint the old ones. Talk about a DUH moment. 

I can't tell you how easy this project was and how much better it makes our home look. Not to mention, the whole project only cost $37.52 which is a darn far cry from $200. 

I think they turned out pretty good if I do say so myself!

What You Need (for 8 shutters)
6 cans of exterior spray paint 
2 packs of shutter pins (found on aisle with shutters)
Washcloth
Ladder
Hammer


Step One. Shimmy up on that ladder and pull those babies off the house. You may need the backside of the hammer to wiggle the stubborn shutter pins. 

A Word to the Wise: Check under and around your shutters for any stinging, flying insect nests. Otherwise, you'll get a nasty and painful surprise. 


Step Two. Wipe down your shutters really well with a washcloth. We don't want to waste spray paint on cobwebs! Let them dry. I lined mine up on some trees in the back yard.

Shutter halfway painted with the first coat. See the difference already?
Step Three. Spray paint time! I did two coats on each shutter. Leave them overnight to dry really well. 

Step Four. Time to hang them up. Get back on the ladder and follow the instructions on the shutter pin package to hang them up. In all honesty, you just have to shove/push/hammer in the pins. Easy!

My half naked house. Shutters on the right already done!


Once you get them all up, you've got updated shutters and enhanced your curb appeal for UNDER $40!




What are some ways you enhanced your home's curb appeal?

Enjoy!
Miranda