Free Weekly Menu Planner

I've seen soooo many menu planners for sale on Etsy recently, and while they are usually pretty great, I can't seem to justify ever purchasing one when I can make my own. If you can't tell, I love making these menu planners (I made this one a while back). I use them on a weekly basis and have found that it really helps me budget while at the grocery store because I only buy the things on my list, and by planning out my week, I can really utilize what I have and use up every last bit of what I buy. I like to print out lots of these and keep a stack in my kitchen so I can easily start planning. I hope this planner is as useful to you as it is to me. To download, click on the image and save to your computer.

Free Rustic Wedding Printables

 A few months ago, I made a few free printables for Rustic Wedding Chic. They have been living on their webiste, but now I shall bring them to my own! The set includes a MR & MRS banner, Thank You Tags and Table Cards. These free printables conveniently match a set in my Etsy shop, but of course they are perfect to suit any style of wedding :) See the download links below to get your free printables! Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD LINKS:

Table Cards

MR & MRS Banner

Thank You Tags

Wedding Invitation Suite Giveaway!

I am so excited to bring to you my first GIVEAWAY today! Rustic Wedding Chic is hosting the giveaway on their website until they choose a winner on November 9th! One winner will be able to pick out a design from my Etsy Store, Paper & Dots, and have it customized and ready for print. Entering the contest is super easy.

To Enter:
1. Follow Rustic Wedding Chic on Pinterest
2. Check out the designs at my Etsy Store, Paper & Dots
3. Leave a comment with your wedding plans on THIS PAGE
Contest is open until 11:59pm on Nov. 9th 2013
One winner will be chosen at random from comments on the link above. 


 GOOD LUCK!

Spring Means Change

If you read my last post, you may be expecting an explanation to why I've been elsewhere lately. So here it is- I've been busy! Spring has definitely arrived and lots of things are changing in my neck of the woods.

First off, I started a new job, which is going great and I even get to do some creative projects including branding, logo design and website design. I try to share most of my work on my Facebook page so follow me there to keep up to date with my latest project.  

I do however, want to share my latest Etsy listing! I know it's been quite some time since my last new design, but I'm really excited about this new one. 

New designs do take me quite some time to get around to doing because not only is it a new design, but it also means that I get to do a new photo shoot!

This is probably my favorite part about selling on Etsy because it gives me a great excuse to set up the perfect still life with lighting and texture to really help bring my designs to life. Find the listing HERE. 

For anyone who may be getting into the Great Gatsby trend that seems to be ALL over the internet right now, I give you this little gem :) Find it HERE.

When I'm not at work, I am usually doing other freelance projects or keeping after my Etsy orders and planning my bestie's Bridal Shower and getting ready for her big day. 

I'm embracing all this change but hopefully I will get better about managing my time and stop watching The Biggest Loser on Hulu Plus like a crazy obsessed person. I even cry when my favorite person has to go home.

Let's not even talk about it. 

Etsy Shop Feature: Printable Wisdom

So I've been a little MIA for a while, but I'm hoping to make regular blog posts starting very soon! Some very good things are happening lately regarding my Etsy shop and my design career! Stay tuned for details...

My Etsy shop was featured on Ashley's blog, Printable Wisdom a while back and realized that I loved her Etsy Shop as well.

Here is a little interview with Ashley:

Tell me a little about yourself! What are your hobbies, etc?

My name is Ashley, and I live in Houston with my husband, our dog, Bonnie, and our Cat, Pye! I graduated from college with a biology degree and am in medical school right now (almost done with my second year!). I plan on going into pediatrics after graduation. I love reading (the classics, along with whatever new book I find at the store!). We love exploring the city and finding new restaurants and places to watch Texas Music shows and go dancing (two-stepping is our specialty).

Tell me about your Etsy shop. How did you get started in your craft and what made you decide to sell on Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?

My Etsy shop specializes in printables! Printable artwork, scripture, quotes, invitations, gift tags, stationery… if you can print it I’ll probably end up carrying it in my shop! I had always created artwork and typography to hang in my own home, and loved creating invitations for family and friends. When I discovered Etsy while planning my own wedding, I knew it was a place my designs would fit perfectly! It’s been a great experience and my business has taken off in a way I never could have expected. I recently began selling on society6 (society6.com/PrintableWisdom) where you can find my designs on a variety of products.

What is your favorite thing to create?

I love drawing my custom home portraits… I draw them on my iPad and import them to my computer. Every home has a different character and different things that are important to the family. I love including those details to surprise my customers. Each portrait is so unique and I love seeing how they turn out!



Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere! I get inspiration for my scripture prints from Bible verses I have read lately or ones that have a lot of meaning for me at certain times in my life. I love browsing Pinterest for new quotes and color combinations.

Do you have a favorite listing in your shop?

This changes daily! Right now my favorite is this one: www.etsy.com/listing/127070070/instant-download-clip-art-doodle-frames?r... , mostly because I just recently started selling clip art in my store and I really am anxious to see what people think of it! It’s always a little scary to add something totally new!

How has your business evolved since you first started out?

I never could have believed my shop would have so many followers and people who enjoyed my designs. I started out hoping to make enough to pay one bill a month (cable or electricity). Now, my goal is to pay rent each month! I don’t always meet it but I love the challenge! I started out selling only scripture and quote printables. I’ve branched off in lots of different directions since them, some more successful than others. I love thinking of the next thing to add to my shop!

What tips do you have for others interested in opening an Etsy shop or starting a small business?

Really plan it out before you start. I worked on creating designs for 4 months before I opened a shop with my first 50 designs, and probably would have done better to wait longer. I’ve changed my logo and branding at least 5 times since I opened and I wish I had that all set up before opening. Branding is really important on Etsy and in the business world and you definitely want to be consistent.

How do you see your business growing in the future?

I plan on adding more and more to my Etsy shop in the future, and expanding my line on Society6 (society6.com/PrintableWisdom) . I’d love to see that shop take off as well!

You can find Ashley on these social media sites:

printablewisdom.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/PrintableWisdom
society6.com/PrintableWisdom
www.etsy.com/shop/PrintableWisdom
twitter.com/PrintableWisdom

Free Printable: Organize my Life

As some of you may know, I love making lists. I make a daily to do list, when I go to the grocery store, when I am packing a suitcase and when I have projects to be done. I often find myself jotting down these lists on any paper I can get my hands on, and then before I know it I have five lists shoved in my purse. So today I sat down and came up with a new printable where you can keep track of all of your lists! I have two printables for you in fact, one is the template that I use, and the other is a blank template so you can fill in the list titles yourself.

My Template

Blank Template

To Print:

1. Click on the image to make it larger

2. Right click the image and SAVE IMAGE AS to your documents

New Favorites: Etsy and Little Joy Designs

I finally made my first sale on Etsy! After a slow month of creating designs, a set of my invitation and RSVP designs sold. This is just the beginning of my freelance business, and I'm so excited to see where it takes me.

I spend a lot of time on Etsy, getting inspiration from other shops and being envious of their creative minds. I stumbled across Little Joy Designs and immediately fell in love. Their aesthetic just gives me warm and fuzzy feelings. Their mission statement on Facebook is:

"Little Joy specialises in all things that'll put a smile on your face. We celebrate the things that matter most. Life is about appreciating the little things, enjoying what you have and spreading a little joy. Everything you find here will make you have a facial expression characterised by an upwards curving of the corners of the mouth - or in other words - a little joy!"

Love it! Don't you just want to be friends with them?

I seem to love their business more and more each day, from their lovely designs to their branding. One of my favorites is this absolutely ADORBS owl print:

 

I mean come on!!! How cute is that? So, if you haven't already, check out Little Joy Designs Etsy Shop and their Website to see more super cute printables and things that make you happy :)

(This is my new background on my computer too by the way!)

Also, I've recently added a few new invitation designs to my Etsy Shop, Paper & Dots. Here is a little preview:

 

New Favorites: Vale Design

I've recently stumbled accross a new blog I've been obsessed with lately and I have Pinterest to thank for that! Vale Design features everything from free printables, recipes and freelance tips. From the research I have done, the woman behind Vale Design is Erin Vale, who specializes in branding and package design.

Free Printable: Christmas List

I love making lists, and during Christmastime, I love keeping my life organized.

 During the holidays, I can get really overwhelmed with all of the gifts that I plan on making and purchasing for all of my loved ones. I needed a checklist of some sort to keep everything organized and simple.

Free Printable: Meal Planner

Every Sunday, I like to sit down with some recipe magazines and my boyfriends Kindle Fire and browse for ideas for each meal throughout the week. Having a pen and paper is crucial to menu planning, and I found that I needed something more organized and prettier than just a blank piece of paper. I've come up with this shopping list and meal planner printable for those of you who rely on lists like I do. Enjoy!

To Print:
1. Click on the image to make it larger
2. Right click the image and SAVE IMAGE AS to your documents