Janna Wilson

Blogging...about blogging (and design of course)

I've been blogging for nearly ten years. Blogging is a funny thing to me. Interesting how folks are now bloggers for a living and how the multitudes have embraced this mode of communication/networking as a (hopeful) career. My blogging has always been from a sincere joy and excitement about what I'm doing (usually craft related, of course) and connecting with like minded creatives. Never motivated with hopes to earn a living blogging, get advertising, etc. though I know plenty of people who get a nice chunk of change doing just that. Nothing wrong with that. More power to 'em.

Well, with that said, I've been contemplating what to do about this blog. I mean it costs money every month...do I really even need it? How can I utilize this tool to benefit others as well my own goals? I mean here I am pursuing this career as a designer, what is the best way to implement blogging to further that goal? As I've pondered this, looked at stats, referring sites/searches...I've realized that most of my traffic are folks looking for project ideas, free downloads, inspiration I suppose. So y'all are looking for useable content and I'm am going to serve it up on a pretty platter!

Here's what I've come up with.

1. I love designing fun, inspiring things...and I have a computer full of fun stuff to share. So I will again share! Free for all Fridays is coming back. You know I'm busy, I know you're busy. But I need to give stuff away, share my ideas, tips and tricks...it makes my heart happy. So I will do just that. Yes, on Fridays. As much as I can manage.  Downloadable, printable, useable, project-able, enjoyable goodness. Designed by me. Just for you.

(I'll be sharing the details to make this sweet photo display for about $5, oh yeah!)

2. Freelance don't mean it's ALL free. :) Y'all know what I mean. A college mama's gotta put beans and taters on the table. So I plan to lure you here with freebies and then make you an offer you cannot refuse...? Maybe. Or possibly you can refuse, but you might be so kind to tell a friend about me, like my page, tweet it, pin it, tumble it, shout it, share it...whatever it is you prefer :) Translation: I am going to make available some exclusive designs (like the ones below) for purchase and if you would share the love, I would love you.

While we are doing #1 and #2 (giggle, that didn't come out exactly right...or did it?) here's what else could be happening...

3. I'm proliferating ideas, having fun, sharing, inspiring, serving my purpose, making new friends, being inspired, being happy, spreading joy, possibly making some tips, maybe getting noticed by someone who might possibly think I have a teensy something special and they decide they MUST have me work for them and make even more fabulous designs? Yep, it could happen!

4. You're enjoying some fun little freebies, we connect as fellow creatives, I inspire, you inspire, and the world is just a happier, better place because of it all! I'll be honing my project management skills-- I'm approaching it from that perspective.

So meet me back here on Friday, #freeforallfriday that is. Bloggers, lets connect, share the love, network, blog-it-up. Let's do this.

Oh and my birthday is Monday...let's party on the 4th!!!

Love y'all sweet folks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sew love to #make

Last summer I had a bit of time and I wanted to sew. More than that, a few other people had told me they wanted to sew. It was a blessing of spending some time with some friends, old and new...we sewed into the weeeeee hours at several different classes! One of our projects was this:

...a sweet pleated/ruffled pillow cover. I wanted to show the gals how to sew a simple pillow cover and embellish it at the same time. I love my linen cover with bright contrasting strips of ruffles. Precious! I was so proud of the pillows the ladies turned out.

I thought I'd share this tutorial with you since I had typed it up for the class-goers. I don't have step by step images to go with the instructions but I tried to explain well and include visuals. This is a beginner level project. Hope you enjoy!

Download the instructions here: Easy Pleated Pillow

Here are some of the other pillows the gals made:
Love Linda's Lime!


Sonya's so Bright and fun!


Maggie's rocked! What more is there to say!

Appreciate your teachers! FREE printable note card

It's that time of year again, time to do something sweet for your child's teacher. We do lots of personalized goodies at the store, stationery, acrylic cups, totes and so many fun things.  So here's a little card you can add to your gift.  I used these a couple of years ago and make packs of 10 or 20 personalized with Abby's teacher's names on them. Teachers always need fun stationery, right?

These print two to a sheet and you can add your teacher's name or put "THANK YOU" on it...personalize it however you like. The pdf is blank...no name included. If you're not savvy with Word or PS you can handwrite, stamp or add stickers to it.

Download the file here:  Teacher Note Card

NOTE:  You may have to set your printer settings to "BORDERLESS" in order to print this as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet.  You can print on plain or textured cardstock but these look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like this Epson brand.

Hope you enjoy! 

 

PLEASE carefully read the Terms of Use when using my printable designs :) You are free to make these and give these as gifts but not for sale. Thank you!

 

Butterfly Valentines {FREE PRINTABLE!}

I've had the wonderful opportunity to team up with Heather that writes and publishes the awesome site-- PASSION FOR SAVINGS --to and create some fun printables to share with her readers! This past week she shared my Valentine freebie from last year, which I still LOVE :) but there's something new for this year! I'm so excited about this...I wish I had time to just crank out fun freebies all day- I enjoy it so much! Heather made the suggestion that we share a Valentine treat printable and this is what I came up with--

Head on over to www.passionforsavings.com or click below the image to pick up this free printable Valentine and you can make these for your sweeties :) Who knows- you might just find a deal on some lollipops to go with your printable Valentines for a fabulous, frugal holiday treat!

Click here to download the pdf file: butterfly valentine

House of # Artwork-->REPOST

Hi - if you are visiting to pick up my House of {insert your number here} artwork from this post-- for framing or home decor, I'm reposting it in this post because there are some issues with the download. I've tried fixing but there is some strange glitch within that post. These are pdf files and they are pretty large at that - so it might take a minute or two to download the page.

Download House of 2

Download House of 3

Download House of 4

 Download House of 5

Download House of 6

Download House of 7

These are the only files/numbers I have available right now. Thanks for visiting my blog to download this freebie...it really is a classy project that makes a great gift this Holiday Season! 

Please remember, my printable freebies are for personal use only.

 

Happy Fourth!!! {don't miss the freebie&giveaway!}

Well, last week was a super duper busy one and culminated in a fun time last night watching the city fireworks show from our back yard!  It was awesome and I didn't take one good picture!  LOL!  But I just sat and enjoyed it...thats worth something, right!  We gathered with good food, a few good friends and a had a great time. I must admit...I've been waiting it out for today..looking forward to a little R&R.  Or at least some time to do something I wanted...or nothing at all. 

The girls had fun face painting last night and it turned out to be a fun idea!  Here's Cash with his "flame job!"  LOL!

Rather than being too lazy, I ended up doing something today...of course!  Scott has been pickling everything that will fit into a Mason jar!!!  LOL!  We both decided it should just be a lazy day to just do what we want...I even toyed with the idea of doing some yardwork and HE of all people talked me out of it.  Probably should be working on my Algebra, but just as any true procrastinator would...I came up with something much more pressing.  I worked on making some birthday gifts for a few friends and family.  I've been printing up a storm!!!  These...

I just love them!  Hope some people don't see this post-- :)  You can grab some for yourself or a friend too...they are now available in my shoppe. 

In case you missed it -- don't forget to download my Patriotic Freebie this week. 

Use these to thank your hostess for the Fourth of July gatherings you attended!  Oh, and be sure to click HERE to leave a comment and win a set of my note cards!!!

Well, I'm getting off the 'puter now to go get in on some WII fun with the kids!  Have a great holiday!!!

 

 

Crafty fun to share...

 

Loved this gorgeous photo of my paper cones I created for a recent issue of Scrapbooks etc. magazine...back inside cover :)  They mentioned them for use as May Day baskets!  So sweet!  They created an awesome tutorial and printable design from my creation!  So fun!  How could they NOT be -- all that lovely Bella Blvd. paper!!!  PRETTY!!  You can use these fun cones for so many different uses:

1- Party decor- think 3-D banner!!!

2- Gift basket

3- Party favors

4- Treat containers

5- Hostess gift

 

(photo from www.scrapbooksetc.com)

Download printable pattern and instructions

 

Free for all....Thursday :)

Nope, it's not Friday.  But I've been up late working on the details for my little Abby's birthday party.  Even if its just for us, I have really purposed to make the kids' birthdays really special.  Not going to a lot of expense, just making things really fun and cute for them.  I'll have to share some my favorite frugal ideas in another post.  But until then...I thought I'd share a fun little mini-birthday banner printable--->

Download the file here: Printable Mini-Banner

I've been seeing some simple birthday cakes with fun mini banners perched on top between two stripey straws...love this idea.  See some awesome ideas for buntings here at TomKat Studio.  Be prepared to stay awhile ;)

My banner is not super small...the larger pieces measure just over 2" in height-- here you can see how I used it...

I placed it upon a decorated cookie cake.  I have several pieces that coordinate with this set...a large banner, party signs, cupcake picks, and more.  See a fun DIY here and more pics of my party design.  Someday soon, hope to get these things on the site too!

NOTE:  You may have to set your printer settings to "BORDERLESS" in order to print this as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet.  These look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like this Epson brand.

PLEASE carefully read the Terms of Use when using my printable designs :)

Hope you enjoy! Happy Freebie!

 

 

 

Free For ALL Friday!

{Download Hello my friend notecard}

Yes, its true!  I finally have a freebie for YOU!  I know its been a long time, but I know y'all understand!  Last week I told myself I'd do something creative at least every few days...for fun, to exercise my creative muscles!  This is somthing fun I did-- happy to share it with y'all.  Hey, hopefully more of this to come.  You know I've got big dreams, right?!  I'm on a roll...I even posted in the Whimsy Shoppe recently!  WOW!  Hopefully, I'll be able to get more of my printable designs available for you to Cut and Create with very soon!  Spring break is around the corner!  YAY!

Hope you enjoy this fun card...it reminds me of March...a big blue sky with a few fluffly clouds and a colorful banner sailing high in the March breeze!  Send it to someone you care about with a handwritten note ;)  You could even cut this down and use it as a scrapbook element?  (I might have to try that!)

NOTE:  You may have to set your printer settings to "BORDERLESS" in order to print this as is on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet.  These look FANTASTIC printed on bright white presentation paper like this Epson brand.

PLEASE carefully read the Terms of Use when using my printable designs :)

Hope you enjoy! Happy Friday!

 

 

The LONG and short of it...and SBEtc. love

(just a little paper♥love above)

Well, it's Saturday.  I got up at 7 a.m. and felt like I'd WAY over slept after rising at 5:30 a.m. with the roosters these last two weeks.  Scott took Cash to coffee at the "man hangout" and I'm left in still, quiet bliss.  The windows are open and its cool...it feels like fall is finally here.  It's so wonderful!

I'm sitting here for a few minutes trying to figure out where to start first.  My to do list is long and I even feel like writing this post is a bit of a misappropriation of time but I need to let y'all know where I stand (you, know, YOU, my seven readers :) and sort of come to terms with the thoughts in my head by typing them out.

  (this is me in my class with my 27 inch iMac behind me :)

(-- well, not mine, but the one at my desk at class)

First-- I am LOVING school.  The second day of one of my classes, the teacher laid it out for us.  Graphic design is a very competitive field (knew that).  The economy is not what is used to be (mmm hmmm, yes).  The "freshman" class of 60-80 something graphic design students will be narrowed to 20 after this first year (whoa!!!!).  They only graduated 12 seniors last year (interesting).  My reaction...FAILURE IS NOT an option.  It's just not.  I'm in, it's on and I've got to see this through.  God has put this in play, I am totally faithful that there is a purpose in my doing this and beyond my first priority of FAMILY-- I have to give it 200%.  

With that said...I don't think I will have a ton of time to devote to some of my blog endeavors-- such as the Whimsy Shoppe, 52 week challenge and Free for ALL Fridays.  That doesn't mean that I'm throwing my hands up and quitting...it just means that I will just do what I can.  It may not be that I add a freebie EVERY Friday...but I will continue to add things as I can.  I think I will actually be able to draw a lot of inspiration from the projects in my classes, so I look forward to using my class projects a springboard, possibly, for freebies.  As far as the shoppe, I plan to continue making things as time allows but probably selling locally...I just have so little time to devote outside of school to these things and I have to come to terms...I'm not super woman and can't stop time and get it all done...even though I REALLY wanna do it all. :)

My goal is to do this college thing full force.  Now, you all know (or maybe you don't) that my roots run DEEP in the scrapbook industry.  After nine years of teaching, designing and creating I have been blessed in so many ways, come away with friendships that are priceless, and it was the seed that has sprouted as I have grown into a designer...going to college is my way of validating that, I suppose.  I want to work on a more professional level and see what doors open up.  Hopefully, you will see me again as a product designer both in the paper craft industry as well as beyond!!!

You'll still see my work in Scrapbooks etc. as I get the opportunities to contribute, I'll still post regularly here, I'll still be scrapbooking as time allows and you can rest assured that I will NEVER stop creating...something...always. 

Speaking of Scrapbooks etc...check out the October 2010 issue hitting stands... guess who did the cover ;)  Check out the "behind the scenes" notes by the editors here.

So I just wanted to let y'all know what's up...thanks for visiting me and I'll keep you updated on my ADVENTURES as a COLLEGE MOM.  Now I'm off to finish some jewelry orders.