{DIY} Makeshift Business Cards

I was invited to a Blogger's Bingo Picnic in Hyde Park last night - (more on that to come). Now, as you may have read, I am in the process of moving indieBerries to it's own domain and re-branding/re-launching/opening shop etc etc etc. ( #EXCITEMENT) - as such, I have held off on printing 'proper' business cards until the new site is up and I'm happy with the look and feel of everything. However, one cannot attend a "blogger's meet up" without any form of calling-card, so I decided to quickly whack up a few very-quick-and-easy makeshift contact cards -


I started by laying out all my NB details on an A4 page - I mocked this up in inDesign because I have da skillz and da program -  but it really is nothing fancy and I am pretty sure you can achieve something similar in Word or even powerpoint.

I printed out the A4 page into thick card and then cut out all of the business cards -


I left a space on the information side of the card for me to hand write the "indieBerries" title - mainly because I wanted something handwritten to break up all the text and also to give it a hand-crafted feel. If you don't feel so comfortable handwriting your business cards, you could use alphabet stamps, stickers or print out the whole thing. For me, these are very temporary and fun-makeshift cards - so it really doesn't matter. Your business cards should also reflect your style of business - so if you are an independent crafter/artisan then the handwritten look would be perfect for you. If you do decide to write on them make sure you choose an ink that won't smudge and that the cards are fully dry before you attempt to letter them.


I then turned the business cards over and started washi-taping the back of them - covering the entire card in different coloured strips. It was loads of fun to do and very quick and easy.


What's nice about this method is that you can change the look from card to card if you want and you can build up a variety of different colours for clients/bloggers/people to choose from. I would suggest keeping each business card to a specific colour hue - but heck if you wanted to be crazy and smash in all the PURPLES/PINKS/BLUES/GREENS/BLACK/YELLOW/ORANGES into one card.... go right ahead!


I personally love this business card technique because it gives you an excuse to BUY ALL THE WASHI TAPE. Of course, you could always just marry Warren Dyer and let him give you the BEST. WEDDING. GIFT. EVERRRR.

Just kidding gurrrls, he's already married. 

You can also see my lovely nails - that's some Shellac from my last manicure that I've half scratched off. Should probably change my business cards to:

indieBerries

"definitely not a beauty blog"

  

Any lovely ideas you've seen for business cards lately?

I love these whimsical business cards from Happiness is...

{DIY} The Sad Naked Notebook

NAKED!

That's not a problem sad-and-naked-little-notebook! 

We'll dress you up in no time at all!

To dress up your sad-and-naked-little-notebooks you will need:

• a notebook. (make sure it is a sad-and-naked one).
• something that will form the "base" of your notebook cover. It could be photographs, magazine pages, scrapbook paper etc. I printed out some images off my "Blogcademy Inspired" Pinterest board. viva la turquoise!
• anything that sparkles your fancy for notebook embellishments: It could be sequins, buttons, washi tape, feathers, fabric, tissue paper.
• Mod Podge and a brush. (I opted for the matt Mod Podge, it could be glossy if you prefer).

Below are some of the images that I printed out from my "Blogcademy Inspired" Pinterest board -


My printer however, has been a little moody-pre-menstrual of late and decided to tell me there is NO BLACK INK. After replacing the black ink and printing the pictures - it is very clear that the printer is out of YELLOW INK.

Nevermind, I just whipped out my coloured pencils and filled it in.

Whatevs. printer - you aren't getting the better of me.

They came out fine for the purpose of this project -

Once you've cut out all your pictures/pages/scrapbook papers etc. Start laying them out on your notebook. I'm usually more of a "just do it as you go" kind of DIYer but it is a good idea to have some rough estimate of how many pics you will be able to fit onto the page -


When you are happy with your layout, start sticking down your images using Mod Podge - once you have stuck them all down, you can give the entire thing another coat of mod podge on top.

After you have let the "base" dry a little bit, you can start adding different embellishments using the mod podge -

  

I wanted my sad-and-naked-little-notebook to have different layers and textures so I glued on some frayed fabric, sequins, buttons and feathers.

"When in doubt, just add washi tape" - Ché Dyer ©

I will escort my little notebook to the Blogcademy with pleasure

and promise to ask all the questions on his behalf.

Sincerely,

Ché Dyer -

lover-of-stationery, notebooks and sparkly things.

xoxo

The Blogcademy.

We've been married for almost four months now - but me moving to London 3 months ago has been the first time we've lived on the same continent in more than 6 years.
And before that,

We weren't even dating.

Yeah, 

It's a long story.

I digress.

poor me.

Spending South African Rands whilst trying
to buy things in London Pounds is no joke.

YAY! For online store!!

A brand new online shop - 

"things" including.... date books || illustrated recipe books || wedding guestbooks || 'trash-books' || cards ||  DIY kits || design work || web design || children's books || personalised cartoons etc etc etc.

I want to do ALL the things.
(which is clearly not possible - *needs direction*)

So,

so... if you can't grant me the scholarship for me
(which I think you should)

Then do it for my husband.

And



But really,

 I do believe that I am an excellent candidate for The Blogcademy scholarship because:

1. I have a lot of creative ideas {too many, not enough hours in the day - they need to be streamlined/focused/directed (?!)} and I don't really know what to do with them, how to market them/execute them and/or how to take them to the next level. I need help with actualising my creativity into a viable career.
2. I'm in the process of building a new website and online store (YAY SELF!) - and I would love some expert branding/guidance/advice with the launch of that new venture. The Blogcademy is the perfect platform in every sense.
3. I have been approached several times by (South African) google-ad type advertisers asking to host flashing banners on my blog. Every time I have ninja-chopped-them-in-the-face said, "NO", because I don't want to be a sell-out. But... am starting to think maybe it is time I start generating some income from my blog? how?
4. I would absolutely love to be part of such an exciting, interactive and dynamic experience - not only meeting a group of 30 like-minded UK bloggers, but having three of the most internationally successful bloggers in the industry to answer my hundreds of technical/practical/creative and business questions, is more than I would ever be able to get from reading any website/forum or book (and I've read plenty).
5.  I would love to soak up all the stories, experiences, advice and be inspired by three of the most prolific bloggers in the industry. And also - possibly stroke Kat's pink hair {in a non-creepy way}.

But above all -
  

PS. I have decided that I am going to SPAM the Blogcademy headmistresses with my scholarship entry campaign - they will be so annoyed with me that they will accept my scholarship application just to make me stop. I realise this is a rather risky strategy and has the potential to make me look both needy and desperate. My response to this is:

I am.


So lovely indieBerries readers and fans (hi mom),
- go forth on your twitters and tell @theblogcademy just how much you think
@indieberries needs to be part of their possé.


and TOMORROW!
BLOGCADEMY DIY!


yes.