How to Make a Fold-out Portfolio Business Card

The question rattling around my brain was how do you get a business card to make such a great impression, people buy into you right away? I was leaving for a blog conference in 2 weeks, and as a new blogger who was fairly unknown to fellow bloggers, it was important to make an impression and do so in the first minute of meeting. A regular business card just wouldn't do it.

The average person sizes you up in the first few seconds of meeting you...so what about the first moments they glance at the card you just handed them? Business cards are a dime a dozen and can easily slip into oblivion. My goal was to create a card that worked hard for me, I wanted my card to tell people that I was innovative, had design capabilities, and great original content on my website. That's when the idea hit...I needed to create a business card sized portfolio! I promptly set out to design an accordion foldout that could house my business card and say everything I desired it to say.

I know, I'm asking a lot of a business card. But why not? I say take a chance, be creative, and think of ways to portray the important things you want your business card to say about you and your business.
Here is a peek into what my brainstorming session looked like, and how it was translated into content. Now, these thoughts were specific to meeting other bloggers and brands. I am creating a second portfolio card designed solely for the general public and potential readers. Sometimes we need narrow our field of vision to our target audience and create more than one business card portfolio. This allows us to passionately articulate that one message designed for that one person we want to reach.

There were a few extra details I could have added, but I chose not to include for specific reasons...remember, in my case some information could already be assumed, and some information was simply traded out for my most impressive information. You will need to determine your own message, your purpose, and make sure each item accomplishes that goal. The tricky part is keeping it clean and uncluttered while portraying as much information (non-literal) as possible. 

A few things you might decide to include are:

• Business Name, URL, & Contact: Don't take contact info and URL's for granted...if they can't find you or reach you, they won't make the effort. Under contact you may want to include relevant social media symbols (just to show you can be found there).
• Description/Mission Statement/Tagline: What does your business do? Unless everyone who will receive this runs in the same circle, clear descriptions and taglines are important. 
• Profile picture: Are you a part of your brand? Then making your thumbnail recognizable is just as important as your logo being recognizable. 
• Niche/Unique Message/Goals: What makes you unique? What is the message you want to convey...this is your brainstorm session from above.
• Media Kit info: Perhaps your portfolio is being designed as a media kit to reach out to various brands and companies. You may want to include website stats (pageviews, social media follows (#'s), etc.
• Projects: Show your outstanding work. Make sure it reflects the whole of what you do.
• Features/Who you've worked with: It's not always what you know but who you know. List people, companies, brands, you have worked with, or who have featured your work.
• Reviews/Recognition/Testimonials: Have you worked with big clients? Has your business been recognized or given a great rating somewhere? Sometimes it is important to humbly "brag", suddenly others will want to work with you, or at least see what you've got!
• Experience: Maybe in your particular business you are seeking clientele. Listing your most brag-worthy work experience is a must!
• Special Offers: Does your business provide a service or product that you can offer a discount on? Create a coupon and your card is less likely to be thrown away.

How To Create Your Portfolio

I used Photoshop, which is the best option for creating a professional graphic rich portfolio. However if you do not have access to a photo editing software and you have existing graphics... you could use any program that allows you to import and resize photos, and select a variety of fonts. 

Specs: Simply put it is half of an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet>> A folded portfolio card is 4-1/4 x 2-3/4. Opened it is  4-1/4 x 11. Printed in color on plain paper.

When designing your portfolio you will need to employ rulers in the program to know where each fold will go and how much space you have to work with. If you are using Photoshop start by creating a new project, change pixels to inch, input width: 4.25 inches, height: 11 inches. It is best to leave a 1/4 inch allowance around all edges for printing, but if you find that difficult to execute don't worry about it, your printing company will do it by default.

When designing the inside and the outside of the portfolio, remember that the outside will also become the front and back of the portfolio once it is folded. Your "front" will need to be upside down. 

There are two options when you are done designing. You can copy and place two of the same side onto one printable document (psd, jpg, etc.), and do this for the inside and out, and have the printers align, print, and cut. OR you can simply bring (on a thumb drive of course) each half sheet you have designed and let the printing company do the work! It is often better to let them do it, as they will have the expertise to make sure everything lines up properly. Ask for a test print, then fold it to ensure all your graphics line up properly.

How To Prepare Your Portfolio

Fold in half, careful to line up the ends before creasing your fold.

Then fold each side in half again, opposite of each other, this creates an M fold. Crease all folded edges using your nails to create a crisp crease.

Cut the corners off of one of your business cards to use as a template for where to cut slits in your portfolio. You will be sliding an uncut business card in here. Use a sharp exacto knife to cut your slits. 

Insert business cards into your fold-out portfolio. Be sure to design it so that the same information on your card is on the fold-out portfolio itself...this way if the card is removed (for filing), the portfolio still contains the business card logo and info. It is better than having a blank space in your design and allows you the flexibility of handing out the portfolio without business cards (if necessary).

And there you have it! An accordion styled business card/portfolio that actually does the work for you!

I had great success with it at the conference, many bloggers commented on it and voiced their assurance that they would be visiting my blog (for which I was eternally grateful!). In addition it got the attention of brands impressed enough to "talk shop" right then and there. 

Whatever your business, make an impression and give your business cards a voice!

Installing a Light Fixture - My Laundry Room Lightup

I have one final project to brighten up my newly updated laundry room, and it is installing the beautiful new light fixture I just got from Westside Wholesale!
Isn't she a beaut? Replacing the lighting in a room can be a quick and easy update that makes a big difference! So today I'm sharing how to install a light fixture and giving you a sneak peek into my laundry room makeover.

The old fixture seems to be having a bit of a tough time keeping this room well lit. With space for only a single bulb, and a low wattage bulb at that, it left much to be desired.

The new fixture I've chosen for this space is a Kichler Transitional Semi Flush Light Fixture, and it has a bit of sparkle that really adds a streamlined glam I'm looking for in this room. It was really important for me to find a fixture that made a subtle statement, so the size was very important...this particular Kichler fixture measures 15" x 11.5" making it perfect for my 9' x 6' space. It will stand out, yet not take too much attention away from the rest of the space. Ever the practical decorista I also made the number of bulbs a criteria for my search. 3 bulbs were perfect to brighten up the space!

While looking for the perfect light fixture I learned that not all lights are created equal. Here are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing the perfect fixture:

• Decorative lighting vs. Bright light: Sometimes we get sidetracked by style...remember that if it is the primary source of light, you want to choose a fixture designed to adequately illumine the space. Look for something that supports a higher wattage and/or has the specs for multiple bulbs. Sometimes you can find the same style fixture in a variety of sizes to suit the task at hand. 
• Size for the space: Consider visual weight. If the fixture engulfs the room, or alternately appears significantly dwarfed by the space, you need a new fixture. Lighting should not be overlooked as a decorative element, it is equally important to help pull the entire space together.
• Directional Lighting: From ceiling mount, to wall sconce, to floor lamps and everything in between, your choices will come in a style that directs the light up, or down. Occasionally (such as with a shade) the light will incorporate both an upward and downward glow. Consider the location of the light and its purpose; If you want an item in the room to be illuminated (such as art, bookcases, the stairs in a stairwell, etc.), look for downward illumination. If your needs are more for general lighting to brighten up the entire space, up-faced lighting bounces off the ceiling and tends to flood a room more adequately. 
• Mix & Match: The different types of lighting you can bring into a space will lend itself to a variety of important elements. Mood lighting, task lighting, general lighting...each have a part to play. Remember that there is no need to choose one over the other, you can combine general lighting with a companion for mood lighting as well! Go on, have your cake and eat it too!

One final tip...before shelling out the big bucks to install your new fixture, why not give it a try on your own? Notwithstanding random quirks such as massively high ceilings, it is a project that can usually be done in a short period of time, and just about anyone can do! 

Watch my youtube webisode here on installing my new fixture in this space:

Here is that sneak peak into my laundry room I promised, but don't miss out on the big reveal! I'll be sharing all the before and after's, as well as tips to decorate for the practical needs of the laundry room. See you there!

Wallpaper, Wallpaper, On The Wall...

Mmmmnnnooooggrrrrbleghhh. Oh hey... sorry about that. I was just looking over the bathrooms in my house and eeeggghhh...huh there I go again. I've been putting off these two bathroom spaces for 2 years because of the wallpaper. No, it's not that it will be that difficult to remove it, it's just that I hate removing wallpaper. I moved here from a house that had 3-5 layers of old outdated wallpaper on every single wall surface. Yes, I said 3-5 layers on EVERY SINGLE WALL! I spent 5 years peeling wallpaper so I am NOT fond of it! After moving into this house, I decided to take a couple years off *wry grin*. Well, at least I can say I have learned a few things about wallpaper removal. Let me tell you, I have done it all... it took a while but I finally came to the conclusion that the simple method is the best.
I can't avoid it any longer, the girls bathroom is especially in need of a little TLC. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to share what I have learned about wallpaper removal while I prep my two bathrooms for painting.

No More Gimmicks
Nothing is more frustrating than spending money believing a product that promises easy and effective result but to no avail. One thing I have learned after trying professional steamers, and myriad of sprays and goo, is that they all have their own unique type of hassle. The reality is that good wallpaper removal can't be guaranteed, the success of removal all depends on the age and type of the wallpaper, and the condition of the wall beneath. No matter what method you use, if something bad is going to happen, none of these methods will prevent it. I figure if you are going to have to pick your poison anyway, and what will be will be, why bother spend the money? Might as well use a free method... 

The Free & Simple Method
I use a spray bottle with warm water, and a taping knife as a scraper. Wait, let me show you...

This may seem overly simple, but it turns out that it produces the same good results on easy peel wallpaper, and the same set of frustrations with old wallpaper or badly primed walls. It's all about learning how to tell what you are up against before peeling, or what to do when the going gets tough. 

You Never Know What You'll Find
Wallpaper removal is a gamble. You might discover multiple layers, with each layer getting older and harder to remove, or it might turn out to be a breeze! Just know that if you decide to remove your existing wallpaper you may have to deal with more than you bargained for.
The best you can do to "check" is use an exacto knife to score the wallpaper near an out-of-the-way corner, and gently peel back that scored segment. If the wall is primed and painted underneath you are likely to have a quick and easy removal. If there is a second layer of old wallpaper without a plasticy substance, or the wall is not painted, you might risk pulling off pieces of drywall, or bubbling of the wall surface.

Avoiding Removal
If you hate your wallpaper, but don't want the hassle of removing it, you do have options... 

Paint Over It: If the seams are tight well done seams, and there is no bubbling of the paper, you can use an oil-based primer to paint over your wallpaper. Be sure to use a brand that is not too "wet" (or at least leave the primer open for a few days to thicken up) otherwise you might create bubbles or unwanted texture that will show up when your top coat dries. 
Wide Seam Tip: If your seams are a little further apart than you like, and you are good at mudding, you can fill in gaps in seams with just the tiniest bit of plaster. 

Paper Over It: I hate the idea of making more layers of wallpaper, but there are times when it is merited. In these cases be sure place your seams fairly close to where the original seams are. Unless the old wallpaper seams are flawless, they can show through the second layer of wallpaper once the glue dries...better safe than sorry.

Solving Paper Removal Problems

Peeling Dry Wall: I hope your mudding is good. *grin* There isn't much that can be done besides mudding over the peeled areas...short of papering over your mishap.

Bubbling Paint: Perhaps the dry wall isn't peeling, but it seems as if paint is bubbling and peeling with each piece of paper you pull off the wall. It may be a flat paint, or it may be that it isn't painted at all. Either way, allow it to dry thoroughly, then use dry wall sandpaper to sand the peeled edges. In some cases that will take care of it, in others you may have to use a light coat of plaster and mud around the edges to hide any irregularities. 

How to Remove Paper Around Impediments: Bathrooms particularly can be difficult to remove wallpaper from because of all the impediments; the toilet gets in the way, the light fixture, the vanity, towel bars, etc. Rather than removing every fixture, lightly score around these items using an exacto knife before peeling back the wallpaper around it. 

Good luck with your wallpaper removal! I hope your experience is smoother going than mine! *wink*