Written by
Pepper Ferguson
Project 52: Bloggy Boot Camp Seattle
This weekend I drove up to Seattle by myself for the first time for Bloggy Boot Camp. It was awesome! I had the most amazing hotel that I got to stay at and I got a photo of myself there as I was walking along their wooded paths.
Join Project 52: Self Portraits
Lynda (from Daily Window) and I are not going to be putting up the linky anymore, but still want to invite you to participate in this project with us. I hope you will join us!
If you want to use the Project 52 badge feel free and grab it and use it on your post. You don’t have to do every week with us you can post just once even and you don’t have to follow the weekly theme either. We just hope that you will join us for some fun.
This is the challenge take a photo of yourself!
A Craft a Day: A is for Apple
Welcome back to a new edition of A Craft A Day!
If you are new to A Craft a Day
A Craft a Day gives you five activities that you can enjoy with your kids, one for each day of the week. Most of these activities work well for preschoolers, but you may be able to adapt them for your toddler. If you want to learn more about the basics of A Craft A Day you can find them at a Craft a Day: Coming Back Soon.
I will post the crafts on Saturdays so you can use the weekend to get any supplies that you may need.
Are you Supermom?
Now I’m not supermom and I don’t expect you to be either. We don’t always get to each activity, sometimes life is just too busy.
Hopefully you may try one or two of these activities with me and my kids! You don’t have to do every single one. You don’t have to be doing preschool with your child.
I just hope to give you a resource for some great fun with your kids!
The Crafts:
- Apple Smiles – Apple smiles are a fun and easy snack to create with your preschooler.
- Armor of God – For this project we printed out each sheet. I created a head and legs from construction paper. Zane colored the sheets, put a face on the head and helped me cut out the shield. I cut out the rest of the pieces and had him tape them all together. This was tons of fun.
- Apple Science – I cut open an apple and we counted the carpels and seed together. Every apple has 5 carpels and each carpel should have 2 seeds.
- Apple Prints – After counting I put some paint on a plant and let both boys use the apples as stamps. Zane just loved swirling the paint.
- Awesome Apple – I know another color and cut worksheet. But what was fun was we were just teaching Zane about Super Heroes and this happen to be the activity I planned for the day.
Supplies: Apples, Peanut Butter, Mini Marshmallows, Scissors, Crayons or Pens, Acrylic Paint or Finger Paint, Craft Paper
Be Featured
If you do any of these crafts and happen to take a picture or write a blog post about it please make sure and share your link in the comments. Also don’t forget to link the original crafter! I may feature you and your blog on the following weeks post!
5 Ways to Visually Improve your Blog Posts
Have you ever come across a blog you loved what they were saying but just trying to read it exhausted you?
You have 3 seconds to impress your readers. Even if you have caught them by your web design and your headlines if you haven’t take these 5 simple steps in improving your blog posts your readers are going to leave.
1. White Space
In art and design there is a term called white space. This does not mean literally the color white. But just empty space, with nothing in it. This gives the eye a place to rest.Make sure that your blog design has space between each line (aka line-height). You also want to have a good amount of space between your paragraphs. Putting space around even your images will make a difference fo your readers when looking at your blog.
2. Short Paragraphs, Short Sentences.
When someone looks at your blog and see a wall of words, they become overwhelmed and tired just thinking about reading your blog post. Most readers only skim posts but if they see the wall of words they may just skip it all together. Use short sentences.
Make your paragraphs are short. They should only be a few sentences each. You cannot overdo paragraph breaks!
You can even make a paragraph just one sentence.
3. Edit, Edit, Edit
Make sure and edit your posts. Read your posts out loud and really listen to what you are saying. Can you write your sentences shorter? Can you use less words to make the same point? Less is always more and in blogging this is even more true.
4. Use Your Tools!
Use the edit tools in your blogging control panel. Make the key point in a paragraph bold. If you want to emphasize a point put it in italics. Most readers only skim text on websites. These emphasized points may catch their eye and encourage them to read more.
5. Lists
Use lists whenever you can. If you are joining in on the 31 days to Build a Better Blog then you have just learned that lists are great blog posts. But make sure even your lists are easy to follow. Try using bullet points or number your list. Make sure each item has its own line! Even when making a list and then expanding on each point your list item should have it’s own line.
Your Turn
Try out some of these tips on your next blog post and take a look at the difference. Does it look nicer to you? Did more people stop and comment on your post? Did you notice people even commented about something in the middle of your post vs the beginning and the ending?
I would love to see your posts showing off your editing skills, please comment and share your experience with me.
PSD Makeover: New Critter
This month’s lucky redesign is New Critter. This is actually an old site, but Nichole is hoping to resurrect in the near future.
THE PROS
- Very little clutter
- Organized
- Great concept
THE CONS
- Very basic design with no real personality
- No social media
- Layout really doesn’t highlight each creature
THE PLAN
Change the layout to really showcase each character by adding a slideshow
Make it easier to find the newest creatures by creating a newest critter section
Highlight the categories of the animals by creating a menu
Make a dedicated section for social media
THE REDESIGN
More Questions?
I’m always happy to help with questions so feel free and ask here in the comments or email me at (unicornbeauty (@) gmail.com)
Project 52: Sunshine
The sun is shining and I decided to go out and catch a couple photos. I feel silly sitting in my backyard. Wondering if the neighbors can see me taking photos of myself. Wondering what they think of me always taking photos of myself. Oh well.
Join Project 52: Self Portraits
Lynda (from Daily Window) and I are not going to be putting up the linky anymore, but still want to invite you to participate in this project with us. I hope you will join us!
If you want to use the Project 52 badge feel free and grab it and use it on your post. You don’t have to do every week with us you can post just once even and you don’t have to follow the weekly theme either. We just hope that you will join us for some fun.
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