Food

DIY Faux Slate Chalkboard Photo Background

74 · Feb 26, 2013 · 103 Comments

DIY Faux Slate Chalkboard Photo Background // When I first started blogging, one of my main goals was to learn how to take good pictures. If you were to go back to the beginning of WhipperBerry from the summer of 2010, You can see my photos were not exactly Pinterest worthy. Luckily Pinterest hadn’t opened it’s virtual doors quite yet.

One of my favorite things about bloggin is that I am constantly learning and developing new skills. I am constantly dissecting photos that I love, to figure out how I can create the same effect. Now, with Pinterest as a major player in our social media world… Photography is EVERYTHING. One of the easiest ways for a post to go viral these days is for it to be pinned and repined on Pinterest. A post can develop some strong legs on Pinterest and really bring in some major traffic for your site. The bottom line is… If you don’t have a good photo, you are missing a huge chunk of the successful blog post equation.

One of my favorite styles of photography right now is, the dark slate chalkboard look. We’ve seen it everywhere on Pinterest. Not only is this chalkboard look popular for printables, it’s super popular for pictures as well. Here are a few examples of photos that I’ve created for WhipperBerry with this look…

I love how the black backdrop helps to make colors pop and it also has a bit of texture which in turn helps the image have more depth. It also creates a fun chalkboard look when adding text to your image. I just love it!!

Want to know how I made my background? It’s super EASY and cheap! Here is what you will need…

Supply List

Black foam board – Any size will work, I have a couple of sets of various sizes. They range in price from just a few dollars for a small board up to about $15 for a large 20×30 depending on where you purchase them. Still nothing to sneeze at when compared to other photo backdrops.
Chalk
Old rag

Chalkboard Photo Background Instructions

Now, this couldn’t be easier. Take your foam board and a piece of chalk…

Take the side of the chalk and gently rub circles around the surface of the foam board. Don’t press too hard, it will dent or scratch the surface of the foam board and you don’t want that to happen.

Once you’ve covered the entire surface of the foam board with the chalk, take an old rag and use it to blend the chalk over the surface of the board. This will give the board the look of slate when photographed.

Here’s how it should look once you’ve blended the chalk…

Because they are so inexpensive and easy to make, I’ve made several of them of them and use them for not only the background but the base of my photo set-up. I’ll let you in on a little secret, Here is how I photograph all of my photos…

This is actually my daughter’s bedroom, but she has graciously offered to share it with me as my photo studio as well. It has the best natural light in the house and with windows on two sides of the room I have all kinds of fun playing with the light. This set-up was for yesterday’s Campbell’s post, here is how the picture turned out…

I am just in love with this look right now! So… I’ve been thinking about doing a few more posts on how I create the images for WhipperBerry, but I’m going to leave that up to you. If you are interested in more posts like this, leave a comment on this post and tell me what you would like to learn about. If there is enough interest, I will work up a whole new blogging series… So ask away!

Campbell’s Address your Heart // Making Heart Healthy Food Choices

0 · Feb 25, 2013 ·

Campbell's Address Your Heart // I have been blessed…

I have been blessed with a healthy family. As a child and young adult, I was blessed to have many happy, healthy years with my Grandparents and other older extended family members. My parents are still healthy and active as Grandparents for my children now. We've been blessed with healthy hearts, thank goodness. However, hundreds of thousands of families are tragically effected by heart disease every year. According to the CDC, 600,000 people die of heart disease every year. That's 1 out of every 4 Americans, who are dying from a very preventable disease.

Now, even though my family has been blessed with healthy hearts so far, I know it's because they have all worked hard to make sure they've stayed healthy and strong, so that their hearts have had a fighting chance. Many of us think that can be a rather daunting task in our fast food lifestyle these days. I have to admit, I am one of those who struggle at times. Life is just so busy.

This week alone, I will probably log more hours at my daughters school, than at home. I was at school all day Saturday for the NFL speech meet, Sunday we had several hours of church meetings, for the rest of this week Hales is performing in Grease at her High School here in Lincoln. That means that I am at the school every evening helping to feed the kiddos, parent meetings, ticket sales, and attending the show. It's a busy week. The sad thing, that's only 1 out of my 4 children. My little guy, Gage is turning three this weekend and of course I need to make sure he has a special day full magic and apparently blue cake (his request.) The list could go on and on… I KNOW I'm not the only one in this boat.

I also know, that regardless of whatever is going on in our lives… Nothing is more important than making sure we STOP and address our hearts. If I don't teach my children healthy habits, that lucky streak may suddenly disappear. Quite honestly that idea terrifies me. What if my children have to endure the tragedy of loosing a loved one because we couldn't take the time to make sure we took care of our hearts.

Luckily, companies out there like Campbell have worked hard to create a healthy line of tasty food that is quick and easy to prepare…

Look at all those heart healthy labels. They've made it so easy to find the products that help promote a healthy heart. The lovely folks at Campbell sent my family a variety of products that help maintain good cardiac health and it was a wonderful reminder how easy it is to find healthy food on the go.

My family love these types of meals anyway… how hard is it to prepare a can of Campbell's Soup, paired it with a slice of whole grain bread topped with some heart healthy avocado? It takes less time than running through the drive through. I promise you!!

What do you do to help your family's heart health? Follow the steps below and share how you care for your heart to participate in Campbell’s contest and you could win a $50,000 kitchen makeover. Contest Rules & Prize Page.

Step 1: Submit a photo below that shows how you care for your heart

Step 2: Fill out the information required including your name, email address and zip code.

Step 3: Write a short contest entry (up to 200 words) that corresponds with the photo and share how you care for your heart. Please be honest and sincere with all your thoughts and remember to tell us in 200 words or less.

Step 4: Confirm you’ve read the Official Rules.

Step 5: Log in through your Facebook account.

Step 6: Submit your contest entry.

You can share your contest entry on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and visit AddressYourHeart.com for recipes, tips, and downloadable coupons for heart-healthy products from Campbell.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the Campbell Soup Company’s Address Your Heart initiative. The opinions, text, and images are all mine.

Friday Flair Features

1 · Feb 25, 2013 · 6 Comments

Friday Flair Features // Happy Monday! Who's ready for a fresh start with the new week? I certainly know that I am. I have some exciting stuff planned for this week. I have a fun heart healthy $50,000 Kitchen makeover contest to enter for tomorrow, Wednesday I have a behind the scenes look at how I make one of my photo backdrops, Thursday I have an amazing Silhouette tutorial in store that will be mind blowing (not to mention this months Silhouette special,) and Friday of course is Friday Flair… You won't want to miss a thing this week!! I'm also working on a simple birthday celebration for my little Guy. Gage is turning three on Sunday and I'm working on a few simple items to make his day special. I'm sure they will show up next week. But enough about me… Today is about YOU!! Here are a few of the fun posts that caught my eye during this week's Friday Flair link party…

herringbone bookcase // lolly Jane

stout chocolate cake // a pretty life in the suburbs

daisy braid bread // it's always autumn

painted chair legs // making home base

mini cherry pie tarts // shaken together

chevron painted kitchen stool // twelveOeight

ooey gooey chocolate chip muffins // our mini family

easy diy art // antsi-pants

nautical knot necklace // the scrap shoppe

kitchen reveal // domestic imperfection

revamping your about page // the thinking closet

healthy turkey pita wrap // six sister's stuff

how to make your own chalkboard art // sassy style

inexpensive wall art // love grows wild

easter marshmallow bark // butter with a side of bread

floating book shelves // it's overflowing

bedroom reveal // capturing joy with kristen duke

20 minute pad thai // half baked harvest

Thank you ALL show much for sharing your talents every week. You truly inspire us all!! I can't wait to see what you are working on this week.

Friday Flair Link Party // Wind and Willow Home Edition

0 · Feb 22, 2013 · 26 Comments

Friday Flair Link Party // Happy Friday everyone!! We are in the middle of snow day part deux here in Lincoln. The funny thing, we really didn't get too much snow, maybe 6 inches at the most. For this Vegas family, snow days are a fun new idea that we are totally relishing, so we aren't complaining. We've decided that we are having a Harry Potter Marathon today and I'm sure some magic in the kitchen will happen.

This week has been a little slow around here, I know. I have to admit… I'm in a bit of a creative slump at the moment. We all go through it at times. I actually took to my Facebook page last night to see what other's do when they lose their creative mojo. You should go check it out. There are several really good ideas. Come share some of your own, I would love to see how you stay creative when you're in a bit of a funk. But, Don't you worry… I'll be back with some fabulous ideas next week.

Now for this week's inspiration… I've been craving the flavors of spring this week. I bet you couldn't tell after my 36 Spring Recipes that I want to try post. I wanted to share some amazing salad bowls that I found from a stylish shop called Wind and Willow Home on Etsy.

img source // 7 inch salad bowls wind and willow home from etsy

Aren't they just bright and cheery? I just love how they look and I would LOVE to share all of my favorite sping salads in these little beauties! Nice work Wind and Willow Home. You should go check out all of their work, everything that's in their shop is stunning!

Now let's get the PARTY Started!!

36 Fresh Spring Recipes

1 · Feb 19, 2013 · 21 Comments

36 Spring Recipes // For the last several days, I’ve woken up to the sound of song birds… For this former Vegas girl, it’s the first exciting sign of spring. Inevitably, with the awakening of the earth from it’s winter slumber, I start to crave fresh spring meals. Food that’s light, clean, crisp and colorful. It won’t be long before the spring produce starts to arrive to our local markets, and farmer’s markets open up for the new growing season. I thought I would share a few of the spring recipes that I plan to try this year…

I’ve broken things down into four different groups… Dinner, Salads, Breakfast & Sides and of course Dessert!

Spring Dinner Ideas

1. creamy tomato orzo soup // two peas & their pod 2. goat cheese tomato quiche // life’s a feast 3. chicken pot pie // baked bree 4. ground turkey with potatoes and spring peas // skinny taste 5. penne with asparagus, sage & peas // food & wine via the huffington post 6. tofu tostadas // two peas & their pod 7. spicy roasted shrimp sandwich with chipolte avocado mayo // damn delicious 8. prosciutto, asparagus & parmesan spaghetti // val so cal 9. asian veggie noodle bowl with grilled steak // half baked harvest 10. kung fu panda soup // sophistimom 11. chicken fajita recipe // how to cook recipes

Spring Salad Ideas

11. white house biggest loser salad // ivillage 12. kiwi, pear & gorgonzola salad // przwpis 13. curried chicken apple salad // with style & grace 14. vietnamese banh mi salad // a spicy perspective 15. super salad // the alkaline sisters 16. spring salad with orange vinaigrette // dine & dish 17. baby greens with goat cheese, beets & candied pecans // skinny taste 18. tuscan bread salad // jones design company 19. raw stacked salad // the sweet life

Spring Breakfast & Side Recipes

20. baked eggs in avocado // white on rice couple 21. tabbouleh salad // two peas & their pod 22. homesick toast // simple provisions 23. chickpea, feta and parsley salad // simple provisions 24. steamed asparagus with poached eggs // skinny taste 25. corn cakes with tomato avocado relish // annie’s eats 26. fresh pea salad // closet cooking 27. healthy greek quinoa salad // with style & grace 28. orzo chicken asiago // citron limette 29. spring sweet pea & asparagus pickles // white on rice couple 30. avo & egg breakfast pizza // justin blakeney

Spring Dessert Recipes

31. blood orange bars // white on rice couple 32. pavlovas with strawberries, vanilla cream and basil coulis // tartine & apron strings 33. blueberry cupcakes with buttercream // the sweetest occasion 34. key lime cheesecake // 35. mango coconut rice pudding // cook republic 36. acai berry granita // tidymom

What inspires your kitchen as the seasons change? Do you relish the idea of welcoming in new dishes to your tables after the long, cold winter. I know I do!! What is your favorite spring recipe? Share a link in my comments… I would LOVE to see what you crave!