Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you make all of your products? What do you use? 
A: I use Power Point to create EVERYTHING!!!! I’ve used it for the last 10ish years exclusively. I don’t think I’d know how to use Word if I tried! HA! Honestly, it just seems so much more user friendly to me. Also, I’m using a PC…a Sony Vaio laptop to be exact. I know many other bloggers who use Publisher, Word, and Illustrator, but Power Point is the easiest for me 🙂 

Q: How long does it take you to create your units? 
A: It just depends. Typically, anywhere from 30-40 hours…not consecutively, of course 😉 Everything I create is used in my classroom and I typically don’t add it to the shop unless it’s successful in my classroom, first. Since it takes so long to cross my t’s and dot my i’s, the number of items in my little shop is very limited! 

Q: How do you “license” or whatever you do to be able to use copyrighted graphics on your work? 
A: If you plan on selling your materials, ALWAYS make sure you read the TOU!! And read them carefully! Many graphic designers/font makers will specifically state in their TOU if their work is intended for commercial/non-commercial use. Some graphic designers/font makers require you to purchase a license if you are using their materials for products you plan on selling. The cost and terms vary by designer and can usually be purchased directly from the website. When in doubt, contact the designer!! Don’t just assume it’s okay to use something if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for!!! Always check TpT first…there are some great graphic designers/font makers who sell on TpT and their TOU are VERY commercial friendly 🙂 I stay away from ANY and ALL clipart that is trademarked {Dr. Seuss, Disney, etc.} 

Q: Where do you get all your fonts? 
A: I get my fonts from Kevin & Amanda, Font Squirrel, Michelle Oakes, Kimberly Geswein, and Jen Jones. I also use my own fonts in a lot of my products, too! You can always get fonts from dafont.com, but they’re not all created for commercial use! You have to read the fine print!! 

Q: How do you make your fonts? 
A: I’m no pro, but I use iFontmaker on my iPad 🙂

Q: I laugh every time I use your fonts. Where do you come up with the names?

A: Hahahaha. They make me laugh, too! All of the font names are inside jokes, things I say WAY too much, and quotes from my friends 🙂

Q: Where do you get your clipart? 
A: I get all my clipart on TpT…the graphic designers have VERY friendly TOU!! Here are some of my favorite clipart shops: Scrappin Doodles {not on TpT}, Melonheadz, KPM Doodles {not on TpT}, Ashley Hughes, Krista Wallden, Kari Bolt, Little Red’s Schoolhouse, Fancy Dog Studio, and Graphics from the Pond. Etsy has some great clipart as well, but again…read the TOU!!! 

 Q: Clearly, you don’t have a life. You must not because NO ONE has time for all of this. When do you find the time for everything? 
A: I don’t feel like I do!!! Just remember that when you’re reading this blog, you’re seeing the *highlight reel*. I know it seems like I get a lot done…and sometimes I really do!…but I honestly don’t always find the time!!!! I’ve gotten really good at time management the last few years, but it’s still a work in progress 🙂 I do what I can when I can and God takes care of the rest 🙂 

Q: How do you balance home and school? Do you go in early? Stay late at night?
A: Is there really a way to balance?! HA! Seriously though…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my *job*, but my family will always come first. I have to know that if I didn’t get a chance to finish preparing for the next day, then I just leave it be. IT WILL GET DONE. Sometimes I get to school early, but most times I’m doing good just to get there on time. I do stay late…probably ‘til about 5ish…and then that’s that. Being with my boys is my top priority, so whatever I don’t finish gets left behind…until the next day. I make the most of my breaks…planning/lunch…sometimes I stay in my room for lunch and work on things that need to get done.. *Sometimes* I bring things home and work on them when the boys go to bed, but I really love spending time with Mr. Spouse so that doesn’t happen too often. I am definitely a night owl and I usually don’t go to bed ‘til anywhere between 11-12 during the school year. If something NEEDS to get done, I’ll find a way to do it! There’s definitely a fine line you walk trying to keep a balance between home and school, but you have to know where to draw that line! Family comes first and I don’t want to miss any memories!!!! 

Q: How do you stay organized? How do you organize all your units/TpT stuff? 
A: If anyone who knows me well is reading this, they’re LAUGHING right now because I am SO not organized. Well…it doesn’t look like I am anyway. I like to call it organized chaos. I think that’s my ADD 😉 I write EVERYTHING down, so that helps. I also keep a running to-do list at ALL times!!! I organize all my center/station activities into those big 9×12 tabbed envelopes and/or gallon sized ziplock baggies and store them in my filing cabinets and/or monthly drawers. Everytime I file an activity, I write it down in my “Activity Binder” so that I know exactly WHO created the resource and where I can find it…works great for planning purposes!!! I organize all my thematic ideas/printables/templates/tracers into labeled file folders in a separate filing cabinet. I keep all of my TpT units {packets} stored on Dropbox & Carbonite so that I’m not wasting precious ink 🙂

Q: What kind of camera do you use? 
A: I shoot with a Nikon D700 {IN.LOVE} and also have a Nikon D90 {also in love}. The D700 is a full frame camera and the D90 is a crop sensor. If you’re just looking for a DSLR to take better pictures than your regular ol’ point & shoot, you’ll want a crop sensor…you won’t need to go full frame. I’m 100% a Nikon girl, but both Canon & Nikon make EXCELLENT cameras. I would HIGHLY suggest you visit your local camera shop and hold BOTH in your hands. Sometimes one just *feels* better than another. Most DSLRs come with a kit lens {typically an 18-55mm lens}. I would suggest adding a prime{fixed} lens to your shopping cart OR just buying the camera body{no kit lens} and a lens. I LOVE my 50mm 1.4 {amazing prime lens!!!}. The 35mm 1.8 {prime} is also amazing and if you want something that zooms, go for the Tamron 28-75mm…super versatile & produces some pretty fantastic images. Instead of pulling your camera out of the box and just turning it on Auto, I *HIGHLY* recommend learning how to shoot in manual!!!! It’s a definite learning curve, but I’ve been shooting manual for 4 years now and the quality of my pictures are SO much better!!! I can’t imagine going back to auto! 

Q: What photo software to you use with your camera? 
A: I use Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3 to do ALL of my editing. Basic adjustments in Lightroom then I export to CS5 for bigger edits. If you don’t have access to this software, I think there might be some good alternatives online!