Illustrator 101

By guest contributor Melissa Coleman.

Opening Illustrator for the first time can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of tools, effects, windows, and viewing options to choose from. So let's start with the basics. Setting up your file correctly is the most important thing to know before getting to the meat of a project. Follow along with this series and you'll be an Illustrator wizard in no time.

Step 1: Open Illustrator

Press CTRL+N to open a new file (or File>New). If you're creating something for your blog or the web, size your document using pixels. Set the width of your document to the width of your post area. For example, the post area on my blog is 480 pixels wide, therefore, I set my document to 480 px. The height is up to your discretion.

Make sure your color mode is set to RBG and your resolution (or raster effects) is set to 72 ppi (pixels per inch). If you are designing something for print, work in inches, CMYK color mode, and 300 ppi. Press OK and pat yourself on the back.

Setting up your file incorrectly can make for unhappy results. If you set your color mode to CMYK and your blog works in RGB, your colors will be off. Or if you size your files too large, your site will compress it to fit in the space, causing blurriness and more unhappy results.

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What to Wear to Alt: Clue Party Edition

By guest contributor Erin Loechner.

Have you heard? This year, the ultimate Alt party will be themed for the top notch design scouts you are. It's no mystery - you all are stealthy game-changers (and you certainly know how to pick out a dreamy candlestick!).

Yes, that's right - this year's party theme is... CLUE!

Come dressed in your favorite hue and beg to answer the question: Best dressed: Who dunnit? As always, if you need help finding the perfect ensemble, here are a few fun ideas to consider!:

If you're bold, Miss Scarlet: [Heels / Lipstick / Tights / Dress / Gloves / Clutch]

If you're cunning, Colonel Mustard: [Heels / Hat / Ring / Blazer / Pants]

If you're absent-minded, Professor Plum: [Earrings / Handbag / Dress / Booties / Eyeshadow]

If you're regal, Mrs. Peacock: [Fascinator / Tights / Coat / Heels / Handbag / Eyeshadow]

If you're studious, Mr. Green: [Necklace / Flats / Nail Polish / Dress / Bow Tie / Bag]

If you're frazzled, Mrs. White: [Wrap / Dress / Hair Accessory / Heels / Clutch]

We'll see you there, magnifying glass in tow!

It's Okay to Say No

By guest contributor Maddy Hague. Photo by Breanna Rose.

In today's post, we're going to tackle something that can be difficult for everyone: knowing when to say no, and when to walk away.

Saying No from the Get Go

Saying no to a project before anything gets started may seem like a missed opportunity, but sometimes it's for the best. Leaving in the middle can certainly seem less professional, but it also runs the risk of burning bridges with those you have teamed up with. Here are some tips for determining whether to accept or (politely and professionally) reject a collaboration:

1) If you're approached with a potential collaboration, ask a lot of questions
What is the scope of the project? What am I assigned to do? Where will this be published or promoted? How will this help my blog or business? Knowing what's expected of you from the beginning will help you decide if the opportunity is really worth it.

2) Don't be afraid of being on the fence and letting them know why you're undecided
Maybe the amount of work you're putting in doesn't seem to equal what you'll be getting out of it. If you're excited about the concept of the project, or who you're working with, don't be afraid to ask if the pot can be sweetened a bit.

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The Best Digital Notebooks

By guest contributor Tori Bowman.

With basically our entire lives moving into the digital realms, it's only natural that paper notebooks have become obsolete. When we carry our smart phones and iPads with us wherever we go, why add just another bulky item to our list? Download one of these apps, and make your life and purse a little less cluttered.

1) Evernote: This is the crowd favorite. Evernote lets you save images, notes, links. Use Evernote, and you will never forget anything.

2) Apple Notes: If you're already an Apple user, this is a great option, because you already have it on all of your devices. Any changes you make will automatically sync throughout all your devices.

3) Simplenote: It's super simple and it gets the job done. If you're not too fond of Evernote, give this one a try.

4) Springpad: If Evernote and Pinterest had a baby, it would be Springpad. It combines the functionality of Evernote and all the beautiful pictures and sharing functions of Pinterest. Springpad is a fun and photogenic way to takes notes and share them.

What is your favorite digital notebook? Have you converted over, or do you still find yourself going back to pencils and paper for note taking?

Reporting Income from your Blog

By guest contributor Helena Swyter. Photography by Baubau Haus.

As you start to earn money from your blog, you need to keep adequate records to make sure you report all your income on your annual tax return. Below are some possible sources of revenue - some obvious, some not - that you need to track:

Sponsors
Any money you receive from advertising campaigns should be included in your total income for the year. It doesn't matter if you call it “sponsorship” or “advertising,” if people pay you to put their ad, logo, or image on your site, it’s revenue. It must be considered when determining annual income.

The same rule applies for any amount you receive from advertising networks. If you receive money for writing about, or hosting information about a product or service on your site, it’s revenue.

Advertising “In Kind”
Occasionally bloggers will receive a product or service in exchange for featuring that item on their site. This could be a skirt given to a fashion blogger or a gallon of paint given to an interior design blogger. However big or small, products or services given should be considered revenue.

Bottom line: did you receive something in exchange for blogging about it? It’s revenue. You are required to report the fair market value of the item received (i.e., what it would cost an average person to buy the item at retail) as revenue.

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