CREATE YOUR OWN PLASTER STYLING BOARD

Since I started my calligraphy and design business, rugs, tables, and my floor have been my go-to for styling my work on. With my new rebrand, it just wasn’t going to cut it, so I am finally coming around to bringing to life my very own styling boards. Whether you are a calligrapher, photographer, florist, essential oil seller, hair stylist, bride-to-be, or small business owner, this is the perfect way to make your work stand out with a beautiful background. The best part is: it is SIMPLE and CHEAP. The total cost for this project is under $40, depending on how many styling boards you make, and how many paint colors you choose.

MATERIALS: (You can find all the links to the materials at the end of this bog post)

I- Fabric Canvas (See what NOT to use below…please learn from my mistakes!)

II- All Purpose Joint Compound (Found at any Home Depot or Lowes)

III- Trowels (Plastic or Wooden and Metal)

IV- Drop Canvas (or plastic paint protectors)

V- Acrylic Paint (Whatever color you desire to create your styling board)

VI- Paint brushes

VII- Container for the paint to dip the brush in

VIII- Foam Painters

DIRECTIONS:

I- Pick your desired canvas size. Lay the canvas onto your drop cloth. Open the plaster, and spread it over the canvas with the trowels. Start from the middle, and work your way to the outsides.

II- Once the canvas is spread how you like it, let it dry for up to 24 hours before your paint. You will see it start to turn white when it is drying, and that is perfectly fine.

III- Choose your paint color, and pour it into your container. With your paint brush, paint the plaster until you have the desired color you are looking for. You may also use the foam painted to give the styling board more texture. Let dry for 6 hours, and then paint a second coat of paint.

IV- Start styling and making some magic!

Shop these: Trowels

Shop these: Foam Painters

Shop these: Paint Brush Set

Shop these: Fabric Canvas (20” x 20”) (I found them in a 3-pack for $30, but am not able to find them online)

Shop these: Acrylic Paints

Shop this: Joint Compound

“I always thought that the “thriving” would come when everything was perfect, and what I learned is that it’s actually down in the mess that things get good.”

— JOANNA GAINES, The Magnolia Story

Now, for those of you out there who are like me, and like to tweak things just a little to try to make them your own, or be a little different, DON’T! I love wood, and I really wanted to do these on a thin piece of wood to have mine stand out. But I SHOULD have known…because hello, I am a carpenters daughter, and I didn’t even think about how dumb this was. Once all the joint compound was applied, it made the wood really wet, and made it bow up while it was drying. Because of that bowing, it cracked the joint compound all over, and it caused it to dry that way. Once it dried fully, it did end up laying flat again, and the bow went away, but the cracks were still extremely visible and have not gone away. This is not the look I was going for at ALL, and I had to start all over again. Moral of the story: don’t be like me. Trust the process. Trust what I am sharing with you. I want you to learn from me, and do it right the first time. Consider this me giving you the gift of going second. You are welcome, friend!

Unpainted dried joint compound on wood. Please see the VERY visible cracks.

Unpainted dried joint compound on fabric canvas. Please see how perfect this is! NO cracks. NO bowing. Perfection.

Styling board with no paint, just the color of the dried joint compound. It dries a pretty light grey color on its own!

I hope this short tutorial was helpful, and that you are able to make your beautiful work shine with this textured, simple, beautiful styling board. Please enjoy some of the STUNNING final results of investing in creating your own styling board. I am ecstatic to share these with you.

Sweet blessings,

SHOP THIS BOG POST

I- Fabric Canvas

II- All Purpose Joint Compound

III- Trowels

IV- Drop Canvas

V- Acrylic Paints

VI- Paint Brushes

VII- Foam Painters

VIII- Legacy Recipe Cards

VIIII- ‘Greetings from Louisville’ Card and Envelope

X- ‘Mr. & Mrs.’ Card and Envelope

XI- ‘The Best is Today and to Come’ Card and Envelope

XI- Bespoke Wedding Vows

XII- Bespoke Calligraphy Keepsakes

DEBUNKED: DEBT AND CREDIT CARD MYTHS IN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

Kelsey Kelley and I are coming to you from the ‘Cranberry Bog’ to share a counter cultural vision for your small creative business. Our desire in penning these words is to support creative entrepreneurs in running highly successful and profitable small businesses that give them freedom, choices, and bring them great joy to thrive. But before you hear the six debunked myths of debt and credit cards in small business, we want you to know WHY this mission is so important to each of us.

ASHLEY MARGARET CRAFT

My name is Ashley Margaret Craft, and I am the owner and calligrapher behind ‘Ashley Margaret’! I pen and preserve intentional stories through bespoke calligraphy and design.

My husband and I were 8 months into marriage when we first realized we had over $150,000 in debt: student loans (over $100,000), cars, credit cards, and medical bills. In that moment, we saw every dream we ever had disappear right before our eyes. We had chains and we were truly enslaved by our debt. But instead of being paralyzed by our situation, we DID something about it. To date, we have paid off over $115,000 since February 17, 2017, and 2019 is the year we will finally be completely DEBT FREE!

I started this creative small business as a way to hustle HARD at something I loved to bring in extra income for our debt free journey. At the time, I had no idea just how special this business would become. As we get closer to the finish line of our debt free journey, we feel the chains coming off, and we can see all of the freedoms that we will have once debt no longer has a hold on our lives.

It was a JOY to partner with Kelsey because she is living on the other side of our debt free journey, and she is FLOURISHING as she stewards well her business financially!

KELSEY KELLEY

I’m Kelsey Kelley with ‘K. Kelley Designs’!

I create custom wedding invitations and watercolor portraits for clients all over the U.S. and teach workshops in my home state of Tennessee.

This small business started out as a ‘side hustle’ to help free up our income while paying down debt and in July of 2018, we became completely DEBT FREE! Having zero debt has allowed us SO many freedoms, one of which was the easy transition of leaving my job of 8 years in the corporate world to pursue my art business full time. I am living proof that with hard work and small daily sacrifices, ANYONE can experience the countless joys and endless opportunities that running a debt free life (and business) brings.

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Consider this a ‘hers & hers’ tale as we each share our perspective on why it is so important to run a debt free and credit card free small business.

6 MYTHS DEBUNKED

I- MYTH: Small business debt is business debt. DEBUNKED: Small business debt is PERSONAL debt.

Ashley: Small business debt is signed to your name and it is personal debt. If your business went upside down tomorrow, and you signed those loans, you would owe them, and you would very quickly learn that small business debt IS personal debt. For some reason, when business is attached to debt, people feel a different distance from the debt. I want to bring that distance back closer to you, because if something happened to you tomorrow, and you could no longer work your business, what debt would you have? If your business has $50,000 of debt, that is a debt you personally owe.

Kelsey: YOU are your business. YOU are your brand! Especially as a creative small business owner. Your clients are buying from you and it’s a personal transaction. So, let’s keep that in mind in every facet of our business…From your client experience, to your website, your social media, and yes- your finances. So if you take on debt, it’s personal. 

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II- MYTH: You get credit cards points when you use a credit card. DEBUNKED: You spend more when you use a credit card. (Upwards of 20-50% more)

Ashley: McDonalds was one of the FIRST companies to accept credit cards in the fast food industry. Do you know why? Because what they found was that when people buy with a credit card, they spend anywhere from 20-50% more than if they would have purchased with cash or a debit card. Points are a false reality. And then of course, WHY would you want to play with snakes? Credit Card companies are EXPERTS on behavior, and if there is one thing they know, it is YOU and your spending habits. They are ‘giving away’ points because they know they made money. Why not keep that extra 20-50% you spend in your own pocket?

Kelsey: The average credit card user pays at least $900 a year in interest. Does that $900 justify your cash back “benefits”? Odds are… Probably not. (Article on Interest)

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III- MYTH: You have freedom with when you use a credit card and it gives you an advantage. DEBUNKED: There is freedom spending with cash and running a debt free small business that gives you an untouchable advantage in business.

Ashley: What you don’t know is that credit card companies have done SUCH an exceptional job at marketing, that they have made YOU feel like YOU are GAINING freedoms by using a credit card, but in reality, they are just chains in disguise. When you have no debt in your business, YOU have ALL the control.

Kelsey: CASH IS KING! The power of cash is real y’all! Big companies (think furniture stores, car dealerships) will be more willing to negotiate on prices once they know that you have the cash on hand for that big purchase. So not only are you buying SMARTER but you could also save money. Win, Win!

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IV- MYTH: You cannot be as creative. DEBUNKED: Spending with cash and ‘doing business at the speed of cash’ only pushes you to be even more creative and resourceful.

Ashley: As I look back on my business over the past 2 years as I have run it debt free and credit card free, there were times when I did not have the cash flow to do something I wanted. So, like a grown adult, I had to wait, have patience, and save up the cash to purchase what I wanted for my business (Yes, in an Amazon prime culture, it is ok to WAIT for something.). And you know what? Time after time, I was FORCED to be even more creative, think outside the box, and make magic happen with my creativity, instead of a line of credit from a credit card.

Kelsey: False. Just false. Not to go all sappy on you, but creativity truly comes from within!! It’s not something you can purchase.

“I don’t have enough time/money/people/experience. Stop Whining. Less is a good thing. Constraints are advantages in disguise. Limited resources force you to make do with what you’ve got. There’s no room for waste. And that forces you to be creative.”

— REWORK, David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried

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V- MYTH: You are limited in your decisions and you set higher goals with debt and a credit card. DEBUNKED: Spending with cash makes you think harder, make wiser decisions, set bigger, longer term goals, and be held accountable.

Ashley: As a business owner, there is ALWAYS something vying for our money: new office furniture, new tools, new educational courses, new product lines..the list could go on and on. But when you spend your money at the ‘speed of cash’ you have in your pocket, you actually FEEL the money you spend. What that means is that you will take an extra night or week to think about the purchase because you actually realize you are spending money. Or maybe, you will set a goal to purchase something after you have hit a specific business goal. Or, maybe instead of just charging it, you take time to talk to a business mentor or trusted friend to make sure the purchase you are about to make is wise, intentional, and important for your business.

Kelsey: Studies show that credit card debt is the only debt where you actually take on MORE debt than you had originally planned. This makes planning and goal achieving very unstable. The best way to achieve goals in your business is to dedicate time to work towards them and stay disciplined in achieving them! Debt does not magically equal more time and definitely doesn’t encourage discipline. (Trust me, it takes a LOT of discipline to get out of debt!)

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VI- MYTH: You gain more choices when using a credit card and debt. DEBUNKED: You never know what will happen in your life. Debt is slavery. You have more choice when you choose to run your business without credit cards and debt free.

Ashley: When Josh and I first realized we had $150,000 in debt, every single choice we had went out the window. “Adults devise a plan and follow it, and children do what feels good” (Dave Ramsey) To think that you gain more choice by having a credit card is a childish way of thinking, and in fact, having a plan, following it, and choosing the debt free/credit card free life with always give you more choice. You never know what could happen in life, and as I mentioned earlier, if your business has debt, and it stopped tomorrow because you could no longer work, you would instantly gain all of that debt as personal debt, and your choices would then be limited in so many ways.

Kelsey: Debt binds you. It actually restricts your freedom of choice because now you have payments and if those payment aren’t made- you’re in trouble.. It limits your freedom to choose how you spend your money.

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FINAL TRUTH- Debt and credit cards in business are JUST PLAIN DUMB. I want to take a moment to remind you of where both Kelsey and I started; getting out of debt has changed both of our lives, and we both run successful, thriving small businesses that run at the speed of cash, and that are flourishing. Our desire is to support entrepreneurs to run highly successful and profitable small businesses that give them freedom, choices, and bring them great joy as they flourish doing what they love.

FINAL WORDS FROM KELSEY: Getting out of debt has changed my life. I’m a Christian and hear me when I say the Lord will honor your obedience and your sacrifice to make this happen. He will make a way for you…I promise! When we paid off our credit cards, then our student loans, and finally our car- I am telling you there is nothing more empowering than taking control of your life like that! In the past year, my net income has TRIPLED and I absolutely would not have been able to make that happen if we weren’t able to operate my business and life debt free. I’m so passionate about running my business this way and I want every other small business owner to experience the immeasurable joy and benefits having zero debt brings… Not only to your business, but your mental health, your marriage, your relationships- it seriously improves every aspect of your life!

 SMALL BUSINESS CREATIVES WHO RUN THEIR LIFE DEBT FREE AND CREDIT CARD FREE

• Jenna Kutcher of Jenna Kutcher

• Nancy Ray of Nancy Ray Photography

• Ashlyn Carter of Ashlyn Writes

• Christy Wright of Business Boutique

• Ashley Margaret Craft of Ashley Margaret

• Kelsey Kelley of K.Kelley Designs

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”

— PROVERBS 22:7

TAKE ACTION FRIEND: I don’t know what ‘action’ looks like for you right now, but below are three actions that could make sense for you to do today:

I- Cut up your credit cards. Be done with them FOREVER. They are not your friend. They are not life-giving. They will only give you chains.

II- Pay off your debt, personal and business. Start small, and keep snowballing.

III- Pay for your next purchase with cold hard cash…actually take money out of the bank and see your hard earned cash pay for something you save up for. I promise it will feel different and you will be more empowered .

“The best is today AND to come.”

— ASHLEY MARGARET CRAFT

Sweet blessings, 

RESOURCES

I- Financial Peace University

II- Business Boutique

III- Dave Ramsey Show Podcast

IV- How to Run a Business Debt Free (Article by Dave Ramsey)

2018 IN REVIEW

I- JANUARY: Every year, Joshua and I always start off the year with a date to Starbucks to dream about the upcoming year, and set our goals for the year. In January, I left my job at TEKsystems due to character misconduct from a coworker, and from there, we really started to look at our debt free journey and made some hard decisions to sell a lot of what we had. We sold our Honda CR-V, and instantly became a one-car family. I finally took classes at Maker13, a local maker shop in hopes to expand my service offerings.

II- FEBRUARY: In February, I calligraphed my FIRST wedding vows for a client, and I was honestly scared to death. It was 1200 words, and I lost sleep because I kept telling myself I couldn’t do it, and that I would fail. Well, I didn’t fail, and I fell in love with hand calligraphing wedding vows and large calligraphy keepsakes. February was the month that I hosted my largest workshop to date of 21 students at Seed and Harvest in Lexington, KY, and had a blast. I also created my first large calligraphy wood cut-out. It was a lot of trial and error, but they were such a unique service offering.

III- MARCH: In March, Joshua and I made the decision to sell our first home together. He bought this home when he was only 19, and we had a decent amount of equity in it that we put towards our debt. We took a fun trip to Lynchburg, VA for a sweet gal that I mentor for her engagement. We surprised her, and it was such a sweet trip showing Joshua around my college town. I started and launched my #celebratelifecollection in March of hand drawn and laser etched custom ultrasound keepsakes. The response I received to them was overwhelming in the best way.

IV- APRIL: In April, we finally closed on selling our first home and moved into a rental home we LOVE in the Saint Matthews area of Louisville, and this home was been such a blessing to us. one of our FAVORITE Louisville events is Thunder Over Louisville, the largest firework show in North America, and my parents came up from Maryville, TN to spend the weekend with us at Thunder. I also pulled the trigger and decided to invest in my business a little and I attended Christy Wright Business Boutique one-day event. I went with a few creative small business owner from Lexington, and it was such an inspiring and educational day that spurred on growth in my business in 2018. Joshua and I also FINALLY got to see Dave Ramsey speak and teach live at his Smart Money tour at Southeast Christian Church, and he was just as wonderful in person as he is on his podcast.

V- MAY: In May, I finally visited Joshuas hometown with him and got to attend the church he grew up in and that his dad pastored for years. Also, this was a MAJOR milestone month because Josh FINALLY graduated from college with his Bachelors in Business Administration with a Project Management specialization. He got really sick in undergrad years ago, and he FINALLY got to walk across the stage to receive his diploma. Both of our families went down to VA with us to watch him, and it was a sweet weekend.

VI- JUNE: In June, I hosted my first out of state calligraphy workshop at 618 Ewing in Nashville, TN, and honestly, it was so much harder than I expected to host an out of state workshop. This month, I got to design for a bride who was looking to create a love story banner, and I created three hand drawn illustrations for her that re-sparked my love for illustration drawings. I went back to Corporate America in this month at Robert Half Technology to continue to pay off debt aggressively for out debt free journey. It was a hard transition, but it helped us make some massive progress on our debt.

VII- JULY: In July, Joshua and I celebrated 2 years of marriage. We traveled to Virginia to be with a friend who just received some really hard news and love on her. It was a very unexpected trip, but such an encouraging weekend. This was the month that I pulled off the greatest surprise party of all time for Josh’s graduation party, and it was the first time in his life he has ever been truly surprised! Our whole families came up for the party, and it was such a fun day celebrating his accomplishment!

VIII-AUGUST: In August, I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for a dear friend in our home. I finally hand calligraphed my own wedding vows, and got to hang those in our home after wanting to do them for myself for a very long time. It was in August that Joshua and I hosted our 2nd Financial Peace University class, and we had a wonderful 9 weeks with our FPU students.

VIIII-SEPTEMBER: In September, I hosted my first in-home calligraphy workshop, and it went so smooth! I had always rented out event spaces in the past, and this was so fun to do in our own home. I got to have Joshua as one of my students, and if I can be honest, he was not great at calligraphy…I think I will stay as the C.C.O (Chief Calligraphy Officer). This was also the month where I decided to discontinue my large calligraphy wood cut-outs. It was a really good decision business wise, and as fun as they were to make, it was what my business needed.

X- OCTOBER: In October, I started my 3-month journey of being sick…all the time. I think I had walking pneumonia and bronchitis, but it was just really, really awful and I missed so much work this month. This was the month we also had a blast redoing our guest room, and I shared with you tips for hosting well. It turned out better than we imagined.

XI- NOVEMBER: In November, my dad fell off of a retaining wall, and shattered his entire hip socket. That was hard news to get, as he is a carpenter and this would mean him being out of work for a long time. Joshua and I hosted Thanksgiving this month, and I had my best ever month in business to close out the year. I also had a dream come true, and I had my first ever written piece published in a magazine. I have a desire to write in the future, and this was a small, but faithful step towards that life-long dream.

XII- DECEMBER: In December, I turned 29 years old. To celebrate, I got a very bad sinus infection, and ended up sick for 3 weeks over Christmas. it was a really hard end to 2019 with how bad my sinus infection was. Before I got sick, I hosted my second annual Christmas calligraphy workshop, and it was full of all things Christmas, just the way I like it! In December, I decided that my word for 2019 would be ‘healthy’. To kick off healthy, I decided to go back to my original hair color, and become a dark brunette again after being blonde for so long. For a combined Christmas and birthday gift, Joshua surprised me with the best gift ever of FIVE vintage wooden flat files, and my heart is still in love. We also sent out our first ever Christmas cards, and that was so fun for me, as I designed them all and hand calligraphed them. Lastly, I announced in mid-December that I would be rebranding my entire business and changing my business name, and as I look back, it was the start of something so wonderful, and I didn’t even know it yet.

As wonderful as 2018, was, Joshua and I are beyond expectant for all that 2019 will hold. 2019 is the year we can FINALLY say we will be debt free, and we cannot wait to celebrate this huge milestone in our life that had kept us chained for far too long.

The best is today AND to come!

Sweet blessings,