Creating Collages for Pinterest

One of the best ways to showcase your work on Pinterest is to create a collage. I recommend using a vertical collage, because they get more repins and clicks.

There are several ways to make a vertical collage with free programs.

Free Photo Editing Site

• www.Pixlr.is a free service and you can create vertical collages with 3 or 4 pictures.
• PicMonkey.com is a free service and you can create a vertical collage with 5 pictures. It also has many other layouts for collages. It can be confusing to start with PicMonkey, because you must first make the collage with pictures and then you can "edit" it in the regular editor program. In the edit program you can add text, overlays, 

Collage Making Apps

• PicStich is another great app that allows you to create collages with up to 6 photos. You can post them directly to social networks or save them to your camera roll. I created this collage in no time at all and automatically posted it to Instagram from the app.

• Bazaart app allows you to create collages with however many photos you'd like.  I created this tea party collage in just a few minutes.

Instaframe+ is another collage making app. It's my least favorite these, but works great and links to social networks.

No matter what program you use keep a few things in mind while creating your collages.

Use Good Photos

• The best photos are well lit. You can see which photos are too dark for my tea party collage. I should have lighten each of those photos before using them, or left them out. 
• Crop out anything that you don't want in the picture like too much sky or pavement.

Create a Graphic

•  Cutest Blog on the Block has tons of free banners, buttons, and more. I get the one I want and then modify it, however I like in one of the photo editing programs, like PicMonkey. For example I grabbed this free banner and turned it into pinterest graphics for my posts. Right now these graphics are not hyperlinked, because I didn't need them to be, but if you did just use Powerpoint to add hyperlinks.
  
  
  

Add Text

• Make sure the font you choose isn't "too busy". You want the font to compliment the photo, not ruin it. 
• Center the text. 9 times out of 10 you will want your text centered.
• Only use 1 or 2 fonts depending on how much text you have. I usually use only one font, but sometimes use different sizes for different words.
• Pick out a text color that matches something in your photo. For instance a blue pool with a red umbrella. Make the font red.
• For this photo I used PicMonkey and added a rectangle overlay that I shaded aqua. I choose overlay from the drop down menu and then put my text on top of it. This was the final result. I love it because it made it look almost 3D, like the words are under the water.
  
  

Pinterest Tips for Bloggers

Tips for Bloggers on how to use and utilize Pinterest.

Pinterest Profile Tips

• Connect you profile to Facebook and Twitter
• Make sure your profile picture is of you, not something random. It is ok to use your brand logo/pict if that is easily recognizable.
• In your profile description, include keywords to describe yourself:

Travel blogger

Writer

Stylish Crafts

DIY Projects

Recipes

IF you connect your account to twitter, then your twitter description will show up as your profile description and you will need to go in and change it.

Pinterest Boards Tips

• Utilize keywords in the title of the board. For example Travel with Kids, Travel Tips, Family Travel, Recipes, Crockpot Recipes, etc.

• Make sure you’ve selected the most fitting category for all of your boards.

• Add a description to each board. This is the best place to add hashtags. For example #travel #Disney #recipe #dessert

• Make sure the cover photo for each of your boards is the best picture out of all the pins on the board.

• Create a board just for your blog.

Tips for Pins

• It is better to pin vertical photos then horizontal.

• Do not pin tons at once. Instead pin for five minutes here and there throughout the day.

• Add a clear to the point description to every pin. Include hashtags.

• The best times to pin are 2-4 PM EST and 8-1 AM EST

• If you want to repin your pin to multiple boards do it over the course of a week. You do not want to spam someone else’s feed.

Gain Pinterest Followers

• Join PinWoot a site that helps you gain followers.

• Create a collaborative board or join one relevant to your blog. Try to join one that’s relevant and has a massive following.
• Tweet your pins occasionally, once a day is fine.                                                       

• Share on Facebook based on your friends. This works great for a few, but not for the majority.

• Comment on others pins. Others that repin it will see your comment and hopefully will follow you.

• Join Repinly and occasionally pin one of the most popular pins to attract more views on your board.

• You can buy Pinterest followers through Public Monkey.

Pinterest for Your Blog

• Add a Pin It button to all of your posts. The best place for it is with your other social media buttons.

• Verify your website on Pinterest. This option is found under settings.

• If you have an article people would love make sure it has a pinable graphic! Go back and add photos if you need to.

• If you have a post that needs a pin friendly graphic you can make one at one of these sites.

             http://Infogr.am

http://www.Easel.ly

http://Visual.ly

http://Piktochart.com (This one has a monthly fee.)

PicMonkey

To see what has been pinned from your website go to 

http://www.pinterest.com/source/insertnameofyourblog.com, do not include the http or www.

When you find what has been pinned from your site be sure to

 1) Like or comment on the pin to increase the ranking of the pin and expand it’s reach

 2) Repin the most interesting and unique images.

 3) Follow those who pinned your pages. This may encourage them to return to your site.

• Add a Pinterest widget to the sidebar of your blog. This widget will show your most 30 most recent pins and direct your readers straight to your Pinterest account.  It’s easy to set up from this Pinterest link. http://business.pinterest.com/widget-builder/#do_pin_it_button Choose Profile Widget.

Please leave any questions you have below and I will answer them.

Mint Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownie Ice Cream Cake

A while back I bought an ice cream cake from Cold Stone and was a little taken back by the price. I wondered if I could make one. I wasn't sure how hard it would be. After searching Pinterest I realized how easy they are to make. They are way cheaper to make then they are to buy.

Mint Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownie Ice Cream Cake

1 package brownie mix (get whatever kind you like best)
1 carton mint chocolate chip ice cream
1 package mint Oreos
1 package regular Oreos
1 jar hot fudge

Bake the brownie mix according to it's directions in a 9x13 pan. Make sure not to over cook the brownies. You want the brownie to be soft enough it will hold the Oreo mint cookies you press into it all along the sides of the pan. Once your brownie base has cooled enough add the cookies all along the side. The add an ice cream layer on top of the brownie base.

Next crush up some regular Oreos and sprinkle them across the ice cream. I tried to use the mint ones, but they do not crumble up well.
Next pour the hot fudge over the crumbled cookies and ice cream layer. Spread around the hot fudge.
Finally add another layer of ice cream and top it with some more crushed Oreos. Put it in the freezer until your ready to eat it.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished cake and it didn't last long once I got it out of the freezer. The kids gobbled it up in no time!

Hazelnut Rice Crispy Treats

Have you ever had flavored rice crispy treats? I had never even thought about tweeking the original rice crispy recipe until I discovered Pinterest. I could not believe how many unique recipes existed for rice crispy treats. I mean some people really go all out. I on the other hand like to keep things simple. I decided the easiest way to add some uniqueness to my treats was to add flavored syrup. Torani recently sent me two bottles of sugar free syrup to try out: Pumpkin Pie and Hazelnut. I already add Torani syrups to hot chocolate and coffee on a regular basis, but until now had not tried them in food. I must say the treats turned out quite tasty. The best part is you could use any Torani syrup flavor in your rice crispy treats.

Hazelnut Rice Crispy Treats

6 cups Rice crispies and/or rice chex
1/3 cup Butter
7 ounce jar of marshmallow cream
2 tablespoons hazelnut syrup

Melt the butter then add marshmallow cream and hazelnut syrup. Once these are mix together well add the rice crispies. Blend well and then pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Spread the mixture out evenly and let cool.

This is a sponsered post for SheSpeaks and Torani.

Related articles

• Favorite TMOM Superbowl Snacks (travelingmom.com)
• Blueberry Cinnamon Roll crumble (mommytravels.net)
• Mint Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownie Ice Cream Cake (mommytravels.net)