The New Way to Create Pins with Your Apple Pencil

The New Way to Create Pins with Your Apple Pencil

I don’t know if you are an Apple fan like me but this right here is a huge game changer for me! I feel like there is so much that can be done with this amazing app I am going to share with you. For sure it is the new way to create pins with your apple pencil and you’re going to love it!

The New Way to Create Pins with Your Apple Pencil - Mom Blog From Home

The New Way to Create Pins with Your Apple Pencil

The New Way to Create Pins with Your Apple Pencil

Why Apple

If you aren’t an Apple user then let me just break down quickly why I love Apple so much! I wasn’t an Apple fan at all until I won my first iPad back in 2013 and then I was hooked! Before the iPad, I was one of those “I hate Apple products I don’t know how to use them so they are dump” type of people.

Then again I won that free iPad and realize just how “undumb” Apple products really are!

User-Friendly

They are extremely user-friendly and that is probably my absolute favorite part about all my Apple products.

Right now in May 2019, I currently have that same iPad, MacBook Pro, Apple mouse, two iPhone 6s’s (that we keep for back up phones and for my daughter to play with), a series one Apple Watch, two Phone Xr’s, two Apple Air Pod sets, the Apple TV and I just bought last week the new iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil and keyboard.

You could say we love Apple Products for sure.

Yes, as new updates come out the older Apple Products slow down a little but for example that first iPad I won still works great and it is 6 years old which is old in technology years!

My daughter uses it to watch her videos or she can FaceTime and play Roblox at the same time with my niece. So that’s impressive to me to be able to handle all that while being one of the first iPads that came out.

Hold Value

Surprising they hold their value really well. You wouldn’t think that anything older than a year or two would still be worth as much as you can get out of them. At one point I looked into upgrading my Apple Watch to a newer version only because I do feel like with the new updates it doesn’t hold it’s charge as long and I was surprised at what it was still worth.

I could sell this watch and only pay maybe $100 out of pocket and get the newest watch. I assumed it would be worth maybe $50 but it’s not!

When I looked into selling my daughters barely (and I mean barely) used Nintendo 2DS and with the DS, the case, the chargers, and all the games it was worth $50. That doesn’t seem worth it to sell it all for only that. But we spent almost 4 times that amount when we bought it a few years back.

It isn’t that old and didn’t hold it’s value at all!

They All Connect

This is the main part I wanted to get to about how awesome Apple products are, everything connects!

It is all connected to your Apple ID so if you sign into each one with the same ID it is like being on the same device.

My iPhone XR (which is just flat out awesome), my MacBook Pro, my Apple Watch, my Air Pods, and my new iPad all connect together. If I want to put my Air Pods in then it will connect to the most recent one or whichever one is right next to me. There is no trying to connect and trying to pair. It just connects and pairs.

A window pops up for you to verify and that’s it. So as soon as I open the case my phone will alert me they are connected. If I am listening to music I just take one out to pause the music. Crazy cool.

I love how I can receive messages, phones calls, and FaceTime from any device as well! The Watch doesn’t FaceTime but other than that they all do.

It just works so well for me to not have to adjust when switching devices. They all worked seamlessly together!

The New Way to Create Pins with Your Apple Pencil

I could go on and on but let’s get to why you came here. To find out the new way to create pins with your Apple Pencil. If you are reading this then I am sure you already love Apple products so let’s talk about the new Apple Pencil on the new iPad Pro!

Creating Pins

Bloggers are always creating new pins for Pinterest to drive traffic back to their blogs. We are always looking for creative ways to make pins that are eye-catching and don’t blend in with the crowd. Well, I have some good news for you! I came across this app that is a game changer!

You want to create pins that make pinners on Pinterest save your pin and to do that you have to create beautiful useful pins. I created a free course on how to create Pinterest Images that you can learn more about the different programs bloggers use.

My goal has been to find a better way to streamline my work. I feel like I am tied to a computer when I work on my blog and summer is literally right around the corner and I can’t be stuck inside all day. My daughter is going to beg to go to the pool or be out and about.

I don’t want to sacrifice time with her or working on my blog. So I decided to look into a way to be more mobile. My husband’s job just gave him a Microsoft Surface Pro with a keyboard and pencil. I watch how easy it is for him to just work all off of that.

I did research on the new iPad Pro and thought about it for a couple weeks and then decided to run it by my husband. He is beyond supportive so he didn’t blink an eye and said let’s get you one!

I ended up getting the keyboard so I can type a blog post easily while at the pool and the pencil too for all it’s amazing functions.

iPad Pro

This is the exact ipad that I bought. I did go with the lower storage because I need to get a hardrive anyways so this way I can just get one of those and save money on buying the extra storage. We looked into purchasing it through our phone carrier to add data to it but that costs more also. Plus we found out that our T.V. provider has hotspots I can use when I am away from home.

Just some things to think about!

I wanted the bigger screen so that was my main priority. I wasn’t as worried about storage because I have a bigger icloud storage plan and then again I plan to get an external hardrive to save all pictures and important documents on it.

Now I don’t pretend to be all tech savvy, I know just enough to get by. I know that I am a busy mom and this all makes my life easier and more portable.

I do want to say that it comes with a completely new charger. Supposedly it is to be able to connect to your computer better or other techy stuff I don’t understand but my point is no more USB and no more other end. The cord has the same end of each end. So either way it connects to your converter to plug into the wall and then into the ipad to charge. Just a heads up.

Keyboard


Then since I got the bigger screen I had to get this keyboard that fits it. They are both 12.9 inches so that gives plenty of room for using your screen and typing on a good sized keyboard not a tiny one.

The ipad connects magnetically to the keyboard and there are three dots on the back of the ipad that connects it to the keyboard. Then you can have it in different positions to adjust it to your liking while typing.

Then you can fold it over and closed and you will hear the ipad lock. Also you can flip it around and under the ipad to quickly use the ipad only.

 

 

Apple Pencil

Then of course I got the Apple Pencil 2nd Generation that is compatiable with the iPad Pro. It is very sleek and easy to use. There are no buttoms it looks and feels just like a regular pencil.

It doesn’t erase like one although I think it should. I keep wanting to flip it around and erase with the pencil eraser like you normally would. But just a heads up it doesn’t work like that.

Another fun feature of the Apple pencil is that it connects to the side of your ipad magnetically to charge. This is great to keep track of the pencil and know that it is always charged up.

No plugging it in or cords involved! Once you connect it to the ipad it will tell you what charge the pencil is at as well.

Pin Creating App

After I got home and started playing with it and watching tutorials on what all it could do I came across this app. I became very interested and spent the next 3 days just learning more and more. After much research, I finally decided I wanted it and purchased it for $9.99.

I know what you are thinking…you just spend a lot of money on an iPad Pro, keyboard, and pencil and you hesitate about a $10 app? Yes, to me $10 is an expensive app! I expected the others to be expensive but I don’t buy apps without a lot of research!

So what is this amazing app?

It is called Procreate.

Maybe you have heard of it or maybe you are like me and you have never heard of it.

All the amazing possibilities with this app are just mind-blowing. If you are an artist you are going to be in heaven!

If you aren’t then no worries NEITHER AM I! It is very user-friendly and not overwhelming at all! I will add that I am not affiliated with this app either I just love it this much! Just check out some of these examples from their website!

Amateur

Don’t worry if you aren’t a professional. Again, I am not an artist in any way shape or form. But I think this app is perfect for on the go designing from anything to logos, freebies, pins, printables, graphics designs, you name it!

But let’s talk about creating pins for Pinterest.

Pinterest

There is an option to create the image as a custom size. You can then create it as a pin size and add pictures, import fonts, make amazing edits, layer it for quick changes, and so much more! It does take a bit to learn all the features it offers but this is perfect on the go pin creation with your Apple Pencil.

There are so many videos on YouTube that walk you through how to use the app but if you are looking for a way to use your creative side and give your pins a leading edge I think this app is perfect!

Again, I don’t have any affiliation with the app besides that I downloaded it, love it, and had to share!

All the Same

If you have been blogging for long you can see that many pins look the same. It is hard to not look the same some what but there are certain stock images that are way over used. I read an ebook that was full of case studies that shared how the author feels free stock images can arm your pins reach.

Pinterest also recently went public on the Stock Market. Things are about to get alitte harder for bloggers. There are going to be more people that are willing to pay for space on Pinterest. Because of that you need to really show Pinterest you are a creator worth sharing.

Many bloggers are saying you should be adding a new pin everday. Well, I don’t know about you but I don’t have time to sit at my computer and create pins all day. I do use a program called RelayThat that creates multiple images for you with just a few clicks so that saves a bunch of time.

However, they also seem to only have the same layouts. It can be customized a hundred different ways but it is still the same layouts so you can’t solely rely on that.

With this app and my new iPad Pro and Apple Pencil I can be mobile and creating pins on the go all the time!

Accessories

Because I will be on the go I did get myself a case and as I said I also have the keyboard too. I have seen some creators have these cool pencil gripper sleeves. I don’t know if I will do that or not because with the new pencil it senses when you double tap to erase when using the Notes App. Also I don’t know how that affects it charging magnetically or staying safely on the side of the ipad.

I worry that it might come off and I would lose it.

Another reason I love Apple Products…all their amazing apps! I use the Notes app all the time. My whole life is in that thing. All categories and accessible on any of my Apple Devices.

If I am sitting at the computer working and I make changes on in my Notes App then later when I only have my phone I can see see those changes. It is like the perfect Notebook that I never forget at home!

Free Pinterest Image Course

Well there you have it! I hope you check out the Procreate App and enjoy it as much as I am! There are so many possibilies I can’t wait to see what all I can create! The best part is this is a way to be artist (or try) without the mess!

Pinterest Image Course - mom blog from home

Don’t forget to check out my Free Pinterest Image Course for other tips and programs to use to create Pinterest images! I will be adding this information with this app to it soon!

Happy blogging!

Vanessa

P.S. Comment below with some of your beautiful pins you create using Procreate! I would love to see them and share them!

Why I Use a MacBook Pro to Blog

Why I Use a MacBook Pro to Blog

Are you new to blogging? Or have you been thinking about possibly starting a blog? This was me not long ago so I understand your struggles! One of my struggles was my laptop. We had an old desk top and laptop. They worked but all the programs were slow and we just kept getting viruses. As you may know once you get a virus your computer is just never the same!

One time my husband opened something through Facebook and in a matter of seconds our whole computer was locked up with a big skull and cross bones on the front. That was back in 2008 so a lot has changed since then but many people have had similar experiences.

It is a scary thought that you could lose everything like that in an instant and who can afford to go have it all cleaned up and fixed? Then will it ever actually be fully back to normal? It seemed like we were always buying expensive virus protection for our already expensive computer!

Why I Use a MacBook Pro to Blog - Mom Blog From Home

Not a tech-savvy person

I myself am not a professional when it comes to computers themselves. All the techy mumbo jumbo is not my strong point but it is my husband’s. I more understand the programs on the computer like Excel, WordPress, Powerpoint, Quickbooks…those different things and those are what he doesn’t get so we balance each other out.

So for my birthday two years ago my husband surprised me with a new apple laptop. This was my first apple computer. I used to be an android person but had made the switch to an iPhone a few years back and I love my iPhone and our iPads so seemed right that I would like my new MacBook Pro…and I DO!

Now, I’m not saying that you need to run out and buy yourself a new laptop but I am saying that if you are already in the market for one then this post will share why I love my MacBook Pro so much! Especially as a mommy blogger!

Why I love my MacBook Pro!

1.) It is small thin and sleek

I can carry it around and it weighs nothing compared to my Toshiba. Let’s face it apple has everyone beat hands down on appearance on all of it’s products. It is the perfect size for me to stick in my bag and feel like I can take it to the park and not be carrying around another 10 pound item.

 

2.) No expensive anti-virus

Again this falls into the techy stuff but my husband said that apple is protected and we don’t need to buy or install any anti-virus protection. You may want to double check that but I haven’t had to do anything and I have been fine for 2 years now!

3.) Apple loves apple

If you have other apple products then they are all smart and connect to each other. I have an apple watch, two iPads, and my husband and I each have an iPhone. Now my husbands isn’t connected because it has his apple i.d. on his phone but all the others have my i.d. so if someone calls me everything in the house starts ringing! I can answer phone calls on my laptop so I don’t even have to get up and try and run around to find my phone. I just hit answer and start talking while still being able to blog away! Same goes for text messages for people who also have an iPhone. I can answer their texts on my laptop.

4.) Apple Watch

This one is similar to above. If you have an apple watch it will connect with your MacBook Pro and as soon as you open your laptop it will unlock your computer simply by wearing your apple watch. Now don’t worry no one can just take your watch and use it to open your laptop. The watch knows if it is being worn or not and then you have to enter a code you created to unlock your watch. You only have to re-enter the code when you take it off and put it back on. So as long as you are wearing the watch and you have entered your code it will then recognize it is you and when you open your laptop it will unlock your laptop for you.

apple watch log in mom blog from home

 

5.) The battery life

The battery on this thing is awesome! This is another important feature for any device. No one likes to have to recharge things all the time. The battery on the MacBook Pro lasts several days and then when I need to charge it, it charges very fast! I have been super impressed and happy with it.

6.) Multiple Tabs

Here is some more techy stuff I don’t understand but you can have several tabs open on your browser. This one is a big deal for me because when I am researching something I will open several tabs to reference back to an article I am reading. It just seems like I always have several tabs open and I can bounce back and forth between them easily with no delay or reloading.

7.) Stick notes

One of the features on the MacBook Pro is it has sticky notes that you can have up on your home screen. I love this for important things I don’t want to forget. I have a sticky note up on my screen so I don’t forget!

8.) Bluetooth mouse

My laptop came with a bluetooth mouse. I personally don’t use a mouse very often I always use the touch pad on the laptop itself. But my husband prefers the mouse and no one likes cords so that is pretty cool it comes with a bluetooth mouse!

9.) Shortcuts

Speaking of the touch pad and mouse…there are different commands you can use on them for shortcuts. To get to one screen to the other you make a certain motion with your fingers. There are several different commands you can do using the motion of your fingers and it works on both the touch pad and the mouse!

10.) Apps and easy downloads

Even though apple doesn’t come with Microsoft programs like Word, Excel, or Powerpoint you can download them. It was very inexpensive as I chose the monthly option of a few dollars a month. I downloaded those programs to my computer and they work perfectly and they have been a wonderful help for my blog! There are also all kinds of apps you can download as well!

For Bloggers

These next three are great for bloggers. I started my blog long after I got this laptop and when I was learning how to  create images and how to record my screen, I was thinking I would have to buy these programs. But then with a little searching on my laptop I found I already had these options!

11.) Screen shot.

I know other people who have downloaded programs to be able to take a “screen grab” but the MacBook Pro let’s you take a screen shot and it automatically saves it for you. Mine goes straight to my home screen so I can go there and edit it very quickly and easily.

screen shot mom blog from home

12.) Edit pictures

You can easily edit pictures like I said. I can crop them and edit the size of them so the file is only so big so I can upload it to WordPress or wherever!

screen shot edit mom blog from home

13.) Video recording.

This was a great discovery for me. I wanted to make videos and record my screen as I did things to be able to share with my readers and I didn’t want to have to buy one more thing for my blog. Then like I said I did a little research and discovered that I already had that option for free with my MacBook Pro!

quick time player mom blog from home

14.) Still like brand new

Lastly, I think that the fact that I have had my laptop for two years now and it is still very fast and up to date says a lot right there! It seems like just like cars the second you buy a phone or computer it is out of date and there is something new available. Apple will send me a notification and I can update my laptop and keep it relevant and up to speed. It works just as well today as it did the first day I got it! Maybe even better because now I know way more about it and how to use it!

Again, I am not trying to persuade you to go buy a new laptop but more than anything I just wanted to give a shout out to how awesome mine is! I was shocked when my husband surprised me with it but I use it everyday all day and I love it so much! It just makes things run so much more smoother when you have the proper programs and equipment!

As I have learned more and more about my MacBook Pro I just keep thinking “oh my gosh this thing is awesome!” So I had to share!

Does anyone else have an apple computer and have any more cool tricks they could share with me?! I would love to hear them!

Happy blogging!!

Vanessa

P.S. If you haven’t started your mom blog yet the take my 30-Day Challenge to Start a Blog and I can help you get started!

30 day challenge workbook to start a blog - mom blog from home

Sign me up!

Pin It on Pinterest