Circle work

It's January- must be time for another post. One per month. That's enough, isn't it? It's not like anyone comes here to read anything, or even comes here at all! This is more for my own records. And YUK! I look back at old posts and cringe. Even some of my 'creative' work repels me. Yet, it will stay.

I used to write a lot of music. I started when I was about 10 years old. Before that, I'd make up songs and tunes all the time but never wrote anything down. I wrote songs for people's birthdays, songs to whilst away the time, songs to express my distress or sadness, songs of joy and calmness. Unfortunately, I think I still only have one or two written... somewhere. You see, after a short while, I became repelled by my own work. Now I regret that. Therefore, I pledge to keep my rubbish on this blog!! Even if I hate, hate, hate it. Because, 30+ years on, it still would be nice to see my old compositions, even if it was just to laugh at myself.

Something that doesn't repel me right now:
The lovely blog of the lovely Amy Moss: http://www.eatdrinkchic.com
I think I've come across this site before but that was many blogs ago. I've just rediscovered her work today and am loving all the free goodies she's created to share. I found her (this time) via http://indiefixx.com after looking at their free art giveaways. I did a search on the artists to find out if any of them were Australian. To my amazement, there were several.

Creatively, I've not been doing much for myself at the moment. I got my Christmas cards done, though used one of last year's designs (since I made so many and only used one then). Unfortunately, I'm a big slack-arse and the end of year rush got the better of me.. and I didn't post them out! I managed to hand-out the ones to those I saw but that was it. (I actually did go to the post office but they had sold out of the Christmas stamps- which are cheaper in Australia for sending cards.)

I did a bit of work on my blog header (after, yet another, name change- but we'll ignore that habit for now). Very easy-peasy. I did it just using MS Publisher but you just as easily use MS Word or similar word processing programs.

Just in case anyone wants to know how, if anyone ever comes by here, I'll provide a brief tutorial.

Step 1: collect some lovely background images (eg from digital scrapbooking sites; from free blog tools sites such as the Graphics Fairy's how to blogspot site; or create some yourself).
Step 2: open word or publisher
Step 3: Go to 'insert' on the menu bar across the top. Choose 'shape.' I chose the circle shape. Click on the page somewhere and drag the mouse to create the size of your chose shape.
Step 4: Save your work so far. (Yes, I'm obsessive about hitting that save button.)
Step 5: Click on the shape once. Once you have clicked on the shape, a tab will appear on the menu bar that is called 'drawing tools.' Click on that tab.
Step 6: In 'shape styles' there are a number of pre-set styles you can apply to your shape. Choose one that please you. I chose a white border with a slight shadow to one side.
Step 7: Go to 'shape fill.' Scroll down to 'picture.' Choose one of the pictures you've previously saved or created (or you can just use a solid colour, or experiment with the textures already provided, if you prefer).
Step 8: Save your work.

That it's! From there I just copied and pasted my circles so they would all have the same style applied and then I changed the picture insert to get the different colours/patterns. All I had to do then was to arrange all my circles and add some word art over the top. Easy-peasy!

If anyone ever asks, I'll come back to this post and put up diagrams of each of the steps. For now, I'm sure I'd just be repeating other useful information readily available on the web, but if anyone ever wants to know, give me a holler.

cheerio, Lou

I choose

I choose to live by choice, not by chance.
I choose to make changes, not excuses.
I choose to be motivated, not manipulated.
I choose to be useful, not used.
I choose to excel, not compete.
I choose self-value, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to wise counsel, not the random opinion of others.

These are my choices. This is my commitment to myself.
I know I won't be able to stick by all of these, all of the time, but I choose to be mindful and to make conscious decisions about my life and myself.



As usual, click to enlarge.
 

For this poster I used images from DHD and The Graphics Fairy (see links to the right of the page). Aren't those birds just the cutest, ever-er?

Ukulele (teaching) resources using Livebinders

There are things I really like about using livebinders.com. Unfortunately, it can also be quite difficult to use. 

I have recently tried to reorganise the front page of each of my livebinder tabs. Due to the restrictions of page layouts, I decided to create graphic pages (in MSpublisher) which contained the information I wanted as well as a few inspirational pictures. As livebinder uses information from around the web, I didn't collect only 'free to use' images. Unfortunately when I linked directly to the images (so the authors of the pics could be acknowledged), the page layout was gluggy and very hard to control, so this was my solution around the problem.

Here are my tab header pages so far.

Unfortunately, I have tried to upload these pages several times to the binder. The program does allow me to upload the file, but it won't seem to let me insert it on the header page. It might be the browser I'm currently using so I guess I'll have to experiment a little more.

If you haven't guessed by now, my livebinder is all about playing the ukulele. I currently have around 200 students learning the ukulele at school and it has become a bit of a cult around the school. I put this livebinder together for those who wanted to know more. It saves me giving out long lists of website addresses to students who probably won't type in the addresses properly anyway. This way, they only need one address and they'll find all the sites linked within the binder.

We use some software in class- using the students' phones and mobile devices, so I added a page on technology. At the very least, those who bring the technology to school can have a tuner app to use in class.

Of course, I added more advanced software for those who might want to take things further at home.

Here's the link to my livebinder in case you want to learn a bit more about the ukulele or music apps too- Livebinder: Ukulele Lovin'

cheerio, Lou

Baby-shower card

I recently made a card for a baby-shower for my cousin Nacole and her husband Damien. I was unable to go to the afternoon tea but sent along this card. The section on the left is the back of the card once it is folded. I sourced the images from vintage photographs and advertisements (that are past their copyright dates) on the web. Some of the background images (swirls and fancy bits) are from the Graphics Fairy.

I started to make a second card or small printable. I'm not sure if I'll finish this with the baby's name and date of birth once he/she is born, but this is the work in progress.

 

 There's a bit more tweaking to do before printing, but this is the basis for the design. I chose the colours to tone in with the card. The extra elements are from Design House Digital (link in my sidebar). 

Click on the pics to view the original size. As usual, feel free to use, just backtrack to see my TOU. 

cheerio, Lou

Mother's Day Printables

After my foray into digital design last Christmas, I decided to make a few things for my mother this year for Mothers' Day back in May.

Since the printing had turned out so well on my Christmas cards, I decided to make the whole card, instead of just printing the front and having to hand assemble the rest. Here's a little preview:

My mother is extremely difficult to buy presents for. She has too much stuff already and, if there's anything she wants, she goes right on out and buys it- whether she needs it or not. Another thing- she does not believe in presents for her that are really 'household' presents. Therefore all appliances and gadgets are pretty much out of the running. Added to this, my mother likes to see that she is valued- so nothing can be too cheap. Yikes! She really is hard to buy for.

After years of buying products for her, about ten+ years ago I turned to creating presents for her. Thus, I've made many a hand-made present back in the day when I was into a range of crafts. I've cross-stitched on the edges of hand towels, folk-arted many a picture (front door plaque and a clock with matching pictures are still on display), and quilted placemats.

One year, while they were out and had recently updated their bathroom, I snuck around to her place, got up on a ladder and traced the feature border tile. I then appliqued that pattern, painstakingly I must add, to some new towels. (I saw those towels recently, looking rather tatty, and declared that it really is okay to throw them out by now- I wouldn't be offended.)

Along with those ideas, I've bought her craft items (eg patchwork quilts and tools), tickets to shows, dinner packages and put together many a basket of her favourite foods and wines. You name it- I've most likely done it!

As you can no doubt gather, my mother is very good at focussing on 'things.' Unfortunately, certain words and sentiments are not her forte. Never have we said words in my family such as 'I love you.' Never have hugs and affection been anything more than an awkward moment. If my mother wants to show she loves you, she buys you something. That's always been her way.

Yet I know, that deep down, what my mother really needs, is affection and sentiment. There is a reasoning behind her focus on 'things' and some of it has to do with her growing up without much security that comes from a strong sense of love and good dose of affection.

So what I wanted to do this year is to make something that clearly displayed that she is loved, that she is valued and that she is appreciated. I wanted it to be something that could be seen by all who pass by, and something that she could be reminded of regularly. So I settled on using the phrase "I have a great mum, and I love her." This was to be the basis of my design. Although my present didn't cost a lot financially, I did take about a month (between working and life) to perfect my design. I printed several for her to choose from. The one I liked the most I knew would not be her favourite but I gave them all to her, plus a plain white wooden frame.

This was the one I knew she would like. She has a passion for flower-fairies and likes purple hues.

Here are some of my alternate designs:

These are all ready-to-print A4 sized prints. Click on the image to see the full size, then right-click to save the image if you'd like to use it. (Just don't pass it off as your own or try to sell any of my work.) These are for your personal use only. 

Finally, here is the card I made:

Of course, the left side is the back of the card.
And, as usual, I made the inner part of the card. Here's the one I used:

Let me know if you want a blank insert without my name on it! 

cheerio, Lou

Annual blog entry

Once again, an entire year has passed and I'd completely forgotten that I ever had a blog! Surely an annual entry doesn't really class as a blog, does it? Nevermind... at least I now know it's here and I can use it.

I've written on so many other blogs and in forums in the past year. I've also started a blog within a forum for a particular subject. Only thing is, that blog is so slow to upload text and images. Thus, I think I'll move on over here and see how it goes.

Let me take this opportunity to post some of the digital art I've done in the past year. I'm more than happy for anyone who stops by to use my work, save it, print it out, share it. Just one thing: don't claim it as your own or try to sell it.

So here's my first set: my Christmas cards from the end of 2011.

Traditionally I've made my cards by hand, a-la-scrapbooking style, but this was my first foray into digital designing. I've been printing off the inners for my cards for years so it was about time I did something for the outer.

I started by trying to make just ONE design but my anal retentive side of the brain took over and I ended up making ten. Er, correction, I made about 15. But I'm only happy with ten of them.  Once I had designed these, I printed them out on glossy medium-weight card and then 'scrapped' them onto some of my laborious collection of pre-folded cardstock.

The design above was the one I ended up using for 2011. Since Christmas is during the summer months in Australia, this seemed to fit the best. Plus I loved those colours. I have no idea if I'll use one of the other designs this year, or if I'll be inspired (and have the time) to create something new.

I hope you like these. If you want to use them, click on the image for the original size to pop up, then right click and save the picture.

I'm extremely thankful to Karen at The Graphics Fairy for all her wonderful images I've been collecting and experimenting with in the past few years.

I've also collected quite a few freebies (and some paid content) from Design House Digital. All of the content from DHD that I've used is NOT premium content, therefore I have no right to sell these items. That means that you, also, do not have a right to sell these items.

There are quite a few other places around the web where I've collected vintage images or used online tools to create my own 'paper' designs.

I do not intentionally steal anyone else's work. If you see something that belongs to you (ie is still in copyright) please let me know. If not, feel free to use these digital creations for your personal pleasure.