How to make business cards using Picasa

So I told you that I like to pretend that I am a graphic designer. Unfortunately, since I am actually not a graphic designer, I am not able to use all the cool tools they use - like Photoshop.  (Nor can I even AFFORD photoshop.

Well, I really wanted some business cards similar to hers.  I love the simple statements and oversized pictures that she uses.  She is an awesome (actual) graphic designer.  But I do not have the same tools.  So, I used Picassa, a FREE tool by google.

I had them printed by moo.com. And showed them on my vlog.  Well, the feedback was awesome.  Someone even told me that they were looking for the template I used!  Which would be impossible to find, because I didn't use a template.  I just used a picture that I took.

Here is a video tutorial showing you how I did it.




Then after I did it, I realized that some people may just prefer to use my templates - and people do other crafts, too.  So, I made a few for you to download. You are welcome!

P.S. The moo.com link is my refer-a-friend link!  It would be awesome if you used it!

New Silhouette Bag

You probably won't believe this, but I am kinda obsessed with silhouettes.  lol.  I really (REALLY) wanted to do one with locs - but I couldn't figure out a way to make it look right with them, so I usually just make silhouettes with afros and afro-puffs...

Well, the other day, I was checking out someone's Facebook page and she had this picture on it.  Amazing, huh?

Well, I totally ripped off was inspired by it and made THIS bag!  Do you love it?

I think this might be my new "thing"... 

Update.

Okay, so because I have been sharing ALL of my business on YouTube (and you guys REFUSE to watch me there), I will just update here.  lol.  J/K.

No, seriously I do need to let you know what is going on and I have embedded some youtube links just in case you want to check me out ;-).

1.) We are moving.  (sad face).

living room of the duplex

Actually, I am not as sad about it now as I was when we first made the decision...  It is a good (financial) decision - excellent, really.  ANDDDD we are going to be living next door to my brothers (and my brother's fiance and their child)!

We are going to move into a duplex!  Here is a tour of the place.  Actually, we lived there before - when we first bought it.  Unfortunately, it is kinda hood... But living there will save us an INSANE amount of money.  Really.  I will actually be able to breath (a little... we are trying to follow Dave Ramsey's plan and live way below our means). And it is not *as* hood as it was before.  I have not been seeing crackheads by the exit when go by there!

Also, I have a few DIY projects in mind...  My husband is even jumping on the DIY bandwagon.  When he realized how much money we would save, he was like: "Wait a minute...".  lol.  And I am super happy about that - not only because I love DIY, but also, men doing manual labor is pretty hott to me ;).

2.) I got my hair braided.

(cell phone pics)

And I love it.  Unfortunately, it is so tight, I am JUST now able to nod my head comfortably - and I got my hair done 4 days ago!

3.) I opened my Etsy shop back up! (I know I already told you)


It is still pretty empty - and it will probably stay on the scarcity side, because I realized that I do not want the bulk of my income to come from me producing items.  I know that I am just not the type of person that will pump out multiple items for the sole reason to sell them.  I do not enjoy that.  I am a crafter.  I like to make a whole bunch of different types of things.  So, that is what I am going to do. ;).  Hopefully, I will be able to make this vlogging for money thing work... and for now, I will have the shop open just incase someone wants to buy something...

4.) I am hosting craft challenges!

Over on YouTube.  I know that there are a lot of craft challenges in the blogging world - but there are NONE on YouTube.  Can you believe that?  I was looking for a way to be inspired and put myself out there, but I could not find ANY.  So, I made my own!  Soooo, if you are a crafter, and you would like a *reason* to step out into YouTubeland, I think this would be a perfect opportunity to try doing videos. Us crafty vloggers are pretty friendly and would love to see some new crafters over there.  Our current challenge is to make something for father's day.

5.) I think I am a graphic designer.

Did you notice my new header?  I did it myself (lol.  Can you tell?).  I want to make some more updates to this blog - giving it a facelift.  I am doing it allll myself (using Picasa)- so excuse the amatur-ish quality ;).

So, that is what is going on with me...  What is going on with you?

Strawberry Picking 2012

 Even though I swore I would never do it again, I took Zekey strawberry picking today.  Zekey AND Anaya.  At one point, I was bending over, picking strawberries, while nursing Anaya and calling for Zeke to stay close.  It was CRAZY.  And my back still hurts.  Needless to say, only 1/3 of my jam this year will come from strawberries actually picked by me.  I ended up buying a couple of gallons pre-picked and picking one gallon.

I am so glad we went.  Especially, since it gave me a chance to hang out with other mamas at Zeke's school!

Selling on Etsy!

Remember when I was talking all that trash about not selling on Etsy?

Well, I have changed my mind.  Basically, my two reasons were: (1) I couldn't get customers (2) I would have to charge too much to be profitable.

Well, the answer to #1 has been vlogging.  You would not believe (well, maybe you would - as I wrote about it in my last post) how much easier it is to get an audience via YouTube compared to blogging... At least that has been the case for me.

I have people literally contacting ME to put stuff in my shop.  Well, who am I to deny them?

Furthermore, the answer to #1 is really a non-issue.  Just because I can't afford to buy my stuff does not mean I shouldn't sell it.  Actually, it was kinda silly of me to think so...

Sooooo, I am opening up my shop.  Actually it IS open.

Go buy something ;).

Blogging v.s. Vlogging

You probably haven't noticed, but I have not been posting here as much as normal.  And it is because I am vlogging.  Every.Single.Day.  Seriously.  I am like a maniac or something.  I can't stop.

But I really miss writing.   I miss writing sentences, rewriting them.  Rearranging them.  Trying to take the perfect photo.  It is challenging - but so rewarding.

Unfortunately, it takes up a lot of time, too. Time that I can barely squeeze in everyday.

Vlogging on the other hand is SO much easier to do everyday.  It takes a few minutes (literally - my vlogs are ~5 min long - or LESS!).  I never edit them.  I can do them with my kids.  And I have more than twice (almost 3 times!) as many followers as on my blog.  Which is so bizarre because I have had this blog for over 6 years - whereas I have been vlogging for only 126 days.

And in that 126 days I have figured out a few things about vlogging and how it is different from blogging.  Let me tell you some of the things I have noticed.

Time
This is the biggest factor that makes vlogging fit my lifestyle right now.  It takes almost NO time to make a video and upload it.  Just the 5 minute length of the video + the time it takes to connect my camera to the computer and hit upload.  (well, I do title it and add a really short summary - but that is like, 2 minutes max).  Contrast that with blogging: I probably spend about 1 -2 hours on the average post.  Ironically, it is SO much faster to read blogs than to watch YouTube videos.  The post that it took me 1-2 hours to write - I could probably read it in 1-2 minutes.  Unlike videos.  If the creator made the video last for 20 minutes - I HAVE to watch the entire 20 minute show to get all the content.  And most people do not use the description box - so I don't even get a summary of the content with out watching it.

Effort
It takes pretty much no effort to make a video.  I have done it plenty of times with my kids, unlike writing in my blog - which would be impossible to do with them.  When vlogging, I make them a part of the video.  I just whip out the camera and start talking to it.  Whereas writing this post has taken me (so far) 2 days!  I have to wait until they are asleep and feel inspiration.

Cost
You do have to have a camera (obviously) to vlog.  I suggest a fairly good one.  I use a Flip.

Audience
This one may or may not offend people.  But I have noticed that the readers/writers of blogs are a bit more intellectual than the watchers/makers of YouTube videos.   Of course people along the entire intellectual spectrum do both...  It is just that if I see someone writing LiKe DiS -I am probably not going to read anything they write.  But if that same person is making a video -  I would not even notice their horrific indifference to proper punctuation/spelling so I will watch their video.

Exposure
This one is probably what prevents most bloggers from making videos.  You are totally putting yourself out there by making videos.  People see you: your every twitch, your voice inflections, your pimple... EVERYTHING.  They see you.  Exactly as you are.  Because unless you are an amazing actor - you are going to have to eventually be yourself.  And video is a lot more exposing than a journal entry.

So, that is what I have noticed about vlogging, so far.  I really, really enjoy it.  You should try it!

Cute as a Button Hair Clip

I did a tutorial on this hair clip before.  But, since joining the YouTube crowd, I wanted to do a video tutorial.  Here it is!




It is super, crazy, insanely easy.  But some of the best tutorials are!  I hope you make some ;).  Please send me a link if you do.

P.S.  Do you like my set up?  Wanna see how I did it?  Click here to see the vlog and I show you around.

Cast Off Sunday

So, I joined a YouTube group called Cast-Off Crew.  We are a just bunch of crafters who show off our recently finished items once (or less or maybe even more) a week.  Yesterday was my first video with this group!  I showed off my blanket of many colors.  Wanna see it?  Yes?

Here is how I made it:
With Color 1, chain 186
Row 1: dc in the 4 ch from hook and in each ch across (183 sts)
Row 2: ch 3, turn, dc in each dc across
Row 4: (with next color) ch 3, turn, dc in each dc across
Row 5:  ch 3, turn, dc in each dc across
Row 6-90 : repeat rows  4-5

P.S. I am linking this up to Frugal Days (LOVE that blog!)

And here is my Cast Off Sunday video.

Wanna see more?  Here are the links for all of us!

CAST OFF MONDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthernCrocheting
http://www.youtube.com/user/Teakai8
http://www.youtube.com/user/SunkistRaisin13
http://www.youtube.com/user/HairNMakeupJunkie
https://www.youtube.com/user/ginarochelle1971 (Every other Monday)
http://www.youtube.com/user/dalequan
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheVickwhy
http://www.youtube.com/user/intarsiapurl
http://www.youtube.com/user/dumpforstump

CAST OFF TUESDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BabyJoCrochet03
http://www.youtube.com/user/RohnStrongDesigns
http://www.youtube.com/user/BejeweledHedgehog
https://www.youtube.com/user/andebelieves
http://www.youtube.com/user/poetspice
http://www.youtube.com/user/caityisace
http://www.youtube.com/user/VBonnie71
http://www.youtube.com/user/jimmikeray

CAST OFF WEDNESDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/tmluvmdm
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bethintx1 (Last Wed of the month)
http://www.youtube.com/user/neencrochet
http://www.youtube.com/user/1975ccoleman (Once a month)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Crystalizeh2o
http://www.youtube.com/user/ashlovnerd
http://www.youtube.com/user/917hollie

CAST OFF THURSDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/2013chic (Every other Thursday)
http://www.youtube.com/user/tjkoch88
http://www.youtube.com/user/HookoneChaintwo
https://www.youtube.com/user/freedomplease
http://www.youtube.com/user/88muffingirl
http://www.youtube.com/user/MarinaRocksToronto
http://www.youtube.com/user/byamandacari (Every other Thursday)

CAST OFF FRIDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/sweetpaganrose
http://www.youtube.com/user/KydzLydz
http://www.youtube.com/user/Gimmeyarn418
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheArelaEbbah
http://www.youtube.com/user/craftcrazy35
http://www.youtube.com/user/RosElisabeth
http://www.youtube.com/user/melissalovesjeffrey

CAST OFF SATURDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/specialCraftsandmore
http://www.youtube.com/user/xxCountrygirl1986xx
http://www.youtube.com/user/rydiecyj (Last Saturday of each month)
http://www.youtube.com/user/Elvis66

CAST OFF SUNDAY:

http://www.youtube.com/user/sissyknitting (Every other Sunday)
http://www.youtube.com/user/detailedbeauty
http://www.youtube.com/user/LadyDCrochet 
http://www.youtube.com/user/DreamHeArts13 
http://www.youtube.com/user/texasyarnlover 
http://www.youtube.com/user/MsCraftlady79 
http://www.youtube.com/user/BHCrochet2011 (last Sunday of each month)
https://www.youtube.com/user/qhloverr
http://www.youtube.com/user/catcrazycreations
http://www.youtube.com/user/ayanared
http://www.youtube.com/user/tulipsun21

"Fresh off tha Hook" scared me a little...

Okay. Remember when I told you that I joined a YouTube group - called Fresh off tha Hook. BTW I know 'the' is spelled wrong - it drives me kinda nutty but that is the 'official' spelling.

Well, I had to quit it a few days ago.

Let me tell you why.  This group was Serious.  Really.  I thought I was signing up for a fun group whose main focus was to show off the stuff we made for the week.  I was wrong.  This group was clearly more than that.

On Wednesday, March 7, I looked at the group page to find some new "guidelines" posted.  And to be completely honest - I got a little scared.  When I read them, I was like: "What did I SIGN UP for?????"  These rules, yall, are CA-RAZY.

Here is a paraphrasing of the rules- believe me when I say I am doing you a favor by paraphrasing - because the original document is EXTREMELY wordy.  However, if you really want to see it (for accuracy's sake), let me know - and I will send it to you ;).

1.) Include an intro/outro to all FOTH videos (that will be provided).
(ummm, no.  I don't edit my videos unless I really, REALLY have to - like for tutorials - and even those don't have intros)
2.) No adult content
(ok)
3.) Give credit where credit is due
(of course!)
4.) In the description - include member links)
(ok)
5.) Videos should be crochet only
(ummm... okay, fine)
6.) Encourage audience to click like, subscribe, and leave a comment on other member videos.
(I don't even do that for my OWN videos - So, no)
7.) Invite people to join FOTH.
(ok)
8.) Do NOT share information.
(Obviously, no - as I am breaking this rule with this post.  lol)
9.) You must subscribe to every single FOTH member.
(Ummm, again no. This is the one I highlighted in my vlog about leaving.)
10.)You may only be involved in ONE youtube crochet group.
(Wow.  Is this a cult or something?)
11.)Do not share any controversy about the group (with ANYONE outside the group).
(Or maybe this is a sorority...)
12.) If you do decide leave don't tell anyone.
(No, this must definitely be a cult...)

As you can see, this group was not for me.  I had to quit (along with a few other people). And a few more want to leave - but are afraid of the backlash.  Apparently, she has some really loyal believers ahem, members who will NOT tolerate someone leaving... and talking about it. 

...

Scary, right?

Fortunately, there is another group dedicated to showing off our freshly crafted items that is, thankfully a lot more *normal* from what I can tell, so far.  And fortunately, this group does not limit our items to crochet only.  You will hear more about them soon!

I am off to bed.

So I am now 30 years old!

Wanna see me vlog about?  Well, SURE you do!  ;).

lol.  Here are my vlogs for today.

This was taken about an hour before my birthday.



And this was taken during the party.


I totally forgot to show you what we were making.

I am about to get organized.

I am pretty much an idiot when it comes to getting organized.

Really.  When I am looking at a pile of my crap, it takes significant mental energy to figure out where things should go when they don't already have a defined place.

I like to think that I am a fast learner.  That I am pretty smart.  Unfortunately, my intellect does not extend to the part of my brain that figures out how things are supposed to be organized...

Let me give you an example.  Up until yesterday, I had been using 3 google accounts.  Seriously.  ACTIVELY using 3!  For my main email (email from my family and friends) I was using email1, for my youtube account: email2, and for my blog: email3.

That means every time I went online, I had to log out of one google account - just to log into another.  Furthermore, I was subscribed to a few newsletters with more than one account - so sometimes, I was essentially logging out of one account just to read the same email... 

And this has been going on for almost... 6 years. I know.  It's ridiculous.  Don't judge me.

Finally, yesterday I had the earth-shattering revelation: "Hey, I should just use one google account."(do you hear the angels singing)
 
As you can see, I have an extreme learning curve when it comes getting organized.  Which kinda sucks because so much of my life is wasted because of all of the clutter in my head (and in my house).  So, I have decided to get organized.  No matter how much mental effort it takes.  And I am going to share my progress with you.  So that just in case you suffer from the same disability you can learn with me (or if you don't - you will probably laugh). 

Hopefully, my little project will help us stop wasting so much time - and maybe spend more of it doing crafts ;)

Thrifting for Vintage Cookbooks...

is actually not that good of an idea.  At least not if you shop in my thrift stores.

I totally over paid.  Amazon has better prices.  :(.

New Project!: Blanket of many colors

My favorite Bible story is the one about Joseph and his coat of many colors.

This blanket that I am working on reminds me of the way I imagine Joseph's coat looked in that story.  I am trying to use up all of my scrap yarn on it. I love the way the colors (although they in no way match) work with each other. It is going to take me forEVER to finish - but I am definitely enjoying the process.

I am linking this up to Frugal Days, Sustainable ways....  (I love that blog! - You should go check it out if you haven't already)...

I am done with my bread machine....

Seriously.

Look at this mess:
 

And this is not the first loaf I ruined.  It is probably the 3rd (IN A ROW).  I am thinking that the reason is because my bread machine is a piece of crap (although the yeast I have been using has an expiration date of 12/11 - don't judge me).
 
I will try it ONE more time.  (with yeast that hasn't expired).  But let me tell you, if I get bread that turns out like this again - I am tossing the machine.

Really.  It takes up too much dang space on my counter anyway...

White Quilt

I usually like to surprise my friends with gifts.  So, they typically do not get to give me any input on what I make them.  I base their gift on their style, their taste, and what I have made that they have complimented.

Well, one of my friends is a lot more picky than most.  I was kinda scared to make something that *think* that she would want.  So I asked her.  She said she wanted (among other things) a wok, and some original art from some local artist. 

At first I was like: Yes! I can paint something for her.  I haven't painted on canvas for a minute, and I am kinda in the mood for that.  But then I remembered (again) that this friend is picky.  When she said "artist", she probably didn't mean "crafter who pretends that she is an artist".

So, I decided to make her a quilt.  I asked her what colors she wanted it, and she said WHITE...  I was like: "Really, no piecing?  Just some quilted white fabric?"  She said, "Yes, I was on my way to Target to get a white throw to put at the foot of my bed - so that would be perfect".

Okayyyy.  White it will be then.

 

Although this took absolutely NO creativity, I do like how it turned out.  Especially since I doubled the cotton batting this time (cotton batting is soooo thin).  I am pretty sure that I am going to double the cotton batting on all my quilts from now on  - even though the cost of making them will now skyrocket!

Red Hearts are for girls

At the last minute, I finally figured out what to make Zekey's little classmates for Valentine's Day.  We got an email requesting that each child hand-make a valentine for each kid in the class a few weeks ago - but I could not figure out what to make.  Then yesterday, BAM, it hit me.  I will crochet some hearts! I had been wanting to make some as I had noticed a lot of my crafty friends making them.  But I had no use for them myself.  I am not really into hearts like that... (well, except for the Sankofa on my neck - but then that is not really a heart).

So, as I was crocheting them,
E says, "So, you are making them for the boys, too?"
Me: "Yes"
E: "Well, I don't think he should be giving other boys red hearts"
Me: "Why"
E: "Because, red hearts are for girls - why don't you make them some V's or something"
Me: "Because hearts are much easier, I am not about to crochet a bunch of V's What about blue hearts?"
E: ....
Me: "Okay, what about blue circles?"
E:  "Yeah, that is better than red hearts"

I know...  They look kinda dumb.  But I think they are cute.  Do you like?

P.S. I am kinda digging writing on my photos.  What do you think?  Cheesy?

Running! (not very far)

Okay, so do you have a blogger that you want to be like "when you grow up".  Well, I have several...

One of them is Elise Blaha.  Her blog design is so nice and her pictures are AMAZING. Anyway, I am totally copying her with this picture...

And if you squint, you can totally read that that says I RAN TO THE STOP SIGN!  Yes I did!  If you watched any of my vlogs, you may have heard me mention my goal to run to the stop sign.  It is a pretty pathetic goal as the stop sign is not even a 1/2 mile away!

But I am still so proud of myself. Next thing you know, I will be able to run to the stop sign and BACK!

Clutch Tutorial

 I made a clutch the other day for one of my favorite youtubers.  Her hair is AMAZING and she is super hilarious.

Anyway, I loved the clutch so much - I kinda didn't want to send it off!  So, I made another one.  And other people started asking how much I would charge to make them one...  But you guys know how I feel about that...

So, I just made a tutorial on how it is made.  This one is smaller - so it only needs one button.  But you can probably figure out how to make a larger size!

You're welcome (-:

Pssst.  I am linking this tute up to Frugally Sustainable.:

Making Bread.

Did you know I have a bread machine?  It was given to me by my cousin about 2 years ago (it was given to her by a co-worker - probably a year before that).   No one had ever used it.  It was literally brand new up until a few days ago.

Apparently all three of us were intimidated by bread making.  And the hugeness of the machine seemed to confirm my fears.

Well,  my recent bread making experience has demystified the process.  Even though the bread was not very good, I kinda feel like I can follow any bread recipe,now.

I did some googling research and found out that what my bread needed was some more gluten.  That is what makes bread soft and stretchy.  And what kind of flour has a bunch of gluten?  Why bread flour of course!

So I buy some bread flour.  And guess what it has.  A bread machine recipe!  And let me tell you.  It is so easy and GOOD!  I am making bread like every other day.  And it is so freaking easy with the bread machine.

And this is unfortunate because, really, the last thing my gut needs is all this bread.

Pssst.  I am linking this post up to Frugally Sustainable.:

Update!

Okay.  So I have been totally slacking on my blogging duties. I haven't even commented on some of my favorite blogs - although I read them all from my phone and construct a comment in my head but don't actually post it (do you do that?). Also, I get distracted by YouTube and Facebook by the time I finally get to the computer. O_O  BTW, do I not comment on YOUR blog?  I may not even know it exists! Let me know. I may need to add you to my blog reader...
 
I HAVE been crossing things off my list.  Yesss!

1.  I MADE a dress!  Like, I actually sewed a dress.  It was so simple though - it probably shouldn't even be considered "sewing a dress". Click here to see a video of how it looks on and how I made it.
2.) I bought some makeup!  And I actually like the way it looks on!  Click here to see a video of me with makeup on (AND ranting about Jehovah's Witnesses at my door).
3.) ANDDDDD.  I have been making BREAD!  But actually, I don't like the recipe that I currently use.  But it has definitely made me less intimidated by the whole process.  Here is a picture of my son eating it - along with some peach jam that I also made.  *pats self on back* ;-).

Sooooo, what have YOU been up to?