My First Ever...Speed Paint? Time Lapse? ...What are these called?

I took something from my sketchbook into Photoshop and played around with the Windows 10 Gamer Bar to record the process. 
I wasn't 100% happy with the pot of ivy in the background, trying to think of something else I should swap it out for. Maybe a pitcher of pomegranate juice or something? A human rib cage full of ivy? 
When finished, I'll be adding it to Redbubble, and printing up a large copy to hang in my spooky themed bathroom.

Keep Up with My Adventures on Social Media!

Temp Tattoo Follow Up: Never Again

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Short Button Maker Tips - Storage & Rust Prevention

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JPEG, PNG, and EPS - What to Use & Why

When you are designing a logo for someone, or are having a logo designed by someone, you should always ask that you get it in the following formats: JPEG, PNG, EPS/AI. Each one serves a different purpose, and it's handy to have them all at your fingertips. 

Recently I had a client contact me because they were confused which format to use, so I put together this brief post to clear things up. 

Here's a breakdown of 3 different file types 

and what they're used for: 

Photo-Kiosk Designers - An Epidemic (But there's a cure!)

I've noticed a new type of graphic designer emerging from the depths of the internet the last two years. They're hard to spot at first, since they talk-the-talk, but when you see their files, you immediately know what they are... they're a Photo-Kiosk designer.

Etsy is FILLED with them. The Photo-Kiosk designer is someone with a computer and access to an image editing program (usually Photoshop), who decided to strike out and make a little side business for themselves designing invitations and party favors for people online. (It's ALWAYS invitations and party favors.)

As a graphic designer and digital printer who also sells on Etsy, I appreciate their work ethic and their effort to pull in extra income, and I'm all for people pursuing art and design, but...to put it simply...YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

So I made this post to help and educate Photo-Kiosk printers on why commercial printers (like me) hate your files and how you can fix them.

What is a BLEED - Printing Terminology for Non-Printers

"Your file needs a BLEED." 

Not a day goes by where I don't have to explain this concept. I mean it. Every. Single. Day.

To be fair, it's not a term that's really used out in there the "real world." It's an art and creation specific concept, so the average person doesn't need to know. But, with more and more people attempting to be their own graphic and print designer (in an attempt to cut costs even though it usually ends up being a complete nightmare) it's something I thought I would tackle here on the blog. 

This way you guys can learn a little something, and I'll have a place to copy and paste responses instead of ripping my hair out. 

So, what is a BLEED?

1" Button Press Demo & Review

Not as in-depth as I wanted it to be, but I'll be doing more follow-up videos on my machines very soon. (Plus people always complain that I talk too much so I guess shorter might be better.) 

All of my machines and parts came from Button Boy Inc. 

-1.25" Machine: https://goo.gl/o9V81B
-1" Machine: https://goo.gl/B97bW5
-Pendants: https://goo.gl/v0Y68Z

They have an Etsy shop too, but their main website has lower prices.

Save 10% off with the code SPOOKTOBER on Etsy! - EXP 11/02/16

Use the coupon code 🎃SPOOKTOBER🎃 to save 10% off orders of $10 or more in my etsy shop! ➡ Link is in my profile !👀 #enamelpins #spiders #pumpkin

A photo posted by M. Smith (@poison_and_antidote) on Oct 17, 2016 at 11:10am PDT

Offer is good from now until November 2nd, after that the offer and and Pom-kins go into hibernation until next October. 
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Let There Be Critics : A Review of Fox's Rocky Horror Event

It's my mouth! I used these for my college screening. People had to follow my lips to find the theater.

Tiny bit of backstory before the review. I've been watching Rocky Horror, the film version, since I was a child. My parents used to dress up and go to midnight showings, my family has the the original vinyl LP & a re-release and the CDs, we have the original red VHS cassette, the fan books, the trivia books, the action figures... We're HUGE fans, especially of the masterful Tim Curry and his performance in the 1975 film version. I even dressed up and hosted a Rocky Horror screening at my college campus. So to us, this production was kind of a big deal.  

Since the get-go I was against the idea of a made-for-TV remake, but when it was announced that Tim Curry was going to be the Criminologist, making a rare on-screen appearance since his stroke, we had to tune in just to see him. Don't get us wrong, we love seeing productions of Rocky Horror done locally, and we love Laverne Cox, but can a big budget, shiny, Fox-produced version airing at 8PM on a weeknight really capture the essence of Rocky Horror?

Pom-Kins are here! - Venturing into Enamel Pins?

Grab a pom-kin of your own on Etsy

Oh man, it's been a long time since I updated. My life is always busy, but this past month it's been more intense than usual because....I'm bidding on a HOUSE! OMG! I've been going to showings, talking to mortgage companies, and researching all this adult-business online and now I'm finally in a place where home ownership is a possibility! And today is my birthday!

So it's been a pretty intense month of adulting, but I still managed to have a little fun designing my first ever enamel pin!

CamdenJam 2016 - Button Making Event

I partnered up with Connect The Lots in Camden again this weekend, this time instead of painting, I brought my trusty pinback button press to the city to teach kids how to make their own buttons at Camden Jam! It was a HUGE hit. 

First the children colored their designs, then we punched them out,
and they used the press (supervised) to create their finished button!

Since the event was at city hall, which is a Poke-stop, my contact requested that I make some Pokemon-themed designs. I took my Pokemon Go team buttons and turned them into simple black and white outlines, this way kids could color them in, as well as a generic Pokeball and a Pikachu design. (You can't leave out Pikachu!) Surprisingly, the biggest hit of the day was the paper I left blank! 

How I Package My Pinback Buttons

New art-related video is up!

This is how I've been packaging my button order lately,
both in person in the Artist Alleys and online for my Etsy shop.

It's been a while since I've made one of these,
but I'm figuring things out filming-wise so that I should be able to make one or two videos a month.

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Upcycle Japanese Candy Wrappers into Pinback Buttons!

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Free Painting Party Event in Camden NJ TONIGHT! 5:30-7:30PM

Tonight I'm hosting another FREE paint party event outside Camden City Hall! 

5:30-7:30PM in Roosevelt Plaza Park (in front of City Hall)!

We'll be painting a little something like this as we enjoy the sunset, be sure to join us! Visit Connect the Lots - Camden for more info!

There will also be a video game truck, and the unveiling of the community art project in the Camden ArtBox, 'A Real Page Turner'! Hope to see you there!

(If you're unable to attend be sure to spread the word! It's FREE!)

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Last Minute Paint Party SUCCESS - & PAINT PARTY TIPS

Not your average paint party fodder. This isn't a wine glass, or high heel, it's city hall!

It was a last minute event, with about 48 hours notice to gather supplies and make a painting with Camden City Hall theme, but I pulled it off! We had 14 painters create their own masterpieces and even with a few hiccups, like no running water, wind, and sun...it turned out great!  

We had a really good turnout and all of the participants were very serious and invested in their paintings. My example piece was a bit more challenging than your usual paint party example, but they all did a fantastic job without missing a beat!

Tip #1 : Add a Decoupage Element for added interest 

I'm Hosting a FREE Paint Party Night in Camden NJ - TONIGHT 8/19/16

FYI, the quote is Camden's motto and it comes from Walt Witman's  "I Dream'd in a Dream"

This week has been even crazier than usual. I'm teaching a last minute painting class in Camden, NJ tonight from 5:30-7:30PM, which is awesome, but I've been running around the last 48 hours gathering supplies and making a city hall themed painting for the event. It's like those popular painting and wine parties, but without the wine. This is what I came up with. I tried to keep it abstract and simple, and I added a decoupage element to it for added interest (and Jersey pride). 

Between this, my day job, my blogs, and Etsy...it's been an extremely busy week. So instead of my usual quart-sized mason jar of water...I'm drinking a quart of home made cookies & cream iced coffee.

Half way gone already!!

These day I rarely drink coffee, so the caffeine hits me HARD! Look out world! I'm caffeinated and armed with art supplies! If you're in the NJ area and want to come to the painting event (which is FREE) here's a LINK with info. 

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WIP Wednesday

Not sure about these "stories"... so here's my first ever attempt in post-form. 🌙 #thermalreactive #sailormoon #space #pins #buttons #etsy #wipwednesday #wip

A video posted by M. Smith (@poison_and_antidote) on Aug 17, 2016 at 8:18am PDT

I got this neat thermal reactive paint and I'm trying to figure out how to use it on button designs. Here's one of last night's experiments. 

Right now it seems like 2 layers makes things milky and foggy looking, but maybe I just need to wait longer between coats. 

On Wearing Many Hats, Money & Working Solo

As a artist/crafter/small business owner/blogger, I work alone. It sounds kinds of nice, not answering to anyone, but overall, being an island is extremely exhausting.

Everything I need, from product concept, to design, to production/printing, to finishing, to packaging, to marketing...it's all just me. I'm lucky because internet access makes all of that a LOT easier than it was 20 some-odd years ago, but it's still a lot for one person to handle.

Social media is a wonderful tool. We can save money on advertising by being our own advertising! Saving money sounds great and all, but what you don't realize is how much harder your have to work to get people to notice you while keeping your own production up and costs low. Free time is pretty much non-exsistant when you're a one-person production and yet, I always feel like I should be doing more!

When someone does a lot of things the old saying is they "wear a lot of hats." I have a face for sunglasses, but hats? They never look right on me.

Silliness aside, I wear a LOT of hats. This is a little sample of my weekday schedule, it's been intense, but it's been paying off. I'm seeing a lot more page views and sales!

Current Big Project At Work

1. First there is my main job, which is an hour away from home, where I am the only employee, and I work 9-5 Mon-Fri (9-4 on Fridays right now in the summer with our new summer hours. Thank goodness.) I am a graphic designer and digital printing consultant, but being the only employee in the facility, I do everything from filing, to answering phones, to production, to being tech support and personal assistant handling their messages and stuff not pertaining to business. When we're slow it's manageable, but when we're busy it's exhausting in and of itself.
   
   
   Then I have...
   

300 BUTTONS DONE!

Finished 300 Pokemon Go buttons last night for a custom order!! I'm counting this as my workout for the day. 👍 ▪ ▪ ▪ #pokemongo #etsy #customorder #buttons #teamvalor #teaminstinct #teammystic #mystic #valor #instinct

A photo posted by M. Smith (@poison_and_antidote) on Jul 28, 2016 at 7:51am PDT

Man, that was the biggest order I've ever filled and it only took me 2 days to finish it! (One for printing & cutting, and another for punching/production.) Not bad, not bad at all. Plus I'm counting it as an arm workout. Win-win!

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Pokemon GO - Awesome For Small Businesses

The game is here and it's having a much stronger effect than I had ever imagined. People are going outside, they're walking and exploring their neighborhoods, they're meeting new people, and small businesses are getting more foot traffic and sales thanks to being gyms and Pokestops. This is just...all around awesome. Sure there are a few naysayers and killjoys sprinkled in the mix with their negative articles, but overall, I think the positive benefits outweigh the few negative click-bait headlines.

I've only played up until Silver and Gold on the GameBoy Color (Silver was my last "new" Pokemon game), but my younger sister still plays and she keeps me hip to all the new Poke-happenings out there in the world. I know a lot of online shop owners JUMPED at the opportunity to make a buck off the trend, but with the market being so saturated...I figured I'd skip this one...but then the custom requests started rolling in....