Lesson learned

In the eighth grade I took a career assessment test that determined I would do well in high crisis jobs, like being a paramedic. I don't normally panic in stressful situations.  In the medical field, I can see how this is handy, but, as an artist, I rarely find myself having to make quick, imperative decisions.  Enter Saturday, late evening at my work desk.  I was nearly finished with a new mixed media piece and just had a few more details to add.  I needed a minuscule amount of blue and noticed that the paint bottle was clogged.  I was tired and impatient, so instead of digging out the dried up paint, I gave the bottle a good squeeze.  (You can see where this is going.)  Phthalo blue bursts out of the bottle across my desk and art work! 

After the initial disbelief and feeling of utter stupidity passed,  I realized there was no use in crying over spilled milk, or paint in this case.  There were two options: either let the paint dry or wipe it up as quickly as possible.  As you can see from the photo, I opted for the latter.  I proceeded to salvage the work the next day.  This is what it looks like now.

I'm pretty happy with it, but the test prints have not turned out at all.  The subtle color changes in the sky are not showing up on the prints.  I'm thinking about adding a blue hue to the border and darkening the sky. 

Until I figure out what to do next, I decided to at least use part of the composition to create new business cards and notecards.  

My husband says that the moral of the story is to make lemonade out of lemons. I say, don't squeeze the clogged paint bottle!

Awakening Consciousness: A Girl's Guide & A Boy's Guide by Robin Marvel

Stars: ***1/2

This review is for both books at once as they have only minor differences.

Summary: These are workbooks designed to encourage spiritual growth, inner strength and self awareness. The exercises are a bit different in each book as outlined below.

Girl's Guide: Your chakras, keep a healthy aura, learn the pendulum, aromatherapy crafts, crystals, explore inner self, create your own future.

Boy's Guide: Make a drum, find your totem, discover spirit guide, Native-American lore, chakras, crystals, Pendulum, strong aura, self-esteem.

All though I do think it's a good idea to have separate guides for boys and girls I think it would have made more sense to make them different in the text and specific activities perhaps, not necessarily different activities. I would make the drum and find the totem with my girls and I would teach aromatherapy to my boy.

In general the idea of the books is awesome, however I do think the books have some problems.

Girl's Guide:

• Mainly it wasn't edited enough, or at all. There were grammatical errors, missing words and repeated words. There's a section on ESP that says to pick 5 designs and then right after says you have 3 designs. The instructions are bit messed up although I'm sure most people can figure it out themselves.
• The word bestie is used which I didn't know meant best friend. I work with Girl Guides and have heard all kinds of slang and short forms, never heard Bestie. I don't think it's a good idea to use slang in a book anyway because as the book gets older, the term would be not in use anymore.

In Both:

• We are given a section to write down tarot readings but it's not like tarot cards come with the book or we are taught much about them. I'm not sure the purpose of that section. The boy's guide is only a little better in that it suggests a book to explain tarot and doesn't sound as if you must have cards already.
• The dream section says to look up your dreams in a dream dictionary to keep track of what your subconscious may be telling you. The boy's guide is even more adamant that you MUST look up your dreams in a book to know what they mean. Dreambooks aren't definite meanings though, they are just ideas and they even say in small print in them that it's mostly just for fun. 

Despite all this the book has it's merits and I can use what I want out of it which would be most of it. Also the chakracize (chakra exercises) is the best part of the book with photos to go along with it. I just think they need to be reprinted with proper editing and more thought.

Links of Interest: Marvelous Empowerment on Facebook, Marvelous Empowerment,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy Awakening Consciousness: A Girl's Guide at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Buy Awakening Consciousness: A Boy's Guide at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*These books were received in exchange for a review if I finished the book. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Speed Reviews - Mixture

No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not To Have Children by Corinne Maier
Stars: ****

Summary: The shocking treatise that was a bestselling international media sensation upon its 2007 publication in France now makes its eagerly anticipated English-language debut. In forty to-the-point, impressively erudite chapters drawing on the realms of history, child psychology, politics, and the environment, Maier effortlessly skewers the idealized notion of parenthood as a natural and beautiful endeavour. Speaking to the still “child-free”, to fellow suffering parents, and to adamant procreationists alike, No Kids is a controversial, thought-provoking, and undeniably entertaining read. - from Amazon.ca

I have children but I just had to read this. I don't regret having children at all but there are times of course that I feel overwhelmed and wish for a few moments of silence (although interestingly enough, when they are both gone I miss them and it's too quiet.)

The reasons are quite convincing but personally I can't imagine not having kids. I think this book may be more serious for those who don't have and don't want kids and more humourous for those of us who do.

My only real problem with the book is that the author has children and openly says she regrets having them. That's sad, I feel sorry for her kids. I think either a woman with children should have written the book as humourous (which it's NOT listed under) or a woman without children should have written it as is.

Links of Interest: No specific website but a search will result in many articles both agreeing and disagreeing with the author.

Other Reviews: Amy Reads,

Buy No Kids at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits by Mary Ann Winkowski
Stars: *****

Summary: Lights flicker on and off for no good reason. You feel drained and inexplicably irritable. Your four-year-old is scared to enter her bedroom. Tell these things to Mary Ann Winkowski, and she'll tell you that you have a ghost. A happily married, devout Catholic, suburban mother and full-time paranormal investigator, Mary Ann Winkowski has been able to see earthbound spirits, spirits that are trapped on earth and haven't "crossed over," since she was a little girl. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here - whether it be people they can't let go of or homes they love. In WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK, Mary Ann will tell the amazing story of growing up with this gift, and will share tips on how to recognize when you're not alone, and what to do if you are in the presence of a ghost. - from amazon.com

Books about ghosts always bring out the skeptics. I don't think everyone who claims to talk to spirits really does but I do believe there are those out there who can. I believe Mary Ann really does talk to spirits and the fact that she is the consultant for the TV show Ghost Whisperer makes me believe a bit more too. That means a TV station has faith in her too doesn't it?

I was intrigued throughout the whole book. There were a few parts that seemed a bit unbelievable but just like when you are talking to a live person and you can misunderstand what they say, I think it's possible she misunderstood the ghosts sometimes. I will admit that there seem to be a lot of ghosts hanging around, at least in her book. However I think it just seems more common than it is because she's only telling the stories of when ghosts are around.

It's been a while or I'd have a more thorough review. I'd like to recommend you check out the reviews on Good Reads and the few linked below for more information.

Other Reviews: Darque Reviews, Yak Talk, The Reading Monk,

Buy When Ghosts Speak at amazon.com and help support SMS Book Reviews

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig
Stars: ***1/2

Summary: Susannah’s official boyfriend, Jason, is the perfect foil for her student lifestyle. He is ten years older, an antiques dealer, and owns a stylish apartment that prevents her from having to live in the seedy digs on campus. This way, she can take her philosophy major very seriously and dabble in the social and sexual freedom of 1970s university life. But circumstances become more complicated than Susannah would like when she begins to have an affair with her tutorial partner, Rob. Soon she is dating two men, missing her lectures, exploring independence and feminism with her girlfriends, and finding herself in a particularly impossible dilemma: she becomes pregnant. Forced to look beyond her friends and lovers for support, she finds help and inspiration from the lessons of Kierkegaard and other European philosophers. - from Other Press

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you know I don't read much adult fiction but I have always been intrigued by philosophy and figured a fictional book would be easier to understand. I'm glad I read this book. I've never been great at reviewing fiction and it's been way too long for me to review in detail but I do remember the basics of the story and that I enjoyed it. It was a little slow in certain parts before she gets pregnant but after that, the story is captivating. References to philosophy are just enough to be interesting but not dry. It inspired me to look up philosophy a bit more although I haven't found a good nonfiction book that I can understand on the subject.

Other Reviews: The Literate Housewife Reviews,

Buy A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy at amazon.com and Help Support SMS Book Reviews

*All books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Art and vintage sale this Saturday!

Seeing that I don't facebook or twitter, I thought I'd let all the Portland readers know that I'm throwing an art/vintage/designer sale with a friend this Saturday.  We're both huge vintage lovers, but my friend is the one with the much coveted cache of collectibles, like that amazing horse head wall vase! We're also selling the very last of our store's inventory and fixtures, from artisan-crafted dressing room mirrors to cute red vegan flats.



I'll be bringing many of my prints and originals to the sale- all discounted for the special event.  If you think you'll be able to make it to the sale this Saturday (it's in SW Portland), just send me an email and I'll give you the details.  My email is catmcmurray[at]gmail.com.



I look forward to seeing some of you there!

Transforming ordinary objects into incredible works of art

I love it when artists take something that is familiar and create a new experience for the viewer.  Take these beautiful woven pieces made by Canadian artist Brian Jungen.  Can you believe they were made from professional sports jerseys?



At first glance, Jungen's sculptural works look like a contemporary homage to Native American art.  But when you realize his art is fashioned from found objects, particularly sports paraphernalia, the meaning of his work becomes even that much more profound.  

In the photos above, one can clearly recognize totem poles and an indigenous mask, items that hold sacred significance in the Native American culture.  When you look closely though, you can see that Jungen uses golf bags to form the totems and Nike Air Jordans to create the mask.  It's a brilliant statement of today's professional sports culture and how it's become a ritualistic, almost spiritual tradition for the masses.

Baseball mitts were used to create this warrior-like gear, and on the right is an antler sculpture made from leather shoes. 

Jungen works with a variety of materials, including metal, fabric, wood, and plastic.  Here are two works of art created from plastic objects.  The igloo shaped piece is made from trash bins and the whale skeleton from plastic lawn chairs.  Amazing!

[images courtesy of the artist, Casey Kaplan Gallery, and Catriona Jeffries Gallery]

To listen to Jungen talk about some of these works, go here.

Speed Reviews - YA Fiction

If you've been keeping up with me this week, I've got some more speed reviews of books I read a year or more ago.

Stolen Voices by Ellen Dee Davidson
Stars: ****

Summary: Life in Noveskina is perfect until Miri discovers she has no Talent, and therefore faces life among the lower classes. As Miri searches for her Talent, she discovers a sinister secret about Noveskina. Will she have a chance to speak out before they come for her voice? - from Ellen Dee Davidson

Even though it's been a while since I read this book, I remember it very clearly. I really enjoyed it. It's along the same lines as The Giver by Lois Lowry. In this particular world, almost everyone develops a talent as they mature that dictates what they do with their future. Anyone who matures without a talent is an outcast at the lowest class.

I think this would make a great read in school. Perhaps even after studying The Giver to study the similarities and differences between the two worlds. It's a shame I didn't review it right away so I could give a more indepth review. Please don't be put off by my short review.

Buy Stolen Voices at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

The Chosen One: a novel by Carol Lynch Williams
Stars: *****

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated polygamous community without questioning her father’s three wives and her twenty brothers and sisters. Or at least without questioning them much—if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her 60-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family - from Good Reads

Another one that I remember well even though it's been a while. I was excited when I got a copy to review of this book because of the great things I'd heard about it. It wasn't over-hyped, just talked about enough by trusted book bloggers.

I know Polygamy books seem to be quite common now but in 2009 when this was published, they weren't quite as common. This was a dramatic novel that kept me reading the way a good novel should in my opinion.  I remember not wanting to put it down for long. At just over 200 well spaced pages, it's a quick read so expect to read it in one or two sittings. A great ending! Be sure to check out the more in depth reviews linked below.

Other Reviews: (note: any giveaways mentioned are long over) Book Addiction, Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin?, Maw Books, The Story Siren, Booking Mama,

Buy The Chosen One at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*Both books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Speed Reviews - Children's Books

A few more speed reviews for you. These are books I read over a year ago that never got reviewed. They're short since it's been so long since I read them.


Kaboom! Explosions of all Kinds by Gillian Richardson
Stars: ***

Summary: Who knew that some insects can create explosions to get food? Or that fireworks were once used to fight wars? Explosions are all around us, from the Big Bang that created the universe to the “pop” of a seedpod, from solar flares to the explosive gases lurking in a coal mine. Full of fun facts, dramatic images and highlights of momentous blasts in history—including the infamous Halifax explosion of 1917— KABOOM! examines an astonishing variety of explosions and the science behind them. - Annick Press

I have read lots of science type books from Annick Press but this wasn't one of the best ones. It was interesting but didn't capture my interest the way some of the others did (Nibbling on Einstein's Brain, Spiked Scorpions and Walking Whales etc...). I'm not sure what caused my disinterest but I did find my mind wandering. I'm also not the intended age (9+) of course. However if I find it a tad slow, I think older kids would too.  The best part of the book was the photos showing explosives used for demolition. It shows how the building implodes.

Buy Kaboom! at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews


The Bubble by Brian D. McClure
Stars: ***

Summary: Once there was a little boy, who didn’t want anyone to play with any of his toys... As the little boy grows into a man, he only cares about his many material possessions. As one by one, the things he cares about begin to leave his life, he soon finds himself all alone, trapped inside a bubble. The Bubble is a delightful story that will help both children and adults remember what truly matters in life. - from BriandMcClure.com

The premise of this book was good. Teaching a child that possessions aren't everything is a great idea. However I'm not sure about the way the book ended up. The first 25 pages were great. Then it gets a little weird:

"...Soon the trees, grass, and flowers left his property." pg 26 - Um they just disappeared?
"Soon, his possessions left him." pg 30 - Riiiight.
"Soon, his house left him... but he still had his fenced-in yard." pg 35 - See where this is going.
(then the soil leaves and he is immersed in an empty bubble)
"The bubble started to sink into the void, where his house and possessions once were. The last thing the old man saw was the twelve-foot fence that once surrounded his property." pg 41

Okay so I get that it's supposed to show how alone he ends up and the ending sort of explains it a bit as well but it just seems a bit weird to me. I would have preferred a book that's more realistic, where the man just grows old amongst stuff but alone. To me if the book is going to teach a real life lesson, it should be more realistic. But perhaps you would like it. It does have a good morale and I love the graphics. It's a great book for all ages as not just kids need reminders about possessions.

Buy The Bubble at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*Both books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Speed Reviews - Mental Illness Memoirs

Some more really old reviews that just never got done. They are short since it's been a while but if the book sounds interesting, check out the links to other reviews to get a more detailed review.


Hurry Down Sunshine: A memoir by Michael Greenberg
Stars: ****

Summary: Hurry Down Sunshine tells the story of an extraordinary summer when, at the age of fifteen, Michael Greenberg’s daughter was struck mad. It begins with Sally’s visionary crack-up on the streets of Greenwich Village, and continues, among other places, in the out-of-time world of a Manhattan psychiatric ward during the city’s most sweltering months. - from Random House

All mental illness memoirs bring out emotions in me as I can identify with parts of it although my experience wasn't nearly as severe as Sally's. I remember this being a fairly quick read as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The author is Sally's father and so it's written from his point of view. It must have been very hard for him to have to deal with. If you are curious what life is like for a family with a child who is in and out of psychiatric hospitals, this is a good book to read.

Other Reviews: Linus's Blanket, She is Too Fond of Books, Frequency of Silence,

Buy Hurry Down Sunshine at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews


A Promise of Hope: The astonishing true story of a woman afflicted with Bipolar Disorder and the miraculous treatment that cured her by Autumn Stringam
Stars: ****

Summary: Autumn and her brother Joseph inherited the family bipolar disorder, a severe mental illness that led to their mother's and grandfather's suicides. Autumn, at 22, was in a psychiatric hospital on suicide watch; Joseph, at 15, was prone to violent episodes so terrifying his family feared for their lives. But after they began taking a nutritional supplement - based, incredibly, on a formula given to aggressive hogs - their symptoms disappeared, and today they both lead normal, productive lives. - from back of the book

Unlike the previous book, this one is written by the mentally ill patient. If you are interested in alternative treatments for bipolar disorder, this book will definitely interest you. I found a few parts of the book a bit slow but overall I enjoyed it and was intrigued with the alternative treatment. You see the background of their family's fight with mental illness and Autumn's journey through it but you also see how the treatment was thought up, tested and found to work.

Visit AutumnStringam.com for sample chapters, bipolar info and more.

Other Reviews: The Indextrious Reader,

Buy A Promise of Hope at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*Both books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Speed Reviews - Adult Nonfiction

I have a bunch of books that just never got reviewed and I want to start fresh ASAP and review books within a week or two of reading it at the most. So I need to catch up on these reviews. Considering I read these over a year ago, I may not remember enough for a full review anyways.

Confessions of a Bad Mother by Stephanie Calman
Stars: *****

Summary: Do you feel that other mothers are "doing it properly" while you're getting it All Wrong? Do you give your children chicken nuggets for supper, herd them into bed and slump down exhausted for a drink? Do you wish there could just, please, be a little less pressure? If you try your best but frequently feel like a failure, if you - or your children - are in any way imperfect, then join the club: the Bad Mothers Club. Stephanie Calman has broken every rule and done it all "wrong". From giving birth with her pants on to making her kids watch more telly, she has persistently defied all accepted wisdom and professional advice.

This book is funny and a great stress relief read for moms who are worried they aren't good enough. Very humourous and the accompanying website is a great resource: http://www.badmothersclub.co.uk In fact the author has a new book: How (Not) to Murder Your Husband.

However if you are very adamant that how you parent is the ONLY right way, don't read this book.

Buy Confessions of a Bad Mother at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D.
Stars: *****

Summary: With humor, keen insight and proven experience, Dr. Phelan breaks down the task of parenting into three straightforward jobs: Job 1: Controlling Obnoxious Behavior, Job 2: Encouraging Good Behavior, Job 3: Strengthening Your Relationships

I'm not exactly still putting these ideas into practice but they are great ideas. If I wasn't busy reading other parenting books I'd read these one a few times over and fully put it into practice. As with self-help books, most parenting books do no good unless you put them into practice.

The book contains example narrations to show you how to use their advice. There are 1-2-3 Magic books for various topics and they have sold a lot. This book is the Winner of the National Parenting Publication Gold Award and a new, 4th edition has come out since I read this one.

Buy 1-2-3 Magic at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year by Esme Raji Codell
Stars: ****

Summary: Just as it says, a diary of a teacher's first year. She teaches fifth grade and has all kinds of creative ways to teach. She also includes 25 tips for teachers and teachers-to-be.

I remember liking this book a lot. I wanted to be a teacher at one point and so I've always liked reading teacher memoirs. I love when teachers have creative ideas. If you look at the reviews on amazon, they are quite split between 4-5 stars and 1-2 stars. The ones who disliked the books talk about the author being stuck up, focusing on how awesome she is or being obnoxious but I didn't get that feeling at all.

Buy Educating Esme at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*All books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Bloggiesta Day 3 - Wrap Up

As much as I'd like to work all night long, I'm pregnant, tired and I have to get up early tomorrow. So I'm done. However I usually keep up the momentum after a Bloggiesta and get more things done in the next few days. I have over a week's worth of posts set and ready to go!

I spent a total of 18 hours on Bloggiesta which is pretty good considering how many other things I did this weekend (playgroup, doctor's office, birthday party, grocery shopping)

I'm happy with my progress and I love hosting a mini-challenge. I will for sure be thinking up one for next time. I can't wait!

Handpainted push pins now available

Here's the complete set- yeah!  I finished the last two of the six designs a few days ago.  The trickiest part of this whole project actually involved the packaging.   This afternoon, after playing around with some ideas, I decided that little jewelry boxes would best protect the pins in shipping. 

There are only five sets available (that was all I could make with the number of wood markers I had).  I might make more if I buy another batch of wood pieces, but I'm going to focus on some other projects for now. 

To see my Etsy listing, go here. 

Bloggiesta - Day 2 Update

Getting ready to turn in for the night and wanted to update on my progress.

I was busy a lot on Friday and today but I still managed to log in 12 hours somehow which is better than I thought I'd do. Still have tomorrow though!

I've done the following mini-challenges:

• blogging goals (just as a comment)
• email organization
• book organization (still need to make database though)
• 10 Things Bloggers Should Not Do

I'm still trying to help someone for the Help a Blogger Out challenge. 

I have 4 blog posts schedule for this coming week so far. They are mini-reviews of books I never reviewed from over a year ago. So that's 4 posts but 9 books reviewed. Still have tons to go though.

My Week

I found this little glass jar at an antique store and knew immediately what I wanted to do with it.  I took it home, painted some lines on it, and created a home for a tiny plant. 

I'm going to be an aunt again! More sweet cheeks to kiss and snuggle.  I already started on a baby blanket using scrap yarn from other crochet projects. 

Yummy sushi for mommy and daughter date.  One of our favorite family spots is Sushi Takahashi in Portland's Duniway neighborhood. 



The lowlight this week was the downpour of rain last weekend that caused water to come into our basement.  This video captures how fierce the nearby rivers can be after excessive rainfall. 

 

Bloggiesta - 10 Things Bloggers Should NOT Do Mini-Challenge

The mini-challenge from Word Lily has us rating ourselves (1 to 5) on the following things bloggers should NOT do. It's from an article at Daily Blog Tips.

You Must Not Expect Results Overnight - 4/5 - I know it takes time but sometimes I get impatient. :)
You Must Not Ignore Your Readers - 3/5 - I definitely don't talk all about myself but I don't think I focus on my readers enough either.
You Must Not Scrape Another Bloggers Content - 5/5 - I don't think I do this. I make sure to credit whatever I use and only use it under fair use.
You Must Not Expect Success Without Promoting - 4/5 - Oh I know what it takes to get noticed. I just don't always do it.
You Must Not Be Another Blogger - 5/5 - I am my own blogger. There are very few nonfiction bloggers and even fewer nonfiction and children's book bloggers. I want to have my own style.
You Must Not Fail To Update Your Blog Regularly - 2/5 - Okay this is where I struggle. I build up a readership and visitors and then get side tracked by life and don't post for a while and lose some readership and visitors. I've tried planning posts but I still haven't figured out the best way to do this for me.
You Must Not Ignore SEO - 3/5 - I've researched and implemented some SEO basics but I still have more to learn for sure.
You Must Not Ignore Networking - 2/5 - I know how important this is but I don't do it enough. I've been trying to comment on blogs more but it's not just that. I need to participate in blog events and features more often and perhaps give some link love.
You Must Not Have An Unreadable/Unnavigable Site - 4/5 - I think I do okay in this area. I've not had any complaints and the last two Bloggiesta's I did I really fixed up the design and layout.
You Must Not Throw Mud Around - 5/5 - I've never done this and never will.

TOTAL: 37/50 - Not bad - 74%

Bloggiesta Starting Line!

It's time for the 4th Bloggiesta! I love Bloggiesta, this is my third time participating. I only missed the first one! I'm just starting now because I haven't been home all day! I will also miss a good chunk of tomorrow (11:30-4:30) or so because of a birthday party. However I'm sending the kids to grandma's after the party so hopefully I can get more done then.

Bloggiesta is a blogging to do marathon. A chance to get to that to do list of things that will make your blog better with the addition of mini-challenges and prizes!

I"m hosting my very first mini-challenge ever this year on making your own buttons and banners.

The other bloggiesta's I did I improved my blog in general (labels, links, layout, design etc.) but I only have ONE goal this year:

• Catch up on reviews.

This may sound simple but I am so behind I have books I read a year ago to review. I want to be caught up so that I can review a book within a week of finishing it. I have over 30 books to review. Wish me luck!

Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge: Desiging Your Own Buttons/Banners

Welcome Bloggiesta participants!

Many of you need buttons or banners for a variety of things: reading challenges, entrecard ads, link to you button, blog features or memes and more.


While I'm far from being a professional designer, I can and do make my own buttons as I need them. I didn't do my blog design but I have designed buttons for reading challenges, features and such.  I just Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7 (PSP) to make my graphics but even if you don't have PSP or Photoshop or you have them but don't know how to use them, you can still make a basic button or banner with sites found around the web.

The options aren't that great. You are better off getting a graphic editing program and learning the basics. You don't need to know how to do all the fancy stuff. You can downlaod a free trial of Corel Paint Shop Pro (I believe Jasc was taken over by Corel) although a much older version would do just find for basics and can probably be purchased for very little money if you can find one. I'm sure you can download a free trial version of Photoshop too. You can find tutorials on how to use these programs online.Below I highlight some online places you can use. Please let me know if there is one you know of that is good that I haven't included.

How To Do Mini-Challenge
To do this mini-challenge, you must make a logo, banner or button and put in on your blog, then come back and comment with a link to the post it's on. It can be something you actually need such as a reading challenge button or blog logo or it can just be a quick one for fun to show you tried it out.  All registered Bloggiesta participants who comment with a link to their logo/button/banner will be entered to win a publisher sponsored prize!

---

Pros will be in red, cons will be in green.


Cool Text (http://cooltext.com/) is good if you want a logo or button that is just words, no pictures. It's very simple to use but is limited in it's designs. Here's what I made with Cool Text:

My Banner Maker (http://www.mybannermaker.com/) can make banners of many different sizes from micro (88x31) to Photo Sized Banner (728x546) and everything in between. It can make any of the standard banner sizes you see as adverts on blogs or websites. It's a bit harder to figure out, especially if you don't know key words like gradient, opacity etc. but with fiddling around you can figure it out. It does have the option to upload your own photo to use as the background but I had trouble with it. In order for it to work, the photo (or the part of the photo you want) must be close to the size banner you are making. Also you have the option to download the banner yourself, create a myspace banner, post automatically to facebook, twitter etc, download the code for use in forums or download the html, with or without a box telling others how to use the graphic (although it didn't show up right on my site). (see my samples)  However each banner must have the mybannermaker.com credit and before you can save the banner, you must choose between upgrading to pro and staying free. Annoying. Here's what I made with My Banner Maker:

Background © Flickr User Pink Sherbet Photography

Copy this code to your website to display this banner!
<a href="http://www.mybannermaker.com" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i.imgur.com/5h8Dt.jpg" alt='Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!' border=0>

Online Icon Maker (http://www.rw-designer.com/online_icon_maker.php) is good for making your own fav icons (the little graphic next to the url in the address bar above.) You can design it yourself pixel by pixel or upload a graphic you want it to make an icon out of and download as an .ico file.

Creative Connectivity's Banner Creator (http://www.crecon.com/newbanners.html#form2) allows you to create a banner of adjusted size, with one of their backgrounds or one of your own. You can add gif images and text. There are a few different options. It's not the easiest to add text but if it doesn't go where you want it, you can just hit the back button and do it again. Here's what I made (quickly) with Banner Creator:

Other Tips and Hints:

• You can also design using Microsoft Paint but that is SO basic you basically have to draw everything yourself. 
• If you know how to do the basics in a graphic's program but you are looking for graphics to use, try Flickr Creative Commons (pick only the first group (Attribution Only) but you must give credit to the Flickr user you got it from somewhere. 
• Search the net for dingbats fonts. Either view the full font and screen capture the one you want or download the font, type every letter and number into a document and then screen capture the one you want. Color it in with your program (even Microsoft Paint) and you can use it.
• Ad Designer sounds like a much cooler way to make ads but I didn't try it out because you have to register first. It has good reviews though.
• This site has some other suggestions (including ones I already mentioned)

Have Fun!