Living the Creative Life

I've had several people ask me about how to make blog buttons, and especially how to make blog buttons "grab-able". It's pretty easy. Let me show you how! First you need an image editing program. I use Pixelmator , but there are many free alternatives on the web, such as Pixlr or FotoFlexer , or you could use something more advanced, like Photoshop . I'll give instructions using Pixelmator, but it should be similar processes for other programs. First, open a new project. Decide what size button you want and enter those dimensions. Mine is going to be 300x75 pixels.   Next, decide on a background color and fill it in. You can add variants to the color, such as stripes, a sunbeam, or other artistic modifications. Add an image if you like. It should be something that represents you and your blog. Try to tie it in with your existing theme so that people recognize your brand when they see it elsewhere. Next add text to your button. Usually the name of your blog wo...

To celebrate passing 60 subscribers to my blog, I'm offering my loyal readers a discount to my Etsy shop this week! Use the code JUSTJEN10 when you checkout at my Etsy shop  for 10% off your order. This code will only be good for one week, through August 6th, so don't wait!

Here are some pics of my cute nephews taken on our family vacation this month! I can't believe how big they're getting!

Last week I went in to register for classes  and to meet with my advisor. I've been to that campus before (my mom used to work there), but it felt different being there as a soon-to-be student! I'll be taking three computer classes ( Photoshop , InDesign , and Illustrator ), a design composition class, and a drawing class. I think I'm most nervous about the drawing class. What if I'm just terrible at it? On the other hand, it'd be really cool if I was good at it. :) I feel like I'm turning a corner in my life. I've been focused on my left-brain all these years and now it's finally time to focus on my right-brain ! I hope the artist lying dormant in me is ready to come out! I'm nervous about it but also very excited, if that makes any sense. These are things that I've wanted to learn for years but never had the time or money to do. It's so cool to think that it's nearly time!

I've been SUPER busy this month and haven't been very diligent in getting in touch for people about possibly doing August sponsorships. I realize this is short notice, but if you are interested, here are the details: Free 300x75 spot on my blog in exchange for a free button of mine on your blog  (let me know what size button you'll need). Sponsor highlight post Answer this question: What Meyers-Briggs personality type are you? Describe yourself and how you've seen this personality type played out in your life and career aspirations. (here is a  free quiz  if you aren't sure what type you are --  more descriptions  of the types can be found here). Photo of yourself  (let me know if you just want to use one you've previously sent) As always, you are welcome to do a guest post, Etsy giveaway, or DIY post. It's up to you, but totally not required. It's a fun way to gain exposure for your blog, but I realize it can be a lot of work ...

Yesterday I tried a fun experiment that I may repeat again. I took a photo every hour, on the hour (give or take 5-10 minutes), all day long. I saw this done about a week ago over on Artichoke Designs and wanted to give it a try. It was definitely a fun experience and made the day seem to go by really fast! If you were following me on Twitter or Instagram, you probably already saw some of these, but for the rest of you, here's what my day looked like yesterday. 10:00am - Still sleeping. One of the perks of unemployment. 11:00am - The rain stopped for the first time in two days so I went outside to take Etsy pictures. 12:00pm - Carlita wouldn't stop playing with my yarn, so I gave her a remote to play with instead. 1:00pm - Working on a new pattern. So far, it's driving me crazy. 2:00pm - Watching "A Pixar Story" on Netflix while I work on my knitting. 3:00pm - Carlita fell asleep on the back of my chair while I was knitting. 4:0...

Hello lovely readers! Today we have a guest post from  LeeLee ! I'm getting ready to go on vacation this week, so I'll let her keep you company while I pack. Last year, me and my family went to  Madrid, Barcelona,  Sevilla, Florence, Venice, Rome, Pisa, Naples and Paris. It was a very special time, we had fun and those memories will last forever! I took tons of photos- UNTIL my second day in Venice.  I was waiting for my family to get ready, I was already downstairs. The Hotel had a little bridge and next to the bridge, it had stairs. I was so stupid just getting near that.. but guess what? sometimes we are curious and we do stupid things.. hahahaa.. I didn't know I was going to end up soaked in water because I slipped on the stairs that were full of algae.. eww.. well, my camera DIED that day.. thank god my usb card didn't die with it too.  So anyway here are some photos I took of my trip, my favorite ones.. and before my camera died.. may she R.I.P....

I've had a lot of new subscribers lately, so thought it was probably time for another "About Me" post! Enjoy. :) 1. Who are you? I'm a 32-year-old soon-to-be graphic-design student, living with her cat and her roommate in a medium-sized apartment in NW Oregon. 2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you? I'm very introverted and love spending time alone with my thoughts. I can be very funny and silly when I want to be. I love coffee... of course. 3. When you aren't doing memes like this one what are you doing? Well, I'm currently unemployed ( long story ), so have been using a lot of my spare time to look for a job. I've also been knitting up a storm (check out my Etsy shop !) and watching the Big Brother live feeds (I can't help it, it's addicting). 4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the cl...

I remember the first time I'd ever heard of Harry Potter . It was around 1999 or so and there were only 2 or 3 books out yet. I was in college and working at the library on campus. One of the librarians, an outgoing Asian lady of about 40, was obsessively talking about "Harry Potter!!" all the time. I wondered what on earth she was meant and so, out of curiosity, I went to find the books. Of course I found what appeared to be children's books, which further confused me as to why a 40-something woman was seemingly obsessed with them. Mostly out of curiosity, I decided to try them. And... as they say... the rest is history. As any good Potter fan knows, these books are generally read at lightning speed, with the reader unable to put them down for anything. Page after page I read, rapt with attention at these wonderful stories. For nearly ten years, a third of my life, I waited with baited breath for the next installment to come out. I wanted to see what happened nex...