Sensoria Design

No business card on you. NO PROBLEM!!!

2009-04-14T10:04:00.005-07:00

I just got myself a new cell phone after 6 years. Ya.. i know, how can I be behind the times with my cell. But I finally had my phone all figured out, I knew it inside and out. I could navigate it seamlessly, it was as comfortable as an old pair of sweats. But with time it started to lock up on me and I knew the end was coming close. Can you tell I like that phone? lol.

So yesterday I went to my local Verizonwireless dealer and traded it in. As I signed my life away for another 2 year contract so I could get my $300 phone for $49.95 (Motorola Krave), I started to feel sick. The only way I can describe my feelings was in kin to that of trading in your old vehicle for the latest and greatest.

Yes the excitement of something NEW! But the dread of getting reaquaitiend to how this new machine worked and handled. All the questions swimming in my head. What happens if I have buyers remorse? What happens if it doesn't perform as good as my old one? Ahhh, the agony of it all.

So as I walked out and later within that hour found the time to scan the book, (written in Spanish....till I realized that I had to flip the book over to find the English version of it) and began manipulating my new VERY sensitive touch screen. (very cool BTW) I was wondering how far I could push this new technology I have to my advantage.

So, being that I make graphics as my side job. Add to the fact that I also have special software, just for cellphones, that gives me the dimensions and limitation of what most cell's can graphically handle. I started on a new very personalize look for my cell's wallpaper, (convo me if your interested in one being custom made for you on my Etsy site www.sensoriadesign.etsy.com)

After I finished I was wondering what else this new phone can do. Unfortunately technology is not as advanced in the general cell phone software as I would like, graphically speaking.

As I googled my question I found this site. www.mydropcard.com. Now this is a great business tool! Especially if your forgot your business card (or don't have one, if you don't convo me too, I can put one together for you) when your out and about and run into a potential customer.

I encourage you to check it out. It has a basic free version so its worth the try.

Oh and, I am in no way associated, affiliated, or even know the site/company owners. I just happened to stumble onto the site today.

This is becoming a habit.

2009-04-01T23:30:00.002-07:00

so what do you think about the new layout. It was a fast put together one. I changed my Etsy store one so I had to change this. Its a bit overwhelming, to much purple for me. Ill have to do a second go at it tomorrow. Like I said this was just a 30 min creation.

Free Tweet-Spots!

2009-03-29T15:44:00.010-07:00

Here are some free Tweet-Spot backgrounds I made.

Download: Just click the image to open in new window, then "Save as" to your computer. NOTE: make sure the image is opened to its full size before saving.

Upload to Twitter: Login to your account, go to Settings, click on the Design tab, Click on "Change Background Image", then Click on the Browse button and find the image file you saved to your computer. Be sure to click the " save changes" button at the bottom.

Next, find my www.sensoriadesign.blogspot.com watermark, near it will be a code. That code is the the code you need to put in to set the rest of the background color. In twitter go to the design tab again, you will see a button that says "Change design colors", click it. On the background color, put the code number given on the tweet spot there. Be sure to save your changes.

ENJOY!

Digital Art/ Digital Design. Real or not? Is there a difference?

2009-03-26T08:48:00.005-07:00

Just posing a thought. Why is graphic design considered "everything else"?

I am now understanding why people have such a low view of people like me after reading this article .

Sometimes I feel that digital artists/designers get slided and underminded because of their medium. And the fact that our venue tends to get shoved in the miscellaneous category kinda makes it seem we're invalid.

Ive read on the net a few times that basically digital graphics doesn't take talent and that we over charge for what we do.

Is that what you think? Really I'm curious. Not that I personally believe my time and energy is worth any less than any person. Or I'm worth as much as the sludge that has accumulated in a "real artist" cleaning cup.

There are many digital artists that have MAJOR talent out there that don't ever pick up a "real" brush. Just their Wacom pen.

One creates art, even if it is just an element, as a whole, then turn it into a design, that is when its not art anymore? Just a degraded version of its former self?

Thought art, in any form, is an expression that invokes ones emotions and senses.

Is it true that if it is not up on a wall, it is not art? Fine then, ill print it out from my inkjet and tack it to my wall. Now its art! lol.

Sisterhood Award!

2009-03-16T11:31:00.003-07:00

I feel totally grateful and blessed to have received this award. After all its my FIRST one.

This nomination was given to me by Pampered Papier .

Thank you Crystal!!!

Crystal does beautiful paper based crafts and sells them on her Etsy shop. Her note cards are simply adorable and make great gifts for family and friends.

Now I get to share the award with other great blogs.

This is how it works:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 5 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

My nominees are:
Firefly Photo Jewelry
Christians Criminals and Chickens

Kid n Around Creations
Atomic Tea Party
Akane Design

2009-03-13T12:42:00.003-07:00

Well well well. See what I have gone and done? LOL.

Spring is in the air here in Arizona and I wanted to reflect it in my blog with some bright and cheery graphics!

I love the colors in watermelons. Just something soothing about the combination.

Blogger Templates.

2009-03-11T08:07:00.004-07:00

Adding more samples of blogger and other packages I can do.

Come take a look!

Sample Blog 1
Sample Blog 2
Sample Blog 3 SOLD! Come take a look at my new home.

New products added!

2009-03-09T20:50:00.003-07:00

In order to keep up with the ever growing demand of personal graphics, I have decided to now provide custom Blogger layouts and business cards to my arsenal.

Come take a look at my latest cards!

As always, I still offer totally customized designs to your specification. Just convo me through my Etsy account or through here. I will be more than happy to work with you on branding your business or just making your blog, twitter, signature, uniquely yours.

Custom Blog Layout!! Come See!!!

2009-03-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud!! Come check out my new blogger layout.

HTML / CSS coding is relatively new to me. I have been trying to learn it on my own on and off for the past year. I'm getting the hang of it, slowly but surely.

Im hoping to add this to my list of new talents. In the mean time. Ill keep on truckn' with my Etsy items and keeping up with the kids.

God bless.
Dawn

New Etsy Layouts!

2009-03-05T06:14:00.004-07:00

My goal this week is to make 10 new Etsy sets. So far Im at six, so not too bad.

Im doing pretty good finding styles are becoming more diverse. I want to showcase the different varieties of styles I can create. I can do cutesy to grundge, colorful to a simple b/w. I dont quite have a the size of stock I want yet, but its growing fast!

Pulling hair out!

2009-03-03T07:02:00.001-07:00

One word....kids!!!! ARGH!!!!

ETSY PROMO- WORD HUNT!

2009-02-27T10:49:00.007-07:00

Here is the link to the original PROMO.

Hey there peeps! No Im not talking too the ones you eat. LOL. Im talking to you my fellow Estsians!

Are you in need of a new banner, avatar, and reserve tag? Want one for FREE???????

Well Ive got a special promotion going on in my shop. Its a WORD HUNT! Kind of like an egg hunt, but with a word.

♥Here's the rules♥

In my store and on my blog I have hidden a combination of 6 letters that spell a word. (their not hard to spot really, its a graphic...and the word is an easy one) Three are in my blog posts, and three are on the pictures of items in my Etsy store.

The first two people to CONVO me with the correct word AND the Title of location of each letter was found wins a custom made to your specification a basic Etsy set. Which includes one Etsy banner, one avatar, and one reserved tag.

You game?

2/28/09 Hint 1: Everyone makes mistakes. *blush* Good golly.

♥♥♥ We have winner #1!!! Congrats to PamperedPapier! Love your products! Everyone come check it out her store! and her blog ♥♥♥

♦♦♦ We have winner #2!!! Congrats to ZappyTurtle! She makes beautiful creations from recycled materials. Check out her store. ♦♦♦

Thanks for everyone who played. See my original etsy post for the answers.

So what ya think?

2009-02-27T08:35:00.003-07:00

Gave myself a more cohesive layout that flows with my Etsy account. Yea or nay?

After looking at it for so long Im not sure if I like it or not any more.. lol.

He'll live, I won't

2009-02-25T22:57:00.002-07:00

Its amazing how many seasons in life your kids go through.

My oldest is soon going to be 14 in just two months and starting high school this fall. It just seemed like last year I was taking him to his first day in kindergarten and now here it is, the road to adulthood. That fork in the road is coming up on me way to quick.

But along with this wondrous age known as "puberty", comes ME learning patients, understanding, unconditional love, and how to walk out of a room before I'm going to kill him. (figuratively of course).

Steven never use to be the one to get in trouble with us. Now don't get me wrong. He is a saint according to everyone else. His friends always razz him because their parents keep saying "Why cant you be like Steven?". Believe me people, we know him as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

He had his first taste of a 3 day groundation to his room after a family altercation in Walmart. I think it was harder on me not to include him in all the fun stuff we were doing over the three day weekend.

It breaks my heart for him not to join in. But I didn't budge. He begged, pleaded, tried to make countless "deals" with me. I stood firm. ( I think that was a shocker to him. I'm usually horrible at following through)

My saying is that I know he will make it to adulthood, I just don't think I will see him when he gets there.

My hair is getting grayer, my face a lot more wrinkled, and the permanent 11 is etched between my brows now. Even through all the trials I go through with these four kids, Im dreading the day that I start not remembering exactly what it feels like to hold them at each season of their lives.

Anyway, God bless two my two readers.

Vector people.

2009-02-25T07:21:00.006-07:00

Well my ever changing interest in "how do they do that?" has bitten me.

I love the vector toons that some of the more trendy craft places have been using on their sites lately. So I thought I might give it a try and do my own in Adobe Illustrator 10.

Photoshop CS3 is my preferred program to use. Yes it can do vector images okay, just not great. Just like AI can do some raster image stuff, just not great. Include the fact that my AI is 4 verions behind and wont save or import anything anymore makes things a tad repeative. So as crude as my attempts are, I will share what I have done so far.

As you can see, their not the greatest. But their mine! There are a few decent tutorials on how to create some of this work. Just not a ton, so I have been winging it and learning as I go. Im really thinking that upgrading Illustrator may be in my near future. But for now AI10 will do. Just need to get some more sales going.

In a funk...

2009-02-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Why is it once you have an awesome creative roll going, sleep calls and when you wake up its gone? What the heck! Got to find some inspiration. Need to get the money coming in so I can buy hubby his gift for is birthday.

Web layouts.

2009-02-20T20:54:00.007-07:00

Worked on a web layout for once. Its been quite a while since I have. They are VERY time consuming. Granted it was just a sample layout for a cart, but its better than nothing. I think the logo took me the longest. Its not the greatest but it will do.

What ya think? Im going to get a varitey of layouts done. Howver, rignt now most of my clients have been geared to the small "homemade" business. I do want to mention that I took none of the pictures on this one. These were stock photos you can find from my favroite links here.

Takes the cake!

2009-02-18T07:10:00.010-07:00

Last night I stayed up a bit past my bedtime. But it was worth it! I made some cute graphics in Illustrator. My collection is growing by leaps and bounds. These graphics will soon be featured on my photocard layouts and banner graphics I make for people on Etsy store.

.

How many are too much?

2009-02-17T08:29:00.006-07:00

One of the storage burdens or perks of the graphic design software owner is the TONS and Tons ofextras you collect over the years. Like fonts, brushes, patterns, actions, etc.

My goal this week is to get at least one of those on my list organized and get a list of my favorite Font sites on here.

♦ Organizing all those Fonts, OH MY!

My fonts Ive kept up with for the most part, yes all 10K+ of them. I do my best to keep them in a separate FONTZ folder on an external hard drive I have.

I have an OLD version of a nifty program called BitStream Navigator. It came with CorelDraw 9 ( yes 9, told you it was old) as an extra. It finds ALL the fonts you have on any of your hard drives with a nifty search then all you have to do is drag and drop which fonts you want to be in your systems font folder, and it puts a copy of it in the fonts folder. It also gives you an nice little feature so one can click on the style they are looking for IE. True Type, Post script, and another button that will list particular types of font only, like symbols, decorative, San Serif, Script, and more. Pretty cool huh?

Have fonts you don't use anymore but don't want to trash? That's fine just drag them out of there through Bitstream and it un-copies them from your systems font folder. Corel still has this apparently with their updated CorelDraw version. www.corel.com I just wish they would sell this product separate.

Need more time

2009-02-16T13:43:00.007-07:00

Lately my days just don't seem to be long enough to get everything in.

Im really into trying to get my graphics in. However, between the kids and there "scheduled events", lessons, birthday parites, projects, and play dates. Oh, and general house chores, time for hubby, and sleep. I dont get "me time" without sacrificing one or more other things.

I'm really trying to make a go of my photo-card layouts & graphics too. I found some really cool things to use with Etsy. I found this site http://www.etsyhacks.com/ . Got my self some really cool scripts to use with Firefox now and I cant wait to use 'em! Im also trying to find FREE or CHEAP ways to promote my business. Found a few places but I need more items to choose from before I go all out. If I find some Ill be sure to list them here.

Well, got only 2 hours to get a few more layouts done before I have to get kid projects done.

God bless,

Sunday well spent? NOT!

2009-02-15T14:51:00.003-07:00

I really wanted to go to church today. I got up early, showered, just for everyone to pittle out. ARGH!!!!

So far Ive managed to do nothing but get this blog layout fixed today. So hard to try and make all these gadgets fit, and work aesthetically. Its so time taking, yet the fixes are fairly simple. Why?

Maybe I should work more on my css and coding. LOL.. like I have the time. My second graphic goal is to get two more layouts up on my Etsy account. I made all these cute and cool graphics just dying to find a place to call home on a layout.

Alls not lost in love and work.

2009-02-14T14:12:00.003-07:00

Well here it is a bit after 3pm and still in jammies~ Ya Saturdays!

Hubby is on shift today so no spending Valentines Day with him. He had to work Med transport yesterday too so we exchanged gifts early.

♥ Love ♥
I got him a 2lb box of See's candies, nuts & chews. Then wrote him a 4 page note consisting of 100 reasons why I love him. Sappy huh? He gave me my gift. My favorite flowers, a small box of chocolates (he was kind 'cause he knows I'm dieting) and a card. I still find giving to be a lot more rewarding than receiving. But I did love my gifts.

► Work ◄
I've been working non stop for 5 days now trying to hand design graphics to use forEtsy graphics and custom photocards. I still don't understand how I can get so tired just sitting on my bottom in front of a computer. I guess it must be all my creative brain energy making me tired. LOL.

My exciting accomplishement in regards to Etsy is that I sold my first set. Ya me! That has renewed a bit of confidence in me to keep making more. I understand they are not all going to sell that fast, so I need to keep adding to my shop to up the sales.

I started to force myself to use my yet outdated but still usable version 10 of Illustrator. What a pain. Im thinking the CS4 version HAS to be more user friendly than the version I have. However, I dont even want to download the trial version because I know I will just long for it after the trail expires, and this cash cow is out of milk.

Well off to the my slave driver.....my computer.

Random photos

2009-02-11T20:55:00.013-07:00

Since my graphics aren't selling fast enough for me to save loads of $ for Canon Rebel xsi and lenses, I decided Ill have to make due with my 5 year old point and shoot digital camera that has been through the trenches and back with kids and a husband using it. It should be okay right? lol.. Lets just say Im making due with what I have.

Ive been reading TONS of photo tutorials and articles to help me get better pictures with my current camera. Here are a few okay shots I managed to capture and do some Photoshop effects and editing with.

I took this one of my computer desk on any given morning. These are my best friends. Other than my husband. Computer, Wacom Intuos3, Dual monitors, and coffee. Ahhhh....

EDITED: I edited out the photos I posted here. They were taking up a TON of room. And besides, I have them in my gallery on top.

First Etsy inquiry?!?!

2009-02-11T20:51:00.003-07:00

Well I started a Esty shop back in December and well....I just got that far. LOL.

In January I decided to post some Etsy store graphics and see if I can get any new business that way. Not one, not one bite. Until today.

I dont want to jinks myself, but someone was asking if I could make additional ones for her blog. Silly question, OF COURSE I CAN!!!

So here I sit, waiting and refreshing my Etsy account. Am I just a bit to eager? Naaaaa.... :)

January Failer

2009-02-11T20:42:00.004-07:00

Well.. the 5lbs didn't happen. I just don't get it. Hike 2-3x a week, do toning/weight videos at home and I GAIN 2 lbs? What gives? I just don't have it in me to go through this torture any longer but I'm going to have to. Ugh.

Anyone have suggestions? I need to get past this.

My Pictures

2009-01-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

New Years Diet.....

2009-01-07T08:19:00.004-07:00

Yep. The three most famous words spoken the the wee days of a new year and I am now joining the ranks. 20 lbs by my birthday (May 8th) is my goal. That would put me 3 lbs less than my weight in HS. That is what having four kids and turning 35 did to me.

One thing I dont understand is why it is as soon as told myself " Im on a diet" I got ravenously hungry for EVERYTHING? I mean I dont over eat by much, its more that I dont eat the right stuff and exercise like I use to. But come on, this hungry for just the word diet? Ugh...

So...what to do...well I starting the Alli pills and diet plan today. I'm a bit scared to be totally honest. More like Im affraid to eat ANYTHING. Which isnt a good thing. Im also tossing in Weight Watchers point counting. 21 is my allotment for the week. I can say one thing about WW... I LOVE their fozen meals. Pefect for my lifestyle.

Then lets talk exercise. Hmmm... well this is the "plan" : Tuedays go ice skating for an hour. Wednesday go to the city gym with my mom and walk the track and do the weight machines. Thrusdays go on a 3.5 mile hike with my friends. There my exercise 3 times a week. If i get a new dvd player (mine broke) I will add one toning workout dvd in there somewhere. Now I just hope I can stick to it.

Then the rest of my time will be devoted to trying to get my business started so I can make some money and keeping my famiy taken care of.

I need to get my camera soon, my photography class is comming up, and I already have a few friends and family that want me to get one so I can do their pictures and stuff.

Well Ill blog more when I get a chance. To anyone who reads this, thank you and God bless.

Oops..

2009-01-04T20:58:00.008-07:00

Found this on a blog from a few months ago that I forgot about.. At least I had something to say then. lol.

Hello out there in internet land. Its me Dawn! Im starting this blog to record and update my journey in finding who I am again and what Dawn really enjoys. Im thinking I just may surprise myself with what I find. LOL.

I have been blessed with a hard working and supportive husband and four great kids. My kids range from an 8th grader to my youngest, who just went off to kindergarten this year. Now it leaves me home alone and trying to remember who Dawn is again. My life goals and ambitions have changed and seem to continue to change.

I am trying to hone into where God wants me to be. Were He can use me. My hearts calling has always seem to be in the arts in some form or fashion. Whether it was dancing, drawing, painting, taking pictures, crafting, or even writing a small poem; the need to express feelings and create moods has always been of interest in my life.

So my journey begins on going back to school. I have nothing more then a general HS diploma and a few basic college classes under my belt from my "pre-kid" days. Based on my past experiences, my natural knack for art , plus the need for something that can meld into the hecktic SAHM life, Im choosing to get into graphic/digital design and photography.

In August 2008 I enrolled at our local community college. Art100: Intro to computer graphic ar (16 weeks) , and Art 180AE Adobe Photoshop (8 weeks).

I finished my Art100 in only 7 weeks with 820/800 score. The Art180 class is still underway, Im doing good 99.8% so far, and four more weeks to go.

~random thought~I remember in the fourth grade we had to do a science fair project. I chose the subject of color and visual ques and how it can effect ones mood. I worked long and hard on my project, setting up test groups, recording their responses, and writing my findings. It was all done in vain that year. I failed the project because it was as my teacher Mrs. Greenburg put it "There is no science in how color or images effect people." Those words has echoed in my mind now for over 25 years. Why?

So this is Blogger huh?

2009-01-04T15:34:00.003-07:00

Well Ive seen a few friends use this site so I decided to try to set one up on my own. Pretty cool so far. So what do I write? lol. Silly question for those avid "blogger's" I'm sure. However, although I can talk about anything IRL, for some reason I get writers block as soon as I hit the first letter. Guess Ill think of something soon.

My random daily thoughts.

2008-03-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

As a creative person. I find myself in and out of deep, yet fleeting thoughts and questions through out a day. So I'm going to try and post my random thoughts I have during the daily drudge of a SAHM/Small Business Woman/Graphic Designer and any other of the countless categories I put myself in.

1. Incite: Reading about watermarks and the allowance (or should I say discouragement) of a digital designers signature on their creations.
•Questions: Why can't I add my signature mark on all my digital creations? People put sewn/stamped tags on the products they create. Traditional artists sign their works. Am I just the bottom of the barrel in the creative and imaginative field of arts & crafts that I don't deserve it?

Oh just wait. I'm sure my questions will get better. LOL

Q:Why are things like common sense, cause and effect, and accountability so hard for some to grasp?

Going fishing with my dad!

2008-03-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for tomorrow morning. I'm going for the first time since I was a Jr in high school, going fishing with my dad! I lived on the lake my entire childhood. Well, it kind of came with the territory of being an only child being raised by her dad. I hunt to. Well again when I was younger.

This is very special to me. Most of all because my fathers health is on the decline. He has been smoking since he was 5 years old. Yes I said 5. And now suffers from COPD, asthma, and many other breathing problems. In the past few years we almost lost him three times. The last time was in January.It was very scary for us and him. I thought this was the end. He was having a bad attack that he was fading in and out. Good news from the scare is this is the longest he has ever quit smoking.

Now Ive grown up with both my Dad and Step mom smoking and not till I left did I realize how awful it was. I don't smoke, but I sure must of smelled disgusting to my non-smoking classmates. lol.

I also suffer from severe asthma my entire life. I spent most of the first 5 years of my life in the hospital in oxygen tents. I still remember the blurry faces through the plastic and bars, and being poked a lot. I'm use to having attacks, my dad never had any breathing problems till lately.

Funny, its a subject I know WAY more about than my dad will ever. He is getting a crash course in what my entire life has been like and how scary it is. He apologized to me many times now, for not believing me how bad it feels to not breath.

Anyway......Dad has been feeling pretty good these past few weeks so I decided to ask him if Breanna, my 5 yr old, me, and him could take the old aluminum boat to the lake for a fishing date. This boat is the same boat I fished out of since I was about 8 yrs old. My oldest three have already had this privilege. But before my dad's time is up, I want my youngest daughter to experience fishing with Papa, and well... I want to too. Great now I'm tearing up.

Well, to close this up. I'm excited to wake up at 4am for once, pack a lunch to go sit in a hot aluminum boat and smell like stinky fish. Pray we catch some. LOL.

Surfn' Etsy Forums Tonight.

2008-03-10T23:05:00.000-07:00

I think Im the biggest thread killer on Etsy. I have like 30 post I have made and on more than half of them I either killed it, or I started it and no one answered! That's bad huh?

Oh and now I found Alchemy. LOL.. ya.... I put in my first bid and not 3 min later I was rejected. That was fun.

So for the heck of it I looked up banners in the Alchemy search. WHAT A JOKE! People really have no respect for the graphics world. Just a recap of what I can recall reading. One person wanting an entire website built, logo made and it has to be able to be printed or embroidered on clothing, Etsy store banner, avatar, tags, etc. All for like a penny! WTF and there were 6 bids. Are people that hard up for a penny.

Just try it. Cant find much for over $10 with out them wanting you to come to their house and paint it too.

I am sooo tempted to post. BUTT WIPER NEEDED. Will pay someone $.01 to come over and wipe my lily white bottom three times a day.

That is basically what these people are asking of Graphic Designers.

Okay my blog, my vent. If I cant be honest what can I be? Don't answer that. lol.