Preparing for the animation was fun, but I only had 2 days to actually animate it and I'm not too happy with the end result, but I learned alot so that I'm happy about. Enjoy.

EDIT: Many people seem to believe the scene where the farmer runs across the field is done traditionally, but that's not the case. It was done with the replacement technique. It's 5 separate cut-outs of the farmer I kept exchanging and taking the picture.

quip
pronunciation: \ˈkwip\
function: noun 

1 a: a clever usually taunting remark: gibe b: a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment 2: quibble, equivocation 3: something strange, droll, curious, or eccentric : oddity

paper-quip
all of the above as applied to the wild, wonderful world of paper. 

Paper-Quip 1

I like to think of myself as a paper maverick (sorry, I couldn’t resist). It began while I was a design student at Michigan State University. The last obstacle before graduation – Senior Seminar. Final project: put together a portfolio, and of course a resume.

As any good designer knows, the message is only as good as the paper it’s printed on (or something like that). With that in mind, I scoured the globe (slight exaggeration) for the perfect resume paper. And lucky me, I found it. And in Niles, Michigan no less.

Even way back when (1998), French Paper produced the most unique paper colors on the market. Which is why they’re a staple at bluedotpapershop.com (but I digress). My dream of a hot design job in Chicago, fame, fortune, fonts, all hinged on one thing – French Construction Fuse Green. The paper that would show the design world that there was a new kid in town and she was taking over the world, one sheet at a time.

If you’re familiar with French Paper you probably know Fuse Green; it’s still part of their Construction line. For those of you who don’t, picture a sour, icky, putrid olive green. But a beautiful putrid green. A strong putrid green. A putrid green that says “Hire me!”

Unfortunately that is not what my professor heard. To him it said, “I’m the father of five kids and I have seen this color one too many times.” My resume paper was speaking loud and clear, and to him it said  poop. Baby poop to be exact. I was taken aback. Surely he had more design sense than this! I passionately argued my point. He didn’t budge. I held firm (no pun intended). 

Despite the difference of opinion I sent my resume on French Construction Fuse Green paper, with a matching #10 envelope I might add. The result? Well, it didn’t stink. I received a ton of call backs and interviews, and just about everyone commented on my choice of paper– favorably. And yes, I landed that hot design job in Chicago (kind of).

And so it began. I took a stand that day. Even today bluedotpapershop.com is one of the few sites that carry Fuse Green. I may not sell a ton of it, but at least it’s always handy. You never know when you may have a project that calls for baby poop green paper. Or when you might need to update your resume.

LE

Woah! These pictures are sooooo great, aren't they? And I mean, mobiles are so cool! Plus, made with recycled vintage French magazines, I'm about to faint. lol

From royalbuffet, between $17 ans $25. There's no reason not to get one! :)

The bad news is that some folks who claim they are... aren't.

That is pretty evident by the current collapse of Wall Street. 

During my years in non-profit management (since 1989), I have followed the stock market peripherally because non-profits are really just businesses that are never sold.  We are run by a Board of Directors; we strive to meet goals; we need funding; we pay people; we buy things; sometimes we sell things; we serve the public; we maintain a bottom line.

Non-profit doesn't mean "no money." 

That being said, I am looking at the Wall Street meltdown daily and wondering several things:

Where is the bottom?  A few months ago, when the decline started, there was optimistic talk about "market corrections."  If it's still correcting, then it failed for the semester.

How long will this last?  Clark Howard, an Atlanta radio consumer talk show host, says he expects a 7 to 12 year recovery period.  The Mad Money guy on NBC was a little scarier in saying the same thing, encouraging people to take their money out of the stock market. 

Here's where the idiot part of this comes in:  I don't think the inflation of Wall Street was based on anything real.  It was paper profits.  Sooner or later, someone had to say, "I can see the Emporer's wee-wee."

America is no longer a manufacturing nation.  I believe that is going to make the comeback slow and difficult if not impossible for us.  When people look for tangible, stock futures do not fit the bill.

National Lampoon, a humor magazine, had an article years ago that included investment suggestions for a variety of situations.  In the most threatening scenario, they suggested investing in "canned goods and ammo."

My wife and I have talked about this.  We are going to shop for guns this weekend.  No shit.  I'm thinking of swinging by Sam's Club and getting a few cases of canned soup, too.

If you were looking for a solution or optimism, you're in the wrong place.  I'm not headed for the hills yet, but I am looking at the map for how to get there.

1. Choose your envelope.
Selecting a standard sized envelope is the first step in creating the perfect invitation. There’s nothing worse than designing a beautiful invitation, only to find it doesn’t fit in an envelope! Visit Paper 101 – Envelope Basics for more information on envelopes and to download our envelope size chart. It provides you with standard envelope and card sizes so you can be sure your measurements are correct.

2. Select the right paper.
Whether your event is formal, casual, whimsical or modern, you paper choices should reflect your idea or theme not only in color, but in texture and quality as well. Paper can be broken down into three (very) basic categories:

• Cardstock: Also referred to as cover, cardstock is a heavier weight paper, perfect for cards, programs or invitation backings. Despite their heavier weight most cardstock can still be printed on and can be easily folded or punched with the proper tools. The most common cardstock weight is 80# but it can come as heavy as 120#. Cardstock that is heavier than 100# may not be able to run through a home printer.
   
• Text: Also known as printer paper or laser paper, text weight paper is most commonly used for the pages inside a program, or for an overlay. It is thinner which makes it great for printing, but doesn’t have the thickness of a cardstock, meaning it’s not ideal for a project which require sturdiness.
  
  
• Vellum: Also known as translucent paper or tissue. Vellum is often used as an overlay, either to protect an invitation design, or as the invitation itself. Vellum is offered in many weights. If you plan to run vellum through your printer, we recommend 24# to 30#. It’s still translucent, but not so flimsy as to be difficult to work with.

For more information on paper types, visit Paper 101 – Which paper is right for me? For detailed info on paper weights and how they’re calculated visit Paper 101 - Understanding paper weights.

3. Use your paper efficiently.
Depending on the size of your invitation, you may be able to get 2-4 pieces out of one sheet of paper. Or you may be able to print your RSVP alongside your invite, etc. Maximizing your materials not only saves you money on supplies, but also saves on paper waste and printing. 

4. Consider your printing method.
Will you be printing on a home printer? Laser or ink jet? If you’re not having your invites professionally printed be sure that you’re choosing a paper that will work with your home printer, and will show the ink colors you wish to use. Though it seems like a no-brainer, printing black ink on Navy paper is not a good idea.

5. Make a sample.
Don’t assume your sketch is perfect. Double-check your measurements. Order samples if you have time and do a practice run. This will save you time in the long run and ensure you absolutely love the finished piece. Believe me, even professional designers have been known to be off a 1/4 inch. It’s best to discover your errors before you’ve made 200 invitations!

6. Mail it!
Take your invite to the post office. Make sure it does not require extra postage or is too think for their postal equipment. Size, weight and thickness all effect postage costs. And remember, square envelopes always require more postage. If you’ve created something intricate, or are concerned about mailing, send one to yourself to be sure it holds up. Visit Paper 101 - Postage Basics for more info on mailing.

7. Make extras.
There’s nothing worse than designing a masterpiece and not having a sample for yourself. Believe me, I know! Always buy enough supplies to have a few extras,  not only for unexpected guests, but for your scrapbook or photos. You’ll thank me later.

This list could go on and on, but it’s a start! For more tips and invitation samples, visit bluedotpapershop.com  and click on Paper 101 or Ideas.

If you have followed step 1 outlined in my last post, chances are you have a lot of stuff to deal with. When I go off the GTD system, my desk drawers become bottomless pits where I deposit just about anything, and then completely forget about it. I am sure all of us have cleared desks and drawers this way many a time. We are suddenly faced with all this surplus information which needs to be processed. Looking at a huge pile in front of you is stressful, so take a deep breath to start with! Next, pick up one item at a time from your in-basket, and start to process. It is important to deal with each item in the tray one at a time, and not put the item back until it has been processed. Outlined below are steps I follow to process my in-tray.

Step 1: I ask myself.... "What action does this particular item require?". It could require a form of action or, none at all.

Step 2a: If the item requires action, I determine what level of action is required. There are three possible options at this point:

i) Do it: If the item can be completed in 2 minutes or less then I get to it immediately. For example, if the first item on the tray is an approval letter which requires my signature, I sign it, and have it sent to the appropriate person.This item could also be responding to an email, or confirming attendance at a party. Anything which takes a short period of time to complete.

ii) Delegate it: If the item requires another person to take action on it, I mark it, and have it sent to the concerned individual. For example, if the item is a contract my partner needs to comment on, I have it sent over to him.

iii) Defer it: If the item cannot be processed immediately but requires action in the near future, I mark it, and place it on my calender. For example, if the item is a post-it note reminding me to call a particular customer, and today being Saturday, I will put an action item on my calender to call the individual on Monday morning.

Step 2b: if the item does not require any action, there are then a couple of easy ways to deal with it.

i) Trash it: If the item in your tray is junk mail, it should go straight into the trash bin. Anything which does not have some value must be trashed.

ii) Incubate: If the item is an invitation to a wedding, which is to take place in a months time, and you are uncertain of your travel schedule, put it away in a file to review after a designated period of time. Many items will require you to think about stuff, and such a file is a great place to organize them.

iii) Reference: If the item is a competitor's brochure, I would keep it as reference material. It is important that your reference material is well marked and easily retrievable. Much of the time we archive stuff and never see it again. Mark your files carefully, and keep them within reach at all times.

This may all seem excessive when you first look at it, however, with a little bit of practice all these decisions take place almost instantly. We know instinctively what we need to do with each item, since much of it may have been bothering you for some time. Getting into the habit of keeping your in-basket at a manageable level at all times can greatly improve the quality of life. It is important that you process this tray regularly. Once we have processed all the information, we can move to the next stage, which is, organizing all this information.

]]> http://redart.wordpress.com/?p=151 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:02:00 +0000 abearishere http://redart.nl.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/trade-x/

Save on office supplies, furniture, technology, and more with Office Depot discounts and coupon codes from Value4Shopping.com. Receive discounts on a broad variety of products, including digital cameras, computers and peripherals, desk accessories, office furnishings, calendars and planners, fax machines, color copiers, and school supplies. Value4shopping is your number-one source for Office Depot coupons and deals.

Download the paper, here.

oh. okay.

Now to share another item I sent to Kat for her birthday: an eco-friendly (recycled), homemade stationery and envelope set!

First I took an 11x17 piece of thin cardboard (recycled from the trash at work--thank you Sheasy!) and folded it in half. Glue a cut-out POW! saved from some box or other, and you automatically have a stationery folder:

Next I created interior pockets out of purple cardstock, trimmed with zig-zag scissors to hold the goodies:

The envelopes (on the left) are made from thick magazine covers and ads since that gives them more oomph when going through the glorious mail system. Here are 3 of them:

I ran a strip of mono-adhesive along the flaps and left the backing paper on so all she has to do is pull that off to seal them. It wasn't too hard to figure out the dimensions and I have a PDF coming soon that explains how I make my envelopes!

The stationery itself consisted of adding magazine cut-outs of random objects to the corners of the paper:

As for the stamp in the upper right corner, I carved that out of some rubber (?) that I had from high school. [I wrote a quick set of instructions for making your own here.] And since I won't have reason to stamp Kat's name on other items regularly I figured I would toss that into the gift package with the new purple stamp pad:

If anyone out there makes a reclaimed stationery set, be sure to leave a link in the comments.

Now, stay tuned for the napkin-corset tutorial tomorrow!

Dear Reader,

Sorry to have gone missing for a spell. I was working on a very special project that didn't involve felt, acorns or seqins. The mixed media here involved ten fingers, ten toes, and a wee button nose. And that's just for the first one! You see, I am a new mom to boy/girl twins named Claire and Lachlan.

Claire and Lachlan, a couple weeks old

What does this mean for my crafting? In the short term, very little crafting is getting done. Velvet acorns are in progress and available on etsy, and I am able to fill acorn necklace orders. Custom Christmas stockings won't be available this year, and frankly I wish I were further along on the stockings for the kids. So far, the felt has been chosen. Lachlan's will be off-white, like my childhood stocking, and Claire's an antique pink. Now I just need to distill all the great things from childhood Christmases into the design of two stockings. More on this later.

The birth announcement was made by the talent at Parcel.

Lovely cultural details on this invitation suite by CECI New York... The colors, patterns and motifs set the perfect tone for what was undoubtedly a gorgeous, festive and fun wedding in Mexico!

Here is a common scenario in which I have fallen off my GTD schedule. My inbox has hundreds of emails which need to be sorted and processed, I am moving from one project to the next without getting anything accomplished, books are left unread half way through, my desk is cluttered with to-do lists and post-it notes, and overall, things are just not getting done. As an entrepreneur every day spent in such chaos is a day wasted. Time flies by, and I am left wondering when the day started and when it ended. According to David Allen, this scenario is a result of having too many 'Open Loops' in our brain. An open loop signifies thoughts in our brain which need closure. When these loops are left open for extended periods of time, we tend to procrastinate and get stressed out over all the things that need to get done. If you are carrying too many open loops presently, read the steps below to start clearing them out.

Step 1: Clear your Workspace: Our desks are where we spend the better part of our working day, they reflect our state of our mind. A messy desk serves as a reminder to our brain, of all the open loops we are carrying. At one moment we may be working on an important report, suddenly our eye catches an unpaid utility bill. Our focus suddenly switches to the bill, and we begin worrying about getting the payment in before the due date. Beneath the bill, we notice a letter for a seminar we needed to register for yesterday, we have missed the deadline to sign up. This process goes on and on until we sit down and clear our desk of all, but the necessary items which need to be on it.

Step 2: Clear your Computer: Somehow, desktop screens seem to collect a lot of stuff very quickly. Downloaded files, new documents, attachments and a host of other new creations. These serve as constant reminders of open loops and can be very distracting. Create folders, set dates and time to clear them as soon as possible. Next, move to your email box and begin dealing with all unanswered emails, delete those which do not need a response and archive important emails to designated folders for easy retrieval.

Step 3: Clear your Mind: This is one my favorite exercises. When I cannot bear the open loops any more, I take a piece of paper and start putting down my thoughts onto the sheet of paper. This can literally cover anything which is bothering me. For example, it could be, buy a box of chocolates, call the cable repair man, chart out a timeline for the new project, make a Doctor's appointment, make reservations for saturday night dinner, or, start doing some charity work. This is one of the most therapeutic things you can do for yourself and putting it all down feels really good.

During these steps many documents and files need to be handled. Set up a basic 'in' and 'out' tray to manage all the data, and set dates and time to process all the information which has been gathered. I also use basic file folders for specific information, and I review those folders on a periodic basis. There is no point in collecting all this data, thoughts and action points, without setting up a system to manage your collection properly. Before you begin the collection process have a couple of fresh envelopes, file folders, labelers and, the trash bin nearby.

A Chinese schoolteacher is preparing to cross the 112 mile-wide Taiwan Straits in a paper boat. "Not only is the whole boat made of paper, but the glue is an organic material - cooked flour soup," he told the Straits Guidance Daily.

Zhu says his boat will be nearly 6ft long, the bottom will be 2ins thick and it will be strong enough to carry two people.

He first tested a paper boat in August 2005, sailing on the Mingjiang River for 50 miles in 11 hours, from Meishan city to Leshan city.

Bee rolled over today for the first time.  I didn't witness it, but when I went to get her after her nap, she was smiling as always, but on her back.

But money is so troublesome. It is one of the top reasons people divorce-disagreements over money. People kill over it. They fight over it. They lend, borrow, steal, even laundry money. Paper? Remember! What is it worth? Is it worth the number on it, no it is worth so much more, or so we/they think. (It doesn't seem fair to make a group of "them" when it is "us" too, who are "we" and "they" anyway? For another time...). What is money to you? In someways it is just a forced way of acquiescing to the standards and patterns of this world. Money buys things, and even a simpleton knows you need food water and shelter to live, and all those cost money for the most part (under most circumstances). So we follow in line with the world, we work (as is good) and make money, but it is what it is worth to us that matters.

Money to me has always just been there. A presence that I know I must maintain to be able to make payments, cover food and amenities but I also, despite being conscientious about my spending, I do not fear to use it when I need it or find a place to use it (house, car...). It doesn't run my life, nor define me. You may look at me and think I have money, or judge me on if I do or don't, my family, or my friends, but I don't really care. I don't need the nicest car, I just need it to work. I don't need the biggest house, those are over the top, I just need one to reside in by small means.

I challenge you to consider money differently. For one of the first times in my life, I have hit a point of financial trouble. I guess we all have with the market this way. Not surprising, many of the "financial hits" are of my own doing/fault. Although there is something nice about knowing there is no one else to blame, it doesn't ease the anxiety that I thought I had overcome as I realize the amount of money that is owed and lost. It is normal to want financial security, we can get by with less, especially knowing more is coming (pay checks) but it will be those few days when you pull up your accounts and see a total so low you know if it didn't change you wouldn't survive very long. I guess that is where we trust in God to take care of us. There are always other options in desperation, there is a bright side, there is a lesson here. Certainly we should not withhold money where it is due, but pay those we owe as is possible.

It says in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." Today reminds me that I do conform, as I worry about my financial security and the scary road of depleting my accounts. But I don't want to conform. My life is not worth the money in it. I am not defined by what it is to me. Don't take an extremist view here and think that just because I quoted the Bible and I am talking about money means that I think that I should sell everything and live off nothing. It's not Biblical. Reply for more information if you want that. I know money is a part of this world, it is what buys us things, God blesses some with lots and others with little, but in the end it isn't ours. Use it wisely and use it well. There is nothing wrong with money, it is just paper, backed by gold, after all, it is the heart that surrounds it.

What is your heart about money? Is it causing you to lose sleep? Or shed a few tears? It is tonight for me. Does that mean it defines me? Maybe. It just shows how hard it is to let go of it, I certainly enjoyed my financial security, and will try to enjoy this chapter with low security, but trust there is a plan and a lesson and a reason. My real security is not in money, banks, but is in the Lord. Today, I will work hard at my job and try my best. Today I will forgive myself for my love of money, recognize the challenge, and confidently move on.