iDesignDreams Custom Photo Cards

Friday Finds... iDesignDreams


Interview # 52
With Christmas now just around the corner, you may be considering the perfect greeting to send to your loved ones that has that little bit something extra. I have featured some brilliant cardmakers on my blog before and today is no exception, iDesignDreams offers fantastic designs throughout the store and offers a great personal quality to the cards for the ability to customize each step in the process of ordering. Not only do you have the option to have your card file available to print at home, but you can ask to have the design professionally printed which you can be invoiced for. I mentioned the Christmas holiday approaching of course, yet there are other options available to you such as birth announcements, and save the date. I think if you want to find the perfect digital printable cards this year that use your images then a visit to iDesignDreams is a must. Check out their interview for today!

(Just click the images to go direct to the listings)

-- Tell me a bit about you! (Name, Age, Location, and give us a random fact whilst you're at it.) My name is Jamie Dennis (age 24) and I live in Greeley, CO (about an hour north of Denver, CO). I also happen to be a vegetarian of two years!




-- What is your business about then? As of now, I make custom holiday photo cards that are modern and fresh. Because I just opened up shop and it so happened to be right around the holidays, that was my main focus. Soon, I will be designing photo baby announcements, save the date cards, birthday party invitations and more! You won't find any generic photo cards here!


-- How did Etsy come into your life? I discovered Etsy awhile ago when doing some personal shopping. I never thought I would actually become a seller. When I decided to start designing custom photo cards to sell, I remembered Etsy and thought it matched well with my personality and style.



-- Are you working a day job too? Yup! I work as a full-time Graphic Designer in the corporate world and have been for almost 5 years now, even during the time I was still in college getting my Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design.


-- How long has the artist in you been 'unleashed' for? Corporately, quite some time as I've mentioned. I've always done wedding invitations, my own holiday cards, logo design, etc on the side. It wasn't until a couple months ago that I decided I might actually be able to design photo cards to fit other people's personalities and styles as well. So, I started designing some cards here and there, as I continued and ideas came easy to me, I decided that maybe I had a "nack" for designing photo cards and then I just went for it, listing them on Etsy!



-- What has been the inspiration behind your business? Never being able to find anything online that fit what I was looking for. Being a designer, it's hard to buy a photo card someone else has created without NOT wanting to change something about it. It's just engrained in us designers. :) I also find it freeing to be able to design outside the corporate world, without having limitations or rules to follow or someone else to have final say. Now, that final says is ME!


-- If you could describe your products in three words, what would you tell me? Beautiful. Modern. Fresh.


-- What would an average working day for you be like from dawn til dusk? Stroll into office at my full-time day job at 8:00pm and get off at 5:00pm. Go to CrossFit (gym) right after work, get home around 7:00pm. Cook dinner for the hubs and I. Shower. At 8:00, if I'm lucky and the hubs isn't using the computer, design a couple photo cards and list on Etsy. Then, it's time to "take care" of my social networking accounts on Facebook and Twitter and try to maintain a marketing presence. Crash around say 11:30pm, any later and I'm worthless the next day. :)




-- What's your favourite material and techniques to work with? I absolutely love paper and printed "things." However, because I only design and sell digital photo cards, the only material I use is my computer. I design in Illustrator and edit photos in Photoshop.


-- What is your ideal vision for the future for you and your work? I'd like to have a full line of holiday cards, baby announcements, save the date cards, birthday party invitations and possibly even creating some "frameable" artwork as a spin-off of the card designs. For instance, creating baby announcement posters for a baby room using the baby's name, date of birth, weight, height, etc that can either match the announcement card or the room decor. Same thing for the save the date cards, etc. So many ideas and only so much time; it's good that the possibilities are literally endless. I'd like to have a consistent customer base, creating a "hub" if you will for all things photo cards that customers look at first before going anywhere else.


-- Away from work, what do you like to do for fun or to wind down? My husband and I are addicted to CrossFit. You can find us there most nights after work and on the weekends. We also love to play outdoors; snowboard, bike, run and hike. We do live in Colorado after all. We attend a lot of concerts and movies and are always trying out new Vegetarian places in Colorado. We love to travel (or should I say I love to travel and take the hubs with me) and are into modern home decor (go figure, right)? :) We are blessed to have great families, friends and a wonderful life!




-- What are you likely to search for on Etsy? Unique clothing, design inspiration, modern wall art and the next new thing!


-- Any last words? Of course, I have a Facebook and Twitter account that I'm on regularly. Like me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greeley-CO/I-Design-Dreams/140885742625843 Follow me on Twitter @i_Design_Dreams You can find me on there promoting my products, keeping you up to date with the newest designs and interacting with my followers. I try to keep the self-promotion contained and help promote other unique finds on Etsy as well.

And of course, check out my Etsy shop. www.iDesignDreams.etsy.com

Duty Calls...

Duty Calls...

My son so lovingly has been a night owl for the past few days, keeping me up and making me a right ol' sleepy head. But he's so adorable LOL! Yesterday I had a pretty hectic day, but if it wasn't for my little boy I think I would have burnt out. A trip to the doctors, the library and my mums house, amongst keeping him entertained and working where I could really is taking it's toll on me today, but I had so much fun with him, I honestly don't mind! You hear about stuff in the news all the time about how some parents are terribly cruel to their children, and you wonder just how and why some can have no compassion and be so downright lazy and irresposible. It's not like signing your life away to have kids. To me it's only the beginning! Having children as difficult as it can be sometimes to keep your head in check, and going through the ups and downs of their moods!, it's the most fulfilling and joyful experience a person could ever have in their lifetime! I guess some people have been totally manipulated by the stealth control mechanisms in alsorts of places setting the "exemplary" standard and think they are missing out if they don't poison their bodys, have a party-like social life or god forbid switch off their TV's and computer games to spend quality time with those are supposed to mean the most to them. I feel quite fortunate actually to have the mindset that I do about my life and my son. I only wish the media had something worth sharing on a daily basis to influence people in more positive ways! I mean come on it IS the media that blatently gives people ideas of what to think about events in the world. And everyone just takes it on board. We all have choices to make, as we were born with free will and our potential is being shadowed by this MASS of influence that unfortunately in most cases takes it's toll on the most influential of people... and then you get miserable stories like the one's I'm moaning about. Not just about children but anything! It's quite depressing actually. I think there's a time and a place for things like that... I think mums that are devoted to their kids for a change should be applauded and not penalised. It's something I find an incredible read, to see that the news in the UK ACTUALLY critisises mums that do their job and do it well. Disgusting. I think mums with careers do a great job too, but in this country the media try and make out like mums who stay at home are no more than scrounging scum, when I have NEVER known anyone in my position to sit begging in my life! I guess it's the undevoted parents that give the bad name, but this is all part of the stereotype the media glorifies for all of the world's population to sit, read and believe. I'd like some good news about happy families for a change! Well I'm off to have some fun with my lil man now!

moonangelnay x

Twitch Twitch...

New Listings...Click on any image to take you direct to it's listing on Etsy.com

Twitch Twitch...

Let's just start with a short summary... ARRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHH!

LOL!

Seriously, you have never known anything more annoying than an unexplained twitch in your eyelid, when it comes to abnormal bodily functions that is. Some would call me extreme but there have been occassions over the past couple of days where my level of irritation has literally made me want to tear it off! Not the best of looks, and probably the one reason that's stopped me from testing temptation... LOL. Ok I wouldn't disfigure my face, EVER, but I have found it practically impossible to focus on anything BUT my eyelid twitching away like there's no tomorrow.



Now, the internet being such a fabulous place for random information, had plenty on the subject of this burden I have been blessed with *waves fist at universe*, however in terms of solutions it seems I'm doomed! It gave it some interesting names like myokymia or (i like this one) Blepharospasm, which both simply translate as "eye twitch". To me those just sound like an excuse for people to go around giving fancy names to make it sound harrowing for something that's apparently as common as a cup of tea. Like you really want to appear like you're diseased??? I guess it's one for hypochondriacs, but I'm someone who likes to avoid that illness lark as I hate having it plague me to the point of it distracting my life! I don't do pats on the heads I just like to get on, so to find that SLEEP and NO CAFFINE (and botox??? LOL) may help my problem I was like... ok... I'll make an effort, which I have! But to no avail. Then I found out that it can go on for weeks... or even worse, can have UNKNOWN causes...



So using initiative I've thought to myself, "AAAAH! I shall beat it at it's game and stick needles in the bugger, where's my nearest acupuncture therapist!?", but then remembered the fact that this is my EYE, and as much as needles have helped the other half's eye recently, I don't know if I want a person, even with qualifications seeping out of their ears to stick needles in my eyelid. The idea makes me shudder. My only other option is to wait for it to go away on it's own... dum de dum... twitch... twitch.



I have tried desperate measures at home. Like wearing an eye patch. YAR! My son keeps calling me Captain DJ, although I doubt I look as cool and found that it's tamed it slightly. Probably as my eye is forced shut, but it's making it hella difficult to do anything now. It's almost as if my hearing on one side is amplified on top of the temporary blindness which has left me more accident prone than my son in his early walking days. At least it's entertaining!



Anyway I've managed to get some bits done this week. I'm featured in an Artist Exposed treasury by Vicki Diane which rocks! Found out just today that I'm in another treasury actually! So that's cheered me up. I have my own treasury R a w . E l e c t r i c going, plus new updates in store. I'm looking for next weeks Monday Magic treasury features! Send me your green grass related items and I may just pop you in it! (Under 20 sales only please!) Other than that I'm excited about introducing my first Friday Finds interview tomorrow. Who do I have lined up? Wait and see :)




moonangelnay xxx

Sunday - Coffee And Cake!

New And Relisted Listings on Etsy - Click an image to visit the corresponding listing

Another late one I'm afraid! More than likely on time for most of you across the water, but here in the UK it is now 2.20pm and so far today all I have achieved is a scan of a fake wall for my other half, addictive checking of my newest Treasury and mouldy courgette clippings... Although I did get an amazing photo of a bizarre bug earlier. He's going into my queue of edits... All in all it's been a slow day of a slowing mother. Seem to be getting increasingly tireder as the minutes whip by me. Nevertheless I have an article to write! Today we'll discuss the well known social networking site, http://twitter.com/.

Networking PART 2 - Twitter If any of you have braved this leap in the world of marketing, I think I'll have a lot of nodding heads when I say my first encounter of the networking site almost floored me with fear. I'm sure my first tweets were full of clumsy related banter of the sort actually... I think the most intimidating thing about Twitter isn't so much what the hell you need to do to make it work, but the idea of whether the millions of people at your disposal would give you any consideration. I'm sure you will have discovered as a newbie, not many people will begin to follow you if you haven't mastered the new power in your hands! I have to say though it's pretty easy to work out in terms of tweeting. Once you're set up, you can visit the homepage to "tweet" to your hearts content, as long as the bites of your mind are 140 characters in length. You are able to check personalised messages layed out on the right of the page, which also have this character limitation, and you can also find out who is tweeting about you and what they've said by visiting the @"yourtwittername" link above your messages. To view only your tweets, just click on your profile at the top navigation, and to view your followers tweets, just go back to the home link. Easy as pie.

But how to make yourself known? Well the trick really isn't to find whomever you feel like in the world, but to target your audience via relevent keywords. There are loads of third party style sites that run these "myspace" - like trains for people to jump on and gain followers. This works... you get loads of followers via these methods don't get me wrong! but to be fair this isn't good if you expect all of your new follower gain to share an interest in crocheted teapot covers, or baby hats; whatever it is you're trying to give some attention... Not everyone on these trains share the same interests, and may only want to have a large follower gain, and won't necessarily follow you back if you follow them (try and keep your follower ratio between 1:1 and 1.2:1 - following to followers. It'll keep things consistant for you in terms of Twitter follows).

However, you have fabulous sites like http://twibes.com/ which connects to your Twitter account and allows you to join "target" groups for you to post your specific tweets to people that will definitely have an interest in your stuff. For example, I am part of the photography and Etsy groups and I regularly post tweets on there when i update my store, knowing that both Etsy users and photography enthusiasts will find them and more than likely look at them. Compared to just any old person. The beauty about Twibes is you can also allow your tweets to go through Twitter aswell so your tweets will blast themselves into 2 venues, which is more exposure at the end of the day. Bonus. I'd recommend everyone to join it if you're serious about using Twitter.

On Twitter itself, the best way for you to get people to notice you like I say is to make sure your tweets include relevent keywords and if you can, link to your store, or items etc. If users search for particular keywords that you've used, you can bet your tweet will pop up infront of them if the timing is right, and if you have a link they'll check it out. Baring in mind that loads of people will use your keyword too so just like Etsy, it's a case of being bumped down the pile as time goes on. If you're lucky and people like your tweets, they will more than likely "retweet" (RT) your post which means they're offering further exposure of your tweet. That is simply forwarding your tweet with RT @"yourtwittername" at the start of it (like with me - @moonangelnay would direct the tweet at me, like emailing in a way), so people know who is being retweeted and the person being retweeted will be aware of your gesture :) An example that i've used today is.

"check out the beautiful new fine #art and #abstract photo prints on my #etsy store! http://bit.ly/fyZIt"

So anyone checking out any words in my tweet will probably come across it and may or may not follow me, check my links etc... If they retweet it on their own profile it'll look like this

"RT @moonangelnay check out the beautiful new fine #art and #abstract photo prints on my #etsy store! http://bit.ly/fyZIt"

So keywords! make them relevant to what you're about! Now another great thing you'll notice on twitter are the use of # or hashtags. This is a popular way to catagorise trends to follow. You'll notice my example tweet has a few. Notice how they are very specific. #Art, #Abstract, #Etsy... if I had more room I could have included #Prints and #Photo but that's excessive. There are tonnes of hashtag trending topics. I wouldn't go overboard with it though. There is an invisible etiquette to hashtag use. I had someone complain to me once that it's only supposed to be used to promote other people, yet many people say that it can be used how you like and you see it being used in alsorts of ways all over twitter. So far I havent come across anything that suggests rules for it, considering that I don't think twitter made up the idea. I think it's a to each their own thing. But it's nothing to be afraid of. When it comes down to it, hashtags are very good at narrowing down trends to catagories that many people will use or search for and as long as you dont go nuts with it, it can work with your tweets nicely. If you don't like it, don't use them. I have noticed that regardless of the hashtag, your keywords will fall within the trending topics anyway.

Some people get infuriated at the 140 character rule when it comes to wanting to share links. It's easily overcome by sites that offer link shortening. http://bit.ly/ is my favourite as like Twibes, it can link to your Twitter directly and you can post straight from it. You can also monitor your links and post them again if you want, without having to go through the process of typing or copying and pasting the original link again. You'll notice an example of a bit.ly shortened link in my example tweet. If you follow it, it leads you straight to my Etsy store, as promised in the tweet. Perfect.

So that's all there is to it really. Other than that i'd suggest posting your twitter links around to share in the Etsy forums, link to it (even via a widget) on all of your pages, blogs, social network profiles etc, and make sure you keep your tweets interesting! Don't always go on about your work. You're artists, not machines! Just like in the blogging world you can meet great people on Twitter, and being personal and tweeting about everyday things, or interesting things you have found, debates, news etc will keep lots of people keen on what you have to say!

OK! So thats that. Wow its 3.40pm where I am now. I thought I'd spend longer on this but I'm glad I can get it out now for everyone! Don't forget to Google Connect with me, to keep updated on my blog, and if you're on twitter, come by and follow me on mine! Just search for @moonangelnay or click here http://twitter.com/moonangelnay.

I look forward to writing my next networking article. Don't forget tomorrow is my first treasury like feature for my blog! Monday Magic! Otherwise come back next Sunday for part 3 of Sunday Coffee And Cake!

moonangelnay xxx

Kettle And Me

I had a bit of fun earlier with a kettle and my camera whilst the boys were out and figured it was internet worthy. What could I possibly do with my camera and a kettle? (ho!) To be honest I don't even know what sparked the idea, but after the morning coffee I suddenly felt inspired to pull faces and take pictures... i love the way its distorted my head in all the pictures. Either completely over or undersized lol!!! Yeah I know I can be pretty basic! enjoy!

"Polaroid picture frames"

Four poladroid style frame templates. Always usefull I think.
Author unknown. Only for personal use.
1 AI : 1,5 MB

Download

Pretty In Pink

Whilst I am updating a few photography listings, I thought I would quickly post a new mandala I incorporated into the shop earlier this evening.

So far I have to say it's my favourite one. Stunningly pink and strikingly beautiful. It's one my other half couldn't help but notice upon passing me on his way to the kitchen after waking up from his night shift. I'm glad he had to take a double take, it means at least it's eye catching! I designed it from a photograph of a pink flower growing in my mum's beautiful garden, and I really do think I have captured the spirit of the atmosphere there with this one, rather than just the plant itself. I love her garden, I only wish I was in a permanent property to be able to work on ours the way I want to! One day though :)

moonangelnay xxx

Frog ^_^

Well, I said I'd go to bed last night but actually... well I didn't. Lol. It was another 2am-er and I have pretty much spent today in complete zombie mode which hasn't been good for anyone, let alone myself! To be fair though I think that if I didn't begin working the way I am doing, I'd be sitting in the same position I've been complaining about for months in a weeks time thinking that something is out to steal my time away from me. When ultimately I have the choice to make time, and considering I do get little time being a mum n all, the late nights are necessary. It won't be forever. I just need to keep reminding myself of that! So yes, today... I barely remember it that's how tired I have been. I vaguely remember watering my vegetables, and the usual getting grumpy with my computer, oh and having to scold my little boy a few times because he's been hitting a lot today. Dunno why though, he had a good nap. Probably mirroring my mood! But yeah it's not a good thing that the portion before the other half's return from work is a blur. After however it has been a little more productive. Boring things like research, housework, cooking... but then the FROG appeared!
We have a tortoise called fluffy who has been missing in the garden for a few days, and whilst the other half was looking for her, he found the cutest little frog, whom Yukio befriended and was SOOOOO good and gentle with it. I was just amazed at how sweet he was holding him and gently popping him on the lawn to let him go free. He's not even 2 yet but he has this nurturing concept down to a t. Incredible little boy, he never ceases to amaze me, even when he is a bit of a grouch (i guess he's entitled to this week, head injury n all)!
enjoy the pics!

moonangelnay xxx

A New Mandala

Well I've finally got myself together and made my computer cooperate with me doing some work, despite the fact it is now 12.48am where I'm from and I should probably catch up on the late night last night. But yes! A fresh new mandala is in my store!
This new series that I'm working on is become more and more spiritually inspired the more I gather ideas. So far I'm finding they are resembling the chakra system which is pretty cool. Particularly as I tend to frequently put emphasis on my own when I meditate and through other lines of my work. So for me it's almost like I'm connecting not only to the soul nature of the photo's i'm editing (the primary emphasis) but to my own soul nature. Which I guess would make sense as that is what art and creativity should be about! But unlike my other work, this is manifesting into a more personal area for me, as I'm not just farting around with tools as I edit making changes willy nilly, but I'm making a point of carefully choosing the changes I make and putting a lot of intent into each individual photograph. I'm just chuffed that I can treat my digital art the same way I would do a drawing or painting, as by nature I am a fine artist. Technology has corrupted my soul however lol! But I like it. It means I am flexible and open to new things and generally I like to think I'm that way, away from my art. I feel the urge to draw something. It always happens this way, and ALWAYS at inappropriate hours. ah well, bed time!

moonangelnay xxx

Birthday Hunt - I Really Dislike Shopping For Men...

Things have taken a smoother path today, although that has only meant I have been away from my computer (and not throttling it... hense the smooth part). Took Yukio to his little group debutots today which is a FAB drama group for toddlers where they get to have loadsa fun "becoming" the stories that are told to them. Although despite my own enthusiasm (and money), the fact that it's my son's highlight of the week due to the biscuit tin which is religiously plonked into the center of the hall after every session, worries me a tad lol. But I reckon he loves it really ;) I have no idea how much he ate there today confectionary wise, but I haven't had much fun changing any of his nappies that's for sure! Next week is his last session, and we may go for a picnic. I'll totally be snap happy :D
Anyway further to that I spent the rest of daylight hours at my mums doing some last minute shopping for my son's birthday party which is next weekend (the big 2... should i be scared?). It so happens his birthday is on exactly the same day as my best mates, and trust me I think the fact they are so close really does reflect in the pride they share over it! The only problem I'm having is finding a present for my friend. He isn't the fussiest of people, but I'm not your average kinda person that would go and buy a box of chocolates or bog standard watches or whatever as gifts. I'm quite awkward like that (I'm sure the other half will agree). I just HATE being normal, it doesn't require effort to buy just any old thing but it's his BIRTHDAY and they are supposed to be meaningful occassions, so I like to buy meaningful things. If I had the time I would jump on my sewing machine and whip up something totally bizarre and funky, but I lack too much of that these days. I only wish being so busy consumed as many calories! lol!!!

I also lack funds, so the things I have come across, despite how cool they are fall totally out of my budget. But I have to share what I have found cuz they are pretty nice, and who knows you guys may find something awesome for all doting fathers or other male related bipeds :)2 Robot Glasses by BreadandBadger

Circuit Board Guitar Pick by TheBlueKraken

Desert Path Pillow by PluckyPillow

Better get on with some work I reckon and look another time. Still got next week. Should be lucky hopefully!

moonangelnay xxx

Ho Hum...

I'm at a standstill today. It's been a few days since updating Etsy last (or maybe a week???), and I feel befuddled and fatigued to the point where now that the lil' one is napping and I actually have some time, I can't work out where to begin with the mountain of tasks I know I must do at some point. Is this normal in the land of toddler mums? LOL I only know a few people with kids the age of my son but man!!! I just seem to be someplace else right now. I'd love to curl up with a coffee actually, although I think that's the ID in me doing the tempting thing, as I know yestrday I completely over did the coffee and spent the day jittering and being grumpy!

I love my son to bits despite the fact he's been mr night owl for the past few days. He's fab at sleeping through the night, and I'm pretty lucky really as I still confront gaping mouths when I tell my friends that he's been this way since way before his first birthday. But I'm starting to think that maybe he's doing the sleepless nights thing to me in reverse LOL!!! Ahhhh but he's so cute, I still shower him with kisses even if my eyes feel like they are about to hit the floor :D
So probably the only organised and sensible thing I have done so far today is to cancel a dinner date for us both with my mum as I could do with the early night, and I doubt motorists on the street would appreciate a dancing car waving past them. I'm a bit gutted though as I hoped to take Yukio to Hickory Dickory (a big ol' jungle gym type place)... always tomorrow though! Instead I may see if some fresh air will rid me of my headache and keep young mr entertained this afternoon.

In the meantime I'd better crack on with some work whilst I can! My latest update due on etsy in the next hour is a new fave of mine. I'll have to make one for myself I think! I'm bound to post a picture of it by the end of today so keep an eye out for it, and in the meantime take a peek at my other items if you have the time. Love to all xxxxxxx moonangelnay.etsy.com