Week 12, Day 5: Freebie Card

It's back!!  It's freebie card day! And there are 3 different designs.

The first 2 are based on color scheme and patterns I have been creating this week.  The final card is a special request for my girl.  KK wanted me to change the colors around a bit....so you may want to get your sunglasses out!

Card 1 – Download Link

Card 2 – Download Link

KK's Card – Download Link

So which one do you like best?

Week 10, Day 7: It's a Wrap

Trauma after posting yesterday:
Yesterday after I posted the freebie card my computer quit working. It went black, wouldn't shut down, wouldn't restart, sounded like it would go on, but never made that beautiful sound a mac makes when it starts.  I was freaking out!  It put me in the depths of despair ...it's not a good feeling.

As a freelance graphic designer, blogger, photo-editor, website builder (trying), email-aholic, fb-aholic and tweeter I felt as if a part of me died.  How was I going to recover?  What if I had to buy a new computer...could I even afford it? What about the projects I'm working on, can I recover them from the Time Capsule? 

It might sound dramatic, but it's my bread and butter and if it doesn't work, I'm in trouble!

After several futile attempts to restart it, I went on my son's computer and booked an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for late this afternoon. I also did some searching for troubleshooting...I got some info, but got frustrated with the slowness of his computer and gave up and went to bed.

Today after I got home from being out and about, it started back up....never did that startup chime sound so wonderful!!!  Now I did the research to troubleshoot the problem.  Evidently I had to reset my System Management Controller...a very simple process, and now it is working fine.  R E L I E F!

So, now for the Week 10 review:
Every week I marvel at how far I've come from the beginning. Committing to this blog and finding regular time for myself has made a big difference in many ways.  D says I am different.  I guess what I am trying to relate to you is that everyone needs to take some alone time for themselves. It doesn't matter if you are reading, meditating, creating, enjoying nature, exercising, just do something for yourself!

Day 1: Inspiration - Dogwoods in Bloom

Day 2: More Photos and Sketches

Day 3: Going Graphic

Day 4: Adding Color and Patterns













Day 5: (ah haaaa, the missing day!)

Day 6: Freebie Card




















Until tomorrow.....

Week 10, Day 3: Going Graphic

In trying to do something a little different, I decided on a simple graphic image of a dogwood blossom.  Simple it was not. I started out very simple then seemed to add more detail as I progressed.  It took a long time to do this all in Adobe Illustrator. But I did learn some new tricks as I played around with it, and after all this is a learning and discovery journey, so what if my kids got leftovers for dinner!

After finishing this and then coming back later, I thought about why I like dogwoods -- because they bring light and life to a seemingly lifeless and dead area.  And this image looks so dark, it just doesn't capture my feeling...something to work on later today.....

Week 3, Day 7: It's a Wrap

What a week!  It's been busy, but I've loved it all!  I had forgotten how much I enjoy playing with color, making color schemes and seeing what looks good together, and what just does not work!

New this week on the side bar is a link to a page where you can download each card.  Since I'm still learning web design -- I been in print design for years -- I haven't figured out exactly how to do it, so it goes through another site.  The main thing is that you can get them now!  YAY!

To recap Week 3:


Sunday, Day 1: Inspiration from Another Artist

Monday, Day 2: It's a Little Sketchy!

Tuesday, Day 3: Creative Tuesday, Playing Clay<

Wednesday, Day 4: Color Scheming        

Thursday, Day 5: Going Graphic, Part 1 and Part 2

Friday: Day 6: Freebie Friday

If you want to take this challenge with me, or even just parts of the challenge, please post your photos to the Visual Tapestry: Creative Journey group on Flickr.  I love seeing what you can do.

Three weeks down, forty-nine left.  What do you think?  Have you been inspired to find your creative side? 

Do you have any photos you would like me to use for my weekly inspiration?  You can post them to the flickr group.  Then, let me know the story behind the photos.  

Week 3, Day 5: Going Graphic, Part 2

So I did it.  I created a graphic representation of the extruded polymer clay pattern, and here it is:

Oh, and also here is my 'lil retro girl.  I might just have been inspired by her outfit!  What do you think?