And the Winners Are...

I didn't get a whole lot of responses for my first giveaway, but I did manage to find two wonderful Etsy shops to give a make over! Please stop by to admire my handy work and more importantly the handywork of this amazing artists! Thanks to Fiorella and Priscilla for being my first ChromaPop customers!

Here are the before and afters:

Through the Viewfinder

I've been itching to get behind the camera lately and create some really moving photos. I get so bored of snapping shots of my slugs and other creations sometimes because there is no creativity in the actual photography, just in the object itself. Recently I've been inspired by the vintage movement, I love the look of old timey photos and more so the old timey look translated onto a modern subject. Sure, all of that can be done with the wonders of Photoshop, and I like to toy around with that a bit but it's just not photography to me, in the true sense of the medium. Then I remembered a technique a photography friend told me about called Through the Viewfinder.

It sounds like a complex project, but it was relatively simple and easy to get set up. You basically take a picture with a digital camera of the image you see when looking into the glass bubble viewfinder of an old school 620 film camera such as the Kodak Duaflex or in my case a Argus Seventy Five. The only DIY project involved is the box you'll have to build to block out light and glare on the base camera's viewfinder and keep your main camera at the proper distance so you can focus. Most tutorials said you should use a DSLR with a macro lens, but I managed just fine with my 55mm lens and I've even seen pictures on flicker of people using their little digital point and shoots, so don't be discouraged! You will, however, need a 620 film camera with a viewfinder on the top, as it is the most important part of the equation. You can find them online at ebay and sometimes at etsy as well.

Way back in college I picked up my Argus camera for 25 cents at a garage sale and haven't used it until now! After some very quick research on the web via google, I set out to build a light blocking box with some customized adaptions for my Rebel xti and a hour or so later was snapping shots through the viewfinder!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's some cute love slugs that were going to be valentines cards...but I never got around to it! Enjoy and I hope you have a lovely day!

Free Etsy Banner!

So, I have been feeling a bit bored and depressed since I lost my job and the job search isn't going so well. I have been thinking about going back to school to get a second degree in Graphic Design or at least take some refresher courses and reteach myself how to use Illustrator and DreamWeaver. I recently made a banner for my new etsy shop: ChromaPop and just today I revamped my MarthaLand shop banner:

Then a wonderful idea popped into my head! Why not stretch my design muscles and create some etsy banners for my fellow etsians! This will officially be my first MarthaLand giveaway! If you are interested in a ABSOLUTELY FREE etsy shop banner, just comment on this post within 1 week from today. I will pick 3 etsy shops for a free MarthaLand makeover based on what your current banner looks like, what you sell in your shop, and any other persuasions you lay on me!

Y and Z are for....

The end of my alphabet feature is here. When I came across this giclee print, I just had to combine the last two letters for a big finale... This limited edition print Y and Z by the Canadian etsy shop monkeypowered is super cute! It appeals to me in a playful kid way and in a zany artsy adult way too! If I was going to hang a fun alphabet on my wall, I'd definitely choose this one. I love Mr. Z's little moustache (I've been joining the moustache craze these days)! And if this taste of color and fun isn't enough then you'll really want to check out the rest of the monkeypowered shop! Perhaps its all the bright colors or the super cool illustration style, but I just love everything! Some of my other favorites: Dog's Dinner and Mr. Fuzz. Also check out artist Helen Dardik who also has some giclee prints in the shop like Coffee With My Owl and this ABC poster! But hurry, these prints may only be $20.00 but they are limited editions! Enjoy!

X is for...

X is a hard one, so I thought I'd feature another full alphabet set....made from up cycled materials, bonus! This Recycled Coke Can Alphabet is the green counterpart to the neon plastic refrigerator magnets we all had as kids...and...ah, some of us still have! It's only $8.00 for the whole set, a bit more pricey than the old school set but well worth it and a steal if you consider all the work that went into it! Loda's etsy shop features handmade goodies all fashioned out of empty pop cans. So clever and crafty! My personal favorite is the cute little recycled piggie brooch! Hurry and grab this one up, Loda's last three sales were all this similar coke alphabets and this is the last one listed in her shop!

Button Your Eyes!

How totally awesome is this!?!? The new movie Coraline just opened a few days ago and I haven't seen it yet, but I think I'm going to have to beg to go tonight. We were going to wait until my birthday, but I can't wait two more days! I have to go NOW! I went onto the official website to check it out, and of course it's totally RAD in every meaning of the word! I wish I could work on a movie set like this! I would love to spend endless days, months, years making little trees and flowers and all the other creepy cool props and sets. Apparently there is a forest made entirely of painted popcorn! And I heard that the movie took 7 years to complete, the crew turned out about a minute a week. Insane, but just so insane that I would love it! I tried to find the creepiest pictures I could of Myke and I to Coraline-ize ourselves. The site is all interactive and I spent about 45 minutes there and didn't even see half of it. You can of course give yourself button eyes, make weird flowers in the garden and explore all kinds of other places. Go and check it out and go and see the movie!

Jobless...

I wish I had good news today, but I lost my job. Being a manager is great unless things are going so well, and then all the blame comes down on you. Oh well, I was beginning to get an itch for something new anyway...just wish I had found it before I lost my current job! So I am officially unemployed, which has its benefits. For example I decided to take a nice little mini vacation and drove down to Punta Gorda for a visit with my parents. And at least I don't have to get up at 7:30 every morning, no work on the weekends and no boss! But of course, my bank account is quickly getting smaller and smaller with no income! I will be spending a lot of time making new slugs and trying out some other new ideas. Please check out my shop on a regular basis and please please send everyone you know my way on Etsy. At least I have that little income to rely on right now, but I don't know how long I will be without a job and every little bit helps!