DIY of the week – iPhone wallpapers
This week’s DIY is a bit different, as it doesn’t involve any printing, but I hope you like. Last week I created some patterned iPhone wallpapers, they’re really easy and look pretty cool, you can download mine below, or create your own. Here’s how:
My wallpapers
Black and white spotty
Black and white chevron
Black and white stripes
Or to create your own you will need
Photoshop/Illutrator or other graphics program
iPhone
iPhoto
iTunes
Start by creating your graphics, I used Illustrator and created some simple vector spots, stripes and chevrons. If you’re using the wallpaper behind your icons, as opposed to on the lock screen, it’s probably best to stick to a simple design so it doesn’t look too busy.
I then created a document in Photoshop, this needs to be 320px wide by 480px high, 72dpi and RGB.
Paste in your graphics and move around until you’re happy.
Save for web and devices… choose Jpeg with a quality of 75, and make sure ‘Optimised’ is ticked.
Now you’ve created your backgrounds, you need to get them onto your phone. I did this by importing into iPhoto, just open it up and click ‘File>Import to library’, find your saved file and import.
Open iTunes, connect your phone and select it from the devices panel. Click ‘photos’ from the top menu, select your last import, and click ‘sync’.
Your background will now be in your photos folder on your phone. Select it, press the icon in the bottom left corner and select ‘use as wallpaper’.
All done, enjoy your new wallpaper!
Font Friday – Lovely Lobster
I’m working on something new at the moment, more to come on that… but I’ve be trying out a few different fonts for this new project, and although I’m not using it, I thought the word ‘Lovely’ looked really… um… lovely in this font. This is another one I use quite regularly and it’s also available as a Google web font, so can be used on websites, I think it looks really good in headings and alongside plainer fonts.
You can get it here, it’s another free one although donations are encouraged (and worth it I think).
Photoshop tutorial – image inside text
This is a super simple tutorial if you’re not very familiar with Photoshop, which can be a pretty daunting programme to use. You could use it to make a poster with your favourite lyrics or passage from a book, or to make a personalised greeting card. All you need is Photoshop and a pretty picture.
To start with, open Photoshop and create a new document by selecting File>New from the menu.
Give it a name and set your paper size, I’ve gone for A4 landscape which is 297 x 210mm, you want 300 dpi and CMYK, if you’re going to print it.
Choose the type tool from the tool bar on the left hand see, it looks like a capital ‘T’. Click the curser onto your page and it should create anew layer, then type in your text.
Set the font, size and leading etc in the Character panel (Window>Character). I’ve gone for a bold font so you’ll be able to see a fair bit of the image.
Centre your text, I have a very crude way of doing this which involves making a box with the selection tool and dragging it over to each side to check they are even. I’m sure there are better ways, but this works for me.
Open your image, I’ve used a stock photo of some lovely fields, you could use whatever you like. Drag it onto the window with your text in, again it should appear on a new layer.
Move your layers around so the image is the top one, you can do this by dragging them on top of one another.
Right click (option click on a Mac) on the image layer and select ‘layer mask’ from the options.
Ta-da! Your image will be inside your text, you can now move it about until you’re happy with it.
Enjoy! I’d love to see your creations.
Print a week – Love type
I thought I’d carry on the Valentines theme this week with a love print. I originally made this as a Valentines card but think it works well as a print, and always it’s available to purchase from my Etsy shop.
DIY of the week – Last minute printable Valentines card
I thought I’d better do a Valentines DIY this week, with it being tomorrow and all. I’m not sure if I’m terrible for saying this (as someone in their first year of marriage who designs wedding invitations and greeting cards) but I’m not a massive fan of Valentines Day, it’s all a bit too commercial and forced for me. I much prefer a nice bunch of daffodils and a Toffee Crisp when I’m having a bad day than a bunch of roses on a day that everyone else is getting them, or a Saturday pub lunch than an overpriced meal on a school night.
Anyway if you’re like me and want a not-too-cheesy, creative gift that didn’t cost a fortune, then I have just the thing…
You will need
Printable template (finished card size is A6, to fit a C6 envelope)
White card
Cutting board
Craft knife
Metal ruler
Print out the template onto your white card. Score down the (dotted) fold marks using a craft knife and a metal ruler, on a suitable cutting surface.
Cut out card using the crop marks.
Fold in half, pop into an envelope and give to your loved one.
Font Friday – Sketch Block
I say this about a lot of fonts, but I really love this one, it’s one of my absolute favourites. I have a bit of a thing for chunky fonts and pretty swirly fonts, particularly together. This font is used a lot, I’ve seen it on menus and it’s even used by Cineworld on their ‘take me to another world’ intro. I’ve also seen it used in white against a chalkboard background on wedding invites, which looked particularly awesome. The best thing is it’s free for personal use! And you can download it here.
Print a week – Marilyn
I made this print for my sister-in-law’s birthday last month. She wanted this particular quote and I added the vector image of Marilyn as well. The font is called Feel Script, and I’m loving it at the moment.
As always, you can buy from our Etsy shop.
Kulur
I love this little site, it’s great for working out colour schemes and finding complementary colours.
DIY of the week – To-do-list
So my to-do-list usually looks something like this:
It’s a bit messy, and there’s not much room, so I usually end up writing things down the sides/on the back, then using it as a coaster so everything gets wet and merges together. Anyway, I thought I’d create a to-do-list template, with space for lots of tasks, little tick boxes so you know what’s been completed, and a space for notes. There are also some little messages to help um… motivate you. I’ll be using this from now on, I hope you like!
You will need
Printable template
Paper
If you’re making the cover too:
Cover template
Card
A stapler
Firstly print out as many copies of the to-do list as you need, double sided.
If you’re making the cover, print this out using thicker paper/card.
Fold everything in half and assemble. Then staple the middle (if you’re stapler won’t reach, you could make holes and tie together with string instead).
Ta da – a slightly prettier to-do-list!
