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5 Graphic Design Tips For Non-Designers

By
Elizabeth N
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In this day and age, when social media is probably the most used form of communication, we can all benefit from some graphic design tips, even if we aren’t graphic designers. Graphic design is all about creating visual content to communicate messages through page layouts, typography, and pictures, which are all things we use on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok. Whether you’re launching a new brand or trying to make your social media page more engaging, keep in mind these five graphic design tips.

Embrace White Space

It’s not just the area with text and graphics that’s important—the white space (negative space) between and around designs elements allows room for your design to shine. Try and leave negative space and don’t overcrowd your elements.

Choose Easy-to-Read Fonts

Always choose fonts that are easy to read and only stick to two fonts. The font your choose will depend on the tone of your page and the message you want to portray.

Consider the Psychological Impact of Colors

When choosing your color palette, keep in mind that colors evoke feelings. For example, red elicits passion and energy and blue elicits trust and relaxation.

Pay Attention to Alignment

Whatever you do, don’t eyeball or guess design elements. Most design programs show lines when your text boxes and graphics are in alignment and you should definitely use these before uploading poss to social media.

These Finishing Touches Will Make Your House a Home

By
Amanda B
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Now that you’ve done renovations, chosen a color scheme, and arranged furniture, your house is almost complete, but it’s the finishing touches that will make your house feel like a home. If you feel like your home is almost done, but it’s missing something, these home decor pieces will finish off any room.

Cool Cushions

By adding comfortable cushions or throw pillows, you’re making your living space more inviting and comfortable. Next time you get cushions, choose some in various shades in the same color.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDxSERFpEnz/

Stylish Storage

Straw and wicker baskets and great for storing pillows, throws, shoes, toys, and towels. They can be used in any room of your home and they’ll make your house look more organzied.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDrjYXAFnit/

Candles

Candles light up any room and there are so many colors to choose from. Whether you prefer neutrals or bold colors, the options are endless. Plus, they make any room smell amazing!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDxul2sj0zM/

Haute Hardware

Knobs, pulls, and hinges in polished brass or antique nickel add a unique touch to basic cabinets.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC6FmhzpFKc/

Floral Wallpaper

Wallpaper makes a huge statement in any room, and floral wallpaper that’s subtle and elegant looks amazing in bathrooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDl9CrGDK0s/

These Black Female Artist are Ones to Watch

By
Mark O
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With everything going on around the world, it’s important to celebrate and honor the Black community, especially in the art industry. The following Instagram artists are all Black females and their works are stunning, but it’s the stories behind them that will make you want to show your support. Their works feature bold colors, that will add a statement to any room they’re placed in. Check these amazing women out!

Bisa Butler

This fiber artist stays true to her Ghanaian roots by using mainly African fabrics that resemble those of Kente cloth and wax-printed fabric. To create her pieces, she starts by choosing a vintage photograph, creating a sketch, and then selecting African fabric to encompass the subject’s history.

Her work celebrates Black life, “I want to show the world who we really are; we are people of grace, of dignity, of pride, of love. We are beautiful, and we are human beings who not only deserve to live; we deserve honor. If people walk away with one thing when seeing my images, I want them to see a reflection of humanity and realize that this was always there—if you take the time to look,” she told Martha Stewart Living.

View this post on Instagram

A Long Walk, a song by Miss Jill Scott @missjillscott You're here, I'm pleased I really dig your company Your style, your smile, your peace mentality Lord, have mercy on me I was blind, now I can see What a king's supposed to be Baby I feel free, come on and go with me Let's take a long walk around the park after dark Find a spot for us to spark Conversation, verbal elation, stimulation Share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations Elevations, maybe we can talk about Surah 31:18 A celebration of black love. I want to help dispel the myth that African Americans don’t marry. During the antebellum era many enslaved Black people were forbidden to marry except if the slave owners desired it, and many times the ceremony consisted of the couple simply jumping over a broom. Broom Jumpers, 2020 *there is zero paint on this artwork * 54” x 88” Cotton, silk, wool and velvet Quilted and appliquéd Collection of Mount Holyoke Art Museum @mhcartmuseum and currently on display at the Katonah Museum of Art @katonahmuseum reopening in July #blacklivesmatter #blacktranslivesmatter #marriageequality #blackfamiliesmatter #breonnataylor #georgefloyd #rayshardbrooks #riahmilton #justiceforshukriabdi #trayvonmartin #sandrabland #bisabutler

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Melarie Odelusi

Odelusi specializes in creating custom pieces for brands and clients. She starts by asking questions to get the vision and then she creates a mood board and color palette before creating a digital sketch for the final product. “My mission as an artist is to celebrate women, especially Black women, our many layers, our femininity and strength while encouraging empowerment and representation through illustration and modern lettering,” she told Martha Stewart Living. 

Audrianna Woods

Woods paints things that express her vibe and she creates from her heart. Her works represent African American culture and she wants the world to see that being Black is beautiful. “It’s my mission to bring into the light how much color, expression, history, and power that’s embedded in my culture,” Woods told Martha Stewart Living.

Need Design Inspiration? Here are the Interior Designers to Start Following

By
Kate B
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Now that we’re spending more time at home, it’s important to decorate it in a way that motivates and inspires us. The best place to get inspiration for decorating your home is through home renovation shows, Pinterest, and Instagram. Instagram is full of the best interior designers and the most up-to-date home decor trends. If you’re looking for some new design ideas from people all around the world, you should start following these interior designers.

Sarah Sherman Samuel

This Los Angelos-based designer sticks to neutral tones like whites and creams and contrasts them with warm woods. Her style is sleek and clean and sometimes her designs feature an unexpected pop of color.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0gM365noIT/

Grant K. Gibson

Gibson is an interior designer and author and his ideas come from history. His rooms are as classic as they are functional and you’ll find curved armchairs as well as historic architecture that’s been modernized with bold colors and clean accents. An added bonus is his adorable Westie, Wesley, who poses with his designs.

Justina Blakeney

Blakeney can do it all—she’s a mother, New York Times best-selling author, and an entrepreneur. Her website has everything from clothing to home decor, but her Instagram is where you’ll find her designs which are bold, bright, and jungle-inspired.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpowZfHx6G/

Top 5 Photography Destinations For Summer

By
Elizabeth N
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We’ve reached the hottest month of the summer and with the warm weather, it’s the perfect opportunity to travel. With many countries closing borders during the pandemic, why not enjoy the beautiful national treasures within the United States? These are the top five destinations to visit and photograph across the U.S.

Lake Tahoe, California

Lake Tahoe is known for its world-class ski resorts, but during the summer, the crystal clear waters and beaches, attract many visitors. The lake is surrounded by mountains, which make for breathtaking photographs.

Portland, Oregon

From urban and street life to the waterfalls and temperate rainforest ecosystem, Portland has it all. The mountains, beaches, and parks, which make great backdrops during the summer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDWY7vTpPaW/

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

In addition to the Tetons, some of the most iconic mountains in the world, Jackson Hole is known for its wildlife. You’ll see bison, bears, moose, elk, and deer.

Moab, Utah

Moab is surrounded by canyons, mesas, and buttes, which makes it perfect for adventure lovers looking to go off-roading, mountain biking, or hiking. It’s also home to Arches and Canyonlands National Park, which is perfect for setting up an overnight campsite.

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There is so much more to Arches National Park. •••• Thanks to NP Geek Ambassador Frank @frankleeruggles for sharing the architecture of nature. ・・・ Arches national park @archesnps #moab #utahphotographer #moabutah #utahisrad #utahgram#neverstopexploring #wanderlust  #findyourpark  #nationalparkphotography  #nationalparklove #encuentratuparque#nationalpark #archesnationalpark @ricohusa #utah #utahphotographer #visitutah #utahphotography #instaphoto #landscapephotography @nationalparkservice #archesnationalpark #exploremore #picoftheday #photooftheday. #arches @nationalparktrust @usinterior #NPGeekAmbassador #nationalparkgeek #moab #pentax645ambassador #chasingthelight #79yearsproject —— #nationalparkgeek #npgeekambassador —- Follow @cnhamoab for all the good of Arches and Canyonlands.

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Telluride, Colorado

The San Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains, Telluride doesn’t get crowded like the other ski resort towns to the north. The surrounding San Juans have some of the most colorful alpine lakes in the country and adventure lovers will enjoy the 14,000 foot mountains.

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Material things or travel & experiences? The funny thing is I often feel buyer’s remorse over material purchases unless it’s something high quality that will last ages & bring me happiness or is a necessity. I’ve never felt guilt, or regret over spending money on travel and experiences! Exploring new places is so meaningful to me, and in the end I can often have a great deal of influence on whether travel is cheap or expensive; whether I sleep outdoors in a tent and bring all my food vs. staying at a Waldorf Astoria and eating Chilean Sea Bass at a fancy restaurant. To be able to travel more, I often find myself sleeping in a remote location in a tent with epic scenery. So cheers to still living it up, while spending little!! ↟ ↟

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Taylor Ann Linko’s “Fire” Wedding Dresses Have Been Going Viral!

By
Amanda B
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Most artists spend their whole life dreaming of becoming a household name and when they do become famous, it’s after a lot of hard work and obstacles along the way. Artist Taylor Ann Linko has wanted to become an artist since elementary school when she started decorating fruit baskets and selling them to her mom’s friends. It wasn’t until a few months after her wedding that she finally made it with her amazing fire wedding dress.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2DEKw5peU0/

Like many brides, Linko was looking forward to wearing a wedding dress on her big day, but she didn’t want a standard white dress. That’s when she came up with the idea to buy a wedding dress and to paint it. The process took a long time, which included color testing and perfecting the technique of airbrushing it. Her dress was finally ready a week before her wedding and she wore the custom dress to say her vows.

Months after her wedding, other people took notice of her one-of-a-kind dress, and she started getting social media notifications. Her dress was even shared on the front page of a UK gossip blog!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-IiZuJpF5p/

“The art of painting wedding dresses started when my dress went viral. I’ve always been a very colorful artist. So I got to experimenting and brainstorming how to incorporate my passion for art and color into my wedding,” she told Bored Panda.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-dICFgpmT9/

After tons of people reached out to her to paint their dresses and Linko decided to rent a studio and start a small business of paining wedding dresses.

Each dress on her Instagram page is unique and her bio explains it best, “I’m an Artist Painting on Wedding Gowns🎨.” We love her dresses and how unique they are. Can you imagine getting married in a “fire” wedding dress?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1cr9xVJUql/

How to Transform Family Photographs Into Heirlooms

By
Mark O
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Photographs are a great way to capture moments and make memories that can be passed down from generation to generation. Even though most photos are digitized today, you can still take photos from your smartphone or digital camera and turn them into keepsakes or you can look through photo albums for photos to use. Here are five ideas for turning your family photos into heirlooms.

Scrapbook Albums

Photo albums will always be a staple in every home, so why not create a unique scrapbook filled with photos, notes, and cards next time you print photos from a vacation, wedding, or graduation?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcIzAth369/

Quilts, Pillows, and Home Decor

Make your home more special by printing your photos professionaly on pillows, blankets, quilts, and furniture.

Prints, Murals, Calendars, and Wall-Art

Spruce up your home decor by printing your photos onto adhesive vinyl, designing a custom calendar with photos of your family, or framing photographs for your gallery wall.

Charms, Lockets, and Jewelry

Lockets with family photos make great birthday or Christmas gifts and they’re really easy to make. Just print the photo on heavyweight printer paper and use a template to cut the photo into the size that will fit into the locket.

Holiday Keepsakes

Make custom ornaments by printing photos from a special event, which can then be hung on your Christmas tree or used as Easter eggs during the holiday season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6izkOOHkFW/

These Needlepoint Artist Will Inspire You to Pull Out Your Needle and Thread

By
Amanda B
-

Whether it’s scrapbooking, embroidering, painting, jewelry making, or crocheting many of us have taken up some new hobbies during the pandemic. You probably remember your grandma stitching cushions or pictures for framing while you were growing up, and today, needlepoint is more popular than ever. If you’re looking for some inspiration, these five modern needlepoint artists are worth following.

Jessica Chaney

Jessica Chaney’s been needlepointing since she was 12 and her graphic handbags and cheeky pillows will provide some much-needed laughter to your life. Plus her canvases are available to purchase so you can create your very own pieces to hang in your home.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAq04BEJk1n/

Ulla-Stina Wikander

Swedish artist Ulla-Stina Wikander covers everyday objects she finds at flea markets like headphones, sewing machines, electric mixers, and hairdryers, and turns them into needlepoint tapestries.

Ema Shin

Japanese Australian artist Ema Shin studied contemporary Japanese printmaking which heavily influences her embroidery and tapestry weaving. You’ll see everything from delicate florals to pelvic bones on her Instagram page.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC7NLDSDr43/

Krystle Collins

When Krystle Collins was a young girl she drew pictures of the backs of people’s heads while she sat at church. Today her hand-stitched apparel and accessories feature face silhouettes and it’s the wearable art we can get down with.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAdF83LpJlD/

Eva Howard

This artist took up needlepoint to deal with her anxiety when flying and since then, she’s been making needlepoint canvas painting. Her shop has tons of cool canvas prints and kits to choose from which include threads, needles, and the canvas.

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