8-Bit Theater

[Red Mage, Thief, Black Mage and Fighter]

8-Bit Theater is a comedy sprite comic (a comic that uses video game sprites in the art) that parodies Final Fantasy and role-playing stereotypes. The Light Warriors (a group of misfit adventurers) try to defeat four demons based on the four elements.

The Light Warriors are the protagonists. They are based on the character classes in Final Fantasy, but are presenting as dysfunctional, incompetent, and causing more harm than help. The members are:

• Black Mage- He is a wizard that is weak, but has incredibly destructive spells. He is comically evil to the point his conscience doesn't split his concepts of good and evil, but evil and atrociously evil. He hides his face, because it drive people who see it mad.



• Fighter- He is a ... guess what? ... a fighter. He is specialized with swords and is extremely resilient to damage, to the point of shaking off lethal attacks. He is also extremely child-like and naive (especially towards his friends' unheroic traits), but has a heart of gold.



• Thief- He is the Elven prince of Elfland. He is extremely skilled in stealing things, to the point of stealing intangible objects, and finding loop holes. He is extremely arrogant (especially to non-elves and his "friends", who he think of as his lackeys) and cowardly.



• Red Mage- He claims to the last of an order of Red Mages. He is very knowledgeable, but also delusional (he thinks the world runs according to table-top RPG rules). Due to powergaming, he can use white and black magic; and bends the rules. He is the team's strategist, but his plans are complex and bizarre, often with physics foiling them.

My sources were the Wikipedia pages "8-Bit Theater" and "List of 8-Bit Theater Characters".

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Siblings Coloring Pages

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Siblings Coloring Pages

Elf on a Shelf Ideas

Last year, we started a new tradition with Elf on a Shelf. The kids got the book as a gift, and it was a hit...
And when I saw this post on Pinterest, I knew I had to pass this link along.  101 ideas for the ELF!

This Flickr Photostream has lots of cute ideas to share.

And a couple I found here.

I saw this blog post on creative ideas for placing your Elf on a Shelf, and wanted to share them today, too.  How CUTE!!

Even more adorable idea at Parenting Magazine here.

Enjoy your day!

BE MY GUEST: How to design a Book Cover: Jess C Scott

When you go to a bookstore (even virtual like Amazon.com) to buy a book, the first thing that catches your eye is its “cover”. Sometimes, the decision to buy the book is made in those few seconds and then you read the blurb or flip the pages to see what is inside. So, let’s not underestimate the power of a “good” and “well-designed” book cover. One big positive is that it boosts the sales of the book. Also, who does not like a nice glossy looking book sitting on one’s bookshelf? Let’s be honest, we all do!

To cut the long story short, when I came to know that Jess, an extremely multi-talented artist not only writes books but also makes her own book covers, I had to ask how she does it all. I am sure her write-up will help you in understanding how can you go about designing the cover/illustration for your self-published book and how can you do it yourself using cheap tools available online.

Before you move on and read her article, have a look at the covers she designed. I think they look super-KEWL! Which one of the two covers you guys like the most? Let me know in the comments section below. 

How to design a Book Cover

By Author: Jess C Scott

I’m an independent author/artist/non-conformist, and I write in a range of different genres. All of my book covers are self-designed—creative freedom and flexibility/versatility are one of the things I enjoy the most about being an indie author.

I used an old sketch for the cover of my first book, EyeLeash: A Blog Novel, because I was working with an extremely low budget and wanted to keep costs low (that was in mid-2009). Since then, I’ve continued designing my own book covers, because (1) it is enjoyable, and (2) I like the challenge of creating covers that are both visually appealing and unique.

Book cover design covers three basic elements:

1) Base Drawing / Illustration

2) Fonts

3) Color / Style / Feel

The base drawing/illustration for the cover is the important element, and it’s OK if you don’t have the time or skills to do the drawings yourself—you can look for CC-licensed and royalty-free images online instead (I usually use flickr and deviantART when I “need some help”). Many artists charge reasonable licensing fees for commercial use of images. The one drawback is that you might see the same image being used on several different book covers by different authors (especially if the book falls into a popular commercial genre).

Don’t get too crazy with fonts! You want something that looks simple, nice, and is easily readable and identifiable when the book cover is viewed as a small thumbnail. I like using Urban Fonts and FontSpace for typography (I only use those that are labeled as “free for commercial use”).

The color/style/feel of a book cover’s design are also important—the bottom line is that a book cover has to (1) have visual appeal, and (2) attract the right audience. A loud/strong graphic would be okay for a mainstream/edgy kind of book (which is what I want going for with the above two book covers), though the same graphic style probably wouldn’t work for a historical romance novel (which generally requires a cover with a more “chivalric” feel).

I use an old hand-me-down version of Photoshop to arrange and enhance certain elements of the cover design. If I need any “extras” or cheap/free tools available online, I’ll run a search for “photoshop alternative online” on Google and see what comes up.

If you do want to learn how to draw or improve your design skills, a book that might help you is John Ruskin’s The Elements of Drawing. This book isn’t a step-by-step “how to draw” kind of guidebook, but it teaches you to use your eyes and be observant and appreciative of nature (and that all drawing is “dirtying the paper delicately”). Ruskin’s book is very demanding and requires you to be very dedicated with practicing, but I think the results are worth the time and effort.

Personally, I think learning how to draw is just as important as learning how to read and write. Drawing teaches you to be observant and disciplined, and it’s a great joy to be able to express oneself with words as well as with pictures. The important thing is to keep practicing and learning new things along the way. It is never too late to start.

I’ll end this guest post by thanking Komal for graciously hosting me, and giving me this topic to write about! I hope some of my tips have been useful.

About the Author:

Jess is an independent author/artist/non-conformist who’s dedicated to writing original stories that are both meaningful and entertaining. She works in a diverse range of genres, such as contemporary fiction, YA fiction, poetry, urban fantasy, and cyberpunk. She is currently completing "The Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy".

Website: www.jessINK.com

Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Elven Trilogy Book Site: More Info / Excerpts

* Be sure to check out Jess’s newest short story, SKINS (http://www.jessINK.com/skins.htm), where Laer (the dark elf) seeks revenge on a couple of devotees of the exotic skins trade. SKINS is a freebie on Jess’s website!

About her Books:

Book #1: The Other Side of Life

Summary: A thieving duo's world turns upside down when an Elven rogue uncovers the heinous dealings of a megacorporation.

Synopsis: Anya and Leticia are partners-in-crime who steal for a living. Their world turns upside down after a chance encounter with fellow rogue, Ithilnin--the enigmatic leader of an Elven band of thieves.

A scuffle to prove who's "the better thief" transforms into more than Anya and Ithilnin ever bargained for. They retrieve the missing piece of an ancient poem, before getting caught in the secret dealings of a megacorporation. What they uncover threatens to alter the very essence of not just human life, but the other side as well.

Elven intrigue, cyberpunk action, and a deadly dose of danger come together in The Other Side of Life [Book #1 in the (Cyberpunk) Elven Trilogy].

To purchase this book, go to these links: Amazon | Smashwords | jessINK Website

Book # 2 : The Darker Side of Life

SUMMARY: A hybrid elf child combats a dark elf’s scheme to exploit and turn a virtual reality system into a weapon of mass destruction.

SYNOPSIS: Anya is distraught as she copes with being separated from Ithilnin (Nin). She realizes she could get the answers she desperately seeks from Laer—the first dark elf she’s encountered. With Laer’s help, a trip through the elves’ virtual reality system affects Anya more deeply than she anticipated. Laer enlightens Anya on her connection to the deciphered code of an ancient prophecy, information which she dutifully discusses in the dead of night with Nin. The discovery threatens to destroy Nin and Anya’s fragile but intimate ties, as Anya finds herself increasingly tempted to take a walk on the dark side. The plot thickens with jealousy, betrayal, and a noble vengeance in The Darker Side of Life [Book #2 in the (Cyberpunk) Elven Trilogy].

The Darker Side of Life (Book #2) and The Arcane Side of Life (Book #3) will be released in early 2012.

GENRE: Urban Fantasy / Cyberpunk / YA with adult crossover appeal

Watch out for the upcoming giveaway of “The Other Side of Life” on “The Review Girl” 

A Colorful Cornncopia Coloring Pages for Family Thaksgiving

A Colorful Cornncopia Coloring Pages for Family Thanksgiving

Advent Calendars

(*Photo taken from Katherine Marie Photography)

Every year at our house, we do some sort of Advent Calendar.  Sometimes, we do even more than one.  This year, I want to encorporate giving on a daily basis.  So when I saw the above photo on Pinterest, clicked on it and read the blog post about it, I knew this was it.

Copied directly from Katherine Marie's blog:

Advent Activities:

1st Take a set of holiday books and leave at a mall play area
2nd Make a street pretty for Christmas (pick up roadside trash-Santa Style!)
3rd Adopt a classroom in need (send holiday party treats; craft box)
4th Buy a hot cocoa or latte for Salvation Army bell ringers (brrrrr— it must get cold out there!)
5th Purchase toys for kids in need
6th Tape candy canes and happy holiday notes to ATMS, vending machines…
7th Send of box of mittens and hats to a school
8th Offer to buy a pack of gum or mints for checkout clerk at grocery store
9th Bring peppermint mocha to daycare workers
10th Donate Blood (K and Mom)
11th Hand out pretty Christmas flowers
12th Bake & deliver Christmas cupcakes to library employees
13th Set up a free gift wrap station!
14th Pay for santa pictures for someone at mall
15th Collect canned goods for food pantry
16th Pass out candy and spread cheer to folks mailing off their Christmas cards at the post office
17th Set up a “helping task force” – take back shopping carts, hold open doors for rushed and weary shoppers…
18th Leave small Christmas treats/gifts in shopping carts for folks to find
19th Take presents to hard working post office employees
20th Call animal shelter and find out what donations they need. Make a contribution & visit animals.
21th Leave basket of Christmas gifts on doorstep of a family that needs it
22nd Buy coffee for stranger at Starbucks
23rd Leave present in mailbox for mail carrier
Christmas Eve: Take all night drug store employee a Christmas surprise (because it’s no fun to work on Christmas Eve!)
Christmas Day: Deliver something special to folks who are working and/or recovering at local hospital

I plan on adding/editing a few here and there, but I really want to do this.  I hope you'll join in on the fun with your family, too!

Enjoy your day!

winners!!!

hi ladies! sorry I am late with the announcement but during the week end I held an exhibition with other creatives of my town and it was a huge success! but I spent two very very tiring days.

Anyway I hope you would excuse me if I didn't take photos of my two little "miss random" again, I'll surely do next time, but don't worry they were very profesisonal with it and picked the winners with eyes closed even if they can't read!

so the 2 winners are:

EDNA and AKZO

please write me an email at info@prissdesigns.it and I will send you the coupon!

Fun Thanksgiving Parade Coloring Pages For Kids

Fun Thanksgiving Parade Coloring Pages For Kids

Printable Owl Calendar--Freebie

I found the CUTEST owl calendar over at My Owl Barn.  It is FREEBIE printable that you can customize (print it all, or month by month, in whatever size you want!).  Check it out here and have fun with it!

Enjoy your day!

Fool Proof Tool Winners

Thanks to all of those who participated in the "Fool Proof Tool Giveaway"!  I am excited to share some of my beloved tools with you.  The five lucky winners are:

Trish Cook (from the blog)-Wins a set of my 5 favorite colors of chalk ink and a roll of scor-tape
Tickles and Giggles (from the blog)- Wins a set of my 5 favorite colors of chalk ink and a roll of scor-tape
Bonnie(from the blog)-Wins a roll of scor-tape and a mini scor-pal-perfect for cards!
Meghan Em (from Facebook)-Wins a Fiskars Sure-Cut Paper Trimmer
Shannon Brown Peterson (from Facebook)- Wins a Fiskars Sure-Cut Paper Trimmer

Winners need to email me with your contact information so I can mail you your goodies!! Prize packages are valued at $15-$30 Each!

Fool Proof Tool Winners

Thanks to all of those who participated in the "Fool Proof Tool Giveaway"!  I am excited to share some of my beloved tools with you.  The five lucky winners are:

Trish Cook (from the blog)-Wins a set of my 5 favorite colors of chalk ink and a roll of scor-tape
Tickles and Giggles (from the blog)- Wins a set of my 5 favorite colors of chalk ink and a roll of scor-tape
Bonnie(from the blog)-Wins a roll of scor-tape and a mini scor-pal-perfect for cards!
Meghan Em (from Facebook)-Wins a Fiskars Sure-Cut Paper Trimmer
Shannon Brown Peterson (from Facebook)- Wins a Fiskars Sure-Cut Paper Trimmer

Winners need to email me with your contact information so I can mail you your goodies!! Prize packages are valued at $15-$30 Each!

Familyfun TThanksgiving Coloring Pages - Turkey Bowl Kick Off

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages - Turkey Bowl Kick Off

Cookie Decorating Tip

You all know I love a good cookie. I especially love decorating beautiful cut-outs for Christmas. So when I saw this tip and was blown away at its simplicity, I knew I had to share it...

Enjoy your day! 

Celebrate Thanksgiving Together Coloring Pages

Celebrate Thanksgiving Together Coloring Pages

HUGE YA Giveaway!!!

Hello friends! First of all, Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday to my US readers! J I hope you all are having a wonderful time celebrating and shopping for Christmas. The festive season has officially kicked off now and there is great news for my readers:

I am planning a lot of giveaways (which means lots of free books!) for my lovely followers for the whole month of December. Yay!!! J

I am so excited to start this “holiday season” with this HUGE giveaway! Check out the prize pack of these 4 (FOUR) tempting YA E-books:

Now, the best part comes: not one, not two, but 5 (FIVE) winners will be chosen, who will EACH receive this prize pack of 4 (FOUR) amazing books!

Ready to win these attractive books? Then, follow these really simple steps to enter this HUGE GIVEAWAY:

1- Follow me on GFC (Google Friend Connect) and write your GFC name. (If GFC follow button is not showing, you can follow me on NB = Networked Blogs. In that case, provide your NB name.) 

2- Your valid email address (so I can notify you if you win) 

3- Leave a genuine comment on these two posts: 

Author Interview: Sarah Billington

10 Tips to create “Killer” Blog Content

Example: 

GFC Name: The Review Girl 

Email: mediajerks@yahoo.com 

I have left comment on both these posts.

So hurry up and enter!!!

Have fun!!! J

NOTE: All these rules given above are REQUIRED to enter this giveaway, otherwise your entry will not be counted. Only genuine comments will be published and counted. Only ONE entry per person. 

Please note that this giveaway is international. The prize is of four e-books. The winners will be selected through Random.org. They will be notified through email from “The Review Girl”. 

A BIG THANKS to the lovely author, Sarah Billington for generously offering so many copies of her books for this giveaway.

Santa Claus Toys Coloring Pages

Santa Claus Toys Coloring Pages

Fool Proof Tools

I love playing with tools of all kinds....cooking, building, sewing and especially paper crafting.  Today on Studio 5, I got to highlight 5 of my favorite FOOL PROOF TOOLS for playing with paper.  These tools are all essential to my crafting collection.  They are the tools I grab for when I have to do a project on the run and I am not sure what I will be crafting.  They are the tools that work for any project, anywhere.  I LOVE these tools!!!

My First Fool Proof Tool is: The Sure Cut Paper Trimmer from Fiskars

With all of the amazing specialized tools on the market, you still can't live without a basic paper trimmer!  This particuar trimmer is my absolute fav for a few reasons:

1. Light Weight

2. Clearly marked 1/4" increments

3. Wide base with swing-out arm

4. Magical marking wire that shows you exactly where you will be cutting ***THE BEST***

My Second Fool Proof Tool is: My Scor-Pal (and Scor-Tape)

Okay, so maybe I am cheating by listing my tool and tape in the same measurement, but I couldn't spotlight one without the other.

I have to admit that when I was first introduced to the scor-pal, I was skeptical.  However, I have found it more handy than I could have ever imaginged.  I use it for creating cards, boxes, fans and all kinds of other folded projects.  I love it because it easily creates nice sharp folds and creases in paper. I also love that there is a whole catalog of amazing ideas for using the scoring tool on the Scor-Pal site.  I have found patterns for tons of boxes, favors and even mini albums there.  A little birdie also told me that Scor-Pal is having a special 25% OFF Sale for Black Friday, so now is a great time to pick one up.

I love a really strong adhesive. Ya' know the kind that is impossible to remove?  Scor-Tape is amazing for details that need a permanant fix.  This tape comes in a whole variety of sizes (my top favorites are 1/4 and 1/2 inch).  You just tear off what you need and place it on your project.  It is so delightfully sticky!  It works like magic on glitter and ribbon.  I use it for all of my projects that need to be really durable.  It is also my go to adhesive for boxes and 3-D projects.  The best part is, Scor-tape is super economical.  You get a ton of yardage for a really good price. Can't beat that, right?

My Third Fool Proof Tool is: Colorbox Cat's Eye Ink

Nothing takes a project from blah to WOW like ink on the edges! Simply brushing the edges of your paper pieces with one of these magical ink pads gives dimension and pop to any project.  Distressing with ink is really so easy and provides a lot of bang for your buck!

You can distress your edges with any old ink pad, but the Colorbox Chalk Inks are by far my favorites.  I am a neutral inker (meaning I like to use Browns and Blacks).  Many people like to use lots of different colors, so experiment and see what you like best.  Here are the reasons that the chalk inks are at the top of my list:
1. Rich color that doesn't smear or smudge
2. Small size and shape make tight corners a breeze
3. Inexpensive- pads usually retail for $1.99-$2.49
4. Color Variety-My go to colors are:

Creamy Brown

Dark Brown

Chestnut Roan 

Blackbird

Charcoal

My Fourth Fool Proof Tool is: The Silhouette Digital Cutter

Although the silhouette machine is a little more of an investment than my other tools, I still classify it as an essential.  And, remember, Christmas is just around the corner!

My Silhouette is fool proof because it allows me to cut any shape or font directly from my computer. No cartridges required!  The software that comes with the Silhouette is very user friendly and has loads of special features like welding and tracing.  One of my favorite uses for the Silhouette is finding images from the internet and tracing them to create my own custom images.

The Silhouette cuts very fine images from any paper or cardstock. After the image is cut, you simply peel it off the cutting mat and adhere it as desired.  The machine also cuts vinyl so it is great for home decor.

Silhouette has now made a 12" cutting platform called Cameo. It is the latest addition to their line.  I am excited to get my hands on one of these and start to play.

My Third Fool Proof Tool is: a Circle Punch in any size

Circle punches are a quick and easy embellishment creator.  I love using circles to create backgrounds or centers on my art.  They are also essential for making quick and easy tags.   As you probably have noticed, a circle is my go-to shape for backing labels on countdowns.

I love all sizes of circles, but if I had to pick 2 punches to use for the rest of my life, it would be my 1 1/2" and 1 3/4".  They layer nicely together and seem to be the perfect tag or label size. One of my favorite circle punch brands is EK Success.  I love their punches because they are very ergonomic and easy to use.  They have also created a new slim brand of punches that don't take up much storage room but still pack quite the punch!

Martha Stewart once said, "Anything is easier with the right tool."  I am a firm believer in that statement!  I have found that investing in good, basic tools saves me money, time, and a whole lot of stress in my creative process. 

Just for fun...if I got to increase my list to 10 tools, I would add:

6. Cropadile Hole Punch

7. Laptop and Printer

8. Sharp Straight Scissors

9. Adhesive Tape Runners

10. Corner Rounder

Fool Proof Tools

I love playing with tools of all kinds....cooking, building, sewing and especially paper crafting.  Today on Studio 5, I got to highlight 5 of my favorite FOOL PROOF TOOLS for playing with paper.  These tools are all essential to my crafting collection.  They are the tools I grab for when I have to do a project on the run and I am not sure what I will be crafting.  They are the tools that work for any project, anywhere.  I LOVE these tools!!!

My First Fool Proof Tool is: The Sure Cut Paper Trimmer from Fiskars

With all of the amazing specialized tools on the market, you still can't live without a basic paper trimmer!  This particuar trimmer is my absolute fav for a few reasons:

1. Light Weight

2. Clearly marked 1/4" increments

3. Wide base with swing-out arm

4. Magical marking wire that shows you exactly where you will be cutting ***THE BEST***

My Second Fool Proof Tool is: My Scor-Pal (and Scor-Tape)

Okay, so maybe I am cheating by listing my tool and tape in the same measurement, but I couldn't spotlight one without the other.

I have to admit that when I was first introduced to the scor-pal, I was skeptical.  However, I have found it more handy than I could have ever imaginged.  I use it for creating cards, boxes, fans and all kinds of other folded projects.  I love it because it easily creates nice sharp folds and creases in paper. I also love that there is a whole catalog of amazing ideas for using the scoring tool on the Scor-Pal site.  I have found patterns for tons of boxes, favors and even mini albums there.  A little birdie also told me that Scor-Pal is having a special 25% OFF Sale for Black Friday, so now is a great time to pick one up.

I love a really strong adhesive. Ya' know the kind that is impossible to remove?  Scor-Tape is amazing for details that need a permanant fix.  This tape comes in a whole variety of sizes (my top favorites are 1/4 and 1/2 inch).  You just tear off what you need and place it on your project.  It is so delightfully sticky!  It works like magic on glitter and ribbon.  I use it for all of my projects that need to be really durable.  It is also my go to adhesive for boxes and 3-D projects.  The best part is, Scor-tape is super economical.  You get a ton of yardage for a really good price. Can't beat that, right?

My Third Fool Proof Tool is: Colorbox Cat's Eye Ink

Nothing takes a project from blah to WOW like ink on the edges! Simply brushing the edges of your paper pieces with one of these magical ink pads gives dimension and pop to any project.  Distressing with ink is really so easy and provides a lot of bang for your buck!

You can distress your edges with any old ink pad, but the Colorbox Chalk Inks are by far my favorites.  I am a neutral inker (meaning I like to use Browns and Blacks).  Many people like to use lots of different colors, so experiment and see what you like best.  Here are the reasons that the chalk inks are at the top of my list:
1. Rich color that doesn't smear or smudge
2. Small size and shape make tight corners a breeze
3. Inexpensive- pads usually retail for $1.99-$2.49
4. Color Variety-My go to colors are:

Creamy Brown

Dark Brown

Chestnut Roan 

Blackbird

Charcoal

My Fourth Fool Proof Tool is: The Silhouette Digital Cutter

Although the silhouette machine is a little more of an investment than my other tools, I still classify it as an essential.  And, remember, Christmas is just around the corner!

My Silhouette is fool proof because it allows me to cut any shape or font directly from my computer. No cartridges required!  The software that comes with the Silhouette is very user friendly and has loads of special features like welding and tracing.  One of my favorite uses for the Silhouette is finding images from the internet and tracing them to create my own custom images.

The Silhouette cuts very fine images from any paper or cardstock. After the image is cut, you simply peel it off the cutting mat and adhere it as desired.  The machine also cuts vinyl so it is great for home decor.

Silhouette has now made a 12" cutting platform called Cameo. It is the latest addition to their line.  I am excited to get my hands on one of these and start to play.

My Third Fool Proof Tool is: a Circle Punch in any size

Circle punches are a quick and easy embellishment creator.  I love using circles to create backgrounds or centers on my art.  They are also essential for making quick and easy tags.   As you probably have noticed, a circle is my go-to shape for backing labels on countdowns.

I love all sizes of circles, but if I had to pick 2 punches to use for the rest of my life, it would be my 1 1/2" and 1 3/4".  They layer nicely together and seem to be the perfect tag or label size. One of my favorite circle punch brands is EK Success.  I love their punches because they are very ergonomic and easy to use.  They have also created a new slim brand of punches that don't take up much storage room but still pack quite the punch!

Martha Stewart once said, "Anything is easier with the right tool."  I am a firm believer in that statement!  I have found that investing in good, basic tools saves me money, time, and a whole lot of stress in my creative process. 

Just for fun...if I got to increase my list to 10 tools, I would add:

6. Cropadile Hole Punch

7. Laptop and Printer

8. Sharp Straight Scissors

9. Adhesive Tape Runners

10. Corner Rounder