Designing your own website can be harder than you think

Although nothing and I honestly mean nothing, can beat a bespoke website, if you have to create your own then make sure you choose a starting system that is comprehensive and offers support and knowledge.  I have worked with Wordpress for years and I love the flexibility it can offer to a novice or a professional designer.  I personally use it for the blog function on a single page within a bespoke design, however Wordpress can be so much more than that.  Whether you are using a free wordpress.com site or have installed it onto your own hosting and domain, you can use wordpress to create an entire website complete with blog.

Recently I helped Nikki Malone with her wordpress site for The MCPA.  She’d already started working on it, but was finding it confusing and sometimes difficult to get it exactly how she wanted.  After I showed her some of the features and functions and how to use them, she was quickly able to move on and create a professional looking site without the costs involved with a bespoke web design!

This is what gave me the inspiration for my next venture.  I realised that there were many people that need a website on a budget and are happy to do it themselves.  So now I sit here at my desk planning out training courses in Wordpress for beginners and intermediates.  I plan to provide a course that will teach you from start to finish how to create a website using the Wordpress format.  All you need to worry about is what you want to put on it!

with the right knowledge it can be great!

I have my first student lined up to trial the course in the next month, keep a look out for training dates after that.  I also hope to be able to offer a distance learning package for those that aren’t local.  If you are interested in one of these courses then please get in touch.

Who wouldn't want to receive more than 2 dozen pink roses?

To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is tell me what other montages you’d like to see, but please be aware I can’t create a montage from items that are copyrighted without prior permission.

They don't even need water!

You can enter the competition by leaving a comment on this post, through my facebook page or by sending me a DM on twitter.  The competition will end at 12:00 on 20th September.  I look forward to hearing your suggestions

Happy Birthday to me!

It’s been so busy in my little office recently, I’ve not had enough time to write a blog post, let alone update my website with all the new items for my portfolio, hurrah for my facebook page where I can add them all so quickly!  Joining my wall of clipboards today is a new project with a therapist in The Netherlands, she needs a full logo package as well as complete website!  This latest project will probably keep me fully booked until September, I’m genuinely not sure if I can fit anyone else in!

I can however still fit in some printing work while waiting for feedback etc. from clients and I may still be able to fit in the odd design job or two depending on the week

What a great position to be in a year on from launching the business I’ve spent 5yrs planning!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone for your support over this hectic year and when I get a chance, I’ll be announcing a birthday competition/draw for an Online with Design montage!

1. Go to www.facebook.com/twitter and click on the button “Link a page to twitter”.

Click on Link a page to twitter

2. Open a page displaying your pages.  Click on the ‘Link to twitter’ button next to the page you would like to link to twitter.

Click on 'Link to twitter' button next to the appropriate page

3. You’re now taken to a twitter page.  If you’re not signed in, you’ll need to do so.  Just make sure you sign in to the account you want to link to your facebook page!  Click on allow if you’re happy with all the settings.

Click on Allow if you're happy with all the settings

4. Finally you’re taken to a page saying you’re all linked up, and giving you some options as to what is passed through to twitter.  When you’re finished just click on Save Changes.

Edit your options, then click on save changes

5. All done!  You should be feeding from your chosen facebook page to your selected twitter account.  If you ever wish to un-link yourself or edit the settings about what feeds through, you just need to return to www.facebook.com/twitter.

Let me know how you all get on!
xx

“When I opened it, I was completely speechless and very moved.  It’s absolutely wonderful, something I treasure and show to everyone that visits me.  I’m over the moon, you’re a very talented person, thank you so much!”  Val Joyner.

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/username and if you’re signed in, it will give the option to set a username for your personal account, just below that is a link to set a username for your pages.

Click on link to select a username for your page

2. Click the link then click on the dropdown arrow and find your fan page.

Find your fan page in the drop down menu

Choose an appropriate shortcut address, check the availability and hey presto, job done.  I told you it was simple right?

Just one thing to remember, once you’ve set your username, you won’t be able to change it, so if your initial choice isn’t available think carefully before settling on a second.

Good luck and let me know how you get on, my fanpage is here, http://www.facebook.com/onlinewithdesign feel free to become a fan!

some of the older images used in the montage

Some of the older images needed quite a lot of image enhancement and repair, they were faded and discoloured, some were stained and torn.  The more recent images weren’t without problems either as some needed image enhancement and we’d decided it would look best to turn all the images to black and white.  Once all the images had been adjusted and cropped to the desired size, I created thumbnails so that the daughter could decide on which images to use and what order to lay them out:

Collection of small thumbnails to arrange

With 3 of us working through the thumbnails, we managed to reduce nearly 40 images down to 24 and decided on their layout.  After the daughter had seen the proof, she informed me that she’d be needing at least 2 prints as another member of the family loved it so much (just from seeing the proof), that they’d requested a copy as well!  This afternoon I finished printing both copies and framed them ready for collection.  The daughter was very pleased and can’t wait to give this beautiful present to her mother at her 80th birthday party.  I’d love to see her open it myself, I can only hope they’ll take some photos

An amazing montage for an amazing lady

Anyone's dreams can come true in Photoshop!

Having watched (through the world of twitter) Louise Land from Cirencester Cupcakes opening her first shop and fulfilling a dream, I’ve been inspired and now can’t think of ANYTHING else!  I am constantly thinking about the practicalities (and the less practical-ities) of opening my own shop.  I’ve decided on layout, supplimenting my own stock with complimentary products, how I’d display my various products and services, colour schemes and I’ve even considered the staffing issues around school pick-ups/holidays and the chore of having to open on a saturday!  There is just one other thing… currently my business is very small, and as it is, wouldn’t be able to support a monthly rent let alone business rates, insurance and all the other gazillion costs that you never think of.  But part of me keeps telling myself that with a premises in the right location, I’d have a steady stream of potential clients that can see my quality of work, and be tempted into my shop to spend all their hard earned money.  So which comes first the chicken or the egg, the shop or the customers?

ps.. I do know the sensible answer, so it’s a good job I can stock a virtual shop!

There are currently 5 pre-designs available, although there is of course the bespoke option.  Below are the various styles created for Charlotte and her stand on saturday.

Birth announcements customised with your own images

These are three of the designs, and are standard square cards (approx 14cmx14cm), left blank inside for your own message.  All text is customisable, as of course is the image.  Each design comes in a pack of 6 with envelopes, and are available directly from me for £13.25 +p&p, they will also be added to one of my online stores in the future.

Concertina birth announcement

This is a small concertina style birth announcement with space for 3 of your own images (2 large, 1 small) and customisable text.  They measure approx 10cm high 24cm wide when unfolded, with each pane measuring 10cm x 8cm.   They are available with envelopes, in packs of 6, directly from me for £14.25 + p&p, or from misi, folksy or etsy, click on the link to be taken to the item listing.

Concertina birth announcement

This is another small concertina style birth announcement, this time in blue, with space for 3 of your own images (2 large, 1 small) and customisable text.  It measures approx 10cm high 24cm wide when unfolded, with each pane measuring 10cm x 8cm.   It’s available with envelopes,  in a pack of 6, directly from me for £14.25 + p&p, or from misi, folksy, or etsy click on the link to be taken to the item listing.

Get in touch, through my website, blog or facebook,  if you would like to purchase one of these pre-designed card packs from me, or you’d like to discuss a bespoke design.

Montage for Charlotte Bellamy Photography

Working around the original layout an A1 size montage with 3″x3″ small images laid out in the same grid style was created.

A1 Montage

The childs name as written by himself was scanned and included in the montage to make it a really personal item, then framed in a large black glazed (not perspex) frame.

A1 Montage close up

A montage of this style and size with basic image editing costs £60 unframed, or as seen in this black frame £90.  The price may vary depending on the quality images intended for use and the amount of image editing required.

The next project was to have a variety of sizes, with one image being a focal point.

A2 variable size montage

The montage was placed into an A2 solid oak glazed frame with a mount to give a more traditional feel.

A2 oak frame close up

A montage of this style and size including basic image editing costs £50 unframed or  £90 for this style of oak frame and mount.  As with the previous example, the price may vary depending on the quality images intended for use and the amount of image editing required.

With such a variety of layouts and sizes (A1, A2, A3 and virtually anything inbetween), a montage can really capture any event beautifully.  A wedding, a photo shoot, a family holiday or even a collection of images spread across many years, they will all look amazing within a montage and make a real talking point in anyones home.