Create Every Week - week #1

Create Every Week

This year I wanted to challenge myself to be more creative just for me, I do a lot of creative things for work but sometimes it feels like everything is work focused and less on having fun and just enjoying the process.

I know a lot of people do the drawing or painting challenges but I really don't restrict myself to any specific medium, more just to go with the flow and see what captures my attention in the moment.

Disclaimer - I sometimes include affiliate links in my posts, that means that if you click the link and make a perchase I get a small percentage of the sale, at no cost to you.

Week #1 - ipad apps

I am forever downloading apps to play with, some make the cut and some get deleted almost immediately. What I wanted to do is find a way to sketch then digitally colour my sketches - I have product ideas in mind but I need to figure out a process that suits me first!

My favourite app is Sketches which is free and extremely powerful, nothing groundbreaking for far as art goes yet but I do really like it and so it is going into the 'to keep' folder. It's really easy to use, has lots of pen types and works with my wacom pen.

This sketch started in Sketches as a line drawing but then I wanted to use the paintbucket to colour it so I opened it up in Pigment, which a colouring book style of app.

It has several free colouring pages and you can upgrade to get more, you can also import your own images to colour in.

I like how it turned out, still a bit rough around the eges but now I have a process down so I can concentrate more on getting my images more polished.

I've ordered a couple of books on how to draw kawaii things, so expect more kawaii goodness coming this way!

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That wraps up this weeks Create Every Week post, if you want to join the journey, let me know! I would love some company!

Turn Photos into a book straight from your phone and get the first one free

Get A Free Printed Photobook

This ad for Chatbooks was posted in one of my biz groups the other day - it's great marketing and the ad really hits all the pain points. Although I love making photo books, it takes me forever because I get picky about the positions and editing side. Needless to say, I stopped making them.

But then I came across Chatbooks and I'm in LOVE! Just look...

Anyway, the regular cost of this is just $8 AND they ship to Japan at a reasonable rate, I don't need to sell a kidney! Watch the video, it's highly entertaining then click the link below to get your book for free.



How It Works:

You download the free app. then go to your photos on your phone and 'favourite' up to 60 pictures. Once you give the app permission to view your photos it will sync and then through the app you can edit the book.

It's very basic, so if you need the actual photo editing, do it on your phone beforehand.

It will pull through the date, location (if you have that turned on for your photos, I don't) and the caption. You can turn all these on or off and edit the captions.

Then you just add your address and payment details and you'r done.

WAIT - so there is this automatic feature. Every time you fill your favourites with another 60 images, it will automatically be made into a book. Making the whole process really easy.

You get the chance to edit it so you don't end up with a photo book of random things like cafe wifi passwords, school schedules and kids nostril shots!

If you sign up, when you set up the payment option use this link and you will get the book free, if you are outside of the US there will be a shipping fee. I paid $2 to Japan! Do check if they ship to your country as not all are listed yet.

Here is a walk through of how to do it... super simple! Excuse my crazy-ass hair, I am going to get it wrangled at the weekend!

Use THIS LINK and get your book ordered BEFORE November 15th and you get the first book FREE! (full disclosure I will get a free book too!) Just follow the instructions when you click through.

Currently, international shipping is available for orders headed to: Canada, Australia, Japan, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, France, The UK, and New Zealand .

Resources for running your own online business

What do you use for .... ?

This is a question I get a lot, so I have finally gotten around to putting everything in one place! I have created a page over on www.jojoebi.com basically listing all my favourite tools and apps etc. that I use to run my business. I do have more that are not listed and thats because I might use them it but I don't love it!

What I don't mention in the resources to run your business post is that you can have all the bells and whistles but unless you show up and do the work, those fancy smancy apps and plugins are not going to make you money.

I have also used apps that I know are not one of the big players in the field but they get the job done and the price is much kinder on the wallet - so don't be afraid to try out the little man as it were.

I've also included the two online courses that have been instrumental in making my business a success, Lucky Bitch Bootcamp and B-school.

I will add and update this page as I find great new resources, I have a couple of apps I'm testing out at the moment, one I especially like so if it works as promised I will add that into the mix soon.

Hope this helps! Bookmark or pin the page for further reference!

Jo

you didn't hear this from me...

This is for those of you who use an iPhone or iPad. In Japan, by law, your mobile device has to have a shutter noise when you take a picture. This is because some scumbags were taking pictures up school girls skirts when they were on the escalators, so the sound it supposed to discourage that kind of behavior. My iPhone also has a delay so you get the sound a second or two after the photo has been taken.

Now, this is all good and well BUT sometimes you don't want that sound, sometimes I am trying to get a picture of Ebi-kun engrossed in something and I don't want to disturb him and sometimes I want to use my camera without everyone turning round to look at me (such as the other day at school). So, I did a bit of research, it looks like you can hack your iPhone but I didn't really fancy that but then then I discovered Manner Cam App and it is free to boot. Whether it is legal or not is a whole other ball game!

Just promise you won't take be taking photo's up school girls skirts!

And as we are talking about apps, I am always on the lookout for cools apps, please share with me your favourite app in the comment section below.