Cathy Zielske's Blog

New Favorite Apps

Please tell me you've seen this video:

 

Aidan asked me if I'd ever played this game called Say the Same Thing, developed by the band OK Go.

She and her friends have started doing this game in person, not using the app itself, and they love it.

I adored the video, so I had to download the app. After a few bugs were worked out, I played my first game with Aidan and it went like this:

We were playing in different rooms, and when we both said "Jodie Foster", we screamed in joy. And then we wanted to hug. Just like in the video.

It feels good to say the same thing.

 

Next up: A Beautiful Mess, designed by Elsie and Emma from A Beautiful Mess. 

When I first heard Elsie was designing an app, I'll be honest: I couldn't imagine how learning to turn an old breadbox into a charming crib for a baby, or how to make muffins that looked like hot air balloons would help me. (Of course, I jest, because she is on another planet of hipness compared to me…)

But her app is seriously addicting and fun. I've had it one day and I fear it will overtake my Instagram shares:

The app also comes with in-app purchases to expand the goodies you can add to your photos. 

It amazes me how apps can be so affordable sometimes, you know? I mean, this app is really solid, no bugs at all, and yet it costs .99 cents. 

Technology. I tell you. 

Note: A Beautiful Mess is presently only available on iPhone. They say they hope to make it available for Android in the future.

Today is the final day of the Designer Digitals 2nd Quarter Sale. Take advantage of 30% savings on every product in the store.

It's not G-rated. It is, however, free. And who doesn't like free?

The Designer Digitals Quarterly Sale kicks off tomorrow and runs through May 15th. As I was working on some new products for the store, I was typing remember this but transposed the letters in this, resulting in the image you see above.

It just made me smile.

As a committed and passionate keeper of memories, this is exactly what I set out to do every time I scrapbook.

Remember sh#t.

I don't swear much on this blog. Sure, a few words will seep in from time to time (see previous paragraph). If I were being truly authentic, I would swear a great deal more. It's just part of how I choose to talk in my personal life. I have zero issues with swears as long as they aren't used to denigrate or hurt people. I do not believe I denigrate myself by using them, either. Maybe it's because I grew up in a house where for a long time, I thought "Jesus Christ" was my part of my full name. Maybe it's because I hung out with kids who talked that way. Whatever the case, it's a choice I made and continue to make for myself.

And sometimes, swearing is funny. In fact, every time my husband swears, hilarity ensues.

But I digress…

I shared this image on my Facebook page, and many of you said, "I'd buy that!" 

But to kick off the quarterly sale, the least I can do is give you the PNG for free.

So please, by all means, enjoy.

Download CZ_remembersh

Note: PNGs can be used in Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and even placed into Word. To learn more about working with PNG files, I have a host of videos you can look through to learn more.

 

Welcome to May

 

Oh, J.T. We forgive you.

Happy May!

Looking for some good reads

I recently finished a biography about Kurt Cobain, Heavier Than Heaven.

I started it last Friday, and couldn't seem to put it down in spite of how utterly tragic it was to read.

I come from Kurt Cobain Land, you see. I grew up in a small town in Washington, which at the time was probably not all that different from his coastal town of Aberdeen. He and I were born a year apart, and yet for some reason, I always saw Nirvana as a band of much younger, punk ass kids.

I never felt like he was the voice of my generation at all. But that's probably because I was too busy listening to Frankie Goes to Hollywood and George Michael and R.E.M. Pearl Jam was the closest I ever got to loving grunge. For some reason, Nirvana slipped under my musical radar.

The reason I picked the book up is because Cole is in a big Nirvana phase right now and it has inspired me to actually go back and listen to some of their music.

While I have always been a ginormous fan of Dave Grohl, I am finding a lot of love right now for the music of Mr. Cobain as well.

But his story breaks my heart.

All of this is leading up to the fact that while I'm not a voracious reader by any stretch, I find that biographies are some of my favorite readings.

Which is where you come in: read any riveting biographies lately? And if so, would you care to share your recommendations? 

In other news…

Clean & Simple: The Workshop begins tomorrow. Registration will close on April 10 at 10 p.m. P.S.T.

I'm nervous and excited to get it underway, as I've been working on it for the past three months. I look forward to seeing many of you in class as we dive into the content together. My goal with this workshop is to show people not only how I use software to craft well-designed, timeless pages, but to leave you with the confidence to have an idea for a page and know how to use your computer to help you create what you envision.

This is the only time I will be teaching this class during 2013. Once you sign up, you have permanent access to the course materials, so if time is an issue, don't let that deter you.

Hope to see you there!

 

When the zombie apocalypse arrives, I know who I'm following

I'm a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead. For three seasons now, me, Cole and Aidan (Dan has yet to come around on Zombie-themed television) have been glued to the challenges and tragedies of Sheriff Rick & Co. It's bleak. It's heart wrenching. It's gory. 

And it also contains total hotness in the form of one dirty hillbilly who goes by the name of Daryl Dixon.

I'll be honest: it really wasn't until Season 3 when it hit me just how hot Daryl was. Me and a whole gaggle of adult women who tune in every week. 

In short, if the zombies come a-knockin', he's your man, ladies.

While looking for images of Daryl yesterday (yes, I spend my time very wisely) I came across several memes and thought: what would happen if Daryl Dixon met up with scrapbooking?

With that in mind, I present my results.

Feel free to share. I'm sure they'll take off in the crafting community. No, really. I feel it.

 

I choo choose you!

I first blogged about the iPhone in 2007 when I first caught wind of its impending release.

For all my insane fan girl longing, I didn't actually own an iPhone until July 2011 on account of that whole AT&T exclusivity thing (Verizon girl here) and being frugal and constantly talking myself out of actually needing one. (And yes, I documented that fateful, joyout day here.)

Long story short: when my iPhone 4 became eligible for an upgrade, I beat a swift path to the Apple Store, credit card and giddiness in hand.

It's so light. So thin. So sexy. I am yet again in love.

Although I didn't need the upgrade, I am really looking forward to the improved quality of the camera, especially considering how many photos I take for my Project Life album using my phone.

And speaking of photos, today I want to show you a cool little app called PicTapGo, from my favorite photo filter makers, Totally Rad.

Here's a short video showing you how it works.

 

I used Totally Rad Actions on all of my photos that I shoot with my Canon 5D. I primarily use Rad Lab, and what's so great about PicTapGo! is that it feels just like Rad Lab. 

Here's a very short video I made using a new fun app called Reflector that lets me screencast my iPhone screen.

PicTapGo Demo from CZ Design from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

Remember: freakishly long arms and a high shooting angle. Thank you.

 

 

Instead of Project Life today, would you watch this?

I just saw a video posted on Facebook from Upworthy, a site that continually inspires me and makes me think. This video is no different. And it's amazing.

It's about bullying. And bullies. And it's a beautiful, passionate spoken word poem by Shane Koyczan.

I've thought a lot about bullies in my life. Why they do it. What goes on in their own lives to motivate them to say what they say. How is it handed down.

Or is it? Are some people just mean? (I don't believe any of us born mean, honestly.) But maybe I am naive. I like to think I'm not on this one.

I think about my own kids. When they have been teased. Or if they have been the teasers. And as Shane says in his poem, "Kids can be cruel." But do they have to be?

I want to be responsible in my own life for how I have treated (and continue to treat others). I want to teach this to my children every single day. 

Words matter so much.

 

Project Life will return next week.

That's What She Said

I never use that phrase correctly and today is no exception.

I actually mean to say simply what she said. She, being my friend Lisa Russo. This, ladies, is a blog post about cleaning and for anyone who ever finds themselves in need of, well, cleaning.

Lisa wrote a comprehensive, long-in-the-making and well-tested blog post about a product called e-cloth. I may be jumping the gun, but I think their products quite possibly will change my life, just as they have changed Lisa's.

But honestly, she said it better than I can so if you're interested, click here to read about e-cloths.

Long story short: Lisa is one of those people who if she endorses something, I believe her. Girl doesn't make recommendations lightly. (She posts fabulous recipes as well and her photos are gorgeous.) I ordered three cloths for myself (the Window Cloth, the Stainless Steel cloth and the Bathroom Cloth). Honestly? I was shocked at how well they worked. So I went and ordered more.

I even used the Window Cloth on my Ceran top cook range and I didn't have to use a drop of Windex, or Wymans Glass Top Cook Cleaner—nothing! And it came out sparkly and smudge free.

I just placed my second order for more of their products.

One day, who knows? I may splurge and hire a cleaning service, but until that day rolls around, I now have a completely chemical-free alternative.

Note: Blog reader Cheri just informed me if you use the code 20%OFF, you can get a discount on regular-priced items, not on sale or combo packs.

 

Inspired and a tad profane. (Emphasis on inspired.)

I wanted to share a website today that my friend Lee Currie shared with me over the weekend. The name of the site includes the f-word. I generally have a current blog policy to not use this word. While it may be a word I use in my personal life (and believe me, I've uttered a few in my day), I've never used it on this blog in an effort to not offend my readers.

This post may not be for you, if you're easily offended by language. But I hope you won't be, because there is a larger message at work here. Disclaimer over.

Good F#%@ing Design Advice (you can click on a link in the lower left of their main page to create a family-friendly—more or less—version) is the coolest web site I've come across in a long time. At first, when Lee sent me the link, I just looked at their store and thought, "Oh, that's cute. Cheeky, swears… racy humor for designers. Kinda cute."

Then I realized, "The product design is pretty tight."

Then I realized, "This site design is pretty tight, too."

Then I realized I loved it not just for the cheeky message, but for the perfect and copious use of Helvetica. And the color orange. And the white space.

Then I watched their video. 

And I realized: I love this for the message.

 

I love the idea of a passion project—what would you do if you could focus on what you were passionate about, first and foremost. And how would that spill over into everything else you did?

Think about that. How many of you got into crafting or scrapbooking because of a true passion for the creative process? How does the act of creating spill over into how you live your life every day?

It reminded me of the day last summer when I realized that my tagline of "Taking the 'Crap Out of Scrapbooking" was truly a message that I not only connected to but that I had consciously been cultivating for years. I remember feeling so, so inspired that day, as if my passion and my work melded together in that moment and I was suddenly aware of how fortunate I was to be able to do what I did for a living.

These guys are really thoughtful young designers. Their message is inspired. Hearing their process on this project, realizing this isn't just about using an f-bomb for shock value. Then watching them screen print by hand, the whole tactile expression of beautifully executed design… this entire video—as a designer myself, I just feel inspired.

I connected to it on so many levels. On one hand, in my professional life as a graphic designer, I try to bring real passion and expertise to my work, even though my work is not going to show up in any design annuals or awards shows. I care about quality work. I care about how well that headline is kerned. Or if things are lining up on the baseline. Or if that sentence ends in an orphan. I wish I knew web design so I could truly have a blog that reflected my design aesthetic.

I care about simplicity and elegance and delivering the message in a clear and concise manner.

Now take that into the scrapbooking world—a world in which let's face it, many designers would scoff and say, "Design has no place in scrapbooking,"—this too is also something I really care about. About showing people what principles of design look like when applied in a thoughtful and caring way. And showing people what elegance and simplicity can do on a craft-based level.

So I decided to print out and take their pledge. If you think about it, how universal is the potential application? How many of us, as we strive to earn our daily livings, find ourselves faced with doubt or fear? How many of us will give into not offering up the best of ourselves to the tasks at hand? I know that for me personally, that's never going to be okay.

I hope you get a chance to watch the video. Or poke around their site a bit.

I just wanted to share something this week that reminded me of how much I love what I do. And to remind me to trust in myself, engage and connect to the passion at hand.

F-bombs or not.

Oh yeah, and to look forward to the coffee I'll soon be drinking from my new mug.

 

Share-a-Page Fridays: 30 Days of Thankful

 

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday (to my U.S. readers, of course), and that you are safely nestled at home this fine Black Friday.

I fully plan for today's entry to be: Thankful I don't fight the crowds today. I know people get out there and do, and I admire that pluckiness. 

Here are the last few days from my album, minus yesterday which I'll post next week in my final post for 30 Days of Thankful.

Be sure to share a link to your pages at the bottom of this post.

This is definitely a project that doesn't have to be relegated to the month of November. By using the digital kit, you can drop in any seasonal papers and colors to make this a project suited for any holiday—Christmas, Hanukkah—you name it. Have a great rest of your holiday weekend.

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