We were lost for soooo long, but we have also good news for you.

CreativityWindow™ has now official channel on YouTube to provide you dynamic resources and inspirations that are related to design, arts, crafts, and visual merchandising.

As of this time, our most viewed video is the tutorial about the making of a large lotus flower made from paper.

Other highly viewed videos include the making of a DIY Christmas decoration, the colored paper floral decor, and the crepe paper plum blossoms that is used as material for Chinese New Year display.

Please don’t forget to visit our channel and hit SUBSCRIBE to join our current 620 subscribers (as of November 14, 2015) and get updates of our new videos.

Thank you for visiting this blog and godspeed!

Marketing is an essential aspect of any successful business because photography is a very competitive field, you’ll need a clever angle and edge to succeed.

The following are five essential guidelines you should follow that will help you market and sell your work:

1. Create a Portfolio

Your portfolio needs to contain several important sections. First of all, you’ll want to include an “About Me” page. Talk about yourself and how you became interested in photography.

List any relevant information that will help potential buyers or agencies get to know the person behind the camera.

Your portfolio should also contain references pertaining to your craft. Include names and contact numbers of former employers.

Of course, you’ll want to include samples of your work in your portfolio. Choose the most unique, clear photographs. Be sure these sample photos are varied.

For instance, you might include photography of still-life, nature and people. Do you have a specialty? Maybe it’s baby photos or wedding photography. Perhaps your special talent lies in space photography. Showcase these talents by arranging the samples in a separate folder.

2. Create a Blog or Website

A personal blog or website can be a fundamental way to promote your work. How so? Here you can discuss your future projects, your goals and day-to-day updates on your offerings.

You can also be as creative as you wish, because it is your blog. If you’re creating a website, there’s several options: make your own from the scratch, set one up with a bit of help from Blogger or WordPress or hire a professional website designer.

Having an experienced person or team design your webpage can give your site the polish and professional look you’re aiming for. Be sure your blog or website includes a traffic counter that lets you know how many visitors have viewed your page. You may also want to add a geographic tracker that allows you to keep track of the locations of your visitors.

Give your website or blog a personal touch. Your potential clients and employers want to get to know the artist – that’s you! You might want to take a few special photos that are used solely for your website or blog.

3. Use Social Media

There’s no better way to promote your work than on a site where all your friends and associates hang out. Post about your latest projects and offerings. Add links to your blog and samples.

Place a survey on the social media website of your choice. Ask for opinions and get people involved. Set up a contest. Make a short & sweet Youtube clip where you can give some tips, or do a review, and spice it up with your personality.

The more interaction you receive, the wider audience you may reach. Make it personal by offering your own perspectives and advice on photography.

4. Use Your Photos on Merchandising Products

Create beautiful postcards of your photography and offer them for sale. Print your own photo books featuring some of your best work. You can find some examples on this page, along with tutorials and templates.

Do you have a photo studio? If so, enlist the service for a customized canvas print to place on your studio wall.

If you’re into landscape and nature photography, why not print a calendar made of your own photos for each month of the year? Let your creativity soar!

Doing all this is not complicated (nor expensive) as it may seem. Many bigger digital printing companies offer all of this in one place, and might give you discount for ordering in a bulk.

Besides, it might be worth investing in some quality printing – impressing your potential client could go easier if you present your work in custom made presentation folders and have stylish business card with your favorite photo printed on it.

Another creative idea for a digital photo marketing strategy is to offer free products that showcase your work.

Your established clients will keep returning for more if they know they are appreciated. Create customized “Thank You” note cards to send to a client following a sale.

Using pre-designed template is an option, but the main attraction will be an original, never-before-seen photo you add to your note.

5. Print Up Referral Cards

These are somewhat like business cards, with a slight twist. Your referral card will have your name and contact information, as well as a unique photo you’ve taken that represents your work.

You give these cards to your clients after a sale and have them refer a friend. When they do, your client receives a bonus. The bonus may be in the way of a discount off their next purchase, or perhaps a some kind of prize. Everybody wins.

And there you have it: Five quick and easy ways to promote your photography and help yourself to a successful and rewarding career. Now, that is really the way to “focus”!

________  ___  _

Guest post by DigitalPrint Australia

It is a traditional Christmas decoration in many western cultures that is used in wreaths, illustrations, and graphic designs, for instance on promotional posters and Christmas cards.

The real holly has small leaves and berries but today, we will make a extra large holly out of paper and we are going to use it on our large Christmas decoration. Let’s start.

Tools and Materials: 1 Fold Red Crepe Paper, 3pcs Green Cartolina, Old newspaper, Cellotape, Cable Tie, Scissors, Stapler, Staple Wires

Step 1. Fold the cartolina into three parts and cut the edges to create a shape like holly leaf. Do not throw the residue because you will be using it in Step 7.

Step 2. Fold the base section of the leaf as illustrated above then fasten it using the stapler. You need to make 9 holly leaves.

Step 3. Facing down, connect the leaves side-by-side using the stapler. Make one set of 6-piece leaves then set it aside.

Step 4. Do the Step 3 again but this time, you only make a set of 3-piece leaves then insert it into the 6-piece leaves.

Set aside the leaves. Let’s do the berries.

Step 5. Make 7 pieces of paper balls using the old newspapers. The size of the paper balls is as big as pingpong ball.

Step 6. Get two sheets of 1×1 foot of red crepe paper then wrap the a paper ball with it. Seal it with cellotape. Do it to all of the seven paper balls.

Step 7. Make a bunch of 7-piece holly berries using the cellotape the put an extension on the stem using the residue from the leaves as mentioned in Step 1.

Step 8. Insert the bunch of berries into the leaves and fasten them together using a cable tie. Make sure to fasten it tightly. Add cellotape or more cable tie if need.

Step 9. Facing front, bend the tip of every leaf inside out to give your holly a better look. Do it slowly because the leaves may be torn since they are only made from paper.

You’re project is done. Congrats!

This post is updated with video:

The marketing team of most business organizations is conceptualizing a unique sales promotion to be noticed by the busy market during Christmas season because in most countries, this the time when people of any level spend much to celebrate the Holiday.

If you are a part of a marketing team whose role is to make a promotion title for Christmas, I have here few samples to help you get started.

SEE ALSO: 101 Power Phrases, Promotion Headers and Teasers

1. Sweet Bargains on Holiday Candies!
2. Christmas comes alive with (name of company, brand or product)!
3. Have a Picture Perfect Holiday!
4. Glittering Gifts for Christmas
5. Ring In the Holiday Buys!
6. Packed with Holiday Cheer!
7. Holiday Seasons Starters!
8. Best Holiday Buys!
9. Bell-ringer Prices!
10. Under the Tree Specials on (product range)!
11. Holiday Discounts!
12. ‘Tis the Season for a new (name of item)!

SEE ALSO: Red Christmas Background with Bokeh – Free Download

Some of these phrases sound silly but I am sure that they can help ignite your creativity to formulate a new and better title.

The first recorded use of plate-glass store windows is in 1909 by Gordon Silfriges in London where window lights were left on at night to allow people see the presentation even if the store is close.

Nowadays, different types of windows are coming out. They vary from sizes, purpose and location, and the term store window or display window do not necessarily refer to an opening in front of the store or on the any side of the store.

Let us get acquainted with the eight common types of store windows:

1. Closed Windows – large glass panel at the front and solid wall at the back.

Photo: Mount Juneau Trading Post by Patrick Harvey, on Flickr

2. Semi-closed Windows – large glass panel at the front and half-covered at the back so that the inside of the store is partially visible.

Photo: J.Crew West Edmonton Mall by Darrell, on Flickr

3. Open-back Windows – large glass panel at the front and no wall at the back

Photo: GANT by Angela Song 2012, on Flickr

4. Open Window (or No Window) – no glass panel and no solid wall.

Photo: ExpressMen West Edmonton Mall by Darrell, on Flickr

5. Elevated Windows – it can either be closed or open window that is located in a higher level.

Photo: 有创意！(Creative) by Angela Song 2012, on Flickr

6. Corner Windows – windows that are located at the corner of the building and are seen from two directions.

Photo: Outside and in by Roving I, on Flickr

7. Island Windows – these are the stand-alone windows that are often located at the lobby of a big store.

Photo: Island window display via Designboom.

8. Shadow Boxes – small box-like windows that are usually used for jewelry and cosmetics displays.

Photo: LOUIS VUITTON display via Delicious Magazine

There are other types of windows which I have not mentioned here, but whatever is the type of window you are using, the underlying principles to make it effective never change.

This usually happens when the files is sent another company for redesigning and/or printing, or by simply transferring the file from one computer to another in your office .

This happens because you did not include the linked files and fonts when you saved your design.

To avoid this problem, here are some of the solutions:

Save As and Include Link Files

This process is very simple. On the menu bar of your Adobe Illustrator window, click the File then look for Save As. Rename the file or simple replace the existing in your system.

This time, the Illustrator Options window will pop up; make sure to check the Include Link Files option and click the OK button.

Create Outline

WARNING: Creating outline will turn your font into a vector shape. This means that you can no longer edit your text unless you will retype the words.

So it is very important to make a backup file before converting your text into a vector shape.

Here is how to do it: Select all the text (only) then right click and select Create Outline. As simple as that. Then save.

Put the Linked Files and Fonts in One Folder

Using Save As and Include Link Files option will increase the file size of your design which will make it difficult to be sent though email.

Therefore, if you are going to send your working file via email and you are only required to use smaller file size, it is better if you save your link file and font in one folder and send them separately.

Although you can also use WeTransfer and other similar online services, the above suggestion will also work for if you have no other choice.

I look forward that post has helped you. Thanks you for reading. Godspeed!

The flowers have approximately 3/4 (0.75) meter diameter. Such size was intentionally done to proportionally complement to our large ketupats and lamps on the set.

You can see the snapshot of our display on the first picture below, and more pictures of the Hari Raya decoration at the lat part of this tutorial . This was displayed at Hua Ho Department Store Yayasan in Brunei. Please continue below for the step by step process on how to make a large paper flower in quick and easy way.

MATERIALS:

• 3 pieces colored card paper (Manila card  in Brunei and Cartolina in Philippines)
• 1 piece cable tie
• scissors
• stapler and staple wire.

STEP 1: Fold all of the three Manila cards into half then cut it like a shape of a petal using the scissors. It is free-form so you have nothing to worry whether you cut it correctly or not as long as it looks like a petal as shown in the illustration below.

STEP 2: Fold the base side  of the petal as illustrated in the image below the staple it. Do it to all of the six petals you have.

STEP 3: Using the stapler, connect the petals side-by-side. On the figure below, the parts the are encircle with numbers 1,2 and 3 are where need to staple the petals. Do it until all of the petals are connected.

STEP 4: Place the finished flower uspside-down then fasten the center of its back portion with cable ties. After that, on the front side of the petals, slightly bend petals to make the flower looks fully bloom.

STEP 5: Get the excess part of the Manila card. Remove the sections that are big enough to be used as filaments then cut into strips and crumple it like what you can see on the picture below.

STEP 6: Insert the filaments into the center part of the flower and your project is done.

TIP: You can spray darker color of  spray paint in the center part of the flower to make is more attractive.

Photos below show the large flowers we used in the display.

How well can you display your ideas on the graphic medium – that is the art. There is always a difference between one graphic designer to another, but what makes the best graphic designer who knows what they are doing.

Mr. Disney created Mickey Mouse with nothing but his pencil, his each and every move was documented in a different sheet – so that we could see some sort of movement in his cartoon; and today, with all the technology the work has definitely become simpler but not easier.

Being a graphic designer means extreme devotion to the creative arts and dedication to learn. With the continuous evolution of technology you cannot afford go stale.

 Tip 1: Understanding Software

VECTOR VS RASTER

Most of us while choosing software for graphic designing opt for Photoshop or Illustrator, and we assume that they are interchangeable. This in reality is far from truth.

Photoshop and Illustrator are two very different software’s, used for completely different purposes of graphic designing. The concept of Vector and Raster needs to be clear before you even start designing.

RGB VS CMYK

The basic rule for using either RGB or CMYK is:

• RGB is for website designing
• CMYK is for printing purposes.

When you are asked to choose which mode, select it carefully depending on your requirement.

Tip 2: Skills of the Designer

The skills of a designer are based on these three facts.

Visual Arts:The images you create, the depiction of your idea that finally comes on screen is what would define your creativity. The more visually attractive your design would be the more interest it would garner.

Typography: Moving beyond the use of images – Use text. Words, Letters, alphabets are all tools for you to make your design extremely engaging.

Page Layout: What kind of page layout you need, know the difference between the different sizes based on your requirement. Are you designing a banner or a postcard? Every layout has a different size.

Tip 3: Element and Aspects of Design

These three are the most important aspect of a design.

Color: When you choose the color combination, remember that ever single color has a theory and a concept behind it. While editing you need to know the different attributes of the color – shade, tone, hue and tint. Other than that, you also have the concept of complementary colors. Read about that before you select your color scheme.

Space: Love the white space, emptiness doesn’t always mean barren or boring. Your creativity would flourish more if there is space for it to breathe. Between objects, between text – keep space to get it to shine

Message:  Every design has a message, no design can be random. Even when you feel that a painting has a random scatter of colors, it stilldepicts something – feelings, emotions, etc. Your message that you want your audience to see, needs to be loud and clear.

Tip 4: Attributes of Design

Creativity: How creative can you get?Just because you need to be creative doesn’t mean you overcrowd your page, your message should always reach the audience and not make someone feel, what they are looking at?

Balance: Your graphic has to have a balance. You design needs to have equilibrium.

There are two types of balance

•  Symmetrical Balance: when the page is equally divided into parts and your elements are placed in proper proportion in each side.
• Asymmetrical Balance: Remember sometimes there is more creativity in the imbalance. The image seems more dynamic and creative.

Harmony: All your elements should be happy with each other if not then there would be clashes and your image would not be upto the mark.

 Movement:All your lines and movement should guide the viewer’s eye to your message/object.

Hierarchy:  There is always an order through which you would guide your viewer’s eye. Make sure you arrange your elements appropriately.

You have multiple graphic designing course available both online and in universities and colleges. Jobs are flowing in for graphic designers; every company needs someone to design their logos, web pages etc. You could work both as a freelancer and a full time employee.

Just remember this is a cut throat industry, never stop yourself from being creative and shocking – because shocking always gets the views and never stop designing; practice is what would make you perfect.

_________  __  _

Trisha is a professional writer and adviser on education. She is an ardent reader, a traveler and a passionate photographer. She wants to explore the world and write about whatever comes across her way.

Tony Morgan also teaches visual merchandising at the London College of Fashion and is head of the VM department at the Fashion Retail Academy in London.

Here are some of his words that might inspire you as retail professional or a student:

On Store Design

The main purpose of store design is to show a product to its best advantage. This is achieved through combination of ambience, functionality, and inviting design. Each store will be different, depending on its products.

Not all store designs need vast budget; resourceful and interesting schemes often make the most exciting shops.

On Window Display

A well-dressed window display not only attracts shoppers into brand image. It can act as an advertising tool and give an insight into what is available in-store.

Before attempting to design and dress a window, it is best to understand that space and depth of the window you might be expected to work with, as well as the practical features that will affect what you can put into the window display.

There are numerous reasons why a visual merchandiser will choose to design a window in particular way, but first and foremost he or she must ensure that the window theme reflects or is sympathetic to the product being sold in-store.

On Signage and Graphics

The use of bold, colorful text can enhance many window displays. Often, signage and graphics may be used as a statement to support the window theme, or sometimes as prop that ties a window scheme together.

The lettering should be large enough to seen outside the window and be positioned to the right of the mannequin.

Handwritten signs are definitely frowned upon in the visual merchandiser’s world; even the smartest handwriting will look unprofessional. A printed sign will always look better and be easier to read.

Do you have more favorite lines from Tony Morgan? Feel free to add them as comment.

Give away everything you know, and more will come back to you… The problem with hoarding is you end up living off your reserves. Eventually you’ll become stale. ~ Paul Arden