Artmuse Holidays

Started making seasonal ArtMuse banners. Here are a few versions that I came up with so far.
Happy Holidays Everyone!!

High Holidays Nail Decals - 2014

I spent the last few weeks working with Midrash Manicures owner Yael Beuchler to update the high holidays decals and headercard. 

Decal Layout

Moving your senior Parent

These are some slides that I created for 

Debbie Ginsberg's presentation on "Moving Your Senior Parent"

The slides were originally made for a Power Point style presentation and were later converted to print and made into an educational booklet. 

Debbie Ginsberg on Money For Lunch

Congratulations Debbie Ginsberg for landing a spot on the radio show Money For Lunch.

Last week Money For Lunch host Bert Martinez interviewed Anthony Hopkins and Bruce Willis. This week he featured my amazing client Debbie Ginsberg, co-founder and owner of Uncluttered Domain Inc.

The radio schmooze discussed Uncluttered Domain’s senior concierge services and how there is a growing need for seniors to be kept organized in their daily affairs. Debbie shared her personal story about how the company got its start working with seniors and why she loves what she does.

Click here to listen to the radio show and stayed tuned to Uncluttered Domain's blog to read about our upcoming events, promotions, and latest tips on staying uncluttered!

Separating Thanksgiving & Hanukkah

Davida's Aprons
Holiday Apron

For the first time and probably the last time ever, my two favorite holidays will arrive at the same time this year. As awed as everyone else seems to be by this once in 7 millennium phenomenon, my thought process is a little different. When I heard the news, my first thought was, well this sucks. After all I love my mom's Thanksgiving cooking but my mouth waters just thinking about my aunts Chanukah feasts. Not as much to be thankful for when the 2 meals you look forward to for months to are suddenly combined into one.

But on the upside my clients are having a blast. As a freelancer who works with a lot of small companies and a ton of social networking, its incredible to see how creative some people can be. How can any good entrepreneur pass up on this kind of opportunity? In the past month there have been thousands of promotion and product relating to the joining of these two holidays. And every one of my clients that has taken advantage of the joint holidays have done well because of it. (which I must say is great for me to

But what really puzzles me is what happens with this stuff after the one time only holiday is over. Next year are you really going to use the tablecloth with menorahs and turkeys on it. Producing a product cost money and time, so wouldn't a small business lose money off of a product with a 2 month shelf life? But maybe I'm wrong because people seem to be doing it left and right.

Sweet Dreams Rwanda

Website: http://www.sweetdreamsrwanda.com/

Just met up with director Rob Fruchtman and started updating the website for his new documentary Sweet Dreams Rwanda.

Even if my job has nothing to do with production, it's really nice to focus on movies.

Strangest thing for me is that the website is totally old school. I've gotten so used to creating sites online, but now I have to go back into editing code and uploading the new version onto an FTP. It feels like Im back in sophomore year of college. But it's also kind of fun to use the skills I learned so many years ago.

PS. If you check out the website, keep in mind that I am updating pages and did not initially design it.

New Uncluttered Domain Graphics

Just created a new line of Gift Certificates for Uncluttered Domain. Check out more of my designs at http://www.uncluttereddomain.com/

Detailed Certificate

Uncluttered Domain

I am now the official Web Administrator for UnclutteredDomain.com.
Check out the site http://uncluttereddomain.com/

Canasta League of America - Queen Of Hearts

My Queens of Hearts Design for 

The Canasta League of America was finally put onto products. 

Check them out here:  http://www.canastaleagueofamerica.com/shopping.html

Check them out here:  http://www.canastaleagueofamerica.com/shopping.html

Vermont Valley Doggy Treats - Mini Boxes

These are the designs for the trial size boxes of Vermont Valley Doggy Treats.

6 flavors in all

Vermont Valley Doggy Treats - Box Design

I designed these boxes for the new dog food - Vermont Valley Doggy Treats for Ruff Ideas, Inc.

These were so much fun to create and

I can't wait to see what the real boxes look like.

Wedding Monograms

Shape My World - sets & props

Here are some of the sets and props that I designs for the Shape My World website 

Midrash Manicures - Hanukkah Postcard

I put this postcard together for Midrash Manicures

Kosher Kurls - KurlFriend Of The Month Contest

I put together the KurlFriend Of The Month Contest for Kosher Kurls  leave in Conditioner.

This is the eblast that I created.
It was also broken into sections and put on the companies social media sites.


To view more of my social media designs, check out my Behance portfolio: Social Media Design,  Eblast & Print Ad 

Launching "Shape My World" Website

My fist full company website is finally up.
I've created a few of my own websites and I have updated a few others. But this one is all mine!

What I've learned: Don't expect 2 web hosts to connect with each other in a timely fashion. Neither of them will do anything for days and you will just end up on the phone for hours.

But no matter, the site is finally up and running. And I'm kind of loving the result.

Check out the Shape My World website at http://www.itsrealentertainment.com/

Enjoy!!
Erica

The problem with offering freebee services

My first full website (other than my own) is launching this week. Despite a few technical bumps in the road, I am extremely happy with my design work. I did however learn something very important from this project. When it comes to professional services, never give things away for free or else the client will start taking advantage of you.

 It's a really big shame because as a small business owner I fully understand the plight of a startup company. I go into a project with the understanding that a company has a small budget and I do everything in my power to go under that budget. I even teach the client how to do the simple things themselves. So next time, they will make the updates instead of paying me to do it for them. Those that respect me as a professional, will get professional curtsies in return.

Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that once you do one favor, people just start to expect freebies. Even small things like taking $20 off an invoice, brought a client to ask for more than 2 days of free services. Some people just don't seem to understand that every favor that I give comes straight out of own pocket. So my new conclusion, is that unless I worked with you before and can trust you full heartily, no more freebies.

On the flip side, I do have many incredible clients that keep me believing in offering favors in the world of small business. I want to give a big shout out to two individuals who have always treated me as a professional. Glenn Rudin from Always Been Creative, Inc. and Debbie Ginsberg from Uncluttered Domain, Inc., taught me how to survive in the world of small business. Entrepreneurs like these two deserve every little bit of support that anyone can give them. Not only do they appreciate small favors, but in the end of the day if I need something in return, they will be there without question.

Small businesses survive by working together. By helping other businesses in small ways you will ultimately be helping yourself. But we all have small budgets and a limited amount of time. So if someone offers you some help, accept it graciously. Please don't make a fool of yourself and start expecting more then what is offered.

Shape My World - Activity Pages

Shape My World is a potential Children's Show that is currently being pitched to TV networks.
I am almost finished designing a website for the show.

Below are activity pages that I designed for the website. 
I came up the scenarios and copy, laid out the pages, designed all of the backgrounds and most of the props.

Vermont Valley - final dog food box design options

These will hopefully be the final options for the "Vermont Valley Doggy Treats" blueberry muffin flavored box. Once this flavor is ready, I will work on five other flavors. 

Sketches of Doggy Treat Mascot

I  am designing the packaging for the new Vermont Valley Doggy Treats.

<< This is the final mascot dog that will go onto all of the packaging and a lot of the promotional material. <<


>>The white dog to the right was originally designed as a sample idea by the printer. Glenn Rudin, the VV Doggy Treat creator, asked me to create something similar to the original style but cuter and more personal.>>

>>Glenn originally suggested a golden retriever. But after I created the design to the right, we both decided that the dog should a smaller and less fury breed.>>

Below are some sketches that I made before we landed on the final character.


The idea was to create a dog that will beg for his treats. Glenn asked for the dog to put his paws together in praying position. But after an hour of trying to sketch out dogs every picture was looking unnatural. So I journeyed to Central Park and analyzed the hundreds of dogs passing by. Finally I came to conclusion that Dog arms just don't bend that way and cartoons look unnatural when you try to make them do so.







Since the client asked for it I gave some samples where the dog is begging. But in the end of the day the final design had a more accurate portrayal of a real dog stance. Ironically, after hundreds of designs, the final product has a very similar pose to the to the original design.


<< Colors and final details.
White worked best because it will be put in front of many different color backgrounds.<<

MASCOT FUNKY FACT

Find out why Tony The Tiger and almost every other kids cereal mascot looks down, while adult cereals characters look straight ahead. 

http://uncommonjournalism.blogspot.com/2014/04/is-tony-tiger-hypnotizing-your-kid.html

http://animalnewyork.com/2014/tony-tiger-manipulating-eyes/

Imagine If - Social Media Campaign

Social Media Campaign images for Kosher Kurls Leave in Conditioner

Vermont Valley - Blueberry Dog Food front - initial samples

Vermont Valley is coming up with a new line of Doggy Treats. Here is the first look at the front of the box. There will be a lot of changes soon, including a new dog character. But for now, here are a few layout & font options.

Artmuse Nominated for 2013 Concierge Choice Awards

ArtMuse has just been nominated for the 2013 Concierge Choice Awards for “Sightseeing and Tours”. The winners will be announced at an Awards dinner on Monday, September 30th at the Boathouse in Central park.

Congratulations to Natasha Schlesinger and the rest of the Artmuse team. I'm so happy that I get to work with such amazing people and share in this honor.

The Smoke Bomb Warriors

I created this with Andrew Berger as part of his animation lessons. 

This movie is not meant to be a professional quality polished video.  

It is a 7 year old creation that we made together as I taught him the basics of animation.

 Gold star goes to whoever can tell me the story line - its actually really interesting if you can figure it out

(hint - Spy v. Spy)

(click read more 

for production design)

New Passover Card & Updated Decals

Artmuse Updates

Just updated the ArtmuseNY.com home page along with a bunch of other sections on the website. Check out what this awesome company (and my web design work). http://www.artmuseny.com/

Updated Hanukkah Decals and Header card

I have been working with Rabbi Yael Buechler from Midrash Manicures to create new and improved designs for her Midrash Manicures nail decal line.

I created all of the decals and packaging for the entire decal line.

To find out more check out: http://midrashmanicures.com/decals/

Find your creativity

Saw this quote in the Strong Museum of PLAY (funnest place on Earth). 

   Creativity has nothing to do with the ability to draw. Children have an amazing imagination. If you don't, it's only because at some point you made the unconscious decision not to be creative.

 A Little Bit Of Nonsense - by: Erica Shapiro

Happy Passover