Picnik for Tech Tuesday

UPDATE:  SINCE PICNIK CLOSED, 

I KNOW USE PICMONKEY!  

YAY!  I LOVE IT EVEN MORE!

Shhh...don't tell my Photoshop Elements.  I have a confession to make.  I am having an affair with Picnik. 

How can I live with my disgust and insincerity, yet feel so happy and productive and creative and alive?  If I wasn't so inspired by Picnik, I would loathe myself, but instead, I'm typing this blog post with a cat-that-just-ate-the-canary grin.

Picnik is a free, web-based tool that allows you to manipulate photos and create your own images - like logos.  If you go back to my post here, the collage was made with Picnik.  These photos:  created on Picnik.  For an upcoming post on Thanksgiving day, the photo was manipulated (recolored and text added) with Picnik.  Wait until you see my new series coming in December - Craftucation Nation (sneak peek below).  The banner for Craftucation Nation was created with Picnik.  Yep, I am loving all the creative font choices on Picnik and the plethora of stickers, frames, and effects.  Having this affair with Picnik is bliss.

Look at this other cool Picnik feature - Cloning.  I took one picture and cloned out Lil O:

This is the same photo remember, I just took out Lil O!

Crazy, huh? I plan to work on my facial wrinkles next :)

Two tips:

1.  You can upgrade to a premium Picnik account, but I don't think that's necessary for beginners.  There is sooo much to explore in the free option and you don't even need to sign-up for Picnik to use it; no log-ins are required!  However, since I am having a mad, passionate love affair with Picnik, I did upgrade for $24.95 for the year; it is worth every penny, in my artistic opinion.
2.  To make your own logos and designs (like I did way above), you will need to create a blank jpeg file that can act like a blank canvas.  You can easily do this in PowerPoint or another program.  To do so in PowerPoint, just open PowerPoint, make a blank slide with nothing on it and then save the blank slide as a "jpeg" file.  Here is a screenshot for my visual blog readers....(if you have difficulty doing this, email me and I will send you a blank file).

Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner for many of you, fabulous blog readers, why not start a new Thanksgiving tradition and gather around a computer and enjoy Picnik?  You might fall madly in love like I have.  And shhh, remember our little secret.

Jen

PS - Here is a super clear tutorial on how to use the premium package of Picnik to make collages.  If you type "Picnik" into YouTube, you will also see more tutorials to explore.

{NEW SERIES COMING IN DECEMBER}

(Typography added in Picnik; Frame from Photoshop Express App for iPhone;
Trader Joe Nation - a work in progress)

Picnik fun

Lil O and her cousins are having a great time on Picnik.

Each kid/teen, made their own photo creation; as you can see, the "Neon" effect was a crowd pleaser.

Here is Cousin AK's (and yes, she did collect that much candy on Halloween!  Many items were full-sized):

Lil O's - I love how each person gets to pick their own neon color and font style:

And J's - a sassy and fun design - just like her:

Join me on Tech Tuesday, it is time to tackle Picnik!

Happy weekend,

Jen

Picnik is coming soon for Tech Tuesday

Did you know I have a second job?  Just kidding, but managing the rentals of our ski condo in Colorado sometimes feels like a second job.  But, isn't it cute?  And soooo cozy!  Mr. UpCyclist and I agree - if more children and families skied or snowboarded, the world would be a better place.

Anyway, it is time to increase my marketing reach and book some winter rentals.  I thought this nifty photo collage could be sent out to friends and family to spread the word.  I used Picnik to create it.  I am falling in love with Picnik.  In fact, I feel a blog post coming up in the next couple of weeks highlighting Picnik's coolness.

Don't believe me? I even spent $24.99 and upgraded to the premium package of Picnik for the year!  You know I never do that; I am a girl who almost always embraces free.

Best,

Jen

Guerrilla Educating - A follow-up to One Student Day

Shhhh....is anyone watching you read this?  PS - If you are a dean, director or chair at my college, stop reading this immediately.

Now that the coast is clear.....

On November 1, 2011 - with the clever date of 11.1.11 - my students and I embarked on a mission and teamed up with One Student to address sexual assault. Our mission was clear: guerrilla educate about preventing sexual assault and supporting survivors. 

Guerrilla education is just as it sounds; it is unusual and unconventional.  It is good friends with other art forms like graffiti, yet, guerrilla education aims to teach or create awareness.  Like most things guerrilla, it uses minimal resources, tends to take place in public venues, and embraces the essence of "grassroots."

This was my first foray into guerrilla education.  I think I have a future in this style of teaching.

Inspired by this video from Kind Over Matter, my students and I took to the mission.  See what you think in our Animoto produced video.  It is easier to view the video in fullscreen; just click on the fullscreen icon in the bottom right of the video window to do so.

Shhhh....mums the word.

Jen

PS - To my college students:  As if I didn't adore you to pieces before our mission....  I am now in uber-awe of you and look forward to many more missions together.

11/1/11 One Student Day

If I haven't made this clear, let me.  I adore my college students.  I do.  They are awesome, bright, passionate and care.  Want to hear the best thing?  They are all future teachers.  Yep, amazing, creative, clever, future teachers coming to educate our youth.

Pinch me that I get to work with them daily.

I feel like their teacher, mentor, confidant, and guide.  Many times, I even feel like their mom or big sister.  I would do just about anything to shield them from hurt, pain and all the other nonsense the world likes to dish out.  You can imagine how heartbroken I felt when I read this recent statistic:

What?  1 in 5?  Not my students.  Not these amazing-future-educator-women who will change the world and guide our youth.

No, not them.

Today, I stand in unison with One Student - an organization committed to addressing the issue of sexual violence.  One Student provides the most useful resources - designed to help survivors, their friends and families.  One Student encourages all of us to take a stand against sexual violence and look out for one another.

One of One Student's neatest programs is called "No Woman Left Behind."  From an educator's point-of-view, the take on the national No Child Left Behind law title is ingenious, but from a gal who cares deeply about my fellow gals, I vow to leave no woman behind. 

Sisters, I've got your back.  Student-sisters, your wing gal - me - has arrived.

Today One Student is celebrating their successes and looking towards the future.  Today is 11/1/11 day and Upcycled Education is joining forces with One Student to be the ONE.

Won't you join me and One Student?  One easy way to get started is right here - be the ONE and sign the One Student pledge.

Jen

PS - Since Upcycled Education couldn't attend the 11/1/11 event in Florida in person, my college students and I are virtually celebrating.  Check back later in the week when we share our covert One Student mission.  We are calling our efforts, guerrilla educating.