New Year New Post!

Hello Everyone! So Today is actually February 1st Muhahahahaha! But I wanted to post this video here to keep everyone updated on what's happening in the Najwood!

So here are a bunch of videos mashed up in one from January until the start of February!

Anddd!! With the new year comes new products!!!!!!! I myself have admittedly never been the biggest fan of stickers but, lately they've been growing on me and I decided to make some stickers myself! So I impulsively bought a Cricut Joy Xtra even though I absolutely had no idea what I was doing and just jumped in! I didn't film myself experimenting with my new toy because sometimes I forget that to do so--I like living in the moment you see. Until I really get vlogging in the bag, I've realized that it's a littke easier to take pictures as I go and document the process afterwards! But I do like making these videos so I shall continue to do so!

But until then, let's first start off with the designs I am currently working on at the moment. The one in the middle is still a work in progress. I'm thinking I will take the words out. My instructor Steve Walker always taught me to show not tell and with that in my mind even though I will probably take out the words I will TELL you my intention: Brain flower is a pun on brain power and often times we are so hard on ourselves, the way we think about ourselves, and the world around us so instead I wanted to make this sticker to encourage us to allow our brains to bloom and flourish and grow without us being so critical of our selves as we too allow ourselves to bloom.

That said blooming and growing is never an easy process and is often met with heavy downpurs of rain, predatory insects, harsh weather, and more and I say that only to say that designing the stickers was one thing, learning how to print and cut them using my cricut joy xtra was A WHOLE OTHER STORY!

I bought 4 packs of Cricut sticker paper each pack containing 5 or 6 sheets and coming in at about 14 dollars a pop and all of those bad boys were sacrificed for my learning curve.

Let me fill you in the on details with some pictures to better explain what I mean:

The Bad Boys that were sacrificed for Najwa's learning curve

For a first go at things they didn't come out too bad :) However! You guys saw the quality of how the images look before they were printed? Right?! And so I would like for my prints to come out a little closer to that is all. To that end, I am trying out another printing paper, from the same company I use to print Apples, Bananas, and Neurons. My printer really seems to take to that paper and so I am excited and curious to see how it will print on that sticker paper. No offense cricut paper as I did still buy the laminating sheets from you so no beef right?

I have also made some more edits on the brain sticker. I changed my mind again about the words and have included those back in there :)

Here's how it's looking so far :)

Ah! And the alternate sticker paper came and the results were a mixed bag! It seems that my printer took better to the glossy paper over the matte. But then I ran into technical issues: Cricut stopped cutting due to issues with the file, (I used the jpeg file instead of the png file--or at least that's what I think was the issue haha), my printer started printing thick blotchy lines, and such and so eventually I had to redirect my attention elsewhere. I'm learning that when something isn't working it is probably best to work on something else instead of pouring all of your effort into working on something that isn't getting anywhere for the day. And this kind of thinking worked!

I was able to make progress on book printing, sticker design making and so on instead of just wasting the day on failed sticker cuts. And then! After taking a break, I was eventually able to resolve the issue. Sometimes, you guys, taking a break is all you need :)

And on that note, I'm going to take a break once more to address the mess that accompanied my progress. But then again, I digress.

(Najwa got them bars hehe)

Until Next Time You Guys!!

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