Slate
Blackcurrant
Watermelon
Strawberry
Orange
Banana
Apple
Emerald
Chocolate
Marble
Slate
Blackcurrant
Watermelon
Strawberry
Orange
Banana
Apple
Emerald
Chocolate
Marble
-
Content Count
19,172 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never -
Feedback
N/A
Everything posted by Rss Bot
-
With restaurants closed, many of us will have found ourselves spending much more time in the kitchen over the last few weeks. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you (we're not here to judge your cooking), but if you've long since burned through your list of specialities, you might be in need of a little inspiration. Luckily, Pixar has served up some fun recipe videos – and they may even inspire little ones to help in the kitchen. There are three Cooking with Pixar videos available so far, featuring dishes from Toy Story, Onward and Bao (the short film attached to Incredibles 2). Not only do the videos feature simple, fun instructions, but they're also filled with the kind of delightful animations you'd expect from Pixar (check out our best css animation examples if you feel like making your own). And don't forget – every Pixar movie is currently available on Disney Plus, and you can bag a seven-day free trial right now. The first video (above) teaches the viewer to make the titular Bao (who, by the way, you might have to explain isn't real when it comes to eating time). The second video, meanwhile, involves cooking a Pizza Planet pizza, helped by none other than Forky from Toy Story 4: The third recipe (below) teaches you to make a birthday cake with Onward's Ian and Barley Lightfoot. Cooking With Pixar videos are being rolled out monthly, so we hope to see a few more over the coming weeks. It would seem almost criminal not to include a dish from Ratatouille. Speaking of Pixar, we recently learned some mind-boggling behind the scenes facts about the making of Toy Story 4. If you think these cooking videos are impressive, just wait until you see how much incredible detail goes into animating a feature-length film. Did we mention that they're all on Disney Plus right now? Related articles Disney launches face masks featuring popular characters 7 must-see art shows on Disney Plus 11 top animation tools for digital artists View the full article
-
Remember when lockdown started, and you promised yourself you'd make the most of it? With all these extra hours you’d have – from either not commuting, or not working at all – you were going to (delete as appropriate): learn After Effects, practise your painting, speak a new language, fix those niggling DIY problems around the house, master a musical instrument, write that novel or screenplay…. But let us guess: none of that has actually happened. We could offer you some well-meaning advice about to organise your day better, motivate yourself more fully, and commit to your goals. But you know what? We’re not going to. Instead, we’re going to argue the opposite. Why you need not to be productive Even at the best of times, the idea of being ‘productive’ with your entire day is a suspect one. It’s one thing to optimise the time you spend at work. But if you extend that thinking to the whole of your life, you’ll live an a constant state of anxiety that means you’ll never really have lived at all. Trying to be productive with your life during lockdown is even more senseless. This present moment is probably the first time in your life when society will praise you for sitting home and doing nothing. So why on earth wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that? The problem is, most of us have programmed ourselves to feel guilty if we're not being productive. So how do we go about breaking that programming? In this post, we suggest five practical ways to change your mindset. 01. Switch off your screens Avoid lockdown FOMO by switching off your devices at regular intervals Our devices are currently playing a vital role in keeping us connected and sane. But they’re also a double-edged sword, bringing us constant reminders of all the things we could be doing with our time: the online exercise routines we could be following, the free courses we could be taking, the art clubs we could be participating in… Even in lockdown, it seems, FOMO is impossible to escape. Of course, it’s a good thing that all these activities are available, and we’ve publicised many of them ourselves on Creative Bloq. But if you’re feeling anxiety or guilt for not taking part, that’s less healthy. So trying spending time each day with all your screens switched off, allowing your body and mind to reset to their natural rhythms, and letting you enjoy, rather than feel guilty about, the idea of 'not achieving'. 02. Listen to nature, not podcasts Birdsong can even be heard in big cities right now If you’re able to exercise outdoors during lockdown, it’s tempting to use this time to catch up on your podcast listening, which for most of us is significantly down because we're not commuting. Again, the instinct springs from the urge to be productive, but it can be mentally and emotionally draining, especially with so much talk on podcasts at the moment about lockdown itself. It’s also a waste of a good walk, run or bike ride, because getting out of the house isn’t just about getting a change of scene visually, but aurally too. And with car use reduced, it’s possible to enjoy the sounds of nature at the moment, even in the big cities. So we’d heartily recommend that you unplug those headphones, and start listening out for that birdsong instead. 03. Practise mindfulness Mindfulness app Personal Zen has been made free for six months to support people during lockdown Even once you accept intellectually that you don’t have to be productive, there’s often still an underlying anxiety that you just can’t shake. At this point, mindfulness techniques can help you go the extra mile, making you feel able to 'let go' of being productive on a physical and emotional level. Mindfulness is all about bringing your attention away from the past and future (which causes stress and worry) and focusing it on the present moment (which allows you to focus and feel properly balanced, physically and emotionally). Mindfulness techniques range from meditation to colouring-in; even playing a game like Candy Crush Saga can be mindful if approached in the right way. These mindlfulness apps are also worth checking out. One of the simplest mindfulness techniques is called 5-4-3-2-1. This is a way of calming your mind if you feel anxious or overwhelmed, by engaging all five of your senses. First, slow your breathing and pay attention to the breath coming in and out of your body. Once you’re a little more relaxed, look around you and identity five random things you can see (a cup, a table, a book, anything at all). Next, identify four things you can touch. After that, think of three things you can hear. Then, two things you can smell. Finally, hone in one thing you can taste; any taste you can identify inside your mouth. Try it, it really does work in helping you to feel calm, relaxed and free of worry. 04. Start a gratitude journal A gratitude journal can help provide perspective on your urge to be productive Many of the instincts that propel us towards being productive are about wanting more from life. We want a better salary, nicer things, more respect. But often we’re so caught up in pursuing these goals that we don’t realise how much we have already. Starting a gratitude journal can be an effective way to remind us of that, and make us feel better and more relaxed about our life in general. A gratitude journal is quite simply a book in which you write down, on a regular basis, things that you are grateful for. It’s the regularity of doing so that’s important, and studies have found that those who are habitually grateful are happier than those who are not. You can just use a regular notebook, or you can buy a pre-prepared gratitude journal that includes prompts to guide you through the process. We’d recommend The 90-Day Gratitude Journal, Good Days Start With Gratitude, or the Instant Happy Journal: 365 Days of Inspiration, Gratitude, and Joy. It can also be helpful to attach other relaxing habits to your journal ritual, such as lighting a candle, relaxing music, having a bath and so on. 05. Revisit your childhood Loved the '90s X-Men? Catch them again on Disney Plus The idea of using every waking hour productively was alien to most of us as children, when we lived in the moment and took each day as it came. So one easy way to return to get back in that carefree state of mind can be to act like a child again. When we were young, we all had thoughts along the lines of: "When I grow up, I’ll be able to have choc ice and chips for dinner if I want." Well, now you can; so what’s stopping you? Think of the things you loved doing as a child, whether that’s doing puzzles, playing board games, colouring in, watching cartoons, reading a joke book, making papier-mache animals, singing along with the TV… whatever they are, we’ll bet you haven’t done them in years. Spend some time doing them again, and any stress about not being productive will soon start to melt away. Read more: 10 brilliant ebooks that won't cost you a penny 20 creative projects to get involved with right now Free audiobooks to download today View the full article
-
With the right tools and dedication to the craft, anyone can learn to be an artist. Learn how you can bring sketches to life with The Complete Creative Art & Science of Drawing Bundle, an easy-to-follow master bundle focusing on drawing for both conventional and digital mediums, now only $39.99. Every artist must start with the basics. Whether you're a beginner or want to brush up on the fundamentals, this 12-course bundle will teach you techniques that systematically break down the various elements of drawing in all sorts of mediums. Taught by industry experts, each course will guide you through the fundamentals, and will then move on to detailed lectures and step by step exercises that will allow you to practise what you learn. For more tips, see our guide to the art techniques you need to know. Plus, make sure you've got the right tools with the best pencils around. Turn your sketches into digital vector art With over 300 lessons, these complete courses include topics in pencil drawing, figure drawing, sketching dynamic comic book superheroes (and comic style heads), how to draw patterns, and so much more. A few concepts you'll master include using graphite pencils, how to capture the facial features of animals, and the art of making two-dimensional drawings look three-dimensional. Meanwhile, a course on shading shows you how to add a photorealistic finish and add depth to create a 3D effect on all your compositions. The possibilities are endless. Not only will you learn how to flesh out your ideas on paper successfully, but you'll also learn how to transfer them into digital works of art. A course dedicated to digital painting allows you to learn step by step instructions on how to digitally draw/paint a variety of fantasy art elements, such as magical weapons or fully detailed characters. From Drawing to Pattern in Adobe Illustrator: A Masterclass will teach you everything you need to know to turn your sketches into digital vector art using the industry-leading vector graphics editor software, Adobe Illustrator (see here for more Illustrator tutorials). The course is hands-on, allowing you to create designs as you work through the video lectures and increase your knowledge of the process as you go. The Complete Creative Art & Science of Drawing Bundle is priced at over $1,000, but, for a limited time, you can start sketching (traditionally and digitally) like a pro for only $39.99, that's 96 per cent off. Refine your knowledge in the fundamentals of drawing and start up a new creative passion or an inspiring career. Read more: The best digital art software for creatives in 2020 11 top animation tools for digital artists The best drawing tablet: Our pick of the best graphics tablets in 2020 View the full article
-
Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli, is known for its painstaking attention to detail, and a design for a Blu-ray case for one of its films has attracted plenty of love online. The concept design for My Neighbour Toroto was created by a fan, @panasonynet, and posted to their Twitter (below), and has since taken on a viral quality as it's been shared around the world, often being attributed to the studio. What makes the design so special? The surface of the Blu-ray disc means that the characters are reflected in it. It looks as if they are peering into a lake and seeing themselves peering back. And as the characters are in the forest surrounded by greenery, it's really not hard to imagine that there would be a lake there. It's one of those backdrops that adds beautifully to the characters' stories (see our character design tips for more pointers on crafting believable creations). In short, we love it, and we want one (even though we don't have a Blu-ray player). And by the looks of the comments, we're not the only ones. There was also a flood of positivity over on Reddit, with one commenter saying it was "simple yet perfect". We can't help but agree. Seeing as this concept is, as far as we know, a concept, and therefore unavailable to purchase, we'll have to be content for now at rewatching the Studio Ghibli back catalogue, a lot of which is now available on Netflix. And if you get bored of that, then you can always try and make your own animated videos. Read more: Unmissable Studio Ghibli documentary is free to watch right now Is it possible to turn your iPad into a 3D studio? 11 animation tools for digital artists View the full article
-
The oh-so-subtle announcement of Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro yesterday means we're already seeing some great deals on the 2019 version of the powerful laptop. The best we've seen so far is a deal from B&H Photo, where the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,099. That's an impressive $200 saving, and currently the lowest price around on this particular 128GB model. If you'd prefer a more roomy device, B&H also has the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro reduced to $1,199 – an even more impressive $300 off. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops around, something that makes it a firm favourite among the creative community. It's 13.3-inch Retina display allows you to see and show off design work in all its glory, and the 8th Gen Intel Core processor can handle even the most complex of creative tasks. The B&H Photo sale doesn't stop at MacBooks, it's also got some great discounts on iPads. The best deal sees a late 2018 11-inch iPad Pro on sale for just $799 (a $150 saving). These impressive discounts are only on until stocks lasts, so don't delay. If you love a good deal, be sure to bookmark on Amazon Prime Day 2020 where we hope to see even more great Apple offers. Browse MacBooks and iPads at Apple.com MacBook deals: iPad deal: Outside the US? Here are the best offers on these and similar devices in your area: View the full article
-
As certain lockdown restrictions begin to be eased in some countries, attention is turning to what the next stage of the 'new normal' might look like – especially when it comes to public spaces. From social distancing to protective wear (check out our guide to where to buy a face mask), certain measures will no doubt remain part of life for a while. But thanks to one London architectural studio, you might soon be able to enjoy a picnic with friends. Sort of. Paul Cocksedge Studio has shared an open source blanket design, optimistically named Here Comes the Sun. It consists of four small, equidistant circles joined together by a large ring – leaving a massive hole in the middle. The small circles are each designed to accommodate a single person, while the large ring keeps everybody the necessary 2m apart. You might have to shout, but hey – it's better than nothing. Even the dog understands the need for social distancing Perhaps the best thing about the design is that you can make it yourself using a few household items including scissors, a sewing machine and 9sqm of "a non-fraying material such as felt". You can find Cocksedge's guide on dropbox. And if you're feeling particularly crafty, take a look at our guide to how to make a face mask. A screenshot from Cocksedge's guide "It's so easy to misjudge two metres," Paul Cocksedge told Dezeen, "especially when we're out again socialising with friends and family." He describes Here Comes the Sun as a "playful answer" to the problem. A few months ago we'd have found the very idea of the blanket utterly bemusing and even now, we have some questions. How do you carry it? Is picnic food allowed to enter the GIANT HOLE? Is it just us who think it resembles two Mickey Mouse headbands stuck together? It might look bizarre, but then we must remember – these are bizarre times. The blanket may well serve a useful purpose when picnics are back on the cards. It'll save us from having to carrying a tape measure to the park, for a start. It's also great to see Paul Cocksedge Studio make the design open source – yet another show of solidarity from the creative community during these unchartered times. Check out our list of the best free online resources for creatives stuck at home for more inspiration. Related articles: Face mask sewing tutorial: Create a fitted face mask with changeable filter Finally! Apple reveals Face ID 'fix' to unlock iPhones while wearing a face mask Disney launches face masks featuring popular characters View the full article
-
Working from home (WFH) has taken over as the new normal for employees at many organizations. Whether your outlook for extended WFH and social distancing is glass-half-full or half-empty, if you’re in IT, you’ve probably realized it drastically expands the estate you’re responsible for overseeing. Working from home brings numerous … Source View the full article
-
As some European countries have begun softening lockdown restrictions, face masks have become the world's most coveted commodity. More and more we're seeing wearing face masks being made mandatory for when people leave the house. Face masks are required to be worn while shopping in Austria, while some states in Germany are dishing out fines for those not wearing one in certain public spaces. Until recently, UK-wide guidance stopped short of suggesting that the public wear face masks – but that changed recently when Scotland's official face mask guidance was updated to state that "there may be some benefit in wearing a facial covering when you leave the house". Rather than surgical or medical-grade masks, which are currently very low on stock, it suggests one made of cloth or other textiles through which you can breathe – see our where to buy a face mask article to get yours. On the 30th April at the UK's government daily coronavirus press briefing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson commented they may be useful for epidemiological reasons and to give people confidence in returning to work, but more would be announced on official guidelines next week. But still, little has been revealed as to the government's plans. On the 5th May, UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab was asked in the daily coronavirus press briefing whether the government policy changed on face masks. Again the answer came that they are considering SAGE's (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) advice and will say more shortly. But with talks of lockdown easing slightly in the UK, more and more it looks like face masks will soon become an everyday item in UK households, and you can make sure you've got one handy just incase with our up-to-date list below on where to find face masks in the UK. And if none of those designs take your fancy, don't miss our how to make a face mask article, which details three simple ways (two with no sewing required) to make a face mask at home. The best fabric to make face masks at home Where to buy a face mask in the UK: quick links Etsy.co.uk – artist face masks from just £3.99 Ebay.co.uk – washable face masks at a bargain price HYPE – get three face masks for £24.99 with 100% of profits to the NHS Go Outdoors – get Buff face masks, which can also be used as a scarf Cotswold Outdoor – get Buff's merino wool patterned face covering. Where to buy a face mask in the UK View the full article
-
Learning how to make a face mask doesn't have to mean getting to grips with a complex pattern or dusting off your sewing machine. In fact, it can be done without any sewing whatsoever. There are many different ways to make a homemade face mask, and here, we cover three of the ways outlined by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), adding in our own tips on how to make the most comfortable and easy to put together face mask. If you'd rather buy a mask, then see our guide on where to buy a face mask right now, or use the quick links below to jump straight to retailers selling face masks. Face masks UK: Should you be wearing one? Plus where to buy them Where to buy face masks: quick links Etsy.co.uk – handmade face masks from just £3.99 Easylife – Pack of 30 surgical face masks for £29.99 Buff – stylish face coverings at low prices HYPE – get three face masks for £24.99 with 100% of profits for the NHS Ebay.co.uk – washable face masks at a bargain price Vistaprint: Kids and adults face masks for $18/$13 Silkies – two protective face masks for $16.99 Stringking – CDC-recommended cloth masks for just $6.99 Etsy.com – patterned face masks for as a little at $4 Los Angeles Apparel - 3 adjustable face masks for only $30 Sock Cares – funky face masks for only $12 3 ways to make a face mask This guide covers how to make a face mask using a T-shirt, how to make a bandana-style face mask, and how to sew your own face mask – jump to your preferred section using the links above. The first two require no sewing at all. The third does involve some needlework, either using fabric you have lying around at home, or some colourful or patterned fabric from a retailer like JOANN or Etsy (US) or John Lewis (UK). See our post on the best fabric for face masks for more options. Browse fabric at JOANN (US) – from just $3.99 p/y Browse fabric at John Lewis (UK) – from just £6.50 p/m But before we get into our instructions of making a face mask, first consider whether or not you need one at all. The official advice on this differs across the globe, but the general consensus is that wearing a homemade face mask will not help protect you from contracting Covid-19. However, it can help protect others from you passing on any germs that you may be carrying. Note that the face masks we're talking about here are not medical ones, and we wouldn't advise you to attempt making your own versions of PPE: leave that to the professionals. The CDC recommends wearing a face mask in places where social distancing is not possible, and many countries around the world, such as in most states in Germany, are also asking their citizens to wear face masks when out in public. Check your country's own guidelines if you are unsure and remember that wearing a face mask doesn't mean you should stop following social distancing measures, or stop washing your hands and practising good hygiene. With all of that in mind, here are three ways to make your own face mask. 01. How to make a bandana style face mask This is the easiest and quickest way to make a face mask You will need: A bandana or scarf 2 x elastic or rubber bands, or hair ties A coffee filter, paper towel or kitchen roll (optional) The easiest method for making your own face mask involves using a bandana or a scarf. Note that if your bandana or scarf is too thin – hold it up to the light to see how much you can see through it, the less you can see, the better – then your face mask won't be as effective. Materials that are tightly woven and 100 per cent cotton are best. The CDC recommends folding your bandana in half, then folding it again twice – lengthways from both the top and the bottom. At this point, you can also add a square piece of coffee filter, paper towel or kitchen roll to your mask – which you can change. Then place your rubber bands or hair ties around your strip of material, and fold the material in towards the middle, tucking the ends into each other if possible. Surgeon general, Dr Jerome Adam, demonstrates how to do this in the video below. As you can see, this is a very quick and easy method of making your own face mask. 02. How to make a T-shirt face mask You will need: A T-shirt Scissors Coffee filter or paper towel (optional) If you have a T-shirt that you don't mind cutting up, then you can easily and quickly make a face mask from it. Note that you don't want to be using really old T-shirts if they have holes in them or are worn through. Ideally, your T-shirt should be 100 per cent cotton and as opaque as possible. To start, simply cut the bottom off your T-shirt. The height of the amount of material you need should be the length from the top of your nose to underneath your chin (around 7-8-inches of 17-20cm). It's best to cut bigger than you think you need so you can trim the excess later. You then need to cut into your T-shirt – around 6-7-inches (15-17cm) – to make the ties for your face mask. Follow the video or diagram below to see how to do this. Next, cut your ties so that you can retie them around your head. Adjust until you get a snug fit around your nose and chin. If you like, you can add a coffee filter or paper towel to your face mask, and secure it with a safety pin. 03. How to make a cloth face mask with a sewing machine Make a cloth face mask in just four steps You will need: Cotton fabric (10 x 6-inches or roughly 25 x 15 cm) 2 x 6-inch (15cm) pieces of elastic or rubber bands, hair ties or strips of cloth Sewing machine Needle and thread Scissors Pins There are various ways to make a cloth face mask, of varying difficulty. The simplest patterns require just two pieces of cloth and some elastic, or something that you will use as ties. If you want your DIY face mask to stand out, try using bright or patterned fabric – John Lewis has loads of affordable designs in the UK, as does Etsy if you're in the States. First, place your two pieces of fabric on top of each other. You want the pattern that you'd like to be on the 'front' of your mask face down. The piece of material facing up towards you will be the inside of your mask. Next, fold over the long sides of the material around 1/4-inch or 0.5-1cm. Pin in place (don't worry too much if you don't have any pins, you can always use a needle or just keep checking that your fabric is held together) and hem. Hem just means folding the edges of your material over and stitching them so that your fabric will not fray and will stay together. Once you have hemmed along the length of your face mask, fold over the sides of your face mask around 1/2 an inch (1.5cm), pin and hem the sides too. Once you have created your hem, you can thread your elastic or hair ties through the hem you have created. You'll need a needle to do this, or a pin, or basically anything that you can use to poke the elastic through your hem – a thin pencil might do the job. With your ties threaded through the sides of your mask, tie your elastic or hair ties in secure knots, and move the knots until they can be tucked inside the hem. You can then adjust your face mask to fit your face, and add some stitches on either end of your face mask to keep your elastic in place. If you are a seasoned sewer, you can sew the whole thing in one go, turning it as you go (see video below). You could even add your elastic in before you hem. The reason beginner sewers shouldn't do this is that it's very easy to catch the elastic in your hem and accidentally sew it down, and that will make it much harder to adjust later. Read more: Free online resources for creatives stuck at home The best streaming services in 2020 This self-destructing website needs your help View the full article