CLEVERcreating - Page 7 of 45 - Balance between thinking and doing

How to Make Money from your Hobby or Passion?

October 29, 2024August 7, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

In 20 Ideas on how to make money after retirement on another website, I offered some possibilities to earn extra cash. But what if you have no idea how and where to start to make money from your hobby? I’ll give you some ideas here.

One of the most important conditions is that you are creative in coming up with possibilities.

“But I’m not creative at all,” I hear you say. Well, that’s the first thought you should let go of. Everyone is creative, for the simple reason that you are not born with it and can develop it.

In an adaptation of Edison’s quote:
“Creativity is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”.

It’s Great to Combine Collage with Drawing or Painting

August 4, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Collages can be created in many ways.

Sometimes, I fill the entire surface with magazine pieces that are put together to create an interesting composition.

In other cases, however, I prefer to leave the collage open and simple, so that I can paint or draw more freely on the background.

To combine collage with drawing or painting is a great way of making mixed media images.

Simple Printing Techniques for the Best Relaxing Hobby

July 31, 2023July 31, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Printing is to multiply images and/or texts by making several identical prints of a master form.

Printing had everything to do with my past profession as a graphic designer and still is a joy as a relaxing activity in my present life.

In this article, I will list an overview of several techniques emphasising simple printing techniques that can easily be practised at home.

For the sake of completeness, I will also mention professional printing techniques.

Possible Mistakes in Cyanotype and Some Useful Solutions

August 18, 2023July 28, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

If you start a new hobby, you will make mistakes. That’s part of the game, also when you make cyanotypes, and it’s okay.

Some mistakes are final, but that’s “tuition money” most of the time. Other errors can either be covered up or corrected. And some mistakes have a surprising effect. Beautiful results came from accidental errors.

The most important tip is to keep a log so that you know what you did. By the way, a log is also convenient to repeat successful results.

Is the Meaning of Symbols Easily Recognizable to Everyone?

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Often people assume that the meaning of symbols is easier to comprehend than written text. Most of the time, this assumption is wrong.

In the same way that any foreign language must be learned, the idiom of symbols must also be learned. Some symbols or characters are immediately obvious, others require a table with an explanation.

However, we pick up a lot of knowledge about symbols just by looking around in the town where we walk or using public transport. And when everybody knows the meaning of a certain symbol, it communicates a lot quicker than written language. Especially when many languages are used in one place, for example at an airport.

What are the Qualities of Good Signs that are Eye-catching and Valuable?

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

There are good signs and there are bad signs. To know the qualities of good signs we just have to look around and experience the signage that surrounds us.

Don’t you agree that a lot of signs are confusing? Our environment is so full of messages, promotions, and both visual and auditory noise, that it’s hard to focus on the signs that we need at a specific moment.

Still, some signs are marvellous. In a way, it’s a pity that the better the design is, the less we notice the signs because they do their job instantly and without complicating things.

Why Are Monograms Used by Fashion Brands and Others?

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Nowadays it is fashionable for fashion brands to put their monogram on bags and clothes. Why are monograms used that way?

A monogram is a powerful sign, made of 2 or a few letters, that is compact and recognizable.

Monogram-like signs were used as early as ancient times. They could have a religious meaning or serve to identify the author or sender.

In the Middle Ages, royals and prelates used their monograms, consisting of letters of their first and last names. In the centuries that followed, artists signed their work with a monogram.

How to Customize your WordPress Theme, 3 Advanced Tips

July 10, 2023July 10, 2023 by Hannie Mommers

Questions in the comments on a blog are always great. It’s a marvellous chance to dive deeper into something. For instance: How to customize your WordPress theme.

Catherine’s question on WordPress Tips for Beginners is how to find or change a font that a theme uses.

The answer is about fonts, but almost all other elements like colour and sizes that use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) can be changed this way. A website I consult often about CSS is w3schools. The explanation is good and there is a lot to find.