I've been toying around with the idea for a blog button for a long time now, but I'm too cheap to hire someone to design it for me, and I stubbornly cling to the notion that I'm creative enough to do it myself. Unfortunately, the spirit is willing but the tools are weak; I don't have Adobe Photoshop so my arsenal of graphic tools is limited to Microsoft Paint and Microsoft PictureIt Premium. Some of Alfie's graphic designer friends have recommended free vector illustration tools on the web but they've just been way too intimidating, and I've always gone back to good ol' Paint and PictureIt.
Last week someone showed me the twitter icon they had created from MadMenYourself.com. The likeness was uncanny, so I decided to check it out. I thought it was one of those sites which turn your photo into a cartoon, but you actually create your avatar from a selection of head shapes, skin tones, body types, facial features, etc.. I'm not convinced it looks anything like me, but I suppose it's as good a cartoon of me as anything else I've seen out there. At least I don't look like a teenage Japanese mangga heroine.
So I used the MadMen avatar I created to make this new blog button. For consistency, I used the color scheme and font that I came up with for my BlogHer business cards. What do you think?
Update: After Alfie told me my nose looks nothing like that and my chin definintely isn't that huge I received some feedback, I went back and changed my avatar's face shape and nose. It doesn't look any more or less like me than the first button, but hey, it's all about finding my inner Bonggamom anyway -- and if I want my inner Bonggamom to have a smaller face, no double chin and a perpetually-lipstick'ed mouth, then so be it. So, which one should it be? A or B?
8 comments:
To be honest, I think you are much prettier than the button you created!
looks great! I would of helped you out. Next time ask. :P
The new button looks good but I have to agree with Alice! Could you integrate the picture from your avatar into the button rather than the drawn one? Maybe Carla could assist!
I agree with everyone else. I don't think your button does justice to your style and presence. I love the font and the colors though. Can you find a picture of you to include?
The second button 'B' is definitely the best, but I have to agree with the previous comments and suggest you create an avatar from a photo so that the image reflects your true beauty - as well as your inner bongga!
I hate to say that I agree with everyone, but I do. I prefer B to A, but neither does your site or you justice. You're just so much more lively and fun and full of life.
I know there's a tutorial bouncing around for how to make great blog buttons on picnik.com. You can do something really cool with them for free and it's totally user friendly.
I agree to all of the above =)
Like the new button. You are much better looking, I agree!
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