#FF

Design Blogs for Graphic Designers (part two)

LazyLady-DesignBlogs

#FollowFriday//I shared my top, go-to design blogs before, but now I'm back with more! As I said previously, I make my living as a graphic designer. I'm the senior designer/editorial designer for an alternative weekly newspaper. I'm always looking at design blogs and looking for new ones when things get slow at the paper. If you're like me, you can never have too many design blogs in your arsenal.


Smashing Magazine is one that I've been reading for a loooooong time. It is full of really helpful articles that cover a wide range of design related topics, from front-end to back-end. My favorite post is their monthly desktop wallpapers. I used to change my desktops every month with these, but these days I'm just too lazy!


When I first started reading this blog, and a few of its sister blogs, it was called PsDTuts, but they have since combined all the tuts family into one big site called tuts+. You can still get to my favorite though by going to design.tutsplus.com. It's filled with Photoshop tutorials as far as the eye can see. Some of their tutorials are for premium members only (with paid memberships); however you can find a ton of great ones that are completely free! That's what I do, anyway.


If you are a publication designer, like me, you need to have this site in your tool bag. Magazine Designing is more on the technical, nitty-gritty side of design and a great resource. It covers laying things out on a twelve column grid, printing help and a ton more.


If you are a graphic designer, what are some of your favorite design blogs? Leave me a comment!

Instagram accounts you should be #following

FF-Instagram_LazyLady

I'm pretty new to Instagram, because I didn't see the point of having it when I had a "not-so-smart" phone. But over X-mas, Mr. LL got me an iPhone, so now I'm addicted. I thought for today's #FollowFriday, I'd mix things up and share my favorite Instagram accounts.

Skellie @omgliterallydead is my favorite Instagram account. Boney hands down. I love to imagine the person who runs this account taking this skeleton with them every where they go. Go check it out and follow for amazing things to come into your feed.


If you are on the internet and you read comic books, you've gotta know my friend @PatLoika. His Instagram is full of comic book goodness and cats...of which he owns none, apparently. But Pat is the greatest guy and he deserves all the love, so follow his feed and give him some!


One of my favorite YouTube channels is Good Mythical Morning, hosted by Rhett and Link. Their Instagram account is just as entertaining with things like Mini Horse Mondays and Waffles Wednesday. I recommend you first go check out their YouTube videos and then, if you become a Mythical Beast, head over and follow their Instagram.


I probably talk about Mallory from Miss Malaprop too much on this blog, but she is seriously my blogging hero and an all around cool person. I love her Instagram posts and the amazing messages she shares via them. They are like inspiring mini-blog posts with great photography.


Mickey Alice Kwapis' Instagram is full of cool photos and taxidermy. If you aren't a fan of dead things, maybe skip this one. If you like the art of immortalizing creatures, definitely check this one out. She'll be coming to New Orleans soon, and I really want to sign up for her taxidermy class.


And you can always check out my Instagram: @lazyladylife

DIY or die

DIY-FollowFriday

Somewhere, in an alternate reality, I am a person who actually does crafts from start to finish and I can do them phenomenally. However, in this reality, I live vicariously through craft blogs and I pin a million projects I'll probably never do.

Whether you are like me or if you actually do DIY/craft projects, you'll get some use out this round-up of blogs.


Studs & Pearls is the coolest DIY blog on the block. Kirsten takes inspiration from fashion trends and shows you how to make it yourself. Don't have a few hundred bucks to buy a studded leather jacket? She's made it, and she'll show you how.

UPDATE (APRIL 2016): Studs & Pearls is now Wild Amor. Same creator, and still amazing content.


Craftaholics is a collaborative labor of love. It is full of fun craft projects that are fairly do-able for most people to re-create. If you like to make your own home decorations for any or all the holidays, you will love this craft blog.


My alternate universe self can totally do cross-stitching and needlework. In this reality, I can sew on a button, just barely. Feeling Stitchy allows me to live out my needlework dreams through the amazing projects they share and tutorials/patterns they provide.


I love the projects Erin shares on thanks, I made it. They are always cool and don't have that "homemade" look to them (you know what I'm talking about). I love this blog and I never miss a post. She has it all, jewelry, accessories, clothing and home DIYs; and trust me, they are all pretty freakin' amazing.


To round out this round up, I'm throwing in the Craftster blog. Anyone who is into to DIY projects and crafts knows about Craftster, but until recently I didn't know they had a blog!


Do you know of any craft/DIY blogs? Share them with me and feed my obsession!