Guide to Unique Poster Making

The Do It Yourself category has a wide range of subcategories and today i'm going to talk about school poster making. If you don't feel like reading and just want some poster ideas then i suggest that you scroll to the bottom. Maybe my poster examples may persuade you to read the process.

Know the Basics

First you have to know what kind of audience you are attracting: adult audience, young audience.
As well as what you are doing the posters for: club, sport, office position.
And what you want people to do once they read your poster: be convinced to join that club, go to a sport match to support the team, vote for you for an office, etc...

Planning the Posters

Once you have established these things, it's time to make a rough draft. Think of or search for some great slogans that people have used . Make it catchy or funny so people will actually remember it and talk about it at lunch or after school. Then think of a cool design. Even if you don't consider yourself a creative person, you do have an imagination so use it! Think of what slogans and designs would appeal to you. Make a rough draft on a separate piece of paper.

Get the Right Supplies

The basics are:

• different color poster board (i recommend neon)
• poster markers (big markers) or paint
• scissors, pencil

And if you want to get a bit crazy:

• glitter
• props relating to your subject (ex. if promoting a cooking class, paste a paper plate on there with fake food)
• pictures (also relating to your subject)
• door hanger strips 
• post its 
• Seriously you can use a lot of different things if you just think creatively

Making the Posters

Make your creation come to life! And remember that if you mess up, there's always a back. It doesn't have to be perfect. You've got your template so just go for it. By the way your poster will never be "perfect" but it will be awesome because you took the time and effort to make it.

Location, Location, Location 

Just as important as making the poster is figuring out where to put the posters. If they are hung on a wall on a hallway where no one goes, then the poster (no matter how good it may be) becomes very ineffective. At my school there are about 8 top places to put posters where people will actually notice them. Here are places I suggest:

• Bottom of staircases: people may be looking at the bottom of the stairs as they are walking down or when they get to the bottom of the stairs, they will look up. Either way they will see your poster.
• Top of staircase: not as effective as the bottom of the staircase, because not everyone may look up at this point but instead at the direction they are going. It's still a notable place. to but a poster
• Corners of busy intersections: get it to the eye level of people. If your tall make it a bit lower and your short then make it higher (the latter is my problem!) If these intersections are slow, people will either talk to their friends or look at the wall.
• Entrances: to the cafeteria, the main entrance of the school for drivers, main entrance for bus goers. 
• Fork in the roads: If there is a hallway that many people walk and there is a wall and then they have to turn one way, then put your poster on that wall. 

Places that people put posters but I don't recommend:

• Inside the Cafeteria: people are too busy talking to their friends and eating to care about what is on the wall. 
• Sides of long hallways: people are going to look straight and walk right past your poster

So here are a few examples of posters that I have made. Hopefully they give you some inspiration. Good luck!

Cutout

Collage

Cutout Font

 

Halloween DIY

I'm definetely using these things to decorate. Oh and I'm going to be a mummy for Halloween. Never too old to go trick or treating!

These are so cool!!

http://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/07/glow-stick-lanterns.html

I'm going to use some of my old shoes that are lying in the garage.

 http://www.parents.com/holiday/halloween/decorating/spooky-decorations/?page=2

I've got these ready for Halloween haha:)

http://www.marthastewart.com/275513/indoor-halloween-decorations/@center/276965/halloween

Cool DIY

Here are some cool DIY that I have actually tried and succeeded in doing. Try them out!

The end result for this is so awesome! You can use just one color with a bunch of different shades. However, don't just leave it out in the sun (that's what I did but I wasn't as successful)

http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/2011/08/you-knew-i-was-going-to-make-one.html

This one was super fun to do and I was happy with my end result.

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/01/diy-fashion-blooming-bib-recycled-t-shirt-necklace/

And here are some DIY that I'm planning on doing!

For Valentine's Day

I already bought balloons. I am ready for this project!

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/03/celebration-balloon-wreath/

Vacancy Apartments

So it's about that time for students moving to college to decide where they want to stay. It's never too early to be searching for the right place. One of the colleges I've been thinking of applying to is Columbia University which is located in New York City; the city that never sleeps and is known for its fashion! I was looking at apartments in that area and vacancy.com made it super easy. I think I found the perfect one!



The Chelsea Place

Outside of Awesome Apartment

Why I love it: There are several reasons! The price is great compared to other apartments in that area. It looks fabulous on the outside and the inside. There is so much room to fit everything like my bed, shelves, and plenty of furniture so that when friends come over they will actually have room to sit down and visit. I can even decorate everything however I want and allow for my creativity to flourish. The room also has a very nice kitchen which isn't too big. This installment will help me save money by choosing to cook instead of eating out. I also love that everything is just a short distance away. It is super close to Herald Square, The Hudson River, and Times Square (I can see a Broadway show whenever I want and for New Years I'll be able to get there early and get a great spot). This will definetely help me take advantage of my new college freedom! 

  The Chelsea Place also gives their residents access to a fitness center (I still have to stay in shape), a laundry area (so much better than paying for it at the dry cleaners), and an elevator (people tend to take this for granted). But of course, like most good things, it does have a downside. No pets are allowed! But that means that the apartment must smell good! How could you not love this place?

Here's the link: http://www.vacancy.com/new-york/new-york-apartments/chelsea-place/

Q: What would you wear with a leopard belt?

A: I'm a visual person so here you go! Just try to keep it simple. Match it with a solid color not another print so that the belt stands out. Most of the items here are actually at a really good price. Hope this inspires you!



Leopard Belt by nathaliarojas featuring charlotte russe shoes

Lanvin sleeveless dress, $3,895Rachel Gilbert no sleeve shirt, £85Plunging neckline top, $76Seven For All Mankind skinny leg jeans, $180Pants, $80Charlotte russe shoes, $30Dorothy Perkins flat heels, £23ASOS clutch bag, $37TopShop leather belt, $32Dorothy Perkins buckle belt, £6Dorothy Perkins shiny belt, £5

Room Decorating Idea

My friend actually gave me this cute idea. Buy a few mardi gras type necklaces and wall letters (easily found at the dollar store). Cut the necklaces up and find a place on the wall to place it! I used tape and it's not noticeable. Try it!

Glitter Nails

So homecoming is coming up this weekend and I already bought my dress! It was $30 at Burlington Coat Factory and it's super cute! They had some awesome deals. So next I had to think of how to paint my nails so here's what I did using Revlon Clear and Midnight Affair plus some glitter.

Paint your nails a base color and let dry. Then, take some glitter and put it in a small cap where your finger can fit.

Paint your nails and immediately dip the tips in the glitter before it dries. Make sure you've covered what you  wanted with glitter. Let dry. (You can also just take some glitter with your fingers and drop it onto your nail but you get a different result) Lastly, paint your nails with one or two a clear top coats so that the glitter stays!

 

Going Shopping: Get it or Forget it? Stop Impulse Shopping

Do any of these apply to you?

• I saw something but I'm not sure if I can afford it!
• I saw something and I have to have it! It's the latest fashion!
• I saw something but I'm not sure if I need it

Well I'm here to help! Here are the steps to decide whether you should buy it or deny it! (I felt that I needed another rhyme...)

Scenario: Let's say you find some shoes (these steps apply to other items too. I am just using shoes as an example). They are a little pricey even though they aren't designer, but they are the latest style. Should you get it?

Step 1:
Do I have something like this already?
Now think hard. You may need to go home and look through your stuff (a little organization may help)

A- Yes I have something like that or something that I can make to look like it. (Then don't get it)
B- No I dont have something like that (See step 2)

Step 2: 
What can I wear it with?

A- Yes there is this outfit that would go perfect with them. Oh and this other outfit as well! And...(Get it. It seems like you could use it)
B- Not really. I mean I could use it with a few outfits but I wear other things that complete the outfits perfectly. (Probably shouldn't get it but see step 3)

Step 3:
Still can't decide? Then go home and don't go back to the store for about a week.

A- If during that period of time you thought, "Man I should have gotten those shoes. I could use them right about now," then go back to the store and get them! If they aren't there when you return, then it wasn't meant to be.
B- If you never really thought that then Forget them! You didn't need them anyway! Way not to have fallen into the trap of the impulse shopper!

It's never bad to indulge yourself in something you want. If you've got the money for it then get it! You've earned it! Just make sure its something you will use so that you don't waste your money. Special occasions are exceptions as well. For Prom, if you like a dress you buy it (As long as you don't put yourself in debt). So follow these steps to help you and keep on shopping!