SOFT Style Guide

My sister facetimed her boys, while they stayed with us. That means I got to facetime with her as well.

I asked how her convention in St Louis was going. She said she needed a Style Guide, for a logo I created for the SOFT organization.

I have my students make a style guide. It takes all semester. In my mind I was like - Really, while I'm watching 3 of your boy, you're going to ask me to do this? I know she didn't know all she was asking. I think she thought I just needed a page saying the font and colors. BUT that's not all a style guide is. It's also used to show how not to use a logo. It also gets into the spacing around a logo. That can't be done with measurements. A logo can be used for something small - like a business card, and something big - like a billboard. You have to show the spacing with a letter or graphic in the logo.

I started working on it this week. Two weeks after she asked me.

I went in thinking I could do it on a page, but that expended to a mini book. Usually a Style Guide is a mini book.

If I've seemed absent from blogging it's because of helping Isaak with school, taking Isaak to basketball practices, and working on things like this SOFT Style Guide.

Soft Style Guide by on Scribd

Do you have any big projects you've been working on?

WW: SOFT Picnic {Linky}

In July I went to a picnic in support of SOFT, which is a nonprofit organization. They push research for children born with Trisomy 13 and 18. My nephew Emerson has Trisomy 18.

First off I designed their logo. Oh my goodness it was a designer's nightmare. They wanted blue, yellow, and red to be a part of the logo. Many logos are just 1 or 2 colors. They wanted a rainbow and balloons in the logo as well.

After that my sister wanted me to design t-shirts for the event. It was to be in Omaha, so she wanted the SOFT logo to be a part of it, but it to also say Omaha. I worked with the "O" in SOFT, incorporated the Omaha skyline, and a few animals because we have the best zoo in the world right here along with a kid in a wheelchair. I think with all the stuff they kept adding it turned out pretty good.

I just wish I would have gotten photos of some people wearing the shirts. 

Instead here's my nephew Edison who got his arm painted. My sister was so busy with the conference, I did odd things like wait in the face painting line with Edison, help serve cake, and did a lot of cleaning up in the end. 

My Mom had a 2 month old baby before me that passed away from Trisomy 18. My sister and Mom are rare carriers of Trisomy 18. They handed ornaments out to those that lost a child. 

Here's my nephew Emerson that couldn't stay for the fun. He had/has hand, foot and mouth disease. He was in long enough for my brother-in-law to eat, and left.

A few older ones with Trisomy 18. I love with all her problems, she was persistent in pushing the wheel chair around. *Note you can see one of my t-shirts back there.

Part of their ceremony, balloons are let go when their son or daughter's name is called off. I only knew 2 names, but felt like crying with every name.

My nephews:

 My sister Terra:

Balloons that represent people that have passed away.

If you want to read more about Trisomy 18, please read here: https://www.omaha.com/livewellnebraska/health/their-kids-rare-condition-was-long-seen-as-fatal-but/article_418762d4-4528-560b-8528-cfeeca7fd47d.html.

Gift Card Karma “Impacting Lives One Gift Card at a Time”

I'm super excited to share with you a nonprofit I discovered this year.

The nonprofit is called Gift Card Karma. 

The founder of Gift Card Karma believes that what you give, you get.  She also believes that great things are done when small things are brought together. 

What is Gift Card Karma? 

Gift Karma is a nonprofit organization that helps other local nonprofits. They collect unwanted gift cards, and donate them to organizations in need.

Did you know that the average U.S. household has over $300 in unused gift cards sitting in purses, wallets and desk drawers?  

Gift Card Karma’s mission is to connect unused or partially redeemed gift cards with small, local charities that use them to directly impact lives throughout our community.

• A homeless shelter for pregnant women used gift cards from Babies R Us to purchase diapers and formula. 

• A pet shelter for senior dogs used PetSmart gift cards to purchase dog food and shampoo.

• Starbucks or Scooters gift cards have been used for a local safe house for homeless teens bought coffee for their kitchen. They've also been used for a horse riding academy for physically challenged children and vets used them to buy bulk coffee to serve to the 150 volunteers that work at their facility each week.

Below is a picture of my nephew Emerson at the same horse riding academy that Gift Card Karma helped supply gift cards to.

Gift Card Karma’s experience dealing with local charities ensures your contribution always supports a good cause. 

Got gift cards cluttering your purse, wallet, desk, and sock drawer?  

They are a valuable resource for those in need.  It’s easy to donate!

There is an option to upload a photo of your gift card. Please donate today at giftcardkarma.org/donate. 

Visit Gift Card Karma on their website, their facebook page, and on their twitter page.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in anyway to write this post. I truly believe that Gift Card Karma is a great way to give back to our community. 

Sing For Hope

Art can be used to promote positive aspirations for individuals in different neighborhoods and communities. All forms of creative expression can be used to paint encouraging images in the minds of others. SingforHope.org brings a powerful mission to bridge the gap between artists and the communities in New York City. Through cultural interactions, musical artists contribute powerful messages to society as a whole, which help to transform the hearts of many people. Community arts programs can also bring many groups of people with diverse personality and cultural differences together in unity.

The development of social justice is greatly inspired by the work of performing artists. Many performing artists are referred to as role models and representations of positive lifestyles. Through volunteer efforts and community contributions, artistic outreach programs enable individuals, who would not otherwise engage in artistic expression, to participate in the beauty of musical demonstrations. Most of the volunteer artists strive for alternative methods to promote community development. Their demonstrations attract a wide variety of individuals, who are appreciative of the artists’ work.

Many art outreach projects are created with the aim of awakening the awareness and perceptions of others. By having optimistic dreams, many people have the opportunity to create positive futures. Hence, artistic expression is the best method to help individuals acquire confidence and self-assurance. When many different artists come together to take part in a coalition of cultural development, it can potentially influence a global movement.

SingforHope.org desires to bring art to all people, rather than those who have the resources to connect with artistic performances. Many individuals in under-privileged areas may not easily have access to various forms of art. Whether the artists are performing at outdoor parks, schools, healthcare facilities, street corners or indoor recreational venues, the artists have the power to reach millions of people.

Discover a variety of public art projects where people join in the company of pianists who perform beautiful musicals. Street pianos New York at SingforHope.org incorporate the foundations needed to produce music as well as include a display of authentic visuals. Anyone can also attend some of scheduled performances that are open to the public.

Disclaimer: I did not write this review. I do stand by the the organization SingforHope.org. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review. I did get compensated for posting this.