erin terrell clarkson [etc]

Create Your Own Custom iPhone Ringtone

I haven't done a tech-related post lately, so here's a fun one...

Want to make your own iPhone ringtones? Of course you do! Otherwise you'll end up using the cheesy options Apple gives you. (And really, who wants a quacking duck as their ringtone? NOT ME!) 

Here's a step-by-step tutorial. First, always make sure you're using the most updated version of iTunes. Just makes sense to keep things updated, right? I'm using 10.2 (or something like that) for this tutorial. The next thing to remember is that the iPhone currently only allows for a 30 second ringtone, so, you'll need to find a song that has a 30 second section or chorus you like. 

• Right-click on the song you want to make into a ringtone and select "get info". [For my sample, I'm going to go with Joe Nichols' "Gimmie That Girl".]    

           

• Select the "options" tab and go to "start time" and "stop time". Check both boxes. Put the time you want your ringer to start and to stop. (Remember, the ringtone has to be less than 30 seconds). Click "OK". [For my sample, I'll have it start at 35 seconds and end at 59 seconds.]

          

• Right-click on your newly "clipped" version of the song and select "Create AAC Version". (This will only work for songs that aren't Digital Rights Management [DRM] protected songs. If your selected song is DRM protected, you'll have to use Garage Band to create an iPhone ringtone. HERE is a tutorial for doing it that way.)

          

• After creating the AAC version, go to your iTunes "Music" folder and locate the song. You should have two versions of the song now - the full version and the "clipped" version you've just created. 

           

• Select the "clipped" version and drag it to your desktop.

           

• Go back to your iTunes Music folder, locate the "clipped" version of your song, and delete it.

          

• Return to the song on your desktop, and change the extension from .m4a to .m4r (select ".m4r" when the pop-up window asks which extension you prefer to use). [You can see the file in the lower right-hand corner on my desktop here]:

          

• Go back to your iTunes Music folder and find the original version of your song. Right click on it again, select "get info", go to the "options" tab, and be sure to uncheck the two boxes next to stop and start time (so the full-length of the song will play again). 

          

• Double-click on the song on your desktop and iTunes will automatically load it into your ringtones folder. From there, all you have to do is connect your iPhone to your computer/iTunes and update your ringtones. [Sorry if you're offended by any of my ringtones listed in the photo below, but I'm not going to delete them for the sake of this tutorial because they are ringtones I actually use. ;o)]   

           

If you have any questions, ask away in the comments! 

Setting Up Your Own Blog

Just a quick post for my friend, K (or anyone else who wants to set up their own blog, because I've had a few people ask). Follow this link: Set up your Typepad blog now! Hoping that works! If not, I also added a button over to the left of this screen <----- (below my photo and email) You can do a free trial for -- two weeks? I think -- to see if you like it. If you decide to start a Typepad blog, do a search for "Typepad coupon codes" before you pay - then use one of their recent promotions. They always have promotions going on. Right now, you can type in the code "VRWEBINAR" and get 15% off the lifetime cost of a blog. They are ridiculously cheap to start anyway - I think I pay less than $10 a month?

OK, back to your regularly scheduled life. ;o) 

Shake It app

Do many of you have an iPhone? I do, and I find it to be a great addition to many of the other tools I use for scrapbooking. The camera on my iPhone is probably my most used feature (other than texting, of course). The photos aren't high quality, but I love that I can carry my iPhone with me anywhere and snap photos I would otherwise miss out on. (My bulky digital camera only sees the light of day on vacations or when my cute niece and nephew are visiting.)

I have a few apps I like for the iPhone. Photoshop, of course - that goes without saying. It does tend to frustrate me at times, because I find myself wishing it had the same capabilities as the full version. Hipstamatic is another one I like. It simulates different lenses and has a lot of neat effects. The ShakeItPhoto app is also fun. It's a lot like having an old Polaroid camera on hand at all times. Plus - it happens to be kind of fun to shake the phone so the photos will process faster. :o)

With my iPhone I can collect the mundane images of my everyday life that I normally wouldn't capture on film, such as...

breakfast:

 

or, me driving:

(it's a fun way to pass the time when you're stuck in traffic):

lunch:

Daisy, being her usual cute self:

Let me know if you've discovered any apps I need to try out. They don't have to be photo related, either - just any app that makes life easier or more fun.

What Type of Thinker are You?

I just completed a project, and I'm about to begin a few more. However, before I do, I felt compelled to clean off my desk. Anyone else the same way? I know some "artistic types" need to have a clean slate between each project, while others function better in the midst of a creative mess.

I have to admit, I'm in the middle. During a project, my desk is a complete and total mess, but  I strip it down to the basics before beginning anything new:

[The basics, for me...are apparently anything mac related. I guess you can tell I'm a bit of a mac junkie.]

As explained to me at some point in time, the logic behind this is because I fall squarely in the middle of being left-brained and right-brained. What exactly does that mean? It means I'm about 50% analytic/rational/logical and about 50% creative/artistic/free-thinking/emotional.

To be exact: I'm 52% left-brain dominant and 48% right-brain. ;o) Here are the results of my test:

If you want to take the test yourself (it takes less than 2 minutes to answer the questions), here's the link: Left Brain vs. Right Brain Test

It's evident in my projects that my logical side tends to rule. Almost everything I create is very linear and contained. Sometimes it's evident in others as well. For example, if I had to bet, I'd say Mary Macaskill is left-brain dominant and Elsie Flannigan is right-brain dominant. (Neither style of thinking is better than the other, in case you were wondering.)

Look at your own creations and see if you can determine which side rules. When flipping through magazines or online layouts, you may also notice you're drawn more towards a certain person's style, based on how closely their thought process relates to your own.

Give it a try, then let me know what your results are!

Tech Tuesday: Dropbox

I wanted to discuss online storage options today. I mentioned in this post that I am pretty good about backing up my computer files. My photos are so important to me: I would hate to ever lose them. Because of that, I  back them up to an external hard drive, but I also back them up online. It's nice to know if I ever lost my photo albums (aka: scrapbook pages), I'd still have a backup I could access online.

I've used Flickr for years, but I have so many photos I have to pay for a Pro Account there. Recently I was searching for additional storage options and my pal Laura sent me to Dropbox. (Laura is a wealth of information!) I signed up for an account, and I'm now using it religiously to back up more and more stuff.

Other than the secure feeling of having my photos and documents backed up, I love how easy it is to share photos with family through online photo storage.. I am a slow scrapbooker, so by the time I finish a page about an event it may be weeks, months, or years later! I don't scrapbook in any particular order -- just whenever the mood strikes. My family appreciates when I share photos online so they don't have to wait forever to see what we've been up to.

Here is an example of one of the photos I just uploaded (Daisy with one of her favorite birthday presents):

She is quite the little poser. That's a makeup kit and we had just exited ULTA -- where she experimented with every type of lip gloss and eyeshadow in the store (or so it seemed).

Tech Tuesday: Mac Memory

I'm in need of upgrades for my computer. I have a great online store I use whenever I need extra memory for my mac (although they do sell for pc, too):

Mac Memory Upgrades (aptly titled, eh?)

However, I don't have a clue where to get a good deal on an external hard drive. I need a 1TB drive that is mac compatible. Anyone, anyone? The thing I love about Mac Memory Store is that all of their memory is backed by a 100% lifetime warranty. They are also a huge online store with secure shopping and very inexpensive shipping (free, most of the time). I like to shop from stores referred by my friends and family. Stores I can trust -- not ones that offer huge deals in exchange for stealing my credit card number. *grin*

So, if you have an online store you really trust and would recommend for a good price external hard drive, PLEASE let me know. I'll be forever grateful! Thanks in advance. :o) Hugs ~erin

Tech Tuesday: Rollip

If you recall this post, I talked a bit about a super-delightful application called PolaDROID. I still love using it and love the look of it, but wanted to post a similar site because, well...variety is the spice of life, right? :o)

Without further ado, I give you: ROLLIP

Suuuuuch a fun site!! I have to thank my friend, Steph McAtee for introducing me to it. Steph is an unbelievably talented mixed-media artist, so I highly recommend checking out her blog for inspiration. However, I digress.

Rollip gives you options for a few different Polaroid styles, as well as a variety of text options to label your shots. Here's one of the darker styles with a fun typewriter font (how much do you love this photo of me with my little brother?! The bonnet kills me; I can certainly never complain my mom didn't protect me from the sun.):

Here is another style, using the lighter option on the Rollip site as well as a funkier font...complete with coffee stain! I love it:

Look at me...with the big blue glasses, floral pants, and my mini yellow tractor. Good times, indeed. 

Give Rollip a try and let me know how you like it. I could play for days on end, creating funky Polaroids (but then I'd never get any work done!). Also, like PolaDROID, Rollip has a Flickr Group where people post their photos for inspiration. Have fun with it!

Tech Tuesday

Tech Tuesday again and I wanted to remind you to back up all of your important information. Get in the habit of doing it on a regular basis and on a schedule that works for you. In my case, I add so much to my computers that I should back them up every day, but I've decided once a week is realistic enough for me. :o)

I have an external hard drive I use to back up my important files. Back in the day, I used to burn all of my photos and info to cds, but those days are long gone (thank goodness!). These days, whenever I upload a photo to my desktop or laptop, I will save it in a folder called "BACK UP" (yes, I use all caps as a subtle reminder of how important the task is). At the end of the week, I transfer everything that needs to be backed up to the proper folders on my external hard drive.

Because my photos are so important to me, I also back them up online. I use flickr, but there are quite a few online storage sites. I also add some of my favorites to Facebook every now and then. You have to be careful, because you can spend too much time uploading to various sites if you share photos everywhere; I prefer one central location I can send my friends and family to.

Here's a screen shot so you can see my "BACK UP" folder yelling at me:

Tech Tuesday

I admit it; I am a MAC lover (and I'm not talking about the makeup brand!).

I am constantly on the lookout for things that make my life easier when it comes to computers and technology. If you ever check out any fun applications and you want to share them with me, I'd love to hear all about them. I'm going to try to share any fun finds I run across, as well.

Today I want to share one of my favorite applications. It is useful for blogging, scrapbooking (digitally or paper scrapping), and for sharing photos. It's just a fun app...period. It's called Poladroid and it turns your photos into a Polaroid-style image. 

You don't have to be a Mac user to download Poladroid. It's free and it works on PCs and Macs. Download the application (PolaDROID.net), follow the directions to install it, and then start using it! It's a really fun way to showcase vacation photos and any type of fashion photos. For example, I recently had a photo shoot with my daughter where she modeled her back-to-school outfits (she was so excited; she couldn't wait to wear them). I did a little Poladroid action on the photos and she loved the fun vibe...and shared them with all of her friends.

There is a fun flickr group where you can see lots of inspiring photos if you're in need of ideas. Here is a shot or two of me where I've used Poladroid so you can see it in action:

 

 

Give it a try and let me know what you think of it! Link me to any of the fun photos you create, as well. And if you have any great applications or tech ideas to share, please don't hesitate to do so! I love technology, but I am definitely a "newbie" in that department so I need all of the tips I can get.

hugs~ erin