#I might make myself some stickers out of these

[headfullof-ideas]

Inktober, only it’s not an actual prompt it’s just some work doodles of my original creature the Vareekla, and a potential OC

[xitsensunmoon]

My first ever comic con! And first cosplay too. Of course it's gonna be my boy :] Ramblings about the process are under the cut(Let me know if?? You would want me to elaborate with process images for any of the steps?)

The costume took me forever to make, as I've never done any machine sewing, sculpting, fabric dying or spray painting before but learning all of these was so fucking fun!! I never realised just how many different skills go into making a cosplay but it was so worth it!!!

Almost all of the clothes(except the hat) were purchased first as bases, but all of the detailing was added by me. All of the fabric used was originally just scraps that I was given for free so I needed to learn how to dye and dye all of the stars, they were originally white.

The sewing machine was its own beast that brought me tons of frustration from the lack of skill and knowledge (it was devastating to find out that 95% of fuck ups were my fault and not the machine's lmao). But as a result, a hat sewn from scratch, all of the fur trims, embroidery on the corset, stars and the collar(which is very hard to see on the pictures unfortunately) was all added manually. The stars and the stripes(on the back of the cape) were attached using heat-and-bond adhesive (I WISH I knew about such thing just when I started working on this. It would save me so much time and nerves.)

Then I found out about polymorph(mouldable plastic) and it has become the next thing I wanted to learn, to sculpt the claws and the fangs(yes, they're handmade jfksjs). The claws I then primed and painted in trillion coats because I wasn't satisfied with the colour of the spray paint. The fangs I moulded to my own teeth and then stained with tea to match the colour of my teeth :)c

As for makeup, I used Mehron Paradise water activated paints. At first I wanted to try to save money and bought myself Snazaroo instead, which unfortunately turned out to be a waste. Snazaroo didn't hold on my face for longer than 2 hours, cracking and peeling awfully. Mehron on the other hand survived 11 hours of me smiling, talking, emoting and such and didn't even crease at the smile lines(I'm actually shocked about that). It obviously works like any other makeup which means your skin texture and wrinkles won't go anywhere but Mehron's elasticity pleasantly surprised me. It did obviously smear from sweat and saliva(if you're eating and licking your lips) but if you don't touch the skin it just dries again, self setting. But if it's dry it's fully smear-proof. Highly recommend!

And last but not least, I've decided against painting my hands as it was very risky that I will stain everything I touch at the smallest hint of sweat. So instead I got myself gloves-tights(? Not sure how they're called but it's made from the same fabric as tights) and painted them with normal acrylic paint(did you know you could dye fabric with acrylic paint? I personally didn't), then heat set with an iron and voilà, they're reusable, my hands are not stained after an exhausting day and I don't stain everything I touch. It worked wonderfully which honestly was a surprise as I was really sceptical that acrylic paint will somehow stay in place.

I think this whole thing took me minimum of 6 months with big-big breaks for my school and life in general. But I'm really proud! This project taught me so many new skills and I couldn't have been happier about learning new knowledge, even if it sucked to fail in the meantime.

Everyone at the con was really nice and gave me a large confidence boost even tho it was my first time and I had no idea what I was doing. Taking photos with other people was really awkward/new for me as I hate cameras so I really had no idea how to pose/behave in front of one. But that's okay I think. This whole experience definitely made me want to do this again, so I think that will come with experience. Thank you for reading this far, hope you enjoyed this little summary :)

[kirby-the-gorb]

[fingertipsmp3]

If anyone here keeps a reading/book journal what do you dooo. I feel like I’ve tried multiple options and none of them have really been perfect

[yugsly]

I am Once Again in the year 2025 telling kids to stop self-reporting to me that they read my 18+ comics, that's a good way to get an artist to shrink away and stop posting their vulnerable art online... or posting all together. If you went and read it despite the 18+ sticker I Just Do Not Want You To Tell Me. Again I realize at this point I cannot stop anyone I just don't want to know at least. I cannot imagine myself, as a kid, going up to an artist of some 18+ manga I read and being like "I read your comic even tho I am a kid teehee" . I know we all broke the rules at some point or another as a kid and read/saw something out of our age range, but tapping the glass like that just seems out of the question. A lot of the stories I want to tell are adult in nature, but if I keep getting kids messaging me about those adult works it just makes me feel like I cannot do it- I don't want them to get involved in adult communities so it is worrying. I will still try to make what I want but a matter of releasing it might be far more strict than before, I don't know

[ask-spiderpool]

Step up, true believers! It's been aaaaalmost 10 long years of heartache and Britney numbers.... 

10 years of gathering all of that blood, sweat and tears which I hope to so very lovingly pour all over the pages of a end-of-decade yearbook zine to commemorate an experience just as excruciating as the usual high-school experience. 

So, no matter if you've been here since the beginning, or if you've only very recently jumped face-first into the spiderpool – if you love us, and ask-spiderpool has meant something to you, please leave your mark on ask-spiderpool history. Scribble something sappy with some sparkly gel-pens. Whip out some glittery stickers, and fancy highlighters. Put on your best lipgloss, and leave us a kiss on the page. Anything goes, (but please don't be a dick and draw a dick. Expecting a little bit more originality than that.) Ideally a white or transparent background, but allowances will be made if you're sending in something a little fancier (who am I to stop you?)

If you'd like to submit a fan-comic or a piece of prose, feel free to shoot me a message - I might be shooting around some messages myself – the theme is high-school (cheerleader outfits abound!)

If you can't or don't want to submit an image, there's also an option for short written submissions. Leave us a love note in our locker, and share the love. Address the boys, and they might just respond. (Wade Wilson has lovingly offered to put the whole affair together. I'm putting my trust in him. God help us all.) Keep your notes short and sweet! 150 words max! 

The earlier you send your note in the more likely it is you'll make it onto the page, (I don't know how many of you there'll be!) so get out those crayons and glitter-glue, and let's make a super-baby. 

Kisses!  xx

Send in your submissions here!

[cloudcountry]

OH MY GOD. THE MIX UP VALENTINE POST. YOU ATE!!!! could i rq a version with riddle, ace, deuce, octavinelle, and lillia? 🫶🫶

SUMMARY: you get a gift that was meant for the student you like, and the contents spur you to action.

COMMENTS: this is a spin off post of this post!! IM GLAD U LIKED IT ANON i was proud of that one myself ehehe

also the character limit is five so i picked azul from octavinelle

You stare blankly at the box of chocolate in your hands, the gift crammed into your desk haphazardly. At first, you thought it was for you—that’s what anyone would assume, right? Except...the note on top of it is not addressed to you, but rather, the guy you like. It makes you wonder if this is some joke, or if one of his friends wanted you to deliver it for him. You pick at the heart sticker sealing the note shut and peel it open, taking a peak of the contents.

Your eyes wide and your heart lurches in your chest, panic and annoyance roaring like red hot flames as you read what sounds like a genuine confession of love. Someone had their eyes on him? How did you never notice?

Was it weird to get jealous? I mean, he’s not even dating you yet...you don’t even know if he feels the same way. You can’t deny it doesn’t feel good that there’s another student trying to woo him, though. You’ve been so scared up until this point, so nervous about what he might think, but the clock is ticking. You’ve got to tell him before it’s too late.

Riddle sits up even straighter when he sees you approaching him with a heart shaped box and an envelope, his cheeks flushing pink. He clears his throat when you arrive, expression all twisted up as if you’re unhappy about something. Riddle turns to look at you, holding his chin high as he addresses you by name.

“Do you have something to tell me?” he asks, arms crossed over his chest.

“This is a pathetic gift for the Queen of Hearts.” you reply dryly, throwing the gifts on the ground and stomping on them, “Someone thought that would be enough for you, but I won’t stand for it.”

Riddle stares open mouthed at the torn envelope and crushed box of chocolates, but a giant bundle of roses blocks his line of sight.

“This.” you say, a bouquet of roses in one hand and an entire strawberry tart in the other, with the truffles from the box placed in a circle around it in your hands, “Is a far more fitting gift for courting the queen.”

Deuce freezes after he reads the note you gave him with a sour face, cheeks turning pink. He wonders why you look so upset when you just confessed how much you like him—even though the words seem a bit off...

“See, Deuce? I told you you were popular.” you scoff, wrinkling your nose in disgust.

You glare so intensely at the envelope that Deuce feels your anger and jealousy.

“Is this...not from you?” he asks softly, his heart plummeting out of his body. And here he was, getting all delighted and cheesy about it—

“Nah. It’s not.” you say flippantly, “I’m confessing my feelings in a much better way.”

Deuce gasps when you pull out a bouquet of dark blue roses, kneeling at his feet as you take his hand. He swears you see hearts in his eyes as he stares at the flowers and your face, which look up at him with determination he knows all too well.

“Deuce Spade, I want you to be mine.” you declare, and his legs turn to jelly as he babbles out an enthusiastic yes.

“I can’t believe someone who isn't me likes your dumbass.” you smack Ace’s arm as he snickers over the note, an immature gesture if there ever was one.

“Well, if you like this dumbass what does that make you, huh? A stupidass?” he quips, knocking his whole body against you.

You squeal and shove him back, sticking your tongue out at his shocked face as he falls off the bed.

“Really!? This is how you’re confessing your love to me?” Ace huffs, playful as always, “I want a divorce.”

“You idiot, I’m just speaking your language!” you snap back, throwing a pillow at his head, “All you do is tease and yap and jab so I’m giving you a taste of your own medicine!”

“Oh you’re on!” Ace jumps to his feet, pillow in hand.

It’s obvious he likes you back. It always has been. And even if that person hadn’t sent that note, you two still would have known just how much you care for each other, even if it remains (mostly) unsaid.

(You still trampled that note at least ten times during your pillow fight though.)

“Is this some kind of joke?” Azul says blandly, placing the letter down on his desk of his VIP Room, “This obviously isn’t your handwriting, nor is it your style of writing.”

“That’s because it’s not mine.” you say just as blandly, raising an eyebrow as Azul looks over his spectacles at you, “Were you hoping it was?”

“What is the purpose of this visit then? You bring me some random letter with a confession of love...don’t tell me you’re hoping to butter me up.” Azul chuckles, standing up as gracefully as ever, “You should know better than anyone that those tricks do not work on me.”

You stand up as well, arms crossed over your chest as you meet his stare with your own.

“Because, Azul, someone left that note in my desk. It was addressed to you, as you can see, so I bought it for you. What you just read is what encouraged me to take action.” you take a deep breath and summon all of your courage, there truly is no turning back now, “Azul, I am interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with you. I can assure you I’ve thought this over many times before coming to you with this proposal. If you’re willing, I would love to sit down and have a talk about the terms and conditions of this deal.”

You hold out your hand for a handshake.

Azul’s mouth forms an o shape, and for a second you’d say he looks shocked, but he composes himself quickly as is all too inclined to place his hand in yours.

“Well, well, well!” he beams, voice light and airy with what you can only assume is joy, “Let’s get negotiations underway, shall we?”

“Aww, you shouldn’t have.” Lilia coos, bringing a hand up to his mouth, “Why do you look so sour, sweets?”

“Because it’s not from me. It was stuffed in my desk and addressed to you.” you wrinkle your nose, the envelope clenched in your fist, “I don’t like the idea of someone confessing to you before I could.”

Lilia giggles, still hiding his mouth behind his hand. You stare blankly at him, tapping your foot so hard your ankle starts to cramp up.

“Oh, no need to look so anxious, dear. I’m sure you’re well aware of where my affections lie, yes?” Lilia approaches you, his fingers intertwining with yours as the envelope flutters to the floor, unnoticed and uncared for.

He doesn’t have much time left. He’s loved and he’s lost, he may as well go for what he wants while it’s still here, in front of him.

“That is such an indirect way of confessing.” you groan, squeezing his hand, “I even got you a whole bag of mystery flavored red lollipops...”

“Gifts are best shared, my dear!” Lilia laughs, pulling you over to his bed, “Now, hurry up! I want to see which flavor I get first!”

[dysfunctional-doodle]

Have a Mikey, on the house

(Low-key toying with the idea to make some stickers in this style at the very least for myself, so there might be a few more of these random things in the future as I test out this more simplified style a bit to see if I can make it work :) )

-> Commissions || My Kofi || Tip Jar :) <-

[honeytonedhottie]

dear diary⋆.ೃ࿔*:･✨

keeping a diary is so much FUN and helpful not only for my mental health but for overall GIRLINESS. as someone who's been keeping a diary consistently for two years now, i'll be giving some diary resources and tips on how to get started and maintain a diary.

WHY ITS FUN TO HAVE A DIARY ;

i love to read past entries bcuz first, im rly rly funny and its fun to go back and read what i was writing about at that time and just reminisce on points in my life. it makes for great entertainment and it showcases growth that i've made and the way that my character changed or grew.

its been a game-changer for my mental health bcuz i have a little outlet where i can be completely transparent and just yap endlessly with no one to stop me or invade on my privacy.

TOOLS FOR A PHYSICAL DIARY ;

fluffy pink and purple pens

yummy scented glitter pens

past-able things (examples include ; cut outs from magazines, photos that you've taken and printed, stickers, memo sheets)

some print able and past able resources ;

decoration for the actual diary like glitter, stickers, ribbons, and frills.

for the actual diary , look for diaries that are pretty (for example, fluffy diaries)

more examples ;

TOOLS FOR A DIGITAL DIARY ;

a good writing tool (FOR MY DIARY, I USE NOTION)

cute headers + photos to insert into my diary, i find all of my photos on pinterest.

digital diaries are easily a lot less work then physical diaries which is why i keep a digital diary but keeping a physical diary is SO much fun too.

THE ACTUAL WRITING PART ;

everyone will write in their diaries in a different way based on whatever feels the most natural, but for me i start off my entries with "dear diary" and then write in the journal as though i was writing to a friend so its super comfy and relaxed.

i actually have a couple of writing outlets, so i have a journal and i have a diary. my diary is mostly for my day-to-day life. its updated 2x a week (tuesdays and thursdays) in my journal, thats less about my day to day and just random things i wanna write about.

STUFF THAT I HAVE IN MY JOURNAL ;

all about me

girlhood and the little joys of life

why im the most beautiful girl (with proof)

stuff i like

vaunting about myself

sweetest inbox letters (cuz ur all so sweet)

list of things i've consciously manifested so far this year

my car collection

tattoos i wanna get and why

my unholier thoughts

PROMPTS AND IDEAS ;

angel numbers

favorite song lyrics

list of things to manifest

a love letter (to yourself, crush, etc)

letter to your future/past self

lipstick stain log

current obsessions

pressed flowers

favorite sweet treats (ranked)

list ur crushes and celebrity crushes

favorite quotes in general

ppl that u look up to

doodles

all in all i think that journalling is such a fun and beneficial hobby and hopefully this post can help u to start something that u might rly love. ✨

[seat-safety-switch]

We love machines, our species, but we love modifying machines more. Cars are no exception. At the very least, it's fun to slap cool stickers and pretty wheels on them. Whenever Big Bossman at the factory tells us how we "have to" use his product, we get really mad. And for good reason. If Henry Ford, that fucking fascist, forced us to use his vehicles his way, then we wouldn't have ambulances – or the V8.

As you might imagine, the history of car modification has been that very same Big Bossman throwing obstacle after obstacle in front of hot-rodders. Soon, after much experimentation and deliberation, those greasy weirdos staying late in garages and magazine "journalist" bullpens figured out how to overcome those obstacles, and the situation repeats.

That's why I modify cars, myself. It's a form of rebellion against higher authority, sure, but it's also the only way humanity progresses. Why, if we didn't change our environment around us, we wouldn't have invented the wheel, and then our cars would get terrible fuel economy. Corporations won't give us fancy new innovations: we have to go out there and make them ourselves, by buying the stuff they made used and then cutting a hole in it.

Now, am I a good car modifier? No. Most of my "modifications," if I'm honest, involve pop-riveting stolen(?) road signs into my car so that I have something resembling "a floor" for when my mom needs a ride to court. That doesn't matter, though. Henry Ford, that fucking fascist, would sneer at what I've done. He doesn't get to tell me how to feel about it: only some random weirdos on a car-modification forum, who may or may not actually modify their cars, can tell me how to feel. And that's the true spirit of hot rodding.

[666writingcafe]

Top Secret!!!!!

A Group Chat Involving Everyone but MC and Luke

Solomon: It's nearly time for me to give MC their preliminary exam. How many stars is MC up to?

Mammon: you serious, bro????

Mammon: you haven't kept track of mc's stars????

Mammon: old man alert

Satan: Four.

Solomon: Thank you, Satan. What other three virtues have been rewarded?

Diavolo: Gratitude from me.

Simeon: Patience from me and generosity from Luke.

Solomon: So, chastity, diligence, and humility remain. I was thinking of having us play Tail Thieves.

Asmo: I love you, Solomon, but no.

Solomon: What's wrong with Tail Thieves?

Asmo: One, it's a childish game.

Lucifer: ^

Asmo: Two, do you not remember how MC behaved the last time you tested them? They were BORED OUT OF THEIR MIND, and it impacted their performance as a result.

Beel: That's true.

Asmo: Any twists you come up with are going to be too predictable.

Solomon: *glaring crow sticker*

Solomon: I'm SURE you have a better idea.

Asmo: I do, actually.

Asmo: It involves testing their chastity.

Solomon: Go on...

Asmo: We'll seduce them.

Mammon: that's a stupid idea!!!!

Levi: youre just saying that because youre jealous

Belphie: *laughing emoji*

Beel: *gif of someone doing a spit-take*

Asmo: I'm being serious.

Asmo: During their last stay in the Devildom, I managed to charm them, which gained me access to their deepest desires.

Asmo: They have fantasies involving all of us. Tempting them with those will be the ultimate test of their chastity. If they're able to resist, then they earn the star.

Lucifer: That's actually a well thought-out idea.

Barbatos: ^

Diavolo: ^^

Solomon: *glaring crow sticker*

Solomon: Fine.

Solomon: Who's participating?

Levi: mammon and i are out

Mammon: speak for yourself!!!! the fuck???

Levi: if this is meant to really test mc then everyone has to commit to the bit and you and i both know that youd tap out the minute mc looks at you sideways

Mammon: *glaring crow sticker*

Levi: while ive gained some confidence i still wouldnt be able to maintain my composure long enough to complete something like this

Asmo: I will provide the necessary information, but I myself will not be seducing MC, as much as it pains me to say.

Satan: Of course it would pain you to say that.

Asmo: *eye roll emoji*

Solomon: Do you want to judge with me?

Asmo: I mean, I kinda figured we would, so...

Barbatos: My participation will depend on what I'm meant to reenact.

Asmo: Are you afraid it would conflict with your duties?

Barbatos: Yes.

Diavolo: Well, if you're worried about me stopping you, don't. It wouldn't be fair of me to expect you to sit this out if I'm planning on participating.

Mammon: WHAT??????

Levi: bro

Levi: he literally jumped out a castle window to be with mc

Levi: he's THIRSTY

Belphie: Unfortunately.

Asmo: Not to be the bossy brother, but Lucifer, you aren't allowed to back out.

Lucifer: Wasn't planning on it. I know where I stand in MC's mind.

Satan: You know, I think I might chill with Mammon and Levi. I thought about joining in the fun, but I don't think I have it in me to see things through.

Satan: And before anyone chimes in, no, it's not because Lucifer confirmed his participation.

Belphie: We know. If it was, you'd be trying to one-up him.

Satan: Thank you, Belphie. I TOTALLY wanted that out there. *eye roll emoji*

Beel: I'm in.

Belphie: Quick question: would it be fair of me to participate?

Asmo: Actually, you'd be PERFECT for this. You can argue that you know MC more intimately than ANY of us. You'd know what buttons to push to make them really sweat.

Belphie: Okay, cool. I'll do it, then.

Simeon: Me too.

Levi: lol what

Mammon: ayo, do you even KNOW how to seduce someone, simeon?

Simeon: How do you think I'm able to write some of the scenes in TSL?

Levi: well okay then

Solomon: So, to confirm: Lucifer, Beel, Belphie, Diavolo, and Simeon are definite participants, Barbatos is a maybe, and Mammon, Levi, and Satan are sitting this out?

Nine people liked Solomon's message.

Mammon: the three of us can keep an eye on luke. we can either help him run the cafe or take him out someplace fun.

Levi: you know you seem awfully chummy towards luke lately

Mammon: we bonded during our fairy hunt.

Asmo: Then that settles it. Solomon and I will meet with the volunteers for further discussion.

[notsodelirious]

Hey there I really liked your post about Jason helping with a reader who has hyper mobility, I was wondering if you could write about a reader that is probably going to have to start using a cane soon? My doctor told me a few years ago that I’d need a cane by thirty but I’m turning 24 this year and I’m starting to need one already and I kinda feel like I’m losing what little freedom I had to my disabilities. If not that’s fine, I really love your writing

yes absolutely! I deviated a little from your prompt (sorry) but I hope this helps!

(as a disclaimer, I am not a cane user myself, what I’ve written is almost entirely based on my friends’ experiences)

- Jason holding your cane when you need both your hands, but always making sure you don’t over do it

- Jason buying cute charms and stickers he sees when he’s on missions abroad for your cane so you can switch them out

- Jason mapping out where the lifts are before going anywhere so he quietly guide you there, especially when they’re more tucked away, but never telling you he does that

- Jason willing to fight old people on the bus for you

- Jason stopping to take breaks and when you say that you’re fine, claim that it’s for him because an old injury is acting up and you’ll never know if that’s actually ever the case or not so you sit with him

- Jason gently helping you stretch and massage your wrist at the end of the day after you’ve put a lot of strain on it

- Jason making sure that your cane is in reach of you or going to get it for you if it isn’t

•─────⋅☾⊱♰⊰☽⋅─────•

I know that losing your freedom to your disability is tough, but I hope you find some of that freedom back with your cane and that this silly drabble helps a little <3 (I might write like a proper ficlet for this in future)

•─────⋅☾⊱♰⊰☽⋅─────•

requests are still technically open but I’m home for the next two weeks so the only things keeping me going (weed and inspiration) will be running low so pls be patient lol

[claypigeonpottery]

FAQ

(I figured it was about time to make one of these)

What is the name of the technique you use for decorating pottery?

this technique is called sgraffito.

It's made by painting a piece of pottery with underglaze or coloured slip, and then carving through it to reveal the white clay underneath. it is similar to linocut, but slightly more forgiving, since you don't need to make prints of it.

this piece shows two techniques:

the fine black lines were created using an inlay technique called mishima, where the piece is coated in wax and then a fine line is carved through the wax and into the clay. Underglaze is brushed over it and wiped away, and the underglaze will stay in the fine lines, but be wiped neatly off the wax.

and the colour is from underglaze painting. Underglaze is a food safe paint for ceramics. They can be used a lot like acrylics, though they definitely have a few quirks of their own.

What tools do you use for sgraffito?

My favourite is Kemper’s wire stylus, but I also like Xiem’s ribbon tools

here's a little video about them if you want a more in-depth look

Do you sketch your designs out before carving them?

Yes, 99% of the time, though I do sometimes vary from my sketches once I start carving. I also press them into the clay to give myself a guideline to follow

Do you use references?

Yes, almost always.

What kind of clay do you use?

Tucker’s M370 white clay, Plainsman porcelain white, PSH red, and PSH dark granite.

Do you take commissions?

Yes, you can check my commission slots to see if I have an opening. Also please read my commission details post.

I live on a different continent, can your ceramics be safely shipped to me?

Yes, I’ve shipped to a few different continents and my break rate is under 1%. BUT if there is an issue and your piece is damaged, please tell me so I can try to make it right!

Can I get a tattoo of one of your designs?

Go for it, and please send me pictures! I’d love that.

Can I make a patch/sticker/pin of one of your designs?

Absolutely. I’d rather they not be mass produced but if you’re making them for you and your friends I’m fine with that! (and I might ask you to make one for me too lol)

Can I make art like/based off of one of your pieces?

Yes, and I’d love to see it!

Can I use a picture of your art for an icon/an aesthetic post/etc?

Absolutely, go for it! I’d appreciate if you give me credit if possible, or tag me in the post

Do you mind if I tag your work with my OC/my blorbos/OTP/etc?

I don’t mind at all!

Do you mind if I tag your sculptures “furry”?

Not at all! Some of them are more furry than others, but however you want to tag them, I don’t mind

[mis-anthrapologistic]

some brief statements about our stances on picky eating!

inspired by this ask right here.

myself (lloyd) - already answered in the ask.

jay - surprisingly enough, not a picky eater! ed and edna were strict on making sure he always had a balanced diet. he obviously prefers junk food, but if there's healthy stuff available, he can stomach it.

cole - eats basically anything that you set in front of him. kai once dared him to eat rocks to "connect with his element" more. thankfully, that didn't happen.

kai - considering he didn't really have parents to raise him, there was no one supervising his diet. this led to him being extremely picky and somehow not trying basic dishes. it's not like he made anything fancy for nya when they were kids, either.

nya - about the same. jay actually made her one of those sticker charts for each new type of food she tried, simply because she wasn't familiar with much. she doesn't mind trying new things - a trait i think kai should pick up as well.

zane - will eat anything if he has to, but will also lecture you in extreme detail about calorie content, healthy eating, and any sort of nutritional information. you learn to tune him out after the 9374628th time.

i don't really consider these headcanons, but take them however you like (*^-^)ヘ＿/ i might make some more posts like these in the future!

[idrawprettyboys]

Advice for Aspiring Commissions Artists

I recently had someone ask for advice on how to sell art commissions, so I thought it would be nice to compile a list for others aspiring to do so, as well as to remind myself of some important things to keep in mind.

1. Have one tumblr blog strictly for art. People will follow it specifically because they like your art, and it will be easy for them to find your artwork without having to scroll through a jumble of other stuff.

2. Draw and post just about every day! Most people will say to draw every single day, but please let yourself rest. You will end up being miserable if you force yourself to draw when you aren’t feeling well. The more you draw, the more your art will improve, and the more followers you will naturally accumulate over time.

3. Post fan art to bring in fans. You don’t have to strictly draw fan art, of course. But people are more likely to interact if they’re familiar with the character already. A lot of people will follow you for fan art initially, and some of them will grow to love your original art as well.

4. Develop your own unique style. This will occur naturally over time. Learn from artists you love, and over time, your art will evolve into a mix of art styles you like into something uniquely yours!

5. It takes time to find supporters who are willing to spend money on your art. Building an art business is a slow process, and it takes patience and perseverance. Only a small percentage of social media followers will pay for commissions or Patreon support, but those few are precious.

6. Use every platform and website you can to share your art and have links between platforms, so your fans can find you in multiple places. Examples of places to share your art are social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, BlueSky, and Pillowfort, as well as art sites like Cara and Pixiv.

7. Get a Patreon and Ko-Fi account and be sure to provide links to these means of financial support on your art posts (especially the art pieces you’re proud of).

8. Make use of as many means of making money with art as you can. Sell prints on inprnt, sell stickers on Redbubble. Youtube videos can eventually give you ad revenue. If you make comics, Tapas is another option to make a little bit of ad revenue. You can use Etsy to sell originals, prints, or even commissions! Some people may feel more comfortable buying commissions through an official store like Etsy rather than on social media, so it’s good to have that as a back-up in addition to selling through other sites.

9. Use a secure payment method that you’re comfortable with! I recommend using PayPal with invoices, so that you have proof of their purchase in case anything goes wrong. A lot of artists use Ko-Fi as well.

10. Post your commission guidelines on all the sites where you post your art! Don’t be afraid to reblog/repost your commission price list multiple times!

11. Art commissions are not a steady job. You might get nonstop commissions for a couple months and then not get any for a few months. There are some times of year when people are less willing to spend money. I’ve noticed this happening towards the end of the year. At times when you aren’t getting commissions, I recommend doing a limited time sale!

12. Price yourself appropriately for the amount of effort it takes for you to get the work done! Don’t overprice or underprice! Ask your friends for advice on what you should charge. You’ll probably want to start low and slowly increase your prices as your work gets higher demand.

13. Make your commission price list legible! Check out other people’s sheets for guidance!

14. Have patience and perseverance! It may take years after you start posting before you get a commission, but the more you put yourself out there, the more you’ll get noticed!

15. Draw what you enjoy! Maybe cater to your audience once in a while, but your own happiness is important to give yourself the drive to keep on going!

16. Don’t be afraid to reblog your own art at various times of day, for maximum visibility! Not all of your followers will be online at the time that you initially posted it.

@artist-kreating-stuff

[jelloapocalypse]

Last question I've got for you, has there ever been a reason why there isn't more continuously-available Epithet merch on Creator Spring? It's always struck me as odd that you haven't gone for more stuff like shirts, stickers, and buttons.

The honest answer to this is that I just do not like merch.

I'm a really environmentally-conscious person and frankly there just aren't a lot of merch options out there that aren't objectively kind of bad for the environment. Even t-shirts and plushies are pretty dicey in the long-run due to textile waste.

Print-on-demand services have a lighter carbon footprint, but they're usually poor quality. I don't mind Spring for posters or prints, but their t-shirts feel cheap. I don't like wearing them myself, so I don't want to promote them to other people. It makes me feel like I'm lying to my fans or trying to rip them off. One-time campaigns like the dolls are fine, but they are, by nature, one-and-done.

You might not know this if you haven't been A Content Creator(tm) in a post-2020 world, but we get emails and offers from all these horrible companies literally nonstop asking for merch opportunities. I got six today alone. There's a huge subculture of scummy merch providers who can't wait to help you rip off as many people as possible. It's poisoned my opinions on merch even more.

Additionally, merch is exhausting to promote. Every single campaign is 5-7 days of emailing and planning minimum and then a little dedicated promotional video. "Well, you don't have to make a video Jello". Oh yeah I do. People miss these things even when I do promote them. If their only heads up is a tweet or an email from the website subscription letter, nobody's going to buy them, and that usually means a failed campaign if if I have to hit a threshold.

It's worth mentioning that "the Epithet team" is just me. I'm the one guy who has to oversee literally everything. And if I'm having trouble keeping official print runs of the actual book on store shelves, which I am right now, I don't feel like it's a good use of my time to start selling extra stuff while the series languishes.

The only piece of merch I've ever made that I thought was pretty cool was the Molly hoodies because they were interesting and custom made. The dolls are okay.

I'd like to release a blu-ray set for Epithet some time in the future so people can have a physical version of the media. Other than that, I'm hesitant. I know people want more merch. I just hate making it.