As a website designer, sometimes I am called to work with other talented designers. Recently, through work I’ve had the pleasure of working with a very talented print and advertising designer, Derek M. Benvenuti. His work is outstanding and he asked me to help him create a online gallery site for his work. He did the design and I was able to build out the website using XHTML and CSS. I used Flash and JavaScript to create the “Lightbox” functionality.

Check out his work at BenvenutiCreative.com

Thanks.

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I recently finished my ‘crowning’ design. Become A Real Princess.com is a CSS/ XHMTL site I am proud to have designed. It also features some Flash and Javascript for effects.

BecomeARealPrincess.com offers Princess-related gift proclamation packages to women who have always dreamed of becoming a real princess. Each package has a personalized and framed proclamation, tiara, and accessories to turn your princess into a Real Princess.

This seems like a great gift idea as most girls want to be a real princess. Of course, I think the site looks great and I’m happy with how it turned out. I’m sure the company will do well in the upcoming holiday season.

http://www.becomearealprincess.com

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Back in 2000, I wrote a short information booklet which was accompanied by an actual money magnet. The whole thing was part of a mail-order product line that has since been slumbering in my office desk. Since I have this blog going, I thought I would dust it off and post the content online.

Here is a short excerpt:

MONEY is also a form of energy. When we think of money, we often visualize the symbols of money, such as coins, currency, dollar signs, or what we can buy with it; this is not what money is. Money is a representative energy used to define the value inherent in an object, a service, a sphere of influence, an opportunity, or even a belief or vision. This value is variable and defined by the exchange between two or more people. The more people you touch and affect with your job, life, service or product; the more valuable it will be viewed and more money will flow through your life.

The energy of money is also a tool used to create and bring into your life those things you want and desire: opportunity, physical things, and financial security. As a tool, you must respect your money. You should not waste or repel money through your thoughts and actions. Money like people, does not go where it is not loved and respected for the value it brings into your life. If you do not have the money in your life that you want, you may be pushing it away with your negative thoughts and behaviors towards money. If you use and treat your money wisely you will attract more. Also, you must realize that money is a tool that you control, not the other way around.

Thought is the most powerful form of energy. Money receives its power through the energy we give it. You control the flow of money through your life; money does not control you. All the money that you desire is already available to you…all you must do is to attract it to you with your thoughts and actions.

For the complete article, visit the article page.
How to use your Money Magnet.

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This week I finished the short film project I was working on. It is titled, “The Robbery”. This short film is about a desparate man pushed too far who decides to take matters into his own hand through a little home invasion.

I learned a lot from putting this together. I used a Canon XL1 to shoot the DV. Editing was down in Final Cut Pro and Sony Vegas. Let me know what you think of my first film project in quite a while. It won’t be the last as I am already doing pre-production on the next one.

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As luck would have it, I am off to a Flash convention this weekend in Toronto. What is FITC? Here’s a brief summary of what to expect.

The FITC name was derived from the first show that was produced in 2002 called ‘Flash in the Can’ — a reference to Adobe’s (previously Macromedia’s) Flash software. This inaugural event focused strictly on Flash, but the scope of future events has broadened with the explosion of interactive media to include all platforms including mobile, installations, motion graphics and games.

FAST FACTS: FITC Toronto Design & Technology Festival

What is it?
A “Do It Yourself” festival for new media designers and developers who will learn the latest in interactive techniques and technologies and how to apply them to their own work. World-class speakers, Canadian debuts of new media art exhibits, a prestigious international awards show and late night mixers round out the festival, providing an energizing round-the-clock experience for the delegates.

Since I’ve never been to Toronto or a Flash convention, I am very much looking forward to this. I plan on attending a few workshops on building games in Flash, working with video in Flash, and overall learning out new features and AS3 programming for Flash coolness.

If your going too, let me know and I’ll meet you there.

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Zen Habits has a great list of the top 50 productivity blogs. I highly recommend checking these out. I’ve been a fan of one of the sites on the list…Steve Pavlina for years.

Now if I can only make this list.

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I recently finished designing a new website for my father’s online sign company, MiniTrafficSigns.com. His metal miniature replica and specialty signs have been a hit on Ebay for years. I designed his original site, but it was time for an update. Using Web 2.0 look and feel, I coverted the site to CSS standards and brought in the gradient-glossy design. I built a Flash 3D sign carousel to spice up the site. Finally we added a PayPal powered shopping cart functionality to increase our sales potential.

You can visit the new site here. Be sure to check out his CuteZ sign series for cute animal-powered signs.

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My latest website design project, ScottySaysRadio.com was featured in the CSS-gallery site CSSclip last week.

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My two recently designed sites, ScottySaysRadio.com and this fine Blog site were both listed at the CSS gallery site Screenalicio.us. Although the one design only got two stars, this site got three. Being listed is a great accomplishment at all so I’m happy to have gotten it. Hopefully the other CSS galleries see it and list me on their sites as well. That could drive some traffic my way. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

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This weekend I shot the raw footage for a short film project I am working on. It is tentatively titled ‘The Robbery’. My brother and I spent the evening in ski masks breaking into my house with plastic guns stuck in our pants.

For any of you that have more than a passing interest in filmmaking — take note. Get yourself access to a good DV camera and start shooting. I have access to a Canon XL1 and I intend to make use of it. This is the first in a series of short films that I have planned. Well, the films themselves are not a series; I just have several more films in the works.

I have always wanted to make movies since I was young. I made several short films in the analog era using video cameras and the two VCR editing methods. Now fast forward to now. I have access to DV cameras, Final Cut non-linear editing capabilities, Aftereffects on the MAC and a bunch of other software solutions. With digital technologies, there are more chances to accomplish your creative dreams than ever before.

With access to the Internet you can find a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of modern filmmaking. There are long lists of books and sites available on screenwriting, shooting, editing, etc.

So stop with all the excuses. Realize that no one is going to give you any money for your filmmaking, but you won’t need it. Just grab a camera and start making your dreams come true.

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