Introduction NightCafe AI Tool

Artificial Intelligence or better know as AI is here and can be helpful but it is quite controversial, whether it is the basis of how the companies train their product on existing art or replacing human artists with a machine. 

But, if you enjoy creating items but don't have the skills to make it yourself or the money to commission someone else to do it then this is definitely an option. That being said, it is not completely done without any skills and depending on how much you create, it can cost you money. I am going to discuss the free AI tool NightCafe which is great to use if you are new to AI creation and if you only want to create a small number of items. There are many more AI tools available online but I am going to just focus on this one to get you started. 

The best thing about NightCafe is it is completely free to use. There are pro levels you can buy but this is not necessary when you are just beginning. In fact, I still have a free account. There are some things that you cannot make, like videos, but they do provide a few pro credits periodically so you can try out some of the pro features. I don't make AI videos (yet) so I don't need to be pro. Maybe as I get more experience or really want a certain feature, I will invest in it then. BUT, you can earn free credits every day. The program just recently rolled out a feature that allows you the chance to earn more credits than the daily 5 they started you out with and they even give you the first creation for free. 

You will need to sign up for a free account to keep a library of all your creations but you do not have to use anything but your email or Google account. 

1. To create a design begin with clicking the Create button at the top of the page.

2. Choose an AI Model. Click Browse All Models to see the options. Different models will vary in cost
(payment in credits). There are too many to describe here. The best thing to do is just try one out. Several options will only cost half a credit.

3. Type in your Text Prompt. Whatever you can imagine you want and put in more criteria to get different images. For example: "A vase of roses sitting on a table in a room with green walls, vintage oil painting."

The next few things you can do are optional.

4. Advanced Prompt Editor lets you choose a specific style that has been pre-written and will be added to your text prompt. For the prompt I wrote in Step 3, I would removed the vintage oil painting as this will probably conflict with one of the choices available here. I suggest you play around with these to see what you get.

5. Choose A Start Image (optional) allows you to select an image of your own that you can upload, Free Image library provided, or one of your own. 

Note: Some models will not have this option and others will have an option to use an image for the prompt. Also, be aware that the start image will drastically change your text prompt unless the two have similar features such as the image having the item you are writing about. 

The next few are Settings. These may change depending on the model used. 

6.  Number of Images. Default is always 1. If you choose more, then the amount of credits needed will increase. 

7. Runtime. The longer the runtime the more detailed and crisp the image can get. It will cost more for longer options. 

8. Aspect Ratio. Chose what size you want and think about this with the prompt you write. A portait will do better with a 3:4 ration and a landscape scene will be best at 16:9 or 4:3. 

9. Seed. Default is to be on. I suggest clicking the "?" button to learn more about this if you are curious. I always leave it on. 

10, Challenge Eligibility. Every day there is at least on challenge you can enter your creation in but you can do this at a later time. 

11. Click the Create button. This will tell you how many credits this will cost. 

Then wait for the design to complete. 

My results

The first one is the prompt I used above and then I changed the type of style from vintage oil painting to vintage watercolor painting, and then realistic photo. Each one kept the vases of roses and the green walls. Now it's your turn to try it out and see what you get. 

Helpful Hint to collect credits so you can keep trying new things: Go back every day and collect credits but don't use any for a period of time. The credits will begin to pile up and then when you are ready to try to create different prompts or try editing your creations you will have plenty. Just remember to go back. 

Watch the videos below to learn more about NightCafe and AI:

 

Use Kindle Unlimited to Learn Creative Arts

Back in December I shared 5 embroidery books that would make great gifts or to get for yourself. Of course, getting a physical copy of one of these books would be great but what if you just wanted to take a look before you buy, or, maybe you don't have room for books so you use a Kindle. 

There is a program with Amazon called Kindle Unlimited that lets you view and read as many books and some magazines as long as they have been marked for the program. Not every book is in Unlimited but there are enough to keep you busy and there are several crafting books. There is also a limit on how many you can borrow at once but it's a good many and you can always return one to  make room for another. 

Two of the books I mentioned in December are available on Kindle Unlimited: 

• Pet Portrait Embroidery - $20.03 paperback or $12.99 Kindle
• Doodle Stitching - $15.64 paperback or $11.99 Kindle
  

Cost

If you get Kindle Unlimited both are included for no extra cost. Of course
Unlimited has a monthly subscription fee (currently $11.99) similar to a fee for streaming video. I like to think of it as paid library access because I almost always incur fines from the library because I either forget to renew or I just want to keep a book a little bit longer. And, I can cancel at anytime so if I find myself not accessing it as much, I can always take a break and go back a few months later and sign up again. 

Savings

So, at the $11.99 monthly fee, I can put both of these books in my Kindle library compared to buying both of them for my Kindle at a total of $24.98, a savings of $12.99 or a savings of $24.68 over getting the physical copies. But what if you really like to have the physical copy? If you have it in Unlimited you can take if for a spin on the Kindle and make the decision on whether you think you would get your money's worth before paying more for it. Then you can go check out other available books without spending more money...yet. I mean I have bookshelves filled with books, so....I might have a problem.

Using a Tablet

Plus, you can put more than just those two books in your library. I mentioned magazines above. I currently have Stitch magazine in my library. The only con with the magazines is that you cannot view them on your computer. You will need a tablet or other mobile device. I actually view most of my books on my tablet and I would suggest a decent size tablet to make reading easier. I have a Fire HD 10 tablet which is great for reading and perusing magazines with beautiful images. I also do some art work on it, listen to audio books, and watch my streaming shows. Tablets are very versatile and travel easily. 

How to Create Color Options in Spoonflower

When I started out with Spoonflower I would just make and upload one simple design. Eventually, I would make different color options and upload each one individually and they would be independent of the other colors. Then, one day, Spoonflower introduced fabric design colorways. 

So, how do you get these to show up when you have more than one color option of the same print?

1. Make sure all the titles start the same and then add a (space) dash (space) and the color. Above you see that the name is Heart to Heart - Yellow. So then the remaining designs end in a dash (-) and the individual color name ( - blue, - purple, and - red). Note: "Fabric" is provided by Spoonflower and is not part of the title you provide. 
2. Upload the files to Spoonflower. 
3. Edit each design description to match. For this design each color is described as: Hearts and diamonds in monochromatic pattern. Great for Valentine's Day, making spring clothing, or fun holiday decor. 
4. Add tags so that most are the same. Note: I did add a different tag for each color. 

That's it. It does take awhile for them to show up and you will probably get concerned that it didn't work. I would wait 2-3 days and then if it does not show, go back through the steps above and check to see if the name, description, and tags are appropriate. 

If you would like to watch how to do this watch my video below. To skip to just uploading the designs and making the colors click here to skip over designing with Repper. To learn how to easily make different colors with one design watch from the beginning. 

New Pattern Coloring Book for Valentine's Day

It's official. I have three coloring books completed and they are all part of a series, Patterns to Relax to. The latest one is just in time for Valentine's Day! Color Me Easy Valentine's Coloring Book: Patterns to Relax to Book Three is full of 50 patterns to color all with hearts. 

This book took a little longer to create because I was much more selective on creating the hearts just right in the repetitive designs. I created each one using Repper using images with bold shapes and lines that would, with the correct manipulation, form the hearts. None of the images I used had hearts. I will save that for my next book but that will be for next year. 

Kids and adults alike will enjoy coloring these for Valentine's Day and even using the finished coloring to create:

• decorations

• sweet Valentine's cards

• wrapping small gifts

The first two non-holiday pattern books in the series are: 

• Color Me Easy Coloring Book: Patterns to Relax To Book 1 includes 50 designs

• Color Me Easy Coloring Book: Patterns to Relax To Book 2 includes 74 designs

Are you interested in making patterns of your own? Or do you get enjoyment from coloring designs already made? 

Please note that links in this post may result in a commission paid to me that helps support me to create this blog and my design projects. There is no additional cost added on to you when you make purchases. 

5 Unique Embroidery Books to Buy for Yourself or as a Gift

Foolproof Flower Embroidery: 80 Stitches & 400 Combinations in a Variety of Fibers; Add Texture, Color & Sparkle to Your Organic Garden

I really want this book to help me come up with ideas in my slow stitching and crazy quilting projects. I mean, it has 80 stitches and 400 combinations! I don't think I could ever do them all but isn't it nice to try.

Stitchcraft: An Embroidery Book of Simple Stitches and Peculiar Patterns

This book has amazing photography and some very unique embroidery projects with close ups of some of the stitched pieces. The book contains projects of human and animal anatomy and creative skeletons. All are done on a black background with bright thread colors and patterns are available to trace from the book.

Doodle Stitching Embroidery Art: Move Beyond the Pattern with Aimee Ray

I actually read this one on Kindle Unlimited which is a great way to peruse lots of books and there are several crafting ones you can do this with. However, I would love to have a physical copy to flip through and admire through touch. The base of this book is to just make embroidery art with simple stitches and do it without a pattern. 

Pet Portrait Embroidery: Lovingly Stitch Your Dog or Cat; A Modern Guide to Thread Painting

Creating an embroidery of my cats or one of those pieced quilt portraits is on my bucket list of embroidery projects. This book is in my Amazon wish list. The directions in this book are amazing and you can watch a video on Amazon of a reviewer who flips through it to show you the amazing instructions and detail that you can learn. Plus, it sounds like a great way to learn how to do Thread Painting. 

DIY Embroidered Shoes: Techniques, Designs, and Downloadable Templates to Turn Any Fabric Shoe into Stylish & Unique Footwear

Okay, so this book is brand new. It was just published in October 2024 and I recommend you go look at it on Amazon and scroll down the page to see the close ups of some the designs. It's a book that I didn't know I needed but I really, really need it. I also think this would be a great gift for a teenager who is interested in putting that creative spin on their canvas shoes and they could complement any of their clothing for a full fashion statement. 

What do you think of these? Do you have suggestions for me? 

Note: Links to the books are affiliate links and I would get a small commission without any cost to you. It just might help me get my own copies because I don't have enough books already (wink, wink).  

Christmas Movie Journal

Making a Christmas Movie Journal for KDP

I have been wanting to create and sell journals and other low content books for awhile. So, when my husband was complaining about remembering which Hallmark movies he has watched I came up with this idea. Yes, you read that right, my husband is an avid Christmas Hallmark movie viewer. In fact, last year for Christmas I got him all Hallmark movie gifts: mug, blanket, and sweatshirt. Until early January he will only watch Christmas movies. They don't ALL have to be on Hallmark but they do have to be Christmas. And, now he can document them in this journal and stop asking me if he has seen it (fun fact: I don't watch all of them, a lot of them, but not all of them). 

For the inside of the journal I created different sections for each page:

Title

Year released

Date watched

On what network or streaming service

Your rating on a 5 star scale

Your recommendation

Main characters

A recap

Your thoughts

Best and worst parts

 The cover was created with Canva including the artwork with Canva's AI Magic Media tool. Note: You do have to reveal if you use any AI items for your KDP works. In this case, it is the holiday fireplace done in watercolor style. I wanted something pretty with a warm and cozy feeling just like you get watching a feel good movie. What do you think? Have you made your own journals? I made this for personal use and just decided to see if anyone else would like it too. 

***Links included above might result in a commission for me but does not have any cost to you. If you purchase a journal, I will definitely get a small commission since it is my design/journal for sale. 

Easy to Use Design App - Repper

If you haven't heard about Repper, you are missing out especially if you want to make fabulous pattern designs for almost anything: digital paper, POD (print-on-demand), fabric, or coloring books. 

The basics of Repper: 

• Use an image (upload or find one in Repper's link to Unsplash)
• Choose from a variety of tilings
• Move around a geometric selector
• Watch the magic happen
• Save designs you love
• Export any design you want to use

Watch these videos to learn more about the app. The first one walks you through how to use it and the second one shows fabrics I had printed through Spoonflower with my designs I made with Repper. 

Using Repper

Fabric Designed using Repper

Note: Repper is a membership tool that you can purchase monthly or yearly with a short free trial period. If you sign up with the link I do earn a commission that helps me buy fabric, keep my own membership,  and write tutorials.