According to the creators, the pavilion “makes a connection between something grand and overwhelming (the church and its size) and something playful, simple and comprehensible (LEGO)”.

You can check out more photos and information about this creative idea at inhabitat and designtaxi.

Check them out below:

Just click on the images and you’ll be redirected to a website where you can download them for free!

I hope you enjoy them as I have.

STEP 1

First, open a blank illustrator file in RGB mode and write your text in the font of your choice. I’ve chosen Lobster  which you can download for free here. I’ve also changed the tracking (space between letters) to -15 in this example.

STEP 2

Select your text, then go to “Object – Expand” from the menu at the top and press OK on the pop up window. This will change your text into an object for our next step.

STEP 3

Using the pen tool or whatever you find easiest to use, draw some swirls connected to the letters. I’ve created mine using the pencil tool and drawing with my wacom tablet. You can see them in red below.
It is ok for the shapes to overlap the text or each other, as we will be combining them in the next step.

STEP 4

Select everything on your board (text and shapes) and make sure you expand any line work (like we did earlier with the text) so that you can see the outlines are selected on everything. In the pathfinder window, click on “add to shape area” and then “expand” so that all the objects become a single object.

STEP 5

Change the colour of your artwork to a medium grey and go to “Effect – 3D – Extrude and Bevel…”
Use the settings below:

STEP 6

Select everything and go to “Object – Expand Appearance.”

STEP 7

Ungroup everything by going to  “Object – Ungroup” so that you can select the main image and text separately to the 3D bevel you just created. Select all of the main image without the bevel and in the pathfinder window, click on “add to shape area” and then “expand.”

STEP 8

With the main image selected, go to “Object – Hide” so that you are left with just the 3D bevel visible (as you can see below). Select all and  in the pathfinder window, click on “add to shape area” and then “expand” (same as you did in step 7).

STEP 9

Go to “Object – Show All.” Select the main image and go to “Object – Arrange – Bring to Front.”

STEP 10

Create a new RGB document in Adobe Photoshop that is 1500 x 1000 pixels (I’ll be working in this size during the tutorial but you can use a different size if you need)

STEP 11

With both the Photoshop and Illustrator files open, drag the 2 objects from your Illustrator file into the Photoshop file separately and then line them up in Photoshop. This should mean that your bevel is on a separate layer to the main image. You can label your layers for reference. I labelled mine “Main” and “3D Bevel” in this example.

STEP 12

Right click one of the layers in the layer palette and select “Rasterize Layer.” Repeat for the other layer.

STEP 13

Select your main layer, go to “Layer – Layer Style – Gradient overlay”
Create a gradient from the colours #1c8bc4 and #22b0d9 and click OK.

STEP 14

Create a new layer and name it “gloss” and use the gradient fill tool to create a gradient from white (about half way up the document) to transparent (at the top of the document)

STEP 15

Right click on your main layer’s thumbnail and click “Select pixels.” Then go to “Select – Modify – Contract…” And contract by 2 pixels.

STEP 16

With this selection active, click on the “gloss” layer in the layer palette and click on the “add layer mask” button at the bottom of the layer palette. This will create a mask around the layer. Change the layer opacity to 35%.

STEP 17

Select the mask in the layers palette and use a black brush to mask out areas like the image below. Try to create a rounded edge on each segment of lettering.

STEP 18

Change the colour of your 3D bevel layer to a lighter grey by going to “Layer – Layer Style – Color Overlay…” I used #8f8f8f in this example.

STEP 19

Create a new group in the layers palette above the 3D bevel layer and label it “3D Shading.” Right click the thumbnail of the 3D bevel layer and click “select pixels” and then click “add layer mask” at the bottom of the layer palette (similar to step 16) to create a mask.

STEP 20

Create a new layer inside this group and name it “shadows 1.” Think about the direction of your light source and shade any areas in black that would be shadows using a small soft brush set to 80% opacity. Because your group is masked, this shading should automatically only affect the bevel layer and not your main text.

STEP 21

In the layer palette, change the layer blending mode to Overlay, 50% opacity

STEP 22

Create a new layer in the shading group and name it “highlights 1.” Make sure this layer is above the shadows layer. Shade any areas that would be visible in the light source with a small soft white brush at 50% opacity.

STEP 23

In the layer palette, change the layer blending mode to Overlay, 50% opacity

STEP 24

Create a new layer in the shading group and name it “shadows 2.” Use a small soft black brush at 100% opacity to shade more in the small areas that would receive no light at all- for example, the edges between the bottom of each letter.

STEP 25

Select your main layer and duplicate it by going to  “Layer – Duplicate layer.” Double click on “Effects” underneath it in the layers palette, and untick “Gradient Overlay.” Then click on “Inner Shadow” and input the following settings:

STEP 26

Change the Fill to 0% so that it only shows the effect and not the actual layer, then move the layer 1 px left by pressing the arrow keys.

STEP 27

Click on the thumbnail of your main layer to create a selection, then click on “add layer mask” at the bottom of the layer palette to mask your “main copy” layer.
Using the arrow keys, move the layer 1 px up and 2 px left and it should look similar to the second image below.

STEP 28

Place the “main copy” layer into a folder and name the folder “highlight.” Create a new layer mask (click on the layer mask button at the bottom of the layer palette) and use a soft black brush to mask out any areas that are not a top-left edge.

 STEP 29

create a new layer called “3D Colour” above the 3D bevel layer in your layer palette. Use the gradient tool to create a linear gradient using the colours #46b7db and #1f9acc from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.

STEP 30

Now we are going to mask this colour to just the 3D Bevel. To do this, right click on the thumbnail of your 3D Bevel layer and click “Select Pixels”, then right click on the thumbnail of your Main layer and click “Subtract Transparency Mask” (this will deselect the areas that cross over the main text)

STEP 31

With this selection, click on the “3D Colour” layer where you created the gradient and press the “add layer mask” button at the bottom of the layer palette.

STEP 32

If you would like to add a bit of extra colour to your text, create a new layer called “Gradient” above your main layer and change it’s blending mode to “hue” at the top of the layer palette.

STEP 33

Use the gradient tool to draw a gradient with the colours of your choice on this layer. I used the colours #c94df2, #1e93c9, #3fb5db, #1e93c9.

STEP 34

If you paint a colour in your background, you will notice that the gradient leaks over the text into the background too. So to remove this, right click the thumbnail of your main layer and click on “Select pixels”, then right click the thumbnail of the 3D Bevel  and click on “Add transparency mask”. Then use this selection to create a mask on your gradient layer.

STEP 35

now you can change the background to whatever you like without it being affected by your gradient. I’ve decided to just go with a black background, but you can get creative and do something totally different if you like.

STEP 36

Final touches… We’re going to add a small lens flare to enhance the shine of our text. To do this, create a new layer above all the other layers called “Lens flare” and fill it with black. Change the layer blending mode to “Screen”

STEP 37

Go to “Filter – Render – Lens Flare” and select “105mm Prime” with 65% brightness.

STEP 38

Move the lens flare layer so that the centre of the flare is on the top left edge of the text. For multiple flares, repeat these steps.

That’s it! All Done! Hopefully you found this tutorial useful. Please leave a comment with any questions you have!

Not only did can you find some great and handy ideas for Christmas gifts, but you can also submit your own ideas for new inventions, and the team at Quirky will take you through the process to evaluate, test, rate, design and eventually produce your product! It’s a great way to really promote those ideas that you may have for simple things that would make life a lot easier!

And if you’re not the inventive type, it’s got some good products worth looking at- here were some that I liked:

I just love when people create new methods to push ideas into reality- empowering the creative minds who would otherwise never be able to see their ideas come to fruition.

You can find out more about the site and get involved here.

So to help you out, here are fifteen of my personal favourite websites that I use frequently when designing new things!

1. iStockphoto

iStockphoto is probably the biggest and best collection of high quality photos, vectors, videos and more that you will find on the web. Because of the high standards in their quality control process, it’s rare to find anything average on istock. The resources on istock aren’t free, but for only a few dollars you are given a full commercial licence to use their images for your projects. If you need a photo and have a small budget to work with, istock is definitely the first place to look.

2. Shutterstock

Shutterstock is very similar to istock in what it has to offer. The biggest difference is that instead of purchasing images as you go, Shutterstock has subscription options, so you subscribe for a certain amount of time and you can download 25 images a day during that time. If you have a big project that requires lots of images, this works out much cheaper in the long run, however it’s probably not ideal if you only need one or two images at a time.

Both iStock and Shutterstock are also worth looking at if you are a photographer or artist and would like to make some extra money from your work by selling it to others to use. You can use these links to find out more about how to become a contributor: istockphoto and shutterstock

There are also other sites that are not as big as iStock and Shutterstock, but if you’re interested in selling photos in more than one place, I would recommend checking these out too:

3. Stock.xchng

Stock.xchng is the leading free stock photography site on the web. When you’ve got no money to spend, you can still find some great photos or illustrations here. They’re not always the best quality compared to paid sites and some of the photos have licensing restrictions, but there are a suprising number of great photos still available. Definitely a good starting point!

4. Video Copilot

If you are more involved in video production and media, I highly recommend checking out some of the fantastic tutorials and resources on Video Copilot. These are some of the best After Effects tutorials that I have ever seen- they are easy to follow and help you to create amazing videos! This website also offers some great paid resources and video/audio packs that can dramatically enhance the quality of your videos.

5. DaFont

DaFont is my favourite website to find free fonts for every project. They have hundreds of fonts sorted by theme or title, and they are all free to download and use on your computer. You can spend hours sometimes just looking through some of the great collections they have and downloading everything! I never bother to look at any other font sites anymore.

6. Digital Pigeon

Digital Pigeon is a useful site that allows you to send large files as emails. I use this all the time to send videos or projects to others for conferences or to get flyers printed. There are other similar sites available on the web, however I love Digital Pigeon because it allows you to send up to 2GB for free, you can send multiple files at once, you can change the expiry date on your files, it has a desktop app, and I really appreciate the little details such as the drag and drop from your desktop feature. All up, this is the best site I’ve seen when it comes to sending large files.

7. The 99 Percent

The 99 Percent is a great place to look for articles and tips to help you build your creativity and create an environment and patterns in your life to help you achieve your creative goals. Taking its name from Thomas Edison’s famous quote that “genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration,” this site has articles, tips, videos, and events to help you transform your ideas into reality.

8. Behance

From the same creators as the 99 percent, The Behance Network is a massive portfolio website where creative professionals showcase their work to the world.With a constant collection of some of the best creative projects from around the world, this is a site worth checking out. Whenever I’m short of ideas or need some extra inspiration, I love browsing through some of the artwork on this site and letting it inspire me.

9. Sermon Spice

Sermon Spice offers downloadable videos, illustrations, countdowns, backgrounds and more for you to use during your services. Because it is specifically created for churches, there are some great videos that you can use to build your message or help deliver a point to your audience. From animated or funny to dramatic or inspirational videos, you’ll find some great resources here. Most videos range from $10-15.

10. Zazzle

For anything and everything you would like to print for your minstry, Zazzle probably has it! They print on anything from skateboards to t-shirts to shoes! While they are not the cheapest printing option around, I love Zazzle because they allow you to print even just one item- so it’s great for prizes or gifts. You can either upload your own designs or buy something that has already been designed by someone else. Even more- when you design your own items, you can sell them in the Zazzle marketplace, without having to worry about the costs of printing before making a profit- they print everything as items are sold and you can choose the amount you would like to earn from your product.

11. Animation Factory

Animation Factory is a massive collection of videos and animated files that you can use in your media or on a website. The videos are fantastic for things like backgrounds for song lyrics- there is a huge variety and you can download unlimited videos and resources for a small annual fee (depending on which level membership you choose). We’ve used this on several video projects and I would definitely recommend it if you work with video.

12. Active Den

Active Den has some fantastic flash and web resources for a very low price. You can download flash files, templates, galleries, music players, animations, menus, preloaders, games and more from $1. This is a great resource for anyone building their own website or working on a flash or web project. Some very nice effects and resources that are already coded for you!

There are many other useful sites out there but these are just a few of my personal favourites that I use frequently. I would definitely recommend checking them all out and adding them to your bookmarks!

What are some of your favourite web resources?

So in this “Inspire Me!” section I want to share with you some of the pictures that I’ve found inspiring for my own designs.

In this first post, I’ve chosen the three things that I’ve recently been researching a lot for my designs… typography, illustration, and retro-style designs. Here are just a few of the many pictures that caught my eye while browsing the web… I hope they help inspire you as they have inspired me!

Firstly, typography is always an amazing way to make an impact in a design. Check out these:

Retro designs have come back into the spotlight in 2011! Here are a few I found cool:

These illustrations also kind of fit into the retro category… really wish I could draw like some of these!

I’ve had this picture as my desktop wallpaper for ages, so I thought it was time to share it with you too! It’s one of my favourite scriptures- Ephesians 4:1… “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

I hope you enjoy it!

You can download it here: (right click – save target as)

I stumbled across these very creative posters from http://www.maximidiavintageads.com/ and just had to share them!

They have looked at the technology that we now take for granted and promoted them through the perspective and style of a 1960s vintage advertisement.

Facebook- “A comprehensive, economical, superb new communications tool that’s perfect for modern living.”

Skype- “it’s a veritable audio-visual miracle that will put you in contact with a brand new world.”

Twitter- “A virtual locality with a wide assortment of people.”

Youtube- “The most charming and magnificent way to entertain the whole family”

So I’ve been reading a whole lot of articles lately about improving or finding your creativity, and it got me thinking about how much of that we can apply to creativity in ministry, and how much we need to believe for more than what the world expects.

I remember when I created the artwork for the Kidshaper Sound brochure several years ago, it was the first time ever that I created something through more than just my own strength. Sure, it took a lot of adjustments, planning, redesigning and guidance from my pastor to make it great, but even with all that, I knew that a lot of what I achieved could only be credited to God Himself through what He showed me before I started.

When you have a clear vision in your mind of what you want to accomplish, the process is much easier! Instead of trying to work out how something should look, it’s more like dictation- simply putting onto the computer what you have already seen in your mind.

In all my time as a designer, my best work has never been something that I have simply come up with by myself. My best designs have always been inspired by God. Sometimes I will literally wake up with a picture of exactly what I need to create. Other times I need to push a little harder and ask God to show me ideas through other things. Either way, when I let God help me, my designs always go far beyond what I can do in my own strength.

So what I have for you today is a small list of tips and tricks that can help you to get more creative and to get inspired to do more than you think you can. Different people learn and think in different ways, so instead of creating a specific method, I have listed a few different things that are worth trying to see what works the best for you!

1. Pray before you start!

If you want God to be a part of your design process, you have to invite Him in. Prayer is a great chance to change the atmosphere, connect yourself with the ultimate source of creativity (the Creator Himself), remove any worry, fear or distractions, get yourself focused, ask God for ideas, and ask God for an increase in your abilities and anointing as a designer. Even if you’re not a designer, when you step into God’s anointing, your weaknesses don’t matter anyway. Instead of relying on your own creativity (or lack thereof)…. tune into His!

2. Choose the time that you are most focused

You need to work out when you are the most alert and get your best work done during the day. Are you a morning person? Are you a night person? The more alert you are, the easier it will be to get yourself focused!

3. Dream

Don’t limit your ideas to what you know you can do. Sometimes it’s good to step away for a minute and just let yourself dream with God. Imagine what you could achieve if you had unlimited skills! Imagine what the perfect design would be for what you are doing. Dream big and give God a chance to expand you! If you expect little, you will achieve little, but if you dare to dream bigger, you might be surprised at what you achieve!

4. Set up a creative environment

It’s hard to be creative and think extraordinary when your work space just screams “ordinary”. Try and find ways to make your office or space more creative and inspiring. Sometimes all it takes is a few posters or artwork in the room, or maybe a few decorative things on your desk. When I set up my office, I put my favourite clock on my desk and a large white wooden cutout of the word “dream” that a friend gave to me. I also put some of my other work on my desk that reminded me of what I could achieve if I trusted God… I still have the Kidshaper Sound brochure from 2009 sitting on my desk!

A creative environment really helps you to get inspired and ready. Try things like posters, decorations, music, repainting, nice furniture… you can do a lot more with a few changes! My only advice is to be careful not to clutter your space… because a cluttered space will make it harder to stay focused. So keep it simple, but inspiring!

5. Take a break

If you’re really stuck for ideas and have been staring aimlessly at your computer, it’s time for a break. Not a TV break or something else that will occupy your mind, but something that will help you to wind down, relax and dream again. It’s good to have a space somewhere, even in another room, where you don’t have any technology or distractions, even your laptop. Make it a place where you can stop, maybe read or draw or look out the window, and just pause for a few minutes until your mind is clearer. Use this time to talk to God or just let your mind dream the impossible again for a moment. Then, when you’re ready… get back to work!

6. Get inspired

When I’m hunting for ideas, I often love just browsing the internet for inspiration. It’s great to find the new design trends and find portfolios of people who are thinking out of the box and doing something new and extraordinary! I find it helps me to dream bigger and unlock different aspects of design that I would never have considered otherwise. It also reminds me that there is so much more to learn, and gets me excited to try something new!

7. Don’t give up!

If you’re really struggling to get that “aha!” moment and find the momentum and creativity you need, don’t give up! Try some different approaches… if you always use the computer, maybe try drawing on paper instead first. If you have something half in progress but just can’t make it work, it’s ok to clean the slate and start again!

Don’t be afraid when your pastor or boss tells you that your work isn’t good enough, because every chance to try again is a chance to step up to a new level and achieve something even greater. I’ve had to learn many times to let go and not get too attached to my work, because not everything I create is going to get good feedback. Sometimes, I miss the mark, and I need someone else to point it out. So when you don’t get positive feedback, don’t be discouraged! I guarantee that if you stick to it and try again, the results will always come out better.

I hope this has been a helpful article for you!

Be encouraged and get inspired… there is so much creativity in God’s Kingdom, we just have to find it and tune in!