just pimping some fun icon activities!

[neonspider]

Wow, there are so many awesome icon activities and new comms and everything! I'm sure most of you already know of these things but I wanted to pimp them anyway:

bestof_icons has awesome activities, the best of which is of course voting for the best icon of the year from everyone who participates. There's still a little time to participate!






ICON NOMINATIONS - JOIN IN! | MY THREAD
ICON REMAKE - JOIN IN! | MY THREAD

---

10in30 is a new challenge comm that is exactly what it says on the tin - kinda like a 20in20, except a 10in30 :) so, perfect for makers like me who like to take their time with icons.
Here's the first challenge!

---

20muses has the same basic idea with inspired20in20 and 20inspirations. It's an open for all comm but based on the first challenge looks refreshingly challenging and super inspiring! Wish I had time for this, but I'm already signed up for too many things... but I definitely intend to enter a round or two in the future :)

---

Also, one of my favorite challenge comms, technique20in20, is back. What I love about this comm is that there are no claims, you can icon anything for a single round, even make all icons from different fandoms if you like. It's more like a regular 20in20 than an inspiration 20in20, but with a twist that all the themes are technical and quite challenging too. I've already signed up. I just freaking love this comm. Perfect for makers who like to try and learn new techniques and iconing styles!

---

and then there are these icontalking awards. Personally all kinds of award thingies make me uncomfortable, because I don't really like to be compared to other makers tbh, but I know these things are super fun for lots of others and the organizer is a wonderful person who has put a lot of work into this with nothing but the best intentions, so I still wanted to advertise this activity too :)

Comments

[apologizeg]

I'm almost finished with my 20muses icons. I think I want to sign up for something more, but I don't know what!

[neonspider]

Wow, you were fast! Can't wait to see your work, I'm sure they'll be stunning :)

If you're looking for another challenge, I'd like to talk/bribe you into doing technique20in20 with me! :D

[apologizeg]

I just found the themes really inspiring :D

Ahhh, ok, I can do that :3
(though I'll probably struggle with the artists's choice icons, I need restriction x)

[violateraindrop]

While I'm always super flattered whenever I'm nominated for an award, I just really enjoy nominating icons. It's a nice way to look at all the icons I saved (manly for my praise posts) this year again. Some categories are really hard though. I saved so many muted icons!

[apologizeg]

Just jumping in here and saying thank you SO much for all noms you gave me! I'm so flattered ♥


edit: lol, that sounds like you gave me treats or something x)

[neonspider]

Yay! :)
hmm, in that case, maybe try to come up with some restriction for the ac set - for example choose a texture set and build the icons around those textures? Or just choose a common style for the set, like making a grungy ac set or close crop ac set or using the same palette in them all :> I totally get that btw, restrictions lead to more interesting icons than just 'do anything' challenges usually!

[neonspider]

Oh, that's a great point - I do remember how fun it was to nominate literally EVERY icon comm I watched back in 2012 or 2013 magicawards, lol. I just didn't want to leave anyone out, and yes it was great fun to browse for all kinds of icons that I found nom-worthy! But even then, I felt bad about all the makers who I didn't nominate cause obvs I couldnt nominate every person who made icons, so in the end I think my personality is just not made for these things :')

[violateraindrop]

I'm happy to hear that!

Cookie? :D

[violateraindrop]

A lot of icons I nominated where the ones that didn't fit into the monthly praise with the one per day format, so that seems like a good comprise to me. I'm also always happy when other people nominate icons I like, so I don't feel bad for leaving them out.

[neonspider]

Yeah, that sounds like a great way of doing it :> and I definitely didn't mean to say that you or anyone should feel guilty for not nominating everyone, it's just my personal issues lmao they're entirely in my head, I guess I'm one of those people who want to please everyone / don't want to disappoint anyone :s but probably nobody else even takes these things so seriously and nobody would even care who I'd nominate so idk maybe I'm stressing for nothing. The post does look stunning, so many beautiful icons! ♥

[violateraindrop]

It's okay, I totally got it! I actually felt the same before I started saving icons for praise posts, that I could forget makers and icons I like.

[neonspider]

Now this makes me think I should start saving icons again! I only do it when it's an icon i want to actually use, so that limits it to a couple of fandoms. when i made those nomination things back then, i did it by literally browsing through all of the comms I watched and that was way too much work tbh :p I bet having a pre-saved selection of good icons ready would make it a lot easier and nicer. And I could make praise posts again. I just get these periods when I sort of fall out of LJ and icons and then end up missing tons of great stuff that is posted... (this is why I really appreciate when others make praise posts, good way to get at least a small look into what I missed this time!)

[novindalf]

Thank you very much for advertising the awards despite your feelings on the subject. I do understand that some people are uncomfortable with the idea, but on a personal level I always found this sort of thing hugely motivational and I hope people understand the spirit it's done in :)

[violateraindrop]

I know! I also ever only saved icons I would theoretically use and often wouldn't even comment on other fandom's icons. While I often feel so lazy because I have this presorted selection of icons saved, it makes participating in activities a lot easier and more fun. I guess I'm even more lazy for not making an additional post with all the icons I saved that didn't make it into the monthly post lol
I always make sure to look at all icons in praise posts, even if my comments on them sound super generic. I truly appreciate being included and seeing all kinds of different icons together!

[neonspider]

Yep, I look at all the icons too, but non-generic commenting on praise posts is kind of difficult isn't it? I mean if you want to mention specific icons and their good qualities, it's probably better just to comment on the icon post so the maker sees it for sure :)
nah, you make a praise post every month, there's no freaking way there's anything lazy about that! I wish I could be so active! But now I kinda feel like making a praise post soon, since it's been a while...

[neonspider]

np, of course I'd advertise it, i love that you made this event possible for all those who wanted it! :) No matter how I feel about something I definitely don't want to ruin the fun for everyone else. I hope people understand the spirit too, and that there hasn't been/won't be any unnecessary wank anywhere :p

[violateraindrop]

Exactly! It would feel weird to single out an icon from one maker in a praise post done by somebody else. It's not like I need to point out that icon since the person obviously likes it already lol
Do it! They can never be enough praise posts to inspire and encourage :)

[apologizeg]

Yeah, I'll probably do something like that :)

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

In an effort to avoid picking caps out for 20muses, I thank you for giving me a few new places to explore! Good luck on yours!!

[neonspider]

Have fun, I hope you'll find something you'll like :)
cap hunting is the most tedious part of iconing for sure, ugh I hate it... But that's why it's better to just get it over with and not procrastinate ;)

[apologizeg]

I have no idea what to pick for the category icons at tech20in20. I don't really have any dream world :S

[neonspider]

oh, that's right, many of your fandoms seem a little dark so I don't blame you if you don't want to live with Hannibal or the Walking Dead! :p

I haven't picked a dream world yet either but how about starting from the other end - just list possible 'dreams' and see if any of them have any resemblance with any of your fandoms? Like, idk, it could be something as simple as having a great group of friends and having fun with them, and almost any show features friendships :) ooorrr maybe something like having fun adventures in some cool locations, or studying the mysteries on the LOST island or time travelling with the Doctor or something. I'm sure it doesn't have to be something you actively dream about, just something you could find appealing enough!

[apologizeg]

I hadn't thought of it like that, thank you! :3

[apologizeg]

How are you doing with your icons?
I have 3 left to make. :)
The ones I've made are of varying quality though. :P I also have a bunch of hideous rejects and alts.

[neonspider]

Wow, you were fast! I'm super glad you are definitely going to make it, I'm always surprised at how quickly you can make your sets.
By 'varying quality' you must mean 'all of them are incredible' cause they always are. ♥

Tbh I'm not doing great - I've only just possibly finished 2, and started a few others... but I've made plans for and found caps for almost all of them so that should make it fairly easy to make the rest, I'm pretty sure I can make it. I was supposed to make a lot of icons this week but the icontalking friending meme has taken a surprising amount of time (it would have been lovely if you had participated too - there are so many interesting iconrelated topics discussed, and I would have loved to read your thoughts on them :) ). I'll try to make a lot of progress with my set this weekend.

[apologizeg]

Well, I spend about 2 hours every night making icons. :P

I hope you'll make it! :)

I'll check out the friending meme!