I wanted to go through my process of creating tutorials for you - because it's the question I get asked the most. I finally have a permanent, high quality setup that makes it easy for me to do video and Facebook or YouTube Live events.
I film all my videos with my Iphone. They are HD, and it's super convenient. I have my beloved Arkon Stand across my work surface from me - it's always on my desk (info below on a sale). I just slip my phone into the stand and start shooting every time I make a card. There's an Ipad holder on the base of the stand for my Facebook lives, or to play the podcasts and audiobooks I listen to while I create. All of those videos end up on my YouTube channel unless a technique I try doesn't work. I'll never blog about something I can't produce more than once.
I upload the video from my phone to Dropbox when I'm done, then download it into Camtasia for editing. I completely edit the video, and discard the audio track (I don't talk when I'm creating - I can't talk and art at the same time.) During this first edit, I remove all "dead" content - like where I've gotten up to get something, or I'm reaching for something, etc. This is so that the video is 100% useful content, and not anything repetitive, or annoying to the viewer. I then re-watch the video to make sure it's as tight as it can possibly be.
Next - I photograph and edit the cards. I create three files for each card - the Photoshop file at original size, edited, in case I need a different size later - a 1920x1080 JPEG for the video, and a 650 wide version for my blog. I then email the 650 to myself to put on Instagram after I blog it. I drop the video slides into the video, and add an Intro and Outro slide, as well as a title slide I modify in Photoshop.
Then and only then do I add audio - this is because now the video is the exact, final edited length - so that keeps me from having to edit my audio too much for length, and potentially disrupt the flow of what I'm saying.
I have this microphone that I use - and I open Audacity (free audio software) and start recording. When that's done (the second try is always the best), I export the audio file, import it into Camtasia and start editing. I have misophonia, so I heavily edit my audio tracks to remove breathing sounds, etc. My microphone is outstanding at not picking up sounds in my environment, but since it's recording me, it records my breathing, and other sounds that I make that make me crazy. Once that's edited, I watch the video with sound and fix anything I missed. THEN the video is ready for YouTube. Once it's uploaded, I generate the link to my blog post, the supply list and add those to the description. Then I wait for YouTube to generate automatic closed captioning, and then I go edit that. Once that's all done, I go back and finish my blog post and schedule it.
After I got my Arkon setup, I started making at least four times as many videos as I had before - it's just so convenient to always have a classy, professional setup ready for me to work in.
Last week - I got some great news from them - they have actually bundled my setup together for a discount! So normally, the stand, the tablet holder and the ring light that clips on the phone is $144.95 if you buy them individually. (The best $150 I've ever spent in my crafty life), but now they have the bundle for $10 off, PLUS - if you use my coupon code - UNDERSTANDBLUE - you will get an additional 20% off (this code is good sitewide, no expiration date), bringing the bundle to $107.96 - that's just slightly more than I paid for the stand by itself back in the day. If you make videos, you definitely need this in your life. Here is the bundle on their site.
AND - if you bought your stand back when I first did, and the arm that goes over the desk only has TWO sections - they now come standard with three - so you can email Arkon customer service or call them at 800-841-0884 with your order info and they will send you the extension free. This makes it so that your phone doesn't have to be tipped towards you to capture what you're working on - it can bet completely parallel to the work surface. You can compare yours against this photo to see how many you have. There's a funny story about how I found this out, but that's for another day.
Why am I telling you all this? Because today, I'm taking part in a really important video hop - Save the Crafty YouTuber. You can read why I'm doing this after I show you my cards though - because I'm super excited about them!!
I accidentally discovered a fun reaction with my Versafine Clair Blue Belle Ink and turned it into a technique! It is SO fun, and gives the very ethereal result you see below. Blue Belle is a very deep, saturated ultramarine blue - but look at the soft blue, purple and pink result I got! I used the Amazing You stamp set and dies - available for FREE with a qualifying Sale-a-Bration purchase and these beautiful sequins from Lucy's. Isn't that soft and fun? Wait till you see how easy it is.
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I created the second one with the same process, a different stencil, the same dies, and this stamp set.
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And a word on sequins - I saw my friend Jana's sequin storage at a retreat last year and ordered them before I left. Embellishments drive me batty because every company's sequins are packaged differently and it's a mix of bags, round containers - ACK. This storage is cool because you can buy different sized containers for different embellishments and have hundreds of different colors in a tiny amount of space. It was meant originally for beads, but it's PERFECT for sequins and other embellishments. I use mostly the small containers, with a few of the medium and large for my go-to sequins. Love this thing.
Now to the hop.
I wrote a post about how long it takes to film, edit, voice over, edit sound, and upload a video here. A good average is an hour per minute of video for processing. So when you watch a 3 minute video like you're going to see today - the person has spent a minimum of three hours delivering that video to your eyes.
Now if someone - like me - who works more than full time and also has hobbies and a normal, full, busy life like everyone else - takes three hours to produce a free, three minute video in their limited free time - I think two things should happen:
- People should be kind in their responses to the video. If you don't like the video - just move on in silence - here's my favorite video on the topic. You never know if someone is brand new, and will just wither and disappear with an unkind comment or a thumbs down. If you like it - please comment, like and share! This helps everyone on YouTube (and on any other social media venue) reach more people and grow their audience. And we ALL love all your comments - it's our reward for that work knowing that we have helped someone and hearing your sweet thoughts about it. My YouTube community is so kind and generous - I love you guys!
- That person should get paid for the work they've done. The great thing about that is you can make sure that your favorite creators get paid without it costing you a dime. They can be paid through the monetization vehicles available on YouTube - the ad networks that YouTube makes available, YouTube Red, etc. There are other ways to support every creator - you can donate a small amount each month via Paypal to your favorite artists who provide you with free content, or use their affiliate links at no cost to you, etc. What money buys your favorite artists is time. That time can then be spent creating more content that you can then enjoy.
YouTube recently made some very necessary and good changes to the platform for a variety of reasons, which is going to impact newer creators' ability to monetize their videos until their audience is larger. That's why we are joining together today to try to help crafters who are new to YouTube grow their audience to the point where they can monetize their channel.
So to do that - we have about 55 bloggers - big names and newbies - coming together in a fun video hop, sponsored by your favorite crafty companies, to hopefully introduce you to some new favorites, while helping people who want to create and share get rewarded financially for their hard work. Good cause, eh? And the bonus is - you have more crafty tutorials to watch! #winwin
So to get started, just click over to YouTube to watch my video - it's three-ish minutes and crazy fun. Then, in the video description on YouTube, you'll see a link to the next video in the hop. That will be the case for every video in the hop - more than 50 tutorials! Also, every single video comment in the hop is your chance to win. You could win one of 120 prizes from the hop's sponsors - Simon Says Stamp ($25 gift card for each stop) and Catherine Pooler (ink at each stop) - as well as many other individual prizes from the stops on the hop. Winners will be chosen February 26th - so you have plenty of time to watch all these videos.
If you need me to call in sick for you today so that you can watch all of these in your PJs - just let me know!
Loveyameanitbye.
I love all of your “happy accidents”! This one is so pretty! Heading to the next video, as soon as I purchase that gorgeous ink #enabler.
ReplyDeleteI love your so very generous shares!
ReplyDeleteLove these cards!! This blog hop is a fabulous idea and I will watch ALL the videos today I've got the flu!!!
ReplyDeleteI DO so appreciate vudeo tutorials. Thanks for showing us how to send appreciation. Its one reason why i like online card classes. I feel i can monetariily pay them for so many other free videos. You're a gem,Lydia.
ReplyDeleteLOVE learning new techniques ! Thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteThank you for your very clear written instructions about HOW to do a video tutorial , what equipment is needed and where to purchase it, and a discount that never expires included! Realizing that I need to learn this aspect of crafting to communicate , I recently looked around for a tutuorial on how to do this and was not helped much by watching what I found when searching. The whole thing is overwhelming to me but I plan to try at some point. You may have saved me from giving up all together. Again, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat makes me so happy!
DeleteWhat an awesome accidental discovery
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing, can’t wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your information. I agree. I hate when I see negative comments. I always feel the need to Say somthgin to theses commenters. No one forced them to watch. If you don't like it move on. I appreciate the time all the youtubers out in their videos. Thank you for all you do
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the process of creating a video.
ReplyDeleteI’m a card maker and I straggling with all the editing process and uploading it to YouTube.
Well going to watch your creation and all the others...
I love everything you've done with these backgrounds! Gorgeous! Why are you so talented?
ReplyDeleteHow can something so pretty be so simple? Have to try this!
ReplyDeletel can hardly wait for you to try this with other colors. This Clair ink is new to me.. I will be looking into it for certain. a super fun look.. THanks so much for sharing it Lydia, Gail
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me? Really? I just LOVE happy accidents like this. Be proud of the new "Lydia blue technique!" OOooo, I'm like "this" close to caving and buying this Arkon bundle :/ Bruce even said that I need this...
ReplyDeleteBoy, this Arkon set-up is going to make my life so much easier. It's amazing the time you can waste just getting set up! Thanks so much for sharing! You've made my day! And the technique rocks!
ReplyDeleteLoved your video but I can't seem to find where to catch the next one in the hop. Can you help?
ReplyDeleteHi Theresa - click through to the video. The link to the next one is in the description. That will be true for every video you watch.
DeleteMost people have no idea how difficult somethings actually are. Because people like you are so awesome at it, it makes it look easy. I don't understand thumbs down, it shouldn't even be an option. You have to be brave to put yourself out there for other people to judge you, so Kudos to anyone who does.
ReplyDeleteLydia | absolutely love this post. I am one of the 50 in the YouTube hop and I greatly appreciate what you’ve said about being positive - if you can’t say something nice then say nothing at all. I love that Yeti microphone as it is the most recent upgrade I made for my tutorials and I will keep this stand in mind since it looks like it would make video making a bit easier. Thanks for all the advice here!
ReplyDeleteLydia | absolutely love this post. I am one of the 50 in the YouTube hop and I greatly appreciate what you’ve said about being positive - if you can’t say something nice then say nothing at all. I love that Yeti microphone as it is the most recent upgrade I made for my tutorials and I will keep this stand in mind since it looks like it would make video making a bit easier. Thanks for all the advice here! That video you linked was absolutely spot on!
ReplyDeleteWow. That is pretty incredible. I wish I weren't afraid to spray rubbing alcohol!
ReplyDeleteHey, Lydia....I could use you to make that call for me tomorrow. Would love to spend the day in my jammies watching all 50 videos! Maybe this weekend. Till then this is a really cool discovery you made. I knew that you put a lot of time and effort into your videos and want you to know that they are appreciated!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, looove it 😀
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, I WISH I had known about this hop so I could have participated! What a great idea. I've been doing my part watching a few videos each day to help everyone out. I also LOVE LOVE love your tips and can't wait to check out that bundle. I love creating video and set myself a goal of 3 videos each week to try to boost my channel even before the email with the changes came out from YouTube. I was SO disheartened and almost gave up but figured if it's meant to be that I get my partnership back it will happen with a little determination and consistency on my part. Fingers crossed! Thank you for explaining so well why this hop and all the creatives creating content on YT are so important and deserve all the love. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you Lydia for sharing your knowledge and beautiful creations ! I’m over to that hop... love from France, Marjorie
ReplyDelete[margessw(at)icloud(dot)com]