My friend ievyn is hosting a lil' contest. All you need to do is draw a masterpiece by Sunday and gift it to her. Then there will be a vote and the winners will get prizes. ^.^ Oh, and all masterpieces will be given back!
Also, I drew this yesterday:
It's the book cover of the first book of Twilight. It took a long time, because fingers are hard to draw for me. :P What do you think?
Hey Jammers! These last two days I've been really busy and I haven't been able to type up a new Animal Jam Spotlight for this week. Sorry! :( I promise I'll publish a new one next Tuesday. ^.^
Anyway, after a long few days of being out of town for Memorial Day weekend (by the way, how was your Memorial Day?), yesterday I logged onto Animal Jam to find these two letters in my inbox:
I was thrilled! :D
And inside the gift box was a...
POSITIVE PLAYER PLAQUE!
Not one plaque, but two! The other is for me to give away to someone else who is positive and helpful. :3
It is such an honor to be nominated by AJHQ for this outstanding plaque! It feels a lot cooler to actually receive one from AJHQ than to just get one from a trade or something. c:
So, I would like to extend my thanks not only to AJHQ, but to you guys! You all mean the world to me. I don't know where I would be today without all of the love and support I get from you people. ;,)
To finish off this post, here is a speedpaint I did of an aspen tree drawing, as well as the completed project:
What do you think? Personally, I think I could have done a bit more shading, but oh well. xD
Hello Jammers! ^-^ This post was requested by my good friend sugarcat2. She asked, "how do you make a graphic?" Well, you're about to find out, Sugarcat! :)
I get these kinds of questions a lot over the years so I figured it's about time I made a graphic tutorial anyway. XD
Let's get started!
1. Take a screenshot of what you want your graphic to be of and save it as .PNG file.
In this case, I'll be making a graphic of my wolf.
3. Use the eraser tool to erase the areas of the image that you do not want to include in your graphic. Once you're done, save it to your computer as a .PNG file. If your background for some reason isn't transparent (and you wanted it transparent), you can go to a transparent-image-background-editing-site-thingy and get it fixed up.
Here's a video version of this tutorial:
I hope this was helpful! If you have any questions, please let me know!
Hey Jammers! :) The weekend is almost over... how did you spend your weekend? ^-^
Well, I'm here to finish off the weekend with a sturdy, informational post. c:
First off, there is a new unreleased item in the game. It's called a lion mane, and it is currently owned by pvris.
I wonder how this Jammer got it, and where he/she got it from! O.0 Do you think they hacked it or something?
And for some other news...
Yesterday I was chatting with a few buddies of mine, and my friend tacocat101 discovered this very big bit of news.
He was scrolling through some "Animal Jam" labeled listings on eBay when he found THIS:
That's right, Jammers: for $30.00, you can purchase this set of four series 1 playhouses! :O
So far, this is the only set of Animal Jam toys on eBay. If you're interested in purchasing this set, click on the picture above!
If I ever got the chance to talk with the seller, I would ask them where they got these playhouses from. Then I would rush over to that particular store and buy as much toys as possible! xD
Thanks for reading! And keep your eyes peeled... you might be able to find more toys for sale somewhere in the distant wilderness of the Internet!
Hey Jammers! ^.^ I was exploring the Epic Dens list the other day, and I came across a particular room in one of the dens:
While pink isn't my favorite color, I still love the design and layout of this room! I would totally copy it (and make a few tweaks, of course) if the sectional sofas were still in stores! It's a shame they aren't... D:
Hello Jammers! ^.^ I recently received a request from my good friend Violet to make a post on how to make a successful Animal Jam channel. While I'm not some expert YouTuber, I do know a few good tips and tricks that will hopefully help you beginning YouTubers out there. :) Enjoy!
1. Use a high-quality screen recorder and editor.
If you want to create high-quality videos, you need a high-quality screen recorder and editor. Here are some screen recording programs that I've heard work great:
QuickTime Player
Screencast-O-Matic
Bandicam
Hypercam 2
Camtasia Recorder (I use this recorder!)
And here are some editors:
Final Cut Pro X
iMovie
Windows Movie Maker
Camtasia (I use this program!)
Sony Vegas Pro
Adobe Premier Pro X
Adobe After Effects CC
Keep in mind that not all screen recorders and editing programs are free, but there is indeed a hack where you can download Camtasia as an infinite free trial. I've tried this hack and it works! I've been using Camtasia since July 2015 and I love it! <3
2. Have good audio.
No one likes listening to videos where the audio is all fuzzy and you can hear your computer heating up in the background! >.< If you plan to create videos using your voice, a microphone is recommended.
Another thing - everyone likes background music in a video! If you do use background music in your videos, make sure it is non-copyrighted and at a decent volume. I recommend using Kevin Macleod's music for background audio. You can view his website here.
3. Keep your videos a decent length.
I hate watching videos that are more than 20-30 minutes long. Good videos should be kept at a reasonable length, but not too short that you don't get the point across during your video. Unless you're doing a live stream, 2-10 minute long videos are highly recommended (by me XD).
4. Create catchy thumbnails.
Believe it or not, thumbnails are one of the most important factors in YouTubing. A catchy thumbnail will attract the human eye much more than a sloppy thumbnail that you will probably just scroll past. A YouTube thumbnail is basically a miniature movie poster than helps the viewer understand what your video is about.
Keep your thumbnails clean, not cluttered and crowded, and don't use a ton of text. Pick out the key words in your video title and put them in your thumbnail. For example, if your video is titled "ANIMAL JAM: DIY MAGENTA FURRY HAT", some good key words to put into your thumbnail would be "DIY" and "FURRY HAT".
To create a thumbnail, simply search for a thumbnail template. Save the image to your computer. Then go into a photo editing program (Pixlr, PicMonkey, Photoshop, etc.) and start designing! If you're still stuck, here is a good tutorial on creating thumbnails by WisteriaMoon:
Notice how the Animal Jam Whip is featured in this video!? :D It is such an honor!
5. Take advantages of tags.
Tags are little keywords that can help people find your videos. Tags like "Animal Jam" or any other keywords related to your video will definitely be of assistance to you!
6. Have an inviting, professional channel art.
You can create channel art to help brand your channel's identity and give you page a unique look and feel that is completely, well, YOU! By combining graphics, text, and more, you can create a beautiful channel art that will help invite newcomers and get them to subscribe. :) If you're not up to creating channel art on your own from scratch, you can always call up my buddy awesomepanda868and she'll make the art for you for a good price! ^-^
7. Have a good intro/outro.
Intros are miniature video clips that basically say, "(YOUR USERNAME), ENJOY THE VIDEO!", and outros are the same thing, except they say "LIKE, COMMENT, AND SUBSCRIBE!" If you watch other Animal Jam YouTubers (or any other regular YouTuber, really), you'll notice their intros/outros. Most peoples' intros/outros consist of their animal doing an action with music blasting in the background. Again, if you're not up for the job, you can always get a hold of someone who does intro/outro commissions!
8. BE ORIGINAL!
In my opinion, this is the most important tip of all! I absolutely HATE, no, LOATHE it when YouTubers copy other YouTubers. IT MAKES ME SO MAD! No one likes to see the same video over and over again! At least I don't! >:U
It's hard to come up with original video ideas these days, and I get that. It's totally okay to be inspired by other YouTubers and their ideas! But as long as you don't completely copy their video, it's fine!
Just... BE ORIGINAL! 'Nuff said!
So there you go! 8 tips! Whew, that was a LOT of typing. XP I hope these tips will help you grow your channel, and maybe one day, just maybe, you'll become FAMOUS because of these lil' hints! .o.
Hey Jammers! Today's an update day, so let's check it out!
WHOA... create your own masterpiece!? Let's turn the page to find out more...
Wow! For just 2 diamonds, you can turn your painting into an ITEM! This looks super cool! Too bad it's for Members only!
o.o
I have certain concerns for that Peck drawing.
A new den. Nothing too special. We see new dens all of the time, but I must admit this one does look cool!
For a limited time only, all the hats in Jamaa are 50% off! I remember in 2012 they had a Hatapalooza, and there was a little hat cart in the Sarepia Forest. Everyone was mad because a previous rare item, top hats, were released. Good times, good times! XD
It's been confirmed! Pigs are officially coming to Jamaa! And polar bears have departed, too. You will be missed, dear polar bears!
What better way to end the newspaper than pig facts?
Also, I got featured in the Daily Explorer!
This just has to be the reason why I was sent that beautiful diamond plaque!
My friend swirlshine drew this work of art for me! :D Thank you so, so, SOOO much, Swirl! I love it! <3 You are super good at drawing and coloring! I swear, the best artists I know are the people who view this blog! ^.^
Hello! ^.^ Welcome to another volume of the Animal Jam Spotlight series, where every Tuesday an important figure in the world of Jamaa receives their own little "spotlight".
Today, we're going to be talking about the father of Cami Carver: Pat Carver!
Pat Carver is currently a UI/UX designer for Animal Jam and works at WildWorks (AJHQ) in Salt Lake City. He specializes in:
- Character and object animation - 3D modeling
- Texturing
- Flash animation
He has been working at Wildworks since September 2008! Wow, that's about two years before Animal Jam was launched! o.o
When he was informed that his daughter Cami had leukemia, he decided to create an in-game replica of Cami's favorite stuffed animal, Froggy. This is how the popular beta item, Cami's Frog, came to be! :)
Hi Jammers! c: It's the last week of school for me! Yay! Now onto the post...
Have you ever heard of VidCon?
VidCon is basically a convention where a bunch of famous YouTubers and fans get together and mingle. On VidCon's website, it reads: Online video has become a massive cultural force, launching careers and communities and creations of all sort. VidCon exists as the largest gathering of people who love and are a part of this new culture.
So, if you go to VidCon, you will probably get to meet famous YouTubers like Tyler Oakley, Jenna Marbles, PewDiePie, Shane Dawson, and more!
But this year's VidCon is going to be extra special, because AJHQ invited a few very lucky Animal Jam YouTubers to go to VidCon, with all expenses paid!
If you go to VidCon, you might be able to meet famous Jammers like Aparri, bepper, snowyclaw, Twinkle0122, and a couple others! :O IN REAL LIFE!
I kind of wish I could go to VidCon, but that's highly unlikely for two main reasons:
1) I'm not a famous YouTuber
2) Tickets are way too expensive
VidCon 2016 will take place in Anaheim, California, and starts on June 23rd and lasts until June 25th. ^.^
I'd actually rather go to Disneyland than VidCon, but that's just my opinion. :P It would be so cool to meet Aparri and the rest of the gang though!
Hey Jammers! Today I have a little rant for y'all, so if you don't like rants, now is your chance to leave.
Ever since Membership was added into Animal Jam after beta testing, Non-Members and Members have always been at war with each other over who's better and who's more special and stuff like that.
Here is the current chart of Member benefits that you can find on the Membership section of the homepage:
Obviously Members get way more freedom in the game than Non-Members do. Duh, they're MEMBERS! They PAID for the extra freedom.
But don't get me wrong. I most definitely agree when people say Non-Members deserve more.
In the early days of Membership, Non-Members weren't as restricted. They had the ability to send and receive gifts (I think), read chat history, type in free chat mode, etc.
But in later years, AJHQ decided to remove those little features from Non-Members and made them specifically Members-only.
Instead of taking abilities AWAY from Non-Members, they should just ADD abilities for Members. That way Non-Members won't have to suffer as badly.
There are games out there such as Club Penguin that don't treat their Non-Members very fairly, but Animal Jam is not like that. In fact, AJHQ gives Non-Members a lot more freedom than most virtual worlds out there. Let me also point out that I am extremely grateful that Non-Members now get the option of coloring their items. Thank you, AJHQ, thank you! <3
But because you took free chat away from Non-Members, they can't abide by the second amendment of America.
Because you took away the chat history from Non-Members, they can't read old messages from their buddies when they come back from being on BRB.
Because you took away the ability of sending and receiving gifts from Non-Members, they can't feel the love from their friends and pay it forward too.
See what I mean?
What do you guys think about Non-Members? Do they deserve more? Why or why not?
Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Dark Paradise - Lana Del Rey
Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson
Lights - Ellie Goulding
Shower - Becky G
Apologize - OneRepublic
I Lived - OneRepublic
Love Runs Out - OneRepublic
Feel Again - OneRepublic
Ordinary Love - U2
Iris (Hold Me Close) - U2
Song for Someone - U2
Every Breaking Wave - U2
California - U2
Crystals - Of Monsters and Men
Medicine (Sound Remedy Remix) - Daughter
On Our Way - The Royal Concept
Try Everything - Shakira
Safe and Sound - Capital Cities
Yellow - Coldplay
Fix You - Coldplay
Ours - Taylor Swift
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran
Let it Go/Let Her Go Mashup - Sam Tsui
Renegades - X Ambassadors
In the Wind - Lord Huron
Stressed Out Tomsize Remix - Twenty One Pilots
Rather Be - Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
Real Gone - Sheryl Crow
TV SHOWS
MOVIES
(there's more but I can't think of the rest right now :p)
Hello, Jammers! How are you doing today? ^.^ I'm doing great!
Ever since I won on a spot on the News Crew team, I have been receiving a lot of questions like "could you give me some tips on how to write my entry?" and "what are some strategies for winning the News Crew?" So, today I thought I would share some tips and tricks with you on how to write the perfect News Crew entry. Remember, keep on trying if at first you do not succeed!
1. Use good writing mechanics and conventions.
Always proofread your entry before submitting it to AJHQ! Fix your spelling errors and any other grammar mistakes you may find. Keep your entry clean and spotless!
2. Don't use slang.
It's a good idea to keep your report free of words, emojis and phrases like "XD", "LOL, "JOHN CENA", etc.
3. Stay on topic.
Don't begin your report by saying, "Hi Jammers! Have you ever wondered why geese fly in V-shapes? Oh, by the way, this morning on the way to school we found a dead goose laying on the road! The flesh and blood and feathers were all spread out over the road! It was disgusting! I almost wanted to puke out my Cinnamon Toast Crunch! Cinnamon Toast Crunch is SOOOO delicious. It's like, the best cereal EVA! Okay, where was I? Oh, yeah, geese..."
Yeah. Big no-no right there. >.<
4. Keep your report under 250 words long.
Any reports that exceed the 250 word limit will automatically be thrown out of the competition. Sorry!
Also, a 3-4 paragraph long report is the recommended size for a News Crew entry. Don't make the paragraphs super lengthy. You get the idea, right?
5. Keep your report child-appropriate!
Enough said.
6. Be positive!
No one wants to read a report that's full of negativity. "UGH I HATE THE LLAMAS THEY R SO GROSS" "EW DISGUSTING IT SMELLS LIKE POO" "AJ SUCKS HAHAHAHA"
7. Start your report with a friendly greeting.
"Hello Jammers!" or "Hi Jammers!" is a great way to start your report.
8. Use pun words like "pawesome" and "paw-tastic".
DE writers make puns in their writing whenever they are typing up a new post for the Daily Explorer, so it kind of gives you the right to use those same puns as well. Instead of "awesome", write "PAW-some", and capitalize the "paw". The list goes on and on!
9. Attach a relevant screenshot to your entry.
If you do not attach a screenshot that corresponds to what your report is about, you probably won't get picked.
10. Sign your report with your ANIMAL'S name, not your USERNAME.
And make sure that the name you are signing off with is the same name of the animal that is in your screenshot.
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