Monday, April 30, 2012

Teacher's Pets

L-R: Bugs, Malou, Austin, Salem

Hi everyone, Miss Katie here.

Well what do you know! A few of my students were actually paying attention last week to my How To GIF lesson. If they plan on bribing me with that apple to get a good grade, well they've chosen the wrong food group. Speak to me in salmon, pupils.

Apples aside, the students did an awesome job on their very first GIF's.  (that's animation for those of you who slept through class last week.)


Check Out The Students & Their Work

NSrIb4 on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs
Meet BUGS from Catself
Bugs did his level best to explain the fine art of Giffing to his human.  Must have taken a long time though considering all the extra shuteye he got in.  Not to mention the disinterest he showed when his eyes were actually OPEN.  Half way.


RLq7UM on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs
Meet MALOU from Critters In The Cottage  
Malou exhibited by far the most patience with her human's Giffing attempts. Note the erect posture and interested tilt of her head.  But her glazed over eyes tell a different story.  A *do-you-have-it-now?*  *ok-how-about-now?*  *now?*  *please-Cod-now?* story.


And meet AUSTIN, from CATachresis 
With a blog name like that, he BETTER be a good student.  The jury's still out on whether that's an indifferent yawn or a *bloody-hurry-up-already* followed by obvious disdain.  I'm guessing the latter.  Word across the pond is that Austin's human has been playing around with Photoshop into the wee hours.  That can only lead to worldwide web embarrassment.  Given that, Austin's display is appropriate indeed.



Well done, students!  For your efforts I give you each a VERY respectable A-minus. I had to take SOMETHING off for the apple gaff. Next time, show me some salmon. 



Pee S:  If I've missed anyone, just let me know and I'll display your GIF and a link to your blog!  Thanks for coming to class.


BREAKING UPDATE!  
Salem from the Katnip Lounge 
did HIS homework over the weekend! Way to go, Salem!  Not THAT'S how you get extra credit!  Shake your GIF, Salem.











Saturday, April 28, 2012

Saturday PhotoHunt

::Texture::




Thursday, April 26, 2012

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards


Hi everyone, Katie here.

Pssssst...did you hear?

Nominations are officially open for the 2012 BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Social Media Pet Blogging Awards!  It's the ONLY awards program where pet bloggers (and pet people who "microblog" on Facebook and Twitter) are judged by a panel of distinguished professionals on their expertise, creativity and performance in one or more of TWELVE categories. That's a whole dozen different awards!

ANYONE can nominate and ANYONE can win!  You can nominate as many different bloggers as you'd like in as many categories as you like.  You can even nominate yourself!  About the only thing you can't do is nominate a dog for the Best Cat Blog.  ha!

Nose-to-Nose Award Categories


::
Best Blog Design
Best Blog Writing
Best Humor Blog
Best Bark Blog (dogs)
Best Meow Blog (cats!)
Best Wiggle Blog (non-traditional pets)
Best Newbie Blog
Best Cause Blog
Best Video on a Blog
Best Photo on a Blog
Best Facebook Design
Best Twitter Design
::


Nominations are open NOW through MAY 6 

Click HERE to learn more and nominate your favorite blogs!

One of the coolest things about these awards is that you don't have to choose between one, two, three... blogs. You can nominate ALL of your faves and let the judges decide. You can nominate as many blogs as you want AND you can nominate blogs in more than one category. It's not a popularity contest either. It doesn't matter if a blog has 1 nomination or 100 nominations. They will all be judged equally.  

We've got SO many awesome blogging furriends...we can't WAIT to get started!






How To GIF - Part 2

dhImi3 on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Welcome back!  On Tuesday I showed you how to choose the best photos to make a simple animation.  If you missed the lesson, just click HERE.  Don't worry, it's SO easy, even a human can do it.

Today, I'm going to show you how to MAKE the animation with your two photos.  (it's called a .GIF file)



EASY PEASEY
Here are the two photos I've chosen to use.




Now, just follow the step-by-step screens.  Click to biggify if you need reading glasses.

Step 1:  Go to makeagif.com and click 'Sign Up.'


Step 2:  Create an account. It's FREE.


Step 3:  Click 'Add Pictures' and select two photos from your computer to upload.


Step 4: Watch as your photos load.


Step 5:  When you see your two photos have loaded, click 'Continue.'


Step 6:  Click to pick animation speed; the little square box will blink at each speed to help you choose.  
Step 7:  Click 'Create Your GIF'.


Step 8:  Done! Choose your method(s) of downloading and sharing.  
- Click the blue download button to save the .GIF file directly to your computer; you can upload the .GIF to your blog just as you would a regular photo and you can email it too.  
- OR copy and paste the 'Direct' link for a web link.
- OR copy and paste the 'Website' code into the HTML code of your blog.

If you're not happy with any part of your animation, just start over with Step 3 "Add Pictures."
We've found the slower animation speeds are a little easier to look at and make for better animations.

DONE!

dhImi3 on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs
Me and my girl are standing by and are happy to provide technical support.  
Just let us know if you need help! 







Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wordless Wednesday


:: Katie Kitteh ::






Tuesday, April 24, 2012

How To GIF - Part 1

aWQhfX on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Yesterday's animated ears were such a hit, I thought you might like to know how simple it is to create an animation with your OWN photos.  It's SO easy, I swear.  I'm going to split our How-To lesson into two blog posts, today (Tuesday) and Thursday.  That means you've got all of Wordless Wednesday to pick out the photos you want to animate.
  
By Thursday night, if you so desire, you'll have a completed animation.  How cool is THAT!


So Easy A Human Can Do It

This step-by-step is a breeze for cats, dogs, ferrets, bunnies, birds and EVEN humans.  You don't have to be a photographer, artist or designer.  You don't even have to be creative.  Really.

The animated file is called a .GIF file.  It's a file made up of 2 or more individual photos.  Nothing fancy, just the regular digital photos you take with your cameras and phones.



All You Need Are Two Photos 

Pick two photos that are almost identical.  The background should be the same.  Just a little difference in the subject's position.  Like these two photos of me.  See my ears?  They moved just a little bit from one photo to the next.




Here's what the animated .GIF file will look like.












OR take one photo with a plain background and flip it horizontally, like a mirror image. Just use your favorite photo editing program to do the flip and save each individually.




_Akztg on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs

Here's what the animated .GIF file will look like.
I'm DANCING!












OR if you're feeling adventurous, take a photo and manipulate it in your favorite photo editing program so that you have two versions of the same picture.  See my goggles?  All we did was color them in to look dark, saving each photo separately.
oKiMt_ on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs



Here's what the animated .GIF file will look like.
This is BLINKING COOL!











So that's it for Part 1.  Your homework is to find two photos to use for your animation.  On Thursday, I'll show you the REALLY fun part.  We'll make your pictures MOVE!


PLEASE VOTE!
Please help me decide which cover photo to use for my blog.  Cast your vote at the top of the sidebar. Thanx!




Monday, April 23, 2012

Give 'Em The Ears


Hi everyone, Katie here.

Today I'm giving you an animated glimpse into one of my most impressive talents.
I call it, 'Giving Them The Ears.'  It's a technique I've worked hard.  Daily practice is key.

Glogirly tries to pick me up?  Give her The Ears.
Glogirly pets me while I'm sitting with Gloman?  Give her The Ears.
Glogirly calls my name when I want to be left alone?  Give her The Ears.

UPS man?  Fed Ex man?  Pizza Delivery man?  Give em' all The Ears.


Messing With Glogirly

I love using my ears to mess with Glogirly.
In fact, I have her convinced that I prefer Gloman over her.

Scene:         Living room.  
                   Glogirly & Gloman seated on sofa watching CNN.
                   Katie sitting peacefully in blue chair across from sofa.

Gloman:     "Hi Katie!  Watcha doin'?"

Katie:         Looks at Gloman.  Ears pop up.  

Glogirly:    "Hi Katie!  Watcha doin'?"

Katie:         Glares at Glogirly.  Gives her The Ears.

Gloman, ears up.
Glogirly, ears down.
Gloman, ears up.
Glogirly, ears down.
And so on.

Glogirly sighs and shakes her head.
Gloman laughs and shakes his head.
And so on.



Score 1 for Katie in another game of The Ears VS. Glogirly.






Sunday, April 22, 2012

With A Little Help From My Friends


Hi everyone, Katie here.

Love the Earth today!
All it takes is a little help from our friends.




Peace out.




Friday, April 20, 2012

ABC 123


Hi everyone, Miss Katie here.

Everyone's been playing the alphabet game lately so I've been brushing up my own ABC's.  Ok, some of these words just might be a little made-up.  That should be worth some extra credit though. Without further ado, I give you The Alphabet Of ME.


Attitudey
Brilliant
Captivating
Diabolical
Elusive
Flamboyant
Girly
Huffy
Introverty
Judgmental
Killer Queen
Lackadaisical
Mustachey
Nebulous
OmNIPotent
Poser
Questionable
Real Housecat
Sarcastic
Twisted
Uppity
Vogue
Wry
Xcellent
Youngish
Zazzy



I'm not going to impose a vocabulary assignment on anyone who doesn't want one...so if you've not played the ABC game but would like to, I hereby give you a permission slip. And a Hall Pass.



Class dismissed.




Thursday, April 19, 2012

I Have Cat ModShaker


Hi everyone, Katie here.

When Glogirly told me I could have any new toy I wanted, I insisted on an I Have Cat ModShaker. Created by Moderncat for fellow bloggers Tamar and Petie from I Have Cat, the shaker is paws down the most fabulously cool and intoxicating toy I've EVER had. And NO, I was not bribed, paid or coerced into testing this product for review. I'll have you know, I bought my shaker with my very own green papers from my allowance. What? You don't get an allowance? 


Ok, the back to the shaker.  After careful testing in my lab, I give you the top FIVE reasons I'm in love with my new I Have Cat ModShaker.
1.  The fabric is printed with mini Petie's, my furriend from I Have Cat.
2.  It's filled with intoxicating primo catnip.
3.  It has a hidden shaker inside that RATTLES.
4.  It's small enough for holding onto so no one else can get their paws on it.
5.  It's big enough for maximum bunny kickability.

Oh, and it's pink.  Everyone knows the pink ones are always the BEST.
Ok, that was six. I'm a cat and I don't care about math.




I happen to know that supplies are EXTREMELY limited.  There are three sizes and the largest ModKicker is already sold out.   The medium ModKicker is $6 and my ModShaker was only $5.  Shipping was uber-cheap too.




I give the I Have Cat ModShaker FOUR enthusiastic paws up.

Click HERE to find out how to get your own.  Because you're not getting mine. 







Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Wordless Wednesday


Yeah, you're just dying to know what I'm thinking.
And that's just how I want it.





Tuesday, April 17, 2012

MAD CAT



Hi everyone, Katie here.

Glogirly's been watching the AMC television show called Mad Men lately.  It's a drama about New York's prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960's.  It features a bunch of sour, dramatic and often boring ad executives, all impeccably dressed and coifed, against a sleek midcentury modern backdrop.

There's a special Mad Men website called 'Mad Men Yourself' that helps you build your own Mad Men avatar of your human.  You can pick their hairstyle, outfit and all the accessories.  You can even pick the background set.  Once you've built your new MadMen cartoon human, you can download it to your computer or directly to Facebook.

Mad Men characters L-R:  Peggy, Pete (he's a jerk), Joan, Glogirly, Don Draper (the star) and Roger Sterling (the only one with a sense of humor.)  That's me, the cat.

Sadly, there are no cats in MadMen.  I know.  It's an inexcusable flaw.  So Glogirly did a little Photoshop magic to put me into her set.  She also cheated and used her own cartoon face.  I swear, the girl just can't leave anything alone.  Hmmm...sounds strangely familiar...

So if you're feeling a little MadMen-ish,  or MadCat-ish... just click HERE and you can make one for your human.  Share it with us on Facebook too!






Sunday, April 15, 2012

GO Kjelle Bus!

Kjelle Bus and Katie take the official Real Housecats Scooter for a spin.  Always wear your helmet.

Hi everyone, Katie here.

The Real Housecats are taking a little time out from production to celebrate a very special birthday.  Kjelle Bus, a.k.a. Charlie Rascal, Season 1's Real Housecat from Sweden has just turned 2.  Often seen hiding behind his motorcycle shades, Kjelle Bus celebrated his big day at a cat show over the weekend.

Word on the street is that he had to endure a shampoo and blow-dry in anticipation of the event.  Now if THAT doesn't earn him some extra beef tenderloin, I don't know what would.

In honor of KB, the other Housecats had their way with some salmon cupcakes.


mmmmmmmmmmm....salmon cupcakes

Kjelle Bus is a Sacred Birman and lives in Halmstad, Sweden.  He's got a great BLOG and FACEBOOK page that his mom assists with. Even though it's not their native language, both Kjelle Bus and his mom do a great job of writing in English...in fact every Tuesday they blog entirely in English.  

Kjelle Bus has no trouble understanding my *unique* sense of humor.  Must be our telepathic cat language that knows no geographical boundaries.



Kjelle Bus claims to be shy.  But we all know it's a front.  He's just playing hard to get with the girlcats.  And those goggles?  Well I'm pretty sure it's a Bono thing.  Swoon away, ladies.  Swoon away.

You can wish KB a Big Happy BD HERE. ; )  

Make a wish, Kjelle Bus.






Friday, April 13, 2012

A Commercial Break


Hi everyone, Katie here.

It's Friday the 13th and we're going to take a break from your regularly scheduled Friday the 13th for an important word from... GLOMAN???

Remember when we posted our BlogPaws Contest Video ?  ...Yeah that's right, the contest the dogs won.  Well lots of you asked about the *Voice* behind the video.  You were indeed correct...it was the infamous GLOMAN. Way back in the dark ages when Glogirly and Gloman met, he was a voiceover actor.  He made radio and TV commercials.  You've maybe even heard him without knowing it.

Well Glogirly and I made video to go along with one of his old demo recordings.  Too bad these companies didn't know about ME back in the day.  I think they could have really been something.

Click HERE to watch nice and big on YouTube or just click below.










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