ToyPOP!

It’s THREE weeks ‘til the release (May 3rd) and HEY...

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:30:07 -0400

It’s THREE weeks ‘til the release (May 3rd) and HEY LOOK! We’re front page of The Guide! If you didn’t know what this is, it’s in the middle of The South Wales, Argus newspaper. How fantastic :) Another page for the ToyPOP! scrapbook!

Today was a good day. The ToyPOP! album is now finished! So that...

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:41:41 -0400

Today was a good day. The ToyPOP! album is now finished! So that means sitting with my laptop for a day tomorrow burning magic and sparkle onto the 50 limited edition CDs! Very exciting. Four years ago I had the goal to release an album and it has happened. My deadline was this year and it has happened! I do believe I have done ALOT in 4 months. Working in a cinema part/full time whilst writing songs on fiverr.com to get out of my student overdraft (woo!) and visiting the band in Wales when possible for band practices and writing/promoting/recording the album. I haven’t had a moment to sit and do nothing - which is great! ToyPOP are going to be in the South Wales, Argus tomorrow in The Guide to advertise The Big Splash gig we have at the Riverfront on June 1st. I’m so buzzed for this! We haven’t performed since Jenna went her separate way from the band half a year ago - but now we are ready!!! New songs, New album, FRESH start.

Make your own physical albums the ToyPOP! TLC way. The...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:58:00 -0400

Album front cover.

Album back cover.

ToyPOP! flyer which will be signed and put inside each physical copy of the album.

Make your own physical albums the ToyPOP! TLC way.

The “Come What May” Album artwork.
Vector toys by http://fiverr.com/agustin86.
Cartoon image by http://fiverr.com/boslass.
Arranged and designed by Sarah Pountney AKA. ShiftyPOP!

The albums took me HOURS to make and here’s my process:

1. Design the CD on www.pixlr.com using a photoshop template of a cd.
i used photoshop for the EP but my laptop is now that old it can’t do a lot when it is installed - so the safe option is to do it on pixlr. It’s online so it takes up no space in your laptop. Hey presto! I wanted the CD to be pretty and look good next to the EP.

2. I then bought 50 cd’s on www.directcds.co.uk. I asked them if they could check that they will be printed okay and that my design would work. Then they went ahead and sent the cd’s to my house.

3. Template for the CD front cover and back cover off google. I got my images on fiverr.com (links above). Then I arrange them on the cover so they’d look fantastic and colourful!

4. I bought 50 clear cases off amazon.co.uk - some came broken and that’s a great shame! Never mind though xD

5. I went back to the University of South Wales which is 100 miles from my house and got the covers printed in the reprographics department. They’re friendly there and they have very good prices unlike the small printing shops that want to rip you off! I got them printed on brochure paper to make it look professional! Took about 15 minute wait.

6. A pair of scissors, good light and patience. I cut out 50 back covers by hand and 50 front covers. HOURS it took me.

7. I had to get the tray out of the clear cd cases and they were extremely delicate but I worked out a way to get them out without shattering - that was a challenge.

8. Took a photo and gave myself a pat on the back because this time I got the physical cd’s ready before the online release and before the songs were even ready! Now if that isn’t organisation I don’t know what is.

I could have easily gone online and ordered a batch of cd’s already made by a company but I am a perfectionist. If something’s wrong in the design and 50 are made I lose a lot of money! Also I like to have them ready to burn the music onto straight away - and then make sure they play before I send them to the fans!