red_satin_doll

Due to lack of entries, Challenge #162 in

otherworldlyric has been extended to February 14th. I've just become acquainted with the site, which calls for icons using at least two consecutive words in the lyrics of a particular song each challenge. (In this instance the song is "King of Everything" by Sara Bareilles; lyrics are provided on each challenge post.) So check out

otherworldlyric's Challenge 162 before the deadline

Lately I've become very interested in adding text to icons, partly because the Photobucket editing software is kindergarden-level limited; and partly because I'm fascinated by the "mini-meta" possibilities that icons with text offers. I've been i nspired by the wealth of gifsets on tumblr that use images and text to "write" a meta that's much more immediate than long paragrahs of text; this one by petpluto, taking on Anya's comments in Empty Places, is one of my favorites, although it's different from most tumblr gifs in that there is some textual analysis below the gifs. In other words, pure catnip for yours truly, Madame Ambassador of Meta.

But I've also been inspired by "old school" icons like

beer_good_foamy 's "Fuffy",

awmp's "I'm A Bitch",

maharet83's "Mary Sue", etc that can be meta, politically or emotionally expressive, or just plain damn fun. (I don't know who the creators of the Giles or Chosen icons below are but if anyone does please let me know.)

teragramm kindly customized two of her own icons for me with text, including her award-winning Dawn in Lessons icon, at her own offer. The text for "Not Ok" popped into my head almost immediately and works on any number of levels ("this situation is not acceptable" or "I'm feeling horrible right now"). "Thinky Thoughts" was her own addition to the Dawn icon. If you ask her she'll be glad to add any text you like to one of her gorgeous icons. (I can't say "DO NOT snag these" but I will say "Pretty please don't?")