Unique, Artsy Graduation Set: a Design You've Seen Before

There's a lot of comfort in following the trends to a T and it's fascinating to watch how technology has changed "the lowly graduation announcement" since I ordered my own. That was a few years back and we had one option. Now there is no limit to the options from which we can choose. You can look at that as daunting or exciting. I see both sides and would likely react with equal scoops of both.

I decided to create a set of graduation-themed cards and items using one of the earliest pieces of digital art I designed when I first started dabbling in print on demand last year. The piece is called "Poet's Fancy" and I wrote quite a lot about it over here on my main website.

As of this writing, the collection has only 6 things:

  1. An announcement card
  2. Two 5x7 party invitations, one with a photo and one without,
  3. A party invitation post card,
  4. And two thank you cards.

Each of these features my red/teal/gold grungy art piece as a background, a primarily-white overlay with black borders, and a modern script font I love using for a primary phrase. All other text fields are editable by the graduate and can say anything you wish. You can even move all the parts around and make these invitations your own.

By the time this launches I'll probably have more items in the set. If so, they'll likely include one or more of the following:

  • envelopes lined with the colorful artwork (which, incidentally, you can change to your own artwork, should you be so inclined,
  • a coaster or 3 to use for your party or other event warranting a memento,
  • a button or some buttons,
  • maybe a magnet - Save the Date or otherwise,
  • Aah! I need a Save the Date card and postcard too, don't I?
  • Some US Postage Stamps (a couple of those have been designed and submitted for approval already,)
  • and maybe a coozie, luggage tag, mousepad, phone case(s) and tote bag. And return address labels. Probably a mug.

As always, if you should find your way to this page and want to make a special request (whether you need this design actually available on a ping pong paddle for the graduate, a travel mug, or a spiral notebook journal,) please don't hesitate to reach out and let me know!

Colorful, Abstract, Unique: Artsy Phone Cases

I've been designing unique phone cases (not the cases but the surface patterns; I like to think that goes without saying but maybe not,) nearly as long as I have been dabbling in print on demand designing. Nonetheless, I'm just getting around to gathering some of these newer designs into a single collection to share here. Some of them already have the spaces set up for you to personalize them and some of them are just covered in the colorful digital artwork that was a big part of getting me started off down this path in the first place.

I only started designing them through Zazzle at the beginning of this year, and it seems I go in waves, with my attention span and interest level on any given day driving my creativity.

The thing about buying a custom artsy phone case is that you want more and more. Every time I design a new one, it's my favorite and I force myself not to buy more. It's good I don't have a tattoo. And this is why: I love trying new things and changing it up. I'm still carrying one around that I'm pretty tired of by now. Which makes me think that for us short-attention-span types it's probably a good idea to get a few then switch them out regularly. I just forget.

Take a look! Maybe you'll enjoy some of the abstract digital art I've make the time to put on phone cases. Zazzle offers several different brands of phone cases so that layer gets tricky too. Here's a list of the ones I can remember right now:

  • Case Mate Barely There
  • Case Mate Tough
  • Case Mate Tough Extreme
  • Otterbox Symmetry
  • Otterbox Defender
  • Otterbox Commuter Series
  • Lifeproof FRĒ®
  • LifeproofNÜÜD®

And a whole lot more, too, it turns out. There are several kinds of wallets, some wooden ones, metallic ones, clear ones. It's a little mind-boggling really. So I've just shown you some of the ones that have my own designs on them. So enjoy those or just go peruse the market. Warning: it's a little overwhelming without wine. So so many options could make a head explode!

At any rate, these are some of the phone cases I've designed this year and there are always more on the way at some point.

Un-Stodgy Business Cards with Deep Pink Watercolor and a Textured Mandala

While I was busy working on a new thing I'm exploring - designing one of the sets of wedding invitation suites that people can customize for themselves on Zazzle - I fell in love with some of the elements of this particular design. In a big way. And so I started using them on other merchandise. Like this collection of business card designs.

Here's what they include:

  • a bold pink watercolor background
  • a mandala (sometimes rendered in white, sometimes in a faux gold foil effect,) over that,
  • (sometimes) a solid strip in white or black
  • so your name, message, or other details can really pop

And unlike the image you see, up in the banner area of this blog post, which is a single image with everything all merged together, these cards were set up in the Zazzle template system. So IF you happen to be wired like me, we of the DIY inclined, and wanted to rotate the watercolor, duplicate the mandala then change the sizes of one or two of them, then move those around, move your name up or down, change your font AND the font color... well. You can do that! Of course nobody says you have to. These are all ready to be purchased as is, merely by typing the name and contact details you want to have appear.

What this Zazzle setup can do - in spite of my having been pretty spoiled by the limitlessness of my own graphic design tools - is brilliant and amazing and I suspect it's far more than customizable enough for your average user to do just what they want. For the other levels of editing, you can always just reach out to me and share your vision. I'm always happy to help make something even more in line with your personal vision.

For now, I offer you business cards with a tribal, boho, hippy-dippy little flair. Because not only are business cards not always meant to be formal and stodgy (though to be sure, sometimes I suppose they are, depending on your line of work,) this collection is absolutely meant to let your big, bold, colorful personality shine through. Plus? Business cards aren't just for business anymore. I've been working on a growing series of card designs that are meant for you to simply write little notes on the blank backs of and leave for your kid, your love, or even for a perfect stranger in a shop.

However you use them, if the colors and texture of this set appeal to you, check them out!

 

Roundup of Favorites 002: Feeling Pretty Pleased with These Designs

One of the reasons I'm glad I started this roundup segment is that it's easy for products in my stores to fall through the cracks. My pace isn't always rapid, but there are times when I get into a groove and post quite a lot of designs. And by "quite a lot" I mean an obsessive amount that blows my own mind at times.

Having a "column" like this will help me highlight items I've designed that might not be seen so quickly or readily. It's not just about my design pace. Since I have a few thousand items available already, before I even launch this website, this new feature also gives me the chance to dig into areas that may be buried in my store in lieu of other designs people have somehow found without my actually marketing them. 

I created a collection to gather all these in one place, if you wanted to see them in one place in my store. You could see that by clicking any of the images on the right. Otherwise you can just click the direct links provided in the little gallery below to be directed to the item's unique page on my Zazzle store.

Just like the other "Roundup of Favorites" items I'm starting to add to this blog's offerings, I haven't yet thought it necessary to make sure these items go together in any real way. They're intentionally mismatched, so as to appeal to a broader taste in style and design. Not to mention, you may never think of buying a personalized mug but have always wanted a more unique design for your home collection of coozies than those that promote beach surf shops and your local phone company. Voila! I included one of those just for you! And more...

Like Words Better Than Pictures? Read a Smidge About The Items in This Collection:

  • Personalized mugs can be fun to use AND gift. Adding mismatched, retro patterns to the mix like you see on this one makes this mug design even more unique. Simple but distinctive.
  • There's a series of items in my Zazzle store that features a set of complementary designs that all started with a fun color palette of red, hot pink, green, yellow and orange. This phone case still makes me happy though I designed it fairly early on when I was learning about Zazzle. You could add your name or initial to really make this case your own!
  • The black-on-white friendly pattern of graphic sunburst-thingie designs is a wine tote. Great for protecting your wine when you take a bottle to a gathering or event. Also an excellent gift!
  • The colorful doodled-can cooler/coozie is just fun. I have this design printed on a tote bag and always get fun remarks when I carry it. You would definitely never lose your drink if you used this drink holder at a party.
  • I had a lot of fun positioning the funky little black and white pattern design on the template for this wall clock. If you're looking for a unique wall clock, check this one out!
  • Geometric, abstract leggings with teal, blue, green and aqua with floral patterns. Designing leggings is mildly addictive and this pair makes me happy. (There are lots of other items in my store that feature this design, too, so check those out if you're inclined.)
  • It boggles the mind to consider just how many possible ways there are to design your business card. If you like clean and simple and you also like black and white patterns, this may be the business card design for you. OR you can replace the pattern with an image you prefer.
  • Your keys will stand out on a hook when you have this abstract, grungy art design on your keyring. Red, teal, gold, black, brown with many textures. This is one of the first designs I ever created when I fell down the Print on Demand Rabbit Hole. You could even get this design printed on leggings through my Art of Where shop if you wanted. Just click here to take a look!

Roundup of Favorites 001: A Random Smattering of My Designs that I Love Right Now

One of the ways I've decided to promote my print on demand designs with this new site is to start a thread of posts that features some of my favorite designs. A Roundup of Favorites, if you will. This set features my own designs. Down the line, I suspect other roundups will include designs of others. But I designed these and I'm pulling from a fairly recent set of things that please me. (Nearly everything is my favorite when I push that "publish" button, so this series shouldn't be any trouble to flesh out.)
So. The Favorites, Already?

Here they are. Things I kinda dig today and if I had a need to buy a custom gift for you or someone else just as cool as you are, these are the things I would consider putting on my shopping list! Yay you and that other cool person on my shopping list!

A Bit About the Items in This List

  1. This grungy, messy, abstract artsy luggage tag can be updated with your own name.
  2. This black phone case has 3 circular designs that can be positioned wherever you like, and you can add your name instead of the place holder text.
  3. Quirky black and white leggings.
  4. The pair beside the first ones features the same pattern, with an added bonus. It has a black ombre/gradient image over the top that fades away to reveal the pattern below. You can re-position the overlay to reveal or hide as much as you like.
  5. Also for your workouts, this shirt has a graphic on the front and back that reads "commence with the badassery" which is a phrase that first occurred to me years ago when I was designing a card for a friend about to run the Boston Marathon. Because Boston Marathon: Utter Badassery. But you don't have to run marathons to be worthy of this shirt. (Or all the other styles and colors you could order, printed with this same design.)
  6. I like to surround myself with inspiring, positive messages. I also find that having something to read nearby that reminds me to get up and move around, to drink more water, to pull out my yoga mat - all manner of things - will help me remember to do it! So I designed this mouse pad with the option of adding your own motivating words and phrases. It appears over one of my messy, bold, bright graphic images but you can add your own if you'd like something a bit calmer. :)
  7. This water bottle is printed with a different black and white pattern. This time, just different sizes of black wheels with spokes. Kinda quirky. I do love some black and white patterns. More on that over here.
  8. Similar to the artwork seen on the leggings, and from the same series. These are the cutest tiny little speakers. They're printed front and back with our artwork. For this one, I rotated the design a bit for added visual appeal.