So, I made a new design for a t-shirt because lately I have been purchasing items from my designs to check the quality, and I wanted a nice t-shirt. Here it is:
The two items I bought thus far are a mug for one of my daughters and a pedestal sign for another daughter.The designs looked so good, I surprised myself, and Zazzle quality did not disappoint.
First, the mug:
It was good quality ceramic, with a slightly glossy sheen. The design was one of the more subtle in color, so I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but it was soooo pretty ( if I do say so, myself). The printing was outstanding.
I had tweaked the design from the original, to make the resolution tighter (reduced size of image), but that was not necessary. I think the slightly larger size or the original is the better choice, although the one I ordered had such a refined look to it, that it was totally pleasing, too.
I think any customer would be super happy with it too.
Next, the sign
The subtle mauve and pink colors were just gorgeous. The printing was perfect. This sign is one that you usually have for event like showers or weddings. That is because I made a mistake ordering that type for my daughter to have on her shelf.
She liked it anyway, but now I wish I gotten the wall plaque or something- not because anything is wrong with the product, but because a wall plaque or something like that is easier to fit into home decor. The pedestal sign would be super cute for a kids room, though. ( which is what I originally designed it for.
While I think cats are cute, too, I definitely have a preference for puppies. So, I like cute dog designs and that is what I am creating more of in my POD stores. This is a fairly new endeavor of mine which began when I invested in more design resources.
As an artist I didn’t spend much time drawing animals, mostly plants or people. Now, I am putting together some of the types of things I would like to buy; for others to enjoy as well.
Artists
I have so many more ideas to complete that it will take me far into this year to cover the dog breeds and make interesting artwork around them. Right now, it is still experimental. I have to keep in mind what others like, not necessarily what pleases just me. That is a lot like buying Christmas or birthday gifts: cater to the person that you hope to please. A very different perspective than most artists have in their training.
There is an artificial divide in the professional art sector. It can be between crafts and art, or between graphic art and fine art, but there is a lapover that makes it sort of silly to think that way. It probably makes sense in certain situations, but I think it tends to under-rate those who work commercially. Likewise, it adds a bias to artists who feel that the business side of making a living from their art somehow cheapens it.
I think it is up to the artist to decide which pathway and expression is best for them. And no matter what you call your work, it is important to try to make it pay for itself. Marketing and self promotion are a large part of that, like it or not.
Such efforts aren’t totally in self interest. because there are people who value the joy and beauty of what an artist or craftsman creates. It only makes sense to advertise it to those who are seeking to purchase it. Again, it is a strange perspective that creators have when they believe if they make it, people will find it. Our material society just has too much clamor in the marketplace.
Oh Yes, Dog Designs
Getting back to the main topic. One of the great things about how POD + Creatives work together is that you can choose to buy resources that other artists make, and put them together to make a new artwork. Additionally, placing this on products in a way that pleases and makes sense.
One of the things I like about creating these designs featuring dog breeds is the chance to spark joy. That idea translates from my de-cluttering efforts and applies to many areas of life including the business of creating. Those of us who like dogs, and especially certain favorites breeds, often feel joy when seeing them depicted on a tshirt or a picture on the wall.
Two Dog Designs I Have On Merch
Corgi
Vizsla
I like Corgis because they are just so cute. I am looking to buy a Corgi puppy this year. Being very particular about the type of dog that fits in our lifestyle and personalities, I am looking for a certain breed.
In the past we usually had a Lab or Lab mix. My favorite dog is a Great Pyrenees, but I don’t believe I should get another if I am not going to stay on a large property. Loving the breed so much means I might be making some artwork featuring them.
The Vizsla is a Hungarian breed. Owners love them because of their very affectionate disposition. They are hunting dogs for active people. I think they look adorable, but I would not be the ideal owner for this breed.
We can love them even if we wouldn’t be best owning them!
Since becoming a designer for Zazzle, I discovered that this Print on Demand company has an extensive offering of all things “Wedding”. They are a wonderful source for ideas, but especially for getting exactly the wedding invitations and stationary needs you envision. Because there are so many choices, and because this is one of the choices of highest priority in your plans, this article gives some FAQ and general information to help make the process easy.
Easy FAQ Guide to Wedding Stationary
Who prints and ships your orders? Zazzle handles all aspects of customer fulfillment. A designer creates the artwork designs and usually puts it into template form; although you can usually change most things on an invitation, et.al, the personalization is most often in the text used within the design
Who Do I Contact if I Make a Mistake? As a designer, I often receive questions about orders. I always have to let inquirers know that only the staff at Zazzle can help them. If you initially make a mistake and know you want to change something, cancel your order and begin again with the design process. For more complicated issues, contact Zazzle help.
How Do I Cancel or Modify My Order? Here is the help page for guiding you in the process of correcting mistakes, a list of Zazzleterms and conditions
Tips to Simplify Success for Your Wedding Invitations
Ordering just one invitation gives you the best way to see exactly how your finished product will look. It is an economical way to make the best choice- each invite costs just a few dollars usually.
If you need immediate help- the site has chat and staff available to answer your questions and even guide you through the process. Plus, Zazzle offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Have an idea of the theme you wish to choose your designs from- there are literally thousands of possibilities in each theme. Rustic? Traditional? Watercolor? Seasonal? Colors?
Besides the decisions on a design, several shape variations, papers and finishes, even touches such as foils, are available.
Steps for Making the Most from Wedding Stationary Purchases
One purpose for choosing and organizing the invitation process early-on is to give your guest plenty of advance time to schedule their attendance. For this, “Save the Date” cards are sent a year in advance. This ensures that long-distance guests can make their travel plans, etc. These cards range from postcards (a popular, easy choice) to magnets, or any number of creative ideas that signal
Another purpose is setting the tone for your event. The colors and setting of your celebration, as well as the level of formality can all be presented by this first communication. The suite of stationary gives a follow-through glimpse of how special and anticipated the wedding day will be. I’m including some examples from the Zazzle site to illustrate some of the products available to the bride.
Order of the ceremony, on paper or printed on fans
Welcome sign or banner
Personalized candles
Items for the rehearsal dinner and reception:
A separate invitation
Napkins
Photo backdrops
Table signs and table numbers
Seating charts
Seating cards
Menu cards
Zazzle’s Paper Choices
The default types are their Standard Matte and Semi-Gloss.
The Signature collection composed of
Signature Felt Ecru
Signature Columned
Signature Laid
Signature Felt White
Finally, consider The Premium collection. These special options are:
Premium Kraft
Premium Linen
Premium Thick
Premium Pearl Shimmer
Premium Champagne Shimmer
Premium Metallic Silver
Complete descriptions and close-up photos relating to each of these types of papers are found in through following the link below,”How to Create the Perfect Invitation”.
Using proper wording and knowing what type of information to include is an art! There are many sources of information on this topic, but start with this one.
Bring together some vintage Hungarian decorative arts for a unique gift bag combination. Recently, a savvy customer combined tissue paper printed with a traditional embroidery design with a gift bag of another design.
Artwork from an old woodcut pictured a Magyar couple, which I colored in traditional colors after researching similar folk costumes was used to create the gift bag. The tissue paper and gift bag made a unique and memorable combination.
Known for their love of decoration and color, Hungarian are traditionally renowned for the exquisite embroidery they have produced for centuries. This is still in demand toady, although machine made items are most likely the ones for sale here in the USA. It is still possible to get handmade examples, however. The tissue paper has a vintage floral that is representative of the Kalocsa region. Interestingly, the regions of Hungary each have their own style and colors of embroidery, although each is clearly Hungarian! For a look at the different styles check out this overview (filled with colorful examples of Magyar needle arts!)
The tissue paper is printed with the colors and motifs found in Kalocsa Embroidery. this is presently the most popular of all the regional designs.
Weddings and Anniversaries
The wedding couple, with the motto “congratulations”, make the gift bag perfect for wedding or anniversary gifts. The bright cheerful colors speak of happiness and celebration- something Hungarians are always ready for!
This example of combining two different, but harmonious, designs together represents how unique and memorable just a few details can become. Extend this idea to invitations or party details if you are planning to hostess such an event.
Botanical inspiration for a garden theme creates flowering ambiance from the moment the save-the-date announcement arrives right through to the thank you notes after the big even is over. Here is an array of invitations, stamps, and everything for your wedding correspondence from Zazzle, and some beautiful accessories from Amazon’s expansive site.
Botanical art or photography can make beautiful invitations that set the tone for the coming event with a garden or conservatory theme or venue. Every color combination is possible although green just says “plants and flowers”. The botanical prints have a vintage look to them and fit in beautifully with the vintage look that is very popular for wedding theme designs right now.
Wedding Colors
The default hue for garden themes is green, since one usually thinks of leafy green from the many plants lushly growing in a botanical garden.
But what sort of color theme might you imagine which harmonizes within a conservatory filled with fabulous plants? I think of many …Tropical tints, tender pinks, gorgeous reds and oranges? Greens, purples?
The vintage primrose print gathers burgundy, navy, gold, and biscuit beige- imagine what you can do with those color harmonies!
Besides the obvious garden wedding theme, or botanical wedding theme, what other ones might use botanical flowers for their wedding stationary?
Theme Ideas
Here are a few theme ideas which might use botanical wedding correspondence as the chosen design.
Koi, The Elegant Fish
Chinese and Japanese art have made them elegant. Koi fish might be a theme of its own or it may be a subtext in an Asian themed wedding. If ponds and fish tales aren’t your cup of tea, try Boho orchids and dried palm leaves or classic red lanterns… many motifs are part of an Asian cultural theme. My daughter’s wedding actually had the Asian theme, but was held in a Conservatory, and the motifs all worked well together.
Suggested colors: tomato red, mango orange and sun yellow
Victorian Conservatory
The melange of plants, the delicacy of fine old lace and the many decorative elements of a botanical garden were made for each other.
Suggested colors: cranberry red and ivory
Greenery
What is more natural than a green, environmentally responsible theme inside a place filled with plants? Wedding correspondence that reflects your love of the outdoors.
Suggested colors: Natural paper and greens, soft white
Flowering Set of Invitations and Cards
A Botanical Motif
The colors for your invitation will reflect the colors you have chosen and your theme. This past year Honeysuckle pink was very popular. You may wish for trendy popular colors or you may have something that is special to you even though not in the fashion forefront. The important thing is that the details all add up to what makes you happy. It is so easy to customize your wedding to what you want with services like Zazzle!
Watercolor designs have taken over as one of the top wedding stationary trends. They are beautifully done in print, looking like each was hand painted and crafted. The soft pastel look is right in sync with the tones that are at the top of the fashion colors of powdery blues and blush pinks. They also harmonize with woodland, floral, and green themes.
Source: Brimberg & Coulson
The Look of Real Flowers
Rustic, garden, and vintage themes can all incorporate lots of realistic flowers in the accessories and invitations. It is a lush look which serves contemporary themes just as well. The secret is in the blooms themselves, whether sleek and elegant like Calla lilies or romantic as Old Roses, the blossoms bring romance to every venue.
Wedding stationary with retro feeling, modern upbeat mood, or iconic themes may be represented with the form of the flower without being buried in detail. Sophisticated or fun this is the design to look for when a strong design look is desired. Tracery and line art is more sophisticated, while many childlike or retro looks are floral.
Not simply green, the botanical motif stationary can be composed of any color combination you can dream up. So many flowers of the world are illustrated either stylistically or in gorgeous realism that the options are infinite. Find your favorite flower and you can build your botanical theme around it, if you wish, or match the flower to your chosen color scheme..
Things To Know About Wedding Stationary
I like the quality and the idea of customizing the invitations that is offered on Zazzle, although there are many Wedding stationary choices. The fact that I have my own storefront there makes me more familiar with the possibilities available there, so I thought this would be a useful set of details for brides to plan everything with ease.
What are the Costs? Budgeting
In general, it is quoted as about $450.00 for invites, reply cards, save-the-date cards, and postage in the average wedding. This amount may be compared with other info from updated searches:
Expect $1,000 +plus for a custom wedding invitation suite; remember that inflation can expand these costs.
The amount paid for your stationary suite from Zazzle would be around the lesser quoted costs, but this could range depending on the design, paper, and whether discount coupons were available at the time you order. What seems most consistent is the high level of satisfaction that most customers express about their orders.
Thinking About Custom Zazzle Wedding Stationary?
Invitations on Zazzle:
100% satisfaction guaranteed
Invitations made in 24 hours
Thousands of free templates
13 sizes and paper types
Up to 60% off bulk orders
Vibrant, full bleed color printing
Zazzle offer invitations in 5 sizes (can be used horizontally or vertically):
Oversized: 6.5 x 8.75 inches
Extra Large: 5.5 x 7.5 inches
Large: 5 x 7 inches
Medium: 4.5 x 6.25 inches
Small: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
Plus RSVP cards: 3.5 x 5 inches (these will fit inside all other invitation envelopes)
The formality of your wedding will influence the style of your invitations. a more formal look in the invitation and wording will indicate a formal wedding style and attire.
No matter how formal or informal the wedding is, it is a time for the couple, and especially the bride, to express individual style.
This idea for favors is not only perfect for garden themes- it is very welcome to most everyone. Different from the usual candies or more expensive candles, etc. Help make the world a better place for butterflies with seeds for the flowers they love.
Garden Theme Colors from Palest Pastel to Jewel Tones
The levels of formality and their invitation style for weddings can be seen in this table
Wedding
Invitations
Decorations
Formal Style
Engraved invitations
announcements
reception cards
Lavish decorations,
pew ribbons,
aisle runner,
candelabras,
abundant flowers
Semiformal Style
Engraved informal
or printed
Similar to, though less
extravagant decorations
than formal weddings
Informal Style
Informal printed
or hand-written
Very simple
Most brides opt for the semi-formal wedding for a variety of reasons.
Botanical Invitation Themes
The stage is set when you send the invitations, and even before as the Save-The-Date cards are sent out. Use the colors and motifs that will ignite expectation in your guests of the event to come. Everything does not need to match, but a general feeling and color palette will make your entire wedding memorable.
A garden theme may be an outdoor wedding, but the sense of a place filled with flowers and the feeling of such a place can be created in any venue.
This particular motif of flowers and foliage isn’t limited to just one theme, either, it can range from modern to vintage, from Hawaiian beaches to indoor conservatories. The only rule is your love of flowers.
Lavender might have a flower language meaning you don’t like, but the plant itself is lovely. Throwing lavender with ts light fragrance is a nice concept.
Maybe its alternative meaning of “devotion” is quite appropriate for wedded bliss, but whatever the meaning of lavender, it is a good choice for both garden wedding themes and botanical ones.
Individualized packets all ready for the wedding toss as the new Mr. and Mrs. exit the Church. Fragrant good wishes!
Wedding Checklist
Save The Date Cards or Engagement Announcement
The Wedding Invitations
RSVP Cards
Information Cards
Order Of Service
Guest Book
Menus
Table Number Cards
Thank You Cards
Photo Albums
More Zazzle Wedding Invitations and Tips
Zazzle-ing Beach Wedding Zazzle has many products that will outfit your wedding, your way. Whether you choose something from an artist or make your own design, the products are great and can be customized. That means you could be planning the perfect beach wedding right now!
My family also uses Amazon Prime often, which saves us money on shipping and more.
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