Category Archives: POD Designers Guild Posts

Posts about the POD Designers Guild

Missing You Card And Postage

I shared a photo of my cat the other day on Facebook and a couple of people said the photo would make an awesome card. I was just having fun showing off my cute cat and hadn’t even thought of using this photo for a card.

Well I decided, the people have spoken, I should make this card.

Simba my cat was in the window between the blinds, his little mouth looks like a sweet soft smile.
If you click on the image or link above you can see the whole card. There is a little heart on the back with another photo of my cat, this time his eye is closed.
I also made the text on the front and on the inside customizable. You can change it from “Missing you” to your own personal message and change the message inside too.
And of course, I had to make a matching postage stamp to go with it.

Gifts and Stuff from Flagnation or Flags-of-Nations

Everyone has a need for a gift now and then. And, with the biggest gift-giving holiday of the year coming soon, I thought we might look at some fun stuff for that season.

First we take a stroll to a keepsake ornament with a heart shaped Romanian Flag reading, “I Love Romania”. fun for any time you need a special gift for a Romanian, Romanian American, Romanian Canadian or anyone of Romanian ancestry.

Picture of heart-shaped Christmas ornament reading I love Romania.

Moving along to the Bahamas, we find a nice, lovely round keepsake ornament with the Flag of the Bahamas and the name below, in the colors (colours if you speak British) of the flag.

Image of round Christmas ornament with Flag of Bahamas and the name, too.

Moving along we find a lovely snowflake shaped keepsake with a charming blonde angel all decked out in the Flag of Sweden or Swedish Flag.

Image of snowflake shaped Christmas ornament with blonde angel waering the Flag of Sweden.

Lastly, we have a round keepsake of Greece, featuring the flag with the name below. Charming way to share your love of your ancestry, heritage and culture anytime.

Image of round keepsake or Christmas ornament with the Greek Flag and the word Greece.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Photo Frames

One of the great things about Print on Demand sites is that quite often you can customize products with your own text, whether it be your name, a message or a poem you can make it your own. Another great way to personalize a product to make it the perfect gift for a loved one or for yourself is by choosing a product that is a photo template. With these products you can change the photo to one of your own!

you make me smile
you make me smile
pink picture frame
Pink Photoframe
teal picture frame
photoframe on card

The row of pictures above shows 3 beautiful products that all have the option to change to photo with one of your own. On the left is a collage style design with the text ‘you make me smile’. The use of color and patterns makes this a playful and fun design. The two on the right show fun almost cartoon like designs with a more traditional idea of a photo frame.

The 3 pictures below are inspired by doily and lace patterns, the frames are placed on fun colored plaid patterns.

lace and plaid
Lace & Orange plaid
doily and plaid
Lace & Purple plaid
lace and blue plaid
Doily & Blue plaid

Polaroid pictures are a great to use as a photo frame. These are a digital version of a polaroid, the great thing about that is that it can go on any product!

polaroid on pink polkadot
polaroid & pink polkadot
polaroid and yellow polkadot
polaroid and yellow polkadot
polaroid and black polkadot
polaroid and black polkadot

To see more frames for your own photos check out: The Frame Shop

Stylized Doodle Flowers

While listening to someone rambling on the other end of the phone line, about something not that interesting, you reach for your pen and you start doodling on a corner of the newspaper. After the phone conversation you smile at your scribbles and toss the paper out.

Pink flower pot – button

The illustrations shown below started that way. Well somewhat. For starters I didn’t throw my doodles out! And they started as deliberate drawings, but in a doodle way. Let the mind go free and draw (doodle) whatever the hand wants to draw. Fluent strokes, only happy mistakes. These illustrations were stylized afterwards in a graphics program to make them smooth and lovely.

Blue Flower Swirl – wooden wall clock

The wonderful thing about doodling/ freeing you mind is that you don’t have to think about something being realistic. Like in the illustration above, no roots! It would just be a free floating flower. But it looks pretty!

Pink flower Doodle on a Sigg water bottle
Stylized Flower – mug

I add some funky colors to make the illustration really pop! Or a nice colored background for some extra class. I love making these and I love sharing these with you as well.

Rose Flower – shower curtain

Posters of Autumn Scenes in California Wine Country

Autumn Display of Squashes on Wall of Turley Winecellars
Autumn Display of Squashes on Wall of Turley Winecellars in Templeton, California

Autumn is the most beautiful season in Templeton and Paso Robles vineyards. The vines are dressed in their brightest colors as harvest season approaches. As you drive through wine country during harvest season in the evening, you can smell the crushed grapes in the air. The wineries and vineyards are my neighbors, so I am in the vineyards during all seasons to photograph them.

I  discovered this unique scene while walking through a rural neighborhood of country estates. I suspect this is a private wineyard, but I was intriqued by the combination of colors between the vines and the trees.

One of my favorite autumn scenes is of Heart Hill at Niner Estates in Paso Robles.  Heart Hill is a grove of oak trees in the shape of a heart. It’s been on Highway 46 West near Oakdale Road since I moved here 19 years ago. Several years ago Niner Estates acquired it and planted vineyards around it. During autumn the vines change color, becoming red and yellow, setting off the deep green of the oak trees in the heart. Here’s the poster I made of this:

These designs and many others are available on many products besides posters. From coasters and necklaces to plaques and teapots, you will find vineyard and grape designs to suit anyone who loves wine or the vineyards. You can find them at California Wine Country Memories and Gifts.
Hiawatha, I'm Home Custom Necklace
Hiawatha, I’m Home Custom Necklace by laughstuff
18″ sterling silver-plated chain (2″ extender) with lobster claw clasp. Necklace is finished with a UV resistant and waterproof coating to protect the design for years to come.

The necklace is sent in a black felt bag, perfect for a gift.

Image shows Mayflower landing at Plymouth rock with a Pilgrim in crow’s nest yelling “Hiawatha, I’m home.” to his new Native American or American Indian friends. Funny design to make you laugh and show your sense of humor (humour?).

Hiawatha, I'm Home Case For The iPad
Hiawatha, I'm Home Case For The iPad by laughstuff.com
Ultra-tailored Speck Products® brand iPad. Combines luxury with uncompromised protection, this sleek hard plastic case is covered with an easy-to-grip fabric that is richly printed with your favorite design. The first of its kind to be offered anywhere, this lightweight and durable custom case allows optimal access to all sensors, ports, and controls on your iPad, while offering superior comfort in-hand. Just like the necklace above, design features the Mayflower landing at Plymouth rock. Pilgrim in crow’s nest says “Hiawatha, I’m home.” to his new Native American or American Indian friends.

Colorful Kaleidoscopes

Today I would like to introduce you to one of my stores called Waving Flames. It’s a store filled with beautiful kaleidoscopes and abstract designs. The name of the store comes from the technique I use, almost flame like (digital) brushes in a waving pattern. Some photoshop magic transfers them into a kaleidoscope.

But enough with the talk, let me show you what it’s about!

 

I called this kaleidoscope ‘Flaming Sun’ for obvious reasons 🙂 this picture shows the front of a business card, the back can be personalized with your name and address details (wouldn’t be very useful other wise!). I love this kaleidoscope as it has so many details and seems to give off a feeling of strength.

The kaleidoscopes are available on many products (just not on apparel for now). There is only one downside (or is it an upside?) you have to LOVE color. As most of my kaleidoscope burst with color!

 

While making this kaleidoscope it reminded me of those beautiful colored windows you see in churches. That’s where the name came from.

These kaleidoscope work amazingly well on postcards and greeting cards. Because they are gender neutral you don’t have to think about not wanting to send flowers to a man or something alike.

 

There are many kaleidoscopes and colors available. Which one is your favorite?

blue and green floral lattice iphone case

Lovely and elegant Iphone 4 case with green background and blue flowers with the lattice faux lace style.
A lovely gift for any woman or girl in your life.  A nice modern nature design that is suitable for a teen, a mom, a sister….
 This would also make a great stocking stuffer this Christmas .
Protect your phone with this phone
Casemate case  that is both fashionable and protective.. I own a few of these cases for my phone and they are great…  easy to put on and remove to coordinate with your clothes, mood or season.

CafePress Is Donating To Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Something exciting is happening at CafePress this month. They are donating 10% from the sales of products designed and tagged for Breast Cancer Awareness to BreastCancer dot org.

I really got excited with this news because not only did I enjoy making the designs, my designs have a chance of being sold to help a wonderful cause. It seems everyone today knows a family member or friend who has been effected by breast cancer.

Here are some samples from my designs, I hope you enjoy.

A pretty pink ribbon filled with pink hearts.

Support Breast Cancer Awareness with this pretty pink ribbon filled with different tones of pink hearts.

A cool canvas lunch bag with a message.

A stylish pink ribbon and pretty text: Support Breast Cancer Research, Find A Cure.
Take this lunch bag with you to work everyday and spread the message for a worthy cause.

Cute umbrella made with pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness.

A feminine design of a cute little umbrella made with various pink ribbons. There is text surrounding the umbrella: Breast Cancer Awareness, Community, Caring, Hope, Love.

Pink Ribbon with Tougher Than Cancer

One must stay tough when fighting cancer. This tough design features bold pink text and a bright pink ribbon simulating a shiny metal. Text reads: Tougher Than Cancer, Support Breast Cancer Research.

Text collage design for Breast Cancer Awareness

A fun text collage design with pink heart ribbons. A great way to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness, not just in October but all year round.

These designs are available on many products. There are also many other wonderful breast cancer awareness designs on CafePress.

Click on the CafePress image to see the whole collection:

Breast cancer gifts collection at CafePress.

Something Fun At CafePress

One of my favorite things on CafePress is  the designs from Fan Portals. These are sections of designs submitted by artists that meet specific rules and criteria to be sold in the official Fan Portals of TV shows, Movies, and other famous brands. (There is also a mix of official Famous Brands items that are not designed by fans on CafePress too.)

If you have a TV junkie at home, or you are a movie buff that loves to share fun quotes from movies and T-shirts and other items, then it will be worth your while to check this out.

To see all that is available, you can visit here: Hot Enterntainment Brands At CafePress

I want to share with you a couple of my products that I have available now in the CafePress Fan Portals directly from my shop.

Here is a T-shirt from my Dark Shadows designs. I have several different style designs in my shop. I mixed the old fashioned text with a modern abstract design.

http://www.cafepress.com/biggestfanshop.648553783

One of the funniest Christmas movies ever, is A Christmas Story.

The leg lamp is just one of the best things ever!

My brand new releases are ready for your holiday shopping.

http://www.cafepress.com/biggestfanshop.698459031

I hope you take a little time to browse through my shop.

Thank you and happy shopping!

The Biggest Fan Shop, a new shop growing with great entertainment based designs for gifts or yourself.