February Zazzle Store Review
Ranked #1,198 in Business & Work, #55,043 overall
Musings about February
Ah, February- a bitterly cold month for most here in the U.S. Ironically enough, it's also the month of lovey-dovey-love-love (that's my inner three year old talking).
The time I look forward to every February is in fact Valentine's Day. I ain't one a those haters. There's so much to love about Valentine's Day, and it doesn't matter if you're single or in a relationship! Even when I've been single, Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays.
There's so much to look forward to! The delicious chocolates and drinks, the warm fuzzy feelings, and the fact that you get to go out with someone, whether it be your significant other or your best friends. I like to craft all of my valentine's day gifts by hand or make it personal in some way. Apparently this goes way back for me:
As a kid I handmade a special valentine for every single one of my classmates. Once I got a computer, I was already showing the makings of a graphic designer. I would search for hours until I found the perfect FONT (yes you heard me, I said font) that I thought best matched the individual's personality. Helvetica? That font was totally Stacie Smith, the straight A student. Happy Valentine's Day, Stacie!
Since I've always loved making things myself or adding my own personal touch to gifts, I immediately took to Zazzle. Valentine's Day is in full swing at Zazzle right now. Since I've been a part of this online community of artists, graphic designers, and photographers, I've made tons of friends and seen even more amazing work by these people!
This month I'd like to review some of the stores I've really been impressed by and highlight more of what they do!
The time I look forward to every February is in fact Valentine's Day. I ain't one a those haters. There's so much to love about Valentine's Day, and it doesn't matter if you're single or in a relationship! Even when I've been single, Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays.
There's so much to look forward to! The delicious chocolates and drinks, the warm fuzzy feelings, and the fact that you get to go out with someone, whether it be your significant other or your best friends. I like to craft all of my valentine's day gifts by hand or make it personal in some way. Apparently this goes way back for me:
As a kid I handmade a special valentine for every single one of my classmates. Once I got a computer, I was already showing the makings of a graphic designer. I would search for hours until I found the perfect FONT (yes you heard me, I said font) that I thought best matched the individual's personality. Helvetica? That font was totally Stacie Smith, the straight A student. Happy Valentine's Day, Stacie!
Since I've always loved making things myself or adding my own personal touch to gifts, I immediately took to Zazzle. Valentine's Day is in full swing at Zazzle right now. Since I've been a part of this online community of artists, graphic designers, and photographers, I've made tons of friends and seen even more amazing work by these people!
This month I'd like to review some of the stores I've really been impressed by and highlight more of what they do!
Contents at a Glance
Chibi Angel Wings
anime/manga kawaii gifts
Anime Items and Apparel! by ChibiAngelWings
Lyndsey is the owner of Chibi Angel Wings, a gift shop that specializes in anime/manga style gifts. Most of her items are keychains, stickers, and magnets.
Besides her scrapbook art, Lyndsey makes all of her images by hand. You can even see her signature on a few items!
My favorite item:
I LOVE this adorable image entitled "Blush" it shows a brunette girl with glasses kissing an alien boy behind a purple bouquet. It's so lovely. I can imagine it being used for an offbeat wedding for sure. This image looks great on stickers!
Anime Items and Apparel! by ChibiAngelWings
powered by Zazzle.com
Planet 12 Step
gifts for the support of addiction recovery
Dopeless Hope Fiend by TinkerM
Planet 12 Step is a gift store which supports addiction recovery. Owned by Robert, Planet 12 Step is unique in that all of it's images are designed by members of its fellowship. 20% of all sales go to help their Central Offices keep phone lines open 24 hours a day. Their items range from Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and so much more. For more about this, view their lens here: http://www.squidoo.com/A_Insidious_Disease
My favorite item:
This Narcotics Anonymous Hoodie shows a fierce dragon curling around a yin-yang symbol. This is an awesome image, and it represents an awesome organization. Plus, 2012 is the year of the dragon. Make this a year to show your support of addiction recovery.
Chasing The Dragon by TinkerM
powered by Zazzle.com
Urban Designs
Olga Hutsul Photography
undisturbed life of an apple by hutsul
This store has some AMAZING images. Viewing Olgas's work is like glimpsing into a dream. Her store, Urban Designs, showcases the artistic side of city life. Her imaginative style shows a deeper meaning through choice of subject matter, color, and lighting. So many of her pieces would make wonderful gifts. Check out Olga's website here at http://www.olgahutsulphotography.com/.
My favorite item:
This image is entitled "Last Walk in the Garden of Eden". It's so surreal and dreamy, I could look at it for hours. The delicate touches and attention to detail really make this image a winner. It especially looks great on this iPad sleeve.
The last walk in the garden of Eden i-pad case by hutsul
powered by Zazzle.com
JD Creative Gifts
inspirational and positive gifts
Mermaid on Fractal Art iPhone 4 Case by jdcreativegifts
JD stands for the pen name of this store's owner, Jaela Darling. Jaela loves to write, especially fantasy; she started JD Creative Gifts as an outlet to showcase her vast creativity. JD Creative gifts features everything from dragons to horses to gifts for Asperger's awareness, and this makes her store unique. You are sure to find a one-of-a-kind customizable gift at JD Creative Gifts.
My Favorite Item:
This beautiful rack card converted to a bookmark is the perfect way to give the gift of inspiration to any book lover. A peaceful candle sits perfectly next to flowing text that serves as a reminder of Psalm 18:28.
Psalm 18:28 Bookmark by jdcreativegifts
powered by Zazzle.com
Photography by Pixie
colorful photographic gifts
ipad Case - Psychedelic Bright Eyes by PhotographyByPixie
Photography by Pixie is a wonderful one-stop-shop for anything from gorgeous photography gifts to wild and colorful fractal art. From the first look of her store your eyes will be treated to a wonderful feast of images and colors. Pixie has been working in photography and graphic design for over 16 years and you can visit her graphic design website at http://www.pixandmix.org.uk.
My Favorite Item:
At first glance this patchwork owl looks like a delightfully colorful stained glass piece. Upon closer inspection, you can see many different elements of Pixie's artwork all pieced together in the shape of this owl! This image looks great on this birthday card, and whoever receives it will have a great time identifying all the different images within it!
Patchwork Owl Birthday Card by PhotographyByPixie
powered by Zazzle.com
S.J. Asis Design Space
unique photography gifts
Yellow Fall Flower Throw Pillow by SjasisDesignSpace
Susan, - or sjasis as we know her online- works full-time as a librarian, but her passion is photography. Her main Zazzle store, S.J. Asis Design Space, showcases her sparkling talent. Her subject matter is so diverse- just a quick browse through her products shows abstract designs, wild animals, beautiful flowers and so much more! Some of the cutest items I found were her librarian themed items, like her "Love a Librarian" t-shirt. Her floral shots, like the one above, are especially crisp and vivid.
My Favorite Item:
Everything about this design is beautiful. The colors work so harmoniously together, and they especially look great on a laptop sleeve. I love way different shapes can give expression to a face, and this image captures it wonderfully. The flowing rhythm and light within the stained glass overall makes this a piece pleasing to the eye.
Stained Glass Abstract Laptop Sleeve by SjasisDesignSpace
powered by Zazzle.com
Art in Photography
gifts by Kara Stewart
Cupcake Mousepad by artinphotography
Kara's business is unique in that all images used are either from her photography or created from her photography. Kara has a wonderful portfolio of images like nature and animals, but she also adds an interesting twist to some of her pieces by distorting an altering. Some of my favorite photographs by Kara are her delicious food shots! My mouth is watering just looking at that sugary sweet cupcake picture.
As a Native craftsperson member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association and an active member of her tribe, Kara also creates some amazing Native American designs.
My Favorite Item:
From Kara's "Native Roots" category, this gorgeous design absolutely shines on a round ornament. I was amazed to see how an original photograph of corn was manipulated to create this beautiful flowering star. This image works great as an ornament or even a necklace!
Autumn Corn Flower Porcelain Ornament by artinphotography
powered by Zazzle.com
The Hopeful Romantic
delightfully dark and gothic gifts
Gothic cemetery bat crypt by TheHopefulRomantic
The Hopeful Romantic has a massive collection of all things delightfully dark and wonderfully morbid. From her authentic graveyard and cathedral images shot in France to her humorous gifts, you are sure to find the perfect gift here. My favorite gifts are among the graveyard images. Death is made truly beautiful through ancient architecture and whispers of prayers gone by covered in snow.
My Favorite Item:
A delicate red rose held by skeleton hands...a symbol of undying love! I love every detail of this Valentine's day poster- the satiny veil, the black chain, even the way the bones in the fingers are positioned. This poster makes a wonderful gift for your significant other or yourself, if you are a "Hopeful Romantic".
Romantic Valentine's Day skeleton holding a rose by TheHopefulRomantic
powered by Zazzle.com
Those Cool Animals
by original cartoonist Deer
laika the spacedog by greendeer
Need a gift that lifts your spirits? Look no further than "Those Cool Animals"! These hilarious and cheerful critters will bring a smile no matter what product they are featured on! There are tons of animals to browse from, whether prehistoric or out of this world! Owned by Deer, "Those Cool Animals" sells completely original designs you can't find anywhere else. I love the loose illustrative style used in drawing these animals. It makes them look so animated- as if they could leap right off the page.
My Favorite Item:
This card looks so professional! The blue "street musician" cat works so well on this card, and the little guy is just so cute too! The text matches the style of illustration used, and the colors give it a lighthearted feel. This card is a great way to say "thinking of you", "happy birthday", or even "get well soon!". The best thing about this item is that it can be customized, so any message of your choosing will look great next to this serenading cat.
cat serenade - customizable by greendeer
powered by Zazzle.com
Bebop's Place
original stationary and gifts
Old Fashioned Roses by Bebops
At Bebop's Place, it's hard to get bored. There's such a wide variety of things to look at! In one corner, you may see a delicious pumpkin tart, but in the other, you will be captivated by a gorgeous bouquet of roses. From decorations for the home to must-haves for your wedding, Bebop has it covered. You can even find a lot of great products to show your support of living "green"! Her amazing photographs and designs are all 100% original.
My Favorite Item:
I am enthralled by this beautiful ermine poster! This poster features the ermine, or short tailed weasel, in his glorious winter coat. He looks so regal against the background of leaves and branches. I have never seen one of these creatures in the wild- I applaud Bebop for getting such a great shot of him.
Ermine by Bebops
powered by Zazzle.com
Noteable Expressions
elegantly modern wedding gifts
Fall Colors on Ecru Bridal Shower Invitation by NoteableExpressions
Nique, the owner of Noteable Expressions, puts her heart and soul into her wedding designs. "Each wedding invitation I create is something I would have wanted for my own wedding," she says, "From rustic country to black tie - I envision the whole wedding as I create. I know what flowers I would use and what dress would be perfect." That statement definitely shows in her Zazzle store as well as in her sleek and professional looking website. http://www.noteableexpressions.net. Everything about her store is formal and elegant- which means you'll be getting the very best for your wedding.
My Favorite Item:
Ah, what an absolutely breathtaking design! This gold art deco peacock design pops against a dark background. This would make a beautiful wedding theme- at Noteable Expressions, you can get matching items for every aspect of your wedding in the same designs! Plus, you can customize it to make it one-of-a-kind.
Bronze Art Deco Peacock and Floral RSVP Postcard by NoteableExpressions
powered by Zazzle.com
Redneck Hillbillies
good ole' redneck fun!
A little Bit Redneck by RedneckHillbillies
According to the owner Susan, Redneck Hillbillies is "a store dedicated entirely to the stereotypical redneck or backwoods hillbilly and the things they are known to like. It is the funny side of redneck, nothing racist or hateful." Redneck Hillbillies covers all the favorites of Rednecks worldwide: drinking beer, fishing, 4-wheelin', RVing, farming and so much more! Being a redneck isn't just a Southern U.S. thing- people order from all over the world including the UK, Canada, Australia, and South America!
My Favorite Item:
I LOVE THIS IDEA! This item is so creative! At first glance your cellphone may appear to be covered in duct tape- but it's really just an awesome phone case from Redneck Hillbillies! This hilarious gift even has a spot of cardboard where you can put your own name- or you could always leave it as "Bubbanator"!
Duct Tape and Ripped Cardboard Tag by RedneckHillbillies
powered by Zazzle.com
Anderson Designs
artistic illustrations and photography
Daffodils Three Yellow and Orange by Anderson_Designs
Anderson Designs is your place to find original and colorful artwork by artist Linda Anderson. Linda's work emphasizes light, line and color and much of her work is inspired by nature and animals. I especially love her cat designs. The way she draws them perfectly captures the gracefully lazy moments reminiscent of any cat you know and love. They look simply perfect against the solid backgrounds of mousepads, water bottles, and so much more. Her floral and fruit pieces are equally as wonderful. So much attention is given to every detail, and the color is irresistible.
My Favorite Item:
I adore this bright laptop sleeve! The form of a cat looks so vivid on the bright orange background. I like that I can even see the pastel strokes of the artist in this illustration. It adds so much artistic quality to the piece.
Cat, Gray in Profile - Pastel Drawing by Anderson_Designs
powered by Zazzle.com
My Little Eden
a paradise of artful gifts
Kingfisher Ornithology portrait fine art print by Mylittleeden
My Little Eden is an adorable store where you can find just about anything! The whole storefront is absolutely serene and comfortable. The blue color scheme fits nicely with the thoughtful atmosphere of the gifts available. Sarah, the owner of the store, has worked as a professional illustrator and graphic designer, and her products reflect her amazing skills! Her website is at http://www.sarahtrett.com. I especially love her work with animals- the artistry is wonderful!
My Favorite Item:
Older and wiser owl t-shirt by Mylittleeden
I am in awe of this t-shirt. Sarah has captured the handsome wisdom of the owl perfectly in watercolor, and it looks spellbinding on this yellow t-shirt. It has an awesome indie vibe- any hipster would look too cool for school in this shirt. :)
powered by Zazzle.com
Digital Dreams
a dreamland of gifts
Elegant Retro Camera With Scroll Samsung Galaxy by DigitalDreambuilder
Dave is the owner of Digital Dreams based in Finland. Not only does he sell innovative and creative gifts, but he also offers courses in English as a Second Language through his business Elite Skills. You can find his website at http://yourdreambuilt.com/. Some of my favorite items from Digital Dreams are the Retro/Vintage Camera cell phone cases. At first glance, it looks like a real film camera! There are also several other illusion phone cases I'm in love with- a leather bound personal organizer, a circuit board, and a cassette tape just to name a few.
My Favorite Item:
Celebrate the year of the dragon with this awesome backpack!
I love how this ornate Chinese dragon matches perfectly with the red fabric of the messenger bag. The gold of red color scheme is reminiscent of a Chinese New Year worthy of royalty.
Chinese New Year Red And Gold Dragon Messenger Bag by DigitalDreambuilder
powered by Zazzle.com
Deb's Digs
photo and graphic design gifts
Sunset Reflections Macbook Pro Sleeve by debinSC
Deb's Digs - a store inspired by nature and the arts!
Deb's Digs is a wonderful treasure box full of art noveau, vintage designs, and original photography. My favorites include her Alfons Mucha collection- these pieces look absolutely gorgeous on everything! Deb's work is inspired by her love for the shapes and colors of the natural world. She has a vast portfolio of amazing shots; you can see them at http://debinsc.pixity.com/.
My Favorite Item:
This illustration by Alfons Mucha looks divine as Deb has placed it on this navy blue postcard. The beautiful woman almost looks like stained glass with her intricate attire and golden locks of hair. This would be a gorgeous way to send your greetings or even just to frame!
Mucha Art Nouveau Portrait Postcard by debinSC
powered by Zazzle.com
iiPhotoArt
uncommonly creative gifts
Leather and Latch by iiphotoArt
Browse other iphone 3 cases
"I'm an old lady. I haven't always been old, and I haven't always been a lady, but I have always been an artist. My goal as an artist is to translate what I see, think and feel into something that evokes a response. Frequently, that response is laughter, 'cause apparently I think some flaky stuff. With work ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous (emphasis on the ridiculous), iiphotoArt has something for everyone....funny animal photos, twisted truisms, and even some half-decent photography." These are the words of Barb, the founder of iiPhotoArt. You only have to browse through her store to find something you love! Her designs are fun and different, and make a great gift for anyone who needs a little spice in their life!
My Favorite Item:
I loved this image from the start, but I loved it even more when I found out how it was created! At first I assumed the sparkler effect was done in photoshop, but it's actually not! To quote Barb, "This one required burning sparklers in the kitchen, dropping remnants of ash in the kitchen sink, as well as coating the top of the range with dripping candle wax." So totally cool!
Caffeine Jolt by iiphotoArt
Be a art affiliate with Zazzle.
powered by Zazzle.com
New Guestbook Comments
-
-
cffutah
Feb 17, 2012 @ 8:31 am | delete
- I enjoyed the way your article was laid out and the way to presented it to your readers, for this I'll help you rank this article higher ... *blessed!*
-
-
-
megielf
Feb 17, 2012 @ 12:18 pm | delete
- Thank you so much. It is very appreciated :D
-
-
-
sjasis
Feb 14, 2012 @ 6:59 pm | delete
- Wow, this is great Megan! What a nice surprise to be one of the featured stores!!! Thanks so much!
-
-
-
DebinSC
Feb 14, 2012 @ 6:00 pm | delete
- Great job! Thanks so much for featuring some of my work. :)
-
-
-
photographybypixie
Feb 14, 2012 @ 5:14 pm | delete
- wow what an amazing lens! Thank you so much for including some of my work :)
-
-
-
photographybypixie
Feb 14, 2012 @ 5:14 pm | delete
- wow what an amazing lens! Thank you so much for including some of my work :)
-
-
-
DigitalDreambuilder
Feb 14, 2012 @ 1:13 am | delete
- Very impressive lens. Thanks for including some of my products
-
-
-
Thehopefulromantic
Feb 13, 2012 @ 9:05 pm | delete
- Wow, love your lens. Thank you so much for including me and all the nice things you said. :)
-
-
-
bebops
Feb 13, 2012 @ 7:03 pm | delete
- This is a beautiful lens. I'm honored to be included!
-
by megielf
My name is Megan. I'm a happily married woman living in Tennessee. While I'm not pursuing my degree in Graphic design, I'm teaching myself Japanese an... more »
- 5 featured lenses
- Winner of 7 trophies!
- Top lens » February Zazzle Store Review
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Couple Pillow Case Couple Pillow Case
- Promise Ring Meaning - What Does It Mean To You? Promise Ring Meaning - What Does It Mean To You?
- jailbreak ipad2 3.4.5 jailbreak ipad2 3.4.5
- Plush Mythical Creatures Plush Mythical Creatures
- Mythical Creature Figurines Mythical Creature Figurines
- Adjectives: A Unit Study for Valentine's Day Adjectives: A Unit Study for Valentine's Day
