Watermelon Watercolor Pattern

Hey guys, what's up.
Me? I am trying to keep up with working on new designs and products for my zazzle shop.

This week has been devoted to making some fun whimsical watercolor patterns. With a little Photoshop magic, you can take separately painted elements and turn them into some truly unique seamless patterns. I decided to start with watermelons and lemons. I have a list wrote out and will try to keep up the pace this summer and turn out a bunch of fruit related patterns. Feel free to comment or ask for certain patterns I show to be placed on the product of your choice. There are so many items available on zazzle, with my time restrictions I just can't place them on everything on the site unless you request it. But with that said, here are the first items I chose to start with.

Watermelon pattern
by valarie79

Newest Collection Available Elephant Party

Elephants are a popular baby shower and birthday party theme and why not they are very cute. Yesterday during my TV watching time I broke out the watercolors and started painting a couple of cute baby elephants that would work perfectly for invitations and other party related items.

Some of you know my method of creating, but for the others that do not first is drawing and painting. Next I scan the image onto the computer. After that, adjustment and final designs in Photoshop. Now added to this list is uploading and further design on Zazzle. Each image counting all of the above work can take a good 8 hours or more.

This set is truly hot off the press and extremely fresh to my portfolio of over 14 years.

Elephant Party
by valarie79

Rustic Elephant Birthday Party Invitation

by ValarieDesigns

This is just a start. There are so many product options available, if you would want this image on another product just leave a comment below and I can easily have that item added to the shop.


And the beauty of Zazzle is the promotion of other artist and shops, so here are a few of my favorite elephant party themed items below from other designers.

Baby Blue, White Gray Elephant Baby Shower Card

by DesignsbyDonnaSiggy

Boys Baby Elephant Baby Shower Invitations

by The_Baby_Boutique

Elephant 1st Birthday Girl Invitation

by Card_Stop

Gold Elephant Umbrella Baby Shower Party Invite

by CleanGreenDesigns

Returning To Zazzle, My Journey

Lately I just keep seeing zazzle related content when I search on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. Maybe it is because I've become obsessed a little bit with Zazzle during the past month.
I already have a shop and have had it for a very long time. I started my Zazzle shop way back in 2007.

There were a few options at the time(cards, stickers, key chains, t-shirts, posters,mouse pads, etc.) so I thought I would start a shop to make a few extra dollars. I uploaded a few of my paintings, typed in the keywords, didn't really promote anything and just let it go. I did make some sales, but nothing that was going to get me the freedom to quit my day job. I just left the shop there, without adding anything else. How I wish I would have (who else thinks this <-----) realized the massive opportunity that was being presented at the time. I got into the forums and listened to some of the people talking about how little we made for licensing commissions and that it just wasn't worth it. I will add I am only a dollar or two away from PRO status with what was sold from my mostly dead shop of 11 years.

Let me tell you I'm a little afraid trying again. I feel like I lost out on the great opportunity that was available. It is work to design all of the different products. I know it isn't going to be easy to try to play catch up with what is already out there and I'm trying to not let that idea overwhelm me, but it does.

So, for my first month of jumping back in with my shop, I decided I would share my journey with you.

Month of April: uploading, painting, designing, listing, etc. = 30 hours
Sets Started: Unicorn Party, Elephant Party, ladybug baby shower, Squirrel Party, Bunny Party
(each set has a bunch of elements that are designed to fit with the rest - very time consuming and I hope the work will start paying off)
Places I shared my items from Zazzle: Facebook, Pinterest, and this blog

Google Searches: images and items still not showing up in top Google Searches done
Visits to my shop: slim to none - most hits from Facebook, but less than 10 people have clicked on links
Sales: zero

So, I little disheartening. This time I am not going to stop so soon.

Goals for May2018:
*Keep adding to the current sets
*Add a couple of more design themes
*If time permits for the month, remake store categories

Now some questions for you, the reader. What design party themes would you like to see made? Visit my shop to get a feel of my style. I would be open to design suggestions.