Wednesday, November 13, 2019

New Holiday Keepsake Ornaments!

 It's been awhile since I've added new festive designs in my shop, but I've recently begun adding new keepsake ornaments. Photo gifts are a trendy thing and ornaments are something you can cherish for years to come as you decorate your tree each year. My collection is still small, but I'm excited to have some fresh new designs in my shop. Check them out. 

Also, today through 11/15/2019 you can get 40% off personalized ornaments with coupon code: LITTLETHINGS at checkout.



Modern Holiday Keepsake photo Ceramic Ornament


A very minimal and modern style photo keepsake ornament. Simply change the sample photo and add your own and you can also modify the text to add your personal holiday message.


Elegant Red Swirls Keepsake Photo Ceramic Ornament


Elegant floral swirl photo keepsake ornament. This style holiday ornament has a very modern feel and is available in a few different color options. Personalize with your own text and photo.


Rustic Wood Keepsake Christmas photo Ceramic Ornament


This simple style holiday keepsake ornament features a trendy rustic wood (not real wood) theme. Personalize the text and add your own photo to make it your own.


You can check out more of my growing ornament collection here

Keepsake Ornaments


Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Expanding My Creative Reach

 So, in an attempt not to put all of my creative eggs into one print-on-demand basket, I have decided to start a store over at Redbubble. I have heard a lot of really good things about Redbubble from both designers and from folks who have ordered items from shops there. So I am excited to dip my toes in and see what happens. 

Check out my store so far

 I have to say, I am pretty stoked about some of the product options I can design on there. My favorites I have had fun designing thus far would have to be the skirts, the decor pillows and the travel mugs.

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Whimsical Fox Travel Mug by Captured by KC Designs
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Blue Ombre Chevron Mini Skirt by Captured by KC Designs
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Green Owl in Tree Decor Pillow by Captured by KC Designs


Are you a designer at Redbubble or have you ordered from Redbubble? What has your overall experience been? Leave it in the comments. 

Monday, October 21, 2019

New Designs in My Religious Store

 It has been quite some time but I finally decided to do some updating and revamping to my religious store at Zazzle. The store is called "Inspired by God" and the designs are centralized around faith-inspired Christian themes, angels, and scripture. 

  When I began this store, I was a media content creator/editor for an up and coming ministry called My Father's House Ministry. I was inspired by the message, vision, and goals of that ministry to create uplifting and inspirational designs. This is where the "Inspired by God" store was born. 

  I have been emotionally struggling as of late with some personal things, and I felt a little voice inside me saying I just needed to focus my creative muse onto this store again. So I have been pumping out new and fresh inspirational designs for my religious store and it has really started to help lift me from the dark place I was in, and I thought I would share a few of those designs here. 

Anchor For The Soul


A new "Anchor For The Soul" religious scripture inspired nautical anchor themed text design with scripture from Hebrews 6:19-20. This design is new and hasn't been uploaded on many items yet, but it can be transferred to other products by using the design tool. Keep checking back for more products featuring this design!
The Lord's Prayer Wooden Box Sign

 I have always kind of liked the idea of a plaque or some form of wall art featuring The Lord's Prayer hanging somewhere in my home. For this, I decided to use a vintage image of praying hands and pair it with the prayer.
Guardian Angels Keychain

 This guardian angels scripture angel wings design remains one of the most popular in my store and I plan to give it more attention as I continue to revamp. The idea that angels are watching over us is a comforting and popular inspirational concept. This keychain also makes a great gift.

Please keep checking my Inspired by God Zazzle store for new inspirational and religious faith-inspired gifts. 


Friday, September 27, 2019

Working on Seasonal Designs

 As a designer, sometimes it's difficult to get into the groove of designing for holidays that are months away. For instance, designing for Christmas when it's ninety degrees outside is most definitely a challenge. 

It has been slow going for me this year because the heat has made it hard to focus, but I have started to push a few holiday designs out and I wanted to give them a small platform to showcase them. 

Now is a great time to start buying holiday cards, they're 50% at Zazzle from now until 9/29/2019 with coupon code: GIFTGUIDES50 at checkout!


Holly Jolly Christmas Photo Holiday Card



 This minimal style Christmas holly themed photo holiday card is fully customizable. You can personalize everything from the photo to the message on the back. 

Merry and Bright Lights Photo Holiday Card



 This photo card actually currently features a sample photo of one of my own children when they were younger. This merry and bright Christmas lights themed card is festive and yet a simple design which allows your receiver to focus on your family photo and the personalized message you send. 

Christmas Garland Photo Holiday Card



 This simple Christmas garland themed modern style holiday card, the focus is all on the front of the flat card. You can personalize this card by replacing the sample photo and editing all of the text to make it your own.

Minimal Fir Tree Photo Holiday Card



 I designed this flat card to be more of a minimal style photo card. This card features a white photo frame area with fir tree embellished corners and a simple green area where you can personalize your special message to family and friends for the holidays. 

Let It Snow Season's Greetings Card



 This blue and white snowflake themed greeting card offers a simplistic design. You can personalize it by changing the sample photo to one of your own and even adding a message to the back.


Thanks for looking at my newest Christmas designs and be sure to


Thursday, September 5, 2019

Trying to diet...

 Diet... it's a dirty word in our house, but we're technically trying to do it in a way. We're challenging ourselves to cut back on carbs- specifically foods like breads, pastas, and potatoes. It is hard.
 I am a potato lover. It is a versatile vegetable that has never steered me wrong. So for me to cut back on it or stop eating it, well... it feels somewhat like a betrayal. 

Haters gonna Hate Potatoes Gonna Potate Button

Haters gonna Hate Potatoes Gonna Potate Button by foodhabits

  If you've ever staved off eating carbs for a few days after being a carbolohic like me, you start to have mental fantasies about eating entire bags of chips at your desk, or making a large bowl of cheesy potato soup for dinner. See, I told you... potatoes are so versatile. Lord help me make it through this month. 

Drink water... Drink water... Drink more water. 

Not Hungry, Just Bored Magnet

Not Hungry, Just Bored Magnet by capturedbyKC


Random blog about my inner potato urges over. Do you diet or have any foods you try to steer clear of that you crave or love to eat? Leave me a comment below.

Thanks for reading. 

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Getting Back to Basics-About How I Got Here

   I'll be honest, I'm not the best at this blogging thing. It's hard for me to get personal. I'm not an extroverted person. I tend to keep to myself and let out small bursts of myself kind of like little rays of sunshine poking from behind some clouds. Anyway, I want you to feel comfortable with me and what I offer. If I want you to connect with my art, I want you to understand where it comes from and the artist behind it. So here I am, in all of my glory... exposed. 

  My name is Kristina. I left my job two years ago to stay at home full time with my twin boys, and I love every minute of it. Don't get me wrong, it's challenging and can be exhausting, but watching them learn and grow is priceless. There is a downside though. No one tells you that being a stay at home parent is isolating. No one tells you that you quickly and very easily can lose yourself without even realizing you're slipping away. It isn't the children's fault. It's isn't your fault it happens, it just kind of happens while you're doing your best to parent. The job takes over and before you can realize, the spark of your passions has been smothered and covered by routine tasks of parenting, not unlike the hashbrowns at a Waffle House. The passion is still there... just buried beneath layers of life that you have to dig through in order to find it again. 


  I started my online stores in 2010. Back when I started them, I was in a mentally dark and depressive place. I was at odds with some of my closest family and I had lost one of my dearest friends. I didn't really know where else to turn except inward. Even as a child, I reflected on my emotions through art and poetry. Back then, I mostly used writing as a tool to express myself, but I wanted to connect with someone. I had lost so much. I just wanted a way to reach out and hope someone else would see it. So I started teaching myself how to design through free programs like Inkscape and then I eventually purchased Photoshop. Through sites similar to EnvatoTuts+, Designer blogs with tutorials, and of course YouTube video tutorials, I began to learn how to use functions within the programs and teach myself how to design. 

 After learning a bit, I found Zazzle and then Cafepress. It seemed like a win-win. Design all I want but keep no inventory, which was perfect because I had no room to store excess amounts of product. I had no clue about shipping costs and all of that, and print on demand sites take care of all of that on their end so I didn't have to. I signed up and got started. To be honest, I didn't think I would sell anything. The marketplace at Zazzle is full of amazing designers that I still can't compete with, so selling something of mine was just a fantasy in my mind. But then it happened! Then it kept happening. 
Are You Anchored? Mug


My first sale was this Anchored religious coffee mug. 

  People were buying my designs on various types of products and I was humbled. It inspired me to keep learning and to keep designing. I was connecting with people in a way I had never connected before, through art. It wasn't about the money that came from the sells, it was about the fact that other people out there loved my work and connected with it. That encouragement helped to lift me out of that dark place, and I want to thank each and every person who has supported me by purchasing and/or sharing my designs. It means so much. 

  Now, as a mom of twin four year old boys, I found that I had lost my spark that I previously mentioned. It is through no fault of theirs. I let it slip away as I allowed being a mom to completely take over, and I lost my inner sense of self. Now, I am trying to gain it back. I want to find that woman who was so passionate about art, creativity, and the beauty within creation. I want to re-connect with myself and with my followers and consumers. This is why I have begun promoting and pushing new designs again. I am pushing myself. 

  If you are like me and you've allowed yourself to sink into the role of just a "mom" or just a "dad" and you've let your spark fade out, don't blame yourself but don't just let it die either. Make the time to reinvest in that spark or maybe even a new passion. You're worth it. Your sanity is worth it. Fight for that sense of self. It isn't wrong to need a version of yourself that doesn't revolve around your loved ones. It's okay to have something of your own. Find it, nurture it and let it grow you into a complete person. Your children will thank you for it. They need to see someone who is passionate and has goals, dreams, and hopes. You can give your children the world without giving up yours. It's all a matter of balance. I'm learning this too. 

Don't let it be a power struggle within you, it will only cause stress and turmoil. Spark your passion and let that fire illuminate and empower you.

Your Spark Quote Magnet






  

Monday, August 5, 2019

New Autumn and Thanksgiving Designs!

 Trying to re-vamp, promote, and grow my store has been a challenge but it has also pushed me to do more than ever before. I never understood before I started designing how challenging it is to create designs for seasonal times of the year when it is still so warm outside and everything is still so vibrant and green. The struggle is definitely real. 

 In any case, I've managed to pump out some new greeting cards to my store for the Thanksgiving/Autumn season. Please take a moment to check them out.
Give Thanks Autumn Tree Greeting Card

This autumn leaves falling off the tree Give thanks greeting card is fully customizable. Personalize the message inside with your own specialized message for your family and friends.
Autumn Greeting Card

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Fully customizable autumn greeting card.
Happy Fall Y'all Autumn Greeting Card

A very southern approach to the autumn season. Happy Fall Y'all greeting card.

Save 15% sitewide with coupon code: ZTREATYOSELF at checkout. Now through 8/9/2019 at midnight.