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 by capturedbyKC

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 by capturedbyKC

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 by capturedbyKC

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 Collection by Captured Designs by KC

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

Captured by KC Designs at Redbubble

 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.

Whimsical Fox Travel Mug by Captured by KC Designs

Blue Ombre Chevron Mini Skirt by Captured by KC Designs

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. 

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. 

My Online Presence

  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 by capturedbyKC

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 by capturedbyKC

  

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 by capturedbyKC

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 by capturedbyKC

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Fully customizable autumn greeting card.

Happy Fall Y'all Autumn Greeting Card by capturedbyKC

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.

New Product Line- Novelty Socks!

 So, I have been slowly trying to catch up on all of the newest products that Zazzle has added to the product line for us designers, and I found one I just couldn't resist adding to my shop... Socks! 

I love novelty socks. The fun patterns, vibrant colors... they just give your entire outfit such personality. I am so excited about this new product and I have only just begun adding my designs to them, but I just had to share. 

Check out these totally awesome novelty socks

Funky Mismatch Circle Chevron Novelty Socks by capturedbyKC

 

These are so fun and colorful. They are perfect for the person who loves to wear mismatched socks. 

Sharks Novelty Socks by capturedbyKC

 

Baby Shark do-do-do-do-do-do... shark lovers rejoice with these shark themed novelty socks!

Happy Monkey Bananas Socks by capturedbyKC

 

Happy smiley monkey and bananas pattern socks. 

I'll be adding more socks to my online store soon so keeping check back. Don't forget to check out all the other great novelty sock designs available in the Zazzle marketplace.

Save 15% on novelty socks now thru 7/25/19 with coupon: XMASINZJULYZ

New Product! Ink Pens #Zazzlemade

  I'm alittle behind on designing for some of Zazzle's newest and most trending products, but I had to start on this one because it is perfect for the school season and it's just fun. Ink Pens!
  
I don't know about you, but I am an avid pen collector. I think I have six pens just in my purse! I love pens. The more personal, the better! So this was an exciting product for me to design, and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Check out some of my new pen designs.

Aqua Chevron Personalized Pen by capturedbyKC

Personalized Retro Circles Black Ink Pen by capturedbyKC

Animal Lover Paw Prints Black Ink Pen by capturedbyKC

Thin Gray Line Matthew 5:9 Correctional Officers Pen by capturedbyKC

Guardian Angel Wings Pen by capturedbyKC



Shop more custom pens at Zazzle and get 40% off thru 7/17/2019 using coupon: SUNNYDAYSZAZ at checkout.

Re-vamping my Zazzle Store

  For those of you who have never read or glanced over my blog before, I am a self-taught artist who sells designs online through various online print on demand platforms. I sell a variety of different designs on a plethora of products. 

  I will admit, since my twins came along a few years ago, I very much neglected my online stores and just kind of added new products in spurts as I could. I'm ashamed to say that I really let things go. With that said, I've decided I'm revamping the look and updating categories in order to make finding your favorite gifts less complicated. With all of Zazzle's new products and the ability to create collections and categories, I would like to give my store a classy and fun makeover that allows you to find what you need with more ease. 

You'll still be able to shop my online store at Zazzle anytime and you can reach my shop here:

Captured By KC Designs

Be sure to keep checking back for new designs as well, I'm still actively adding new products and new collections to my store. 

Some new products

Monogram Swirls Wedding Invitation
 by capturedbyKC

If you like this style, I am adding more products to a collection.

you can see it here.

Vintage Floral Stationery by capturedbyKC

Snowflakes Ornaments Holiday Party Invitation by capturedbyKC

Christmas is just around the corner. Check out more of this Snowflake ornaments collection here.

Current coupons: 

15% Invites and Announcements & 40% off of Stickers, Cases and more!

Coupon code: SUNNYDAYSZAZ 

New Designs In My Zazzle Store!

  It's been awhile since I've posted anything on this blog, but I thought today was as good a day as any to reboot. I've been working a lot lately, mostly on freelance consulting type jobs. I can be found on Freelancer now, so if you like any of my work and would like to hire me through Freelancer, just click here.

  In my spare time, I have been working on some new designs for my Zazzle store. For all of you who have been following me since the beginning, it has been 8 years this month, since I opened my 1st Zazzle store. The Anchored Religious Coffee Mug you see below, was my 1st design on Zazzle. I made it for a religious ministry I was a part of. The Anchor was the logo for the ministry as well as the scripture from Hebrews 6:19-20.

Anchored Coffee Mug by capturedbyKC

It's amazing how far I have come in designing comparative to my older work. I'm also very blessed by all of those who have supported me as I have grown. It encourages me to keep going. So thank you.

Without further due, here is some of my newest stuff. 

Watercolor Roses Floral Wedding Stationary

Always Be A Dinosaur Giftables

The Giveaway Has Ended...

Today is the day! The Giveaway is done and I am so thankful for all of you who participated. I think this giveaway was quite successful, maybe more successful than others I have done in the past...

But there can only be 3 winners.

Congratulations to:

Thomas Ryan Gan-Drennan
Amanda Elaine Walker
Chasity Saunders

Winners, please look over the items on this blog post and choose which item you would like sent to you as your prize. Also, please check your inbox and spam folder at the email you provided during the giveaway for further instructions on how to receive your prize.

Congratulations!!! Thanks everyone for playing along.

Free Silhouette Bottle Cap Designs

On occasion, I want to start giving away a bit of the random things I create so I will start with these silhouette bottle cap designs. If you can use them and if you like them, feel free to save and download them.

These are free for personal or commercial use. That means you can download and print them to use for yourself or to make your DIY bottle cap necklaces, bows and etc to sell. Do what you will. 

To download, click the image and then click 'download'

Just have fun :)

Silhouette Bottlecaps by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

Featured In Sophie Women's Magazine!

At the beginning of every month, I enter 5 of my amateur photographs (that match the monthly theme) into a free photography contest that is held by Shutterbuggerz.com. 

Everyone has until the 10th each month to enter their photographs and after that no more photos can be submitted for that month. 

The submitted photos will be reviewed by Shutterbuggerz and a local magazine called Sophie Woman's Magazine. 

Once the favorite or top pick photographs are selected by those reviewing them, they will be printed and featured for the upcoming month in the Sophie Woman's Magazine.

The theme for June 2013 was

 'It's All Black and White' 

There were a ton of amazing entries into this month's contest. I entered 5 of my photos including this beautiful image of a white peacock

Peacock by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

which was selected and featured in the July 2013 issue of Sophie Woman's Magazine!

Screenshot of online view

 I am very honored, humbled, and excited! This is my second time being featured and I do believe I literally squealed both times lol. 

Thank you so much to everyone who 'liked' my photographs on the Shutterbuggerz Facebook page and also a big thanks to the crew of Shutterbuggerz and Sophie Woman's Magazine for picking my photograph to fill that spot out of so very many amazing photos that were entered.

Freebie Bottle Cap PNG Templates

** Free Bottle Cap Templates **

For a long while I was looking for these types of templates so that I could design some bottle cap graphics for a friend who makes them. Then I thought to myself, I can just make my own. So here are 2 PNG downloadable 1 inch bottle cap templates for your bottle cap designing endeavors. They may not be 100% perfect, but they are 100% free for commercial and personal use. Have fun!

**To download these templates, click on the image of the one you'd wish to use and it will redirect you to Deviantart. Then to the right of the image there will be a 'download' button.**

4x6in sheet 1 inch bottle cap template 

(resolution: 300dpi)


Free Bottle Cap Template Sheet 4x6 by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

8.5x11in sheet 1.5 inch bottle cap template

(resolution: 300dpi)

Free Bottle Cap Template Sheet 8.5x11 by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

Be on the look out for more bottle cap freebies coming soon!

When I'm not working...

If you are a reader of this blog then you already know that I design and sell custom digital graphics, patterns, and photography online here and here. 

However, you may not know that I also take time out for fun and practice. I have a Flickr account as well as a new DeviantArt account where I regularly share my creations. On Flickr, I regularly enter into art challenges and photo challenges so that I might gain more practice in photoshop manipulation and editing. It is something that I enjoy and I would like to share it with you.

Check out some of my works:

 
Bubble Girl by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

Love Never Dies by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

Into the Forest by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

Magic In A Bottle by ~capturedbykc on deviantART

My Shutterbuggerz Photo Contest Entry #2- PLEASE VOTE!

Last month I began taking a chance on myself as I pursued a few different media contests online. One of them was the Shutterbuggerz Photo Contest. I didn't win but I had a lot of fun entering and taking a chance on myself. You can see the photos I entered for last month's contest here.

I have decided to try my luck and talents again this month. I have entered 5 new photographs for the November contest. If you like them, please take a moment and click the little green thumbs up for me and leave a kind comment. I would truly appreciate your support. 

Click on the images to be taken to Shutterbuggerz where the photo can be made larger &to vote. To vote on an image(once you are at the shutterbuggerz site), click the image once then hover your mouse over the image and click the green thumb in the top right corner. Thanks!

What's the Prize? 

The top selected photographs (chosen by smugmug) are placed into Sophie magazine and two winners are chosen... one amateur photographer and one professional photographer. 

The amateur photographer winner will receive $25

The professional photographer winner will receive a free ad with an estimated value of $350 in Sophie magazine for the following month.

You could enter your photographs too, next month before the 10th. Anyone can enter and you can enter up to 5 of your own photographs.

My Shutterbuggers Photo Contest Entries- Please vote!

I've recently entered some of my photographs into the Shutterbuggers photo contest. If you don't know about the  Shutterbuggers contest, it is the a monthly contest where the top selected photographs (chosen by smugmug) are placed into Sophie magazine and two winners are chosen... one amateur photographer and one professional photographer. 

The amateur photographer winner will receive $25

The professional photographer winner will receive a free ad with an estimated value of $350 in Sophie magazine for the following month.

You could enter your photographs too, next month before the 10th. Anyone can enter and you can enter up to 5 of your own photographs.

Check out and vote for my entries :) Click the photos to vote.

Dandelion Photograph copyright Kristina Conatser

Daisy Flower Photograph copyright Kristina Conatser

Yard Critters Photograph copyright Kristina Conatser

Autumn Sky Photograph copyright Kristina Conatser

Blue Eyed Kitten Photograph copyright Kristina Conatser

Vote and share :) Thanks for looking!

Art challenge- Eyes/Many

This week's challenge by 2 Things Blog was especially fun for me. I tend to get my spooky Halloween creative juices flowing a few months early once I know it is just around the bend and so with that said, just know that this week's entry has a touch of Halloween theme. I just couldn't resist. :) Hope you enjoy. 

My entry for this weeks Eyes/ Many:

Peering Eyes- copyright CapturedbyKC

Newest Creations available in my shop!

I have been working a lot in my shops lately, and am excited to announce that there are new products available in my shop! Currently, there aren't many variations of these new product lines available yet though-many have just been released by Zazzle- but I am constantly adding more and more so I should have a small variety to choose from soon enough. I would like to share a few product creations that I have recently added with you here.

Custom spiral-bound notebooks, laptop sleeves, new tiles/trivets and so much more are being unveiled and becoming available in my stores. Be sure to check back often to see what's new! You can do this by following the burner-feed at the bottom of this blog and by visiting my website HERE

New beginnings...

Hi, thanks for peering Thru My Lens. My name is Kristina, or KC for short. I am a self-taught artist with a love for creativity, imagination and all things beautiful. I believe that art is an expression of the soul. It is an outward reflection of our innermost thoughts and feelings. It is a universal language. Read more about me HERE.

My hope for this blog is to share my artwork, poetry and photography with others so that it may inspire the artist within you to express yourself. Art is naturally a part of who we are and it is what we are because we are creation. We are all a form of artwork; each of us individual, beautiful and inspiring. 

My goal for my creations is that they may help others to enjoy the simple things... those things we often over-look and forget. The little joys, inspirations, and times of faith that we tend to forget are what inspire us to become better, to dream, grow and to change. When we look for the beauty within creation, we can change our perspectives, our actions and who we are. I hope that Thru My lens my readers will see the beauty all around them as well as within them. 

New Beginnings by BWC Designs