vol.25

BIG zazzle update

hi everyone!! After updating my blogs with a new look, the look of my zazzle shop was really bugging me. It had been like an entire  year since I had changed it up at all, and it was in desperate need of something new and fresh. Monday I finally made time to finish it up.

It felt soo nice to check that off the to do list! This morning I added a couple of my new images to the shop...

sailing the storm by volume25

I listed the sailing the storm image on about 15 different products.

sailing the storm by volume25

I also uploaded "music speaks" on about 15 products. :)

music speaks by volume25

music speaks by volume25

I still have some more images to upload, and I'll try to get them up soon! I have soo many projects I want to finish in the next couple weeks. I still need to edit the pictures from last weekend. We drove up to the mountains and let the kids play in the creek. :) This picture was taken on the way there, and edited with my lovey dovey overlays.

It was SO HOT. :) Anyway... I have a really cute photoshoot planned for the girls later this evening. Hopefully it works out okay to take them. It involves cardboard and an electric fan... the rest will have to be a surprise! Okay! I hope you have a great evening. :)

p.s. Are you a VOL25 fan on facebook? I posted about a new secret project/freebie! :)

Designing Keds can be fun!

I mean, like alot of fun. :) I have a few different pairs (14 to be exact!) available in my zazzle shop, but on Tuesday I sold my first pair. I could be seen and heard doing a happy dance in front of the computer. :) These little guys are on they're way to a new home... and I soo hope that they're new owners decide to share pictures! :)

I love zazzle and how easy it is to set-up a shop over there. I like that I do not need to carry inventory, nor do I even have to deal with the shipping aspect. However, I feel desperate to make somewhat of a personal connection with the buyers. I am always super excited when I see I've sold a t-shirt, and always look to see where my design will be residing. :) Maybe I'll bump into someone wearing my shirt? I kind of doubt it, but it is still fun to think about it. Anyhow... I'm leading up to an idea I have had running through my mind since opening my zazzle shop a few months ago.... BUT I would really appreciate your input on the matter.

Here are my thoughts, I really want to see the items being used. But I know your busy and there are more important things on your to do list. :) SO, I'm trying to come up with a creative way to engage and make sharing your purchase fun. Maybe a monthly contest to see who can submit the most creative product shot? The entries would be voted on, voters being you and me, hubby, Trin and little miss Journey. The winner would receive a $40 gift certificate to my etsy shop. You could e-mail me your photos, and I could randomly post them throughout that month, with a re-cap just before the voting? 

Or, does that sound too complicated? Would you rather just send in your photos and have your name go into a jar, with a random drawing?

Any other ideas? I'm also considering holding random zazzle giveaways. But, I've been so busy that I havent had time to organize much. :)

Thoughts, opinions, ideas? I'm all ears!

Btw- Thank you to everyone who has supported my zazzle shop. This month I've qualified for pro seller status! I think thats reason enough to host a thank you giveaway of sorts! :)

zazzle update!

Hello everybody! Time for my regular re-curring zazzle update. I mean, really have I told you how much I love this website? ;) I have also found some items on zazzle that I'm sure you'd love too... so I'm going to add a regular zazzle feature to the blog. I sold the above t-shirt yesterday morning. :) I was really excited to think of someone wearing my design. It was kind of like the ultimate compliment. It also just so happens to be my favorite t-shirt design! So anyhow, if your in the CA area, be on the lookout for someone wearing my turtles! ;)

I also sold 50 of these moving postcards.

Remember them? Well what is so totally GREAT about zazzle, is the ability (if the artist decides to allow) to customize the items listed. So, my customer was able to add her address to the back of the cards, saving her the time of writing on all 50. I've had so many people ask if I can customize these, and I'm happy to be able to let them do so now. :) Another thing on the cards: People have asked if I could change the "WE" to "I" and again I couldnt do so since I had ordered them from a printing compnay. Now I can though! I'm working on the I design and should have it listed on zazzle a little later today! So totally happy about zazzle. :D

If its been awhile since you've stopped by you definitely should take a peek again! I'm so happy with how I've managed to make my page look. :) Been dabbling a little with html coding, and boy has it been a bunch of work... and stressful! But, the end result is definitely worth it. I'd take a screen shot but for some reason my print screen button isnt working!?

I recategorized all the categories, and have about 450 products listed now. :) Does anyone have any designs they'd like to see make it into the store if they aren't already? 

Zazzle itself has been really generous in promoting my shop in the last week they have awarded three of my designs they're "todays best award."

 

 

...and now they have my store listed under the "featured stores" along with another 10 zazzle stores. Its been nice! I've set a goal for myself to make it to pro-seller status. To do so you have to sell more then 100.00 worth of merchandise for a three month period. I've already met that goal for this month and qualified for a small bonus. :)  I designed a shirt for my dad using his landcruiser and a couple coffee cups. I'll have to take pictures of them when they come in! :)

I suppose I really need to get my day started. I have a custom order I'm needing to draw, and I should probably get started on that.

One more thing- You  may have noticed that you can now search my blog, for previous posts, ideas etc. :) I've been wanting to somehow add a search function for like ever.So I'm pretty excited to have that off my list of things to do with the ole blog. :) Typepad has made a big update, and I can even share my posts with twitter. How nifty is that!?

Dont forget to let me know if you have a design/product you want me to add to zazzle!

I am now a proud zazzler...

yep! I sure am. :) I'm really not sure if that is even a word... but I'm going to use it anyhow! Some of you (or ALL of you) are probably wondering what the definition of Zazzler is. So, I guess I better fill you in. :)

Zazzler: verb: To be completely smitten (and undeniably addicted) with an online, print on demand shop called zazzle. It is much like cafepress, but in my opinion much better. :)

I've had a shop on zazzle for a few months now, but havent really promoted it. As an example, you  guys are even just now hearing about it! How awful is that? :) Well, after a super sweet blog friend suggested I bring back some more tote bag designs in my shop, I decided to take another look at Zazzle. After all, they could print the totes for me, and other then my time I wouldnt be out any initial cost. :)

So, these past few days I have been spending ALL my spare computer time trying to stock my shop. I figure the more products available the better, right? Its been pretty time consuming, but I have to admit its really rewarding to see a print turn into a t-shirt, mouse pad, doggie shirt... and even a pair of keds shoes! :)

However, much to my excitement this morning Zazzle recognized a shirt I designed using puff of love (remember him?)

 
I did switch it up a little, adding a cute frame for him to peek out of it. Anyhow, they chose my image to be included with 26 others in they're "todays best" category! Can you say excitement? wow. I compare the feeling to making the front page on etsy. :)

I circled my design... pretty snazzy huh!? The BEST part of zazzle, is that anyone can design they're own product. Using any photograph or image you have, you can customize your own item. You can even design your own skateboard. :) Another really neat thing about Zazzle is they're referral program. You can read more on it here. Basically though how I understand it is this; you can earn 15% on any product purchased that you referred. There are bonuses involved as well, but I havent read up completely on them. :) I've been doing some research online and it seems as though quite a few people are making a pretty regular monthly income on just referral royalties. They have a flash panel you can use on your blog. (did you notice mine on the right sidebar!?) and anyone who clicks over from your blog and makes a purchase gives you a nice little bonus as well. :)

In fact if you were to click over to zazzle from my blog panel, and then purchased one of my products, I think I even get the referral bonus on top of any royalties I have specified on that particular item. :) Pretty nifty huh? Makes you wanna head on over and start your own shop. You really should! I'm thinking though, that like everything else... it takes some time to become established. You have to promote it, and keep things fresh and new, dedicate quite a bit of time, until you establish a following. But who am I to give advice? I havent even made a sale over there... yet. :)

However... this week my fan club has grown to 6 people! Definitely a step in the right direction. ;) I think what I enjoy designing the most is the Keds shoes.

 

They are a little more on the expensive side. Priced at 65.00, so I dont plan to sell very many. But, they're fun to design. :) Recognize the lemon from Journey's b-day? Thanks Tiff for pushing me to use the lemons!

I've had soo many people tell me I should sell my prints on t-shirts, and I'm pretty excited to be able to do so now. :) I'm slowly starting to add product lines to the zazzle shop, each product line is titled the same as the print's title. So lets say your really loving the "life is like riding a bicycle print" and would be interested in products using this same theme...

 

..You would see listed in the right hand navigation bar product lines and underneath that is the title "life is like riding a bicycle.." click on that and you'll see that there are actually 29 products listed in that specific product line.

 

pretty nifty huh? :) I kinda thought so! So have you guys already heard of Zazzle? Anyone have a zazzle shop already? They also have a 30 day money back guarantee. Which is good in my book. :)

Before I go, just a little reminder that the sale is still live in the artfire shop. I'm now a little more familiar with the artfire selling system! Thanks to everyone for supporting me over there, I know its different then etsy and takes some getting used to. But, I am loving how streamlined everything is. Even the sold items section is easier to navigate. :) I'm still not really liking the message system. But, I probably just need to take some time to get used to it. :)

I'm going to sign off now, and get some cleaning done before Jaydon gets home. Anyone figured out how to have your dryer fold your clothes for you? ;)