Shell's Zazzle Journal

My Animals Have Personality

2012-01-28T18:38:00.001-08:00

When you saw my title I bet you thought I was going to talk about my cat or my dog. When I said ‘my animals have personality’ I was talking about the animals that I create. By know I’m sure you know that I love to come up with cute and unique animal creations. I have drawn many types of animals from the common ones like cats and dogs to all kinds of zoo animals and birds too! I love how just by changing the features or the pose of an animal they take on a certain personality. Like the little tiger I drew I called her ‘Trina’, she just has the sweetest look on her face, although we all know that real tigers are not exactly sweet! There is my funny rooster, though I didn’t name him, he is sitting down with chicken legs outstretched and his head is slightly cocked forward, he looks so tired. He makes me smile. Then there is my silly monkeys, I’ve drawn a few different ones but all slightly different they have curious expressions and all look like trouble to me! If you’re an artist I’m sure you known how much fun and enjoyment creating can bring. The more time you spend at it the better you get. I’ve sold many products with my cartoon animals on them and hope to continue to sell many more. Come by my store to see lots of others. Designs by Shell Here is a sampling below.

If you have a minute let me know which of the animals I’ve created below is your favourite one. Thanks so much!

Technorati Tags: animals,animal+with+personality,cute+cartoon+animals,drawing+animals,designs+by+shell

Helping Others Increases the Feel Good Hormone

2012-01-21T12:03:00.001-08:00

Did you know that helping others increases the hormone oxytocin. This is the hormone that allows our brain to release those feel good endorphins. When you do something to nurture, help or benefit another person. Also known as the ‘cuddle hormone’. It can be triggered by things as simple as a hug, holding open a door for another person, taking a meal to a sick friend or neighbour, carrying a bag of groceries for a senior, or volunteering for a charity. It has been said that the more oxytocin released the better we are able to cope with the stress that creeps into our lives. So today I thought I would share with you some of my ‘friends’ designs from their stores. I have come to know some very talented and amazing people through Zazzle. Time to showcase some of their work. I wish I could share them all but here are a few artists and work I have come to really appreciate.

Created by MindDesignGrahpx

Created by elenaind

Created by TheInspiredEdge

Technorati Tags: oxytocin,feel+good+hormone,helping+others,artists,designs+by+shell

Caught in the Whirlwind of Technology

2012-01-15T10:48:00.001-08:00

Ever feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions? As a society we are being saturated more and more with new technology everyday. It’s perfectly normal for individuals to be feeling a little overwhelmed at times. It can be a challenge to keep up with all of the new technology like social networks, e-mail, blogging and business networks. Then add in all of the latest tech gadgets like smartphones, e-readers, ipads, music devices and other handheld technology. It seems almost every week some ‘newer’ form of technology is being thrown into the mix. It’s no wonder individuals feel pulled in every direction. Overall technology is a positive thing but we definitely need to control how we use it. I guess over all we have to put things into perspective and try to maintain balance in our lives, after all technology isn’t going to be going away, it will be constantly changing and pushing us forward. Most business’ now will grow and thrive because of the new technology.

Zazzle is one of those business’ that is thriving because of the advances in technology. They are the only on-demand platform for consumers offering high quality products. Recently they added another bunch of great products to design on. To name a few, classy messenger bags, planner/organizers, macbook sleeves, and ipad covers. Here I’ll share a few of my latest designs. For more stop by my store Designs by Shell.

Technorati Tags: technology,tech,overwhelmed+by+technology,change,designs+by+shell

Pinterest - Are You On Board?

2012-01-08T11:09:00.001-08:00

Recently I was introduced to this exciting social media platform called Pinterest. Interesting name you say, well the name literally means pinning things that interest you to virtual boards. This is a fabulous site for organizing and displaying images all in one place. Think of it as a giant photo album completely organized by individual titles that you give to each board. One can create categories like home decor, travel, food and recipes, style and fashion, marketing, and so forth. I believe this social networking site will be powerful for subtle marketing of business’ as well. Keep in mind as you create your pin boards that people are viewing your images and many will repin those images to there own boards. It’s a great way to share ideas and find new products you may not have otherwise heard of. People using this site are generally looking for and wanting to share inspiration and unique ideas. Come and check it out… you can follow my pin boards here ShellsDesigns2

Well I have also been busy creating new designs for my store Designs by Shell. Working on everything from cartoon animals to wedding designs. Here are a few of the latest ones…

Technorati Tags: pinterest,virtual+pin+boards,networking,ideas,designs+by+shell

Goal Setting

2011-12-31T11:09:00.001-08:00

As we are approaching the new year I’m sure many of you are reflecting on this past year and thinking about the events that filled your year. Perhaps you're thinking about the progress you’ve made whether in your personal life or professional life. Now is the time to come up with some goals and plans for 2012. Goal setting gives you a vision and direction to help you move forward and puts the things you want to accomplish in a clearer light. When you are ready to begin your goal setting here are a few tips to make the process a little easier.

1) Think positively and creatively, anything that comes to your mind is fair game, don’t limit yourself, you’re brainstorming here!

2) Create a ‘master list’ of projects and goals you’d like to accomplish in the new year.

3) Keep your list of goals positive not about the things you want to eliminate or stop doing but about the things you want to replace those with.

4) Break your goals into short term and long term goals, this can make it easier and help you put your focus on the ones you want to work on first.

5) Add a timeline and a call to action for each specific goal. This may take some thought, so take your time, you can always go back and re-evaluate later.

One of my goals for 2012 is to consistently increase the number of products in my store. Designs by Shell A long term goal but one I can work on every day. Here are some of my latest designs…

Technorati Tags: goalsetting,setting+goals,tips,moving+forward,Designs+by+Shell

Last Minute Homemade Gift Ideas

2011-12-22T12:11:00.001-08:00

Well first I want to wish all my readers and visitors a wonderful Christmas and many happy moments with friends and family. For those of you who are still very busy right to the end I thought I’d share a couple of inexpensive but fun holiday gift ideas that can be made and packaged with just a little effort. The first one is a recipe I make for ‘Candy Cane Bark’ easy to package in cellophane bags and tie with a festive gift tag and ribbon. Very tasty and looks pretty too!

1 package semi sweet chocolate chips (like Hershey's morsels)
Several peppermint candy canes crushed up ( if I use the small ones usually about 15 or so)
1 tbsp. canola oil

First put candy canes in a zip lock bag, sometimes I double the bag so no pieces fall out! Take a kitchen mallet and smash the candy canes into little bits. If you have children that like to help this would be a good job for them! Melt chocolate chips in microwave. Not too long or they will burn, just keep checking them periodically! Stir until smooth, add the crushed candy canes and the oil and mix together! On a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper spread the mixture out. You can play with how thick or thin you want it to be! Then put this in the fridge for a couple of hours to harden up! Remove from the fridge and break into different size pieces! Package as desired.

Another last minute gift idea to make is a recipe for Chocolate Dipped Pretzels, a little salt and a little sweetness. Again these can be packaged up in cellophane bags and tied with a pretty gift tag too!

Approximately 40 mini pretzel knots ( I like Old Dutch Brand)
1 pkg. white chocolate chips
1/2 pkg. pure dark chocolate chips
1 - 2 tsps. canola oil
Coloured sugar or sprinkles (optional)
Place wax paper on a baking sheet and set aside. In a small but deep glass mixing bowl pour in all of the white chocolate chips. Melt in microwave until smooth. Approx. 1- 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds so it doesn't burn. Add 1 tsp. canola oil and stir. Begin to dip pretzels one at a time, shaking off excess chocolate and lay them on the wax paper lined baking sheet. Do this until you've used up all of the white chocolate mixture. (You may need to reheat chocolate, 30 seconds occasionally to keep runny) Place baking sheet in refrigerator for a few minutes to harden chocolate covered pretzels. Once hardened you can place them in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you'd like to decorate them do this before placing in airtight container.

Here are a few of my latest creations for my store Designs by Shell

Sharing the Christmas Spirit

2011-12-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

December is the month when most of us think of charitable giving, reaching out to help others less fortunate than ourselves. When you look around one doesn’t have to look far to see people in bad situations. There are tough economic challenges that many are facing. Living in Canada I feel very blessed as we have so much to be thankful for here. There are many great charities that help those that have fallen on hard times. To name a few, The Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission, Food banks in almost every city, many churches, I could go on. At the church I attend we donate food appropriate for Christmas hampers and wrap these up for needy families in the area. A group of volunteers delivers them. We also have a program where once a month members in the church prepare 2000 sandwiches and these are delivered to the homeless in Vancouver. There are many ways to spread the Christmas spirit not just at Christmas but all through the year. So for those who have plenty and can afford it you will be blessed by your giving. Gifts don’t have to be monetary, giving of your time can do wonders too. A smile or just a few minutes of conversation can brighten someone’s day! Kindness matters!

I’m keeping busy as Zazzle has once again given us some great new products to design. Here are some of the latest designs I’ve been working on for my store Designs by Shell

Practical Versus Impractical Gift Giving

2011-12-10T11:36:00.001-08:00

Are you the type of person who tends to choose practical useful gifts for your spouse or family members or do you tend to go for the impractical but perhaps more fitting and accepted gift. It can be a dilemma sometimes knowing which way to go. Men (going out on a limb here) I think tend to gravitate to the more practical functional gifts when shopping for their significant other, many buy things like small appliances or household things. This can be okay as long as you give something personal too. Let’s face it most women like to get a gift that pampers or makes them feel special. Perhaps it’s easier for women to shop for men as most guys do like to receive tools or household accessories but I would consider something more personal to add to this too! Shopping for kids and young adults is much easier I think! You can mix it up here with electronic gadgets, clothes and personal accessories. Try not to get too stressed out I'm sure what ever you decide will be just fine. Just a little food for thought…

Zazzle has once again introduced several new products for designers to create on. Some practical and some impractical. Here are some of the latest items I’ve been working on. Perhaps one would make a great gift for someone on your list.Designs by Shell

7 Entertaining Christmas Movies

2011-12-03T19:31:00.001-08:00

Do you or your family have a favourite holiday movie that you like to watch. It’s the time of year when you can pull out those old but loved Christmas classics or find a new holiday favourite. I thought I’d share this list of fun movies some for kids and some for the adults.

1) It’s a Wonderful Life – a classic holiday family movie. (1946)

2) Serendipity – (one of my favourites) a romantic comedy/drama with a happy ending.

3) A Charlie Brown Christmas – kids and adults still love this one!

4) A Christmas Story – an oldy but a goody. “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

5) White Christmas – a Bing Crosby classic, you can watch this one with the kids.

6) How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Jim Carrey is perfect in his role in this 2000 movie.

7) Miracle on 34th Street – where a department store Santa Claus claims to be the real deal. He has to prove it to turn a little girl into a real believer.

I know there are many more great holiday movies but these are just a few entertaining ones…

Here are some of my latest designs I’ve been busy filling up my shop with at Designs by Shell… stop by for a visit!

Sharing Christmas Family Traditions

2011-11-27T10:20:00.001-08:00

I love to hear the different traditions that families share during the Christmas season. Most households have a few things that they do the same every Christmas that make it extra special for those in their family. I’ll share a few of our family traditions. The first one would be that we always attend the Christmas Eve Service at our church. It’s a joyous family time of singing and hearing stories and scriptures of the ‘true meaning’ of why we celebrate the Christmas season. Another family tradition we have is our boys hang up their Christmas stocking before they head to bed on Christmas Eve. Even though the guys are older now they still love this tradition. They open them together on Christmas morning. http://www.squidoo.com/christmas_stockings_traditions The last one I’ll share is the tradition of the Christmas breakfast quiche that I make. I’ve been preparing this dish for many years now, although now I usually make two of them as the boys have bigger appetites now too. It’s a Broccoli, cheese dish that we usually have with English muffins and egg nogg.

Please take a moment to comment and share a tradition or two that your family likes to participate in. I love to here what other families do!

Here are some of my latest designs for my store… Designs by Shell Hope you enjoy…

Five Ideas to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

2011-11-23T15:36:00.001-08:00

We all get stuck sometimes. Perhaps you’re an artist, a photographer or a writer, whatever you do you probably struggle now and then coming up with new and fresh ideas. Times when you just can’t seem to move forward. Generally these times are characterized by low energy, maybe not eating properly, lack of motivation or just a general lack of inspiration. There are a few different things to try to snap yourself out of this phase. Give one or more of these a try!

1) Get enough sleep, try a cat nap (15-20 minutes) can be enough to recharge your thinking.

2) Go for a brisk walk, sit in the sunshine, give thanks for the beauty around you.

3) Hit the gym, or do some form of physical exercise like jogging, swimming or biking to boost your energy level.

4) Stimulate your mind by looking through magazines, reading a good article or visiting a bookstore, These can all help to unblock your creative flow.

5) Go for coffee with a friend, a good conversation and sharing session might be all you need to get going again.

Here are some of my latest designs from my store Designs by Shell…Thankfully the creative juices are still flowing here…

Nature and Winter Themed Gift Ideas

2011-11-20T11:10:00.001-08:00

Yesterday my husband Brian and I went for a nature walk/mini-hike about a 20 minute drive from our home. We found a snowy trail that led to the top of a little mountain. It was only about a 45 minute hike but what a gorgeous view we had. We called it our adventure walk since we didn’t really know where we were going. We had stopped at Starbucks and got our first festive coffee of the season, 'peppermint mochas’ to take along with us mmm, very tasty! There’s nothing like being out in the fresh crisp air, enjoying nature. That led me to thinking I’d share some interesting gift ideas with themes of nature and winter. Perhaps you have friends or family that would love to receive a nature inspired gift. Here is a good selection but to see more come by my store for a browse… Designs by Shell

Getting Your Business Ready for Christmas

2011-11-13T13:49:00.001-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner. It’s time to make sure your business is ready for the busy season. There are a few things that should be taken care of if you have an online business with products that you are selling. This is the season that can attract potentially more purchasers than ever before. It’s good to increase your inventory and include a broader variety of designs that appeal to a wide range of consumers. Keep your store clean and uncluttered to make an online shopping experience easy and enjoyable. Start early, just like the brick and mortar stores you have to have a full store now, as people will start there shopping early. You don’t want to miss out because you waited too long to introduce your Christmas items. Encourage bulk sales, this can save the purchaser money too! If emailing offers to friends and acquaintances don’t over do it, nobody likes to be constantly getting mail from the same company. (spam, is not nice) Keep your emails concise and with a clear call to action. Christmas is a busy time of year for most people but can definitely be enjoyable and profitable for all.

Here are some fun designs I’ve been busy adding to my store. Designs by Shell

Checklist for Holiday Decorating

2011-11-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Well if you head to a mall or big box store you’ll already see Christmas decorations spread throughout. Even though it seems a little early to talk about decorating it’s a good time to take stock of what you already have and decide if you need to add anything to freshen up your existing decorations. Maybe you want to change or add a new color theme or add some new elements to your decor. Here’s a little video clip that might give you some simple but elegant ideas to inspire you in your holiday decorating. Elegant Decorating for Christmas. Here is another great page with Easy Decorating Ideas!

1) Take stock of what you have. Recycle anything you don’t want or won’t be using.

2) Plan… Make a list of decor ideas if you plan to add something new, (like a wreath or swag) collect your supplies.

3) Check all light strings, buy replacement bulbs or new strings

4) Don’t try to do it all in one day, set aside one day for the interior, one for the exterior and maybe another for decorating the Christmas tree.

5) Watch for post-holiday sales and or coupons to save money on decor items you might need.

Zazzle has recently given us a huge range of new products to design so you guessed it I’ve been busy adding new creations to many items that would make fun holiday gifts. Here’s a sampling…

How to Market for the Busiest Season

2011-10-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

With the holidays fast approaching it’s time to step up your online marketing. There are several ways to use social media to make a good impression and increase your traffic as well as help ensure a successful holiday season. You’ve all heard the saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ this is especially true when it comes to online marketing. People like and need to see what you’re offering them, so use pictures as often as possible when marketing a design or product. Utilize your facebook business page and your google+ page. Always add pictures to your blog as well. This is probably the most important step that I’ve found really makes a big difference. When using other platforms like Twitter be sure to use hashtags at the end of your tweets as this makes your comments able to be found much more easily for those searching out specific products or ideas.

Well as you may have noticed I’ve changed up my blog background to a more wintery/holiday theme and changed my intro picture to a winter scene that I captured at a ski mountain. Do you like the new look? Well now I’m focusing on creating designs for the holidays… here are some of my latest creations… Designs by Shell

7 Recipe Ideas for Fall and Winter Meals

2011-10-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

When the weather turns a little colder do certain comfort foods come to your mind. Perhaps you think of getting out that crockpot that you haven’t used in awhile or that indoor grill that’s been tucked away. Think of savoury roasts, mouth watering soups, seasonal veggies and oven warmed garlic bread. You’re getting the idea… here’s a list of 10 recipes I gathered together, perfect for fall and winter meals. Main entrees, side dishes and maybe even a dessert recipe here. WARNING – May make you hungry!

1) Easy Crockpot Roast Recipe – http://www.squidoo.com/CrockPot-Pot-Roast

2)Traditional Shepherds Pie http://www.squidoo.com/shepherds_pie

3) Baked Acorn and Butternut Squash http://www.squidoo.com/baked_acorn_and_butternut_squash

4) Delicious Crockpot Vegetable Soup – just add biscuits! http://www.squidoo.com/Crockpot-Soup

5) Easy Cheesy Pasta Casserole - http://www.squidoo.com/cheesy_pasta_casserole

6) Best-Ever Chicken Pot Pie http://www.squidoo.com/homemade-chicken-pot-pie

7) Moist and Delicious Chocolate Cake Recipe http://www.squidoo.com/Chocolate-4

Hope you give one a try… I’ve been busy working on some designs for fall and winter too… here are a few of my latest! Stop by Designs by Shell to have a snoop around for other new themed items.

Ways to Budget for Your Holiday Shopping

2011-10-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Does shopping for the holidays stress you out. It doesn’t have to if you create a budget and stick to it. If you’re not a list maker I suggest you try it for your Christmas shopping it really can take the pressure off. Here are a few ways that may help you with your shopping this holiday season.

1) Create a list of all the people you plan to buy for, if you plan to buy even a small gift for someone like teachers, hair stylist, etc. right them down too!

2) Now beside each name you’ve written down write the amount that you plan to spend on that person (doesn’t have to be exact) Add up the amount if it exceeds your budget, then trim down your list. Do you really need to buy a gift for that relative you only see once a year! A nice card may be enough!

3) Use cash to buy your gifts… you can watch your pennies better and may make better choices. Credit cards can get you in trouble here…

4) Start shopping early, keep your list handy at all times. You never know when you might come across the perfect gift for someone!

5) If the malls and stores stress you out. Shop online from the comfort of home, you can find some really unique gifts this way and many sites offer online coupons for savings!

Here are some designs and items I’ve been working on for my store Designs by Shell, come by for a visit and find some unique gifts too… Stock up on gift tags, labels and holiday postage…

7 Marketing Terms and What They Mean

2011-10-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

If you are new to on-line marketing or just beginning to understand what it’s all about the breakdown of these marketing terms may help you along. I remember when I first started my on-line business many of the terms and marketing jargon was beyond my scope of knowledge and I felt quite lost. Through ‘fearless’ learning, experience and listening to others I have gained a lot of useful knowledge.

1)Affiliate Marketing – described as revenue sharing between online merchants/advertisers/authors and sales people.

2)Brand – a design, name, slogan or any other feature that identifies a seller’s goods or services from another.

3)Creative Strategy – a guideline of what your products or business should convey, who it should be conveyed to and how the tone should be set.

4)Direct Marketing – sending out a promotional message directly to consumers. Using forms such as e-mail, newsletters, consumer websites…

5)Image Advertising - Attempting to create a desirable mental image of a product or company in the mind of consumers. Familiarity…

6)SEO – Stands for Search Engine Optimization. Choosing targeted keywords or phrases related to a website to ensure that the site gets ranked by the search engines. (Google,Yahoo,Bing)…

7)Product Placement – form of advertising where goods or services are placed in a setting rather subtly, not in your face marketing.

I was recently interviewed about my business.. here it is if you'd like to learn a little about my journey! ShopeKeeper of the Day Interview

Hope you find some of these marketing terms helpful in your journey. Now in keeping with my updates for my store, here are some of my recent designs and products I’ve been working on.

List of Top 10 Ideas for Indoor Hobbies

2011-10-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

What do you do when the weather turns cold and the outdoor activities you usually do are no longer possible? I was thinking about this the other day. Many of us like to keep busy in the evenings and if we’ve been working all day, whether at a physical job or on the computer all day it’s nice to do something a little different. I thought I’d write a list of Top 10 Indoor Hobbies, maybe there’s something you’d never thought of or might like to try. These may be geared a little more to women but I tried to mix it up a bit!

1) Do a crochet or knitting project – a scarf, or dish cloths are easy to make. Lots of free patterns on-line too.

2) Learn to play an instrument. That guitar that’s in the corner needs some attention!

3) Scrapbooking – great way to organize family pictures. Make a special book as a gift.

4) Carpentry – If you have access to tools and garage space build a simple wall shelf or a bird house. (The birds will thank you)

5) Teach yourself Cake Decorating. Watch on-line tutorials then collect your supplies and jump in.

6) Paint a room. A fun project if you take your time.

7) Read a Novel you’ve been wanting to get too!

8) Purchase a camera and learn all about photography.

9) Learn how to make Candy. Some excellent recipes on-line. Package it up and give as gifts.

10) Plant an indoor herb garden, you’ll have fresh herbs for all your sauces.

This is just a small list but maybe you’ll come up with some other interesting indoor ideas for the winter months. Here are some designs I’ve been working on for my store Designs by Shell…

Seven Health Benefits to Drinking Coffee

2011-10-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

If you’re an avid coffee drinker you’ll be glad to know that there really are benefits to drinking coffee. Now of course, in moderation. I’m not talking about the guy or gal or polishes of 10 to 12 cups a day. That’s a little excessive. A moderate amount of coffee may have it’s benefits while an excessive amount may actually cause problems in some individuals. I searched many sites on the internet to get the best information out there. According to many studies done, these are some of the results I found.

1) Coffee is loaded with antioxidants known to protect our bodies from free radicals that cause disease

2) Coffee improves memory and concentration

3) Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

4) Reduces the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (European Journal of Neurology Studies)

5) Protects against liver disease

6) Provides that burst of energy you need to get moving in the morning

7) A healthy dose of coffee is said to be no more than 3 –4 cups per day

Here are some fun coffee themed designs I’ve been working on for my store Designs by Shell, pop by for a visit to see more!

5 Tips For Starting An On-Line Business

2011-09-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

If you’re thinking of starting an on-line business here are a few things to ponder before jumping in. These 5 tips are worth reading and revisiting if you are considering an on-line venture.

5 Tips That Can Lead to a Successful On-Line Business

1) Plan, plan, plan! This can’t be stressed enough, this quote comes to mind “ a fail to plan is a plan to fail” Write out steps you need to take for your venture. Plan your resources. Try to predict any troubles you could run into.

2) Look at other business’ similar to what you are trying to start. Collect ideas and don’t be afraid to ask others for advice.

3) Create an identity for yourself. Blogging is an integral part of the on-line business process. People need to learn about you so you must promote and maintain an on-line identity.

4) Networking is key to a successful business. Join forums, platforms,sites that allow you to connect with others.

5) Constantly research, things change quickly in the on-line world. So always be reading and eating up new knowledge that will help grow your business. “Be a fearless learner”

Here are some of my latest designs for my business Designs by Shell

Happy Business Women's Day

2011-09-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

While I was doing some reading I came across an article saying that today September 22nd is recognized as Business Women’s Day. This is a day where the value and contribution of women in the business world is recognized and celebrated. Women’s Day recognizes the coming together of women with diverse occupations from all over the world and celebrates the accomplishments of women business owners and working women all across the globe. So I’m wishing a Happy Business Women’s Day to all the hard working women in the workforce.

As a digital artist/designer my business keeps me busy. I’ve been working on a variety of designs, updating some older ones and starting to work on holiday designs. Time is moving quickly. Here are some office designs I’ve been creating… office mugs, which you can add your company name/website too and some business cards.

Energy is Key to Staying Fit and Healthy

2011-09-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it everyone struggles with fitness motivation at some point. Having enough energy is the key to staying fit and healthy. One of the main reasons people can’t seem to get moving is a lack of energy and with that comes low motivation. Our bodies need to be supplied with the proper fuel in order to have sufficient energy to workout, keep up with our daily tasks and so forth. Here are a few tips to help boost your energy and keep you inspired to stay healthy.

1) Drink water every couple of hours to keep your body systems running smoothly.

2) Eat breakfast, even if it’s just a cereal bar or a yoghurt (this is your morning fuel)

3) Incorporate some type of cardio in your day, – walking, jogging, skipping, swimming, biking.

4) Choose healthy snacks – an apple, homemade muffin, veggies and dip, small cup of trail mix.

These are just a few suggestions, here is an article I wrote to motivate and inspire you even more. Seven Tips For Staying Fit and Healthy

I love to create designs that inspire people. Here are some inspirational fitness products created by me and some from other designers too!

What's a Party Without Cupcakes

2011-09-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes are everywhere. Now one of the most popular ‘cake’ ideas for parties are cupcakes. Mini bite size morsels of goodness. These fancy little cakes can be done up for any party theme you can dream up, no limits here! I have always been a fan of cupcakes and love to create designs for birthday invitations, t-shirts, business cards and other items. I also love coming up with quotes or cute cupcake sayings for my creations. Here are a few of my favourite sayings:

“When you frost a cupcake, you spread the love”

“When you share a cupcake, you share love”

“Will work harder for cupcakes”

“Official cupcake taste tester” (somebody’s got to do it)”

“Cookies are for kids, Cupcakes are for grown-ups”

“Everyday is a day for cupcakes”

“What’s a party without cupcakes”

-by S. Kuhn

All of the above sayings are ones that I came up with on my own, such fun! I just finished this page on The Cutest Cupcake Party Invitations … there are invites for many types of holiday & birthday parties featuring cupcakes.

Charming Cartoon Animals on Birthday Invitations

2011-09-01T10:22:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe today is the first day of September. This is a busy month for many people. Summer holidays come to an end and kids are getting ready to head back to school. There are school supplies and new clothes to purchase for some. September is also a popular month for birthdays. I know several people who have kids with birthdays this month so that makes it extra busy when there are parties to host too!

I’ve been busy creating some cute cartoon animals for kids birthday invitations. Lions and tigers and bears, some of my favourite little animals to draw. Here are a variety of fun invitations that can all be customized.

Skunks Get a Bad Rap

2011-08-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

We all know that skunks are the animals that are capable of spreading their strong, bad odour. Did you know that there are 12 different species of skunks ranging in colors from black and white to cream and brown. All skunks are striped, some may have a single stripe while others may have broken stripes on their bodies or legs. These are unique animals though not really ones we want to come in contact with. I prefer the cartoon variety of skunks myself. Yes, I’ve been busy creating some cool skunk designs for my store. Designs by Shell My husband and I had fun throwing some interesting sayings around to accompanying my designs. They really take on a character with their funny expressions. Anyways here are some of my skunk designs as well as some from other artists.

Owls Are A Popular Trend

2011-08-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that owl themed items are popping up everywhere. They can be found on apparel and footwear, jewelry and gift items even on pillows, home decor and garden products. When you bring your attention to one design theme, like owls you tend to see them everywhere. So I got on the band wagon and designed a few of my own cute owls for products in my store. Some cute whimsical critters. Here you’ll see a few items of mine as well as some cute ones I like by other Zazzle designers. Come by Designs by Shell for a visit as I’m adding new products pretty much daily.

August a Great Month for Day Trips

2011-08-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

August is a great month to enjoy outdoor activities. The last couple of weeks have been full of outdoor adventures for my husband and I. Let’s see what have we done, first we did a 10km bike ride around the seawall in Stanley Park,Vancouver. We visited a beautiful outdoor show garden one day, we went kayaking on the ocean for a couple of hours one morning, we’ve walked and gone on mini-bike rides many times. My husband had a couple of golf games and we had barbeques with friends and just enjoyed the great weather. There is something to be said about breathing in fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sun on your face. Mmmm…

I’ve been busy working on a variety of designs for my store, a little bit of everything as time permitted. Here is a small sample, stop by my store for a visit when you can. Designs by Shell

Frogs and Elephants

2011-08-04T16:57:00.001-07:00

Well lately I’ve been revamping one of my lens’ on All Kinds of Frogs. So I started creating some funny cartoonish frogs for it. I’ve added them to all kinds of gift items and apparel as well. Another animal I created was a pink elephant, I used this design on several items as well. Here is a little taste for you…

Word Art on the Beach

2011-07-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a visit to Vancouver Island. Some time was spent visiting family, enjoying barbeques and warm sunny weather. It was beautiful by the ocean. We took a short boat ride to a little Island called Newcastle. My husband and I spent the day there. We walked the perimeter of the island approx. 8 kilometers and had a great picnic lunch while viewing the boats and ocean scenes. I created word art from seashells on the beach for fun… I was able to capture some great pictures of these as well as some awesome ocean and trail shots. I’ve already put several of them on products in my store. Do come by to see more… Designs by Shell

Customized Ipod Touch Cases

2011-07-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Zazzle has recently introduced ipod touch cases as the latest product for artists to design. These are fabulous for videos, recording, gaming, music and the resolution is extraordinary. Offers great features like video calling where you can see the person you’re talking to. It lets you record videos as well as edit and share them. A feature called the Game Center lets you play your favourite games against your buddies any where in the world. How amazing is that!

I’ve been having fun coming up with some interesting designs for the ipod touch cases. Fun and bold designs for the kids and classy and stylish designs like stripes and flowers. Here is a sample of some from my store Designs by Shell

Five Favourite Summer Salad Recipes

2011-07-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

Summer time is when you want to be able to prepare quick meals, meals that you can take to a picnic or family potluck or ones that you can prepare before you go to work. Perhaps you have a favourite summer salad that you love to make or one that you always get requests for. Here you’ll find 5 great summer salad recipes that you may like to try for your next family meal or get together.

1) Light and Fruity Dessert Salad –can be made a day ahead

2) The Best-Ever Hawaiian Potato Salad Recipe – this one is loaded with vegetables…

3) Spinach Strawberry Summer Salad – light and tasty dressing

4) Ramen Noodle Salad – light oil and vinegar dressing

5) Broccoli Salad – featuring that sweet and sour tang

Well are you getting hungry? Ohhh, I”m ready for a salad! Here are some designs I’ve been working on to featuring summer themes!

Come by my store to see the cute gift items and apparel I've been working on.

Chocolate Contains Antioxidants

2011-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Do you crave chocolate regularly? I will admit to having chocolate cravings fairly often and caving in to them as well. Chocolate is found to have antioxidant benefits and does not contain as much caffeine as one might think. A cup of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine while an average size piece of chocolate contains only 10 mg of caffeine. Chocolate is also rich in magnesium and phosphorus. The higher the percentage of cocoa butter and the darker the chocolate it is believed to deliver more health benefits. So don’t stop eating your chocolate just make sure you’re mainly eating the darker and 70 percent cocoa butter chocolate more often than those cheap chocolate bars that get us every now and then.

I’ve been creating designs related to chocolate and coffee themes for my store Designs by Shell Here are a few of my items for you to see…

10 Ideas for a Summer Day Trip

2011-07-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

Well we are into July and the weather is starting to get warmer and it’s beginning to feel more like summer. Do you have plans to go away on a trip or perhaps you’re going to do some day trips near your home. I thought I’d share a list of 10 fun day trip ideas that may get you inspired or thinking about your summer plans.

1) A day at the beach… might include swimming, barbeque or picnic

2) A day hike… check out adventure trails and walks in your area

3) A day at the zoo… find the nearest zoo or animal petting farm

4) A visit to local museums… most cities especially the big ones have them, spend a day visiting different ones

5) A day at the games… take the family to a baseball or soccer game

6) A day at the waterpark and picnic grounds ..kids and adults love it

7) A day exploring and taking pictures of nature… may be at a National Park

8) A day touring little shops, cafe’s and eateries… fun for everyone

9) An adventure day of mini-golf or nine hole golf

10) A day of water adventures, try canoeing, kayaking or paddle boating… bring along a picnic lunch

There are some great ideas I hope they get you thinking of things that might work for yourself or for your family. Enjoy…

Here are some summer inspired designs from my store Designs by Shell

Fencing in the Rain

2011-06-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Today was the day for a new backyard fence. My husband, sons and a friend have been working since about 10 this morning replacing the fence in our backyard. It was time… I felt bad for them in that it was pouring rain for a couple of hours. They were all soaking wet but at least the temperature was decent. They ran into a couple of snags but I think they are making progress now. The sun is trying to poke its head out and the rain has now ceased so hopefully they can continue in dry weather. Yes, I made coffee and goodies for them… so by end of tomorrow we should have a nice new fence up! Yeah! Anyhow I’ve been designing some fun cupcake items for my store as well as some wedding designs. I’ll show you a few here and you can pop by my store see more! Enjoy!

Inspirational Summer Themes

2011-06-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

Are you getting excited for some hot days of summer. It seems spring has been cooler than usual and I am certainly ready for some warmer days. I want to sit on my deck with a hot cup of coffee and a good book and relax in the warmth of the sunshine. Summer is the perfect time to read those novels or inspirational books that you haven’t had time to get into. A great time to head to the beach and go for some adventure walks or hikes in the great outdoors and of course what would summer be without grilling on the barbeque, fresh fruit and delicious salads. So much fun!

Here are some of my summer inspired designs. To see more come by my store Designs by Shell

Building Your Business

2011-06-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

As many of you have on-line business’ that you are trying to grow, promote and make some income with I thought I’d talk a little about ways that have worked for me. There are millions of people around the globe logging onto the internet daily. These people are looking for work from home ideas or business’, services or products to purchase. If you have a company where you are selling products like myself the first thing to do is to set up an attractive website, maintain it regularly and add new products daily if this is something you can do. Then join social/business networks and market, market, market. Of course go about this in a professional manner, you don’t want to annoy people and turn them away. The idea is to capture their attention with your designs, products or services so they will remember you and return to your site. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,IBO Toolbox are some suggestions for you to get started. Connect with others, this can really help you to stay motivated too! Hope this inspires you and helps you take the next step on your journey.

Here are some designs and products from my store Designs by Shell Come by for a visit… always keeping it fresh with lots of new designs.

Ways to Market Your Business

2011-06-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling with ways to get your business seen by others? Is the lack of traffic and sales getting you down? I thought I’d share a few ideas for marketing your store or service. Just like a brick and mortar business an on-line business needs to be promoted and marketed, perhaps even more so. There are many places that I have found that have worked for bringing more traffic to my business.

If you’re reading this then you know that blogging is an important one for marketing your business. On a blog you can share information about your work, upcoming promotions, your latest designs or whatever you want potential customers to know.

Another idea is creating a Facebook fan page. It’s free and you basically control what links and information you want others to see. People ‘like’ your page and this helps you get seen by their network of associates too! The potential for visibility is unlimited.

Join networking sites for business like LinkedIn, IBOTOOLBOX, and Twitter. Also spend time in forums and comment and share others links as well. These will all help you grow your business and help you gain a presence in the business market.

Okay, well here are some fresh and fun designs and products from my store Designs by Shell. Come by for a visit to see more…

Why You Should Have a Facebook Fan Page

2011-06-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Have you joined the ultimate site to market your business. Facebook has become a huge new advertising platform for your company. There are a lot of great reasons that you will want to do this. For instance, the pages are public meaning that the search engines can index the page and that allows people to find it and visit your link. Links are good. As the author of your Facebook page you get to control it and add links, remove content, etc. The best thing is that it’s free marketing for your business. You can create a page in a matter of minutes by following simple steps. So if you haven’t done this yet you might want to think about getting a page out there. It sure can’t hurt. Here is the link to my page Designs by Shell Please like it and I’ll like your page back! :-) I update my page daily with new designs from my store. Here are some more cute things I’ve created! Come by for a visit!

Money in My Pocket

2011-06-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Do you love to write? How about writing and really, seriously getting paid for it! Well with this site called Squidoo you can write one page articles (called a lens) These pages practically come together on there own. The modules where you add content be it information about your topic, pictures, tips, products that others can purchase are all ready for you to use. Just choose the ones that you would like on your page, upload your content and when you're ready hit the publish button to set it out to be seen.

When people click on a link you make a small royalty from the click outs. If you add a selling module like ebay or amazon and show items for people to buy when they click through and make a purchase you also get a royalty.

What a great way to let your imagination go free writing on any topic you choose. It's free to join so what are you waiting for go sign up... you'll love it. I have to say once you do a few of these pages it becomes addicting.

Here are some inspiring items from Designs by Shell

The Importance of Tag Lines

2011-05-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Did you know that most companies get noticed or remembered because they have a great tag line that appears with their logo. Think for a minute, how about Nike, (tag line ) "just do it" or how about Coke (tag line) "It's the real thing"! When you start to think of companies you remember their tag line don’t you?

Basically, a tag line should be used anywhere your business name and logo appear. This will definitely get your business recognized and help you with your marketing strategy.

Here are 10 places to use your tag line:

business cards,e-mails,social network pages,websites, newsletter/brochures, invoices,ads, banner listings, phone book listings, and letterhead.

Here are a few business cards I’ve designed for Designs by Shell …where creativity shines… see where your tag line would go…

Write Squidoo Pages and Get Paid

2011-05-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Writing for Squidoo is simple and easy. A great way to make some extra income and share information with others. Squidoo provides the platform, and allows you to add modules of all kinds to your one page article. If you have another business you need to market or promote this is where you can do that! This is one way that I promote my store Designs by Shell . I can share a variety of my products on any article I choose to write. Add Amazon or Ebay modules with products that relate to your topic as this encourages people to click on these items and if they purchase you will receive a royalty from their sale. How fantastic is that! As you make several of these pages called lens' the more opportunity you have to bring in income. Choose topics and content that you are interested in and the writing becomes very easy. It's not like work at all... So what are you waiting for become a squidoo lensmaster and you'll be on your way to making an on-line income. In the sidebar you can visit a sampling of my own squidoo lens.

Get Started Here

Here are some of the latest designs I’ve been creating…

Creating a Facebook Page for Your Business

2011-05-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed while watching television lately all the advertisements for companies that are on facebook. It seem this is the hot place to host a page with your business. Yesterday I decided to get on the band wagon and create a page for my own business. There are a few catches it seems that until you get at least 25 likes (this is people liking your page) you can’t have your own url. Once you receive 25 likes then I believe you can have your business name in the url so that it can be found easily by others. Until then you have to promote your page through whatever means works for you. Social media groups like twitter, a blog and forums that you connect with are all good ways to get your page out there. Once you’ve created a page you’ll want to make sure that you update daily or at least every couple of days to keep it fresh and interesting. If you have a business and haven’t done this yet you should get started, it’s another way to promote your company.

You can check out the link to my page right here...
Designs by Shell

Here are some of the latest designs I’ve been creating for products for Designs by Shell.

Words That Roll Off Your Tongue

2011-05-10T08:47:00.001-07:00

Words… we use them everyday! Certain words just roll off our tongues more easily than others. Have you ever thought of words as fun or pretty? Maybe it’s just me, I don’t know. Do you ever think about some of the words or phrases in your vocabulary that you find yourself wanting to repeat just because they’re fun to say. My husband and I often find ourselves repeating words that we like from advertisements or commercials that we hear. One of our favourites has been the word ‘certainly’ it just rolls out so nicely! We kind of add our own little accent to it! How about ‘cupcake’ or ‘lollipop’. I thought it would be fun to see if any of you have a favourite word! Share it with me here…

Here are some designs and phrases I’ve been creating for t-shirts. Come by my store to see a wider selection!

Technorati Tags: words,cute,funny,phrases,sayings,designs

Stripes, Spots and Feathers

2011-05-03T09:52:00.001-07:00

On Saturday my husband and I took a trip to a nearby zoo. We were there for about 2 hours and then the rain came and it got cold. So unfortunately we didn’t spend as much time there as we would have liked. We missed seeing the lions and tigers. I am always amazed by the diversity and uniqueness of all the animals. Stripes, spots, feathers and so many other unique characteristics. Of course I had my camera and was able to capture some really unique pictures. I’ve added several already to greeting cards and added funny sayings with them. So much fun! I’ve also added them to other items like mugs, postcards, magnets and postage. Here are some of my favourites! Hope you enjoy them! Come by my store to see more of these amazing creatures.

Technorati Tags: zoo,animals,diverse,stripes,spots,feathers,funny+animal+cards

Tiptoe Through The Tulips

2011-04-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

As I was driving home from the gym today, I was noticing all the pretty tulips and daffodils in gardens. I love seeing the flowers bloom, it just gives you such a great feeling to see all that growth, colour and beauty. Did you know that Tulips actually originated in Turkey. The name ‘tulip’ comes from the Turkish word ‘tulbend’, which stands for turban. Interesting hey, I always thought tulips originated in Holland but they didn’t. Here I’ll share some of my tulip photos that I’ve taken and used on products for my store and a few designs that I created and put on t-shirts. Enjoy!

Making Easter Treats

2011-04-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of ‘cake pops’ or ‘cake balls’? I heard of these fun treats by Bakerella (you can find her on youtube) and I had been wanting to try to make them so yesterday I got motivated and decided to make some for Easter. I chose yellow, blue and lavender for my chocolate colours. You could make these for all kinds of parties from birthday parties to baby and wedding showers. These would also be a great project for moms or grandma’s to make with the kids. Only a few ingredients required and a little creative juice! I also just finished an article that shows the steps to make these! Making Delicious Cake Balls

I’ve been designing cute ‘cake’ designs for my store and using them on a variety of products. Stop by to see more, Designs by Shell

Technorati Tags: easter,treats,cakepops,cakeballs,cute,fun,bakerella

Birthday Party Themes

2011-04-12T12:55:00.001-07:00

Do you have some birthdays coming up in your family. If so perhaps you’ll be hosting a birthday party for one of your children or a spouse or maybe a parent. They can be a lot of fun to put together especially if you turn it into a theme birthday. There are so many fun themes to do for a kids birthday. For boys there is the pirate party, bowling party or sports party theme. For girls you could host a princess party, spa party or dance party theme. There are of course lots of themes that would work for boys and girls as well as for a mix of ages. One could have a cupcake theme party, a pool or swimming party, garden party or barbeque theme party. Pick your theme and tie all of the decorations, food, cake and games to that theme. Here you’ll find some cute invitations that I’ve designed in a variety of different themes. To see more visit my store Designs by Shell.

Technorati Tags: birthdays,themes,invitations,cupcakes,pirate+party,princess+party,cute

Creating Cartoon Animals

2011-04-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s no secret that one of my favourite things to create and draw are cartoon animals. I love to come up with interesting positions and funny expressions for them. Then I like to add humorous sayings or messages to them. This last week I’ve designed the cutest teddy bears in spring dresses ( what… teddy bears aren’t animals) for birthday party invitations. I’ve also drawn some cool cats and redesigned a beaver that I created a while back. It’s great that there is no right or wrong when creating your own characters they just are what they are! I’ll share some of them with you here. Hope you enjoy them and to see more come by my store Designs by Shell.

Maintaining Your Fitness Motivation

2011-03-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

Some days it is definitely harder than others to stay motivated and inspired to do a good workout. Whether you choose to go to a gym and lift weights and do cardio machines or you prefer to exercise outdoors, one still needs motivation. A few of the ways that work for me are : 1) Set small goals… like today I’m going to do two sets of lunges or add an extra 8 squats to my routine. 2) Think of something healthy that you love to eat like fresh strawberries or a juicy peach and remind yourself how good that will taste when you finish your workout. 3) Wear something stylish or cute (ladies) it really does put you in a better mood than if you just throw on an old t-shirt. 4) Find a workout partner that can motivate you for at least one of your workouts during the week. For me I work out with my husband on the weekend and we help motivate each other. We always have a delicious breakfast after our workout too! So try to make it fun and you’ll stay motivated. Here are some designs from my store that might inspire you too! Designs by Shell

Technorati Tags: fitness,exercise,motivation,t-shirts,workingout,weights

Capturing Great Floral Pictures

2011-03-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and the flowers are beginning to show their heads.This is my favourite time of year. Time to get the camera out and capture some beautiful floral pictures. There are a few things to remember when taking photos of flowers and I’ll share them with you here. The first tip being you’ll want to focus on your subject, getting down close to it. Try varying your position and angles to get the perfect picture. Tip # 2 would be to try to take your shots in filtered sunlight or on a slightly overcast day as the bright sun can wash out your images. Tip # 3 is always check for distractions in the foreground/background of your shot. Sometimes weird items lying in the way distract from your subject. Try these next time you’re outside with your camera. I thought I’d share some of my products that sell well with my floral photography. Hope you enjoy them and to see more come by my store Designs by Shell.

Technorati Tags: floral,flowers,photography,pictures,designs+by+shell

Interesting Colour Combinations for Weddings

2011-03-15T17:08:00.001-07:00

This is a popular time of year for weddings. Yes, love is in the air and many couples are busy planning their weddings. Some couples instantly know what colours they want for their big day and others need a little help. There are lots of gorgeous colour combinations. Hot pink and black, purple and cream, blue and chocolate brown, lime green and pink just to name a few. I’ve been working on some elegant wedding designs for save the date announcements, stickers and wedding postage. Here are a few from my store.

Designs by Shell

Technorati Tags: weddings,postage,save+the+date,designs pink,black,purple,blue

Things That Remind Me Of Summer

2011-03-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

The sun is out and it is actually warm out today! Woot! I was inspired to do something outdoors so I vacuumed and cleaned out my vehicle! That felt good! Do you have things that remind you of summer days? Maybe it’s eating a certain flavour of ice cream, taking a country drive, going for a nature walk or swimming in a lake. There are so many great things that summer makes us think of. I thought I’d feature some of my cute and cool summer designs for you to see! These might make great gifts if you have birthdays coming up! Enjoy and visit my store Designs by Shell to see more!

Like a Lion or a Lamb

2011-03-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well it’s the first day of March, hard to believe! Sometimes I feel like I’m in a time warp, it seems to be going way too fast! Well did March come in like a lion or a lamb? If you don’t know what the saying means I’ll explain it to you. If March starts out wintery and cold, it’s like a lion but if it comes in with sunshine and warmth it is like a lamb. If March starts like a lion then usually it will end up like a lamb and vice versa so the saying goes.

I’ve been busy working on my designs for spring. Including florals, wedding themes, birthdays and thinking of June graduations. You’ve always got to be a step ahead of the seasons it seems. Here are some of my designs below. Hope you enjoy them and pop by my store Designs by Shell to see more.

Yearning For Spring

2011-02-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well I don't know about you but I sure am ready for Spring to come. Today is actually a sunny day even though the temperature is cold out. I've been going through several of my pictures that I took last spring and summer. I can't wait to get my camera out again and capture some fabulous floral and garden shots. I recently finished a lens (article) on taking floral photographs. You can view it here Tips and Pictures of Floral Photography
Here I've showcased some of my flower pictures on items I've designed for my store. I have a wide variety of wedding products, home and office products and all kinds of greeting cards featuring my floral photos. Here is a sampling below... come by Designs by Shell to see more.

Spring Colors Spring Weddings

2011-02-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

Well I've been working on several different colour themes and designs for weddings this last week. Hot pink or I've heard it called honeysuckle pink is one of the new fresh colours for weddings. Soft blues mixed with chocolate brown is another popular trend. These would both work well anytime of the year. Do you have a favourite colour theme that you love? There are so many options and beautiful shades to choose from. Here are a couple of lens (mini articles) on wedding ideas. Hot Pink Themes for Weddings and Elegant Blue and Chocolate Brown Wedding Ideas. Here are a few designs too!

Come by my store Designs by Shell if you'd like to see other colours and styles.

Skiing at Big White

2011-02-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

This past week my husband and I took a little trip to Big White Ski Resort, just passed Kelowna, B.C. We had two gorgeous days of skiing! (he snowboards) The mountain wasn't busy at all, so no line ups or waiting to get on the chairlifts at all. I did 24 ski runs in the two days and my husband pulled off about 31 runs. It was cold but the sun was shining and the fact that we were moving most of the time kept us warm. What a blast, I totally recommend a trip to Big White if you've never been. Of course I was able to capture many awesome pictures. I have already put several of them on cards, postage, magnets and prints to sell in my store. I thought I'd share some of the winter scenes on products for you to see here! Enjoy! For more stop by my store Designs by Shell.

Adding More Fruits and Veggies to Your Diet

2011-01-30T15:54:00.001-08:00

Technorati Tags: fruits veggies recommended designs sayings artwork

We all know the importance of getting more fruits and vegetables in our diets. However, some days it can be extremely hard to eat the recommended daily quota of 7-8 servings (per adult) of fruits and veggies but there are many ways we can consume them. They can be eaten fresh, frozen or canned. They can be purchased already cut up for us, added to soups, stews and salads. We can whip them up in a fruit/veggie smoothie or juice. I’ve been working on some fruit and vegetable designs for products in my store. Above you’ll find some of them on labels, postage and t-shirts. Some cartoon fruits and veggies as well as more realistic looking ones. I’ve just been having fun creating and designing them. I have them on several other products as well, so come by my store Designs by Shell to see what else is new. Why not try a new fruit or vegetable this week, perhaps something a little different like star fruit, mangoes, papaya’s or eggplant.

Valentines Day - Give a Little More Love

2011-01-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is fast approaching. The day the world celebrates with romantic words, sentiments and sometimes special gifts. A day to show your spouse, partner or significant other, in perhaps an extra special way how much you love and care for them. The sentiments carry on to those special people in your life like parents, grandparents, and your children. Sometimes to special friends and teachers too! Approximately 1 billion Valentines cards are sent on this occasion. Not to mention how many roses are sold on this day! Here you'll find some of the Valentines designs from my store. Perhaps something for your special someone! To see more come by my store Designs by Shell

Get Noticed with New Business Cards

2011-01-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

Perhaps your business design is getting a little stale and your tired of handy out boring cards. Well one way to get yourself and your business recognized and noticed is to hand out some stylish, new business cards. A fresh, new look just might keep your business on people's minds. It's also still one of the most effective ways to promote a business. I thought I'd feature 'Strawberry Designs' on business cards. Some are designed by myself and others by various artists. Just click on the one that you'd like to view to see upclose and view the back of card as well.

I've been working hard on new designs for my store. Along with some new ideas for business cards I've been busy creating fruit and veggie designs. Strawberries, watermelon and my latest tomatoe designs. These I've used to make cute t-shirts, postage for spring and summer, delightful mugs and other interesting gift items. Pop by my store to see more...
Designs by Shell

Princess and Pirate Birthday Parties

2011-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Birthday party themes have been on my mind again so I've been busy designing some cute ideas for princess parties and pirate parties. These seem to be popular themes with kids ages 4 to 12 years old. I came up with a fabulous princess cake design and of course a magical wand. Every princess should have one of these for sure! I've been designing birthday invitations, goodie bag favours like stickers, magnets and buttons. For the pirates I created cool invitations, along with buttons and stickers too. Below you'll see some of my creations, for more come by my store Designs by Shell to see other ideas.

This Princess Button I received a TBA for on Jan. 11th (Todays Best Award)

A couple of the Pirate Designs

Motivation

2011-01-05T13:04:00.000-08:00

A New Year has begun! Here we are in 2011, what does this year hold for us we all wonder! Are you one of those people who like to make resolutions? I prefer to set goals and make plans rather than do the resolution thing. It is good to take note and review what you want your year to look like and then begin moving in that direction. We all need a little motivation and encouragement and that's what pushed me to write a lens on 'Motivational Office Products and Sayings' and then design some motivational posters, mugs and business cards to go along with it! I also found these really neat posters on Amazon, where you can purchase a whole set! Here are some of the ones I've been creating, you can view other motivational items in my store. Designs by Shell

Back to Business

2010-12-27T14:26:00.001-08:00

As we are approaching the new year you’ll want to be sure you’re stocked up with business cards to market your business. Maybe you need a fresh design or a new slogan to brighten up your cards. I’ve been working on some pretty unique designs for business cards so perhaps there’s something that’ll work for your specific type of business. Come have a look!

Above are some designs featuring shaded globes in different colours and different views. Some hexagon designs and some interesting link designs.

Come by my store to view more of my designs! Happy New Year to all of my blog followers and readers! Let’s make 2011 a fantastic year! Designs by Shell

Technorati Tags: businesscards marketing promoting small+businesses designs patterns unique

Unique iPad and iPhone Cases

2010-12-18T14:22:00.001-08:00

Recently Zazzle introduced some new products for us to design. A couple of the latest ones are iPad cases and iPhone 3 and iPhone 4 cases. Now there is no excuse to have just a plain black case unless of course you simply like black cases. I’ve been designing some pretty cool looking iPad cases with abstract and striped designs as well as some florals and ‘green’ designs. Some modern and trendy looks for the young and older crowd.

This first one is a grape coloured link design with a soft mauve background and the second one is a blue and chocolate link design with a soft blue background.

Here are a couple of my iPhone 3 cases that I designed. Stripes seem to be popular!

Finally here are a couple of the iPhone 4 cases that I’ve designed.

To see the other designs I have pop by my store Designs by Shell

Technorati Tags: designs iPadcase iPhone cases stripes links artwork

Invitations For Special Occasions

2010-12-09T20:46:00.001-08:00

This time of year you’re probably getting ready to either host or attend holiday and Christmas parties. Traditional invitations that you hand out or mail are a fun way to invite your guests. I know some of you are thinking an e-mail invite is fine but really we all like to get an invitation that we can get excited about. The look you choose can really set the theme or mood for your party guests. Here are a couple that I think would be great. These are totally customizable too!

Birthday parties are still going on in December too, so here are a few of my popular designs. Some would be great for kids and some for adult birthday parties. These can be customized as desired.

Here are a couple that are suitable for kids and adults!

Well I hope these get you inspired for your next party! I have lots more designs under the invitation category in my store. Pop by to see more. Designs by Shell

Technorati Tags: invitations,christmas,holiday,birthdays,kids,adults

Special Gift Ideas for Teachers

2010-12-03T12:56:00.001-08:00

Many of you are running around wondering what to get for your kids teachers this year. There are the usual things like chocolates, flowers and gift cards but I thought I would share a few ideas that might be memorable gifts for the teachers on your list. Whether it’s for a school teacher, music teacher, dance teacher or another teacher or instructor a thoughtful little gift is always appreciated. Remember gifts don’t have to be expensive it really is the thought that counts.

Ornaments with sweet sentiments for a great teacher can make a memorable gift. These ornaments can be customized if so desired. Add a year or even a teachers name to make it even more special.

Tote bags make great gift ideas as they are reusable and the teacher will think of you often as he or she grabs her bag and throws papers and supplies to tote to and from school. A bag with a inspirational message or saying makes a great statement.

Here’s another one that has been popular. A snowman with angel wings and a halo. A great saying ‘ Teachers are angels in disguise’

Magnets are another cute gift idea that can be easily slipped in with a Christmas card. Here are a couple with inspirational messages. I have several other designs in my store so pop by for a few other sayings and ideas.

Designs by Shell

Animal Themed Gifts and Tee’s

2010-11-26T16:10:00.001-08:00

It seems you can’t go wrong when giving an animal or pet themed gift item. Animal themed gifts have a way of bringing warm fuzzy feelings or laughter to the recipient. I’ve been busy working on some cute designs featuring cats all decked out for the holidays.

Here are a few that I like. This cool grey cat featured on this magnet is on a soft rosy background. He’s looking pretty laid back in his Santa hat.

Another cute design is this same grey cat, except along with his Santa hat he has some colourful Christmas ornaments hanging from his ear. This design can be purchased on several different shirt types like t-shirts, long sleeved tops, different fabrics and hoodies too!

The next product that would make a fun gift for a cat lover is a unique coffee mug. This cat is looking pretty cool all decked out for the holidays. Take it even further and fill the mug with someone’s favourite teas, coffee or hot chocolate mix.

Another fun animal design that I’ve created is this cute little holiday pig. He really has a lot of character, at least I think so! He’s wearing a red and white polka dot ribbon with greenery around his chubby neck. I’ve put this little fellow on several different products.

A keychain makes a great stocking stuffer. I also put this cute little pig on a t-shirt with a great saying. ‘Ham it Up!’ Gotta love that one!

Well Happy Shopping and try not to get too stressed out! Stop by my store for more great gift ideas. Designs by Shell

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2010-11-20T12:56:00.001-08:00

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! Oh, that sounds like a song! No, but really I can hardly believe it’s like 5 weeks til Christmas! I guess I’m a little over half way done my shopping. How are you doing with yours? Do you have lots of ideas brewing or are you still trying to find that perfect gift for someone on your list. Perhaps I can give you a few ideas…

I’ve been designing some funny cartoon t-shirts and mugs that might suit someone you know. This t-shirt comes in long sleeve styles as well as short sleeve and is available in several different colors too! This particular one has a wide eyed cartoon dog with his tongue hanging out. A funny saying is featured too! The mug that I’ve featured has this same cartoon dog only in a Christmas scene anxiously waiting to open his gifts! Other designs I’ve been creating include snowmen and winter scenes along with some elegant holiday decoration designs.

This snow couple featured on this tree ornament makes a great little gift for friends or neighbours. The ornament can be customized by adding the year or names as desired. An apron is another great gift idea for a mom or dad that likes to cook or bake. I have many different designs in my store. This one features a cute Christmas scene with a tree, gifts and little birdies tweeting.

One more gift idea that might be cool for a teenager on your list is a unique iphone case. This is a product Zazzle just released for us to design. The one I’ve featured has cool whimsical Christmas trees and pretty snowflakes. Well have a great day and happy shopping.

Technorati Tags: christmas,ideas,shopping,cartoons,gifts,art

Holiday Cards and Party Invitations

2010-11-15T14:21:00.000-08:00

Such a grey day out today! The perfect day to work on designs and build up inventory! Zazzle has a great sale that you may want to take advantage of, 50% off all cards and free shipping too! Apply Code ZAZZLECARD50 at checkout. Nov. 16th last day for the sale! Now that's a good deal! The party invitations and cards are all customizable. Above you'll find a small selection of some of my favourite Christmas cards and invites. To view more stop by my store Designs by Shell

Winter and Snow Themed Gifts

2010-11-12T13:49:00.000-08:00

Well it feels cold enough out to snow but hopefully we won't see that for awhile. I love to look at snowy scenes and think about romantic walks on a snow covered trail or even sitting curled up by the fireplace on a snowy evening with your favourite book. I've designed some really cute winter scenes featuring little birdies perched on a signpost with a snowy background. Also some sweet snowmen with Christmas trees and gifts around him. If you love scenes with snowy night skys and pretty snowflakes stop by my store to view some cool items. Designs by Shell

Wreaths Are Elegant Holiday Decorations

2010-11-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

Wreaths are an elegant decoration for the holiday season. They can be hung on front doors, in windows, over mirrors and on walls. They add a nice touch to many areas of the home. Items featuring wreath decor have been my focus for the last few days as I've been designing for my store. Several items like postage, greeting cards, mugs, t-shirts and magnets have these fun holiday wreath designs added to them. Wreaths can be done in several styles and themes. Everyone likes something just a little different so it's nice to have a variety of types. Here is a little article I did on Ideas for Decorating Christmas Wreaths. Above you'll see some of my recent designs, to see more stop by my store Designs by Shell

Have You Made Your Shopping List

2010-11-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

This elegant black and white design got me a TBA, (Todays Best Award)

Have you started thinking about who is on your shopping list this Christmas? I can't believe how quickly the time is going, less than two months away! Perhaps you've started your shopping like me, I like to get going on it by now and be finished by December. That way December leaves me time to decorate, bake and enjoy festivities with my family. I thought I'd share a few fun ideas for gifts, not expensive ones but perhaps ones that will make people smile and be memorable. gifts like coffee mugs, travel mugs, unique aprons, t-shirts with sayings, these are all fun ideas for Christmas gifts. Come by my store for lots more interesting gifts...Designs by Shell

Teddybears with Personality

2010-10-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Little teddybear holding a string of holiday stars on a sunny background. Cute postage for the holiday season.

A great Christmas card to send out featuring this little bear holding a string of stars on a pretty background with stars and little snowflakes.

A customizable apron for the kids, personalize with their name. They'll love this bright and cheery holiday teddybear.

This little bear with his bright string of holiday stars is on a blue and green background with pretty snowflakes. A great Christmas gift.

Say Merry Christmas with this cute little teddybear and his stars on this fun magnet. A perfect stocking stuffer.

Teddybears have a way of making you smile! It's funny that no matter how old we are we all probably have memories of teddybears from our childhood or perhaps ones that our children played with. I love drawing and creating unique teddybears with different personalities and styles depending on the expressions I give to them. It's fun to give a gift that you know will brighten someone's day and I think these teddybears will do just that! Above you'll see some of my latest creations. Come by my store for more selection, Designs by Shell

Ideas for Decorating for the Holidays

2010-10-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

This design of 'Wrapped with Love' won me a TBA (Today's Best Award)

A non-traditional background color accents these wrapped holiday gifts.

Dancing snowflakes on a shimmery background of blue and mauve.

More dancing snowflakes in white accented by a shimmery blue and mauve background.

A cozy Christmas scene, viewed from the window. A Christmas tree all trimmed with a stack of pretty gifts beneath it.

A hot mug of coffee paired with Christmas and holiday magazines, the perfect way to relax on a rainy day! This weekend I picked up the Nov. issue of House and Home magazine. I love getting this holiday issue to see what new ideas or themes are being encouraged for the Christmas season. Do you have a favourite Holiday magazine that you love to glean ideas from, do tell? I've been creating some new Christmas designs of pretty snowflakes, cozy Christmas scenes and jolly little snowmen. I hope you enjoy those that I've shown you above. Come by my store to see many more cute designs. Designs by Shell This weeks special is $5 off all white t-shirts! Use code OCTSHIRTSALE

Gifts of Love

2010-10-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Another sunny October day today... had a lunch date with my Honey at a cozy restaurant. I also went for a walk with a friend I hadn't connected with in a long time. Talked to some of my family today and was encouraged. So that's why I wanted to share some of my 'love' designs. Love can be shown in so many different ways. Small ways and big ways! Perhaps by a phone call, an e-mail message, a lunch date, a visit over coffee, or a walk with a friend. So I encourage you to reach out to someone over the next week, maybe connect with someone you haven't seen in awhile, you never know how much that could be appreciated. Pop by my store to see more designs.
Designs by Shell

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV)

Time to Pick up Your Holiday Cards

2010-10-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the sales for Christmas and holiday cards started happening! Now's the time for business'owners, bosses, and everyone else that sends out cards to find the perfect design for your friends, families, neighbours and employees! I have several designs in my store to choose from. Themes of snowmen, winter scenes, Christmas trees and ornaments, nutcrackers and shepherds. Something for every personality and style. Stop by for a look around you never know what you'll find!
Designs by Shell

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." John 4:18

Something New - A Utube Experience

2010-10-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

Well this post is a little different from my usual posts but I wanted to share this with you. Actually it came about because my husband Brian came home with a new flipcamera and needed to practice using it. So of course I got the job of being his interviewy (is that a word?) or camera subject. All in all we had some fun with it and I did a little interview about Squidoo. By now I'm sure you've heard me talk about writing lens' for squidoo. As you can see in the sidebar I have over a hundred of these mini-articles featured. So instead of me writing about 'What Squidoo Is and why you should use it, I want you to watch and listen to my Utube talk.

As you know I use Squidoo to help market my Zazzle store and in a future post I'll share another talk about how I started my own unique store. Here are a couple of my recent products for you to view. For lots more interesting designs come by for a visit. Designs by Shell

Music Touches Us All

2010-10-09T10:57:00.001-07:00

Isn't it wonderful how it doesn't matter what country or place someone comes from music has a way of bringing everyone together. Now that's not saying we all like the same type or style of music but just that music has a way of touching all of us. Whether it's the words of a song that speak to us or just the melody that soothes us. So you guessed it, I've been designing music items for my store. I have especially been focusing on guitar themes. I created business cards, magnets and mugs with a musical theme. I also wrote a lens (mini-article) about Unique Gifts for Acoustic Guitar Players, come and have a look! Never too soon to start thinking of gifts for the holidays or birthdays! Zazzle has a sale on this weekend called the Columbus Day Sale. Use code 1492COLUMBUS to receive 14.92% off your order.
Designs by Shell

To my Canadian readers, Have a great Thanksgiving weekend and don't over do it on the turkey! :-)

Holiday Handbags

2010-10-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Holiday apron for the fashionable cook or baker

A cute fashion magnet for the girls or woman in your life - Glamour

A cute black holiday handbag with the message 'sparkle' accents this t-shirt

A great holiday tote, perfect for shopping or would make a nice reusable giftbag

Pretty holiday postage featuring a red handbag and a plaid design

What a gorgeous day today, the sun is shining and the sky is so blue! No matter how much sleep you've had the sun makes you feel brighter and more alert. I haven't had a great nights sleep in about 3 weeks again. Can't wait til this insomnia passes... can anyone relate? If anyone has any great remedies or tips please do tell! Oh well, I don't let it stop me from being creative and coming up with new designs for my store. This week I've been working on some cute holiday fashion designs kind of to go with the shoe theme from last week. Some trendy handbags in holiday colors. I've put these designs on postage, business cards, t-shirts, mugs etc. Lots of cute gift ideas. Stop by for a visit to see more of my creations.
Designs by Shell

If the Shoe Fits...

2010-09-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well sometimes it just feels good to buy a new pair of cute shoes. Would you agree? Perhaps I'm speaking mainly to the ladies here, or not! Something about finding some designer heels or classy boots just puts a smile on your face. Okay, well maybe I'm speaking about myself right now. I do like cute shoes and that's why I started drawing and designing some cute creations for my store with fun shoe designs. Some of the items have cute or trendy sayings on them. Perhaps you'll find something for a girlfriend or mom that loves shoes. Come by for a visit to see more. Designs by Shell

It's the Season for Nature Walks

2010-09-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Fall is the perfect season for nature walks. There is something about the crispness and scent of the outdoors at this time of year that makes you want to be out in nature. Yesterday my husband and I went for a drive about a 1/2 hour from our home to a place we hadn't experienced before. We love walking on trails and seeing new scenery, so we decided that instead of walking our usual places we would try to venture out every weekend and see some new ground. We walked along a river trail were we'd never been before. It's always a great time together, walking and talking and usually sharing our favourite drink. (Starbucks of course!) I always bring my camera to capture some interesting pictures too! So here are a few that I turned into cards and postcards. Hope you enjoy them. To see more of my photography and creative designs stop by my store for the latest! Designs by Shell

Designer Labels

2010-09-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

Zazzle recently introduced labels as one of the new items to be designed. Now that we are entering fall and the holidays are coming quickly it's the perfect time to purchase some fresh new labels. These labels can be used for new address', gift tags as well as name tags or special ocassions like weddings and bridal showers. They can all be customized as desired. Here are a few for you to view. Find many more at Designs by Shell

A Cozy House Address Label

Chocolate and Blue Designer Cake

Elegant Blue Wedding Cake

Christmas Ornaments

Penguin Christmas

Chocolate and Pink Wedding Designs

2010-09-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Fall is a beautiful season for weddings. I've been selling lots of wedding postage and bridal themed designs lately. This of course inspired me to come up with some more unique wedding creations. I've been designing invitations, business cards, save the date magnets and more using some elegant and stylish design ideas. I love to combine unique color combinations and interesting patterns. Chocolate brown with different shades of pinks and blues are very popular right now. Also trending themes of polka dots and stripes are being seen a lot right now too. Above are a few of my latest designs for you to see. I've also just finished this mini article (lens) on Pink Bridal Shower Invitations and Ideas If you know anyone looking for 'pink' ideas you can direct them here. For more designs visit my store Designs by Shell

The Positive Effect of Flowers

2010-09-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

Green Designs

Well it is raining pretty hard right now, but somehow very refreshing. Our lawn is looking so green and fresh. Recently, I was reading about the 'power of flowers'. According to a Rutgers University study it was found that flowers have the power to ease depression, encourage socialness and increase short term memory function. I think we can all attest to times we've received flowers from our spouse's or friends and how that really creates a boost of energy and happiness. So whether we can plant a flower garden, pick wild flowers, buy flowers or just take a walk in the neighborhood and photograph flowers these may all give you a surge of energy and joy, so I hope you'll take part in one of these ideas.
I've been working on some 'green' designs for my store and I'll share a few of them with you here! Enjoy! Designs by Shell

Shopping for Back to School

2010-09-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

T-shirts are an item kids can use lots of... a couple of cool ones! One for girls and one for the boys!

Sweatshirts or long sleeved tops are great for those cooler days...

Keds or Slip-on shoes make great indoor shoes for school...

First day of school tomorrow, well at least for many families just not mine! This is the first year that I have no kids going back to high school. Hard to believe, we have reached a new chapter. I didn't have to head out to buy any school supplies or new clothes. Talking to my sister, she still has two in school and is still having to purchase those gym shoes, sweatshirts and jeans with the sturdy knees for her son. So I thought I'd share a few fun items from my store that kids might find cool for going back to school. Something a little different with a bit of a cool factor to it! Kids like to have a few new things to wear and feel good about. Come by my store to see more of my designs! Designs by Shell

Feels like Fall

2010-08-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

The weather is definitely beginning to change, signs of fall are in the air. Fall is actually one of my favourite seasons. I love the crisp freshness it brings. So do certain things come to your mind when you think of fall days. Hmmm... like colourful leaves, pumpkin pie, refreshing nature walks. These are just a few things that I think of. How about you? I've been working on designs for my store. Everything from Halloween pumpkins to snowmen. I know I'm a little early with the snowman designs but when you have a business you always have to be thinking ahead to the next holidays! Hope you enjoy some of my fun creations. I am creating new ones almost everyday, so come on by for a look around! Designs by Shell

Rain Brings Renewal and Growth

2010-08-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's raining, it's pouring...today it feels good to be refreshed with some rain. The lawns and flowers sure could use it right now! I love the freshness and scent after a good rain. Just like the earth needs rain to grow and flourish we all have days and things that happen in our lives and sometimes it feels like we are being rained on. I believe we are given these times to shape us and help us grow, to make us stronger and develop our character. This last week has been busy for me so I will have to get busy now with some new designs for my store. I thought I'd share some of my nature and sunflower designs. I've used these on items such as business cards, greeting cards, mugs and magnets. Feel free to visit my store to see many more like these.
Designs by Shell

It's A Hot One

2010-08-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

Whoa, I stepped outside today to go do a couple of errands and the temperature in my vehicle read 36 degrees, it came down to 34 by the time I got moving but talk about a hot one. I like warm weather but not so hot that you can't do anything. Hope you're keeping cool wherever you are! Well I've been working on quite a wide variety of designs this last week so the items I post may be quite a mix. I did some more cupcake designs with sayings, some inspirational sayings paired with some of my floral photography and some cool items I designed using pics' I took of the cutest duck we saw at a park recently. Hope you enjoy this one! Have a great day!
Designs by Shell

Some Like to Fish

2010-08-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

All of these items can be purchased in my store, under the Sports category!

Well, as I was thinking about what I would blog about today... our recent visit to Kelowna came to mind! Summer is the time when so many are travelling and exploring the outdoors. My husband and I recently went kayaking on Okanagan Lake. A beautiful hot day, the lake was a different kayaking experience than I'd had on a calm river in Kauai, Hawaii. It took me a little time to get used to the waves and choppiness that the boats created for us. A fun experience though! Some people like to hike, some like to swim, others like to fish. What's your favourite summer activity to do? Above you'll see a few cute fishing designs that I created for products for my store. Hope you stop by for a visit! Designs by Shell

Quote: "Friends are the flowers in the garden of life"

Flowers Galore - A Photographer's Dream

2010-08-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's August already? The summer is going by far too quickly! It's been a busy week for me. My husband Brian and I have been doing day trips to parks and gardens. We went to a beautiful 'Botanical Garden' called VanDeusen Gardens in south Vancouver. I was in photographers heaven. I took so many fabulous pics' of unique flowers and plants. My favourite hydrangea flowers were all blooming in a variety of colors and sizes. There were daisies and sunflowers, begonias and petunias and so many varieties of roses. So above you'll see a few of the pics I used for products in my store. We also experienced our first B&B in Kelowna. Stayed at a great place with a swimming pool right on the golf course. We had a good time gofing on a natural green putting course and kayaking on the lake. Also got in some visiting with family too! Now it's back to work... pop by my store to see more of my creations.
Designs by Shell

Wild Things

2010-07-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

I included a couple of my raccoon drawings that I put on products too! Stop by my store Designs by Shell

Okay, so yesterday my husband and I went for a long walk, well we actually spent the afternoon at a park in Vancouver. Stanley Park to be exact. The flowers were beautiful as usual at this time of year. I took many pics' of them. The most exciting part of the day was my encounter with a little raccoon. First you should probably know that I am not a 'big animal' fan... yes they can be cute but I am pretty tentative around most of them. So anyways my husband and I were sitting on a bench that overlooks a pond with lots of tree and bushes around, just quietly reading our books. This rustling beside me startles me and a raccoon comes straight out of the bushes towards us. It was about 4 feet away! What do I do? Of course, I jump up on the bench, freaking out, saying, 'Oh no, Oh no, crap, what do we do?! My husband is laughing at me and telling me to get down from the bench, but I remain standing there. I did not think this was funny... the raccoon turns around and heads back into the bushes. After this I was a little jumpy and was having a hard time concentrating on my book. A few minutes later the raccoon comes sneaking out again and crosses in front of us and gets into the pond. Yes, I was up on the bench again! The raccoon probably thought I was nuts! It must have looked pretty funny but I didn't care. I did capture some great pictures of him as you can see above. Ahhh... what an afternoon!

Got a Craving for Sweets

2010-07-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

This last week I've been working on adding items to my Sweets and Desserts category in my shop. I started off drawing some decadent ice cream cones in soft colors then some ice cream sundaes in a little brighter colors. Then I came up with my latest design, my lollipop designs. Actually I did a few different designs for these as they were so fun to create. I never knew there could be so many creative ways to draw lollipops and candy designs. I've been having a good time coming up with sayings to add to these designs too! I find that people really enjoy humorous or cute sayings on items like t-shirts, mugs, totebags and so forth. I hope you enjoy the ones I've posted here, to see more come by my shop for a snoop around, lots of great gift ideas!
Designs by Shell