It's Valentine's Day Everyday

"On this Valentine's Day Let me show you how much I care With a lovely box of chocolates!"

"Okay...so...you didn't open the card fast enough."

           I had such an interesting idea for a Valentine's Day card, but I struggled with how to make the box of chocolates interactive. Well, voila! Here is what I came up with; just a flat picture of pre-opened chocolates. In this way, the card receiver is part of the action, and even if you may have eaten their treats for them, they know you thought of them. As you can tell in one of the lower pictures, this card opens to reveal a 3-D prism shape, that gives it that box of chocolates feel.

                                                                                           "I heart you."                                                                                     See how I kept this card short and sweet!!

Check out my new ZDesigns stamp logo, which includes my blog address!

A Flat Can of Soup??

"Even though you're feeling under the weather, I hope that soon you will feel better. And what better way to feel better than with a can of soup!

        With this pop up greeting card, you are of course filled with wonder and curiosity when first reading the cover. I mean, how could a can of soup be hidden in a get well card? Well, without being a magician, I suppose the only way is if it unfolded itself into a cylinder shape, upon opening. That is exactly what I did with this design, in which I used a specific gray colored paper to give the "can" a realistic appearance, then put an inviting "can label" on the front. For whatever sickness or ailment your receiver is in, they are bound to get a tickle if not a hearty laugh out of this get well card. Customers find this card quite punny. Pop up cylinder template courtesy of Carol Barton.

Get well SOUPer soon!

"This may not be edible, but it's the thought that counts."

"No need to thank me."

Your Favorite Celebrity

"Because it's your birthday, and you're one year older, how about shaking the hand of your favorite celebrity?"

"Happy Birthday! I had to pull a few strings."
The base says: "The hand of your favorite celebrity. (Shake me)"

                 I was very excited about this birthday pop up card. For the Christmas show last
 December, I knew that I needed greeting card ideas, so I got to work, straining my brain for something new, cool, unique, and relatable. This is a birthday card that really grabs you even before you open it. Who doesn't want to interact with their favorite celebrity? And what better way to do that than to shake their hand?! What I love so much about this card is that it is interactive. On the inside of the card you are instructed to actually shake the hand, and it moves up and down so you can do just that! I love how customers are by how all of this interaction lies flat when you close the card. It's amazing. There's also plenty of room to sign your name at the bottom and write a message to the receiver. I made about ten of these cards for the show, and they sold like hotcakes.

"You're Welcome."

The Obama Box Finds a Loving Home

A ZDesigns Fan takes a photo for her memories!

         A few weeks ago, one of my frequent customers voiced an interest in my Obama tissue box covers. We'll call her Sam. I had just four of them in stock-each with a different color overcast. She could not decide which color she liked best, so she decided to purchase them all. Sam says she can't wait to give them away as gifts saying that if she gives one to her sister, the other sister will get jealous, so she'll just give them both one! I can't disagree with that solution. I am sad to see them go because I have gotten attached and I always love to show them off, but if I know one thing, it's that Sam is a customer that really has an appreciation for the arts. The Obama's will be happy.

The Obama's have one last hurrah!

Life Tip: Turn 57 to Receive a Card That Really POPS

              My maternal uncle's 57th birthday was coming up this last January, and his sister (my aunt) wanted me to create a unique pop up card for him. She actually commissioned me to do this, in fact. I really procrastinated on this one, but when I finally just sat down to make it, the paper-making just poured out of me. I had previously come up with the poetic wording for this card, a few nights before. Wording has never been difficult for me. So this card is really just an interactive pop up card. You read the front, open it up, and read the inside. You are then instructed (by the "Pull Forward") to pull the card up, and voila! it becomes a self-standing picture frame. Just like something you would have on your nightstand or in your living room. Everything in this card is made of paper. This idea of mine really came from a combination of pop-ups. At first, I really wanted the picture frame to come up all by itself. But I think this idea is innovative and pretty awesome anyway!

The Wooden Table Made of Paper

I printed and cut out photographs of actual table legs to give the wooden table effect. If you look at the top you can see the side of the envelope and just how thick the letter was.

        Recently I had the task of writing someone back, but I wanted to be creative about it. So I decided to create for them a writing table with a fresh cup of coffee, a cat, and the actual letter sitting on the top. I, of course, needed a tasseled rug to complete this look.  Everything you see on this card is made of paper. I used box supports to make the table lift into a standing position when one opens the card. What I love about this pop up card, is that it for the most part looks like a real table you could have in your living room. If you open up the envelope on the table, there is a folded piece of paper with the words that I wanted to say. If you turn the card to the backside, I have my ZDesigns logo stamped there.

Ms. Francine's Holiday Show

My famous quilter aunt, Kyra Hicks, came out to support me and watched my items while I took breaks!

                     A few Sundays ago, artist and dollmaker, Ms. Francine Haskins opened her home/studio for several artists to sell their work (ME included!). I was there from 9am to 7pm. It was an amazing experience for me because it was the first show where I got to meet potential customers. This really was a learning experience as well, and I learned a lot about what an audience desires of my work. I sold several of my purses, and some of them even sold TWICE!! I sold many of my pop up greeting cards and artist books. It was wonderful to be able to connect with my audience and I really look forward to my next show-wherever that is!

Easy Breezy Zebra

             According to my blog history, I made this tissue box cover design for the first time more than 2 years ago for my high school English teacher. It really seems like yesterday. This one is different however, because I decided to put the hair on two of the zebras. This took me a few weeks to finish, though I really thought it would take longer! Of course, my logo is on two sides. I can't wait to see how this one will sell. Design credit to Conn Baker Gibney!

4 Black Santas

            This lovely design is in existence thanks to Conn Baker Gibney. Maybe you can't tell, but Santa's face is on all four sides.The Santa in the original design has a pale face, but I decided to put a simple spin on that. What I just love, and I enjoyed doing, is the puff ball on his hat. It really gives this tissue box cover a 3D feel. The beard is simply rows and rows of turkey loop stitches, which are just individual loops. The finished produce is very soft! I also used turkey loop stitches as the inside lining of the grey shoes I created a few years back-and many posts back. I have faith that this tissue box cover will sell around Christmas time.

~Blue Flames~

        The design credits for this gorgeous purse go to Fran Rohus. This purse is called "Blue Flames". As you can see, the design does indeed look like a series of flames.This is the second one I've completed to date. This purse took me several years to complete only because I stopped for a long time. I guess I just needed a break from needlepoint, but I came back STRONG and completed this piece with my logo (ZMW) on both sides, a reinforced bottom perfect for using like an actual purse, and light purple and dark purple lining. As you can tell, I was very happy to be modeling this purse-I don't always get a chance to model my needlepoint pieces. I also don't always wear dresses! I would LOVE to be able to tote this around myself, but it's time to let someone else be the owner.

The Box Card

         I created this 3-D box in a card for a good friend I was writing to. Originally, I just needed a reason to use the box idea and what I came up with was nothing extravagant. This is a 3-D pop-up box with a movable lid. I sent a box with pictures and a letter paper-clipped to the sides. This is because otherwise it would not close properly. The tiny pictures are in the orange, handmade envelope to the right. The letter written on a piece of notebook paper is to the left. The large background is a humorous chart about mustaches, that I just loved! And the brick paper is also something I happened to see one day in craft store. If you saw this card in person, you would see that it REALLY makes an impression. As you can see from the video (which you can only view on a computer), this card really pops! I do not recommend watching this in full-screen~the screen is too grainy. I know it may be tempting!

Play it Again, Rosie!

 

This is a quick video of the completion of the final stages of my Rose on a Piano tissue box cover. This box was designed by Cathy Mullins. I could have, of course, done a time-stamp video of the WHOLE process, but this is just as intriguing, I feel. I started and finished this tissue box cover over the course of my week-long vacation. I felt confident with the tricky part, the rose, because I have made this box once before for a friend.