Interview with Shelley Kuhn of Designs by Shell

Shelley Kuhn of Designs by Shell

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Shelley Kuhn

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Shelley Kuhn :
 
Designs by Shell

My Store is Designs by Shell I chose the name just simply because it represents me and my artwork. I’m not sure I really have a specific theme for my store but I would say my designs cover everything from cute and stylish to whimsical and fun along with a nature/floral theme. I love to create designs for birthdays, holidays and weddings. Things like fancy cakes and cupcakes, flirty flowers, and expressive cartoon animals. I also dabble in amateur photography and have sold many of my favourite flower (hydrangea) pictures.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Shelley Kuhn :
I started at Zazzle in the fall of 2008.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Shelley Kuhn :
I am a ProSeller. I reached this level just over a year ago. It did take some time and a lot of creating to get to this point.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Shelley Kuhn :
The best advice I received when I was just starting out was to never delete designs or products that you don’t think will sell. You never know who will be interested in them. I have found this to be true and have sold products that I really wanted to delete but am now glad I didn’t. I was also advised to create new designs daily or at least as often as possible, the more you have in your store the more opportunity for sales.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Shelley Kuhn :
To create my designs I draw everything on my Dell Tablet with a digital pen. I use a paint program called Sumo Paint. For my photography I simply use my digital camera. ( All you need is a steady hand and a good eye)

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Shelley Kuhn :
I am inspired by many things but especially nature, flowers and my love of the outdoors.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Shelley Kuhn :
I spend about 4 hrs. a day on Zazzle. This includes marketing my designs as well.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Shelley Kuhn :
If I was to give someone who is just starting out on Zazzle my advice it would be first of all don’t expect sales over night. Create good quality designs and lots of them and the sales will come. Don’t forget your tags, this is so important in order for your products to be found by the search engines and for your potential customers to find you.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Shelley Kuhn :
When I’m taking a break from my work I love to spend time with my husband and family. Going for walks, going for coffee, working out at the gym, reading.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you? 

Shelley Kuhn :
 
Five random things about me…
I love to sing and I’m on a worship team
I don’t eat red meat
I love chocolate (almost any kind)
Like to try new recipes
Fall is my favourite season

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Shelley Kuhn :
 

Roaring Good Time Party Invitation

Roaring Good Time Party Invitation by seashell2
Design a custom printed announcement at zazzle

I love this cute animal birthday party invitation, I just had fun drawing that cute little tiger face, animals can be made with the cutest expressions!

Designer Cakes Business Cards

Designer Cakes by seashell2
More Designer cake Business Cards

This elegant designer cake business card is one of my popular ones. I love the soft color combinations that I used. It seems others like it too!

Best Music Teacher Coffee Mugs

Best Music Teacher by seashell2
Browse other Music Mugs

This music teacher mug is one of my simpler designs featuring black musical notes on a soft yellow background. It’s been a good seller for me!

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop 

Halloween Cat Cupcake Christmas Tree Ornament

Halloween Cat Cupcake by seashell2
Browse Halloween Ornaments

Cute Cupcake Halloween - A cute faced cat cupcake in an orange cupcake liner. Halloween candies around the base. A border of stripes in green and orange. 

Rico:
I just fell in love with this design as soon as I saw it. I love the colors. The cat is adorable and the composition is great!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Shelley Kuhn :
 
Shells Zazzle Journal
Twitter @ShellsDesigns2
Facebook

Interview with Doris Hernandez of Calypso Dreams

Doris Hernandez of Calypso Dreams

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan)

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

 

Calypso Dreams

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

I opened a store years ago, but had some unexpected curveballs in life, and have only been back and focused for about 4 months.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

No

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

To be patient.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

Canon camera, Photoshop, Daz | Studio, Poser, Vue, Bryce

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

I have a kitty, Calypso, that's been with me 16 years now, and she tends to be my muse.
I also walk around with my camera until something catches my eye, or I start doodling and go from there.
Sometimes I get specific requests from family members, for example my little sister wanted a blue kitten, so the Toon Kitty Skye was born. My mom wanted a Toon Bee and my bee Honey was the result.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

At least 10 hours. I've just been on a creative streak lately.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

The same that I received- to be patient. Be willing to try different things; you never know what will catch someone's eye.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

I like to read, go to the movies, hang out with family.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you? 

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

 
I love singing and tend to burst into song.
I snuck my kitty Calypso into my college dorm room... so she's a very educated cat.
I like big purses so I can always have my camera with me... you just never know when you'll need one!
I spoil my little sister.
My favorite color is red.

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :

Bianca Toon Kitty Music Bag

Bianca Toon Kitty Music Bag by dohernan
More Toon cat Bags

Bianca toon kitty loves music so I had to create fancy music notes for her. :) She took me several days to finish, longer than all my other toons, but I'm really happy with her.

Black and White Butterfly Binder

Black and White Butterfly Binder by dohernan
See more Butterfly Binders

I like to take pictures of butterflies, and fell in love with the intricate pattern on a black and white butterfly's wings, plus the hint of light through them.

Phoenix Dreams Mousepad

Phoenix Dreams Mousepad by dohernan
Become a part of Zazzle's artist affiliate program

Phoenix Dreams is an image that took me a very long time. I rendered it then took it into Photoshop. I'm really happy with how the lighting worked out, and it's a mix of fantasy and anime, which I love.

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop 

Misty Falls Print

Misty Falls Print by dohernan
sell your paintings online with zazzle.

Niagara Falls Mists, Greenery, & Sky | I visited Niagara Falls once & had an old camera. I was taken by the white foamy misty waterfalls surrounded by dark stones and lush deep green grasses and trees and bushes.    Rico:  I love this print and Niagara Falls. Beautifully done!  

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Doris Hernandez (DoHernan) :
 
My gallery web-site
Facebook Page
Twitter @CalyDreams

Interview with Peter Guckes aka Greendeer

Peter Guckes aka Greendeer










Rico:
What's Your Name?
 
Peter Guckes

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Peter Guckes
I have one shop on zazzle, greendeer

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Peter Guckes
I joined zazzle in february, so I am rather new to this. This may be the reason I didn’t sell much yet, which means I am far from being a ProSeller. Still hope to make it one day.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Peter Guckes
When I started at zazzle, I thought all I had to do was upload my designs and wait for the sales. In the forum I found out that it is a lot of work and you have to promote to get noticed. The people in the forum are so helpful, it is amazing!

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Peter Guckes
I make my drawings with a paintbrush and ink and add the colour digitally. I do other things, too but for the store I decided to stay with this style of illustrations.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?
 
Peter Guckes
Inspiration is not a problem – I just make pictures of my fellow animals here in the wood and put them on t-shirts – who knows where ideas come from anyway? It is a rather mysterious process …

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Peter Guckes
I spend as much time on zazzle as possible, still as I don’t sell much I have to do something for a living. But a few hours every day are usual for me.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Peter Guckes
My advice to new zazzlers is to be patient. I had no idea how big this is when I started. Thousands of shops, billions of products. It takes very very much time to get noticed and I’m not there yet, so it may be better not to take my advice and ask a more successful shopkeeper ;-)

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Peter Guckes
I don’t draw animals all the time, I am a deer, so I do deer things like roaming the wood, eating leaves, belling, that kind of occupations …

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Peter Guckes
Being asked for things everyone should know about me confuses me. I am not a person everyone needs to know about, I’m just a simple green animal. I’d like many people to know I do illustrations and have a zazzle store (which anyone who reads this might have guessed by know), I also do other things like photography and play music (sometimes), You won’t find me on facebook and I am left-hooved.

Rico:
Include links to 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Peter Guckes
Picking 3 favorite designs isn't easy, as all of those creatures mean a lot to me, so don't be upset if you're not included, folks:

Gotowork coffee mug

gotowork by greendeer

This is one of the first animals I did in this style, long before I found out about zazzle. The simplicity and expression make it still one of my favourite.

Yeti t shirt

yeti by greendeer

The yeti is a close friend who always helped ma out when i got into snow trouble

Porcupine t shirts

porcupine by greendeer

This shirt got a TBA (what ever that is), I’m quite proud of the porcupine drawing as it has that quiet madness I was going for...

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online? 

Peter Guckes

Who ever likes my work might want to have a look into my blog at deer prudence where you can read little stories about these creatures.