Train Conductor, Railroad Crossing Gift Ideas

I actually made this railroad crossing design as a special request. It recently sold again, so I figure that there are others who would appreciate this as well.

It features a conductor standing near a set of train tracks that are pictured in back of him. The request I received was to make it a retirement card, though it can be used for birthdays, railroad accomplishments, and more.

I did some research on YouTube, and found out that the Conductor does quite a few jobs, including deciding when the train is to move and which way it is to go. They manage the the overall operation which may also include doing computer work as far as scheduling is concerned, and what may or may not need to be done on the excursion. Per AI, conductors also manage the crew, passengers, and or cargo.

A conductor that moves up, will become an engineer. The engineer operates and drives the locomotive.



These postcards can be used to let the Conductor that you know, that they have done a great job.

Personalized Railroad Conductor Postcards
by CherylsArt

My husband and I took a scenic train ride years ago. The Conductor on that train participated in removing a tree from the tracks that had come down since their previous trip. This Conductor was also quite sociable as compared to the conductors we saw on Amtrack. This is nothing negative about Amtrack, it's just that there was a different type of experience between the two different types of trains.

This poster looks like a great choice for small scenic train rides, to give guests directions to the depot, station. The arrow on the poster can be manipulated to point in a different direction. It is designed using a triangle and a line.

Custom Railroad Crossing Conductor Posters
by CherylsArt

The train Conductor who works on a scenic type of train, might also appreciate a personalized tshirt so that guests can easily know what to call him. If you need a design made for women train conductors, let me know in a comment below.

Personalized Railroad Crossing Tshirts
by CherylsArt

Have you been on train rides before? Which type of trains have you been on?

If you would like to see more train conductor products, including mugs, tshirts, and more, you can view what is currently available here: https://www.zazzle.com/collections/railroad_crossing_collection-119249638391014273

I have purchased various cards and tshirts from Zazzle, and all have turned out great. The materials have been of good quality, and the printing and colors have been excellent.

Thank you for your visit, and please do share this post with any train fans that you may know.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Cement Yard Decor of Frogs

I had originally written about my various painted yard decor; they consisted of cement items that were solid, one that wasn't solid, and a rock. If you'd like to see that first, you can check that out here:  Yard Decorations, Rock and Cement Yard Decor

Since then, I have painted colorful bunny rabbits, a blue meditating frog, and most recently, I purchased a solid cement figurine of three frogs to paint.

I looked around at several stores before finding the frogs figurine at Rural King. It is a pretty good size, quite heavy, and is rough textured. I was not looking forward to applying sealer, painting it, and then coating it; besides my time, it would be way too much wear and tear on my brushes.

So I checked out the label on the Patio Paint from DecoArt, that I had on hand. It said that it seals itself, and they did not mention doing any sealer prep work. Yay! So I went for it. I did mainly one coat of paint, other than where I added some highlights and or darker shades to added interest.

I think it looks pretty cool. My daughter commented that they were wearing toes socks. It does indeed look like they are. I have been wearing brightly colored toe socks myself lately.

Anyway, I was real impressed with basically the one coat coverage without using any additional sealant for prep or varnish at the end. We shall see how well they hold up.

The bottle says to wait 72 hours before putting the painted work outside. I will probably set them out at the end of the week and see how well they do. We're into autumn now and winter will be coming soon. I will keep an eye on them and add an update sometime in the spring.

If you are interested in checking out the paint that I used for this project, you can view it here on Amazon: Patio Paint by DecoArt. This one is an assortment pack of 18 of two ounce bottles.

If I do any more projects that I'm going to place outdoors, I would definitely check out getting the assortment pack. They are quite reasonably priced and include a variety of colors. I wish I had had some yellow on hand for the frog project!

I would recommend checking out your local garden centers for any cement decor that you might want to paint. They do have a quite a bit of weight to them and might not hold up in shipping very well. After I got my frogs figurine home from the store, I noticed a couple of toes were missing. I didn't want to return it. That was the last frogs one and it was my favorite of the ones available. Fall is actually kind of late in the season to find these figurines, so not as many to choose from. However, they were at a much better price than if I had gotten this in the spring.

Hope you enjoyed this and found some helpful tips.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Wispy Valentine Heart Card and Gift

This wispy Valentine Heart design is a great choice for Valentine's Day; though it is also a great choice for anytime you want to express your love to your sweetheart, whether it be for their birthday, wedding day, etc. The Lover's Mugs set can also make a lovely gift for newlyweds.

I used a variety of colors of acrylic paint that I intertwined on top of each other, and then pulled wisps of colors outwards using a stylus. I like the design and think that the colorful wisps can signify that there are many different shades of love.

Wispy Red Heart Valentines Day Cards
by CherylsArt

The message on the front of the greeting card says, I love you. The template on the back of the card has a placeholder for a name, along with the message, will you be my Valentine. The text fields can easily be customized with your message, where you can also express the occasion, it is for. It can also be turned into a proposal card, even if it's not Valentine's Day.

There are six paper options to choose from on Zazzle, including double thick and pearlescent. If you go to the product page, you can click on Compare Papers, to check out the details on the various paper types.

Wispy Red Heart Valentines Day Cards
by CherylsArt

A matching or coordinating sticker can be added to the envelope for a more romantic or meaningful addition. There are a variety of sticker shapes to choose from on Zazzle, including heart shaped stickers. You can choose from matte or glossy for the finish.

I love you, red wispy heart stickers
by CherylsArt

The wispy heart mug set is a great gift for newly weds, or can be given from the significant other to the other significant other. The mugs that I have ordered from Zazzle, look and feel great. They are smooth to the touch and the print looks great.

Mr. and Mrs. Wispy Red Heart Mugs, His Her's
by CherylsArt

If you would like this design to be printed on any other product that is available on Zazzle, let me know in a comment below. There is also the option to click on any of the above links for a product page, and scroll down and select the option to transfer the design to another product. Zazzle usually shows somewhat related products.

To view the current options that I’ve already designed, you can check them out here: Wispy Red Heart Valentine Wedding Collection. Although I originally called it a Valentine Collection, you can use it anytime, including for weddings.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Custom Family Photo Calendars

Many times I have made designs that people can purchase on a variety of products, but sometimes I make templates on products that people can add their own photo personalization to, such as these custom family photo calendars.

There are currently three layouts to choose from in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle. This first one is great for smaller photos that people would like to have a frame around the photo. Each page has a frame of sorts on it to showcase each photo. This calendar begins with a green circle frame for January, a pink circle frame for February, and a blue circle frame for March, followed by square black frame for April, a blue textured look rectangle frame for May, and then the pattern repeats up through November. The month of December has a colorful miniature Christmas balls frame that is a rectangle frame.

You can choose from three sizes, small, medium, and large, for this calendar. And also whether you prefer a long single page for each month, or a two page option that folds between the image and the month.

You can also pick from various styles/designs for your calendar part, such as colorful seasons, large numbers, modern bubbles, and more. It's a fun way to personalize each calendar even more. There's also a selection of wire binder colors to choose from.

Personalized Add Your Own Photos DIY Calendars
by CherylsArt

This next calendar option has a template placeholder where the border color around each photo acts as the frame. Each photo will fit into a rectangle shape, that almost takes up the full picture part of the page. If the product page shows an edit button, you can select that and choose a background color, if you want the pages to have a different border color other than white.

The same custom options that are mentioned for the above calendar also applies to this one.

Add Photo Custom Printed Calendars Any Year
by CherylsArt

This last option features a rectangle picture template, without any border space. The image will print to the edge.

Add Photo Create Make Your Own Calendar for 20xx
by CherylsArt

Whichever calendar option(s) you choose, be sure to select the appropriate year that you want, and edit any text templates. When I upload my photos or images, I make them around 12 inches in diameter and a DPI (dots per inch) or 300. They don't need to be any certain shape.

All of the above calendars also have the option to choose from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 month options. You will also select the start date and end date for each calendar that you order.

There are 21 language and culture styles to choose from too!

Calendars make great Christmas gifts, especially when there are a number of special photos that you want to share from throughout the year! If you want to mark off birthdays, anniversaries, school events, etc., then use the Calendar Grid Transparency to mark your dates off.

I have ordered a calendar from Zazzle and it turned out very well. The printing was great and it has a nice smooth finish.

Have you ever ordered a personalized photo calendar before? Thank you for considering CherylsArt on Zazzle for your personalized calendars.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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I Walk, the Story Continues

In the last blog I wrote, before this one, I wrote about how I came up with a step log sheet to keep track of my steps. Here I'll share some of the ways I tried to increase those steps and or to get more benefit out of them.

Besides walking, I was working out along with various videos on YouTube, especially with the channel, Improved Health. However, I was wanting to do something more for my body, and something different. I started seeing videos about rebounding.

A rebounder is like a mini trampoline. However, there are different types; one with springs (mini trampoline), and one with bungee cords (rebounder). The ones with springs give a firmer resistance and tend to be noisier, the one with bungee cords gives more bounce and tend to be quieter. Years ago, I had one with springs. This time I purchased one with bungee cords. Not only is it quieter, it's also more fun and easier on joints!

When I started using my new rebounder, I tried to do too much too soon. It not only got old from being more than strenuous than I bargained for, it wasn't so pleasant having to move it from spot to spot, as I did not have a designated spot that didn't require moving it. So it sat quite a bit more than I wanted it to sit. However, I did eventually come up with a spot in a bedroom, where it could stay put. Voila! I started using it on a regular basis. I started out more gradually this time, using it 2 -5 minutes at a time with minimalist moves. That worked much better and it became fun. I looked forward to using it and continue to use it and usually use it for 5 - 10 minutes at a time now.

I usually feel more energized after using the rebounder, and especially like using it along with listening to peppy music.

Update: A safety tip for using the rebounder, is that using it with bare feet or wearing enclosed shoes, is best. It is definitely best not to use it just wearing socks.

You can check out the model that I purchased on Amazon: JumpSport Rebounder 39". I got mine in the mid-range, price wise, which is still a good quality rebounder. Rebounders come in different weight limits, whatever brand you might want, check the weight limits.

Over time, I do have hopes of my abs becoming more toned, but good ol' me, wanting to get it done, I wanted something more to get it done sooner!

I started hearing about weighted vests and rucking. The general meaning for rucking, is walking with weights. More specifically, the weight is normally positioned on the back, and can be done in a backpack. This is a takeoff from how troops are trained in the military.

Testing out rucking with a weighted backpack is recommended to see if a weighted vest or a specialty rucking backpack is for you. I found a padded backpack that I had purchased years ago for a vacation trip, and used that. It was probably around a pound in weight on its' own, and I added around five pounds to it.

On my next trip to our local fitness center, I wore my weighted backpack and did twenty laps with it around the inside track. Woah. I really felt it the next day. Yeah, too much, too soon! I think I've learned this lesson this time, lol.

I went ahead and ordered a weighted vest, one that is adjustable. The vest has a basic weight of six pounds, and you can add additional one pound weights to it, up to six more pounds total. It would take about a week to arrive.

In the meantime, I wore my weighted backpack and reduced my trips around the indoor track to five. Yeah, that works! It's a lot better than starting at 20.

The weighted vest arrived and it works so much better than my makeshift backpack. It is easier to adjust to my body. There are specialty weighted backpacks that can be purchased, that even come with a belt strap, for more fine tuning on the adjustment.

For now, I am happy with my weighted vest. I did add one of the additional weights to the back, to give more weight distribution to the back. I had watched videos where it was recommended for better posture, to have more of the weight on the back, and also closer to mid back, and not at the lumbar or upper spine region.

I have noticed that I'm more conscious of how I'm sitting when at a restaurant, and am usually find myself sitting up straighter now.

You can check out the one I ordered, on Amazon: U shaped weighted vest. It is 6-12 pounds. You can get pretty good weighted vests that are below $30-$60, and go up from there.

So now I have several options for walking. I can do different things to help my overall body strength, tone, stability, and stamina. I think it comes down to - I like variety. By the way, both rebounding and wearing a weighted vest are good additions for improving cardio.

How about you? Do you like variety or do you like one basic thing and sticking to that?

Here is my original post about the walking step log: https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2026/09/i-walk-tshirts-and-bottle-labels.html

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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I walk, Tshirts and Bottle Labels

This fun and simple design, says, I walk, with the a in the word walk, represented by two feet walking. It is for those who choose to walk more and or are trying to. It's for those who choose to increase their number of steps in a day, for those who perhaps choose to join in with others who also choose to walk more, for an event or not, in addition to their normal steps of going shopping, doing chores, etc.

When I first decided to start walking more, I started keeping track on a blank calendar form. After several months of doing that, I decided I wanted to be able to see all my steps readily on one chart, without having to flip through months. I came up with my Steps Log, that I wrote about here: https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2025/09/reviewing-my-steps-log-poster-from.html

When I switched to the whole year Steps Log, I added up the columns and averaged them over the number of the days that were in that month. I easily saw that I averaged in the 3,000's steps per day. Then I started getting closer to the 4,000 range, and this month, I moved up in to the 5,000 step range, on average, over the course of the month.

Cool! I could see that keeping track, and figuring out the averages, was paying off.

Another thing I noticed was that on the days that I went substantially over my goal amount, in the next day or two it seemed that I would end up having more of a rest day where I was under my goal; but not by as much. So overall my step numbers were climbing.

I could see that a walk tshirt could be used as a reward and or as an incentive. Here is what I designed.

I walk, two feet walking, tshirts
by CherylsArt

The tshirts can be ordered on styles for kids to adults, in a variety of styles and colors. The tshirts that I have ordered from Zazzle, have all turned out great.

Some other things that I found out from the many different YouTube videos that I watched, is that 10,000 or 20,000 are not necessarily the goal. At least not for me. One of the studies a video talked about was that walkers saw more benefits if they walked an average of 4,400 - 4,500 steps daily. And that the benefits dropped off and leveled out at around 7,500 steps per day. So I'm glad to be in the 4,500 step range for my daily average.

For those who are arranging a walking event, the I walk water bottles can be a great way to help get the word out for future walking events. They can be easily customized with the Event Name, under the I walk design.

I walk, custom Event Name Water Bottle Labels
by CherylsArt

This design can easily be transferred to other products on Zazzle. You can also leave a request if you want me to design something for you.

Recently, I started walking while wearing a backpack with some weight in the back This does take some adjustment! You can read the continuation of my walking story here. https://www.reviewthisreviews.com/2026/10/i-walk-story-continues.html

Until next time, happy walking. Let me know in a comment below if you are taking steps to increase your steps!

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Cute Tuxedo Cat Birthday Collection

Here you'll find cute black and white tuxedo cat birthday invitations, paper plates, napkins, and more.

This design was inspired by my own darling tuxedo cat that I had years ago. She was such a sweetie. I never made her wear a party hat; that was an added addition on the photo, only. : )

Both the cat and the party hat were painted by me. The party hat is decorated with balloons.

These fun birthday items can be for kid's parties to adults too. They're purr-fect for cat lovers of all ages.

Here is the two sided invitation, with the invitation details printed on the back. They are easy to customize on the template form. All of the cards that I have purchased from Zazzle have turned out great, with great color resolution.

Cute Cat Party Hat Birthday Party Invitations
by CherylsArt

For when the party is started, you'll have all the matching supplies to choose from, including paper plates, napkins, paper cups, and tuxedo cat party hats too! Here is the pretty and cute napkin design.

Cute Cat Party Hat Happy Birthday Napkins
by CherylsArt

The birthday person can enjoy unwrapping the cute tuxedo cat wrapping paper as well. There is also ribbon with this matching design too. You can choose from 1.5" and 3" wide, 2, 6 and 10 yard lengths, and from satin and grosgrain ribbon. I have found that the wrapping paper from Zazzle is on the heavier side, heavier than most wrapping paper that you would purchase at a store.

Cute Tuxedo Birthday Cat Wrapping Paper
by CherylsArt

If you need a doormat for the kiddos to wipe their feet, we have that covered as well. These can also serve as a sign that goes right in front of the door. Per Zazzle, these mats resist fading and can be rinsed off with a hose. They are made for indoor use as well as covered outdoor areas. The backing provides a non-slip grip. As of this writing, there were no reviews just yet.

There is also a lovely cute cat guestbook that is part of this collection. I designed the guestbook in the 9" by 6" size, though there are larger sizes to choose from. I also chose the blank white paper for inside the guestbook. Guests can sign their names, and or draw a picture! You can also choose from lined white paper for the interior, or solid black for the interior. That would be a fun choice for those supplying colorful writing instruments that show up well on black.

There are also matching Thank you cards, that can be edited to use the child's own basic thank you words. There are lines for the child to write in the name of the person that they are thanking, and another line for the child writing the card, to sign on. It's a great way to have them express their thanks, and to write at least part of the cards by hand.

You can see all the wonderful choices in the collection link below, to design your wonderful party!

Cute Tuxedo Cat Birthday Collection
by CherylsArt

If you are interested in some fun and colorful birthday scrapbook paper for kids to make collages, either on the guestbook pages, or on separate paper, be sure to check out this paperback of birthday scrapbook paper at Amazon. The paper is not perforated but can be cut out from the paperback.

All the best to you in you birthday party planning.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Colorful Sunflower Autograph Collection

If you're looking for a memento type gift or card, this pretty and colorful sunflower design can be just the solution.

The basic design is an outline of a sunflower, with the petals filled in with a variety of fun colors.

These products can be used without signatures, but the signatures will make the items that much more fun and more memorable.

These products can be used to celebrate a new job, a promotion, a graduation, etc. What might you use and for what occasion?

First up is the large Colorful oversized Sunflower Autograph Card. Here, people can sign the petals on the front of the card, and the signatures can become part of the artwork. Or the verse area inside the card can be deleted if you want the signatures to be inside. If you want the verse, it can be customized for any occasion, on the provided template form.

These large cards come in a choice of three sizes: 18" x 24", 24" x 36", and 36" x 48". It ships in a giant envelope. The design is printed on durable opaque plastic that can be written on with a Sharpie. (Do wait between signatures for the Sharpie ink to dry.)

Colorful Flower Sunflower Autograph Congrats Cards
by CherylsArt

With the design printed on an apron, this memorable gift becomes a great choice for a chef, a baker, someone who works in bakery, etc.

The aprons come in a choice of three sizes: small, medium, and large. The strap colors come in a variety of choices, and you can even choose your color on a sliding color strip to pick your color!

The apron is made of 100% polyester, is machine wash cold on gentle cycle, with mild detergent. Do not use bleach and do not iron. This item is to be line dried, but a reviewer did say that it dries easily and still looks great.

Since this is a fabric, I would recommend acrylic paint markers for the signatures. Sharpies would probably bleed and spread out.

Personalized, Colorful Petals Sunflower Autograph
by CherylsArt

For a more permanent autograph gift, the wrapped canvas option makes a fun choice. The recipient could hang it on the wall as a daily reminder. For wrapped canvas, I would also recommend that the signatures be done with acrylic paint markers. They should provide a better light fastness than inks, and therefore hold up longer. The background color can be customized to coordinate with the recipient's decor, and or favorite color.

Personalized, Colorful Sunflower Autograph Canvas
by CherylsArt

Also included in this collection are sweatshirts, tshirts, and gift wrapping sheets. Ideas and suggestions for other items that can be signed, are welcome. I tried to select items that could be easily signed, and also still be legible.

Here is the link for the current collection. Let me know if there is something you want designed that is currently there.

Colorful Sunflower Autograph Collection
by CherylsArt

For those interested in reading the background, this design came about from the inspiration that I received on my original post about the sunflower outline, in which people could have the choice of coloring/painting it in themselves: Pretty Pink Sunflowers Home Collection. Sylvestermouse was reminded of autograph images and Barbara thought it would be fun if the petals were colored in a variety of colors. Voila, I decided to combine the two wonderful ideas. Thank you my friends for sharing your insights!

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Cute Teddy Bears and More Scrapbook Paper

Meet some of the teddy bears, that you'll find in this adorable Cute Teddy Bears and More Scrapbook Paper, paperback. Most of the pages are only teddy bears, and other pages feature some regular bears, koala bears, other animals, and plants and flowers.

Whatever you find, they are adorable. There are patterns of bears, some with backgrounds and some with a plain background. Some are more scattered about, and there is also a fun forest picture that depicts a variety of animals that could be in a forest.

Each set of designs is printed a total of four times, once each on the front and back of two sheets of paper. This provides an opportunity to choose your favorites, and to use the chosen images more than once.

The first pages feature a pattern of cute teddy bears, each wearing a smile and a heart. There is a row of a garland of hearts between them, and they are pictured on a lavender and pink checkered background.

The second set of pages feature a selection of koala bears and bamboo. They are in a different type of pattern and are featured on a background of light green and light orange checkered pattern.

The next set of pages features a variety of one of a kind teddy bears. Each one is either doing a fun activity or supporting their personality, etc., on their fur. The background is white, and the rows are separated by a colorful heart pattern.

The fourth set of pages features alternating patterns of teddy bears on a blue polka dot pattern background. Some of the bears are solid in color, and some are sporting plaid. All are cute and all are wearing bow ties.

The fifth set of pages feature sleepy teddy bears. Most are wearing cute pajamas, and some are in bed. The background is a light pastel blue, with a mixed pattern of white and a medium light blue. It's perfect for imagining a dreamy land.

The next set of pages feature a variety of teddy bears doing a variety of activities. These are different bears doing different activities than what was shown in the third set. It's fun to have variety. The background is white.

The seventh set of pages feature outline drawings of teddy bears and real bears. Kids can use these images as they are, or they can color them in. Since coloring is optional, and the main theme is scrapbook paper, it is only listed as a scrapbook paper paperback.

The eighth set of pages feature some bears with food and some bears walking. The background is a unique pattern of light orange and light green checkered pattern. There are also squiggle lines of orange and peach for added interest and intrigue.

The ninth set of pages features a pattern of bears, all wearing bow ties and sitting in the same position. There are two bears each of six different colors. They're sitting in front of a polka dot background of blue and lavender dots of different sizes.

The last set of pages features a forest scene of regular bears and a variety of animals, including birds, a deer, a skunk, a frog, a squirrel, and more. It's a fun way to children to tell a story, add more animals that they might see in this scene, etc.

This paperback was, in a sense, a collaboration. Each set of designs contains some of my original artwork, whether it is an image or images, and or the background. Other images were from other artists that are on Canva, of which I am a subscriber.

I own own the colorful Hearts Scrapbook Paper paperback, and the images came out great. The colors did not bleed through, and I would recommend them to anyone. Both this book and the Teddy Bears Scrapbook Paper paperback has glossy covers. I prefer them over the matte.

Hope you have found my descriptions helpful.

Amazon might have a new way of downloading the image for me to show the picture of the book, which would really help. However, you can check out the image here, on Amazon, and check the price too. Cute Teddy Bears and More Scrapbook Paper.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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White Stars on Turquoise Stripes Kitchen Collection

This simple design of a pattern of white stars on turquoise stripes is added to a variety of kitchen products; is a great choice for anyone wanting a turquoise themed design for their kitchen(s).

I currently have a mix match of red themed items in my kitchen, I might just have to design a set for me. No one single store had the various items that I wanted, so the shade of red stripes vary from place to place.

With a set made on Zazzle, you'll get greater matching abilities, especially when the items are purchased from the same store.

On this first item, I added the design to a frosted mug. The design shows as more transparent on the frosted mugs. Anyone can easily select from any of the other mugs on Zazzle, and the design will show up as being a solid look.

White Stars on Turquoise Stripes Mugs
by CherylsArt

I have not purchased any of the frosted mugs on Zazzle, but was intrigued by this frosted look. The mugs that I purchased from Zazzle look great and feel great. They are smooth to the touch, and the colors are distinct and show up just as I designed them.

Kitchen towels are another common thing that I look for when making a kitchen set. I made the design with a larger print; I thought they would look better with a less busy pattern. However, if you would like me to design it as a smaller design for you, and or as just a border design on the top and bottom ends, let me know in a comment below. I will be glad to oblige.

White Stars on Turquoise Stripes Kitchen Towels
by CherylsArt

The kitchen towels have a lightweight waffle weave. They are made of a durable woven polyester and polyamide blend microfiber, and are machine washable. They measure 16 x 24 inches. The overall customer rating is 4.8 out of 5, at the time that I am writing this blog.

Other items that I designed to go with this set are cloth napkins, table runners, serving trays, laminated placemats, and oven mitts and potholders.

The cloth napkins come in a choice of cocktail (12" x 12") and dinner sizes (20" x 20"). They can be ordered individually and or in sets of four.

The serving trays come in a choice of two sizes; small (14.5" W x 10" L x 2.125" H) and large (19" W x 14" L x 2.625" H). The handles come in a choice of natural or black. They panel insert is made of a high quality hardboard which has a glossy finish. This item is not made for direct food contact, so dishes etc. will be required to use with these trays.

The table runners come in a choice of three sizes: 14" x 72", 16" x 90", and 16" x 108". They are made of 100% cotton. They are machine wash cold, dry flat, and can touch up with a warm iron.

The laminated placemats measure 12" x 18", have rounded corners, and are made of Polyester-based synthetic paper. I designed them with the design printed on both sides.

The oven mitts and potholders can be ordered as a set, or individually. They have a No-slip silicon part for more safe handling, and each comes with a loop for hanging. These come with a choice of a black or silver option for the silicon side. I did see where a customer was not impressed with the smell of the black silicon. The other complaints were that the loop made the design appear upside down when hanging. With this particular design, that shouldn't be a problem. (However, if you ever order an oven mitt or potholder from Zazzle, and the design is printed in the opposite orientation other than what is depicted when placing your order, then do contact Zazzle within 30 days of your receiving it, for a corrected replacement.) The design side is made of a high quality canvas. Recommended washing is by hand in cold water, and line dry, and do not iron.

Here is a link which shows all of the current white stars on turquoise stripes kitchen products by CherylsArt on Zazzle:

White Stars on Turquoise Stripes Kitchen Set
by CherylsArt

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Football Tshirts, Tote Bags, and Binders

These football themed items are designed with the family in mind. They are football themed, but not team specific. It's all about having some family fun and enjoying the game.

The football themed tshirts simply feature the word FOOTBALL, spelled in capital letters, with the two O's replaced with my painting of two footballs, slanting towards the upper right. I chose a grunge type font as it looks pretty worn, like a football uniform might look. The design looks pretty cool and is perfect for some friendly football fun.

FOOTBALL word tshirts in brown
by CherylsArt

This design is printed on the front, of any tshirt style and color of the customer's choice. The tshirt sizes available, will vary depending upon which style tshirt that you pick. If you need a size that is not listed, then try a different style to see if that works out for what you are looking for.

The basic FOOTBALL word is also ready on various canvas tote bags. There are a variety of styles to choose from. As of the date of this writing, there are five tote bag styles to choose from, ranging from tiny to jumbo, one with a pocket and most without. The color options of the canvas will vary depending upon which canvas tote bag style is selected.

FOOTBALL word tote bags in brown
by CherylsArt

The FOOTBALL binders offer some extra aesthetic appeal. The background on the cover is solid green to represent green turf. On the front cover, is the word FOOTBALL spelled with two footballs for the O's. There is a template placeholder for a person's name which is printed on the top half of the cover. The word FOOTBALL is printed on the bottom half of the cover.

The spine holds another placeholder for additional words. You could add a favorite team name, dates that this football binder covers, etc. The choice is yours.

Personalized Brown Football on Green Binder
by CherylsArt

I have purchased both tshirts and canvas tote bags in the past and have been pleased with my purchases. Overall, customers have rated the binders a 4.7 out of 5, with the majority of customers being very pleased.

These designs are printed on products that are available on Zazzle. I made the football artwork, and Zazzle is the company that does the printing and shipping. Zazzle offers a thirty day return policy within 30 days of receipt of the product(s). Things that are covered are Delays caused by Zazzle, its Makers or Carriers; Production mistakes; Damaged or incorrect items; Misrepresented or otherwise inaccurate product information; and Size or fit related issues. However, they don't cover items outside of Zazzle's control, such as when a Zazzle user places design items outside of the design area. So basically, keep the design within the dashed lines. Zazzle is pretty good about showing you where the safe design area is.

May you find this information helpful, and hope you and your family and or friends enjoy your football excursions.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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I Teach Tiny Humans, Apple Themed Gifts

The phrase, I teach tiny humans, seems to have become quite popular. It seems to have come about from the description of teachers teaching young children. You can find this phrase on a variety of products, in a variety of styles, on Zazzle.

Some products will specify what subject is being taught, others just have the general statement.

I decided to go with my pointillism apple as the background, and chose to go with the general statement. The statement, though, can be customized.

I liked going with the pointillism apple; not only is it artistic, but I remember being taught about pointillism in school. It was a special kind of art.

The first product that I added this statement to is window clings. As of the date of my writing this post, window clings has received on review on Zazzle, a 5 out of 5 stars. The customer said it sticks well and there was no bleed in the printing.

On this product, I added two rows of text, with a shadow text in light green, behind the top highlight text in yellow. The text can be customized; be sure to customize both text fields, and to make them the same. One can also be deleted if you don't want a shadow text.

I teach tiny humans pointillism apple window cling
by CherylsArt

The window cling comes in a choice of five sizes ranging from 4 x 4 inches to 24 x 24 inches. You can also choose from an opaque look to various levels of transparency.

Tshirts seem to be a popular gift for teachers as well. On the tshirt, I chose to make the letters white without any shadow look. I think it looks cute on white tshirts, though any color can be chosen, as well as different tshirt styles and or fabric type. Sizes to choose from for this tshirt style are Small, Medium, Large, XL, and 2XL. Different tshirt styles can come in different size options.

I teach tiny humans, pointillism apple tshirts
by CherylsArt

Mugs are also real popular for teacher gifts. The teacher can used it for their coffee or to store pencils, markers, and such on their desk. It has the same artistic design as the tshirt, with the white on the pointillism apple. As far as mug styles to choose from, there are a variety of styles and color options, and sizes to choose from too.

I teach tiny humans, custom apple mugs.
by CherylsArt

I have purchased both tshirts and mugs from Zazzle at various times, and have been pleased with the print quality from both. I would recommend both.

Do you have a favorite? Do you teach young children, or know any teachers that do?

Thanks for stopping by and sharing this with anyone who would be interested in these.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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My New Favorite Comb - Product Review

I recently purchased a new comb, which is double sided. It has a wide side and a more narrow side.

I almost purchased a different comb, but I paused, and gave some thought to the criteria that I actually wanted. I wanted my new comb to have a point for dividing my hair into sections; that point was really important to me. Low and behold, this comb that I had missed on my previous scans then showed up on my radar. Voila! There was my new comb. Perfect!

This comb is smooth to the touch, and does a wonderful job combing my hair. I use the wide tooth side for combing my hair that is still wet from being shampooed. Although I use a conditioner as well as shampoo, there are still a number of tangles to get out and the wide tooth side of this comb does a wonderful job.

If I want my hair to lay more compact, especially when adding a part to my hair, I use the narrow sided teeth side. It too does a wonderful job.

It's so nice to be able to flip the comb over in my hand to easily get to the desired side. This technique will definitely come in handy when I'm giving myself a haircut!

The comb is made from a combination of bamboo and recycled polypropylene. It is very smooth, and more so than the straight bamboo comb that I had previously.

Another thing I really like about this comb, is that the handle is somewhat wide at the base towards the comb, and narrows down to a rounded point at the end. This part comes in handy for when I want to section off hair for cutting, etc. You can see the handle here, as well as the company descriptions for the various parts.

I highly recommend these combs from ecoTools.

Check price on Amazon.

Happy combing.

Check here to read about how I give myself a short haircut.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Abstract Necklaces and Matching Earrings

Zazzle has a variety of necklace styles to choose from, and here you can find some unique abstract designs that are also on drop style earrings.

This first design features a print from one of my paint pour designs. The colors include aqua, red, pink, and white. The aqua could also be called turquoise. The colors blend into each other and looks like a flowing movement type design.

Red White Aqua and Pink Abstract Necklaces
by CherylsArt

I had purchased a necklace, for my daughter, from Zazzle, over ten years ago. We were both impressed. The design is printed in a medium that reminds me of a resin. It is very smooth, fits perfectly into the necklace frame, and the colors turned out great. The round and square shaped necklaces come in a choice of small, medium, and large. They have an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.

The earrings are a drop style. I made matching/coordinating earrings to go with each necklace., which are purchased separately.

Here is the fun purple and white abstract background with colorful beads adding pops of color on top of the background. The beads are part of the design and are not separate from the background. I positioned the design at various angles when I designed the items in this set. They have a fun and festive look!

Abstract Purple Drawing Colorful Beads Earrings
by CherylsArt

This next design is a great choice for any patriotic event, and for anyone who just likes the colors of red, white, and blue. This is from another of my paint pour designs. All the items in this set have a vertical positioned design.

Abstract Red White Blue Paint Pour Necklaces
by CherylsArt

If you look in between the blends of purples and lavender, you can see a honeycomb type weave going on. This design offers a more subtle look, and will look great with a variety of purple and or lavender attire.

Abstract Lavender and Purple Earrings
by CherylsArt

The earrings have an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5, as of the date of this writing.

The jewelry pieces come in a special black felt bag, perfect for gift giving.

The printed areas are sealed with a UV-resistant coating, which is water resistant. However they are not recommended to be worn while showering to retain silver plating. Zazzle also recommends not be expose the earrings to cosmetics such as perfumes and other sprays.

I hope that you have found this helpful in your search for some abstract necklaces that can be matched with earrings.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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