Showing posts with label Zazzle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zazzle. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Customized Clocks Make Great Gifts

Design a Personalized Clock for a Special Person  

Loving Parrots Clock


Most of us find ourselves occasionally needing a gift for someone who seems to have everything. Why not design a wall clock as that gift? Whether a person needs to read the time on the wall or not, everyone loves something personal decorating the wall in the room where they spend the most time. Everyone has an interest and appreciates wall decor that recognizes that special interest.

The clock above would be appropriate for that friend who collects anything related to parrots, who has a parrot, or who has a special interest in tropical birds. But using the method below, you could substitute a photo of your friend's own parrot or other bird for the one in this design. You could do the same for a friend with a cat, dog, horse, donkey, or any other animal. And there are always children and grandchildren that are wonderful to see every time you look at the clock. 


Here's How Design Your Own Custom Wall Clock from Scratch On Zazzle


Prepare an image of about 3225 pixels square and 300 dpi resolution and save it where you can find it easily.  . Square Clock Template
Square Clock Template Check out more Wall Clocks

To design your own clock, follow these easy steps. Be sure to have the artwork or photo you want to use as your clock face image handy. Here's how I created the clock below.

  1.  Pick a shape and size 
  2.  Click the customize button under the image.
  3.  Click "add image." 
  4.  Upload the image from your computer or file on Zazzle. 
  5. Add your numbers. In the clock below I did each number as a separate text element so I could make them irregular. If you prefer not to have numbers, don't add them. 
  6.  For each text element you can use the edit dropdown menus to change text size, style, and color. I used the "arrange" dropdown to rotate some of the numbers. I also dragged some numbers around to mix them up by clicking the text box of the number to make the box for it appear on the screen, and then I dragged the box to where I wanted it to go. Be sure to use a very large image at 300 dpi resolution. My editor lets me edit by inches, and the large square and round clocks need to have an image 10.75 inches square or in diameter. Small round clocks have an eight inch diameter. When you finish your creation, double check your spelling and make sure everything is as you intended. 
  7.  Put the item in your cart.  If you want a similar "Who cares" clock with an image of your favorite place or activity, follow the link to this clock, click "customize," and click the box containing the name of the image already on the product. Then click "change image." You will be able to select the image you want to use and upload it, and it will replace the image that's there. Repeat with any of the text boxes listed under the edit menus. Maybe you don't want to change the numbers, because that's a lot of work, but you might want to change the "Who Cares?" text to something else.
    Square "Who Cares?" Wall Clock

Square "Who Cares?" Wall Clock

 Below is another variation on the square clock. (The images I had available seemed to look better on a square clock than a round one.) For this clock I chose an interest -- baking. I just happened to have a picture for it. You could customize by clicking the link to this clock and using your own picture of a lovely cake or pie of loaf of bread to replace my date bars. Or maybe you prefer making soup and you have a steaming pot of soup image. You can replace my date bars with your soup, and then change my text to "It's always time to make soup." Since that's longer, you might need to make the type size smaller to fit it in. If sports or games interest you more than kitchen activities, use an appropriate picture and then change the text to one of these or your own idea.

  • It's always time for Wi 
  • Chess stops the clock 
  • Never enough time to play golf 
You will have some great ideas. My example below is just that an example. In this product, I included a template for adding your image and text.
Wall Clock Date Bars "ALWAYS TIME TO BAKE"
Wall Clock Date Bars "ALWAYS TIME TO BAKE"


To test my instructions, I just made this new design in a few minutes. I as amazed at how quick and easy it was to do.

The Quality of Zazzle Clocks

The clocks you can order from Zazzle are made by the Acrylic Idea Factory in Tuscon, Arizona. Out of the 314 customers who reviewed the clocks they received, the average rating they gave their clocks was 4.7 out of a possible 5. (293 people gave 4-5 star ratings and only 21 gave lower ones.) Many satisified customers don't bother to write reviews, but the unsatisfied customers are very likely to sound off. Most reviewers liked the quality of the clock bodies and were surprised at how sturdy they were.  They expected them to hold up for years of use. Most people were also very happy with the print quality. Many commented on how easy the clocks were to set up and use and on how simple it was to insert and change the AA battery (not included).

In most cases, those who were not happy were disappointed because they had not read the descriptions properly. One person thought she would be getting a clock with real forks and spoons on it instead of an image. Another person complained because the images were very small in the picture on the website and she didn't realize the clock she ordered for children with little fairy figures on the edge was intended for adults. If a figure is too small for you to see the details clearly, most browsers have a zoom feature that allows you magnify the entire page. I know Chrome has this. So if you are in doubt, zoom in and get a good look at the design before you order.

When customizing your clocks with your own images, remember that the quality of the image you upload will determine the how your finished clock will look. Some of the complaints were really due to customers uploading images that did not contrast enough with the clock hands. The clock hands are black, and will look best when they will not be on a very dark background.

A couple of people expected the clock hands to be heavier than they were and were upset because they can bend. But heavier hands would not move as easily and there is a reason to keep them light. It's best to put the clocks high enough on the wall to be out of reach of small children who might try to play with the hands.

To make sure you are one of the happy customers, read all descriptions carefully, zoom in to see image details, and make sure your image is large enough, has high resolution, and will contrast well and not be covered by the clock hands on important image parts.

Keep Calm And Carry On Round Wall Clocks
Keep Calm And Carry On Round Wall Clocks Find other Keep calm Wall Clocks at zazzle.com



Sometimes Seeing Clocks Others Have Designed Will Give You Ideas for Your Own
You can personalize any of these with text or use as is.



I'm hoping some of these will give you ideas for creating your own clocks by customizing or personalizing one of these designs. There is everything here from abstract art to animal, sports, occupational, literary, travel, and children's literature designs. If you can think of it, someone has designed a clock for it. One of the clocks you discover is sure to inspire your own ideas, since when we see what someone else has done, we can think of ways to rework it for someone we know. 

I got a lot of fresh designing prompts from browsing these designs of others. When you click the links here, they will lead you on a merry journey of browsing even more interesting clocks. The imaginations of these artists are limitless.


The clock below is perfect for a cyclist. The bottom link will lead you to other appropriate designs with wheels. You will know which will resonate with your friend or loved one. So often I wondered what a teen-aged boy might want, and a sports related clock might be just the thing he would love and not outgrow.
Bicycle Wheel clock with numbers
Bicycle Wheel clock with numbers
View other Wheel Wall Clocks at Zazzle.com

What child would not love a special clock in their room with their own name on it? Zazzle has an amazing variety of designs pertaining to almost any child's interest. Find the clock and change the name. Shopping done! Unless you find yourself wanting to buy for more than one child when you see all those fabulous choices. Just be sure you choose a clock with numbers for children who may not be used to knowing where the numbers should be. 

Personalized pink rainbow clock for girls.
Personalized pink rainbow clock for girls
Look at other Kids Wall Clocks at zazzle.com

Is there a musician on your list? The clock below will fit either a vocalist or someone who plays an instrument. Clocks are also available featuring almost any instrument you can think of, and you can find colors to fit any decor. Great for dorm rooms or music studios. 


Black and white music notes clock with numbers
Black and white music notes clock with numbers

Is there an animal lover on your list? How better to customize than with a picture of their pet or pets on a clock they will see every day. Many people add "Remember to feed the cat (or dog) " on the clock showing their pet. If a pet has crossed the rainbow bridge, one could add text similar this: "Remember the good times." Just be sure to find a photo that won't have an important part of the face covered with the hands mechanism. 

Beagle Baby Dog Square Wall Clock
Beagle Baby Dog Square Wall Clock
Browse Animal Wall Clocks online at Zazzle.com


Penguin lovers will be happy to have so many choices in colors and designs on clocks featuring penguins. There are artsy designs, superb photos, and even cartoon characters. 
Penguin Clock

What I have showed you above only scratches the surface of the thousands of wall clock designs you can find on Zazzle. To find just the perfect gift, use search terms that focus on occupations, interests, age-related humor, and anything else that comes to mind with regard to that person. In closing, here are more of my own personal favorites. 


Colorful Abstraction Wall Clock
Colorful Abstraction Wall Clock
Shop for more Wall Clocks at zazzle.com
Nurses Call The Shots Clocks
Nurses Call The Shots Clocks
View other Nurse Wall Clocks at Zazzle.com
Pink Floral Teacup Personalize Wallclocks
Pink Floral Teacup Personalize Wallclocks
Browse another Wall Clock at Zazzle

I hope you will now be inspired to go right to Zazzle and make a clock. Or if you don't feel quite up to that, I hope you'll want to do a little window shopping in the Zazzle clock department. Enjoy.





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


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Review of Personalized Gift Bags on Zazzle

I like to be creative with my gift wrapping and Zazzle makes this a pleasure with their line of custom boxes and bags.  You can choose from many different styles and sizes and design you gift container to be perfect for your recipient.

You might want to add names or initials to you gift box/bag or perhaps a special photo.  Here are a few ideas from the authors at Review This.

Gift Bags

Gift bags come in four different styles: small, medium large and wine. You can choose either a glossy or a matte finish.  

Review This author Coletta designed this beautiful large gift bag out of a photo of a Copper Ti Plant.


Favor Boxes

Favor boxes are very popular for all types of parties and events.  You will find them at weddings, showers, birthday parties, corporate events and just about any place you have a gathering of people.  Zazzle has 5 great styles of containers that can be customized to fit your needs.
  • Classic Style
  • Heart Box
  • Gable Box
  • Take Out Box
  • Tent Style Ribbon Box
The tent style box below was created by Review This author Susan.  Wouldn't it be great for a favor box for a baby shower.
Rubber Duck Family on Blue Favor Box
Rubber Duck Family on Blue Favor Box by BuckHawkParty
Look at another favor box
Here is another favor box that Susan created this one is in the gable style.

Polka Dots of Pale Yellow on Pink Favor Boxes
Polka Dots of Pale Yellow on Pink Favor Boxes by BuckHawk
View more Polka dots Favor Box at zazzle.com

Wine Boxes

Wine makes a great hostess gift.  It becomes even more special when you design a custom box for your wine.  If you are going to a fall party this box that I created out of my autumn leaves photo would make the perfect box for your wine gift.  
Autumn Leaves
Autumn Leaves by mbgphoto
View Autumn leaves Wine Gift Box online at zazzle



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


Thursday, March 5, 2015

Customized Crafting Supplies on Zazzle

Do you enjoy doing crafts, but sometimes can't find the right materials to fit your project?  Zazzle has a host of different craft supplies that you can customize to fit your needs from materials to ribbons and much more you can find the supplies for that perfect project on  Zazzle.
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse by lighthouseenthusiast
Check out other Peggy's cove lighthouse Fabrics at zazzle.com
I enjoy lighthouses, so I am using photographs of my lighthouses to demonstrate the various Zazzle crafts supplies that can be created.  The item above is a fabric created from my photograph of Peggy's Cove lighthoue in Nova Scotia.

Fabrics

Zazzle carries 7 different types of fabric that are available as swatches, fat quarters or by the yard.  You can create your own design as I did above or choose a design already custom made by one of the many Zazzle artists.

Ribbons

Ribbons can also be made on Zazzle to complement your craft projects.  They come in either grosgrain or satin and are in 1.5 inch and 3 inch widths.  You can buy them in spools of 2, 6 or 10 yards.  These ribbons are great for craft projects, gift wrap and hair bows.  Here is one I created from my Peggy's Cove photo.
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse


Peggy's Cove Lighthouse by lighthouseenthusiast
Check out more Zazzle Ribbon

Stickers

Zazzle has a wide array of different shapes and sizes of stickers that can be used in craft projects.  I once made a sticker of a church to put on bookmarks for a church convention.  Stickers can decorate packages or add a finishing touch to a special card.  Here are some of the stickers I have made on Zazzle.  They are all ones taken from my lighthouse photography.

Ocracoke Lighthouse Sticker
Ocracoke Lighthouse Sticker by lighthouseenthusiast
Check out other Ocracoke island Stickers at zazzle.com
Split Rock Lighthouse in the Fall Square Sticker
Split Rock Lighthouse in the Fall Square Sticker by lighthouseenthusiast
Look at Split rock lighthouse Stickers online at Zazzle.com



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


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Customized Jewelry on Zazzle

Zazzle has some really fun jewelry pieces that can be customized and make great gifts.  Whether you are looking for a necklace, charm bracelet, ring or watch, you can find something to fit your needs.  What is really great is you can customize these pieces and make them really special.  The link below shows a necklace I made from a photograph of Jupiter lighthouse.  Wouldn't this be perfect for the lighthouse enthusiast in your life?

Necklaces

Zazzle features three different styles of necklaces.
  • Round
  • Square
  • Round Locket
Each of these necklaces comes in three different finishes: silver plated, gold finish or sterling silver.
The necklaces come with an 18inch chain that has a 2 inch extender.  You can customize a necklace with a favorite photo or monogram.  The necklace below was created by Coletta.  It features a beautiful neon pansy design with 4 pansies.  It would make a lovely gift.
Here is a special locket made by Heather.

Charm Bracelets

Charm bracelets and charms make great gifts for others or for yourself to remember a special trip.  With Zazzle you can add photographs to the charms to  make them special.  Zazzle charms come with or without the bracelet and can be made in a square or round shape.  The Lion charm below was made from a photo my sister took during a trip to Tanzania, Africa.
King of the Jungle
King of the Jungle by mbgphoto
Look at additional Bracelets at zazzle.com

Rings

Photo rings are a unique gift you can make on Zazzle.  Make one with a child's photo for a Mothers Day gift or perhaps one of a favorite flower.  These rings are sterling silver plated and come in sizes 6-10.  The photo below is a wildflower I photographed in Florida.
A bit of Sunshine
A bit of Sunshine by mbgphoto
Look at Bright yellow flower Ring online at Zazzle.com

Watches

Zazzle has eight different varieties of watches available.  Each can be customized by you or you can choose one of the great designs by Zazzle artists.  These watches are battery powered and water resistant.
  • Classic Stainless Steel
  • Vintage Leather Strap
  • Two-tone
  • Sporty
  • Rhinestone
  • Kid's Glitter
  • Kid's Stainless Steel
  • Kid's Adjustable Bezel Stainless Steel
The watch below was designed from my photographs of lilacs.  It is shown on the Sporty style watch.
Lilacs by the Fence
Lilacs by the Fence by mbgphoto
Check out additional Wrist Watches online at zazzle.com



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


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Reviewing the Best Birthday Cards for Online Friends


birthday card and flowers


Selecting birthday cards for friends you've never met in person is a challenge. Find the perfect greeting in this review of birthday cards for online friends.

We all have them. Virtual friends that we hang out with online. We've never met them in person, but we feel we've known them all our lives. And, when our online friends celebrate a special birthday, we want to share it with them.

What do you send the friend you've never met for their birthday? Let's review birthday cards for online friends.

Create a Customized Birthday Card


Yes, it may sound old-fashioned, but many people still enjoy getting cards and letters delivered to their front door.

When an online friend has shared their mailing address, take a suggestion from Review This! contributor, Mary Beth. Mary Beth loves to create special greeting cards for her special friends. And she loves to share her pictures of butterflies in her Zazzle print-on-demand gift shop.

The cool thing about shopping at Zazzle is that you can customize the gifts you buy. Mary Beth's Paper Kite Butterfly greeting card, and all greeting cards on Zazzle's site, can be personalized. You can add a birthday greeting to the front of the card and add a personal wish to the inside.

Send an Electronic Greeting Card


Do a web search and you'll find a long list of websites where you can create an electronic birthday card. These sites usually have a selection of free and fee cards. After you select and customize a card, the site sends an email to the card recipient with a link to the card. The only information you need to provide about your birthday pal is an email address.

e-cards

My favorite web-based greeting card service is E-Cards.com. I found E-Cards about 15 years ago and have always had a good experience with their service. E-Cards has a nice selection of free cards or you can join the site for access to members-only cards.

If you care about wildlife and the environment, E-Cards donates a portion of their earnings to organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense, Grist Magazine, The New American Dream, and The Green Schools Initiative.

Send a Gift Card


Gift cards are the universal gift. Gift cards are easy to purchase and easy to spend. The great thing about gift cards is that you don't have to second guess about what your online friend would enjoy.


Amazon.com has made gift card giving a group activity. With the Amazon Birthday Gift, you and your online friends can contribute any amount to a birthday gift card for another online friend. All you have to do is tell your friends where they can make their contribution.



It's easy to remember your online friends on their birthdays. Especially when sending a birthday card is just a few mouse clicks away.





Posted by Coletta Teske
Coletta Teske

About This Contributor

Coletta Teske writes reviews on books, business management, writing, crafting, cooking, and gardening. She is also an avid recycler and shares her tips on recycling. She delights in upcycling an old object, recycling or transforming discarded items into a new treasure.




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


Thursday, January 29, 2015

Customized Blankets and Throws Make Great Gifts

Are you looking for a gift for a special occasion? On this page I will review two of the special blankets that can be customized on Zazzle to make your gift extra special.

Zazzle has two different types of blankets available to be customized by you or you may choose one that is already made by the many Zazzle artists.


  • The first type of blanket available is a soft and cozy polyester fleece blanket.  It comes in 3 different sizes (30x40-50x60-60x80).  This blanket is machine washable.
  • The second type is a beautiful woven throw blanket.  It is made of a combination of 50% cotton and 50% polyester.  It is 54x38 inches in size.
Shown below are samples of each of the blankets from my Zazzle shops.


Fleece Blankets

Historic Lighthouses
Historic Lighthouses by lighthouseenthusiast
View another Fleece Blanket at Zazzle

Plumeria Blossoms
Plumeria Blossoms by mbgphoto
Shop here for Fleece Blankets at Zazzle



Throw Blankets

Animals of Africa Throw
Animals of Africa Throw by mbgphoto
Find other African animals Throw Blankets at zazzle.com

Browse more Purple flowers Throw Blankets at Zazzle

Customized Blanket Ideas

There are so many different ways you can customize your blankets to make them a special gift.  Here are a few suggestions.
  • A graduation gift- Add photos from their high school years to make this a special memento.  This will be a great blanket to take to college.
  • Mothers Day- Add photos of children or grandchildren.  Use text to add a special message.
  • Travel Memory- Add photos from a special trip.
  • Graduation gift for athlete- Add special photos from sporting events
  • Wedding Gift- Add a Monogram and perhaps the engagement photo of the couple
  • Anniversary- Add photos from special moments
  • Hobby enthusiast- add photos from their favorite hobby or pastime.  The lighthouse blanket above is a good example.
  • Gardener- Take photos of their garden and add it on the blanket

More Blankets by Review This Staffers


This beautiful Resurrection blanket was created by Sylvestermouse.  Below that you will find two of her delightful animal blankets.
Here is a beautiful dogwood blossom throw blanket from Dawn Rae and a fantastic daisy blanket.
Sunny Daisy Art Throw Fleece Blanket
Sunny Daisy Art Throw Fleece Blanket by NatureByDawnRae
View other Throw Fleece Blankets at Zazzle.com



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


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Puzzle Review- Create a Puzzle from a Favorite Photograph

Do you have a favorite photograph that you would like to use for a gift?  How about turning it into a puzzle?

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Jigsaw Puzzles
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Jigsaw Puzzles by lighthouseenthusiast
View more jigsaw puzzles

You can make your own puzzles on the Zazzle website or you can choose from a wide variety of puzzles that Zazzle shopkeepers have listed on their pages. You might choose a favorite photo from a trip or perhaps a photo of a flower from your garden.  Another great use for the Zazzle puzzles is to make a puzzle for a child with a photo of them on the puzzle.  

 The puzzle above was made from a photo I took of Cape Hatteras lighthouse in North Carolina.  This lighthouse is often called "America's Lighthouse".  I love the black and white spiral stripes.  It looks very classic.

Puzzle Features

Zazzle puzzles come in two different sizes.  The 8x10 size has 110 pieces and the 10x14 size has 252 pieces.  All of the puzzles are made of sturdy card stock and are mounted on chipboard.  They come in gift boxes and are easy to wipe clean.  

Here are some more puzzles I have made of my favorite subject Lighthouses.
The first one is on Hilton Head South Carolina.  This is a fairly modern lighthouse, having been first put into service in the 1960's.  It is often seen as the iconic symbol of Hilton Head.


Hilton Head Puzzles
Hilton Head Puzzles by lighthouseenthusiast
Browse more Hilton head lighthouse Puzzles at Zazzle
The next puzzle has a photo of Split Rock lighthouse in Minnesota.  This lighthouse sits high on a rock overlooking Lake Superior.

Autumn at Split Rock Lighthouse Puzzle
Autumn at Split Rock Lighthouse Puzzle by lighthouseenthusiast
Browse Lit rock lighthouse Puzzles
Nova Scotia has many beautiful lighthouses.  I photographed this one at Peggy's Cove.  It is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in Canada.




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


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Zazzle Ornaments- Create a Special Memory

Share a Special Memory with a Customized Ornament

Last year my sister took a trip to Africa to enjoy a safari. Here is an ornament I made from one of her photographs from the trip. Ornaments that depict special trips bring back those memories each year when you put the ornaments on the tree.




Zazzle Ornaments come in a Variety of Shapes

You can make your own ornaments on Zazzle or choose from one of the hundreds that are listed on their site.  Here are a few of the different shapes for Zazzle ornaments.  All of these shown are from my photograph collection.


Ornaments make Special Gifts

Zazzle ornaments can be customized with a text of your choice.  I put the persons name and the date on the back of these ornaments.  I have made my granddaughters ornaments picking their favorite animals or characters from that year and then customizing them with the year and their name.




Favorite Ornaments by Review This Authors





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


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