Hey guys, I’ve created another free download-able template to help you with your art! This printable grid template I created to help draw patterns to use for mandalas or other artwork.
This grid template is a great way keep track of patterns to use for future mandala drawings and also to practice your drawing techniques.
You can download and print off this template then either draw straight on it or trace underneath another sheet of paper.
Use the one with dark lines to trace and the one with lighter lines to draw straight on it.
Pattern drawing can be a nice soothing and calming activity, similar to making mandalas or zentangle inspired artwork.
I hope you find this grid template useful. Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below! You can also tag me in your creations on Instragram @julieerindesigns.
Hey guys! Today I’d like to share with you 10 dorm room essentials to get you ready for heading back to school this fall.
Please note this post contains affiliate links.
1. Tapestries
Tapestries are wonderfully versatile decorations. You can put them on the walls surrounding your bed, or use them as a bed sheet.
2. Fairy lights
Fairy lights a.k.a. white Christmas lights add really pretty and soft lighting to your room. You can put them on the wall like in the picture below, or around the top and sides of a tapestry as a backdrop to your bed. This creates a really nice boho vibe and they can be a lot less bright and jarring than regular lamps or overhead lighting.
3. Pillows
If you’re going to be spending long hours reading and studying you might as well be comfortable. Add some pretty throw pillows to dial up your decor and give yourself some back support.
4. Cute bedding
You’ll be spending a lot of time on your bed so it might as well look cute and reflect your unique personality!
5. Cute stationary
From the dorm room to the classroom, everyone needs some cute stationary. You can find all kinds of unique notebooks, planners, pens and more. You can even get customized stationary with your name on it!
6. Photos of Friends and Family
You might be away from home for a while, so it’s nice to have some photos of your friends and family close by. You’ll also be making a lot of new friends! A great way to showcase these special people and moments is to use a bulletin board. You can pin all kinds of photos into a fun collage to hang near your bed or work desk.
7. Cozy blankets
When the nights start getting long and cold, a nice fuzzy throw blanket is just what you need to curl up with a good book.
8. Plants
Since you can’t have any pets it’s nice to add some greenery and life to your dorm to brighten things up. If you don’t have a window you can get a little grow lamp or even just some fake plants, which can really add to that zen boho vibe.
9. Posters
Posters are a dorm room must have! You could have pictures of your favourite celebrities or an iconic photo of your city to remind you of home. Even a motivational quote to start your day would be a great addition to your dorm room.
10. Coffee Maker and Mugs
Everyone needs their morning coffee but buying it every day can add up! If your dorm allows it, invest in a small coffee maker like a Keurig or even just a french press with a hot water kettle. Make sure you pair it with a cute mug!
I hope you’ve found this list of dorm room essentials useful. Good luck at school this year!
The word mandala literally means “circle” in Sanskrit, but they are so much more than that. Mandalas are beautiful geometric images that represent the circle of life, the universe, divine power, synchronicity and more.
Evidence of mandalas date back to the first century B.C. However, they are likely much older than that. Mandalas have been found all over the world, from India to South America. They are a common symbol in many religions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.
Rose Window Mandala in Sainte Chapelle Chapel in Paris
Today, mandalas are used around the world as a meditative art practice. They utilize a combination of radial balance and abstract patterns to mesmerize the artist and viewer alike.
Why draw mandalas?
Drawing mandalas can be a tranquil and meditative experience. They are often used in Art Therapy as a way to disconnect from stress and anxiety. They help the artist concentrate on being present in the moment.
Drawing intricate patterns is also a great way to improve hand-eye coordination.
Drawing mandalas is easy and fun, and the end result is unique and beautiful.
Generally when drawing a mandala you start from the center and work your way out.
Drawing a mandala using my template
Incorporate different geometric patterns into your mandala as it expands outwards.
You can use many different materials to create mandalas. Pen and paper is the most obvious. However, people create mandalas from sand, rocks, leafs, crochet, yarn, and many other materials.
Mandala made with yarn. aka Ojo De Dios or “God’s Eye”
It’s a good idea to keep a sketchbook or even a Pinterest Board with different patterns to refer back to for future mandala drawings.
Sometimes taking risks pay off, other times they don’t but we’ll never know unless we try.
People will always be jealous of your success and some will try everything in their power to tear you down. Don’t let that get to you. Just remember, if you have haters, you’re probably doing something right!
When all else fails, sometimes we just need a reminder to not give up. Take a break, step away from something, but always come back and try again.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these motivational quotes! I’m already feeling a little better after creating these.
Let me know which one you like the most by leaving a comment below!
Hey guys! Today I’d like to share with you my thoughts on what to do when sales are slow in your Print on Demand shops and online stores.
In retail, whether online or brick and mortar, there are sales cycles. This means that sales slow down at certain times of the year and peak during other times, like at Christmas.
It can be frustrating and confusing to go from making several sales in a month to barely any, but that is totally normal and just the reality of retail. It does not mean you’ve failed, so don’t get down!
Think about how you personally shop. What times of the year do you spend the most money and when do you save? You will most likely find this reflected in your sales.
Here you can easily see the cycle peaks and lows during the year from my Redbubble analytics:
You can see my sales peak in November and December and drop down in the spring. Then they steadily climb back up until August when people shop for Back to School.
Now this sales cycle is totally normal and something you will need to get used to and prepare for, especially if your sole income is through online retail shops.
Instead of getting frustrated and throwing in the towel, there are lots of things you can do during these low times to get your shops ready for when the sales start to rise again!
Here is a list of ideas:
Work on your website or blog. Start one if you haven’t yet.
Continue creating and adding new designs to your shops.
Find new ways to promote your shops. Start using Pinterest for example.
Grow your social media followings.
Go through your stores and fix or delete under-performing designs.
Go through your designs and update keywords.
Enable new products you haven’t offered before.
Do a brand overhaul: new logo, banners, etc.
Promote sales. If your sales are slow, so are the websites you sell on and they will often have really good sales during slow times to get people to buy.
Ask others for feedback. You could ask friends or other Print on Demand artists for feedback on your stores and/or designs.
Network. Find and join support groups with like-minded individuals. There are lots of Print on Demand groups on Facebook.
Learn new business and marketing strategies through YouTube or other sources.
Take a break. Sometimes we need some time away to replenish our creativity. Go on a holiday or spend time with friends and family and come back with new ideas.
If you’re just starting out selling art and designs on Print on Demand websites it can be overwhelming! How do you decide what kinds of designs to make? How can you optimize your artwork for all the different Print on Demand sites?
Below I’ve compiled a list of tips to make it easier for you. I’ve been selling my art through Print on Demand websites for over 4 years now, and I’ve learned a few things in that time. I use Photoshop and Illustrator mainly, but these tips can work with whatever software you use.
So, read on if you need help with designing and optimizing your artwork for sale on Print on Demand sites such asSociety6, Redbubble, Zazzle, Teepublic and others!
Research trends. Use Pinterest or a search engine to see what kind of art is currently trending, then use this for inspiration to create something in your own style.
Start with a large file size (10,000 pixels covers most products).
Keep your designs in layers to easily make changes or re-use elements later on.
Design with the products you want to sell in mind. For example, most Print on Demand sites offer products like t-shirts, throw pillows and cell phone cases. Keep these products in mind while you create your designs.
Keep images crisp (300 DPI), and colours relatively saturated (more saturated colors tend to look better when printed on fabric).
For drawings, use a scanner if possible (rather than photographs) and use the available settings to scan a large, high DPI image file.
Don’t up-size your artwork if possible, this leads to a pixelated fuzzy look on the final product (this is why you start with a large file size in the first place).
Depending on what kind of artwork you make, you may need to adjust the size or medium you use in order for them to look good on the computer. Play around.
Don’t use copyrighted images, text, logos or anything else, or you risk the image being taken down, or even your account being suspended. Some sites allow “fan art” but make sure you follow all the rules.
Now that you have some designs to work with…
Optimizing your Designs for Print on Demand
Each website has it’s own file size and type requirements so make sure to check that before you start uploading.
Curate designs for each platform. Some designs might work better in different stores depending on their audience.
Save layers separately if you sell on Zazzle because you can layer different images and text on that particular POD site.
Create the same design in different colors and variations, especially once you have an idea of which designs are popular with your audience.
Adjust designs for individual product types. For example, use a transparent background for a t-shirt or sticker, use coloured background or make the design into a pattern for tapestries and pillows, remove text for leggings and apparel where it doesn’t work, etc.
Extra
Here are some more posts to help you sell your art online:
