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Helpful Resources for My Design Work
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items A little behind-the-scenes look at my cottagecore and grandmacore home décor design work. Here I share tools and resources I use, with honest notes about what helps, what takes practice, and what doesn’t always work as expected.
Sections
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Design Tools
Design Research & Selling Resources
Design Tools
Tools I use or have used to create artwork, develop ideas, and prepare images for my design projects, with notes from my own experience.
I use Canva for my design work and find it fairly user friendly. It works differently from other design tools, but the templates help when you’re first getting started. I recommend the Pro version. One drawback: its background remover hasn’t been wor...
Canva
Kittl is another design tool I’d recommend exploring. I’ve used it in the past, although it isn’t part of my current workflow.
Kittl
I use ChatGPT to brainstorm design ideas, write image prompts, and help with product descriptions and social media captions for my cottagecore and home décor work. Being able to ask follow-up questions and adjust the wording is especially helpful. I ...
ChatGPT
I use Google Gemini to create AI images for my cottagecore and home décor design work. It helps me explore ideas and turn detailed prompts into artwork. I review and edit the results before using them on products, and sometimes convert the downloaded...
Google Gemini
I use CloudConvert to change JFIF images downloaded from Gemini into PNG files for my design work. It’s fairly fast in my experience and easy to use. The free allowance resets daily and includes 10 conversion credits—handy when I only have a few imag...
CloudConvert JFIF to PNG
I use Upscayl to enlarge images for my design work. It’s a helpful step when an image starts out smaller than I need. I check the enlarged result closely before using it on a product, since the final detail still depends on the original image.
Upscayl
My experience is with an older version which I still use, so I can’t speak firsthand about the current Canva version. Affinity is worth exploring if you’re looking for tools for photo editing and graphic design. The current Affinity app is free for i...
Affinity
I sometimes end up with a JFIF file when I need a PNG for my design work. This free converter lets me change the format right in my browser and download the PNG without adding another program to my computer. It’s a handy little tool to keep bookmarke...
Convert JFIF to PNG Online (Free, Fast, No Quality Loss)
Design Research & Selling Resources
The reference pages I use when I’m checking a phrase, learning about image rights, or getting a design ready to sell. They’re useful to keep close by when a good idea needs a little homework.
I check the USPTO trademark database when I’m considering a phrase for a new design. It’s a useful first stop before I spend time making the artwork or writing a listing. A search doesn’t tell the whole story, but it can help me spot a possible probl...
USPTO
Creative Commons is a handy place to start when I’m looking for images and other creative resources. I always check the license on the individual item before using it in my design work, especially if I plan to sell the finished design. “Free to find”...
Creative Commons
When I get stuck on a Zazzle product or storefront question, I check the Zazzle Maker Manual. It’s nice to have the instructions in one place, especially when I’m trying to finish a listing and can’t remember where a particular setting is.
Zazzle Maker Manual