Nothing pleases me more in my eco creative process than to come up with more than one use for a product. So when my “Message in a Bottle Kit” idea finally came to fruition, I was thrilled.

A reclaimed pharmacy bottle serves as a sweet little vessel to deliver a sentimental note for mom. Then it becomes a vase for a tiny sprig of flowers. It’s a greeting and lovely wrapped gift all in one!

Now listed in my shop for Mother’s Day! More designs are coming soon, too. ::S::

Capture that toothless grin (or any expression) in a modern graphic style!

Turnaround Design is thrilled to present Custom Modern Portraits for Kids. (Or anyone you’d like!) For those who love the Modern Dog Portraits in my Annie&Page Shop, here’s a new option for you.

Simply submit your photo and I’ll create a bright and fun digital illustration from it, as I’ve done for my “Buddy” below.

A lovely 8×10 print is just $48. Click here to order. Perfect gift for Mother’s Day! ::S::

As a creative or entrepreneur, is there anything more exciting than coming up with a great idea? The rush and the thrill of the a-ha moment? I don’t think so.

My great ideas often come to me while I’m on the treadmill.

I’ve been a runner for almost 20 years. Running outside in good weather is my favorite. But running indoors, as I’ve been forced to do during these cold months in Minnesota, seems to get my mind working harder, and dreaming more.

Lately I’ve been all-consumed with research about niche marketing. I adore my eco modern paper goods shop, but after the success of my 2010 Eco Dog Portrait Calendar, I have wanted to expand my dog-themed paper goods line and I wasn’t sure the Turnaround Design Shop was where I wanted to do it.

So, while pounding the ‘mill rocking to Big Head Todd or Lady Gaga (I’m not sure which), it came to me: open a new online store just for modern dog paper goods.

I’ll call it “Annie & Page“, after my sweet rescue dog, Annie (read her story here), and my beloved golden retriever Page. Each of these dogs came to me with seemingly insurmountable medical problems, and both recovered. My adored childhood dog also had severe illnesses yet lived for 15 years. I think there’s a reason these special dogs came to me.

My dogs have been the soundtrack of my life. It only makes sense to honor them with a dedicated shop where every other dog owner can do the same.

I’ve found a niche. I’m going to run with it. ::S::

turnaround design

turnaround design

New! Contact cards are now in the Turnaround Design Shop! This design is called “Smoke & Mirrors.”

Pull this handy and hip “Deck of Cards” out of your bag whenever you need to leave behind your contact information. Folks will be be drooling over the convenience and clever design. Packaged in a deck of 52, in a lovely matching patterned box, and priced at only $28.00.

Stand out from the crowd of interviewees.

Network with an acquaintance.

Make an impact on your professor.

Leave your kids’ caregiver with easy-to-access information.

In essence, ace the connection.

There’s always a need for a contact card, no matter if you’re a business owner, job seeker, student or stay-at-home mom. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot to make a stylish statement. Check out all the designs in the shop! More are in the works, too. ::S::

There’s not much I love better than reusing something more than once. And after recycling all the Valentines – and sometimes even tossing the candy – my kids have brought home from school for the past 6+ years, I thought there had to be a better way.

That’s why I created these printable bookmark and ruler Valentines, initially for my kids, but then for my Turnaround Design Shop. What better way to teach our kids to repurpose and reuse? (Encouraging reading and math doesn’t hurt either.)

Choose from Printable Valentine Bookmarks – Buzzing Bee, Whale and Birdie $6.00

or Printable Ruler Valentines – You Rule! $2.50

Simply print the high quality PDF files on your own printer. Then cut, and have the kids sign and give. Perfect project for this snowy (throughout much of the U.S.) week! And they can be used from year to year, as once you purchase, they are yours to keep forever. ::S::

The perfect little Valentine package for candy, party favors or a small gift. Just a bit over 2″ square.

Download and enjoy!

::S::

The perfect little Valentine package for candy, party favors or a small gift. Just a bit over 2″ square.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so I’m offering free shipping at my Turnaround Design Shop on these and all paper goodies in the Valentine category, just for you, my lovelies. Enter code BLOG at checkout and I’ll refund through PayPal. Happy browsing! ::S::

“Never forget how much I love you” Valentine Card  $3.50

“I’m So Glad I Found You” Personalized Valentine Card  $4.50

“You Have My Heart” Valentine Card  $3.50

“I Love You xo” Valentine Card  $3.50

“When You Love, Love Big” 5×7 Matted Print  $12.50

“Never Forget How Much I love You” 5×7 Matted Print  $12.50

Printable Valentine Bookmarks  $6.00

Rainbows were my favorite as a young girl.

Here’s a modern update, just in time for writing those holiday thank you’s.

Check out more new listings at Turnaround Design’s Etsy Shop.

For a couple of years, I owned and operated an upcycled home accessories and furniture shop with a good friend of mine. It was our mission to recycle old furniture and our challenge to find new uses for old junk. We often competed against each other to see who could come up with the most clever reinvention.

Some of my reuse ideas were:

- turning an old cement trowel into a wall sconce
- turning a mop wringer into a message center
- turning a wash board into a cabinet door
- turning old windows into picture frames

Though we no longer have our shop, that experience changed my life. Now when I design new paper goods, I always keep recycling and reuse in mind. My latest eco-friendly product is The 2010 Eco-Friendly Animal Alphabet Calendar. At 7″x11″, this enchanting calendar is designed both for use as a date reference, and also as artwork. The pages are designed for reuse as the top half fits perfectly in a 5″x7″ frame. Frame one or several and it’s sweet wall art for a baby’s nursery or children’s playroom.

Do you have any favorite reuse ideas to share? I’d love to hear them!

For as long as I can remember, I have had the urge to create. I credit this to my genes, especially my dad’s and his side of the family. Some might call it a gift. I call it a curse.

This “creative curse” keeps me up at night, causes me frequent frustration, gives me great satisfaction at times, and once in a while, it gives me jump-up-in-the-air excitement. So here’s what I’m so pumped about:

I’ve been striving to produce a paper product that will:

1. Be environmentally friendly
2. Be inexpensive
3. Be a thoughtful, lasting way to acknowledge an occasion
4. Be beautiful

I’ve finally met all of those criteria with the “Three-in-One EnviroCard”. It’s an envelope, card and little gift all in one. Through simple folding, all of these can be created from one sheet of 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

1. Eco-friendly – check.
2. Priced at $4.50 in my Turnaround Design Shop. Affordable – check.
3. Provides a handwritten greeting that will last longer that the day it’s received.

4. Lovely quality and design make a beautiful standing piece of art that could even be framed.

My 7 year old seems to have the same creative gene that I do. He recently asked me what it’s like to be a graphic artist. I told him it’s a lot of fun, which is true. He’ll find out later about the curse.