Featured Designer: Stephanie Troutner of Steph Troutner Designs
Meet our new featured designer Stephanie Troutner of Steph Troutner Designs. She tells us why one of her inspirations is both a help and a hindrance.
Tell us about yourself! Where is your hometown? Where do you live now? Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of design? Any fun facts about yourself?
I’m from Louisville, Kentucky. I love eating cake, baking and growing eggplants & flowers in my garden (mainly so I can draw them). I play the French horn & get carried away posting pictures of my cats Bear & Precious on Instagram.
Tell us about the space where you do your work. Do you have an official studio or have your carved out a nook in your home? Both are equally wonderful and we’re excited to learn more!
I have a dedicated room for my office and a separate studio/craft room but I actually work at my kitchen table and living room couch most of the time. My whole house is basically my work space.
What is your background in art/design? What got you started creating?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t in the middle of ten craft projects. As a kid, I wanted to be an architect and swimming pool designer. I went to school for a while to be an interior designer. I’ve taught myself most of what I know about graphic design and surface pattern design.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I find inspiration everywhere; in my cats, in nature, in pie, in interesting little objects like nail clippers or cat toys.
When do you feel you’re most creative? Your least?
I feel most creative when I’m alone and it’s quiet. I’m least creative when my cat is sitting on my sketchbook or I’m around a lot of people and noise.
What are your favorite products to design on Zazzle?
My favorite products to design on Zazzle right now are Zipz shoes, pillows, and gadget cases, but that changes almost daily depending on what new designs I have & what products they fit the best with.
If you could wish for one new product on Zazzle, what would it be and why?
Fold-over notecards with all-over print capability on three sides, especially on the back side.
What was the very first Zazzle product that you sold?
A wristlet with a watercolor pattern.
What are your favorite product types to design on Zazzle?
Stationery, gadget cases and soft goods like pillows and bags.
What Are Your 5 Favorite Products in Your Store?
Blue Painted Polka Dots iPhone 6 Case
Graffiti Circles Painted Shoes
Powder Blue Cracked Tile Pillow
Do you have any advice for new Zazzle Designers?
Always be making lots of art and new designs. Be original; focus on quality over quantity, but be consistent in uploading new designs. Also, always be improving titles, tags and keywords.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you?
Cupcakes are my favorite kind of cake.
Thanks for featuring me!
Corrected e-mail:
I was wondering if your design #239065240190554827 “splash nature
blue” was available from you in a framed canvas print approximately 12″ x 12″ and what the cost would be. Thank you Kim Hayek
Hi Kim, We suggest you reach out directly to the designer of that product and see if they can put it on a canvas for you! Best of luck.