We're thrilled with our first client interview, featuring awesome indie brand Misfit Makes & we're looking for more artists to take part.
We'd love our blog to be as diverse as possible, with the hope of shining a spotlight (as small as our light may be) on people of all races, colours & backgrounds.
Zap Blog
Welcome to our blog where you will find a variety of tutorials plus all of the exciting news and developments going on at Zap! HQ.
Customer Interview - Bex Ling AKA Misfit Makes
Posted on May 27 2020
We chat to Bex Ling, designer, maker and founder of jewellery brand 'Misfit Makes, who has kindly agreed to share her experiences of what it's like to own and run an independent online business.
Switching To Online Selling From a Brick and Mortar Store
Posted on March 24 2020
Many companies are looking to either make the switch from their physical premises permanently or complement their existing business plan by investing in an online store. Thanks to the ease of online shopping, Internet sales have boomed over the last few years, and with plenty of relaxed return policies and...
Making Your Own Jewellery
Posted on February 19 2020
Jewellery making is a popular hobby with countless people across the world. The reason it’s gained so many fans? Through being both a fun and creative activity that also leaves you with an end product that you can be proud of! Whether you wear your DIY jewellery creations or design...
Eco-Friendly Marketing Ideas
Posted on February 07 2020
Many companies profess to be eco-friendly, but how many can prove that they actually practice green marketing? Being environmentally friendly is at the forefront of many brand’s minds, and in a time wrought with issues including the effects of global warming and the impact of plastic in our oceans, it’s...
Graphic Design Trends for 2020
Posted on January 24 2020
Each year we see the emergence of brand new graphic trends as brands and companies tussle to capture the attention of their clients and customers. They look to introduce new colours and prints as a means of refreshing their designs and catching the eye, and with so many companies mixing...
Choosing the Right Typography for Your Designs
Posted on January 16 2020
Similarly to when we gesture or use facial expressions while talking to one another, the typography used in our print and designs is able to reflect different tones and emotions to the reader. Getting your choice of fonts right is just as important as picking the right colours and...
Creating Characters for Merch Designs
Posted on December 17 2019
The world of merchandising can open up a whole new stream of revenue for your business. If you’re a pretty established brand and you’re looking to promote your business and get your image and brand message out there, creating characters can be a great means of connecting with your customer...
New Year More Instagrammable Than Christmas
Posted on December 12 2019
Instagram users are more likely to post on New Years Eve than Christmas Day, research has found. It seems social media users would rather post about ringing in the New Year than their festive activities. The research looked at the number of photos posted with the hashtags #christmasday and #newyearseve,...
Colour variations in printing
Posted on November 13 2019
Colour variations in printing We use digital printers to process your custom merchandise. Merchandise from each department is produced using different printers and different printing processes. This means that our products can have some, minimal colour variations when compared to each other. Our stickers for example, are printed on large...
Make Your Own Save The Dates
Posted on November 07 2019
Getting married is an expensive business; from the perfect wedding dress for the big day to the countless intricacies such as catering, flowers and entertainment - there can be plenty to keep on top of as well as a lot of expenditure. It’s no surprise then, that many couples who...
Creating & Selling Christmas Products
Posted on October 30 2019
Creating and selling products during the holiday season can be a stressful time, so making sure that you’re in gear before going ahead with your marketing efforts is incredibly important. It definitely pays to be prepared during the festive period, and planning out creating and selling Christmas products will benefit...
Christmas Packaging Ideas
Posted on October 23 2019
Christmas is a fantastic time for companies both small and large to capitalise on the festive marketing fever. As December 25th rolls around, many businesses will design specialised Christmas packaging with a view to capturing the hearts and imaginations of customers new and old. From the bevvies of Starbucks Christmas-themed...
Halloween Marketing Ideas
Posted on September 26 2019
Halloween is one of the most important dates in the marketing calendar, presenting an opportunity for both large and small businesses alike to capitalise on increasing their brand awareness and sales. It’s always a good idea to prepare for this promotional window by readying your materials and capturing the imaginations...
Creative Ways to Present Your Products
Posted on September 24 2019
In any walk of life, first impressions count. Whether that’s the first time you shake hands with a stranger or eating with your eyes as your much-anticipated plate of food arrives, we’re a species that often makes an initial judgement based on appearance. It’s no surprise then that product presentation...
Sustainability in a Business
Posted on September 12 2019
As green practices grow increasingly popular and awareness is raised on recycling and the effects that waste is having on the environment, sustainable companies are cropping up and shouting about their own business practices. One massive cause of waste lies with unused or discarded promotional materials, particularly card, paper and...
Setting Up A Business: Tips and Advice
Posted on September 04 2019
Setting up a business can be a daunting task. Once you’ve had your initial spark of inspiration to start selling your own products, there’s a whole world of other aspects to consider before you serve your first customer. If you’re looking to start selling your pins, keyrings or stickers online,...
How To Come Up With A Logo
Posted on August 28 2019
Your logo should capture the essence of your business, letting your audience know exactly who you are. If you need a new logo, or you’re setting up a business for the first time, we’re going to look at how to create a logo that really stands out from the crowd!...
How to make custom button badges
Posted on August 01 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating custom button badges using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and PaintTool SAI. 1. Download our template Click >> here << to download our badge templates. 2. Creating your badge designs Use the layers in our templates to create your...
How To Market Your Band
Posted on July 24 2019
So you’ve started a band, you’ve got your first tracks and you’re looking to book your first live shows - it’s an exciting time! One thing that bands need to consider from the ‘off’ is how they’re going to get themselves noticed and the easiest way to do it is...
Tradeshow Tips For Exhibitors
Posted on July 17 2019
Trade shows are a great place to show off your business and get people talking, but how do you ensure that it’s your stand that sticks in their memories at the end of the day? There are plenty of ways to attract the right people to your stand and get...
Printed Clear Acrylic Charms - Artwork Side A
Posted on June 27 2019
We flip the artwork on your side A of your custom printed clear acrylic charms so that your designs appear the correct way around once your charms have been produced. This blog post shows you how and why we do it, including a photo of the finished result!
Setting Up An Etsy Shop
Posted on June 26 2019
Got a product you know people want to buy? Whatever you love to make, chances are there are people out there that are looking for your product and one of the easiest places to sell them is Etsy! Etsy has made it easy for crafters to sell their wares, the...
Uses For Custom Charms
Posted on May 28 2019
Custom charms are one of the most versatile merchandise options out there, but if need a helping hand as to how to use yours - we’re here to help. Using a wide range of materials including acrylic, wood and metal, we can create custom charms with your designs printed on...
YouTuber Merch Ideas
Posted on May 21 2019
As a creator, you want to make sure that your fans can show their support for your YouTube channel - and what better way to do this than by offering them fun merch? Not only will your merch give followers something that they love to wear or display, but it...
Festival Merchandise Ideas
Posted on May 14 2019
Whether it’s rock, dance, country, rap or pop - one thing ties all great festivals together, epic merchandise! As festival-goers descend on your event, they want to make sure they have a good time and take home even better memories, so what better way to ensure they remember your festival...
Convention Giveaway Ideas
Posted on May 08 2019
If you’re organising a convention, chances are you’ve already thought about what your guests can expect to take away in their swag bags. Whether it’s a Comic-Con or a business event, guests love freebies and making sure you have enough to entice them in is part of any great marketing...
Event Merchandise
Posted on April 30 2019
When you’re organising an event a big part of the experience is the merchandise that attendees can take away from it. Let’s face it, as good a line-up as your conference, convention or festival is - people are there for the SWAG. Whether it’s something useful to take away, something...
Custom Band Merch
Posted on April 23 2019
If you’re thinking about selling your own band merch, we have you covered. The reality of being a musician is that you need to look at additional revenue streams alongside the music, selling custom band merch at your shows is one of the easiest ways to do it - but...
Creative Packaging Ideas
Posted on April 15 2019
Whether you’ve been in business for years or you’re just starting out, the way you deliver your products has a massive impact on customer loyalty, brand building and those all-important customer reviews! At Zap Creatives, we work with brands all across the globe to create memorable merchandise to promote their...
How to create Nintendo 2DS Skins using Adobe Photoshop
Posted on March 14 2019
Create your own custom game console skins with Zap! Creatives. Follow our simple Photoshop tutorial and create your own custom Nintendo 2DS game console skin designs. Available to buy in single units or in bulk with great discounts.
How to create Nintendo 3DS XL Skins using Adobe Photoshop
Posted on March 13 2019
Create your own custom games console skins with Zap! Creatives. Follow our simple Photoshop tutorial and create your own custom Nintendo 3DS XL games console skin designs. Available to buy in single units or in bulk with great discounts.
How to create Nintendo 3DS Skins using Adobe Photoshop
Posted on March 12 2019
Create your own custom Nintendo 3DS games console skins with this easy to follow Adobe Photoshop tutorial. Submit your custom artwork and create amazing gamer skins that are super easy to apply.
Make Your Own Merchandise
Posted on March 11 2019
Whether you’re looking for unique merchandise for your brand, fun gifts for a conference or a way to showcase your own designs, making your own merchandise has never been easier. Brands across the globe are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd and if a company pen and...
How to create printed light up acrylic LED standees using PaintTool SAI
Posted on February 01 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own, printed light up acrylic LED standees using PaintTool SAI. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your printed LED standee designs you’ll need to download our design template. Download our PaintTool SAI templates >> here << Each template comes with...
How to create printed LED standees using Adobe Illustrator
Posted on February 01 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own, printed light up acrylic LED standees using Adobe Illustrator. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your printed LED standee designs you’ll need to download our design template. Download our Illustrator templates >> here << Each template comes with a...
How to create printed LED standees using Adobe Photoshop
Posted on February 01 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own, printed light up acrylic LED standees using Adobe Photoshop. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your printed LED standee designs you’ll need to download our design template. Download our Photoshop templates >> here << Each template comes with a...
How to create mini strap keychains using PaintTool SAI
Posted on January 17 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own, mini strap custom keychains using PaintTool SAI. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your custom mini strap keychain designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Download our PaintTool SAI templates >> here << and open your chosen size....
How to create mini strap keychains using Illustrator
Posted on January 17 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own, mini strap custom keychains using Adobe Illustrator. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your custom mini strap keychain designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Download our Illustrator templates >> here << and open your chosen size. Each...
How to create mini strap keychains using Photoshop
Posted on January 17 2019
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own, mini strap custom keychains using Adobe Photoshop. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your custom mini strap keychain designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Download our Photoshop templates >> here << and open your chosen size. Each...
How to create LED Light Keyrings using Adobe Photoshop
Posted on November 05 2018
Create your own Acrylic LED Light Keyrings using Adobe Photoshop by following the steps below. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Templates are available in various sizes ranging from 38.1mm (1.5") to 63.5mm (2.5"). Download our Photoshop templates >> here <<...
How to create engraved acrylic LED light keyrings using Paint Tool SAI
Posted on October 25 2018
Follow this tutorial and create your own engraved acrylic LED Light Keyrings using Paint Tool SAI. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your engraved acrylic LED keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Download our Photoshop templates >> here << and open your chosen size. ...
How to create engraved acrylic LED light keyrings using Illustrator
Posted on October 25 2018
Follow this tutorial and create your own engraved acrylic LED Light Keyrings using Adobe Illustrator. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your engraved acrylic LED keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Download our Illustrator templates >> here << and open your chosen size. The template...
How to create engraved acrylic LED light keyrings using Photoshop
Posted on October 25 2018
Follow this tutorial and create your own engraved acrylic LED Light Keyrings using Adobe Photoshop. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your engraved acrylic LED keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Download our Photoshop templates >> here << and open your chosen size. The template comes...
How to create engraved wooden keyrings using Adobe Illustrator
Posted on October 17 2018
This tutorial will teach you everything you need to know about creating your own custom engraved keyrings designs using Adobe Illustrator. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your engraved keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Templates are available in various sizes ranging from 1" (25.4mm) right...
How to create printed opaque keyrings using Adobe Illustrator
Posted on October 17 2018
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own printed opaque custom keyrings using Adobe Illustrator. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your custom printed acrylic keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Templates are available in various sizes ranging from 1" (25.4mm) right...
How to create engraved wooden keyrings using Paint Tool SAI
Posted on October 17 2018
This tutorial will teach you everything you need to know about creating your own custom engraved keyring designs using Paint Tool SAI. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your engraved keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Templates are available in various sizes ranging from 1" (25.4mm)...
How to create printed wooden keyrings using Paint Tool SAI
Posted on October 17 2018
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own printed wooden keyrings using the design software Paint Tool SAI. Important - Colour Management Please note that Paint Tool SAI can only create documents in RGB colour whereas we only print in CMYK colour. A quick search on the internet for...
How to create printed wooden keyrings using Adobe Illustrator
Posted on October 17 2018
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own printed custom wooden keyrings using Adobe Illustrator. 1. Download our templates To start submitting your custom printed wooden keyring designs you’ll need to download our design templates. Templates are available in various sizes ranging from 1" (25.4mm) right...
How to create printed clear acrylic keyrings using Paint Tool SAI
Posted on October 17 2018
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about creating your own printed clear acrylic keyrings using the design software Paint Tool SAI. Important - Colour Management Please note that Paint Tool SAI can only create documents in RGB colour whereas we only print in CMYK colour. A quick search on...
