My first internship and fulltime job was at a plush and novelty toy manufacturer as a graphic designer. This is where I met today’s guest poster. She was a quiet, smiley designer who could add a cuddly personality to any item, whether it was breathing or an inanimate object! I recently reconnected with Liz as we are both bridesmaids in Vanessa’s upcoming wedding and she finally caved agreed to be a guest poster at Spotofteadesigns.com. Read on and meet Liz Urso:
Hi there! First off, I just wanted to say thank you to Tara for giving me an opportunity to be a guest on her blog! I am so excited to be doing this and I will try not to get too carried away.
![Summertime-Collection](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/summertime-collection.jpg?ssl=1)
I wouldn’t say I am a Jack-of-all-trades, but I do have a handle on few different things. I am currently a graphic designer/ illustrator in the scrapbooking industry as my day job. I basically make a lot of cute patterns and stickers. as evident of the summertime collection above.
![Liz Urso Sketchbook Project](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/sketchbook-project.jpg?ssl=1)
The rest of the time you can find me doodling away in my sketchbook, drawing, card crafting and making toys. I love to collect patterned papers, buttons, ribbon, shiny glass bits, small trinkets, whatever I can find that would be good for altered art crafts and card crafting.
![2012LUMother'sDayweb](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012lumothersdayweb.jpg?ssl=1)
I have made it a point to card craft for almost every occasion or holiday because I enjoy doing that and most of the time a handmade card just seems way cooler than a store-bought one. I love being crafty!
Recently, I have been killing my colored pencils to make my wood drawings, like this “Return to Sender” design. I just love drawing on wood more than paper. I am not really very quick with acrylics paints and I have a better handle with colored pencils. I really like the way they blend! I would eventually like to try out oil paints, but I think the drying time would bother me! I’m always open to trying new techniques and mediums, but wood and colored pencils is where it’s at right now.
![Liz Urso Silence Computer Rendering](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/silence.gif?ssl=1)
As an alternative to drawing, I also do digital illustrations or computer-rendered drawings. This is a design I call “Silence”, which you can find at my Society 6 Store.
When I am not drawing or being paper crafty, I’m sewing. I call myself the cute critter maker. No, I am not making little Frankenstein creatures, but I do make my own line of plush called Lizlings.
![lizursoplush](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lizursoplush.jpg?ssl=1)
Say hello to some of my Lizlings: Monkey, Fox, and Owl. I have been sewing up my own toys for about 10 years now. It all started out in college when I was becoming very anti-graphic design. I was never really into making art on a computer or being a person that works in a corporate environment. I kind of had a limited idea that graphic design was just brochures and magazines. I was definitely wrong! However back then, designer toys were becoming a trend and an expensive hobby of mine. Eventually it got me thinking about making my own toys and designs to go with it. Now I make toys for friends and family who want to give or get a unique handmade plush. All of my designs are original. I usually always sketch out my design first, then bring it into the computer to create a template where I will then print out and use the shapes to make a 3D plush design. Oh, I forgot to mention that all of my toys are not just handmade, they are hand-sewn. Yes, I sew each toy with sewing needle and thread. I do not use a sewing machine, mostly because of my lack of experience with them. I just feel like I have better control with a sewing needle than I would with a sewing machine. I promise you that these little guys are durable and built to last as long as you’re not throwing them around and running over them with your car!
![Etsy shop feature - made by liz urso - illustration, crafts, plush, painting and all things cute!](https://i0.wp.com/www.spotofteadesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/EtsyforBlog.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
UPDATE: Visit Liz’s newly opened Etsy shop and get some of these adorable creations for yourself or a friend!
Liz’s Creative Links:
Liz Urso’s Blog
Society 6 Shop
Liz Urso’s Pinterest
your drawings are very beautiful & you have an intriguing idea.
Im a iranian girl & loving arts
i wishing a real coup for you…