Shapely App: A new way to create great designs

Designer Chris Jones has designed a lot of invitations and t-shirts for his friends. Eventually he began to wonder if there was a simple tool non-designers could use to create well-made custom images. He scoured the web and App Store and found nothing. So he rolled up his sleeves and created Shapely.

Shapely is a free app made to indulge your creative side. Jones has worked for the past year to design and release Shapely, and he hopes that it will help people who are not trained in design have fun making custom images and photos.

Shapely offers users a variety of shapes, patterns, icons and text options to create custom images which can be used on phones and websites, or printed for use on cards, photo album covers and fliers. Users choose from 96 shapes including badges and cartouches, and select from backgrounds including plaids, stripes, chevrons and woodgrains. Shapely users can utilize these features, along with their own photos, to create Shapely images.

Beta testers include local designers and photographers, as well as individuals from non-creative fields such as healthcare, education, insurance and real estate. During the beta period they created images ranging from holiday greeting card images and portrait and landscape photos put into shapes, to a wedding save the date and quirky graphics with captions such as “Happiness is a warm cup of joe” and “What good shall I do this day?”

You can download the ShapelyApp for free, with an optional $1.99 in-app upgrade to Shapely Pro for a wider variety of features. More information can be found at www.shapelyapp.com.

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Welcome back to our Sunday Etsy Spotlight Series, where we bring you the best handmade inspiration from creative Etsy sellers across the globe. At CraftGossip.com, we love supporting small businesses, and this weekly spotlight is our way of helping indie pattern designers get the attention they deserve—while giving you fresh DIY motivation every week.

This week’s feature? The stunning Clover Quilted Jacket Sewing Pattern—a cozy-chic staple that belongs in every handmade wardrobe.

You’ve seen quilted jackets trending everywhere from high-end boutiques to farmer’s markets, and now you can make your very own. The Clover Quilted Jacket has that perfect blend of structured warmth and effortless style.

It’s the kind of garment that looks like you bought it from an expensive slow-fashion brand—but feels even better because you made it yourself.

What we love about this pattern is how approachable it is. Whether you’re already deep into your garment-sewing era or just ready to venture beyond tote bags and pouches, this jacket is a satisfying project. It’s a straightforward, step-by-step process with enough visual flair to make it fun.

And the best part? That quilted texture means you can use up your favorite scraps or even repurpose an old quilt for a totally one-of-a-kind look.

Make it with florals for a romantic cottagecore vibe, or try solids in linen or canvas for a modern, minimalist touch. This jacket is versatile enough to throw over dresses, jeans, even cozy lounge sets. It’s not just a sewing project—it’s a wardrobe essential.

Plus, the drop shoulders and simple collar give it a relaxed feel without sacrificing shape. It’s put-together comfort, and who doesn’t need more of that?

Here at CraftGossip, we believe in handmade—both in the projects we create and the creators we support. Etsy sellers are the heartbeat of the DIY community, pouring their time, energy, and creativity into patterns that help you bring beauty into your life.

This series is our way of celebrating them. Each Sunday, we shine a light on an Etsy pattern that deserves a spot on your sewing table—and in your closet.

If you’ve been dreaming of that one cozy jacket you can throw over anything, the Clover Quilted Jacket is the project to make next. Snag the pattern here on Etsy and start dreaming up your fabric combinations.

Tell us—would you go boho with patchwork or sleek with neutrals? Let’s chat in the comments!

Join us next Sunday for another Etsy Spotlight. We’ll keep the indie love going—one amazing pattern at a time.

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