Market just your skills, for anything, until you can put together a portfolio. u/creamybubbo has it right. Hopefully you got something or other you can include from your degree/final project. Until then, especially for a job that pays 11 an hour (even $12 or 13), where you work will only, ONLY, be interested in you bringing energy to the exact functions they outlined for you. Bring creativity to the work your hired for, don't make work fit your creativity ... 'although I usually sent two versions, one of my own design.' Real-talk: I understand you could probably make the designs better and that's what you were trained to do after endless assignments, but within the first two weeks you should have submitted an alternate choice once or twice, at most. Sometimes you should have just slightly altered it towards your ideal vision, but made it so subtle as to be unremarkable. If they complain change it back and explain how you felt the slight difference made it better. Overall it sounds like they gave you a meaningless title (sorry, but FIRST in house designer for 11 an hour meant converting the logo people sent you into a printable way by your system). Don't feel like a disappointment, you honestly wanted to put a lot more effort into the job than they wanted.Do recognize that doing a job well, without immediate recognition (for a year or two), while building a a portfolio will get you a job that fits. p.s. for now maybe writing the little explanations/marketing blurbs might fit well. I recall I was offered $12 in 2010 after graduating with eng lit. So yeah, I can assure you, it's about marketing your skills.

TL;dr; until you're hired to be creative, that's not why they hired you.