Client: Liali
Blog: Ecosavvy Design
Scope of Project: Logo & Blog Design
Focus of Blog: Environmentally responsible style and design
Platform: Blogger
10 Ideas For Displaying Kid’s Artwork…Without Loosing Your Mind
February 18th, 2010 · boutique news
There’s a war going on inside my brain.
Half of me loves to be surrounded with artistic expression, beautiful creations, color, texture, in every size and shape. I love putting different styles and mediums together to create something new. Some fancy things, some fun things. Some from thrift stores. Some from galleries. Some homemade, some artist-made.
The other half of me is a minimalist. I like everything in its place. I like clean drawers and closets and desks. I like straight lines and simplicity and I hate clutter. I throw away and I clean out and I organize, daily.
I’m a bit of an odd duck in that way, I guess. An artistic anal retentive.
Where the war rages heaviest is with the masterpieces my kids bring home from school. The watercolors, the stick figures, the paper mache flowers, the coloring book tear outs. 3 boys x 24 cumulative pre-school/school years = an overwhelming amount of child art.
So I’ve set out to find simple solutions that appease both of me…my artsy fartsy side and my neat nick side.
Here’s what I found. Maybe it will be helpful to you.
1. Jan Eleni Collage – This is my A #1 favorite. I LOVE this concept and am going to get my hands on this. Its a collage created from tiny images of artwork. Love!
Photo courtesy janeleni.com
2. Scrapbooking – As a scrapbooker, I’m all about preserving and telling a story. Use your kid’s artwork to enhance a school page or show development. Cut small pieces of the artwork or use as a photo matting. In 30 years, it will be so much more meaningful than any embellishment.
3. Snapfish Photo Books – You know how I love me some Snapfish. But I hadn’t though of using photo books in this way. Next week on her new show “Unstapled”, Carnie Wilson will demonstrate how she preserves her daughter’s artwork in photobooks. (And if you like this idea, you can use promo code CARNIEBOOKS to buy one get one free.)
4. Frames – A simple yet dramatic solution. Purchase neutral/white colored frames in varying sizes and shapes. Off center and crop art in interesting ways.
Photo courtesy Country Living Magazine
5. Greeting Cards – Here’s a thought. Share their art with grandparents, aunts, uncles. Simply create a card by adhering the artwork as the main design, cropped in an interesting way.
6. Binders – Simple. Purchase a big thick binder and clear plastic sleeves. Slip two pieces in each sleeve, facing out. For bigger pieces, crop down or fold to fit. I love these by See Jane Work…
7. Cable System – Clip it up like this:
Photo courtesy style-files.com
with these from Ikea:
8. Li’l DaVinci Art Cabinet - I think this is ingenious. Store and display from 1 to 50 pages…
9. Wrapping Paper – Remember wrapping birthday gifts with the funny papers? Add some personality and charm with the larger pieces of artwork.
10. Finally, maybe the best idea of all…pick the best to display and keep, and don’t feel guilty about tossing the rest (into the recycling, of course.)
Any ideas to share? Please, chime in!
Thank you once again to Snapfish for supporting me for Blissdom ‘10!
Movie Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
February 12th, 2010 · boutique news
Let me just say right off the bat something you may have heard once or twice before.
“Thebookisbetter!”
But. Having said that, I loved this movie.
Over the past month or so, Hubs and I determined to read each night to our boys a book that we all could get into. My Oldest, thirteen, discovered the Percy Jackson series in language arts class and recommended we start with this one. Just in time, we finished the first book and thought it would be a nice treat to see the movie on opening day.
The theater was packed with school age kids to teenagers, about an equal mix of boys and girls. When the movie ended…applause.
The movie was well worth the matinee admission price (but still…choke!). Even though there was a lot of the book left out of the movie, I really appreciated how the director interpreted the characters, setting and tone. The casting was spot on and there wasn’t unnecessary violence or graphic scenes. The pace was a good balance of action and lingering in the right places.
I’d definitely recommend this movie, especially if you have a tween or teen. But I’d highly recommend reading the book, and then seeing the movie!
(Oh, and if you see it, keep in mind that Grover is several hundred years old…not a teenager. I was a little concerned with some of the mild sexual innuendos until Hubs reminded me. Just the mom in me coming out…)
Talk About Personalized… {Get A Free Picture Gift Bag!}
February 11th, 2010 · giveaways, product reviews
When Picture Gift Mart approached me about doing a product review on their photo gift bags, I was all “Sure, those look really cute.”
Then when I got my bag in the mail I was all “These are really really cute! I love that extra personal touch it adds to a gift”. The bag is made of cardboard and a little more sturdy than a traditional gift bag. It comes flattened and you simple put it together and add the enclosed string handles.
Here’s the one I made for my sister. Don’t worry, she doesn’t read my blog. (Do you?)
And THEN…
When they said “We want to offer a giveaway for not just one reader, but for every reader, I was all “Really? Sounds great!”
If you want to try Picture Gift Mart and receive one free medium bag ($6.95 value, excluding shipping…about $3.50), the site will walk you through step by step…
1. Pick the size and style you want (medium for the free bag).
2. Upload your image(s).
3. Add your personal message.
4. Edit and proof your design.
5. Enter “Free11PCGM” at checkout. (Offer expires July 31, 2010)
You’re done!
My bag came in about 3 days.
Thanks Picture Gift Mart for the love and sharing this great product with us
Picture Gift Mart provided a free (minus shipping) bag for me to review for this post.
Design Spotlight: Michellany
February 9th, 2010 · TypePad, display case
Client: Michelle
Blog: Michellany
Focus of Blog: Meditations and musings on motherhood
Platform: Typepad
21 Things I Learned At Blissdom…In No Particular Order
February 8th, 2010 · boutique news
The Blissdom blogging conference has come and gone and I think I’ve spoken my quota of words for the next six months. I’m back with my (all male) peeps and in my uniform (velour pants and tee-shirt). As any good blogger would do, I offer you my recap of the little things I learned at Blissdom ‘10:
1. The Opryland hotel is big. Like, …really really big.
2. Conferences can be very overwhelming if you’re an introvert. Am I the only one who feels that way??
3. Young women and moms are the fastest growing groups of entrepenuers today.
4. Women like photo bracelets. I got a lot of compliments on mine. (Want one? I’ve got a promo code! See below*)
5. White Chocolate Bliss is yummy.
6. Hotel food is rather overpriced.
7. The first time I went to a blog conference, the breakout sessions were the most helpful and informative part of the conference. The second time (and third) time I went, the one-on-one interactions were the most helpful and informative part of the conference.
8. I really want a Roomba now.
9. A laptop backpack is essential at a conference.
10. Harry Connick Jr. is a gifted performer and a gentleman.
11. Ivy is as sweet as her mother, Stephanie (and looks just like her).
12. Darcie can navigate a rental car, in the rain, at night, in a strange city like nobody’s business. Don’t let her fool you.
Photo credit: Darcie at Such the Spot
13. Pokens are cool, if you…and everybody else…remembers to bring them.
14. George Duran is really nice in person.
Photo credit: Darcie at Such the Spot
15. You should definitely use Google Analytics to track you stats.
16. I already knew this, but Michelle from Scribbit is a genuinely nice person.
17. I never take as many pictures as I tell myself I’m going to.
18. Make it very clear what your blog policies are (privacy, disclosure, advertising, comment deletion, etc), and when you’re offering advertorial content.
19. The Pleated Poppy makes the cutest posy pins (and I just bought me some…).
20. Using plugins like Link Within is effective in increasing page views and length of visit to your site.
21. Thanks to Audrey at Mom Generations, I realize my wardrobe needs a little face lift (and if she can dress all cute and feminine with 4 boys, I can do it with 3…right?).
For other Blissdom recaps, visit Musings of a Housewife (who hangin out with was one of the best parts of Blissdom!)
* Get 25% off a Snapfish photo bracelet until Feb. 13 with promo code “Blissdom10″!
I want to thank Snapfish for supporting me for Blissdom ‘10. I’ve been using Snapfish for forever and am so entirely impressed with their service, customer service and business practice, and involvement in the blogging/social media community. Thank you Snapfish!
Images from Blissdom
February 6th, 2010 · boutique news
My room
My room key
My roommate
Kevin Carroll = awesome
George Duran from the Food Network
Lunch (the first course)
Front row…Harry Connick Jr.
TasteMakers Potato cookoff
A special thanks to Snapfish for helping support me for Blissdom10!
I’m Goin’ Ya’ll
February 4th, 2010 · boutique news
Today I’m heading here
staying here
with her
leaving them 
with the help and support of these nice folks
wearing my pretty this, from them… (want in on this fun?*).
I’ll see him
and some familiar faces. And I’ll meet some new ones while learning oodles in the process.
I’ll be tweeting a lot of the juicy tidbits while I’m there (@myapronstrings).
And I. Cant. Wait.
See y’all when I get back!
*In honor of Blissdom ‘10, Snapfish is offering 25% off their beautiful photo bracelets! In perfect time for Valentine’s no less. Just enter promo code “Blissdom1o” at checkout, and be sure to check out the other great photo gifts!
Design Spotlight: Mommies Timeout Today
February 2nd, 2010 · Blogger (Blogspot), display case
Client: Kimberly
Blog: Mommies Timeout Today
Focus of Blog: News, giveaways, and tips for mommies
Platform: BlogSpot
Love {a Giveaway}
January 28th, 2010 · giveaways
UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #150, Ellen!
In a few weeks we will celebrate one little four letter word. And its funny how that one little word can mean so many things.
For instance…
I love Peanut Butter Captain Crunch.
I love being a mom of 3 boys.
I love how my husband makes the bed every morning…even if I’m still in it.
I love my dog, Nacho.
I love my country.
I love my fabric shaver (the thingy that removed the little balls off sweaters…love).
I love blogging.
I love that Snapfish is partnering with me for Blissdom this year and my wrist will be looking fab in this…
From the silly to the serious, the tiny to the tremendous…love covers it all.
Speaking of Snapfish (which I love…), they’ve got a gob of cool stuff to celebrate the ones you love this Valentine’s Day. Like these photo cards…
and this flip book (I have one of these…they’re super!)…
I love these key rings too…
And because Snapfish is all about love for the readers of The Pixel Boutique, they are generously offering a $50 gift card to one reader! You can buy your wife that cute little photo bracelet, or your hubby a mug with your mug on it, or your parents a flip book full of pictures of little Suzy and little Johnny!
Win It! Here’s how to enter:
- Comment on this post telling me what you might buy with your $50 gift card if you win.
- For extra entries, tweet about this giveaway up to once a day and/or subscribe to this blog (and if you don’t know about Twitter, check it out!)
- Entries must be made by Friday, February 5 at 11:59 p.m. MST.
Disclosure: Snapfish is supporting me monetary for the Blissdom ‘10 Conference. I am also receiving the photo bracelet for free.
