the pixel boutique blog web print logo design

Blog Candy: Collection III

September 1st, 2010

A collection of blogs and sites I consider to have savory designs…

Salud Spa Bar

Oh Brooke

Making It Lovely

→ No Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Design Focus: LW Associates

August 26th, 2010

Client: Libby

Blog: lwassociate.com

Scope of Project: Blog (acting as website) Design

Focus of Blog: Art Licensing

Platform: Typepad

→ No Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Using Photoshop Elements to Optimize Your Blog Images

August 20th, 2010

Are you a little lost or frustrated when it comes to getting your images off your camera onto your blog post? Its easy…just try these simple steps:

→ No Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

now, with shopify {and a sweet deal for a limited time!}

August 18th, 2010

After many requests and a little down time this Summer, I’m happy to finally add Shopify e-commerce store design to my list of services. I know. It’s about stinking time.

You may be asking a few questions. Well, let me see if I can answer a few of them…

What is e-commerce? E-commerce is simply the selling of goods or services online. Some people call them “boutique sites”.

Who needs an e-commerce site? If you own a small business and sell multiple products or services, you need an e-commerce site. It could be anything from apple pies to candles to eBooks to headbands to zoo supplies (I don’t know; I just needed a “z”).

Why Shopify? Simple. I’ve done some extensive research, and though there is no one-size-fits all e-commerce solution, I think Shopify is a pretty good solution for the market I’m trying to reach. They have good customer service, an advanced design and development platform and the back end (where you would add and manage products) is super simple and easy to learn.

What do you include in an e-commerce design? Everyone does it a little different, but here’s what I include in a design package:

  • Custom Store Design
  • 7 Page Template Designs (home page, product page, checkout page, etc.)
  • Store Favicon
  • 3 Product Uploads/Additions
  • Follow Up Skype/Phone Training Session

How much does it cost? Oh, you are sneaky. Did you think I’d actually quote a project without knowing any details? That is the unforgivable sin among designers. But, I can tell you this… Shopify is one of the cheaper shopping carts and you can get plans from $24 a month. My charges are very comparable and middle of the road and will typically range from $2000-3000 depending on the project.

So. What about you? Are you in the market for an e-commerce store design? If so you are in luck because even though I have created test stores, I haven’t created a real store. So right now I am doing something a bit unconventional and offering a 50% discount to the very first client to retain my services…assuming things may take a wee bit longer the first time around. I will get to learn on you a bit and you get a sweet shop design at half the price. Yep, that’s right. And once that first person speaks up, this post will be destroyed and you’ll never be able to prove anything.

Just kidding. I would never hurt a post. (But I will remove the offer…) :)

→ 1 Comment

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Design Focus: Ivonne Maria Photography

August 16th, 2010

Client: Ivonne

Blog: ivonnemariaphotography.com

Scope of Project: Blog (acting as website) Design

Focus of Blog: Photography Services

Platform: WordPress

Theme: PhotoBlog

→ No Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Giveaways from the Heart: BondiBand

August 13th, 2010

Lookie here…

I cant wait until it cools down to sport my new Wicking Hat from BondiBand out on the trail.

I got a loving surprise from my dear friend, Metropolitan Mama, as part of her SLY awards. Know about those? Its Stephanie’s twist on the traditional giveaway model. She blesses the socks off of her victim, offers her readers the opportunity to get in on the giveaway, and promotes a hand-picked company or service all at the same time.

There’s another piece to this SLY award, but I’ll hold off on that until I have pictures and stories to accompany the post.

(PS. Have you seen the big announcement on Steph’s blog? Oh my, its a doozy. And honestly I’m still reeling, for purely selfish reasons. Sniff Sniff.)

→ 2 Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Back To School With Snapfish {Giveaway}

August 12th, 2010

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #31, Ames!

If you’re like us and on a year-round school system you’ve already started back to school. We’re actually 4 weeks in. The system is nice, but sometimes the summer is just a teensy bit short. By the time you take a week off for vacation, do some Summer day camps and take a week to do nothing but watch too much TV and totally vegetate, its about time to go back.

But who’s complaining? I’ve never heard the words “I’m board” or totally run out of ideas to entertain the troops.

From what I hear though, most of the country is out buying their school supplies and new digs to start the year off right. What is it about a fresh notebook and clean pink erasers and a new pack of undies and socks? Its almost as good as Christmas morning!

Well Snapfish has got some great back to school products too. With everything from HP’s new Photosmart e-All-in-One printers to personalized notebooks to desktop organizers, there’s something for every student, young and old.

And there’s free stuff too. Your little student can download and print free book covers and locker posters from the HP Creative Studio.  The HP Creative Studio also offers bookmarks, flash cards and mini journals to keep you on track and record your special memories from the year.

Snapfish sent me some great products to review…

One was a phone skin from their partner vendor, SkinIt.com. I was selfish and made it for my own phone (muahahaha…).

This way, my kids are always with me. They also have skins for computers, cameras, MP3 players and dogs (just kidding…making sure you’re listening.)

I also made this cute notebook. I go through blank notebooks like crazy and love that this one is personalized.

Take a look around the Snapfish Back To School section and see what great things there are. You can also follow them on Twitter at @snapfishbyhp.

WIN IT! Enter to win a $35 credit from Snapfish to spend any way you’d like! Winner will be chosen randomly.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Comment on this post telling me if you’re on a traditional school system or year round.

2. For extra entries, tweet about this giveaway up to once a day, follow @snapfishbyhp on twitter, and/or subscribe to this blog (leave a separate comment for each).

3. Entries must be made by Friday, August 27 at 11:59 p.m. MST.

→ 82 Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Design Focus: Texture Playground

August 8th, 2010

Client: Fleurzty

Blog: Texture Playground

Scope of Project: Blog Design

Focus of Blog: Hair care products, tips and musings

Platform: WordPress

→ No Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Your Regularly Scheduled Post Interrupted By Blog Hop ’10…

August 5th, 2010

So, Ms. Pensive Robin came up with a great idea for all of us not attending BlogHer ’10. Its a BlogHop! A way to get to know a whole bunch of lovely blogger in the comfort of your own pajamas. And I’m in.

If you’re here from the linky, here’s the vitals on me and this little ol’ blog…

  1. I turned 40 this year.
  2. I’ve been blogging for over 2 years now.
  3. I have 3 pre-teen/teenage boys…I don’t know what else to say other than that…
  4. I blog about blog design, tips, products, being a working mom…all sorts of things. This is also where I offer blog design and other design services.
  5. I live in Tucson, Arizona where its currently 10,000 degrees outside.
  6. I have an Etsy shop. (aaaaaand hosting a giveaway as part of the BlogHop!)
  7. I will never say no to dessert. Ever.
  8. I have another blog about scrapbooking…Confessions of a Cropaholic
  9. I’ve been to two blog conferences, but not going to BlogHer ’10 because New York is just too far away.
  10. I have two chihuahuas. (Don’t judge me.)
  11. What else do you want to know??

Hope to meet lots of new friends! Off to visit…

→ 10 Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

10 Things To Do Indoors When Its 10,000 Degrees Outdoors {Giveaway}

July 29th, 2010

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #87, Melanie!

When you live somewhere hot like I do (southern Arizona), you don’t hibernate in the winter. You do it in the Summer. When its 100+ degrees, there really is nothing worth doing outdoors (unless you have a pool, which I don’t currently).

Nothin.

This is a real bummer because about the time kids are out of school and have free time on their hands, the temps are in the triple digits. And as a work-at-home mom, I need to keep the natives busy.

So every Summer we come up with a list of things to do so we don’t get board, watch too much tv, and have sibling mayhem by Week 2. Here are a few things we did this Summer to escape the heat…

  1. JumpStart Wii – JumpStart has been a part of our family since my Oldest was 6 months old. Now, 13 years later, they have entered the world of active video games with JumpStart Get Moving: Family Fitness for the Wii, released just a few weeks ago and retailing for $29.99. Teaming up with Brooke Burke, and kinesiology experts, they have successfully created games designed to get the whole family up and active. There are over 15 fun challenge games like dodgeball, football and pinball. And here’s the fun part; you can play underwater, on a farm, in Egypt or in 8 other exotic locations. The favorites in our house are the football themed games (no big surprise there…).
    Scroll down to enter to win a copy of your own!
  1. Wii Fit and the Balance Board – Another great activity to get the booty moving is the Wii Fit with the Balance Board. There is a lot of activities for kids, which was a little surprising to me. Some of the favorites here are Hula Hoop, Basic Running (are these my children??) and Ski Jump.
  2. Molding Clay – Who would have thought a $2.50 purchase would provide so much fun? My kids were never big play dough fans…maybe because it would dry out so fast. But molding clay will keep them playing together, nicely, for hours. Literally.
  3. Homemade Marshmallows – Mmmm, yummy. Try this recipe from Ina Garten. Its easy and fun for the kids to help. But you’ll want to share with the neighbors or use them up immediately because although these are super tasty, they don’t store very well…from my experience.
  4. Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag – Another fun and tasty activity. Be sure to rinse the bag before eating or you’ll have “Salt Ice Cream”.
  5. Banana Grams – My kids don’t have summer reading assignments and frankly, I’m totally fine with giving them a break from academia for the summer (especially since we have such a short summer with year-round school). But, they don’t realize how much their little brains are working with Banana Grams. On the recommendation of a friend, I bought this game and we had plenty of fun with it. Usually, dinner dishes was on the line, so you can imagine the competition. Other game favorites were Uno Flash and electronic Monopoly.
  6. Cheap Theater – We have a nice “cheap theater” in town that has $1.50 Tuesdays. We saw some fun, “cool” movies this summer: How to Train Your Dragon and Clash of the Titans. Waiting a few extra weeks to see them was worth the savings…and a nice escape from the heat for a few hours. Many theaters run summer specials; check out your local theaters for some real savings.
  7. Video Camera – We have an old, small video camera that we have deemed the “kids’ camera”. Its always interesting to see what cinema creations they come up with. They usually involved personal diatribes, chasing of a dog, and tours of dressers and closets.
  8. Roller Skating – Its deja vu each time I visit a skating rink. Remember those days before the internet and cell phones, when you went to the skating rink with your big hair and leg warmers? Its changed a bit, but is still a lot of fun and my kids love it. (And it was a special little bonus that they had free WiFi for mommy.)
  9. Balloon Ball – When I was young, my friend and I “invented” balloon ball. Its basically volleyball with a balloon. String up a net (or string) dividing the living room basically in half and blow up a big balloon. Same rules apply, minus the broken vases and lamps.

WIN IT! Enter to win your own copy of JumpStart Get Moving: Family Fitness for the Wii. Winner will be chosen randomly.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Comment on this post telling me how you have entertained your kids this summer.

2. For extra entries, tweet about this giveaway up to once a day and/or subscribe to this blog.

3. Entries must be made by Friday, August 13 at 11:59 p.m. MST.

(This post includes affiliate links. I received a copy of JumpStart Get Moving: Family Fitness to review.)
Related Posts with Thumbnails

→ 104 Comments

Share This:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis