2010 August | the pixel boutique | blog, web & print design

Archive for August 2010

Design Focus: LW Associates

By Nicole · Comments (0)

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Client: Libby

Blog: lwassociate.com

Scope of Project: Blog (acting as website) Design

Focus of Blog: Art Licensing

Platform: Typepad

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Using Photoshop Elements to Optimize Your Blog Images

By Nicole · Comments (2)

Friday, 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:

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now, with e-commerce…

By Nicole · Comments (3)

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

After many requests and a little down time this Summer, I’m happy to finally add e-commerce store design, using GetShopped E-commerce plugin, 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 GetShopped? Simple. I’ve done some extensive research, and though there is no one-size-fits all e-commerce solution, I think it is a pretty good solution for the market I’m trying to reach. They have good documentation, a knowledgeable community of users and the back end (where you would add and manage products) is super simple and easy to learn. Plus, it runs on WordPress. Need I say more?

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… my charges are very comparable and middle of the road and will typically range from $2000-3000 depending on the project. See more here.

So. What about you? Are you in the market for an e-commerce store design?

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Design Focus: Ivonne Maria Photography

By Nicole · Comments (0)

Monday, 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

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Giveaways from the Heart: BondiBand

By Nicole · Comments (2)

Friday, 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.)

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Back To School With Snapfish {Giveaway}

By Nicole · Comments (83)

Thursday, 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.

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