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printing in a hurry {next day flyers giveaway}

By Nicole · Comments (18)

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

The holidays are upon us. I don’t know about you but its already been crazy busy around here…what with all the leftover turkey to manage, Christmas lights to hang and Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals to compair. Its enough to leave a girl cranky.

On top of all the preparations are parties, craft shows, end of year non-profit campaigns, etc. and so on. If you’re involved in any such fun, you’ll know the work that goes into such events, getting the word out, etc. And if you’re like me, you probably need everything yesterday.

Well, I’m about to make your holiday just a tiny bit less stressful. You’re welcome…Im just cheerful that way. The folks at Next Day Flyers has offered a nice little giveaway for you.

Next Day Flyers is an online printing company that delivers top-quality printing with one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry. They specialize in full color printing of custom business cards, brochures, greeting cards, postcards, as well as specialty die cuts and other marketing materials. And “Next Day” is more than just the name…it’s their promise. Print ready files completed and approved by 6 PM PST are printed and ready to ship out the next business day.

Fast, huh?

Its easy to create stunning designs with their Online Design Gallery or upload a file that was created in Photoshop, Illustrator, or similar program. And help is just a click away if you find yourself in a pickle.

So for your upcoming holiday even, fundraiser, party or just plain ol’ greetings to family and friends, check out what Next Day Flyers has to offer…even if its crunch time!

WIN IT! One randomly drawn entry will win 100 4×6 standard postcards with full color printing on the front and black and white printing on the back, shipped free (anywhere in the Continental U.S.)! Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

Leave a comment telling me how you’d use the postcards if you won
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Like Next Day Flyers on Facebook
Follow Next Day Flyers on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #nextdayflyersgiveaway up to once a day. Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “In a rush? Printing done fast…and a giveaway! http://is.gd/WPxGaF #nextdayflyersgiveaway”

Giveaway ends December 14 at 11:59 pm MST.

Comments (18)

a blast from the past: my friendship bracelet maker {giveaway}

By Nicole · Comments (21)

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #10, Niecey!
Do you remember these?

This is a friendship bracelet I made as a middle schooler ~~a trillion~~ ~~too many~~ just a few years ago. Its now faded and smashed in the pages of an old scrapbook.

But how fun were those to make? I had forgotten the “technique” until I tried it again on the My Friendship Bracelet Maker. In the Olden Days, we did it by hand. But girls these days, they are so sophisticated…

My Friendship Bracelet Maker came into being when David Crorey, an inventor in Michigan watched his granddaughters making friendship bracelets. David’s philosophy was “Give me an everyday problem and I’ll invent a solution”. So he did.

There’s also a Ribbon Barrette Maker (made plenty of those too, back in the day…)

And the fun isnt just for girls either. Boys can get into the fun with the less “girly” Clip Board…

My Friendship Bracelet Maker retails for $19.99 and is intended for children 6 and up. The MyFBM.com website has great video tutorials and oodles of patterns (they’ve come a long way since my day…). You’ll find them at Michaels, Toys R Us and Hobby Lobby among other places nationwide.

WIN IT! One lucky winner will receive their product of choice from the MyFBM.com website. Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

Visit MyFBM.com and tell me your favorite product.
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Like Movies On Demand on Facebook
Follow My Friendship Bracelet Maker on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #myfbmgiveaway up to once a day
Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “A perfect gift for the crafty girl on your list…http://is.gd/OlaHoT #myfbmgiveaway”

Giveaway ends December 12 at 11:59 pm MST.

Comments (21)

a girl’s guide to photoshop elements: intro – video 3 {plus a photos.com giveaway!}

By Nicole · Comments (40)

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Update: The winner of this giveaway is #37, Diana!

Today’s video comes with a nice little extra. The folks at photos.com have generously offered one reader a 50-image pack (a $134.99 value)! Perfect for any blogger looking to spice up their blog posts with professional, royalty free stock photos.

Photos.com offers 2.6 million royalty-free, professional images and illustrations. You can purchase image packs starting from 1 image to 50 images. Or, you can save a bundle by purchasing a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription.

Photos.com is a division of Getty Images, the world’s leading creator and distributor of still imagery, footage and multimedia products.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find on Photos.com…

and I love the fact that they offer background patterns and illustrations…

Think of the cool graphics you could come up with for your blog. Since you’re becoming a Photoshop Elements guru and all…

Read to enter? See the instructions below the video.

Now on to the video for this week…take a look at the 3rd installation of the introduction series. If you’ve missed the two previous videos, the links are listed directly below the video.

Miss the first few videos? Check out Intro 1 and Intro 2!

WIN IT! To earn an entry for this great giveaway, do any or all of the following:

Leave a comment telling me how you would use your photo pack if you won...your blog? crafting projects, scrapbooking?
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Like Photos.com on Facebook
Follow Photos.com on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #thepixelboutique up to once a day
Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “What would you do with 50 free images? http://is.gd/7t5QVL @photosdotcom #thepixelboutique”

Giveaway ends Thursday, September 1st at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Comments (40)

nicole’s yummy fried chicken {and a frank’s redhot thick sauce giveaway}

By Nicole · Comments (101)

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

UPDATE: The winners of this giveaway are: #53 – Sean, #96 – James, & #45 – Ericka!

One thing this girl right here loves is some good ol’ fried chicken. So does my family. Over the years I’ve perfected (in my estimation) the recipe and I’m happy to share it with you today.

So without further ado…

Nicole’s Yummy Fried Chicken (Featuring Frank’s RedHot Thick Sauce)

12-14 Chicken Tenderloins (or bone-in/boneless chicken breasts)
House Seasoning (1 part pepper, 1 part garlic salt, 4 parts salt, mixture)
2 cups flour
2 eggs
3/4 c. of half & half (or milk)
1/4 c. Frank’s RedHot Thick Cayenne Pepper Sauce (dont worry…it wont be spicy!)

Pat the chicken dry (this will make the batter adhere better). Sprinkle chicken with house seasoning. In one shallow dish, combine flower and a little bit more house seasoning. In another shallow dish, fork mix eggs, half & half and cayenne pepper sauce. The mixture will be orange in color. Roll chicken in flour. Dip chicken in egg/milk mixture. Then, roll in flour again. Fry in pan with peanut/vegetable oil, turning once, approximately 5-6 minutes or until cooked through.

As mentioned above, you don’t have to worry about the Frank’s RedHot Thick sauce making the chicken tenders too hot. In the cooking process, the heat cooks away and what’s left is a deep, rich flavor. But, if you do like the spicy, serve up a bowl of Frank’s RedHot Thick Sauce along side the chicken…its a perfect dipping sauce.

Would you just ponder the deliciousness of these tender vittles? Mm mm mm.

Thanks to Frank’s RedHot for sending me a sample of their Thick sauce. I’ve used several brands of hot sauce in this recipe and I really liked the texture the Thick Sauce adds. This is just one idea…there are a plethora of recipes at Frank’s RedHot website. I’m going to try the Buffalo Chicken Dip and the Spicy Bacon Cheese Burger. Yummers.

WIN IT! Want to try Frank’s RedHot Thick Sauce for yourself? Three lucky winners will receive a bottle of the thick stuff for their very own. Giveaway ends Tuesday, August 16th at 11:59 p.m. PST.

To earn an entry do any or all of the following:

Leave a comment telling me if you’ve ever tried one of Frank’s RedHot sauces and what you put it on
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Like Frank’s RedHot on Facebook
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #thepixelboutique up to once a day
Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “What do YOU put Frank’s RedHot on? Enter to win a bottle! http://is.gd/TNJtCx”

Comments (101)

the magic that is CSS {giveaway}

By Nicole

Friday, June 10th, 2011

UPDATE: The winner of this giveaway is #9, Jenn!

Long, long ago in 2001, I had a 4 year old, a 2 year old, a newborn, and a barely budding web design business. Having graduated from design school in 1995, when web design was barely even heard of, I never “formally” learned web design.

There were many books, forums, trials and errors (I mean many…trials and errors), late nights, coffee, and bald spots from pulling out clumps of hair. I’m here to tell you that if you really want to teach yourself how to do something, you can…and in the world of web design and graphics, it’s easier now than it’s ever been.

Leaning HTML, PHP, CSS and the like really is like learning a foreign language. At first it’s, well, foreign. But when you really immerse yourself and use it in everyday situations, you start to become more and more fluent in that language.

One of the “languages” I use on a daily basis in my work is CSS, which stands for Cascading Style Sheets (that name clears it right up, doesn’t it?). In a plain-English nut-shell explanation, its what makes a website pretty.

Because programming languages are like everything else in technology, there is new stuff to learn every time there’s an update. So I guess you can say that I’m always learning.

A great resource I discovered recently is Peter Gasston’s book, The Book of CSS3, published by No Starch Press. For being so robust and full of valuable information, Gasston approaches this often dry, uninteresting topic in a no nonsense, easy to grasp way. Because the world of browser compatibility changes seemingly daily, there is a companion website to give up to the minute examples and information. If you’re in the market for a good old fashion book to delve into the latest version of CSS, I’d definitely recommend checking out Gasston’s book.

Win It! Would you like the chance to win a copy of The Book of CSS3 for yourself? One lucky reader will be randomly chosen to receive a copy of this great resource. Giveaway ends Friday, June 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

To earn an entry, do any or all of the following:

Comment on this post telling me why you’d like to win this book. Just starting out? Expanding your CSS knowledge?
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Follow @nostarch on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #thepixelboutique up to once a day
Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “I can do it! (learn CSS, that is). Enter to win “The Book of CSS3″ http://is.gd/uX3aFb”

I received a free copy of this book for review. Opinions, as always, are my own.

prinly: business cards and more {a giveaway}

By Nicole · Comments (72)

Saturday, May 28th, 2011

Update: The winners of this giveaway are #14 (Nikki) and #70, Julie!You know I’m always talking about the need for good business cards. Even if you’re a stay at home mom or a casual blogger, a business card always comes in so handy.

I recently learned about a new company called Prinly that offers printing services for letterheads, envelopes, business cards and post cards. They offer many options like thick, 16pt card stock, glossy or matte finish, rounded corners and double sided printing. You can choose from several thousand premade designs or upload your own. Ordering is very simple on their online ordering system.

Prinly also offers back a full, 100% satisfaction garauntee, no questions asked. I always like a company that stands behind their product like that.

I ordered custom cards using my own design in about 15 minutes and received them really quickly…within just a few days. The quality of the paper and printing is good and the pricing in reasonable at about $35 for 500 cards.

Prinly is offering a nice giveaway opportunity below, but you can also take advantage of 50% (yes! 50%!) off of your business card order using the coupon code “?contest565?”. How cool is that?

Win It! Would you like the chance to win business cards for yourself? Two lucky readers (open to US and Canada) will be randomly chosen to receive 500 free business cards, plus free shipping! Giveaway ends Saturday, June 11 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

To earn an entry, do any or all of the following:

Comment on this post telling me what you would use your business cards for…your blog, your business, your mommyhood profession?
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Follow @Prinly on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #thepixelboutique up to once a day
Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “Everyone needs a business card or two…or 500. Enter to win some from @prinly and #thepixelboutique http://is.gd/hkexKc”

I received free business cards fro this review. Opinions, as always, are my own.

Comments (72)

2010 Holiday Gift Guide {and Giveaways!}

By Nicole · Comments (212)

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Update: Here are the winners (you can read how I conducted the selection below*)!

$50 Snapfish Credit – #157 – Angel
Tony Hawk SHRED – #125 – Angela
BuckyBalls – #71 – Sheridan
Just a Cap Full – #104 – Kelly
BuckyBalls – #21 – Charline
BuckyBalls – #193 – Trisha
Martha Stewart Punches – #109 – Juliette
Scentsy Plug In Warmer – #171 – Jenn
$100 Nick Walls Credit – #99 – Pauline
JumpStart Math Blaster – #53 – Heather
$25 Beaucoup Favors Credit – #205 – Pamela

You know what today is don’t you? Its Cyber Monday, when you can get many of the same deals online that you can on Black Friday. And after my experience, I think I prefer this method any day.

Anyhoo, holiday gift guides are all the rage in the blogosphere and I’m happy to add my own again this year. I’ve got some great products to share with you, including some amazing giveaways! Just look for the “This is a Giveaway!” button in the categories below. More details on how to enter are at the end of this post.

So without further ado, I offer “The Pixel Boutique 2010 Holiday Gift Guide {and Giveaways!}. You’ll find deals, my favorite picks, and giveaways for most everyone on your holiday list.

For Him

BlueAnt – S4 True Handsfree

BlueAnt’s S4 is the first true hands-free voice controlled Bluetooth car speakerphone. With the BlueAnt S4 drivers no longer need to touch their mobile phone or car speakerphone while driving. The S4 allows users to make and receive calls and access information using only their voice. Have you seen the movies featuring the S4 and Q2 on YouTube? Check out Gotta Run and The Situation…(this one’s my fave). A perfect gift for the man in your life.

Bucky Balls

This is one of those things where you think…why didn’t I think of that!? What a simple yet entertaining concept. Check out the video below to get a real idea of what Bucky Balls are all about. These would make great stocking stuffers, but they are not for young children. There will be 3 winners for Bucky Balls but anyone can enter PIXELBOUTIQUE for a 15% discount!

For Her

Just a Cap Full – Custom Photo Bottle Cap Necklaces

This is my little side project where I can get my hands dirty and have some fun creating unique jewelry. I take recycled bottle caps and insert a photo or image of your choice and dress it up with some glittery goodness. You can check out the process and all the details in my Etsy shop. And this is a giveaway! You can enter to win one free necklace for you or someone on your Christmas list. PLUS…take 20% off using the code HOLIDAY from now until Dec. 5.

Scentsy – Flameless Scented Candles

Have you discovered Scentsy? I did just a few months ago and I loooove them. And I’ll be giving a few as Christmas gifts this year. Ms. Amy Bellgardt, creator of Mom Made That and Mom Spark Media is also a Scentsy consultant (in all her spare time…) and has generously offered the above “Lei” Plug In Warmer and “Clarity” Scent pack to one lucky winner. Plus, Amy had offered all The Pixel Boutique readers a buy any 2, get 1 free deal! Simply email Amy after checkout and she will take care of you. Wow…thanks Amy!

For Kiddos

Tony Hawk: SHRED by Activision

When my kids saw the Tony Hawk SHRED on T.V. they were quick to let me know just how much they would love to see it under the tree this year. The motion-sensing board creates an exhilarating skate and snowboarding experience for young pros. SHRED is rated E (Everyone ages six and older) and is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and Nintendo Wii. Check out shredgame.com for tricks, videos and music. One lucky will win a SHRED Bundle (board and game) for the Wii platform! See below for more details on entering.

JumpStart – Math Blaster for Nintendo DS

Learning is fun with JumpStart! The ultimate intergalactic adventure has arrived on Nintendo DS™ with Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure. While racing through the galaxy on a mission to defeat the Hive army, kids are learning valuable math skills. In multiplayer mode, they can battle head-to-head with up to three friends at the same time. One reader will win a Math Blaster for Nintendo DS! (Be sure to check out all JumpStart has to offer online!)

Nick Walls by HP

New from HP comes Nick Walls, an ingenious way to make your walls your very own work of art. Choose from your favorite Nickelodeon theme (like Dora the Explorer, iCarly, SpongeBob or Go, Diego, Go!) then create your own unique “wall paper” using characters, objects and backgrounds. Take a look at the amazing do-it-yourself online designer and see how easy it is to create your unique wall art…

One reader will receive $100 to create their own Nick Walls! See details below for entering. And for one day only (today, Cyber Monday…) receive your Nick Walls order at 50% off! Oh my!

For Festive Greetings

Snapfish

You knew I had to include Snapfish in my Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway… . This year Snapfish has stepped up their game by offering new holiday greeting cards from new designers (like me!). The selection is amazing, but here are a few of the latest designs available in my shop…

Here’s your chance to get your cards done with a little help from Snapfish. One winner will receive a $50 credit to Snapfish!

For the Hostess

Beau-Coup Favors

Have some parties to attend this holiday season? I know I do. Its always nice to show up with a little somethin’ somethin’ for the hardworking hostess. Take a look at these cute place card holders…aren’t they precious? Any hostess would be tickled pink to receive those. You can find plenty more fun gifts and favors at Beau-Coup Favors. They specialize in wedding and baby shower favors. One winner will receive a $25 credit to spend however they wish!

The Reluctant Entertainer

Earlier this year I won a copy of Sandy Coughlin’s book, The Reluctant Entertainer from a giveaway on Pensieve Robin. I totally love this book because it shares simple tips and ideas and even recipes for the every day woman…and that’s me. Sandy demystifies the art of entertaining and guides you to becoming a more relaxed and confident entertainer.

For the Crafter

Martha Stewart Crafts – Punch All Over The Page

If you’re a paper crafter or scrapbooker, you know that Martha Stewart has some quality products out there for crafters. Well here’s one of her newest products…so new that you can’t even get them in the stores yet! (due out in December). The Punch All Over The Page frees you from the restraints of most paper punches because its a completely new concept using a magnetic die cut and base. And guess what…I’ve got my hands on 3 punches for one lucky winner! Included is the Pinking Circle, Classic Butterfly and Studded Heart.

The Scrap Rack

I’m an avid scrapbooker and used to have a blog dedicated to the art of scrapbooking (before I realized I wasn’t superwoman who could do it all and more…). One of my favorite products I discovered while blogging about scrapbooking was The Scrap Rack. Its more than just an organization product, its an organization system, which I still use today. Take a look at the website and watch some videos on how the Scrap Rack works…and you might just be convinced like I was.

How to Enter The Giveaways!

Here’s the skinny… Winners will be chosen randomly. Be sure to enter before midnight, Monday December 13.

Here’s a quick rundown of available giveaways:

Bucky Balls – Magnet Ball Game (3 winners)
Custom Photo Bottle Cap Necklace
Scentsy – Plug In Warmer and Scent
Tony Hawk SHRED Wii Bundle
Jumpstart – Math Buster DS Game
HP – Nick Walls $100 credit
Snapfish $50 credit
Beaucoup Favors – $25 credit
Martha Stewart Punch All Over The Page Punches

It’s easy to enter, but please make sure to follow these few directions.

Leave a comment below indicating the giveaway(s) you want to be entered for. If its just one, please indication which giveaway that is. If its for multiple giveaways, list them in order of preference. If your comment is randomly drawn, you will receive the item you indicate unless it has already been randomly drawn.
Be sure to include in your comment who the item is for…your kids? your hubby? your self? Comments simply saying “Pick me” or “Tony Hawk SHRED” will automatically discarded if randomly selected.
Be sure the item you are entering for is actually a giveaway (and has a “This is a Giveaway” button next to it!)
You can enter for as many giveaways as you want, up to once a day.
For extra entries you can mention this giveaway up to once a day on Twitter of Facebook. Sample tweet/update…
“Need some holiday gift ideas (and the chance to win some great giveaways? Check out the Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaways! http://is.gd/hXTR1″ (please leave a comment re: your tweet)
For another entry, subscribe to this blog. (please leave a comment re: your new subscription)
For yet another entry, post this button onto your blog’s sidebar! (simple copy and paste the link code below…please leave a comment with the link to your blog)

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. And most of all, have a happy holiday season!

This post includes affiliate links.

*How I selected winners: Using Random.org, I generated a random number, selected the commenter’s first or subsequent choice of giveaway items. If I came to a comment that indicated a tweet or Facebook mention, etc., I found the original commenter’s entry and gave them their choice of giveaway item. If I came to a comment that listed giveaway items that were already taken, I chose a new comment.)