sign on the dotted line

Recently I shared my purchase of the Design Aglow “Essential Birth Announcement Worksheet“. Even if you’re not a newborn photographer, if you sell press-printed cards, this post is for you!

Since that original post I have added to my purchase with birth announcement quotes and religious phrases I have collected, and the press-card print release form I have created, during my five-plus years of being a newborn photographer. (Read to the end to find out how to win!) This makes a stunning presentation to your clients, and also makes their ordering much easier, sparing you both countless time spent back-and-forth during the design process.

I have designed the following as a supplement to the Design Aglow “Essential Birth Announcement Worksheet” (although it can certainly be purchased / used stand-alone with much more limited function). The Design Aglow “Essential Birth Announcement Worksheet” includes one full page of birth announcement quotes and phrases for boys, girls, twins / multiples, sibling-welcomes, religious-themed cards, adoptions, and all-purpose introductions.

My new four-page supplement includes three pages of additional quotes and phrases – plus religious quotes / scriptures – for baby boys, baby girls, and seasonal / holiday-themed birth announcements (Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s, Fourth of July, fall / autumn, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). And a one-page release for your clients (see below) saving you from expensive reprint costs due to their errors, omissions, or typos on press-printed cards.

Included in this supplemental packet:

1. Press-printed card print release for clients (applicable to
    announcements, invitations, seniors, etc.)

2. Boy-themed birth announcement quotes and phrases
    (including religious and scriptures)

3. Girl-themed birth announcement quotes and phrases
    (including religious and scriptures)

4. Holiday and seasonal quotes, phrases, and scriptures for
    birth announcements

In addition to that, I have included my “Press Printed Card Release” (wording included). This is a form I make all of my clients read and sign off on before their cards and announcements go to print. It eliminates reprints at my expense for their misspellings, typos, and failure to include information. Once this form is signed off on, the customer is liable for the cards or announcements as they approved them (unless the error is a print lab defect or I failed to order the cards as they were approved, for instance if I accidentally submitted the lo-res version for print).

If you’ve ever been burned with the reprint of an expensive card order – this form is for you! And if you haven’t, you need this now before it happens!

This form wording will work for birth announcements and / or any kind of press-printed card you sell (Christmas / holiday card, birthday invitation, wedding announcement, graduation announcement, etc.)

I use the “Press Printed Card Release” text in an online web form that my customers sign off on digitally. You can print and use the text as presented if you do ordering in person, or convert it for online or e-mail use.

These forms are bare-bones to work within the template by Design Aglow (which I highly recommend purchasing). The one .psd file is divided into four folders of text. The only graphic included is a division line. There are no additional graphics or design-elements. Just the text, ma’am! If you choose to use them as a stand-alone product rather than a supplement, space has been left at the top to add your logo / letterhead to each of the pages. See below for excerpts from the different pages.

My holiday / seasonal wording quote sheet helped a customer create this design:

Purchase this now at a special rate before it’s available on Fit to Print:

Purchase this four-page kit:

Special Paperie Price $15.00

This is a layered .psd file design created in Adobe Photoshop CS2 and should work in Elements, but I cannot provide technical support for Elements purchases. The background color can be changed from white with just one click. Purchases will be e-mailed the download link during “normal waking hours” (U.S. Eastern Daylight Time). Please ask any questions before you buy! You are responsible for checking these files for spelling and formatting before presenting to your clients.




And just because we care, three lucky Paperie readers can have a chance to win the card / announcement four-page supplement. If you buy it and win it, we will refund your purchase!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):

Win birth announcement / holiday / religious card wording & press card release @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com http://is.gd/KPTM5W

2. Friend / Like / Follow Paperie Boutique on Facebook and come back here and let us know (or tell us you’re already a fan)

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want THREE chances to win, you have to do the three things listed above, and then make three separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked us on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 10th. You can enter up to three times total. Post that you have met each of the requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three times total – one entry each for each of the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have three chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!
-Robyn and Todd

guess who’s back – back again

A few days ago we featured the new “Modular Holiday Card Sales Kit: Merry Modern Collection” by Design Aglow.

Now they’re back for another guest / vendor post to promote their new “Modular Holiday Card Sales Kit: Nostalgic Splendor Collection“.

Design Aglow presents a revolutionary way for your photography studio to sell holiday cards. We’ve designed the mix & match studio sales system to enable you to work smarter, not harder, save time, increase sales, and streamline your holiday workflow. This product is more than just vintage holiday card templates, it’s like having a stationery shop in your studio and comes complete with everything you will need to launch your holiday card line within minutes of download.

INCLUDES:
• A 10-page holiday card sales catalog. This catalog is a turnkey, professionally designed way to present your holiday card offerings to clients. The catalog easily walks clients through every step involved in designing the holiday card of their dreams. It includes a built-in order form on the last page on which your clients will note their design choices, keeping their information impeccably organized, and saving you lots of valuable time.

But, by far, the most unique feature of the catalog is that it includes professionally, studio-shot stock photos of finished holiday cards. This means you won’t have to worry about taking the time to photograph your holiday cards for the catalog – this step is already done for you. All that is required is that you add your studio logo, update the policies to reflect your own, and add your pricing on the last page.

• Three beautifully designed card modules (a cover, an inside design that includes 12 different greetings, and a back), consisting of six different designs each. These are in fully layered Photoshop PSD format and will allow you to design your clients’ cards with just the click of a mouse, all in under 15 minutes per card. Simply mix and match the front, inside and back (which are completely interchangeable) for virtually limitless combinations.

• A comprehensive 10 page tutorial that will easily explain everything you need to know about launching your holiday card line. It also includes ideas for presentation, selling, and publishing your catalog online.

Don’t forget we have a giveaway going on now for a Shoot Baby!™ beanbag!

Have a great weekend everyone!
-Robyn & Todd

you’ve been carded

Did you know there’s only 132 days left ’til Christmas? Design Aglow is to the rescue with a special offer in this new vendor / guest post!

Design Aglow presents a revolutionary way for your photography studio to sell holiday cards. With a mix & match studio sales system to enable you to work smarter, not harder, save time, increase sales, and streamline your holiday workflow, this product is more than just holiday card templates. It’s like having a stationery shop in your studio and comes complete with everything you will need to launch your holiday card line within minutes of download.

INCLUDES:
• A 10-page holiday card sales catalog. This catalog is a turnkey, professionally designed way to present your holiday card offerings to clients. The catalog easily walks clients through every step involved in designing the holiday card of their dreams. It includes a built-in order form on the last page on which your clients will note their design choices, keeping their information impeccably organized, and saving you lots of valuable time.

But, by far, the most unique feature of the catalog is that it includes professionally, studio-shot stock photos of finished holiday cards. This means you won’t have to worry about taking the time to photograph your holiday cards for the catalog – this step is already done for you. All that is required is that you add your studio logo, update the policies to reflect your own, and add your pricing on the last page.

• Three beautifully designed card modules (a cover, an inside design that includes 12 different greetings, and a back), consisting of six different designs each. These are in unflattened Photoshop PSD format and will allow you to design your clients’ cards with just the click of a mouse, all in under 15 minutes per card. Simply mix and match the front, inside and back (which are completely interchangeable) for virtually limitless combinations.

• A comprehensive 10 page tutorial that will easily explain everything you need to know about launching your holiday card line. It also includes ideas for presentation, selling, and publishing your catalog online.

I am completely in love with this – talk about impressive to clients and a time-saver all in one! If you sell birth announcements, you must check this out!




We have two winners to announce in our See Jane Work giveaway…and they are…Jamie Delight Photography and Jessica Hester Photography.

Congratulations to both winners and thanks again to all of our vendors and readers that made our birthday celebration such an amazing success!

-Robyn and Todd

je l’ai fait à ma façon—trente et un

Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements started on Monday, July 25th…

But we’re not done quite yet. We have one big “prize pack” giveaway for one lucky reader (from Melissa Davis Designs and Collages.net) before we sign off for the evening tonight – and another big “final giveaway” on Tuesday before we empty the punch bowl and take down the streamers. So let’s get to the fun, shall we?

Melissa Davis Designs is offering up a $100 gift certificate for this prize pack! You can see a sneak-peek of her new 2011 holiday card templates above.

And Collages.net is back one last time – this prize pack winner will also receive a $25 gift card for a Canvas Gallery Wrap.

So how do you win? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win a @Collagesnet & @brandsushi & Handmade Paper Album Boxes gift packWin a @Collagesnet / Collages.net and Melissa Davis Designs gift pack at @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like Collages.net on Facebook.

3. Like Melissa Davis Designs on Facebook.

4. Comment here with your favorite Melissa Davis Designs template.

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want FIVE chances to win, you have to do the five things listed above, and then make five separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 27th. You can enter up to five times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to five times total – one entry each for both the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have five chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Huge thanks to Melissa Davis Designs and Collages.net for the amazing prize pack! Check in on Tuesday for the very last birthday party gifts!




Don’t forget several of our merchants are offering discounts and coupon codes to all Paperie readers this week! Check and see if your favorite vendor is there!

Just one giveaway to go – make sure you check back Tuesday!
-Robyn

deux années – giveaway 28

Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements started on Monday, July 25th…

Since last Monday, vendors have donated over $7100 in prizes to Paperie readers to celebrate our second birthday! Amazing! And now we have another prize pack for all the maternity and baby / child photographers out there – gift certificates from The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn (TAoPaN), Memorable Epiphanies, and Photo Card Boutique. One lucky reader will take it all!

The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn (TAoPaN) is donating a $50 gift certificate to their online store.

Memorable Epiphanies is honored to be a sponsor of Paperie Boutique’s Birthday Celebration and is donating a $75 gift certificate.

And Photo Card Boutique is donating a $50 gift card good on anything in their store, including birth announcements and mini-accordions!

So how do you win these great prizes? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win @taopangroup MemorableEpiphanies.etsy.com @PhotogBoutique maternity/baby/child giftcards – @PaperieBoutique / http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like TAoPaN on Facebook.

3. Like Memorable Epiphanies on Facebook.

4. Like Photo Card Boutique on Facebook.

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want FIVE chances to win, you have to do the five things listed above, and then make five separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 26th. You can enter up to five times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to five times total – one entry each for both the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have five chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Big thanks to The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn (TAoPaN), Memorable Epiphanies, and Photo Card Boutique for this awesome gift pack. Don’t forget to check for their Paperie birthday celebration coupon codes. You can find those codes, and several others from our vendors, continually updated this week here!




Weekend’s almost over and we still have several more giveaways left!
We’ll keep going Monday ’til all of them have winners – see ya’ soon!
-Robyn

P.S. Vendors, if you are interested in being a part of the birthday celebration, e-mail me at “robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com” ASAP!

deux années – giveaway 27

Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements start on Monday, July 25th…

Noel’s Paperie features custom paper-related items such as custom invitations, favors and decor for events of all kinds. All items are handmade, with your wants in mind. No one has ever had the same designed invitation, and creating unique items for almost any event is what Noel’s Paperie is here for! Thank you!

Included in this prize pack are a $50 Print credit to Collages.net, “The Wedding Workbook” ($95 value) from BrandSushi, and $25 off any invitation order from Noel’s Paperie.

So how do you win these great prizes? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win a @Collagesnet & @brandsushi & NoelsPaperie.com gift pack @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like Collages.net on Facebook.

3. Like BrandSushi on Facebook.

3. Like Noel’s Paperie on Facebook.

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want FIVE chances to win, you have to do the five things listed above, and then make five separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 26th. You can enter up to five times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to five times total – one entry each for both the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have five chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Big thanks to Collages.net, BrandSushi, and Noel’s Paperie for this amazing prize pack. Don’t forget to check for their Paperie birthday celebration coupon codes. You can find those codes, and several others from our vendors, continually updated this week here!




Weekend’s almost over and we still have several more giveaways left!
We’ll keep going ’til all of them have winners – see ya’ soon!
-Robyn

P.S. Vendors, if you are interested in being a part of the birthday celebration, e-mail me at “robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com” ASAP!

deux années – giveaway 25

Happy 2nd birthday to Paperie Boutique!
Visit PaperieBirthday.com for all events!

Winner announcements start on Monday, July 25th…

If there’s such a thing a a super-duper triple-360° mega giveaway, well then #25 would be it! Up for grabs for one lucky Paperie reader are three amazing prizes from Francypants Boutique, One Willow Presets, and The Album Cafe.

The BonjOrganization .pdf guide ($99 value) has over 50 pages teaching the art of balancing work and family along with client and time management. Bonus items include “Worst First” charts for the family, Kelli’s Mom-preneur schedule, client checklists, filing systems, and more. Also features Kelli’s extreme office make-over and the strategic setup of her office. It will change the way you work and play!

“I wish I could leap through email and just hug your neck. I read your BonjOrganization e-book last night and had so many light bulb moments. Really, I love organization. It makes me happy. But I can’t keep up with a system that I love yet. Now, I printed off your Worst-First Chart and your Schedule, and I’m tweaking them to our family’s needs. And already, I feel so much better!! I can do this! I had a very productive day today, kept up with housework, clients, Parker’s school program, and even ate dinner out with the family after the play. This morning? Both of my kids made their beds and Parker even finished his handwriting homework before we left the house. And I even had the strength (and sense) to say an emphatic NO to a client who is asking for yet another exception, and I haven’t even shot her session yet. (I’m not going to take the session at all, in fact.)

Thank you, Kelli. You’re such a gem. And I will be shouting the praises of your BonjOrganization e-book from the rooftops, darling.”
~Stacey Woods, Stacey Woods Photography

The One Willow Presets “Triple Collection, plus Timeless” collection ($139.00 value) includes 82 presets, 55 posts, and 5 tones.

And The Album Cafe “Complete ‘Pure’ Marketing Set” ($89 value) is designed for printing with WHCC and Vistaprint – it literally includes everything you need to set up your new business (or add much-needed sparkle to an existing one).

So how do you win these great prizes? It’s simple!

1. Go to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and post the following on either or both (then tell us where you did):
Win @kellifrance onewillowpresets.com @thealbumcafe “mega-prize kit” at @PaperieBoutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://PaperieBirthday.com

2. Like Francypants Designs on Facebook.

3. Like One Willow Presets on Facebook.

4. Like The Album Cafe on Facebook.

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want FIVE chances to win, you have to do the five things listed above, and then make five separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment that you have posted to your Twitter and/or Facebook account(s), with a link to where you did it – or that you’ve liked one or both vendors on Facebook – in separate comments here to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 25th. You can enter up to five times total. Post that you have met both requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to five times total – one entry each for both the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have five chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck!

Big thanks to Francypants Boutique, One Willow Presets, and The Album Cafe for this great prize pack. Don’t forget to check for their Paperie birthday celebration coupon codes. You can find those codes, and several others from our vendors, continually updated this week here!




It’s the weekend and I still have several more giveaways left!
We’ll keep going ’til all of them have winners – see ya’ soon!
-Robyn

P.S. Vendors, if you are interested in being a part of the birthday celebration, e-mail me at “robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com” ASAP!

all mixed up

Today we have a vendor / guest post and giveaway from The Designer’s Mix!

The Designer’s Mix website has officially launched after much anticipation, and is growing weekly as we add new items for you. We currently offer fun alphabet sets, unique papers & textures, beautiful templates, and tons of handy dandy digital elements such as buttons, tags, and frames. There is much more coming your way soon, too!

What’s great about The Designer’s Mix is its flexibility and quality. All of our products are designed to be mixed, matched, and used in a variety of ways. We want you to get creative and rock our products on your cards, albums, web designs, newsletters, and so much more.

Not to mention, there is a freebies section on the site! Yes, FREEBIES! New freebies are available monthly, so we encourage you to check back each month.

Onto the fun part… TWO very lucky people have the chance of winning a $45 gift certificate to spend at The Designer’s Mix. To win a gift certificate, head over to our Facebook page, “like” us and tell us what you think about our stuff. We will randomly pick 2 winners from the comments on the Facebook page on Monday, June 27th.

We are also going to give someone a $75 gift certificate! If you want to aim high for the $75, tweet about this blog post, follow us on Twitter and tell the Twitter-sphere about @thedesignersmix! We’ll randomly pick a winner from the tweets on Monday, June 27th.

P.S. Any Paperie Boutique visitor can enter the promo code “paperie” at checkout for 10% off your order!




Don’t forget to scroll down because we currently have two other ongoing contests from Dear Miss Modern – and – StudioThoughtSauce.com!

modern love

Today we have another great vendor / guest post and giveaway from Dear Miss Modern and Deluxemodern Design – plus a discount code for all of our readers.

Hello Darling!

I’m Christine from Dear Miss Modern…..the chic and stylish design + branding shop from Deluxemodern Design.

While Deluxemodern Design specializes in high-end custom branding, Dear Miss Modern specializes in instant gratification!

In the design shop you will find pre-made logos, marketing sets, all kinds of fabulous patterns, cards, and our latest and greatest, The Blog Sugar Design Kit! What is THAT, you ask? It’s a neatly packaged group of design elements for your blog. Use all the elements, or just a few. Change the colors, or keep them. You decide. Works with any blog platform. Lots of new designs in the works!

We’d be so pleased if you’d come say hello, join our Facebook page, check out our site, and peruse our design shop!

And one lucky Paperie reader will receive a pre-made logo OR $100.00 to the shop {in case you don’t need a logo}.

You have three ways to enter:

1. Visit the Deluxemodern Facebook page at facebook.com/deluxemodern
    and LIKE it.

2. Follow Deluxemodern Design on Twitter at twitter.com/deluxemodern.

3. List your favorite Dear Miss Modern product in the comments here.

Each entry requires its own separate comment here. (In simple terms: If you want THREE chances to win, you have to do all three things listed above, and then make three separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 23rd. You can enter up to three times total. Post that you have met all three requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to three times total – one entry each for the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have three chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 48-72 hours of the winner-announcement to claim their prize.

Good luck with the giveaway darlings…I wish you all could be winners!

And right now all Paperie readers will receive a 10% disicount to Dear Miss Modern with the code MISSPAPERIE!




And lastly, a very belated announcement for the BrandSushi eBook giveaway…the winner is…Alison Douglass Photography!

Congrats to Alison and everyone who entered, and special thanks to BrandSushi for such a fantastic prize!




I know updates here have been quite sporadic due to health issues I’ve been having – but don’t forget to tune in often because there are several great vendor giveaways and features in the queue and I’ll be posting them as frequently as possible!

Thanks for your patience!
-Robyn

mini Cooper

Photo Card Boutique is back again for a vendor / guest post and giveaway!

But first… Recently I was given the opportunity to try out a few of the templates, and a Buttons and Bows client just selected the “Cooper Baby Boy” design as their birth announcement. Here’s the front and back as submitted to ProDPI. (Last names were blurred out for privacy reasons.)

The images below show the finished product. The templates were so easy to tweak and customize. (You can see I changed the back up somewhat from the original and made it a 3-photo design.) Changing colors and inserting images was a breeze with the multiple layers. Font information was also included so any alterations could remain true to the original.

And now Angie is back with another great giveaway and deal for Paperie readers!

One lucky Paperie reader will win their choice a $100 gift card OR one limited edition marketing set. How? It’s easy!

1. Like Photo Card Boutique on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/PhotoCardBoutique

2. Follow Photo Card Boutique on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/PhotogBoutique

3. Post the following to Facebook or Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
Win a $100 gift card to PhotoCardBoutique.com / @PhotogBoutique from PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/92ZZS1

4. Leave a note in the comments here saying what Photo Card Boutique item is your favorite.

Each entry requires its own separate comment. (In simple terms: If you want FOUR chances to win, you have to do all four things listed above, and then make four separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 24th. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have met all four requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four times total – one entry each for the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have four chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 24-72 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

Good luck!

And everyone can take advantage of this special offer – Paperie readers will receive a $5 gift card to Photo Card Boutique good on their next purchase when they spend $15 or more. Just enter the code paperie!

Thanks so much to Photo Card Boutique for the awesome giveaway and promo offer! Have a great weekend everyone!

P.S. If you’re waiting to hear from Robyn, please be patient. The inbox is more backed up than the Mississippi River!

perfect design

Excited to have another guest / vendor post with giveaway today by Design Aglow! Yes, I said Design Aglow!

Design Aglow’s Ultimate Album Builder is all your studio will ever need to create amazing albums time and again with ease. In addition to breathing any type of album into existence, this generous, 302 pages of album templates and five optional background textures is also fantastic for marketing, holiday cards, portfolios, slideshows and any application your studio can dream up.

Simply select your desired layouts and create an album or project with as many pages as needed by simple drag-and-drop for the easiest workflow yet! A seriously stunning tool for serious studios, don’t hesitate to incorporate this robust product into your arsenal. Build your best albums today with our instant download.

PERFECT FOR:
• Photographer’s portfolio
• Unique and flexible client album
• Baby album
• Studio marketing
• Card or postcard (one page), a tri-fold card (three or more),
  or more for a studio brochure
• Show one page at a time for a DVD slideshow product
• Frame several pages for a wall display
• Holiday cards
• Thank you notes

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• 302 pages, 12×12 square design
• Fully automatic. Bundled actions make inserting images a breeze
• Five optional background textures
• Suitable for any album company
• Includes bonus InDesign version of the templates for a speedy
  drag-and-drop workflow
• Compatible with Photoshop CS and newer, InDesign CS3 and
  newer, Photoshop Elements 6.0 and newer (templates will work,
  actions will not), Windows and Mac

*Special thanks to Anna Mayer Photography, Sarah D Harper, JG Photography, Angela Weedon Photography, Paul Johnson Photography & Untamed Heart Photography for the lovely images.

Click here to check it out in the shop with introductory pricing through March 29th at 5 pm EDT.

To celebrate the release of the Ultimate Album Builder, Design Aglow is giving away a $100 gift certificate to one lucky Paperie reader! How do you win? Easy!

1. Like Design Aglow on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Design-Aglow/100326373364376?ref=ts

2. Follow Design Aglow on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/designaglow

3. Post the following to Facebook or Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
I want to win a $100 gift certificate to DesignAglow.com / @designaglow over at PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/heq8QX

4. Leave a note in the comments here saying what your favorite Design Aglow product is.

Each entry requires its own separate comment. (In simple terms: If you want FOUR chances to win, you have to do all four things listed above, and then make four separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 28th. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have met all four requirements in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

You can enter / post up to four times total – one entry each for the options listed above. (PLEASE NOTE: Comments are held for moderation and may not appear immediately. Please be patient! They will show up eventually.)

You have four chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 24-72 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

Good luck!

P.S. From the Design Aglow Twitter account today: a Facebook fan and a Twitter follower will win a $75 gift certificate today…tell your photog peeps! (nothing to do, just join us)

Check it out!

P.S. If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. If you are a photographer and are interested in having your packaging featured – or are a vendor and are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured – please contact robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.

I feel pretty…

I am so excited to announce today’s vendor / guest post and giveaway. It’s a prize I truly covet myself!

“Happy Girls are Pretty Girls” is our motto and what makes a girl happier than a little bit of extra something? Glitter, Shimmer, Personalized Gifts…our ideas are endless And because we’re small and nimble we can work with you to create the perfect invitations, announcements, cards or gifts!

My name is Darcy and I am the girl behind “pretty girl designs”. My husband and children can often be found covered in glitter. I love all things paper. Fonts make me happy. Photography makes me swoon. And I have a weakness for stickers!

Jamie Schultz from Jamie Schultz Photography and Design Studio recently asked me to create fun and unique packaging for her clients. I gave her these three options. Can you guess which one she chose?

I am excited to be giving away one of these sets to a lucky Paperie reader! You have three chances to win!

1. “Like” / follow pretty girl designs on Facebook:
    facebook.com/prettygirldesigns

2. Post the following about prettygirldesigns.com on Facebook
    or Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
I want to win a ‘pretty’ stationery set from prettygirldesigns.com at @paperieboutique / PaperieBoutique.com – http://is.gd/a9JXlY

3. Tell us which of the above three sets is your favorite – and why!

Each entry requires its own separate comment. (In simple terms: If you want THREE chances to win, you have to do all three things listed above, and then make three separate comments here telling us how you did them.)

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, February 10th. You can enter up to three times total. Post that you have “liked” the Facebook fan page, posted to Twitter or Facebook (with link), and / or listed your favorite stationery set – in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

You can enter / post up to three total times – one entry each for the three options listed above.

You have three chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 24-72 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

I’m so jealous one of you gets to win this prize – good luck! Thanks to Darcy at pretty girl designs for giving you the chance! And don’t forget to visit her Etsy shop, too!




Last but not least…have you thought about advertising with Paperie lately? Kathy of the Boudoir Business Boutique writes:

“I just thought you’d like to know that I’ve received triple the amount of traffic from your site than any other site I’m advertising on! I’m so pleased with choosing to advertise with you!“

Stats don’t lie! Contact todd @ this domain if you are interested in joining our advertising family. And if you are a photographer and are interested in having your packaging featured – or are a vendor and are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured – please contact robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.

(don’t) paint it black

It. Just. Got. Interesting! If you’ve been thinking of entering your packaging photos in our best business packaging / holiday packaging contest, now’s the time to start “doing“.

In addition to a $20 Paper Source gift certificate as a prize – now HB Photo Packaging has also kicked in an additional $100 gift certificate to their store!

Have no idea where to get started? Check this old Paperie entry for inspiration!

Get wrapping and send photos to Robyn [robyn AT paperieboutique DOT com]! Submissions last thru Tuesday, November 30th.

[ And a tip from Robyn: If you have a Michael's near you, go raid their $1 bin. You'll find dozens of holiday-themed goodies to stick, hot glue, or tie on your packaging - some in multi-packs making the cost of a little "spice" less than a gumball! ]




I’ve known Justyna Nielsen of Funky Monkey Photography for years now and I’m so excited to have her here for a guest post on Paperie!

Creating whimsical easels

If black isn’t a part of your branding, why use black easels? Spice things up with your favorite colors or even use special effect such as distressing or crackling. Match up colors to your branding or room décor.

Creative uses:
I used one as a menu holder for my leather-bound price list I keep in my studio. A few other ones hold colorful frames with product descriptions. I also used a few for gifts for my clients when they purchased storyboards. Here are some other creative uses:

1. Price list. Place a price list or brochures in one of these easels for a beautiful display in your studio or at an auction, expo or event. For best results, your price list can be in form of a fabric/leather bound menu or mounted on a sturdy backing. Choosing the correct easel size is important so items don’t fall out or cause the easel to tip over if too big.

2. Collages. Provide your clients the whole package. If you offer styrene or board mounted collages, offer easels for “display ready” option to your clients. Perfect for mantels, desks, shelves, tables. You can look into wholesale easel purchasing and make sure you add the cost to the item price. This is called “value adding” in pricing.

3. Smaller frames fit in easels too. Place a cute 5×7” birth announcement (or a photo) in a matching color frame and display it on an easel. We recommend using a different shade or a complimentary color for the easel. Can make a special product or a gift.

4. Album or press book display. Instead of laying your albums on a table, create a more visible display by placing albums in easels. Especially impressive if your albums open up flat and have seamless spreads. Open it to your favorite panoramic image and place in the easel. Your clients can create different displays each month by opening to a different page.

5. Holder for product shots. Colorful holder for product shots to make an appealing price list.

6. Sign holder. If you participate in any expos or auctions, you can have your logo printed and mounted on a styrene or foam board and then placed in a matching color easel. Ideal for the expo tables. Place any other display items that may fit in them to create more interest.

7. Holiday card display. Choose this standard easel or one of the photo/note holder trees, paint in your chosen color and attach holiday cards.

8. Props. Have a lot of paint left? Sand a kid chair or another wooden prop and use the spray paints to give them a new look. Spray paint an ordinary garden tub or a planting pot to transform it into a new prop. Spray paint cans or small buckets for pen holders.

9. Uniform frames. If you’re like me, you have a collection of empty mismatched frames. Pick 6-7 of your favorite and spray paint them the same color. Perhaps a distressed or crackled antique white for the shabby chic look. You can use 2 colors such as hot pink and black to split amount frames. Hang them up empty on your wall for a creative wall decoration if you feel you can’t fill them with photographs right now. You can also cut corkboard to fit a frame for a creative reminder board or frame a chalkboard for a funky message board.

You will need:
- Metal easel any color
- Spray cans of primer (optional)
- Paint spray cans in desired color
- Cardboard and gloves recommended to keep your area and hands clean

Time:
The paint in spray cans is pretty fast drying but you will need multiple coats for best coverage.

Process:
1. Prepare a metal easel. Easels can be purchased online or in most craft stores (mine are from Michael’s Craft Store). Wipe clean and dry. Place in a well-ventilated space on a cardboard or newspaper. The spray paints will have a big reach so avoid spillage by protecting the area. I sprayed mine outside but I had to watch out for wind blowing any leaves my way.

2. For best coverage, spray the easel with a primer. This step is optional. I made most of mine without the primer.

3. Find your favorite color in spray paint from a local hardware store. I found mine at Home Depot, Menard’s and Ace Hardware. I picked these colors because they fit my logo colors (orange, lime green and purple). The rest were fun shades I found for chairs and other props.

4. Shake the can vigorously before each use. Spray from about 1 foot away in thin coats. Let dry in between multiple coats. For best coverage, avoid getting too close or going over in the same spot multiple times without letting it dry. Once the paint gets pretty thin and starts running, remember to shake the can again. I tend to start with the bottom so I flip the easel upside down. Spray. Wait. Flip on the other side, repeat the process. Inspect from all sides when dry. If you mess up, wait until it dries, sand with fine sand paper and re-paint a larger area.

Versions:
- Use one color (such as turquoise) for under coat and a different
  one (such as green) for the final coat. Wipe off the outer coat
  in a few spots with a dry bristle brush to reveal the under coat.
- Use sand paper to rough up the edges for a distressed look.
- Try a crackle or other special effect paints.

Justyna Nielsen is the owner and photographer of Funky Monkey Photography with a tale. She specializes in baby and children photography in Madison, Wisconsin.

[ Note from Robyn: Easels can also be purchased inexpensively onllne from Display Collections and Easel Moments. ]

Thanks so much for stopping by Justyna! I think I have some painting to do now…

Happy, merry!
-Robyn

P.S. If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. If you are a photographer and are interested in having your packaging featured – or are a vendor and are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured – please contact robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.

holiday. celebrate.

One of our most popular vendors, Design Aglow, stops by again today for another giveaway / guest post! Read on for more…

Holiday Ornament Cards

Design Aglow has pioneered the round die cut card and the holiday ornament card, and these innovative & inexpensive keepsakes promise to leave your clients hanging…in the homes of friends and family. Simply choose one of the five delicious two-sided designs from each collection, print, and add your own ribbon for an inspiring way to wish loved ones the best while earning a prominent spot in their homes (and their hearts).

A revolutionary idea to create a bold new market for the holidays!

Not sure every client is ready for round? We also include a set of coordinating 5×5 flat square cards to help you sell a more traditional option too!

PERFECT FOR:
• Unique keepsake holiday ornament cards
• Round cards for birth announcements, save
   the date or any occasion
• Bonus set of two sided square cards
• Your own studio greetings to clients and
   those who refer you

PRODUCT DETAILS:
• 5 distinctive designs (front and back)
• Unflattened PSDs for unlimited customization,
   including color changes
• Designed as 5×5 round card templates for easy
   printing/drilling by our lab
• Bonus set of matching 5×5 flat square cards
   for a traditional square holiday card option

PRINTER DETAILS:
Design Aglow has an exclusive printing relationship with Copycraft for this product with our own custom, round die on 16 pt matte stock with hole drilling available at the following prices for 2010:

25 ornaments 1.65 each
50-100 ornaments 1.10 each
101-200 ornaments .96 each
201-300 ornaments .65 each
301-400 ornaments .55 each
401-500 ornaments .45 each
501+ ornaments .39 each

*We recommend selling these custom ornaments at $3-$6 each depending on your business model and the quantity ordered. Click here to see all three style collections in the shop!

Now you can win your choice of one of the Design Aglow Holiday Ornament Card sets. it’s easy! You have four chances to win!

1. “Like” Design Aglow on Facebook

2. Follow @designaglow on Twitter

3. Post the following on Twitter:
Win your choice of Holiday Ornament Card sets from Design Aglow / designaglow.com / @designaglow at PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique

4. Post about “Design Aglow Holiday Ornament Cards” on Facebook

Then come back and comment here that you’ve done so – each entry requires its own separate comment. (In simple terms: If you want FOUR chances to win, you have to do all four things listed above, and then make four separate comments telling us how you did them.)

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 6th. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have “liked” the Facebook fan page, followed on Twitter, posted to Twitter (with link), and / or posted to Facebook (with link) – in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

You can enter / post up to four total times – one entry each for the four options listed above.

You have four chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 24-48 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

UPDATE: The winner has been posted here – check it out!

Good luck, and thanks once again Design Aglow!




You may have noticed things are a little, ummmm, “pink” around here this week. This is in honor of the 9th annual 2010 Blogger Boobie-Thon for breast cancer awareness and a cure. (The main boobiethon.com page is always SFW (“safe for work”). The blog will stay pink until the ‘Thon ends on 10/07!

This is a “pledge” drive, so proceeds go directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation – you donate to Komen, then submit your donation amount / pledge to the Boobie-Thon.

I’m proud to say that I started this event in 2002. I’m no longer the coordinator (I stepped down in 2007 and Melissa Connolly took the reigns). But nonetheless I consider the site “my baby” and I hope you will stop by and participate – be it through donations and photo submissions – or spreading word of mouth on Twitter / Facebook / Flickr / blogs, etc. “Do One Thing!”

Last year in 2009, the ‘Thon raised over $13,000 in one week. In 2010, just since Friday, the #boobiethon has already raised over $4000! The event runs through October 7th so hurry up and participate now!

And photographers can also get involved in F/Stop Breast Cancer — an auction of mentors and photography items to support breast cancer research and awareness. 100% off the proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

This event will be blogged, Tweeted, and posted on Facebook.

Visit the website for more information and to learn how to participate!


Check back often this week! Trust me.
-Robyn

P.S. If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain. If you are a photographer and are interested in having your packaging featured – or are a vendor and are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured – please contact robyn @ this domain to be added to the posting schedule.