(This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Snapfish. But I’m sure you already knew that. Because you’re smart. And so lovely.)
When BlogHer contacted me to ask if I was interested in doing a Snapfish product review for Father’s Day, I jumped on it. I’ve always used Snapfish for Christmas cards, and last year I used them to create a Valentine’s Day notepad for Jeff that featured my brain scan on the top of every page. (That was back when I toyed with the idea of having a tumor! SO, the notebook had the potential of being a really macabre gift. Instead, it was a happy cerebral celebration!)
Anyway, the kind folks at Snapfish provided a list of items on which they wanted their reviewers to focus. I chose the frosted stein with Jeff and his dad in mind. (You see, they sometimes like to drink things from steins, if you catch my drift.) I chose the collage mousepad for my dad, because he continues to spend a crazy amount of time behind the computer. (Before he retired, he was a computer engineer. Now? Let’s just say this: He could kick your butt at Sudoku.)
As you probably know, the Snapfish process is completely user-friendly. You upload a photo, you stick it on whatever product you wish, and if there’s a problem, Snapfish will actually say something like, “Hey, whoa there, Sparky. That photograph is not going to look good on the product you’ve selected. Red triangle!” In other words, you’re getting quality control before you even place the order. I love that. I NEED that.
Let’s talk about the collage mousepad, shall we? Since I decided to make a collage for my dad, I uploaded seven photos of the girls and our family to Snapfish, and they promptly arranged them and showed me how it would look on the completed mousepad. It looked great, except one of the Meredith photos was super huge, and none of the Harper photos were super huge. (You know how kids are. Super Huge Photo = I Love Meredith More.) I clicked the button to rearrange the photos, and voilà! Perfection.
Putting the frosted steins together was even easier than putting the mousepad together. Choose a photo, preview the stein, and you’re done. Seriously? It typically takes me several days to put together gifts for holidays. Start to finish with the Snapfish thing? Less than thirty minutes. Breezy.
Less than a week after placing my order, I received the finished items in the mail. The mousepad? It looks really good! In my book, you always lose a bit of quality when you transfer an image to fabric. With that said, the Snapfish mousepad is the best quality I could expect at a price of $12.99. Here! See for yourself.
When I opened Jeff’s dad’s stein, I was quite pleased with the results. The photograph is centered perfectly on the stein, and there are absolutely no bubbles or cracks. The stein itself is quite heavy, and is of strong quality.
Jeff’s stein had a bit of a problem in that a crack appeared in the photo right across Meredith’s face. I immediately contacted Snapfish and within minutes they sent an e-mail back crediting my account for another stein. No hassle. SO nice.
I ordered the same exact stein again, and sadly, there is a crease that travels right down the center of the photograph. Although I’m sure I could contact Snapfish again, I opted not to. (In other words, the quality was a bit less than it could have been, BUT, I’m 100% positive they would be willing to rectify the situation.)
Last weekend I presented all of the dads with their gifts, and they were completely surprised. Clearly, the early Father’s Day celebration threw them off. But best of all, they were absolutely thrilled with their personalized gifts. (My dad has learned to expect golf balls for Father’s Day. This was So Much Better.)
When all is said and done, I will definitely return to Snapfish for photographs, cards, and personalized gifts. In fact, a good friend of mine creates a photo book every year for her kids in lieu of jumping into the scrapbooking hysteria. An excellent idea, methinks.
Hey! I’m in the mood to share some Father’s Day Snapfish love. Let’s have a random drawing beginning at 9:00 a.m. (PST) May 11, 2009 and ending at 5:00 p.m. (PST) June 13, 2009. Tell me a little something about one of the dads in your life. It can be your own father, a father figure, a grandfather, or your partner! (Make me cry, People. That’s what I like.) On Saturday, June 13th at 5:00 p.m. (PST), I’ll do the random number generator thing, and the winner will score a fifty dollar gift certificate to Snapfish!
(Whether or not you win the gift certificate, please know that Father’s Day is on June 21st. Snapfish asks that you place your Father’s Day orders no later than June 13th to ensure a timely delivery!)
Actually, you may want to check out the other Snapfish reviews right here and enter ALL of the contests! You have 58 chances to win! (BlogHer is giving away ten $50 gift cards each week!) (Official contest rules are here, if you’re interested. AND, even MORE information can be found at the Snapfish site!)
It’s always important to have rules:
- No duplicate comments.
- You may receive an additional entry by linking on Twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
- You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
- This giveaway is open to US Residents only, age 18 or older.
- Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
- You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there! And to you, too!
We have a winner!
Congratulations, Wendy!!!
32 responses so far ↓
1 I love you and you and you and you (repeat and fade)… // May 11, 2009 at 3:45 pm
[...] One more thing: If you’re interested in reading about Snapfish products and possibly winning a $50 Snapfish gift card for Father’s Day, step on over to my side room. [...]
2 Lise // May 11, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Next weekend is my 18-year-old daughter’s final ballet recital. My significant other is working out of state right now. He will work from 6:00 p.m until 10:00 a.m. the night before, then leave straight for the airport in order to be home for the recital. He’s not particularly interested in ballet, but he adores my daughters and wants to be there for them, no matter what – even if it means getting no sleep after working 16 hours.
3 Angie // May 11, 2009 at 4:54 pm
My dad used to tie a rope around his waist and drag me around the block for hours on my green machine because I was too little to reach the pedals. He died from cancer 2 years ago, and I miss him terribly.
On the other hand, my husband is alive and well. He works 3 jobs to support us, but never misses a soccer game. He’s one of the best dads I know, and that’s saying something.
4 No Minimom // May 11, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Hey! There is nothing wrong with “the scrapbooking hysteria”!! ;-)
My Dad is the coolest. He has a Dress Up Jesus magnet set in his office, he runs miles and miles every day (MILES), he traveled to Mexico and Paris to see a French pop star, and he recently joined Twitter!
I made him a photobook for Christmas of pictures from his trip to Paris and he LOVED it. It was the manly version of a scrapbook.
5 Neena // May 11, 2009 at 7:35 pm
My husband prepares hilarious menus for my 18-month-old daughter’s breakfast and emails them to me while I’m at work, with pictures, so I can giggle and join in the fun. Also, he “translates” them in foreign languages (brunois de grapes and lait complet anyone?) He adores my daughter, and loves her mother to pieces. Best dad ever!
6 Nichole // May 11, 2009 at 7:45 pm
My dad used to make a 24-hour drive to pick us up every year for Christmas. A week later, he’d do it again to take us home. The distance was difficult, but the effort to spend time with us meant alot.
7 Mandy // May 11, 2009 at 10:17 pm
my step-father is obsessed with babies. both of my sisters have kids now and whenever he is around them he snatches them up, plays with them, and entertains them until its time for them to leave. it’s adorable.
8 meghank // May 12, 2009 at 8:21 am
My husband is the best dad ever. Our little guy’s smile often brings him close to tears. Almost nightly I hear ‘you need to stop smiling at me and being all cute when i put you to bed, because it makes me want to stay up and play!’ Too great!
9 joaaanna // May 12, 2009 at 8:43 am
I just recently remembered that when I was a kid I would always run out to my dad’s truck when he came home from work. He was greasy, sweaty and smelly – but he always got a hug and kiss from me. Then he’d hand me his drink – most likely a beer (great role model dad!) – so I could get a swig and I’d run off to do whatever I had been doing before. I wish I could still do that – I miss him terribly. PS – Snapfish is always top quality and a great price – I’ve been using it for years!
10 patois // May 12, 2009 at 9:08 am
A random memory about my dad, who has been dead nearly 22 years. (Damn, that’s a long time to be father-less!) My dad always felt my mom and he had failed to get enough gifts for the kids for Christmas. He was a military man, paid very little in the early years, and had five kids and two parents to support. But every Christmas Eve, after we were all asleep, he’d run out to the Kmart-equivalent to buy us all more presents to make it just a bit better for us.
11 Ceece // May 12, 2009 at 9:10 am
My husband has commented to me recently that for the first time in his life he actually feels close to his dad. We’re not sure if it’s my husbands military duties, or the addition of grandkids to the equation or just plain old age, but whatever it is, I’m so very happy for the both of them.
(another snapfish user, so very easy and a darn good value!)
12 Amy in KC // May 12, 2009 at 9:12 am
I took four years of high school French. There was a senior trip to France that I really wanted to go on (in 1991), but we couldn’t afford. I had earned a scholarship (tuition paid, but not room and board) to go to college, so I understood.
My dad took an extra job and worked his a$$ off to send me to France. Did he complain about it? No. He said, “You earned it, Shortcake.” (sidenote: I am 5’11″… he is 6’5″)
I now have a Master’s Degree and a really great job. And I’ve been to France! And next month I am taking Dad to Chicago for his 60th birthday to see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field! How great would it be if I could make him a Snapfish souvenir of our trip??
I have a really awesome dad.
13 Joan G. // May 12, 2009 at 9:22 am
I am estranged from my father, but that fact makes me appreciate the relationship my daughter has with her dad that much more. Although he doesn’t do things the way I do them, I try to always remember that his way is just as good … and as my daughter tells me on occasion, “sometimes Daddy’s way is better”. :o)
14 Michelle D // May 12, 2009 at 10:55 am
My father and mother got divorced when I was 13. He moved to Florida about 6 years ago and he and his wife adopted a little girl from China. While, I dont get to see my father very often, we still maintain a close relationship. I would love to be able to send him something special for Father’s Day. thanks for this opportunity and for doing such a thorough review.
15 RachelJ // May 12, 2009 at 11:06 am
My dad (and mom) raised their 3 kids without help from grandparents. After 2 years of retirement, they started over as parents, raising 2 of their grandchildren.
16 Stephanie // May 12, 2009 at 12:42 pm
My husband, John, plays all the games with our 1 year old son that I won’t play. He is an expert at “swing the baby by one arm and one leg” and they engage in long games of WWF-style wrasslin’ that involve both of them laughing and screaming with glee. (I have to leave the room when this goes on. It’s not safe! Dislocated shoulders! Head trauma!) When I asked if John would ever, ever ride his bike with our son on the handlebars, instead of saying, “NO,” he said, “Not when you’re around! Ha ha!” I love him very much, and I’m glad to have him around.
Also, he makes a MEAN potato pancake.
17 Karly // May 13, 2009 at 10:04 am
My daddy is a great father. He used to work alllll the time and he worked late into the night, but he always made sure to wake up with me and my brother before school so he’d get a chance to see us. He’s patient, kind, and so helpful. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve called him and asked him to come fix this or that. I love my daddy. :)
18 gabrielle // May 13, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I was pretty much raised by my great-grandparents. My great-grandfather used to watch pro wrestling with me on Saturday mornings and televangelists on Sunday morning, and we would laugh and laugh and laugh. He taught me the importance of not taking anything too seriously, especially celebrities or yourself.
19 Danielle // May 13, 2009 at 7:00 pm
My dad is a riot. My little brother has recently gotten to taking video of our dad singing and posting it on You Tube. It might not sound funny, but you would have to know my dad to know the videos are hysterical.
20 Marianna // May 19, 2009 at 8:45 pm
My Dad is amazing. He’s not only a wonderful, Godly man – he’s a genius and is teaching my boys such wonderful things. He has such patience with them – they spend 2-3 nights a week at his house because of my weird work schedule..
21 Janet Carpenter // May 24, 2009 at 8:05 pm
My husband is an incredible Dad to our daughter. To celebrate his first Father’s Day, I had an idea that I’ve continued…My husband loves coffee and has fond memories of sharing a cup of coffee with his Dad, especially when they were on camping trips. He even remembers his first cup of coffee, ahem, we won’t say how many years ago. One of our funny early stories is how I was so proud of myself for scrubbing his camping tin coffee pot – not knowing he had “seasoned” it for years and thought that added to the flavor. Eww, I know but he’s a guy.
SO, for the last two Father’s Day, I’ve gotten him a coffee mug from Snapfish. They have a collage option, and I put various pictures of us, with our daughter, camping. Then I add the words, “Happy Father’s Day 200x from Daddy’s Girls”.
Those two are his fave cups and he uses one or the other every day. A proud look comes to his face when he takes it out of the cabinet.
Thank you Snapfish for letting me doing something really special for my hubby every year and every day.
22 Janet Carpenter // May 24, 2009 at 8:06 pm
tweet! http://twitter.com/janetmom2maya/status/1907796094
23 Janet Carpenter // May 24, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I blogged at http://www.giveawaysonblogs.blogspot.com/2009/05/sunday0524.html
24 bonggamom // May 25, 2009 at 12:29 pm
My dad is the funniest thing. One of my favorite childhood memories is when my sister put some Play-Doh in the fridge and he took it out and ate it. When he found out, he just made a crack about how salty it seemed.
25 bonggamom // May 25, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1914293461
26 Madison // May 27, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Aside from saving my life (or at least my eyesight)! my Dad is great. At the age of four, I had bent down to smell a candle when my hair caught the fiery flame! Poor Dad was holding my 3 month old sister in his hands, seeing me ablaze (evidently hair is dry) and realizing my Mom was not home at the time; he dropped my sister and picked me up, then repeatedly dunked my head in a bucket of rain water that had collected over the season. My mighty tickle monster also tells me that I am his lucky charm, not a bad racket for the oldest of 3 girls! My number one Dad for too many reasons to count deserves to get recognition by someone other than just me. I try to tell him every day how much I love him, and how much fun we have together. Some kids might think their dad is number 1, and they might get close… but my dad is the best. All Dads deserve a pat on the back for all the hard work and dedication that goes into being a parent, and my Dad chose me, so that feels good. Happy Fathers Day to all!!!!
27 Patricia Reiser // Jun 3, 2009 at 3:32 am
Footprints
“Walk a little slower Daddy,” said a child so small. “I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast, Sometimes they’re hard to see; So walk a little slower, Daddy, For you are leading me.
Someday when I ‘m all grown up, You’re what I want to be; Then I will have a little child Who’ll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right, And know that I was true; So walk a little slower, Daddy, For I must follow you.” -Author Unknown
That’s the poem I used last year to help my son create a Father’s Day gift for his dad. The day before I was outside making my son stick his feet in blue paint and than placed his footprints on some cardstock and then dded the poem once it had dried. Not easy to do with a 4 year old.
This year I plan to utilize Snapfish to create another great gift for this Father’s Day.
Wishing you a scent-sational day.
28 jana // Jun 7, 2009 at 9:16 pm
My husband is a stay-at-home dad to our two kids, allowing me to go to grad school to get my Ph.D. in English. He’s also an amazing poet. And pretty easy on the eyes.
29 joanie // Jun 8, 2009 at 9:35 am
My Mom and Dad had 7 kids, mostly during the 1950s. My Dad never cottoned to the “honey-I’m-home-bring-me-my-newspaper-and-a-beer” style of childrearing. He changed a gazillion diapers, fed us countless bottles, did all the grocery shopping (with the kids!), ferried us all over creation (one car family), steamed the bathroom for croupy toddlers, strollered the fussy babies, and took over whenever my Mom had one of her over 2 dozen surgeries (rheumatoid arthritis). He’s a saint and they just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. And …. I used Snapfish for their open house invitation! Thanks for this opportunity. He WERT and ART a great man.
30 Wendy // Jun 8, 2009 at 9:48 pm
My husband is the best father I know, except for my own Dad, who ties with him for first. This past weekend my daughters and I were working on a craft project and had some music on in the background. My 8 year old heard a song she recognized and ran upstairs to get her Dad to come down and dance with her. He was right in the middle of something, but came down without missing a beat. So I got to watch them dance and got all misty eyed at just how sweet fathers and daughters can be.
31 Lauren @ Hobo Mama // Jun 13, 2009 at 1:58 am
My dad’s always looking for ways to make people happy. One favorite little loving thing I’ve noticed is that when my parents are on vacation, my dad will look for a needlework store or similar that my mom would like, and then he’ll plant himself outside it with a book (he always has a book handy!) while she enjoys herself as long as she wants. She knows he’s content, and he never complains. It’s their 40th anniversary this weekend! Well, who wouldn’t stay married to someone so wonderful!
32 Lauren @ Hobo Mama // Jun 13, 2009 at 1:59 am
My Twitter contribution:
http://twitter.com/Hobo_Mama/status/2151455785
Thank you!
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