To help you out, we’ve put together these quick tips that will help you capture your summer moments better than ever before.

Stop the squinting

We’ve all been there. Mom or Dad or Aunt Mildred is trying to get a nice picture, but the sun is so bright that your eyes start watering, your smile is forced, and by the time a few photos have been taken, everyone looks like they’ve been crying rather than enjoying a beautiful sunny day.

Luckily, we have the solution. First, get everyone in position for the picture and-then have them close their eyes. Have the photographer get ready, then count up to three. On three, everyone opens their eyes, and the photographer takes the picture a second later. If you time it right, everyone will have natural smiles and open eyes. Voila, the case of the squints has been solved!

Timing is everything

It may be tempting to take pictures when the sun is most dazzling, but if you want to avoid washed out colors you should stow the camera away for the middle part of the day.

Instead, take photos in the morning and late afternoon, when there will still be enough sun to highlight vivid colors but not so much that the picture looks faded. If you can’t avoid snapping some pictures in the middle of the day, try to get your subjects into some shade.

The beauty is in the details

When looking at a beautiful landscape, the instinct is to try to fit every square inch in to the picture. Unfortunately, this usually results in a distant-looking photo with none of the stunning details you see in person.

To avoid this, find a particularly breathtaking smaller area to focus on. This will still capture the overall feel of the scenery, but give the shot a more intimate touch. When in doubt, zoom is your friend.

Perfecting sunset pictures

Watching a crimson and orange sunset on the horizon always inspires people to pull out their cameras and capture the moment. To make the most of it, remember a few quick tips.

If you want a subject in the foreground, make sure to turn on your flash to counter out the back-lighting provided by the sun. This will capture the sunset while still illuminating your subject’s face.

Alternately, if you want a great silhouette shot, for example a palm tree or a couple walking on the beach, make sure the flash is off. This will make the contrast between the darkened foreground and the colorful sky even more brilliant.

Do something with them

Once you’ve taken the stunning pictures of your summer, don’t let them waste away on your camera or computer. Do something fun and meaningful with them, like put them into the slideshow for everyone that was featured, or share your experiences with close family and friends.

One piece of advice to remember is the timeless saying “quality over quantity”. People are more likely to enjoy it when you send your 10 best photos than if you bombard them with 100 average shots. And remember to showcase your sunny summer photos in a Smilebox slideshow, scrapbook, or collage. We have a design to match every occasion and personality.

So get out there, enjoy your summer, remember these tips, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible moments you capture!

The long wait is over and summer is here! We all know what that means: the weather is warming up and the kids are bouncing off the walls about the recent end of the school year. What better way to kick off the season than throwing a party for your friends and family? To help you make the most of summer we have come up with four fun but simple party themes that will have everyone out in the sun in high spirits.

Party at the “Beach”

This classic theme can be pulled off even if there isn’t a beach within 100 miles. Set up a few tiki torches and beach umbrellas around the backyard, and if it’s a scorcher think about filling up a kiddie pool in the middle of the yard. Everyone will love dipping their feet in the water to cool off. To add to the beach effect, play tunes that will make people think of the ocean. A few of our favorite choices are Hawaiian music and The Beach Boys.

For snacks, get seafood for people to munch on while they’re enjoying the “beach”. Cocktail shrimp and crab are both great examples of refreshing, light snacks that you can pick up at a local grocery store. Cold drinks are another must on those hot summer days. Kids can enjoy their favorite soda while the moms and dads sip on pina coladas and margaritas. Yum!

Make sure to use an invitation that will capture the feeling of summer, like our Tiki Weekend invite, and ask that people wear their best “beach attire”. With this party, everyone will get to enjoy a day at the beach without having to worry about salt water and sand in their shoes.

Tips:

• If the weather doesn’t cooperate, don’t be afraid to move the party inside. Keep the music going, put up some fans for that breezy beach feeling, and clear some furniture out of the way to create an open space for people to mingle.
• See if any neighbors have a volleyball net you can set up for some authentic beach volleyball.

“Drive-in” Movie Night

Everyone remembers beautiful summer nights at the drive-in theater, but if you don’t have one near home, there’s no need to fret. This simple party idea will give everyone a chance to relax under the stars. For set-up, hang a large white sheet on the fence or the side of a house in a neighborhood backyard. To play the movie, connect your laptop to a borrowed projector and wait for it to get dark so the movie will show up well on the sheet.

To make the outdoor movie experience even more of a blast, put together a “concession stand” on a folding table complete with big bowls of popcorn, an assortment of snacks and candy, and some drinks for everyone to enjoy during the movie. Kids and adults alike will love the unique experience of an outdoor movie, and this way you won’t even have to pay sky-high movie theater prices. Make sure to take some pictures of your homemade theater to share with friends in a movie themed Smilebox. Action!

Tips:

• Pick a family-friendly movie that the kids will love, but will also keep the parents interested.
• Run an extension cord to plug in the laptop…no one wants the movie to cut out halfway through!

Neighborhood Block Party

Summer block parties take a little more planning, but can also become a highlight of the season for everyone involved. Use a Smilebox party invite to start some buzz around the neighborhood. For food, find someone that’s talented on the grill and can help you out by cooking burgers and hot dogs for the guests. Set up folding tables by the grill for a buffet-style dinner, and have every family contribute an appetizer, a side dish, or a dessert.

Everyone will have fun sharing dinner together and talking about their plans for the summer, but the party will be a real hit if everyone splits the cost of a cover band. The grown-ups will love the classic hits, and the kids will run around and dance to their heart’s content. If a band isn’t your thing (or doesn’t fit the budget), consider ending the night with a campfire. Everyone loves sitting under the stars on a warm summer night and snacking on some tasty s’mores with friends. Maybe you can even dust off your favorite spooky story?

Tips:

• Absolutely do not let your significant other get on stage and sing with the band.
• Everyone likes food and music, but some other activities like a sidewalk chalk art contest or a wiffle ball game will keep the fun going all evening.

Christmas in July

Once the Fourth of July is over and the fireworks have all fizzled out, there’s a pretty long wait for the next big holiday. Help fill this hole by escaping into the festive sights and sounds of Christmas for an evening. Invite your friends and family by sending out a Christmas party invite with your favorite summertime picture of your family. Encourage the party guests to wear their Santa hats, or at the very least get into the theme by wearing red and green summer attire.

Put up some simple Christmas decorations, including a piece of mistletoe in the doorway to spread a little holiday romance. If you want to go above and beyond, find a brave dad who isn’t afraid of wearing a beard in the heat and have him make a guest appearance as Summer Santa. Kids will love seeing the jolly bearded fellow in his swimsuit. For the music, create a mix of your favorite Christmas classics and great summer hits that will keep everyone singing along and looking forward to December.

Tips:

• Organize a simple White Elephant gift exchange and encourage people to bring fun, inexpensive items that will come in handy during summer (sunscreen, water balloons, beach towels, etc.).
• Put some “summery” decorations on a tree in front of the house to create a centerpiece that will welcome guests as they arrive.

We hope these themes spark an idea for your summertime fun. Make sure to keep your camera close-by to record all the good times out in the sun. When the party has winded down and you create a Smilebox slideshow for your friends, everyone who couldn’t make it is sure to be jealous. Happy summer!

The Fourth of July is a magical day for Americans to celebrate freedom and show pride in the USA alongside friends and family. People all around the country are planning backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, and wild fireworks shows for the neighborhood.

No matter how you plan on celebrating, you need to spread the word. What better way to get a crowd over than using Smilebox invitations made specifically for the 4th! This post features some of our favorite invitation designs. Click here to see all Smilebox Fourth of July designs in action then read on for some quick party-planning tips.

Once you’ve created fun invitations and sent them out, you can start planning activities, decorations, and food to make your party unforgettable. These are just a few ideas to help you along the way.

Patriotic Pastimes

Help the kids paint beautiful American Flag themed shirts. The creative mom over at “The Family Scientista” blog came up with these easy instructions that will have your family looking the best on the block.

Outdoor games like horseshoes and touch football will keep party guests of all ages entertained. If there is a Fourth of July parade planned in your town, it may feature contests like the egg toss or three-legged race that kids (and kids at heart) will love. Our friends at Family Fun magazine have created a list of fun Fourth of July games and activities that everyone will love. As the night winds down, build a fire and see who can make the best s’more while you admire everyone’s fireworks.

Show Your True Colors

Decorations are key to getting your party site ready, and flying Old Glory is a must. Whether it’s a full-size flag or those cute mini-flags lining the yard, make sure to show your pride by displaying the majestic stars and stripes.

When it comes to decorating for meal time, every party supply store and supermarket will have red, white and blue paper plates, napkins, and tablecloths to help spice up your patriotic feast. We love the look Hostess with the Mostess created for extra stylish Fourth of July soirees.

Feast on the Fourth

In our opinion, the best way to go when it comes to food is the classic All-American barbecue. Have guests share the duties of preparing burgers, hot dogs, and ribs as main course items. Have each family bring their favorite side dish. Watermelon, pasta salad, potato salad, and cole slaw are always favorites on a hot summer day. Make sure you have some extra coolers to keep everything fresh as the celebration continues! Need more inspiration on what to serve?  Good Housekeeping has ideas for patriotic fare that’s designed to dazzle guests.

Light up the Night

Make a trip to a local fireworks stand and buy a variety of whiz-bangs that will have the crowd ooh-ing and ahh-ing. Get some big fireworks for the Dads to help light, and some sparklers for the younger kids and parents that want to keep it low-key. It’s also important to have a bucket of water nearby, just in case the lawn catches a spark. If fireworks are banned in your city, or you just don’t feel comfortable having your family handling fireworks, search for a nearby neighborhood show that will wow all of your guests.

Support the Troops

Lastly, the Fourth of July is a great time to remember and honor those who fight for the freedom you are celebrating. Operation Homefront is an important organization dedicated to helping troops with a variety of basic needs.

We hope these designs and tips spark your creativity and help you plan a star-spangled celebration. From all of us at Smilebox, have a happy (and safe!) Fourth of July.

“Pride and Patriotism” Scrapbook

Make Dad’s Day a Hole-in-One

Play a family round of golf… or, if there are some young ones in the family, a leisurely round of putt-putt golf would be perfect. Just make sure you let Dad win! For those golf-loving dads that would rather spend their day lounging around, spend some time watching the U.S. Open with him (even if it’s not your TV show of choice).

The History of Dad

If you are having a big gathering for Father’s Day, be it with family or friends, take the opportunity to play some fun Father’s Day games. One of our favorites is to collect a few baby pictures and silly mementos from each Dad’s childhood and let everyone guess what belongs to whom. The kids will love discovering funny facts about Dad’s past hobbies and interests.

Extreme Chef: Family Edition

A huge part of Father’s Day is the food, so get the rest of the family together and make Dad his all-time favorite meal for dinner. This will lead to some fun times in the kitchen, give everyone a chance to show off their cooking skills, and leave you with one happy dad! Or, if he has a favorite local restaurant, plan a surprise trip there for dinner. Being wined and dined will put a big smile on his face and a tasty meal in his belly.

Outdoor Adventure Time

Get out and enjoy the fresh spring air! Whether this is a family hike for a few hours or an overnight camping trip, everyone will enjoy getting out of the house and spending some time in the great outdoors. Bring along some of dad’s favorite snacks, a couple small outdoor games to enjoy as a family, and of course your camera to make a slideshow of your family’s great day together.

Weed and Wash Coupons

You can never go wrong with this classic gift idea. Give Dad a coupon to help him weed in the garden, wash the car, or paint the deck. Not only is it something helpful for him, it’s also something fun for the two of you, or the whole family, to do together. Our Dad’s Coupons designs are a creative and easy way to email and print your coupons.

A Gift Straight Off of Broadway

Encourage the kids to plan something special for Dad to enjoy, such as a play or special musical performance about their favorite times with him. The kids will have fun showing off their talents, and Dad will get a priceless memory to cherish for the rest of his life. We guarantee everyone will be smiling when the curtain drops at the end of the performance.

A Grand Slam of a Day

Father’s Day is a perfect time to go enjoy the warm weather and see a ballgame. Go see your favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team and get some Cracker Jacks, cotton candy, and frozen lemonade for the whole family to share. Everyone will go home happy, especially if the hometown heroes win the game! If your family has some young ones who like to play ball, head to a local park after the game and have them toss around the ball with Dad. This will be fun family time for everyone, including the dog.

Home Movie Night

After dinner, round up your family and watch home movies. Or, make a personalized Father’s Day Smilebox with your best home movie clips. This is sure to bring laughter and a smile to everyone’s face. This activity is even better if you have any embarrassing videos of Dad when he was a kid! After these are done playing grab a blanket and some popcorn to settle in and watch one of Dad’s favorite movies.

Learn a Skill from Dad

If your kids are teenagers, they may not be as enthused as they used to be about Dad’s special day. Instead of buying a last-minute gift at the mall, have your kids ask Dad to teach them a special skill that they are interested in learning. Maybe they want to know how to change a flat tire or get some tips on their golf swing. This simple idea will remind Dad of his importance in their lives, and will be a fun and productive adventure for all.

Honor His Memory

If your father has passed away, honor his legacy on Father’s Day by donating to his favorite charity or lending a hand to a cause he cared about. You could also take the time to pick out your favorite pictures with Dad and make a Smilebox scrapbook or photo album to help you cherish those precious memories.

Here at Smilebox we hope you have a fantastic time with your family this Father’s Day. Make sure to take some beautiful pictures and videos to share with friends and loved ones, and to look back on in the years to come. Good Luck and happy planning!

Cupcake Catch

Write a note on a small piece of paper that says “will you go to prom with me?” and wrap it in aluminum foil. Make a batch of cupcakes and stick the note in one of them before baking. Don’t forget which one has the note in it! Pass the baked cupcakes out in class or to friends, and make sure she gets the one with the note.

Starry Night

Go to any party supply store and pick up a package of glow-in-the-dark stars. Call your date’s parents and ask if you may go to their house and decorate your date’s room. If they say yes, go over to the house when your date isn’t home and put up a bunch of glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling of her room in a pattern that spells out “Prom?” Make sure to leave the lights on when you leave so that the stars aren’t lit up and can’t be seen. When your date goes to turn the lights off that night the stars will light up and she’ll see the message.

Alphabet ABC’s

On the outside of a small brown paper bag, write your date’s name and “prom?” with a sharpie. Gather a few handfuls of letter tiles from the game Scrabble (or anything similar) and put them in a bag. Make sure that you have every letter of the alphabet represented at least once, except for the letters in your name, which should not be in the bag at all. Then, put a note in the bag with the tiles that says: “unscramble the missing letters to find your date!” Leave the bag in her locker or near her car for a special surprise.

Sneaky Scavenger Hunt

This classic never gets old! Make a scavenger hunt for your date to complete around school or in your town. At then end of the hunt, be waiting at a special location with a sign that says “prom?” and flowers or balloons. Make the scavenger hunt personalized by choosing fun and silly locations for the clues where you all have done things together.

T-Shirt Surprise

Get a white t-shirt and using  washable markers, write a bunch of names of classmates that would potentially ask your date to prom. Write your name on the shirt, but in permanent marker. Then, write a note either on the shirt or to go with it that says: “Who will you go to prom with? Wash me to find out!”

We know you’ll have no trouble getting a date with these fun ideas. Be sure to take lots of photos to remember the special night, and then share them with friends in a Smilebox! For a simple and elegant look, we love A Perfect Moment, below. Be sure to check out all of our prom designs!

Create your Easter Tale now, or browse our entire colorful collection of Easter slideshows, collages and scrapbooks. Happy hunting!

Get started on your own Mardi Gras Slideshow.

Bold in Gold

To set the mood, decorate your home with the Oscar’s signature color: gold, gold and more gold! Set up a small buffet of appetizers and finger foods over a table draped in a red tablecloth. Then use gold plastic plates, trays and utensils to display food, available at most party supply stores.

You may also want to get gold and red balloons to hang outside your house to signify where the party is.

If you have gold candles or candle holders, bring them out for added decoration. Otherwise, you can also buy inexpensive tea lights and spray-paint the silver casing gold. Then place them in clear candle holders to illuminate the color.

Last but certainly not least, make your guests feel extra special when they arrive with your very won red carpet! Purchase about two yards of red felt fabric and cut it in half. Then, attach the two ends of the pieces with fabric glue so that you have one long piece of fabric. Secure your red carpet to the floor using masking tape or another adhesive so that it will not bunch and guests will not trip on it.

Drinks to Die For

Your Oscars party would not be complete without a few swanky cocktails to spice up the night. We love US Magazine’s list of Oscar nominated film inspired drinks. Try a “Black Ice” mused by Natalie Portman’s character in Black Swan or concoct a “Bombay Sapphire Royal Tea” composed of gin, earl grey tea infused syrup and lemon juice, courtesy of the King’s Speech.

Winner Takes All

For some added entertainment, have a friendly competition between guests to see who can accurately predict the most winners. Before the show starts, have all guests write their name on an index card and write their predictions for all of the big categories, including “best picture” and “best lead actor.” For a list of all official awards and nominees, check out http://oscar.go.com/nominations. You may want to make a poster board with all of the nominations displayed for guests.

After the show, tally up all of your guests’ responses. Whoever got the most predictions right wins! Give the winner an Oscar themed prize, like a gift certificate to the cinema.

If dressing up is your style, have a costume contest, encouraging guests to dress as a celebrity. Have guests vote on the best Hollywood impersonation. Whoever gets the most votes win! Present the winner with a fashion forward prize, like a small gift card to a local favorite accessories shop. And of course, don’t forget to take plenty of pictures of all your famous guests arriving on the red carpet!

The Finishing Touches

Put it all together with your invites!

For a quick and easy Academy Awards themed invite, we love Celebrate Good Times. Check it out below!

1. Get in the Game

The Super Bowl is all about winning, but that doesn’t mean all the fun has to be kept for the players on the field! Stock up on some fun prizes like footballs, pennants,  foam fingers, team clothing or drink cups with your team’s insignia and throw a few good-natured contests throughout the game.

Tell your guests ahead of time that there will be prizes for the most enthusiastic fan and/or apparel with the most team spirit, and have guests vote on a winner once everyone has arrived.

You can also organize a few other contests, to be played during commercials and halftime. For all of the diehard fans out there, see whose really got their stats down by playing a few rounds of Super Bowl trivia. During each commercial break, ask one trivia question and the first person to get it right gets a point. At the end of the game, whoever has the most points wins! For question ideas, check out Funtrivia.com’s list of Super Bowl quizzes.

If you have younger kids at your party, you may want to organize a few more active games. Try a football toss contest to see who can throw the furthest. For an indoor version, use a nerf ball and have participants try to toss it in a basket from a certain distance back.

2. Let Your True Colors Show

Decorating for a Super Bowl party is fun and easy! You can stick to a simple theme, like your team’s colors for classy looking decor with some some flare.

Hang up colored lanterns, table clothes, jerseys, foam fingers and pennants reflective of your team’s colors. Serve bottled, colored sports drinks using your team’s colors. Sprinkle colored candy on tables.

For centerpieces, try colored candles for an easy and festive look. If you’re up for something a bit more eccentric, place a clean pair of football cleats on the table and stuff them with green Easter style paper mache, resembling grass. You can also use bright yellow napkins on your food table, resembling penalty flags.

3. Food Prep Pro

Super Bowl parties are all about the food and half time snacks. Finger foods and small bites are always crowd pleasers at football parties, allowing guests to graze at their own pace, but if the game spans over a meal time, you may want to think about serving something heavier like chili or burgers. Whatever you decide, make it memorable with football themed food presentation.

For example, serve guacamole in a rectangular dish and add sour cream “yard lines” on top to create the look of a football field. For dessert, make cupcakes with grass-green colored frosting and a small chocolate candy to represent the football. Whatever you decide to serve, get creative with your presentation!

Feeling inspired? For a last minute Super Bowl party invite we love Game Time!

Greetings

Keep it short and sweet in a classic or funny greeting. With the ability to add up to 25 photos, a personal video message and animation options, you can be sure to find a design that says, “Happy Valentine’s Day” just the way you want to. We love Candy Stripes, below.

Browse all of our Valentine’s Day greetings.

Slideshows

Slideshows are a great way to show off many photos and videos quickly and easily to remind your sweetie of all of the fabulous times you’ve had together. Able to showcase up to 400 photos and captions, Love Struck, below, is one of our favorites.

Browse all of our Valentine’s Day Slideshows.

Collages

Great for printing and framing, collages are an elegant way to share favorite moments and family memories. With Smilebox, it’s easy to create professionally looking collages that make for a thoughtful, personalized gift this Valentine’s Day. Check out this love themed collage, Crazy for You.

Browse all of our Valentine’s Day collages.

Photo Albums

A photo album is the perfect way to embellish your photos with decor and design, while keeping all of your personalized memories in the spotlight. We like Just the Two of Us below.

Browse all of our Valentine’s Day Photo Albums.

Scrapbooks

With multiple text and photo options, a scrapbook is one of the most customizable ways to share your personal story. Tell your love story through the combination of photos, video and text, like quotes or poems, to help adorn your memories. Check it out in the scrapbook below, A Love Story.

Browse all Valentine’s Day Scrapbooks for more ideas.

Recipes

Does your sweetie have a sweet tooth? Send them a preview of your Valentine’s Day dinner, or charm a baker-extraordinaire friend with a yummy V-day recipe, in this Sweet Eats design.

Get inspiration from our  healthy Valentine’s Day snack ideas to send to friends and family.