We’re pleased to announce that Smilebox will be acquired by IncrediMail, Ltd. We will continue our mission of delivering services that inspire and delight our customers as a new division of that company. You can read today’s announcement here.

We want you to know that nothing will change with our service or your creations. This news will only increase the velocity at which we can deliver new features and fun to you, our valued customers.

Thank you for supporting Smilebox and we look forward to embarking with you on this exciting new chapter of our company’s journey.

Smiles,
Andrew Wright
Founder and CEO

Update 8/1: Congratulations to Amanda Counts, the winner of the “Summer of Smiles” contest! To view her adorable collage, click here.

Summer is all about good times, getting out in the sun, and smiling. To celebrate, and to give you a chance to show us the best times you’ve had this summer, we’re holding the “Summer of Smiles” contest. Gather your best pictures of the season and use Smilebox to turn them into a beautiful collage for the chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card!

Your collage can feature family vacation photos, trips to the beach, pictures of a backyard barbeque, or just about any other fun time you might be having out in the sun.

To enter the contest, “Like” the Smilebox Facebook page, then email your collage to community@smilebox.com by the end of July 28th.

Once the submission period has ended, the Smilebox team will select three semi-finalists, which will be posted on the Smilebox Facebook page the next day and voted on by the Facebook community. The submission with the most votes will win the Amazon.com gift card. The other two semi-finalists will take home a free year of Club Smilebox ($39.99 value). Read on for tips and more information.

Helpful tips for winning the “Summer of Smiles” Contest:

·    Be sure to add an interesting title to your Smilebox creation
·    Pictures of scenery are nice, but they’re always better with a happy subject (your kids, pets, etc.)
·    Include a description of your Smilebox and why you think it should win when you email us your creation
·    Submissions will be judged based on quality of photos and creativity

Visit the Smilebox “Summer of Smiles” Rules and Regulations page for more information. Don’t forget, the winner will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card to spend on all kinds of summer fun. Now get Smileboxing and show us why you think you’re having the best summer of all time. Good luck!

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!

Riding a bike 200 miles over the course of two days is no easy feat.

This year, our very own Paul Ingalls, Jason Bodie, and Carl Tydingco, as well as their friend Keith from Portland, spent July 8-9 completing the Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.

Smileboxers Fed Johnson and Wayne Rambo also got involved, driving a support vehicle to keep our riders supplied and motivated.

The adventurers from our development and quality assurance teams were happy to share a few photos and videos so you can get a peek into their trip. Make sure to check out the Smilebox of their journey at the bottom of the post!

The Trek

After departing the Emerald City of Seattle, the four riders burned some rubber while the support vehicle did a fantastic job keeping phones charged and transporting the camping gear for the night. But that’s not the only way they contributed to the cause. Fed, the driver, shared the following story about how the public address system in his truck helped inspire hundreds of riders:

“We were listening to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor, and while we were at a street light, some random biker told us to ‘crank it’. So for about five miles we drove by the bikers with ‘Eye of the Tiger’ playing over the P.A.  All the bikers were raising their arms and cheering.  You could tell we were pumping people up big time.  I think I listened to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ eight times in a row.”

With the help of the tunes and a few rest stops, everyone reached the halfway point and set up camp for the night.

Waking up early once again on Sunday, the bikers mounted their rides once again and completed the journey through southern Washington and over the sparkling Columbia River that marks the Washington-Oregon border. After a final burst, they found themselves in the city of Portland. The journey was over.

After catching their breath and stretching out their tired legs, the Smileboxers surprised their friend Keith with a party for his 35th birthday. It was a great way to relax after the two day trip and, needless to say, there were smiles all around.

What is STP?

The ride, organized by the Cascade Bicycle Club, starts early Saturday morning outside the University of Washington’s football stadium. According to the Cascade Bicycle Club website, the event had 10,000 registered riders representing 43 states and 3 countries. Most riders rest at the midway point, in Centralia, WA, then resume the ride to Portland on Sunday morning.

If you are interested in more information about the STP Bicycle Classic or statistics from the 2011 ride, head over to the official Cascade Bicycle Club STP page.

Click the Smilebox to play:

Also check out this awesome time-lapse video of the REI rest stop outside their company headquarters in Kent, WA. Have a great day!

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

UPDATE 6/20: The submission period has ended. Please head to the Smilebox Facebook page to view and vote for the finalists. Voting closes on Wednesday at 5 pm. Thanks to everyone who entered for sharing their stories, there were a ton of heroes and it was hard to only pick three!

This Father’s Day we want you to share why you admire Dad and tell us what makes him a hero in your life. Get inspired and tell us about his heroics using one of the Smilebox Father’s Day designs for the chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card!

In your Smilebox, you can use pictures, text, quotes, or even video clips of Dad saving the day. Get creative!

To enter the contest, “Like” the Smilebox Facebook page, then email your awe-inspiring creation to community@smilebox.com by the end of June 19.

Once the submission period has ended, the Smilebox team will select three semi-finalists, which will be posted on the Smilebox Facebook page and voted on by the Facebook community. The submission with the most votes will win the Amazon.com gift card. The other two semi-finalists will take home a free year of Club Smilebox ($39.99 value).

Helpful hints for winning the “My Hero is My Dad” Contest:
·    Be sure to add an interesting title to your Smilebox creation
·    Use creative and unique photos to help tell your story
·    Include a description of your Smilebox and why you think it should win when you email us your creation
·    Submissions will be judged based on quality of photos and creativity

Visit the Smilebox “My Hero is My Dad” Rules and Regulations page for more information. Don’t forget, the winner will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card to give to their hero. Now get Smileboxing and convince us that you’ve got the most heroic dad around! Good luck!

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!

Score the Setting

Before you hit the field, take a few moments to study your camera and know what you’re working with. Most modern point-and-shoot cameras have action shot settings, which typically have a ‘running man’ symbol on your settings dial or menu.

The action shot setting will ensure that you are shooting with the fastest shutter speed possible for capturing moving objects. If you don’t have this setting on an SLR camera, you can increase the shutter speed manually by adjusting the ISO.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

The key to capturing moving objects is to keep your camera as steady as possible. This is especially important in sports photography so that your subject does not become blurred or grainy.

If you have a tripod, use it. If not, not to worry! You can set your camera on a table or any other flat surface nearby and use the ‘automatic self-timer’ function to ensure that your hand doesn’t shake the camera when taking the photo.

If there is nothing suitable to set your camera on, try resting your camera on your knee and using your elbows to hold it in place, and again, use the ’self-timer’ function.

Learn the Lighting

Lighting in sports arenas is often patchy, with bright illumination in some areas, and dark spots in others.

If neither having the flash on or off is putting your subjects in good light, try turning the flash setting on and diffusing the light by putting a tissue paper over the flash. This will help to even out the patchy lighting and give balanced illumination to your photos.

Once you’ve captured your all-star photos, pull them together in a sporty Smilebox, for a quick and simple way to send them to all of your team’s number one fans! Check out this new
Play Ball Slideshow or browse all
sports for more ideas.