Chronicle Books and Minted Announce the Winners of their Joint Stationery Design Challenge

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 08, 2011

Minted (http://www.minted.com), the online store powered by a global design community, and independent book publisher Chronicle Books have announced the winners of The Chronicle Books-Minted Design Challenge. Designers from around the world were invited to submit custom stationery designs to Minted in a unique color scheme that Chronicle Books chose. This marks the first time that Minted has acted as an agent for sourcing content for another retailer.

Chronicle Books Executive Editor Christina Amini and her colleagues chose four designs from the 657 submissions, which will be printed as ready-made stationery and distributed in notecard portfolios by Chronicle Books, and as personalized stationery on Minted. The four designs will be offered in one Best of Minted notecards portfolio, complete with envelopes and the name of the designer featured on the back of each individual card, and will be sold on Chronicles website at http://www.chroniclebooks.com, in Chronicle Book stores, and in boutiques and bookstores around the world.

In addition to Chronicles picks, the Minted community voted to determine the top twenty submitted designs to be sold as custom stationery on Minted. In total, over 100 new designs were selected for sale on Minted. In addition to ongoing commissions on the sales of their work from both Minted and Chronicle Books, $ 10,000 in cash prizes was awarded.

The Pantone colors selected by Chronicle Books inspired our design community to produce the most beautiful and innovative personal stationery designs ever, says Minted CEO & Founder Mariam Naficy. Were thrilled with this first-ever partnership where we have produced design content for another retailer.

This is the first time Chronicle has sourced stationery design through a design competition and we could not have been more pleased with the result, says Christina Amini, Executive Editor, Chronicle Books. Our only difficulty was struggling to pick just four designs! The Minted design community is beyond talented and were thankful to have a role in sharing that talent with the world.

Chronicle's Selections:

Spring in Bloom, by Kelly Maron Horvath

Pretty Poppies, by Paper Dahlia

Ballooning, by Momo

Crosshatch Confetti, by Annie Clark

The four winning designers commented on the inspiration behind their designs:

Kelly Maron Horvath: When I read that the Chronicle Books team was looking for over-the-top-pretty-designs, I knew I wanted to do something with flowers. I know that seems obvious but wanted to make them these modern, graphic flowers instead. Their color palette also really helped to amplify this idea of a bright, spring-time feel with a modern twist.

Paper Dahlia: Pretty Poppies is inspired by wood block and etching printmaking techniques. The heaviness of the poppies is balanced by the delicate detail of the herringbone background pattern.

Momo: Die cuts, blogs and Esquire magazine were my main sources of inspiration. Die cuts help me decide on shapes and color relationships. Blogs allow me to see all the amazing work thats already out there. Esquire magazine is full of great design elements and inspired me to use texture in my design. I wanted to create something that would make people smile. Ive never been in a hot air balloon, but they have such a recognizable shape and look like fun!

Annie Clark: Crosshatch Confetti is the design that I would want to purchase Im slightly obsessed with confetti right now and have always loved polka dots. I played with the crosshatch texture and made the circles slightly irregular in shape to make it more than just your everyday polka dot pattern.

About Chronicle Books:

One of the most admired and respected publishing companies in the United States, Chronicle Books was founded in 1966 and, over the years, has developed a reputation for award-winning, innovative books and quality merchandise. The company continues to challenge conventional publishing wisdom, setting trends in both subject matter and format, maintaining a list that includes titles in fine art, cookbooks, childrens books, music and popular culture. To visit Chronicle Books online, go to chroniclebooks.com.

About Minteds Design Challenges:

Minted's mission is to allow consumers to discover design genius from all over the world, providing an opportunity for designers to build their careers on merit alone. Minted holds monthly design challenges to source designs from a large global community of designers. The Minted community selects the best designs in a highly competitive and meritocratic process, yielding a top selection of the freshest, finest cards in the world. To that end, Minted's 2011 Holiday Card competition was the company's biggest challenge yet: over half a million votes were cast for 2,554 designs, and the top contenders were chosen by Minted's community for sale

About Minted:

Minted is a venture-backed design community and online store, crowd-sourcing graphic designs and content from a global design community and selling those as premium printed paper products initially focused on the $ 10 billion stationery, invitations, and cards market.

Minted has radically transformed what consumers now expect in holiday cards, wedding invitations, save the dates, birth announcements,business cards, and other personal stationery. The company's paper and printing is of the highest quality and it leads the market with the freshest designs, newest formats and most coveted details. Minted's fresh, unique designs have been featured on The Today Show and The Early Show, and in Real Simple, Town & Country, InStyle Weddings, Food & Wine and other major national magazines.

###

State Schools Chief Jack OConnell Announces Free Online Tool to Help Families Find the Right Colleges for Their Children

Sacramento (Vocus) September 20, 2010

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack OConnell today urged college-bound students to sign up for CollegeWeekLive UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAY, a free online event on October 7 showcasing all of the University of California (UC) campuses.

Parents know its expensive to pack up the car and visit each college or university that their children are interested in attending, said OConnell. Now you can take virtual tours of every UC campus and explore several academic programs right from your computer. Its fast, its free, and it makes economic sense to narrow down your search for schools online before you actually visit them.

CollegeWeekLive is a virtual college fair that connects hundreds of thousands of students to colleges and universities worldwide online at http://www.CollegeWeekLive.com. Families can get tips on preparing for college admissions tests, writing a winning application essay, and the interview admissions process. Families can speak directly with admissions experts, get information on scholarships and how to pay for college, and even take virtual tours of campus. CollegeWeekLive connects colleges directly with students, parents, and counselors live online in real time. Prospective students can also connect with current UC students for networking via live video webcasts and text chat.

CollegeWeekLive, University of California Day is unique because each of the nine undergraduate campuses will be represented, said Walter A. Robinson, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of UC Berkeleys Office of Undergraduate Admissions. UC Day gives any prospective UC applicant a chance to get to know each of the campuses, from anywhere in the world. Each campus will staff virtual booths, feature live video streams, and be available for chats. We urge all prospective students, their parents, and counselors to participate and discover the special qualities each campus has to offer.

Prospective students can explore different aspects of student life at each of the schools, such as admissions, academics, athletics, financial aid, and campus housing. Attendees can also participate in any of several live video webcam sessions with currently enrolled students from the different UC system schools to get a more informal take on collegiate life.

To register for the next CollegeWeekLive UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAY on October 7, please visit http://www.CollegeWeekLive.com.

The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. The core purpose of CDE is to lead and support the continuous improvement of student achievement, with a specific focus on closing achievement gaps. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Superintendent O'Connell (@SSPIJack) on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sspijack.

About CollegeWeekLive

CollegeWeekLive (http://www.CollegeWeekLive.com) provides the worlds largest college fairs and online admissions events. With hundreds of colleges and universities exhibiting and more than 350,000 registrants, CollegeWeekLive revolutionizes college admissions, making the process easier and more cost-effective by bringing students, parents, counselors, and colleges together online, transcending time and distance. CollegeWeekLive is free for students, parents, and counselors.

CollegeWeekLive is produced by PlatformQ, whose mission is to connect people, companies, organizations and associations worldwide to meet, interact and learn from leading experts and thought leaders through proven interactive tools at online events.

CollegeWeekLive and PlatformQ are trademarks of PlatformQ, LLC. All other trademarks or service marks are property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Tina Jung

PHONE: 916-319-0818

E-MAIL: tjung(at)cde.ca(dot)gov

###

New and Exciting "Control Center for Kids" iPad Game Helps Children to have Fun and their Parents to Relax

Kazan, Russia (PRWEB) October 07, 2011

Ampullarius LLC, developer of children-oriented iOS and Android games, is proud to present its new iPad game called Control Center for Kids. The game is already available on the App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/control-center-for-kids/id467174135?l=ru&ls=1&mt=8 This app allows children to develop their imagination and helps them to get acquainted with the surrounding world.

When children play, they imagines themselves as a brave pilots, an intrepid captains, an unbeaten race drivers or a famous astronauts. They conquer the ocean depths, explore unchartered waters, travel to new planets, all without leaving backyards. All this activities happen with the help of their toy contraptions. But how to manage such amazing things, such as a plane made from a cardboard box? This can be done with a new Control Center for Kids app by Ampullarius, LLC.

Gameplay video is available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR4F0W5BW24

This game cannot be lost, it puts no pressure upon a kid with goals to achieve or gaming situations. This is what children really miss in such games. Now they can study objects and images on the screen with a lot of attention and dont have to worry about the ticking clock or that their next touch will finish the game.

Older kids will be definitely interested in realistic behavior of all knobs, steering wheels and levers. They can be touched, spun or moved, all this being accompanied by a sound corresponding to the situation. The parents will appreciate the fact that one cannot navigate anywhere outside the app without having to close it. The game doesnt open links or use pop-up windows.

The first version of the app allows traveling everywhere man has set foot: under water, on water, on land, in air and in space. The future updates will cover different aspects of professional activities. However one thing that is not planned to feature in the game is military equipment.

The game is currently available on the App Store for $ 2.99.

The developers team would love to see pictures of kids playing the exciting Control Center for Kids game. The pictures can be shared at the game Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ControlCenterForKids

Follow the game blog on Twitter for latest news: http://twitter.com/#!/CtrlCenterKids

Promo codes for the game are available upon request.

The founders of Ampullarius, LLC, have developed computer games and multimedia since 2004. Control Center for Kids is their first iPad application.

Ampullarius, LLC

http://www.facebook.com/ampullarius

http://www.ampullarius.com

apps(at)ampullarius(dot)com

Copyright

Revolutionary Mobile Spy Software, SpyBubble, Helps Their Users Determine if Their Spouse Is A Cheater

(PRWEB) November 02, 2011

Now, one of many questions people might now have concerning this particular software might be: What really is this SpyBubble and how does it works?

According to several SpyBubble reviews, and Ruca Martin, webmaster who recently reviewed the product at their no-holds barred review site, C2C-Reviews.com, SpyBubble software works, in all smart phones now available on the market worldwide.

The installation is easy, and after being installed, the cell phone user will never know that the software is installed, said Martin.

However, heres what users of this SpyBubble software (the person who has installed the device) will be able to discover:

Always know where the person is (GPS location)

You can see the location of the phone in as Google Maps, in real time. Since people always carry their personal phone all the time, you will always know where the person is, said Martin.

Track all the cell phone calls

You will be able to see all the numbers that called that cell phone, the time and date they were made, and how much time, people were talking, noted Martin.

The same applies to the calls made from that phone to others phones.

If the numbers are recorded in the mobile phone memory, according to Martin, you will know the name of the person, who called, or was called from the cell phone. Whether the number being called from the cell phone is known, Martin revealed that it can easily be discovered by using the Reverse Phone Detective online service.

SMS reading.

As it relates to text messaging (SMS), Martin said SpyBubble users will also be able to read all messages, sent and received on the targeted phone; even those messages already deleted. Since most people, who have something to hide usually prefer to send SMS messages, rather than talking in the phone, this is an extremely powerful feature, he said.

Having made the above disclosures, Martin said his review blog, C2C-Reviews.com, was established primarily to help persons make informed decisions whether to buy or not to buy, a particular product or service by providing them with the necessary information.

###

Apples of Gold Announces This Seasons New Additions To Their Line of Colored Gemstone Rings

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

With the prices of diamonds consistently high, many jewelry lovers turn to colored gemstone rings as a way to indulge in a little bling without breaking the bank. While colored gemstone engagement rings have long been popular in Europe, the United States still pines for the colorless diamond. But with higher quality stones, more fashion-forward designs, and affordable prices, colored gemstones are getting a second lookboth for wedding and fashion jewelry.

Apples of Gold has responded to the trend with an extensive line of new colored gemstone rings for fall and winter 2011. Prominent among the new pieces is the London blue topaz. The deep blue stone, resembling a slightly subtler sapphire, is a popular stone and available in a range of options, cuts and styles. Black diamonds appeal to the tastes of brides looking for something bold and edgy in their wedding jewelry.

While traditional colored gemstones like ruby, sapphire, and emerald will always hold their place among the companys best sellers, Apples of Gold is excited about the rising popularity of non-traditional, less common gemstones like the chocolate-y smoky quartz, the icy green amethyst, the bright citrine and the muted rose kunzite. New additions to the line reflect a customer demand for unique gemstones.

Apples of Golds fall and winter jewelry will also include a variety of colored gemstones set in sterling silver. The white metal pairs well with the colored stones and helps women afford the indulgence of a fine piece of quality jewelry at a price far less than white gold or platinum.

Despite being beautiful and trendy in their own right, colored gemstones are especially appealing to couples who desire extraordinary wedding jewelry without the extraordinary price tag. The 2011 fall and winter line of colored gemstones reflects Apples of Golds commitment to offering stunning jewelry at affordable prices. Founded in 1999, the company set out to develop a jewelry company that would not only do well, but would do good. Ethical, value-based pricing practices were the foundation. The Apples of Gold commitment to quality in their products and the highest standards for customer service and consumer satisfaction come naturally. In the fine jewelry industry, Apples of Gold is a diamond (or colored gemstone) in the rough.

Contact:

Apples of Gold

Afshin Yaghtin

606 South Hill Street, Suite 717 Los Angeles, Ca 90014

Email: marketing(at)applesofgold(dot)com

http://www.applesofgold.com

###

Speakers Will Bring Their Best Marketing Ideas to Grassroots.org Events

New York City (PRWEB) July 12, 2011

Though your organization is called a nonprofit, it still needs money to survive.

A group with the grand vision of making technology more accessible to cash-strapped groups will host a series of how-to workshops in New York City in August. For nearly a decade, Grassroots.org has provided non-profit organizations with free technology and marketing assistance. Today the group has more than 4,000 members.

The workshops, scheduled every Thursday in August, will help nonprofits unlock resources that could help them succeed on the web and beyond, said Alice Luu, executive director of Grassroots.org.

The workshop series is targeted toward nonprofits that dont have the capacity to or know how to build marketing strategies, or how to start up a public relations plan or social media, she explained.

Grassroots.org has more than 200 members in the New York area.

We want to meet with volunteers, nonprofit professionals and our supporters, and provide an intimate opportunity for them to learn and network amongst each other, Luu said.

Different topics will be discussed each Thursday, she added.

The first presenter on Aug. 4 is Catchafire, an organization focused on connecting skilled professionals with nonprofits in need of their services.

For some nonprofits times are tough, and properly leveraging pro bono resources can boost a groups bottom line, Catchafire Community Manager Ruti Wajnberg said.

We identify needs for organizations and we structure projects to make it easy for the professionals, Wajnberg said in a telephone interview.

Catchafire volunteers have assisted nonprofits in the New York area with projects related to finance, marketing, public relations, social media, fundraising and many other fields.

We have found that a lot of professionals want to give in this way, Wajnberg said.

Each month the group trains nonprofits in pro bono 101, she explained.

Its something that I think organizations do not think about enough, Wajnbuerg said. Managing your volunteers or your pro bono professionals is not as simple as it seems.

She said New York City has the second lowest volunteer rate in the nation.

Were trying to change that here in New York, Wajnberg said.

Eric Mohr is scheduled to speak Aug. 11. Mohr operates EBM Direct Marketing Services LLC. He is an expert at online and offline marketing and helped Grassroots.org triple its website conversion rate, Luu said.

Nonprofits are a business, theyre just a non-profit business, Mohr said in a telephone interview.

Making payroll and keeping the lights on costs money, which means nonprofits must focus on why their efforts are marketable, he explained.

The type of advertising that I provide is performance driven, Mohr said. Instead of having a marketing list, were using keywords. Instead of having paper, were using digital.

Many nonprofits are not sure where to turn when it comes to marketing themselves using technology.

I will be speaking about various digital and offline solutions nonprofits can utilize by directing financial resources to media returning the highest return on investment, Mohr said. The overall objective is to learn how to test various forms of direct response media and through analysis, target those returning a positive ROI.

For nonprofits operating in survival mode in a down economy, Mohr said the information he will present is key to using dwindling financial resources as efficiently as possible.

I want them to focus on what is out there for small and midsized companies, Mohr said. Ill be discussing search marketing, email marketing, direct mail, promotional products and mobile marketing.

Meanwhile, those who attend the workshop on Aug. 25 will hear from Josh Abdulla, CEO of LetGive.

We work with nonprofits and application developers, and we help nonprofits raise money through the use of technology and applications, Abdulla said.

Most nonprofits he encounters know they need a slick app to succeed in the competitive world of fundraising.

They want to have a mobile application, but it costs way too much for them to develop it, Abdulla said.

Mobile apps are used by nonprofits to collect money, increase their engagement with contributors and gather information about potential donors. Using mobile applications, LetGive connects for-profit companies that believe in certain causes with the nonprofits that support the movements.

Each Grassroots.org workshop is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Culture Fix, located at 9 Clinton Street in Manhattan. Details about tickets will be posted on Grassroots.orgs website in the next few weeks.

###

More Building Simple Websites Press Releases