Holiday Gift Guide 2012 Zazzle & Krome Review and Coupon
Do you have a person on your Holiday list that seems impossible to buy for? You know the one. The techie one that has all the latest accessories or the grandparent that has everything, but loves pictures of the kids. Welcome to my shopping experience for the in-laws. They have lived all over and collected enough things that they are pretty correct in saying they don’t need anything. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still want to find them the perfect gift to let them know they are special to us. Introducing Zazzle and Krome, my shopping hero this year, and your destination for high quality enhanced photo products! And just like the ease of using the Barely There iPhone case, it’s a snap.
The project is fast and easy. Literally, it took me 5-10 minutes to complete my order. The hardest part was choosing my photos. At the Zazzle and Krome Photos product center, simply upload your photo, and they’ll take care of enhancing and printing your photo onto your favorite product. I purposely chose some difficult shots to work with to see how they’d handle it. They passed my challenge with flying colors.
iPhone project: The photo I used for the iPhone case is one that holds sentimental value for the family. It’s a place that has hosted many a family vacation and you’ll find varying pictures of it on the walls in their homes. We knew it would be a perfect gift, that reminds not of just individual grandchildren, but decades of treasured memories. There were some issues with the original photo though. The snow, the light on the water, and the rock outcropping are intensely bright making the trees appear dark and indistinct. I chose the Enhance Color option when I placed my order and was not disappointed. It is still bright but not overpowering and you can see the individual trees and the light brown of the plants in the background. Super!
Canvas project: This summer we had the amazing opportunity to travel cross country to be with family for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. It was the first time in almost 20 years that we had all been together and it was a special event. We wanted to commemorate it with a family photo. It was going to be a challenging portrait with 19 people, including younger children, so we set-up for an outdoor session. The arrangements were made and then the sun wanted to add to the day by shining its brightest. When the thermometer reached 105o the photographer backed out. That left us scrambling at the last minute to find a way to document the occasion. A quick trip to the camera store was made for a wide-angle lens and a sturdy tri-pod and the location was moved to the backyard. For a set-the-timer-and-run shot it turned out pretty good. Add a little amateur Photoshop and the pool umbrella and some power lines were erased, but the sun was so bright some of us were pretty washed out.
When I placed my order I opted to enhance the color and retouch faces. To add to the challenge, I couldn’t locate the Photoshopped version of the image. (I believe its on a desktop in PA securely located inside a new install of Window 8) So, we were actually working with a scanned copy of an 8×10 here. You’ll also notice my placement was for a portrait and not a landscaped picture. I noticed it too, right after I pressed confirm order. I frantically sent an email to my contact asking for help to save my Christmas present. No worries! I got a quick response assuring me that the editors were aware of my mistake and would make sure the image was exactly what we wanted. And it is! I know my in-laws are going to love it.
I chose the iPhone 4s barely there case and a 16×20 canvas wrapped print for my project, but a variety of other products are available to choose from including a case for the new iPad mini. The Barely There case is sturdy and fits snuggly, ensuring protection without bulk for your iDevice. The canvas turned out to be everything I’d hoped for in a quality print.
I was very please with the customer service from the Zazzle and Krome staff and the easy ordering process. When you enter your project you have the option to select “review photo before printing” then you will get an email asking you to log into your account and approve the photo when its ready. Be sure to watch your inbox, they respond quickly. We are getting close to Christmas, though so you may wish to go with priority shipping to make sure you get it in time.
I’m excited with both of my purchases. Thanks again to the Zazzle and Krome heroes for helping with my holiday giving!
(Note: If my Father-in-law is reading this. you must act completely surprised when gifts are opened. Don’t let on that you knew a thing about it. Love ya!)
Coupon Notice: Zazzle and Krome just put out a coupon for 60% off a custom canvas print! Use coupon code KP01FAM016U1H7 (offer expires 1/15/13)
Seller: Zazzle and Krome
Disclosure: I received a free iPhone case for review purposes.
