Archives for June 2009

Homebrewing During the Summer

June 30, 2009 by Erika Leave a Comment

[singlepic id=128 w=240 h=160 float=center]Homebrewing during the summer can be a hot, sticky mess! The process of brewing your own beer can be quite warm anyway, but when you add escalating outdoor temperatures to the mix things can get downright unpleasant! Don’t think for a second that this means you have to relinquish your hobby until fall rolls around, though. Plenty of people continue to brew their own beer during the summer and live to tell the tale!

We know many of our customers buy our custom beer labels to label their homebrewed beer, and it’s a lot of fun for us to see the names that go along with each batch and read the stories that accompany them. We have a ton of designs that are perfect for summer brews, and we can also print completely custom designs as well. With our completely self-adhesive and waterproof labels, you never have to worry about refrigerating your beer or keeping it on ice. Our label look great no matter where you store your beer!

Here are some ways to help get you through this warm homebrewing season:

Try to maintain a constant temperature. Places like basements are ideal, as they tend to stay pretty cool and constant in temperature. Avoid places like metal garden sheds because these fluctuate wildly in temperature.
Let your fermenter sunbathe. Air it out in the sunshine between brews to prevent it from becoming musty. Just take care not to leave it in sunlight for too long so as to prevent the plastic from getting brittle.
Keep your brewing ingredients away from direct heat. If you expose your yeast to high temperatures, you run the risk of reducing its quality and effectiveness.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be knocking back your delicious homebrew all summer long!

The Perfect Pet Lover Gift

June 24, 2009 by Erika Leave a Comment

Have you ever looked at your pet and said, “You are adorable!”? If you’re anything like 99.9% of all pet owners out there, that answer is an emphatic yes. Pets are cute, it doesn’t matter if you’re keeping dogs, cats, birds, snakes, lizards, or wild boar, if you have brought a pet into your home, it’s very likely you think that animal is the cutest in the whole world ever.

That’s why we designed our brand new design, “Billy Goat Beer Label“. Even though there’s a dog name in the title, you can change the text to say whatever you like, and include any pet picture you want free of charge! You can use that adorable picture of when your cat was just a kitten, or that amazing picture from when your dog got stuck in the trash can.

The dog featured in this example is named Doc Holiday, and he’s a lot bigger now and lives happily with one of the people who works here. As you can see, virtually any photo will look great on this label, and you can get as creative as you like with the text. Go nuts! Have fun! Just remember not to let your pet drink any of the wine, even if the bottle does have his/her name on it!

Summer Beach Party Ideas

June 18, 2009 by Erika Leave a Comment

Beach barbecues, surfing, and volleyball; are there any activities as reminiscent of summer as these? If mountain ski slopes are the home of winter, then the beach must be summer’s residence! The feel of sand under your toes, the sound of waves crashing on the beach, and the gorgeous colors of a beach sunset are just some of what makes spending a day at the beach so much fun.

Beaches are natural locations for parties, because there’s a little something for everybody. Playing in the water, hitting a volleyball around, or even just lazing around and taking in the view, no matter who you invite it’s bound to be a good time. If you’re one of the lucky few who lives close to the beach, take advantage! Beach parties are perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just about any other occasion!

Here are some beach party ideas to spark your creativity:

Shelter. Beaches don’t tend to offer a lot of shade naturally, so pack up a folding canopy or some umbrellas. Someone will inevitably forget to put on sunscreen and will appreciate the shade like you wouldn’t believe!
Cold drinks. Beaches get hot, and there’s nothing worse than being parched and stuck without anything to drink! Pack a cooler or two with ice and load it up beverages. If you’re feeling extra fancy, use custom labels to spice up your beverages. How cute would the water label featured above look on some water bottles sitting on the beach?! Don’t worry, all our labels will withstand water and ice without smearing or falling off.
Seating. Sure, sitting on the sand is fine, but pack along some chairs as well for those who don’t want to or have difficulty sitting on the ground.
Ice. Don’t fall victim to food poisoning! Keep all your food properly refrigerated by bringing along lots of ice. Beach parties are fun, botulism isn’t.
Activities. Bring a volleyball net, some sports balls, and wood for a bonfire if you have a pit nearby. By making sure there’s a variety of activities, you’ll insure your guests don’t get bored, though who can possibly get bored on the beach?

As far as beach party ideas go, this is a pretty original one! Just stick on our fully adhesive labels, throw them into a cooler, and have fun!

How to Make "Out of Town Bags"

June 12, 2009 by Erika Leave a Comment

[singlepic id=59 w=240 h=240 float=center]If you’re lucky enough to have family and friends traveling from afar to watch you marry the love of your life, you’re probably thinking about how to treat them right. Reserving pleasant hotel rooms, arranging brunch for the day after your wedding, and planning ahead for transportation logistics are just a few of the ways you can thank your out of town guests by making their stay as relaxing as possible.

A wonderful way to go the extra mile in making your guests comfortable is the out of town bag or basket (a.k.a. The OOT Bag). These bags, or baskets, are placed in each out of town guest’s room and supplies them with a few personal touches they may need or want throughout your wedding festivities. Here are some suggestions to help get you started on creating OOT Bag for your own guests:

Pain relievers. Advil, aspirin, ibuprofen, any of these will be welcomed by any guest that suffers a headache or muscle sprain. You can buy single serving packets of these from Target or any drug store and you can bet your guests will appreciate them!
Shout Wipes. There’s nothing like an untimely stain to ruin the perfect wedding outfit! If you throw some single serving Shout Wipes into your OOT Bags, you could potentially save someone’s favorite outfit!
Snacks. You can really get creative with this one. Choose snacks that are special to your area or particular favorites of the bride and groom. Guests will love this custom touch and yummy food!
Welcome letter/schedule. Take some time to personally thank your guests for taking such a long trip to come see you. This is a wonderful way to start the festivities out in a custom, grateful way. Include a schedule of festivities, along with a map, to insure your guests know where to be and when.
bachelorette party favors. Coordinate the label with your wedding colors and theme. Not only will this help set the tone of your celebration for your guests, it’ll also provide the added benefit of giving them something to drink that isn’t ridiculously expensive hotel bottled water!

You can buy inexpensive baskets from Michael’s and customize them with a ribbon or fabric that matches your wedding decorations, or buy color-coordinated totes from any wedding favor retailer. With a few minutes of effort, you’ll make a huge impression on your out of town guests and make them feel truly welcomed.

Will you or have you used OOT Bags? How did you add your own personal flair?

8 oz Bottled Water Sale!

June 3, 2009 by Erika Leave a Comment

[singlepic id=100 w=160 h=240 float=center]It looks like summer has finally found its way to Washington state! With temperatures in the the mid-eighties, all of us are really glad we work in a place where there’s plenty of bottled water available. There are very few things in the world more refreshing on a hot day than a cold bottle of water straight from the refrigerator!

Now that summer’s here, we’d like to offer you the opportunity to enjoy delicious bottled water too! We’re offering everyone the chance to save 10% off all 8 oz bottled water orders, simply enter the promo code 10off8oz at checkout to receive your discount.

Our 8 oz bottled water size is small enough to stow in a purse or pocket, which makes it the ideal way to stay hydrated while on the go in the summer heat. It’s a great size for promotional events, wedding favors, and birthday favors as well.

Our water is purified spring water that meets and exceeds all FDA standards and regulations and is tested regularly to ensure purity. Our bottles are 100% recyclable and our labels are completely waterproof. We offer the highest quality personalized bottled water possible, and now we’re offering you the chance to see for yourself! If you’ve been waiting to buy custom label bottled water, now’s your chance!

Archives for June 2009

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