Checking Our List #28: CafePress {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, maryjaco1!}

Every year that I decorate our Christmas tree, I seem to leave more and more ornaments back in the box. Is that just me? I'm not sure what it is that I'm looking for when deciding if they'll make the cut, but oftentimes it just seems like there are decorations that are too old or too... boring. I want something with a little extra pizazz, you know?

Something like these two cuties:

Back from my first CafePress review, these personalized ornaments are two that I look forward to seeing hanging on my tree from now until... forever. Created right on CafePress using their innovative and simple ornament designer, after a few clicks and a short while waiting, these adorable ceramic ornaments were at my door and instant favorites.

Here's the thing: everything on CafePress is just that easy. They offer millions of custom sweatshirt hoodies, 2011 wall calendars, personalized gifts of all sorts and much, much more, that can be personalized completely from scratch any way you like it. Or, browse through the 250+ million unique products that they have already made and see what you can find that way.

When it came time to create something to treasure this year, the hardest part for me was deciding between all of the options that CafePress offers. Where to begin? And then I came upon the Keepsake Boxes and I knew right away that it was the perfect gift... for me.

Although there were so many design categories with pre-made options to choose from, it didn't take me long to decide what (and who) I wanted on there. Uploading my photo was simple and I was able to zoom, move and edit it with ease. When I was done, I sat back and admired the look on the preview:

Was there really any doubt that these two would be pictured?

Once ordered, all I had to do was sit back and wait... for only a few days. A well-padded package arrived quickly and I pulled it open, eager to see the finished product.

And there they were, captured happily right on the top of the solid hardwood, covered in a high-gloss lacquer finish. The total box measured 5.5" x 5.5" and was just the right size for storing just about anything inside without any bulky feeling to it.

Opening it up, I found that the hinges moved smoothly and easily and that the interior was fully lined in plush white velvet.

As the bottom was covered with felt, I had no worries about this box scratching any surface that I put it down on. Bringing it into my bedroom, I love that I now have the perfect place to store the jewelry that I wear often and that each time I go to open the box, I see one of my favorite pictures of my daughters. Keeping organized with a beautiful memento? It's great!

A Keepsake Box from Cafepress would make a wonderful holiday gift for anyone on your list this season and I can't imagine any mother or grandmother not loving something so personalized and yet so functional. Of course, if a Keepsake Box doesn't fit for your recipient, there are always those millions of other options available to choose from!

Thanks to the generosity of CafePress, one person will have a unique gift custom just for their recipient because...

One lucky person will win their choice of item (up to $30) from CafePress!

To enter to win: Visit CafePress and tell me which of their great products you would like to own or give as a gift.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win your choice of CafePress custom item (up to $30) over there as well!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow CafePress on Twitter, sign up for their e-newsletter (found at the bottom of their homepage) and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 28: WIN your choice of custom item from CafePress (ARV $30)! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/f5Lvy8 #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and CafePress. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on December 23rd at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to CafePress for providing a Keepsake Box for me to review as well as the item of choice (up to $30) for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.