Postcards App by Posten.se

I've been wanting to send a card or a letter to my friend in Sweden. I haven't seen her in almost a year, so I wanted to send a little something: a postcard or a greeting card. I absolutely hate "losing friends" because of distance/timezone issues, and I'm not going to lose this friend just because she lives in another continent!

Unfortunately, there's not much info online in how to send mail abroad (from Manila, Philippines) and I don't know how much it will cost. I also don't know where I can send snail-mails anymore. :-/

I stumbled into Postcards by Posten.se, a website/app that will electronically create a postcard, using any photo from your camera roll (iphone) or in facebook. At the back, I entered the message and the mailing address. I ended up with a bill of $2.99/postcard which isn't too bad. That's about Php 130.

The postcard arrived the following day, as they promised. Since the company is within Sweden and the order was made before 4PM Central Europe Time, the postcard arrived the next workday.

Here's the steps:

1. Download and open the Postcard app. The app itself is free to download.
2. Click on Get Image or New Photo to choose which picture to use
3. Flip it at the back to enter the message and the mailing address
4. Once done, click on Send, then Pay and Submit
5. Enter your payment information, click on Pay
6. Once paid, an email notification will arrive. So simple!

I just blurred out the photo and message. ;)

There are other apps out there, they may be cheaper (around $1.49) or with better functionalities. I just didn't choose them because they might be based in an entirely different continent from my friend's location (which means it will take a longer time to arrive).

Check out some of the links below.

• http://flipthemedia.com/2013/12/what-the-crapp-7-apps-to-send-your-pictures-as-postcards/
• http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/447-greeting-cards-ecards-apps-ios-android.html

I haven't seen the actual postcard, so I can't comment on the quality.

Polagram PH: Turn Instagram Photos into Magnets in Manila!

I decided to try out Polagram.ph after someone commented on my Canvas Prints in Manila post form 2 years ago. One of my favorite things to do is to take photos and post on Instagram. I ordered 20 2x2 magnets for Php 778 (minimum starts at Php350 with 9 magnets). It comes with free shipping!

I ordered some family photos to be posted on our fridge, that way, people at home get good vibes whenever they go to the kitchen.

I wasn't able to get screenshots of all the steps, but it's quite straightforward: 1) Log in with your Instagram account. 2) Choose the photos you want to print. 3) Put in the shipping details. 4) Pay with Paypal or Over the Counter.

The main tough part for me was when I need to remove some items, I had to re-choose everything all over again, so make sure you choose carefully before hitting Submit Order. Plus, my internet was wonky when I clicked pay with Paypal so I ended up submitting twice, generating 2 order numbers. The folks at Polagram quickly addressed it, so no problem.

After choosing, this is the next page with the order summary

Put in the shipping details after the order summary.

I'll be updating this along with the results of the actual magnets! I can't wait!!! I got a text from PolagramPH saying my magnets will arrive on Friday (48 hours after my order), such good customer service! :) I'll append this post with an update on the actual magnets.

Update: I got the magnets this morning, as theyve committed! It's set on a card. I love them! :) They're now stuck on our fridge.

Canvas Printing Services in Manila Philippines

I've been looking for a service that can print my Instagram Photos into something that I can frame for a limited budget in Manila.

Before now, I've only known about Instacanvas, which is US-based, and they sell the 12x12 inch canvas for 39.95 USD + 9 USD for shipping fees. It's too steep for me and I don't think I'm their target market since I earn in Philippine standards. [Plus, I joined Instacanvas with the seller-mindset rather than a buyer-mindset...]

I've recently tried out Pop Print Photos (http://www.facebook.com/popprintphotos). I ordered their 12x12 Xintra Print as a gift. I got this one for PhP 900 (inclusive of VAT & Shipping).

After a week of settling the order details and the payment details, it arrived! I was happy with the quality and that the photo didn't come out pixelated, considering I took and edited the photo in my iphone using Snapseed and Instagram.

My niece and her canvas

My niece hung her picture on the doorknob, thought it would be funny

Got Featured! And Next Entry

Thanks to the help from my friends, my J Ruiz LRT Station photo made it to the front page! It's part of the top 100 photos of the week. It seems that they are now making this a regular thing in Instacanvas so I entered a second photo for the contest whose voting ends on October 22.

Front Page of Instacanvas (http://instacanv.as)

Here's my next entry - it's the photo I took in Amsterdam Central (or Amsterdam Centraal) back in July 2012 in our 6-hour stopover from our Poland Business Trip. What's amazing about this place is that it's packed with different kinds of people and cultures and it feels "normal", unlike other places where there's an element of fear when there's something/someone that's different. In the background, the structures looks very Christian and European, while there are many people of different races (Middle-east asians, South-east Asians, Africans, Caucasians, etc) walking around.

If you like the picture, vote for it on Instacanvas by clicking on the photo below. :)

Instagram, Instacanvas, and Help Needed

One of the things that I've really been into these days is Instagram. I've been into "amateur photography" for the longest time, usually using my sister's digicam or using mobile phones (before, Nokia N97, now, iPhone 4). Instagram has just been the most convenient app to use right now. In 2 months, I've got over 250 photos (addict!).

Since I mix personal photos with artsy-fartsy photos, it's great that there's Instacanvas to allow me to select photos which I categorize as the latter. :) Instacanvas also allows me to sell my photos, but I'd only get 8USD out of the 39USD. I'm not exactly hopeful on selling photos in the Philippine market as 39USD seems too steep. But then, I'm aiming to advertise through the Instacanvas page to link up with buyers from other countries!

With that, I need your help to get to the feature page! Please vote for the picture, we only have until today (Oct 15 afternoon)! If you don't think it's vote-worthy, that's alright. :)

This particular photo was taken last Saturday on my way to my university. This is the J Ruiz Station of LRT2 in Metro Manila Philippines. There were only very few people, so I was confident enough to take my phone out. :P Doesn't it look like the train stations in Europe? LRT2 is the best train line in Metro Manila :)

Check out the rest of my gallery here: http://instacanv.as/yvettety

Flower Close Up Shots in Legazpi

I like taking pictures with my iphone and i like using snapseed and instagram to fix it up. I a self-proclaimed "amateur photographer"!

These were all taken today in Legazpi City. :) I'll share some more later on.