**edit: this giveaway is now closed! thanks to all who played!**
It’s here! I’m so excited to see all your holiday bokeh images. Welcome to the 2nd Annual Holiday Bokeh Party!
Isn’t she a gorgeous model to kick off our party??
If you’re new to the party and need a tutorial for how to make holiday bokeh, see this post. And I’ve partnered with some amazing small businesses just in time to help you finish crossing off the good boys and girls on your holiday list. I don’t know about you – but I really want a whole lot less Wal-Mart and a whole lot more small business for my holiday shopping.
So, before we link up, let me introduce you to some awesome shops and some even more awesome giveaways!
Amanda from Everyday Elements offers tutorials, workshops, and actions to make your editing workflow faster and easier. What photographer wouldn’t want more time? Amanda is best known for her work with Photoshop Elements, but I use CS5 and her clean edit is the bomb (do people still say that?)! Amanda is offering a $50 Gift Card toward any actions or workshops. Woot!
Follow Everyday Elements on twitter | Follow Everyday Elements on Facebook
Lindsey is the artist behind The Pleated Poppy. She makes posy pins, bloom bags, petal pushers and so many perfect accessories for girls and women. She recently added custom ties for boys and even matching ties for Dads. I need 3 of these! 
I use her products in my studio often – and I’m so thrilled to announce Lindsey is giving away a $40 Gift Certificate to her shop. I feel the need to say, “I’m not just the president, I’m also a Hair Club for Men user!” That photo in the feature is mine – her headbands are perfect for accessorizing my babies.
Follow The Pleated Poppy on twitter | Follow The Pleated Poppy on Facebook
Kent Weakley is one of the blogosphere’s best photo instructors. He doesn’t just explain what to do, he explains why to do it – all with beautiful graphics. Since it’s an eclass, the learning is done on your time and at your pace. Kent has two upcoming eClasses perfect for the photographer on your list! And he’s giving a spot in his Photo Composition eClass that starts on Jan. 20th and a spot in his Night Photography eClass that begins on Feb. 10 – a total value of $114!
Follow Kent Weakley on twitter | Follow Kent Weakley on Facebook
I’ve featured Kristy from Life-n-Reflection here on the blog before. She is sooo talented! While she is probably best known for her photo textures, which are artistic overlays for enhancing your photos, she’s also a designer and a talented photographer, as well. She’s a regular here on Sweet Shot Tuesdays, and I always love her work.
Kristy is giving away two sets of calendar templates: 12 – 5×7 monthly calendars in Venetian and 8×10 yearly calendars in 4 styles. These are excellent marketing gifts – simply drop in your clients’ images, add your own branding and print! Beautiful gifts that will be displayed with YOUR name and work on them. This is a $40 value.
Follow Life-n-Reflection on twitter | Follow Life-n-Reflection on Facebook
Tracy from CastAway Collection is a Newfoundland-based crochet artist who makes hand-crafted classic pieces with a modern twist that are perfect as photography props, as gifts, and just make each day “oh so special!” Tracy sells her beautiful creations in her Etsy shop. I am sooo in love with the granny square newborn pixie hats!
Tracy is offering a winner the newborn pixie hat / headband combo as featured in the image.
Follow Tracy on Twitter | Follow CastAway Collection on Facebook
My photography business is joining in the fun! His & Hers is a Des Moines, Iowa-based photography studio specializing in newborn & children’s portraiture as well as unique senior portraits and model headshots. I mostly shoot the little ones, and my husband Randy shoots the “big ones” who, I’m sure, love being called “the big ones”! We know you all are far away – so we’re offering a 5-image portfolio review and critique. Don’t let the word critique scare you. Having another set of professional photographers offer constructive review of your images is a great way, especially if you’re new to the business, to help you hone your images and decide which to include in your online portfolio. The 30-60 minute review will take place on Skype sometime after the holidays have settled down.
Follow His & Hers on twitter | Follow His & Hers on Facebook
How do you win all this awesome stuff?! There are SIX vendors, and there will be SIX winners drawn! Here’s how to win:
MANDATORY:
1. Link up your holiday bokeh image.
2. Like each vendor on Facebook: Everyday Elements, The Pleated Poppy, Kent Weakley, Life-n-Reflection, CastAway Collection and His & Hers Photography.
3. Tweet or post about this party and the giveaways and link back to this post on twitter or your FB wall. You can write what you want, but here’s a sample:
Holiday Bokeh Party & Giveaways @my3boybarians – link up and win! http://my3boybarians.com/2011/12/holiday-bokeh-party-giveaways/
4. Leave 1 comment saying you’ve done those things. Make sure your email is on the form (not in the comment!) or I will redraw.EXTRA ENTRIES (yay, lots more chances to win!):
1. Pin this giveaway on Pinterest.
2. Subscribe to Everyday Elements blog -OR- follow Amanda on twitter.
3. Go to The Pleated Poppy shop and come back and tell us your favorite thing in her shop.
4. Subscribe to Kent Weakley’s blog -OR- follow Kent on twitter.
5. Go to Kristy’s Life-n-Reflection Etsy texture shop or her Etsy design shop and come back and tell us what your favorite thing is.
6. Go to CastAway Collection on Etsy and come back and let us know what your favorite item is.
7. Subscribe to the His & Hers blog.
8. Stumble, Digg, Google+ or blog about this giveaway and come back and let us know you did!
This link will remain up until Wednesday, December 14th at midnight central. Come back Thursday, December 15th to see if YOU won!
Thanks for linking up and making this one of my favorite times of year on the blog. You all make m3b so pretty with your images.
Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah! Phew! Let’s Do It!
I subscribed to Everyday Elements.
I subscribed to Kent Weakley’s blog.
I subscribed to His and Hers Photography.
I have done all of the above to enter the contest. Boy got in just in time I think. Still have computer issues. It’s back in the shop. Turns out it needed a new video card, power supply, and logic board! Crazy!
Completed all required tasks!
I’m already subscribed to Everyday Elements blog.
Love the Crochet Toddler Baby Granny Square Beanie Hat & Photo Prop in Cream with Crochet Flower (The Ocean Flower) on the Castaway Collection Etsy site.
I like the ipad case – modern dots w/ mustard on the Pleated Poppy’s Etsy site.