GeekSugar

Geek Goes Chic: Etchstar Carves Place in My Cell and Heart

GeekSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:00:29 PDT

In case you haven't heard, our recent party in LA was decidedly geek chic. PopSugar put on the event with our friends at TechCrunch, but it included an array of other sponsors who set up fun stations around the venue.

One of the stations was Etchstar, who I have written about in the past. The company sells custom laser etched and engraved preloaded iPods, cell phones, laptops, Moleskine journals and even metal dog tags and I have to say, they are adorable. During the party, most of the Sugar crew made their way over to the Etchstar booth to have their beloved BlackBerry's and iPhone's personalized with some one-of-a-kind etching creations. Thanks to the Etchstar team, we instantaneously had all our gadgetry customized with everything and anything from Sugar logos to stars and even skulls - so hot! Check out all the fun designs below.

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You can see all their photos from the event for a better look at some of their other designs.

Make a One-of-a-Kind Gadget with Etchstar

GeekSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:00:19 PST

I was never really keen on the idea of engraving my gadgets, but after checking out all the neat samples by Etchstar, I'm starting to reconsider. What's great about Etchstar is the fact that you can buy products directly from them or send your own to be customized (coming soon). Select a design from the gallery or upload your own - the options are endless. Prices vary from product to product and are fairly reasonable. Definitely a much cheaper option than personalizing your gadgets with Colorware!

Laser Engraved iPod Shuffle Adds Creative Touch

GeekSugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:00:25 PDT

I honestly thought that the days of lasering your gadgets were over - primarily because I haven't seen many tattoo lasered laptops recently and because there are so many unique cases. Plus, I find it hard to justify permanently scratching-up your beloved gadgets.

But when I saw this shuffle on Chip Chick, I actually thought it was kinda cute! Epilog laser machines can engrave custom artwork like this on 2G shuffles and on iPhones. Want to engrave your shuffle for free? The online Apple Store offers free personalized laser-engraved text on new iPods.

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4 Things to Do With Gifts You Don't Want

Emily Co — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:35 PST

Now that the Christmas rush is over, you might be less than giddy over some of the gifts you received. Every year, millions of dollars are wasted on unwanted gifts, but that doesn't mean you should let your own unwanted present go to waste. If you're eyeing a certain gift with distaste, here are a couple of options you can take:

Exchange or return it to the store: If the kind recipient was thoughtful enough to include a gift receipt, use the opportunity to trade the present in for an item that you actually want or to get a refund. Remember not to take too long when returning the gift, because there usually is a time frame for when the store will accept a return. Also, check the return policy to see if you're allowed to get a full refund or if you're only allowed to trade the item in for another.
Sell it online: Sell the unwanted gifts on sites like Craigslist, eBay, or Amazon. If you don't have much experience with online commerce, ask a savvy friend who's well versed in selling items on the web to help you out. If you're creating an account, try not to pick a username that's too obvious or your recipients may spot you reselling their unwanted gifts. If the item has been personalized for you, be honest and mention that in the description. You might also want to offer up a discount if the gift has your name engraved on it.
Regift it: You can also give the present to someone else if you follow regifting rules such as making sure you aren't giving the gift back to the same recipient and that you're thinking about the recipient and not giving another unwanted gift. If the gift isn't Christmas-themed, you can perhaps give it as a thank-you gift at a New Year party if it's appropriate.
Donate it: When all else fails, you can always donate it so the gift will hopefully be used by someone else. Call local charities to see if they're willing to accept the type of item you're thinking about donating. Use Charity Navigator's advanced search feature to look for suitable charities near you. Remember, you can deduct this donation on your income tax return, so try to do this before the end of the year!

While you're trying to decide what to do with your unwanted gifts, keep this rule in mind: try to get rid of them as soon as you can. The longer you leave your gift sitting there, the longer it'll be part of your clutter, and you might start procrastinating and delay dealing with it.

Link Time - Find Out What Kris Humphries Had Engraved on Kim Kardashian's Ring

PopSugar — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:15:44 PDT

The engravings are something personal to Kim and Kris - D-Listed
Watch the ultimate Harry Potter movie experience - Huffington Post
All the movies with the best bachelor party scenes - Rotten Tomatoes
Who wins in a battle between Lady Gaga and Rihanna? - TooFab
Bryce Dallas Howard is pregnant again! - Us Weekly
Jay-Z posts a sweet tribute to Beyoncé on his website - Lainey Gossip
Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley get preppy for a day date - JustJared
Chelsea Handler doesn't want anything to do with Diddy - PopEater
Elizabeth Hurley wore a bikini top for a night on the town - Hollywood Tuna
Lindsay Lohan proves how clean and sober she is in a short film - Pink Is the New Blog
Charlie Sheen already has a buyer for his Beverly Hills mansion - The Superficial

5 Cute and Stylish Gift Ideas For Mom!

Allison McNamara — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:00:00 PST

On the hunt for the perfect gift for your mom? Look no further, we've selected five cute and stylish gifts that your mom will love. If she's the jewelry type, try an engraved Helen Ficalora necklace or a set of stacked Melinda Maria bangles. For moms who are always on-the-go, a pair of fashionable two-tone flats or a colorful scarf are practical and stylish options. Or, if you mom is the type who can't leave home without her Ereader, why not get her a super chic case for her gadget? Watch to see all of our great gifts for mom, and don't forget to check out our favorite . On Allison: StyleMint top, Lia Sophia necklace, Zara jacket.

Warm Winter Coats For Fashionable Tots

Nicole Abbott — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:37:34 PST

Bundle up in style this season! Temperatures are dropping, and a lightweight coat or heavy Fall sweater just won't do much longer. But mama puts a lot of thought into her lil ones' outfits, and covering up in any Winter coat is not acceptable. Tots' coats should be just as fashionable as what's underneath! From puffer jackets to sophisticated tweeds, there's something to suit everyone's tastes among these Winter styles.

Jessica Simpson Girls Toggle Puffer Jacket ($105): Celebrity style! Vibrant and functional, this toggle coat is from mama-to-be Jessica Simpson's newly launched girls line.
Gymboree Toggle Faux Shearling Coat ($33): Top your tot's Winter look with a cozy and elegant faux-shearling coat that features plush faux-fur in the collar, cuffs, and trim.
Old Navy Wool-Blend Babydoll Coat ($70): For classic style, check out this cozy, double-breasted coat with a gathered, rounded collar for a sophisticated Winter layer. Available in black, red, and leopard print.
Old Navy Marled Tweed Coat For Baby ($45): For little ladies who lunch! This trendy tweed dress coat features a wide shawl collar and three oversize button closures in a lovely lavender shade.
Peace of Cake Kids Curly Q's Hippie Coat ($68): Dress it up: this hippie-chic faux-fur coat - with a decorative brooch adorning the collar - is both sweet and stylish.
Petit Bateau Boys Toggle Coat ($152): Traditionally preppy, this boy’s duffle coat with a flat hood and traditional toggle fastening features large patch flap pockets - perfect for toting your tyke's "treasures."
Old Navy Hooded Wool-Blend Coats For Baby ($40): Stylish in plaid! Boys can bundle up in this sherpa-lined coat and stay warm and fashionable this Winter.
Ralph Lauren Kids Coat, Little Boys Academy Peacoat ($195): Timeless style! This essential peacoat, in luxurious wool, features a classic look, right down to the engraved-anchor buttons.
Janie and Jack Bow Melton Coat ($99): Pretty in pink, this colorful wool-blend melton coat is the perfect finishing touch for your little princess' festive holiday looks.

Personalize Your iPad

GeekSugar — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:21:24 PDT

Looking for the perfect way to distinguish your iPad from others? May we present: laser engraving. In a Flash Laser, a company out of North Carolina, goes beyond the basic name and message engraving offered by Apple at time of purchase. Ship the company your iPad free of charge, or arrange through their preferred Apple vendor to have a new device purchased and sent directly to their studio.

The detailed precision of the work on the iPad aluminum is impressive - check out their portfolio for artwork inspiration. Work with the company directly to nail down a perfect design. This is great for practical tech owners, as the customization should not void the Apple Care warranty, since it doesn't directly affect any of the components - whew!

Engraving is $79.99 per iPad and is also available at varying price levels for iPhone 4, iPod Touch, Nook, Kindle and laptops. We'd love to see the finished product if any readers have a gadget engraved.

Source: Etsy User inaflashlaser

Karl Lagerfeld & Orrefors: Collaboration Alert!

Shelterpop — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:00:24 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

The fashion designer branches out with his first collection of glassware. Swedish company Orrefors is offering up a haute new take on their signature hand-blown glassware. Karl Lagerfeld's collection is, as you'd expect, sleek and glossy pieces in his signature color palette of milky white, black and crystal. A few pieces even have his special touch: An engraved monogram. No, not your monogram, though. His. Any KLs out there would be smart to add this to their wishlist. The collection includes glasses - from flutes to coupes to water glasses - as well as vases, bowls and coasters.

The collection is beautiful, no doubt about it. But the quotes from Lagerfeld in this video are kind of the best part. He describes one glass as a "freestanding geometric cloud" and reveals that not only does he hate to drink diet coke out of heavy or cheap glasses, but that plastic cups are even unacceptable while traveling. "Even when you're on the road, if you're spoiled like me, you carry a little box with your own glass." The collection hits stores September 1st. But in the meantime, watch this video about the process, and to get more Lagerfeld gems. Continue reading to watch the video!

Cool Idea: Carve It Up

Mandy Harris — Wed, 11 May 2011 05:00:48 PDT

Remember when you were a kid, and carving words and pictures into your school desk was an absolute no-no? Well, good news: you're a big kid now, and those rules no longer apply! As long as you do it tastefully, that is.

At Clif Winery's tasting room in Napa Valley (run by the family that invented Clif bars for cyclists), this dining table features a winding path carved into its top, an homage to the switchback-filled roads that avid cyclists often tackle. And at Homeroom restaurant in Oakland, CA, each table is engraved with the restaurant's logo, a tiny paper airplane. In both cases, the artfully done carvings add a subtle, personalized detail to otherwise plain pieces of furniture.

Try it yourself to spice up a tired piece of furniture or a flea market find: just trace your free-handed or stenciled design onto your work surface, then lightly carve into the wood with a sharp X-acto blade. If you're happy with your creation and want to preserve it, apply a stain or sealant over the design.