Dare we remind you that there are not many days left in the summer! Let’s face it, August will come and go like the wind it blew in on and it will be back to school and back to big puffy jackets, cold noses and inside sessions.

We demand that you all get out there this weekend and get some pics in that hot summer sun! Hit the beach, the pool, your own back yard and capture these last few sweltering moments before they are auto archived in the summer of ’09 folder in your brain!

To help you out, we share with you some super cool tips for shooting in the summer sun! Miz Booshay, my absolute favorite PW contributor and self taught photographer (don’t tell her I am a complete blog stalker!) has posted 10 awesome tips for shooting during the bright, blaring sun on a gorgeous summer day. Read these tips…jot them down…carry them with you for the next 4 weeks! Thank you Miz Booshay for your sharing an caring!

Is there anything better than FREE education!? I am sure there are a couple things, but today, it’s numero uno!

Then you MUST check out….

Created in the heads of 3 great graphic designers, Simple Wish Designs, Sugar Lime Designs and On the Spot Studio

These 3 talented graphic artists & designers created Prime Pixels Design with YOU and your graphic prop needs in mind!
By joining their forums, you receive FREE: actions, templates, marketing designs, light room presets AND MORE!

And for only $20/mo membership (or a discounted $150/yr!!!), the freebies cover themselves!!!  BUT WAIT (did I just sound like an infomercial? lol), if you sign up now… they are offering 50% discounted memberships to the first 50 peeps! Cant beat that… esp if your an action junkie like Gina and I!

Oh yeah… we actually CAN beat that! Cuz the gals at Prime Pixels Design are offering one Prop Insanity reader a FREE FULL YEAR MEMEBERSHIP!!!!

HOW DO YOU WIN THIS FREEBIE MEMBERSHIP?
Just leave us a comment below, telling us your favorite action set in your palette!

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES

You may earn 1 extra entry EACH for doing the following
(come here and leave a separate comment (and link) for each thing you do):

• Follow PI on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest with link back here (copy and paste http://www.PropInsanity.com right into the text box)
• Subscribe to our feed (link in the header)
• Sign up for our newsletter (link in our header)
• Add a PI button to your sidebar (find our button in the sidebar here>>>)
• Comment on any other PI “non-contest” post (must contribute to the conversation)
• Facebook about the contest (dont forget to leave us your FB link in your comment here)

So head on over to Prime Pixels Design and see what all the “buzz” is about!  Hey, for new freebies each month…their membership fee covers itself!!

~Tracy & Gina

Michelle! Who commented:

“I love them all, they are all so beautiful!!!
But if I had to pick one, I would go with #4″

(randomly picked by random.org)

Thanks to EVERYONE who entered in this great contest.. Jamie Schultz Designs are a favorite amongst many… esp us girls here at Prop Insanity!

Thanks to Mary Beth (one of our loyal flickrites), who shared this AWESOME Cool Find with us!

for $1.. yep $1 at your local $1 store… you can snatch up one of these great lil KIDDO ATTENTION GETTERS!
Of course, that’s not what they are made for (more for a kids bracelet, lol), but they stretch perfectly around your lens, and give “wee ones” something fun to look
and GIGGLE at while you do your baby & child portraits!!!

And come on.. doesnt it make YOU giggle too! lol
Mary Beth found them in a giant $1 bin, with the kids balls that look similar to this wiggly thing!

She kindly picked me up a green one.. and IM IN LOVE!  I cant wait to try it out… it’s just PERFECT!

So for $1… you can own this COOL FIND too!
(Thx to ms Mary Beth!!!)

Wiggle & Giggle lovers,
Tracy & Gina

#34, Amber Skene! (chosen randomly, as always!)

CYE Amber… and enjoy!  You’ll be surprised to see how far $20 bucks will get ya at TJ!

*Thanks to everyone else who entered… and keep your eyes peeled for more review, & giveaways!

Welcome to the Whimsical and Creative world of…

CHARBRIDGE KNITS

From the unique look of the Munchkin Hat…..

To her best selling Pixie Hat….

Shown in her Jester hat……..

and daringly portrayed in her SACK Hats……

Bridget with CHARBRIDGE KNITS is a true genius when it comes to a pair of knitting needles and a crafty sense of “baby style”.

We’ve all seen her designs by now… and even more of us drooled over by her ever expanding collection…
Bridget from CHARBRIDGE KNITS will never disappoint you.. in quality, style & textures of her props, and her all around class & quality in delivering TOP NOTCH customer service!

Of course… we’ll cut to the chase… as we KNOW you’re biting the bit to own your own Charbridge Knit custom creation…
So hears the dealio…

CONTEST:
Winner will receive a PIXIE HAT in their color choice!!!

HOW TO WIN:

Simply visit CHARBRIDGE KNITS (CLICK HERE)
and then come back here and leave a comment telling us WHICH of her hats is your favorite!
I cant say it will be easy… cuz she has soooo many darling and creative hats to choose from!

Add in extra entries by: 1) blogging about this review, 2) tweeting about this review!
Then come back here… leave a comment with your blog link, and another comment with your twitter link!

only on our flickr group….

CLICK HERE TO VIEW & ENTER

***Pettiskirts are first come first served for stocked skirts…. see flickr thread for details***

By now… I’m sure many of you have heard of the wonderful forum CLICKIN MOMS….
THE friendliest, warmest, honestly helpful and delightful forum you will ever find…

I found my home at CM last year.. and not only did I meet some amazing new friends over  (you know who you are… Jes, Maureen, Anna & Kendra! lol),
but I also found a great environment to to hone in on my skills and get to know my own photography & style better than I thought I already had!

Their forums include such things as:
Critique me (where you will receive kind constructive criticism on how to better your work)
and my favorite.. SHARING! lol a non-critique section to just share your favorite shots!

Of course.. there are the hundreds (if not thousands) of other prop junkies who you can share your prop insanity with, lol… it’s how I found soo many of our great vendors, and dabbled the idea of Prop Insanity!!!

If your not already a member… JOIN NOW!!!
The simple fee of $6/month… yep, I almost passed out, only $6/month? lol Well.. that is even LOWER right now!  Use code FRIEND and receive 10% off your membership (until August 1st!)

Sign up through this link… (click on the icon below)

and receive an extra discount (limited time, so dont miss out!!!!)

However… get ready, and jump for JOY in excitement…
CLICK IN MOMS IS OFFERING ONE OF OUR READERS AN ENTIRE YEAR FREE MEMBERSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah… I was so excited and pumped (*giggle snort*) to announce this freebie friday, and get some more brag time in about my favorite photog and mommy forum….

DONT FRET! If you’re already a CM member… and you win… the 1y membership will be tagged on to your existing membership!  So everyone, and anyone can enter now.  And if your not a member, 1) WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! $6/month.. come on… it’s time to join! lol

So… the important stuff… HOW TO WIN your free YEAR membership!!!

We know how big the cyber world is… and how we are all not only prop addicts.. but we’re social networking FREAKS! lol
So a few easy steps, and your ENTERED TO WIN!

You may earn 1 extra entry EACH for doing the following
(come here and leave a separate comment (and link) for each thing you do):

• Follow PI on Twitter
• Tweet about this contest with link back here (copy and paste http://www.PropInsanity.com right into the text box)
• Subscribe to our feed (link in the header)
• Sign up for our newsletter (link in our header)
• Add a PI button to your sidebar (find our button in the sidebar here>>>)
• Comment on any other PI “non-contest” post (must contribute to the conversation)
• Facebook about the contest (dont forget to leave us your FB link in your comment here)

READY… SET… GO!!!!!!!!!! CLICK AWAY PROP JUNKIES!
We promise you wont be disappointed… and winning this membership will be one of the greatest gifts and freebies we can ever offer!!

Clickin away… Tracy & Gina

Jennifer Alexander who said:

JEN, cye (see your email!) for your $40 B&H gift certificate!

And thanks to everyone who entered… and check out b&h … Gina and I are LOVING some great new things on there… and always hunting for new & fun “prop”

I know you’ve all heard me ran & rave about TJ Maxx before… but seriously, I find some of my COOLEST FINDS there!  And even better, in thier clearance dept!

This week.. I found these lil “gems”… which arent’ even all used yet, so you’ll have to take them just as “product” pics and put your imagination to the test…

This is what I’m picturing….. bucket & rug = baby… OHHH A BABY STUFFED IN THAT BUCKET… I CAN’T WAIT!

now for the suckers… they always come to good use!

the breakdown:
Suckers $2.49 each
Rug $9.99
Bucket $7.99

Now its your turn to win big and search for your own COOL FIND at TJ Maxx…
Enter her to win a $20 gc (yep, $20 will get you a LONG way at TJ!!!)
Simply leave a comment below, telling us…. well… how about your blog or website name… or your flickr stream… anything to show off YOUR work!

Have fun, and enjoy (ps. make sure you have a TJ near by, cuz they dont offer sales online).

Winner will be chosen randomly this coming monday!