Flight Status – our iphone apps

It has been while since we updated you with our new products. While these are not Ecards or Printable Cards related. They are all useful products for people who travel so here you go.

Flight Status

Many of you will travel this holiday season. Don’t you wish you knew the flight times right from home so you did not have to go to the airport way ahead of time? We have 2 highly successful apps Flight Tracker and Airport Monitor HD for that and now we have also launched a website to monitor flight status from home.

Phrasebook Apps

And this winter if you are taking a trip down to Mexico or to Europe. Don’t you wish you had someone who spoke Spanish with you – we have an app for that. It has over 700 most used phrases like “where is the nearest hotel” or “where can I find the best food”? The apps are available for iphone, Windows7 and Android phones. Visit us at www.shorelineanimation.com and check out our English to Spanish app. You will also find English to French, German, Italian.

So happy travel this winter.

PS Our Airport Monitor APP was voted “New and Newsworthy” by Apple

Printable Cards – More Value, Less Hassle.

Let’s say you want to get your friend (or sister, dad or cousin) a greeting card for his/her special day.
If you wanted to get a card that looked like any other and didn’t mind spending a few bucks, you would just go out to the store, spend time browsing through the greeting card aisles, pick one you like, wait in line at the cashier’s, pay for it and walk out.
But since you’re here, I’m guessing you want something more out of a card than a standard message, without having to spend a fortune.
Correct?
You see, we folks at gotfreecards get it. People like you don’t just like to send out any greeting card. You want the card that reflects your personality and looks like it’s been created especially for the recipient.
After all, there are some occasions and certain people in your life that aren’t ‘standard’. They’re special. And why should the cards you get them be any less?
Say Hello! to Personalized Printable Cards from Gotfreecards
When we sat down and thought about what kind of cards you might like to send your loved ones, we didn’t have to look too far. We knew at once that the best, most unique card you can send someone is one that bears your stamp on it. With your picture. Your personal message. Your personality. A card created by YOU.
So, we set out to help you do just that. We came up with our Printable Cards section so you can create the greeting cards of your choice – with the images, words and colors that you like.
Although we offer some standard templates and images, you can change the way your card looks with a few very simple steps such as uploading a photo from your computer, typing in your own text and choosing the font color and size. You can even decide which way you want it printed and what goes on the cover and what goes inside.
It doesn’t get more customized than this. But there’s more.
Create Now, Send Later – Save Your Printable Cards Online
What if…you’re creating a very special printable card for someone and the phone rings. Or your baby wakes up. Or there’s someone at the door. Or the printer is out of ink?
Don’t you just hate it when interruptions force you to stop what you’re doing and start from scratch all over again? It can be especially hard and time consuming to come back to a certain page or template and remember the exact same message you had thought about typing or to re-upload an image from your computer.
We pictured you facing this problem and Voila! the answer presented itself.
Printable Cards that you can save online and access later.
It’s really simple. If you have to stop midway as you’re creating your card, or if you just want to save it for printing later, just click on the Save This Card link at the bottom of your Printable Card. And your card is saved. Later, when you’re ready to finish and print it, simply retrieve your card from the My Saved Cards section. Create it, print it and Send!
And just like that – for $ 0.00 and a few minutes of your time, you would have created a one-of-its-kind, priceless greeting card that your friend (dad, cousin or sister) is sure to love.
Have you tried our new Save This Card feature? Tell us what you think!
Let’s say you want to get your friend (or sister, dad or cousin) a greeting card for his/her special day.
If you wanted to get a card that looked like any other and didn’t mind spending a few bucks, you would just go out to the store, spend time browsing through the greeting card aisles, pick one you like, wait in line at the cashier’s, pay for it and walk out.
But since you’re here, I’m guessing you want something more out of a card than a standard message, without having to spend a fortune.
Correct?
You see, we folks at gotfreecards get it. People like you don’t just like to send out any greeting card. You want the card that reflects your personality and looks like it’s been created especially for the recipient.
After all, there are some occasions and certain people in your life that aren’t ‘standard’. They’re special. And why should the cards you get them be any less?
Say Hello! to Personalized Printable Cards from Gotfreecards
When we sat down and thought about what kind of cards you might like to send your loved ones, we didn’t have to look too far. We knew at once that the best, most unique card you can send someone is one that bears your stamp on it. With your picture. Your personal message. Your personality. A card created by YOU.
So, we set out to help you do just that. We came up with our Printable Cards section so you can create the greeting cards of your choice – with the images, words and colors that you like.
Although we offer some standard templates and images, you can change the way your card looks with a few very simple steps such as uploading a photo from your computer, typing in your own text and choosing the font color and size. You can even decide which way you want it printed and what goes on the cover and what goes inside.
It doesn’t get more customized than this. But there’s more.
Create Now, Send Later – Save Your Printable Cards Online
What if…you’re creating a very special printable card for someone and the phone rings. Or your baby wakes up. Or there’s someone at the door. Or the printer is out of ink?
Don’t you just hate it when interruptions force you to stop what you’re doing and start from scratch all over again? It can be especially hard and time consuming to come back to a certain page or template and remember the exact same message you had thought about typing or to re-upload an image from your computer.
We pictured you facing this problem and Voila! the answer presented itself.
Printable Cards that you can save online and access later.
It’s really simple. If you have to stop midway as you’re creating your card, or if you just want to save it for printing later, just click on the Save
This Card link at the bottom of your Printable Card. And your card is saved. Later, when you’re ready to finish and print it, simply retrieve your card from the My Saved Cards section. Create it, print it and Send!
And just like that – for $ 0.00 and a few minutes of your time, you would have created a one-of-its-kind, priceless greeting card that your friend (dad, cousin or sister) is sure to love.
Have you tried our new Save This Card feature? Tell us what you think!

‘Tis the season of forgiveness – Make up with holiday e cards


If you really want to get into the spirit of the holiday season, forget about the people you love.

Just for a minute.

You know – the people who know you care about them. Who’re probably the ones who love you back. Unconditionally. The ones who matter the most to you. The ones whom you will spend your holidays with. For whom you buy the most expensive gifts. And who, you won’t really ever forget about. No matter what.

But, let’s not think about them. For a minute.

Instead, here’s what I ask of you. For just one minute, think of the one person you dislike the most. The one who you think ruined your chances at work. Or whom you haven’t spoken to in years. The ex-best friend who betrayed your trust. The boss who didn’t give you the raise you deserved. The cousin who embarrassed you at a family gathering. Maybe even the ex-spouse who cheated on you.

We can’t deny it. Ask anyone, and there’s sure to be at least one person they detest, dislike or at the very least, will have nothing to do with for the rest of their lives. Whether it’s a relative, colleague or someone who used to be a friend – you never forget about them.

But, maybe the time has come to forgive?

Think about it. Life is short. Let’s say you live a hundred years. You’ve already lived 20, 30 or 40 of them. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life holding on to a grudge or carrying the burden of hatred in your heart? Is it really worth it? What have you gained by not forgiving? Does it really make you any happier?

I’m guessing not. Hatred never makes anyone feel better. On the contrary, studies show that holding on to negative thoughts affects your mental and physical health adversely.  It is likely to cause you stress related diseases and shorten your life span. Your negativity may even spill over to your loved ones. Is that what you really want?

What if you were to decide to forgive that person this holiday season? Yes, the one who hurt you, betrayed your trust or damaged your reputation. It won’t be easy. And it won’t happen overnight. And it may not feel right, at first.

But, give it some time. Allow the thought to sink in.

You don’t have to take a huge step. Start simple. Send that person a holiday e-card. Just wish them well. Wish them happy holidays. And see what happens.

You may just experience something magical. Something beautiful. Something that will change your life and the way you look at life.

One free ecard won’t drastically change your relationship, of course. It may still take you years to actually accept that person with his flaws. But it will break the ice. It will set the ball of forgiveness and communication rolling. You have nothing to lose. Except a minute of your time. And maybe some burden off your chest.

I’d say that’s worth a shot. Don’t you?

Try it. And let us know.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We at GotFreeCards.com have produced many different products to help you wish your friends and family a safe and happy Halloween. So we thought it would be best to list it here so you (our readers) can easily find them.

Halloween Links

  1. Free Halloween Ecards – Email animated ecards without registration or download
  2. Printable Halloween Cards – Print a card at home
  3. Halloween Photo Ecards Upload your photo, choose Halloween frames and send it out with Halloween themed animations
  4. Halloween Photo Cards for you to create your own invitations with your own photos

Do let us know what you liked the best.

How to arrange a Navarathri Golu?

Golu
Golu

So, what exactly is a Golu and how do you arrange one?

As mentioned in a previous post, in many parts of South India, one of the key elements of Dussehra or Navarathri festival is the traditional arrangement of dolls in the form of a multi-step display. The golu is central to Navarathri, with ladies of the household planning for it months in advance. New dolls are purchased every year and the collection updated with the latest arrivals in the market. Kids are encouraged to participate by making crafts and helping to build miniature gardens, parks or other models. The grandparents and other elders assist by dusting and cleaning the dolls and getting them ready for display. They also provide guidance and directions with regards to how the Golu should be arranged.

The actual arrangement involves the following steps –

  1. On Mahalaya Amavasya day, the auspicious new moon day when Mother Goddess Durga is invoked, the golu steps are brought out and set up. Some households have professionally built wooden or steel steps for the purpose. Others use make-shift steps constructed out of cardboard boxes, coffee tables and chairs. What is important is to create a multi-step like platform for the display of dolls. It is customary to construct steps of 3, 5, 7 or 9.
  2. The steps are then covered with a clean sheet of cloth, traditionally a white Dhoti. Nowadays, colorful saris and other types of attractive fabric are also used in some Golus that deviate from the conventional. The fabric is pinned up neatly so as to fit to the contour of the steps, creating a bright backdrop for the grand display.
  3. The Kalash or the auspicious coconut is placed within a silver or brass pot. It is placed at the centre of the top most step.
  4. This is followed by the ‘Marapachi’ dolls – which are a male and female pair of dolls that are characteristic of every Golu. Part of the arrangement involves decorating this couple in fine garments and ornaments made out of shiny paper, sequins or other decorative material.
  5. Beginning with Ganesha, all the other idols are placed one after another. There is no hard and fast rule as to which deity goes where, but generally, the top steps are reserved for deities, while the bottom steps are occupied by animal, human and inanimate statues.
  6. Popular Golu collections include the Dasavathar set, Lord Krishna’s Ras Leela, Ganesha in different poses, Shiva and Parvathi, a marriage party set, a shopkeeper or grocer set complete with all the grocery items and weights as seen in a traditional Indian grocer’s.
  7. Creativity is the main element of a Golu. So, within a broad framework, the golu is basically an expression of originality and creativity – an opportunity for people, especially women, to take a break from monotonous housework and unleash their talents on the occasion of Navarathri. There is really no limit to what can be displayed.
  8. Examples of unique and original displays include a miniature model of an Olympic stadium, a cityscape, a cruise ship, a temple on a hilltop, a home-made fountain or volcano, a world famous park or forest, a mall or multistoried shopping center.
  9. Many of these are made with recycled material found at home, although there are people who spend time, money and painstaking effort on building professional looking models.
  10. Children help with building parks or forests by soaking grams a few days ahead and sprouting them.
  11. Other decorative elements such as Christmas lights, flower garlands, Rangoli, beads and handicrafts enhance the golu and differentiate one golu from another.
  12. Of course, what breathes life into a golu is all the activities that surround it. Women and children dressed in finery visit each other’s homes to admire the golus, sing songs, exchange sweets and gifts. There is a healthy competition among neighbors, as everyone tries to create the most beautiful Golu in town. Ideas are freely shared and improvised, recipes exchanged, compliments showered.
    The Golu, at the end of the day, is a reflection of many of the aspects of Indian culture at its glorious best.

If you have never seen a Golu, head to a South Indian home today. You are likely to experience something quite extraordinary, and come back with a bag full of goodies!

July 4th – Traditions and Celebrations

July 4th Ecards

July 4th Ecards

Just a few more weeks to go for July 4th! Have you decided how you’re going to celebrate this year? What will you be doing differently this time around? Are you thinking of cutting back on or expanding your celebrations? Share your thoughts! 
 

·         Fireworks constitute the grand finale to July 4th celebrations. But do you know that unlike many of the other traditions, this is not a recent addition? Fireworks have been a part of July the 4th celebrations since 1777, the first anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.  

The ringing of bells, firing of 13 guns and a grand display of fireworks marked that momentous occasion.

·         Will you be having a fireworks display in your own backyard? Even then, the experience of a public fireworks display at a local park or a famous one such as the Macy’s fireworks display, which is known to be the largest and grandest, or the celebrations in The National Mall, Washington, DC is definitely worth your while. If you’ve always wanted to experience one of those, this year may be a good time to find the best travel and hotel deals.

·         Patriotic music and songs often accompany fireworks displays. Here’s a list of patriotic songs you could brush up on, in time for July 4th. How about learning some of them with your kids and making this July 4th a true family celebration?

·         Speaking of patriotism, will you be proudly displaying the American flag outside your home, in your yard or on your vehicle? Then here are some pointers you should bear in mind regarding flag do’s and don’t’s

Over time, the warm weather and other factors, such as schools closing for the summer led to the adoption of various other July 4th traditions -picnics, block parties, baseball games and barbecues being some of them. One aspect clearly stands out in all of this. 

July 4th is more of a gathering with friends and family than a private celebration. It is one occasion that gives people the chance to come together and celebrate with their neighbors, friends and families.  

So, write in and tell us – which is your favorite 4th tradition? Have you created a July 4th family tradition?