PaintByNumbers.shop Giveaway! [Closed]

Edit: Congratulations to our winner, Alexandra!

Last year, I collaborated with PaintByNumbers.shop to host a paint by numbers kit giveaway in hopes of brightening someone's day as we found ourselves staying at home through 2020. This year, with the pandemic dragging on, I notice I have developed some unsettling new habits: I'm letting my smile get lazy behind my mask, allowing physical distancing to turn into social distancing, and becoming so comfortable on my own that I make my in-person encounters brief and brusque. Can you relate? 

Inspired by the realization that kindness is something we continually nurture within ourselves, I'm reminded of how meaningful showing appreciation to those who are important to us—or engaging in a random act of kindness—is. With that in mind, I'm so excited to be partnering with PaintByNumbers.shop again to give one lucky winner a paint by numbers kit of their choice! 

Whether you gift it to yourself or a loved one for the holidays, a paint by numbers kit is a great way for anyone to relax and unwind. I particularly like PaintByNumbers.shop because their kits come with a pre-stretched cotton canvas and all the supplies you need to varnish and hang your new painting. As for myself, I've gifted The Enchanted Rose kit to my beautiful soul sister as thanks for being a daily source of happiness, and I hope you'll do the same for someone special this holiday season.

Giveaway

About PaintByNumbers.shop:

PaintByNumbers.shop aims to help bring out the artist in you by selling art canvasses that have small numbers indicating a corresponding colour for a certain area. The numbers serve as a clear guide for you to follow, but still give you room to improvise or add your own touches.

The artworks are sourced from designers dedicated to creating designs that play with varying levels of difficulty. PaintByNumbers.shop offers a number of collections to choose from and have added many new designs over the past year.

Each paint by numbers kit comes with everything you need:

• Numbered high-quality cotton canvas stretched on a wooden frame (Size: 20" x 16" / 50cm x 40cm)
• Numbered acrylic-based paint set.
• Paint brush set - 2 thin, 1 medium, 1 wide.
• Varnish to add brightness and preserve the finished painting.
• Hanging kit, including traceless frame hangers, screws and a spirit level.
• Easy-to-follow instruction guide.
• Reference sheet.

Prize:

• One (1) winner will receive a PaintByNumbers.shop kit of their choice. Shipping will be included.

Eligibility:

This giveaway is open internationally.

Entering: 

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. The only mandatory entry is to comment below with your favourite painting from PaintByNumbers.shop and who you would gift it to. For additional entries, simply follow the instructions!

This giveaway will end December 5, 2021 at 11:59pm EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be selected by Random.org and notified by email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note Red-Soled Fashionista is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. 

Discount Code

If you aren't a winner this time but still need a last minute holiday gift, be sure to use the promo code REDSOLED at checkout for a 15% discount! Coupon code is valid until December 31, 2021.

~~~

Thank you to PaintByNumbers.shop for sponsoring this giveaway.

Product Review: Tissardi

I've always had more of an affinity for shoes than handbags. Regretfully, when I look at my collection of purses, I see this neglect quite clearly. I rotate between a selection of crossbody mini-bags (not practical), a studded faux-leather backpack (starting to fall apart) and a shoulder bag (bad for posture). What I feel like I've been missing is a larger crossbody bag that will enable me to carry my essentials around relatively comfortably and hands-free. 

As a result, I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity by Tissardi to review its designer-inspired Santio Leather Saddle Bag. Tissardi is an online shop offering affordable access to fashion and luxury products inspired by the most emblematic brands.

The Santio comes in seven colours and two sizes. I picked out the medium size bag in red.

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the genuine cowhide leather. I was afraid it would come with a stiff sheen, but the leather is smooth, matte and satisfying to the touch—definitely this bag's winning feature. The cherry red colour is also true to what is advertised on the website, and is a fantastic hue to complement the bold shape. My only concern is the hardware appears to be plated in a slightly duller brushed gold, and while it is hefty, it will likely be the first area to show wear and tear, especially if constantly rubbing against the lobster clasps on the shoulder straps. Brighter, more solid gold hardware would have further elevated the well-constructed leather.

Dress: Marie Saint Pierre | Tights: Unknown | Handbag: Tissardi

In terms of functionality, I adore that not one, but two, adjustable and removable crossbody shoulder straps are included: one in leather and one in fabric with metal medallions. This kind of versatility is exactly what a modern woman needs! Additionally, an outer pocket with a magnetic closure along the back of the handbag is convenient for slipping a phone into when in a rush and/or for easy access. A head's up though, the unique saddle shape will pose some limitations in terms of what you can carry. Although I selected the medium size, this purse carries only slightly more than my usual mini-bags. But if you're curious whether the slanted bottom will cause items to slide down to the corner, rest assured the design is narrow enough for something like a wallet or a pair of sunglasses to stay put inside the shorter edge.

Overall, I am happy with the look of this Tissardi bag and will definitely be using it to fill the gap in my purse collection. The impressive quality of leather and stitching build a firm foundation for the shape, colour and cheeky hardware to make an utterly fashionable statement.

~~~

Handbag courtesy of Tissardi in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Product Review: PaintByNumbers.shop

Last month, I collaborated with PaintByNumbers.shop to host a giveaway for a paint by numbers kit. PaintByNumbers.shop is an online shop that sells art canvasses with small numbers indicating a corresponding colour for a certain area, making painting a masterpiece a piece of cake. In addition to sponsoring the giveaway, they also graciously offered to send me a kit to try for myself. After perusing their varied collection, I landed on Magnolia Blossoms, a beautifully serene and simple floral painting.

Shipping for my kit took 9 business days, exactly as advertised on the website. What I really appreciate about PaintByNumbers.shop is their paintings come with the canvas already stretched on a wooden frame—something many other companies do not offer as a default. Also included in the kit are varnish, canvas hangers and even a level for when you're putting your finished piece up on the wall. The attention to detail in providing a thoroughly complete kit helps make paint by numbers less daunting for those who are new to it (such as myself).

Despite having done art throughout high school and taken private acrylic painting lessons, I don't consider myself either an experienced or talented artist. I can't comment with certainty on the quality of the brushes and paint, but both of them did their job, which is really all I'm looking for. The paint was not dried out, and despite some splitting on the wide brush, I did not encounter any issues with the brushes shedding hairs. There are definitely higher quality brushes out there, but the ones provided were adequate for the task at hand. Although this painting did require at least two coats in areas with lighter colours to fully cover the numbers and lines, there was a sufficient amount of paint provided to complete the piece.

Left: Picture on website | Right: Picture on kit

The only drawback with this particular painting is the colours and composition do not closely match the picture on the website or even the picture on the kit. The paint provided for the blossoms are pinker than expected, and I could tell many areas—particularly the background—require much more finessing to be as subtle as what is depicted in the original picture. However, I have seen reviews of other paintings from PaintByNumbers.shop come out exactly as advertised, so the discrepancy I'm experiencing is just a lesson in how not all artwork is suited to the paint by numbers method. As you can see, I decided to take some artistic liberty and blend the colours together, using the numbers and lines as more of a guide than a strict science.

Overall, the hours flew by doing this activity. I normally don't end up painting artwork appealing enough to hang on the walls, so it was refreshing to be able to enjoy both the process of painting and of seeing the finished product come together nicely into something I actually look forward to displaying.

Discount Code

If you'd like to pick up a kit for yourself or someone you know, be sure to use the promo code REDSOLED at checkout for a 15% discount!

~~~

Kit courtesy of PaintByNumbers.shop in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

PaintByNumbers.shop Giveaway! [Closed]

Edit: Congratulations to our winner, Anita!

With the current pandemic, many individuals and families are finding themselves staying at home more. Some may even be facing stressful uncertainty. Although I write primarily about fashion, I am hoping to use my blog today to share a bit of joy in other ways—because ultimately, this pandemic affects everyone.

Last year, I discovered paint by numbers. Paint by numbers are art canvasses that have numbered areas which correspond with their respective numbered paint colours, making painting a masterpiece a piece of cake. I find the concept absolutely brilliant for bringing art to those who may otherwise find painting to be daunting. In these times especially, paint by numbers is a wonderful way to relax and be creative at home.

For that reason, I am so happy to announce I am collaborating with PaintByNumbers.shop to give one lucky winner a paint by numbers kit of their choice!


Giveaway

About PaintByNumbers.shop:

PaintByNumbers.shop aims to help bring out the artist in you by selling art canvasses that have small numbers indicating a corresponding colour for a certain area. The numbers serve as a clear guide for you to follow, but still give you room to improvise or add your own touches.

The artworks are sourced from designers dedicated to creating designs that play with varying levels of difficulty. PaintByNumbers.shop offers a number of collections to choose from:

Each paint by numbers kit comes with everything you need:

• Numbered cotton canvas stretched on a wooden frame (Size: 20" x 16" / 50cm x 40cm)
• Numbered acrylic-based paint set.
• Paint brush set - 2 thin, 1 medium, 1 wide.
• Varnish to add brightness and preserve the finished painting.
• Hanging kit, including traceless frame hangers, screws and a spirit level.
• Instruction guide.
• Reference sheet.

Prize:

• One (1) winner will receive a PaintByNumbers.shop kit of their choice. Shipping will be included.

Eligibility:

This giveaway is open internationally.

Entering: 

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. The only mandatory entry is to comment below with your favourite painting from PaintByNumbers.shop. For additional entries, simply follow the instructions!

This giveaway will end May 20, 2020 at 11:59pm EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Winners will be selected by Random.org and notified by email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note Red-Soled Fashionista is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. 


Discount Code

If you aren't a winner this time but still want a great pick-me-up for yourself or someone you know, or you're looking for a last minute Mother's Day gift, be sure to use the promo code REDSOLED at checkout for a 15% discount!


Product Review

PaintByNumbers.shop also graciously offered to send me a kit to try for myself. I perused their varied collection to land on Magnolia Blossoms, a beautifully serene and simple floral painting.

Click here to read my review!

~~~

Thank you to PaintByNumbers.shop for sponsoring this giveaway.

Product Review + Giveaway: Jupitoo Glasses [Closed]

Edit: Congratulations to our grand prize winner, Caroline, and our five runner-ups, Sherry, Dynal, Anne, Bilqees and Solange! Keep reading to see what glasses Caroline chose...

Following my eyewear spectacle last year (pun always intended), I resigned myself to the fact there are just certain styles of frames I will never be able to wear due to my alarmingly high prescription. As a result, I have wondered what it would be like to own some cheap non-prescription frames -- the kind I can simply wear for fun. However, I was wary of buying glasses purely as a fashion accessory. It just seemed so frivolous.

So when Jupitoo, an online prescription glasses retailer, offered me the opportunity to review their optical frames, I jumped on the chance to not only try non-prescription glasses, but also test out an online eyeglasses site. Just recently, I met a woman at a fashion show who I struck up a conversation with after complimenting her stunning clear frames with gold accents. She informed me she shopped for prescription glasses online, and for the price of one, managed to own and alternate between three pairs of glasses. If someone with her sense of style is a proponent of online optical sites, then I was ready to give Jupitoo a go. I went ahead and chose a pair of non-Rx round glasses in gold:

Product Review

My first thought when they arrived in the mail was how incredibly well-packaged they were. The frames were nestled inside a huge shipping package with both air column and foam wrap. No damage whatsoever! As well, a cute glasses case and cloth were included.

The glasses themselves were exactly what I had hoped for. I wanted a simple pair of gold frames (à la Korean pop stars) that I wouldn't otherwise be able to wear with thicker lenses. I was relieved to see the gold was indeed shiny, the lenses were free of scratches, and the nosepads were non-slip. In terms of durability, the glasses felt lightweight and slightly delicate, but that is to be expected with this particular style of thin frames. They definitely did not feel flimsy, so the quality did exceed my expectations. I also appreciated minor details in the design, such as a decorative wave along the arms and the chic transparent temple tips.

The only challenge with ordering frames online is the inability to try them on the spot, and the absence of opticians to help offer personalized advice and adjust the fit. I would also have liked to see a wider range of frame sizes and more sophisticated lens options, such as the ability to customize and combine anti-reflective coating, higher index lenses, and different material (glass vs. plastic lenses). Although if you're not too particular about glasses and am seeking cheaper alternatives to traditional optical stores, then I wouldn't hesitate to test out a site like Jupitoo.

Giveaway

If this post has got you curious, then maybe you'll want to try your luck at a Jupitoo giveaway!


About Jupitoo:

Jupitoo is an online prescription glasses retailer designed to help people find affordable glasses by cutting the costs associated with traditional retailers. Jupitoo is able to offer a wide range of prescription glasses at a very low price.

Prizes:

• One (1) person will win a voucher for a pair of Rx-eyeglasses. The voucher will cover frames with 1.50 index single vision lenses. The winner will need to pay for shipping & handling and any additional upgrades.
• Five (5) people will win a $20 voucher. The voucher can be used on all glasses site-wide.

Eligibility:

This giveaway is open internationally.

Entering: 

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. The only mandatory entry is to comment below with your favourite pair of glasses from Jupitoo. For additional entries, simply follow the instructions!

This giveaway will end June 12, 2019 at 11:59pm EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Winners will be selected by Random.org and notified by email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note Red-Soled Fashionista is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. 

~~~

Here is Caroline in her new glasses. Looking great!

~~~

Thank you to Jupitoo for sponsoring this giveaway. Glasses were courtesy of Jupitoo in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Product Review: Eva Leather

For me, wallets have always been an item of functionality. A disgraceful thing for a fashion fanatic to admit, but as long as a wallet can hold cards and keep cash, I will use it. As a kid, I started off with a horrendous fabric, velcro holder. Years later, I moved on to a red, faux-leather portefeuille with quality so poor it was painfully obvious in the loose seams, glued-on pieces, and scratched hardware. Nowadays, I carry a more sophisticated wallet with a subtle checkered pattern and brown piping. Yet despite having "upgraded" since my childhood, every wallet I have ever owned has been gifted to me, so I have never really used one that speaks to my own sense of style.

Therefore, when I was given the opportunity to review some wallets from Eva Leather, I wandered into a new, unexplored territory of wallet shopping.

Eva Leather is an online shop offering genuine leather handbags, wallets and belts at wholesale prices. I ended up receiving two wallets: Rosaire Huguette, and Rosaire Catherine.

Rosaire Huguette



Rosaire Huguette is a larger wallet (approximately the size of a small purse) that stood out to me because of its functionality and clean, silver hardware clasp. As someone who prefers smooth leather, I selected a light blue shade from all the colour options thinking it would soften the texture of the pebbled leather - and it does! The interior comes with ample room to fit numerous cards, cash, receipts, and even a phone.

What I like about this wallet first and foremost is the number of different compartments. It comes with a back pocket, an inner pocket, a zippered pouch, and even additional card holders along the front. The Huguette will do a fantastic job of holding everything I need it to hold. However, at the size of a small purse, this wallet is much larger than what I am accustomed to. I would have liked to see it in a smaller size, because I think even if it were to be shrunken down on all sides, its usefulness would still be retained.

The silver hardware adds a polished touch to the Huguette, and I appreciate the chic use of a lock as a zipper pull on the interior pouch. Unfortunately, as you can see in the photo, the inner zipper will rub against the leather flap above it. I'm afraid that is an unavoidable side effect of the design, though I acknowledge Eva Leather did add cardboard separators in the wallet before shipping to help prevent scratching. Another comment I have is regarding the silver clasp in the front. Although it is very elegant in design, the middle portion simply snaps shut. I imagine a lot of future wear and tear on the clasp, and would suggest a magnetic closure instead.

Overall, I am impressed with the softness of the leather and how the compartments are designed to offer a lot of functionality. My mom tends to use larger wallets, so this will actually be perfect for her!


Rosaire Catherine

Although Rosaire Catherine was sent to me by surprise as an additional item, I am pleasantly pleased with it. This wallet is smaller in size and more understated in its silver hardware. Like the Huguette, the leather is soft and comes in a feminine light blue colour.

The interior offers pretty much all the functionality I would need. A couple more card slots and a clear panel to put my bus pass in would have been appreciated, but I am still very happy with the compartments provided. The size is perfect, and I adore the leather strap closure. Because it feeds so smoothly through the elegant clasp, opening and closing the wallet becomes a deliciously gratifying act. I will definitely make good use of this wallet, and look forward to using it with my more refined outfits.

Many thanks to Eva Leather for giving me the opportunity to review their wallets. Ironically, although I tried picking out something to suit my personal style, sometimes the best things come as a surprise.

~~~

Wallets courtesy of Eva Leather in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ange où Demon

Angel or demon. Feminine or femme fatale. Goddess or goth. There is no denying the beauty of fashion is the ability to shape-shift across a spectrum of personalities. Tobi was kind enough to send me a couple dresses to style, and two of my favourite pieces ended up being on opposite ends of the spectrum. So I had some fun with play pretend, and I ask you: ange où demon?

Ange

Dress: Tobi | Camisole: tout à coup | Shoes: Ground Green Store | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

This feminine dress with its dusting of rose pink and airy kimono sleeves reminded me of the flowing beauty of a Grecian goddess. I knew instantly I would have to pair the dress with my fringed gladiator sandals. I call this outfit the look of the angel, but it is hardly of pure innocence. I added a cheeky boudoir twist by layering a soft lace camisole underneath and bringing the criss-cross straps (which are intended to be worn in the back) to the front across my chest. Another way of styling this dress would be to have a tight lace underlay across the chest - enough to cover up the deep v-neck, but not enough to keep everything hidden. A game of hide and seek.

Demon

Dress: Tobi | Shoes: Ned-Nedy | Camisole: Old Navy | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

I was immediately drawn to the slits along the sheer sleeves of this dress, and couldn't resist ordering it in black to amp up the smouldering evening appeal. There is actually an opening down the front of the torso, but for the more conservative among us, a black lace camisole underneath will work just fine. However, although this cocktail number shows a bit more skin up top, I was greatly impressed by how perfect the length of the skirt was, hitting that sweet mid-thigh spot. I may have glided with grace in my previous look, but this dress gave me confidence of a different kind - the kind that made me walk with an extra strut in my step.

~~~

Dresses courtesy of Tobi.

Firmoo Glasses Giveaway! [Closed]

Edit: Congratulations to our grand prize winner, Valerie, and our five runner-ups, Ireon, Norgful, Penny, Victoria and Herbert!

Over the past year or so, I've been on the hunt for new glasses. I had been meaning to blog about it for a while, but as school and life took over, it got put in the back burner. However, my procrastination appears to have paid off in this case because I was recently invited by Firmoo to host a giveaway on my blog. I thought it would be a great tie-in to this post - as well as a great way of motivating myself to actually get this post written!

But before we get to the giveaway, let's talk glasses. My two existing glasses are both of similar style: black, rectangular frames. While they do complement my features, they are admittedly quite conservative. In recent years, I have found myself wanting to venture out and own a trendier pair of frames. More specifically, I want havana/gold browline glasses, as inspired by YouTubers Kalel and CutiePieMarzia:

Unfortunately, the problem with being blind as a bat is that it's hard to tell whether a pair of glasses looks good when I'm trying it on (I can't even see what I look like!), and the thickness of my lens limits the style of glasses I can select from. Since I will be getting contacts soon, I'm contemplating simply buying affordable and stylish non-prescription frames for fashion purposes.

Giveaway

If you're looking for affordable glasses too, then maybe Firmoo will be one of your pit stops.



About Firmoo:

Firmoo is an online optical store, bypassing most of the expenses incurred in the brick and mortar stores. Through collaboration between optical experts, direct manufacturers and overseas laboratories, Firmoo offers customers affordable eyeglasses.

Prizes: 

• One (1) person will win a voucher for a pair of Rx-eyeglasses/non-Rx sunglasses from this selection of frames. The voucher will cover frames with 1.50 index single vision lenses. The winner will need to pay for shipping & handling and any additional upgrades. 
• Five (5) people will win a $10 voucher. The voucher can be used on all glasses site-wide ($19-$39), but will not apply to discounted products.

Eligibility:

This giveaway is for new customers only. It is open to countries to which Firmoo ships. Please check to see if you are eligible here.

Entering: 

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. The only mandatory entry is to comment below with a link to your favourite pair of glasses from this selection of frames. For additional entries, simply follow the instructions!

This giveaway will end February 14, 2016 at 11:59pm EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be selected by Random.org and notified by email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note Red-Soled Fashionista is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. 

Thank you to Firmoo for sponsoring this giveaway. No form of compensation was received for this post. I do not own any Firmoo products, and therefore make no statement on its quality or service.

Image Source: Weheartit, Instagram, Firmoo

Product Review: Green Tree Jewelry

Long, long ago, I once mentioned I never leave the house without a pair of earrings on. That remains true to this day, although lately I have also been getting more into necklaces and rings. Regardless, an issue I have always had with earrings is that as gorgeous as they are, larger drop earrings can be very heavy. You look and feel great, but boy, do your earlobes pay the price. By the end of the day, the sensation of removing those earrings becomes akin to that of removing a pair of vertiginous heels.

As a result, I only wear my particularly heavy earrings on special occasions - which is a shame! However, when I came across Green Tree Jewelry, I learned their earrings are not only made of laser-cut wood harvested from trees through sustainable methods, they also promise to be feather-light. Since the brand appears to specialize in large drop earrings, I was looking forward to putting their claim to the test.

Green Tree Jewelry graciously sent me three pairs to test drive

Considering their earrings are made of wood, I decided to select pairs in darker tones and more geometric shapes to complement the material. After wearing each pair for a day, I can attest these earrings are incredibly lightweight, especially for their size. It feels as if you aren't wearing earrings at all!

I thought the size of these earrings would go great with winter dressing, and so I matched each pair with a cozy sweater of mine.

Chevron Deco Earrings in Purple

The Chevron Deco earrings feature a unique teardrop design, and I like how there are two shades to the earrings, allowing me to have a subtle pop of colour against my darker hair.

Interlocking Diamond Earrings in Cherry Red

I thought the intricate lattice design of these Interlocking Diamond earrings would look great in a brighter colour. I chose the red knowing it would perfectly match my go-to floral scarf.

Fountain Pyramid Earrings in Cinnamon

Finally, I couldn't be trying out wood earrings without getting a pair in a natural wooden colour. I knew instantly these geometric Fountain Pyramid earrings would go well in a darker brown, as well as paired with my classic camel sweater.

Green Tree Jewelry's other earring designs cover a wide range of styles, from adorable animals to elegant scrolls (which I find so unique!). While some may suit those with more eccentric style, with over 600 designs, there are certainly options for those looking for something more minimalist. As for me, I'm just happy I get big impact earrings without the pain.

If you're interested in getting a pair for yourself, or think this could be a great holiday gift for someone you know, make sure to use the promo code FASTSHIP15 after registering to receive free shipping in the United States.

Financial compensation was not received for this post. The earrings were gifted to me by Green Tree Jewelry for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.