Holiday Cards, Christmas Cards, Photo Cards and Stationery Trends from Cardstyle, the official blog of Cardstore.com

Take Two Tuesday: The Search is On!

Vanessa — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:00:25 +0000

Mark your calendars! Easter is Sunday, April 4th and what better way to celebrate than with an Easter Brunch celebration, equipped with deviled eggs, and egg hunt, and of course a stylish invitation. Personalize this Easter Brunch Invitation with your event details, then we’ll mail them directly to your guests.

March Happenings

Tasha — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:59:28 +0000

With March comes Spring flowers, sunshine, and wonderful festivities! So that you won’t miss a beat, I’ve compiled a list of a few events that are going on across the country. Check them out if you’re in the area and don’t forget to bring the kiddies because all of these events are children-friendly.

Phoenix, Arizona: Breakfast with the Butterflies - March 6

Parents and children celebrate the start of spring and the opening of the Spring Butterfly Exhibit. Appropriate for children ages 3-10. Includes catered breakfast, children’s entertainment and activities, and admission to Marshall Butterfly Pavilion. Click here for more information.

Los Angeles, California: REDCAT’s International Children’s Film Festival - now until Mar 7

Five days feature more than a dozen programs that bring wondrous animation, exhilarating live action, rarely shown classics, and highlights from Cinemagic, Belfast. The festival also includes a very special Nickelodeon Family Fun Day. Click here for more information.

Atlanta, Georgia: Diana–A Celebration - now until June 13

Award-winning exhibition that commemorates the life of one of the 20th century’s most remarkable figures. Diana Princess of Wales. Click here for more information.

Miami, Florida: Rainforest Adventure - now until May 19

Rainforest Adventure is a fully interactive maze environment where visitors explore one of the least known habitats on earth. Click here for more information.

St. Louis, Missouri: Cutting Edge: An exhibition of paper craft - now until July 18

An exhibition of the most cutting edge paper art. Click here for more information.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Saints and Spirits Art of Haiti - now until June 6

An intense identification that befits the close geographical, historical, and cultural ties between Haiti and South Louisiana. Click here for more information.

Phoenix photo courtesy of Sunset.com

It’s A Robo-Party

Tasha — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:11:11 +0000

Ever since Buzz Light Year and the Iron Giant warmed kids’ hearts years ago, kids have developed a growing fascination in these cute automatons. That’s why I instantly fell in love with this Robot Party theme from Hostess with the Mostess. And it was only right that I put a Cardstyle twist on this fabulous party idea. So I gathered a few robot-themed activities and accessories as an inspiration for your kid’s next birthday party.

Robot Costume Contest. Provide cardboard boxes with holes cut out for the arms and the head, have square cut-outs of construction paper ready to glue to the sides of the box, and have buttons and other accessories for the kids to design their unique costumes.

Robot-themed table courtesy of French Bull. Robot cupcakes courtesy of Hello Naomi. Robot party invitation courtesy of Cardstore.com. Robot costume courtesy of Cookie Mag.

Celebrities love Cardstore.com stationery!

Tasha — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:54:31 +0000

Actresses Amy Ryan and Poppy Montgomery, singer Drew Lacey, and celebrity wife Natalie Hanson recently sent out thank you notes from our kids’ stationery collection. They all received gift sets provided by Jewels and Pinstripes, which featured our stationery. Ryan used one of our most popular sets, the Pink and Gray Elephant stationery, to thank Jewels and Pinstripes for their gift to her new baby girl. Others used our Light Blue Sand Dollar Thank You Card by Tori Higa, the Superhero Boy Thanks by Persnickety Pear, and the Flying Biplane Thanks by Amy Adele. We’re always so delighted to hear when our celebrity fans send out greeting cards!

Take Two Tuesday: Good Enough to Eat

Vanessa — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:09:14 +0000

Valentine’s Day may have passed, but sweet treats never go out of style — especially cupcakes, which were by far the trendiest baked good of 2009. Personalize a cupcake card for your sweetie with this cute Persnickity Pear design. And while you’re at it, you can drool over other delicious goodies by baker Glorious Sweets.

Spring-Themed Baby Shower

Vanessa — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:42:40 +0000

Inspired by the upcoming spring season, here is a baby shower that celebrates life to the fullest! Featuring plenty of pastels and natural tones with splashes of yellow, this baby shower is perfect for all eco-friendly moms out there. Add details with birds, nests, and eggs for a style that is completely spring. Featuring plenty of DIY decorations, this baby shower is sure to captivate guests with its fresh, whimsical beauty.

The tabletop image is courtesy of Hostess With The Mostess, which also provided the images for the yellow drink, wooden letters of the baby name, nesting name cards, and bird sugar cookies. The invitation is courtesy of Cardstore.com.

The Sweetest 16th

Tasha — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:50:48 +0000

Inspired by MTV’s hit show My Super Sweet Sixteen, I thought it’d be a great idea to create a DIY Sweet Sixteen party guide. After her wedding and prom, Sweet Sixteen is probably every girl’s most anticipated celebration. And now that MTV has filled teens’ heads with extravagant, celebrity Sweet 16 bashes, your job as a money-conscious party planner has become that much harder. But don’t fret, we have all that you need to throw a fabulous, economically-friendly Sweet Sixteen Party right here!

The cookie dresses and personalized lotion are courtesy of Beau Coup. The deliciously pink cake is courtesy of Queene of Tartes. The pretty pink dress is courtesy of Forever 21. The pink and orange party invitation is courtesy of Cardstore.com. The Sweet 16 tiara is courtesy of Tiara’s for Brides.

Love Letter Lessons

Lorna — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:16:56 +0000

Cardstore.com recently joined forces with Janet Gallin and Tresa Eyres, the communication experts and radio hosts behind San Francisco’s Love Letter Squad, for the prefect prelude to Valentine’s Day: a Love Letter Workshop. Looking for a last minute gift to warm the heart of your Valentine? Love letters are inexpensive and incredibly meaningful, that is — if done correctly. The Love Letter Squad explains that good love letters say ‘hello,’ while great love letters change lives. Here are some tips on how to write a great love letter:

A great love letter is a combination of passion and planning. Unlike a quick e-mail or text message, this is a gift that should be well-considered. Start with an outline of what you want to say.
You don’t have to be an amazing writer to make an impression. As long as the sentiment is from you, your reader will value its truths.
A love letter doesn’t have to be romantic. When is the last time you wrote to your parents, children, or faraway friends? Kids especially love receiving things for them in the mail.
Avoid cliches. Try to use rich details specific to that person. Having trouble? Brainstorm ’3 things I love about you,’ or ‘one of my favorite memories of you’.

A love letter is special for the recipient, for one, because they get to see themselves through the eyes of someone who loves them. It may take a little more effort than buying chocolate or flowers, but it’ll last forever, and probably mean a whole lot more. Good luck, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Take Two Tuesday: Ice Cream Love

Vanessa — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:01:19 +0000

Personalize an Ice Cream Love Coupon good for a special treat, with an endless expiration date. It’s the perfect Valentine’s day gift for kids, or anyone with a sweet tooth!

The delicious photograph is courteousy of Dainty Cakes – it’s actually strawberry cake baked in an ice cream cone, topped with a swirl of vanilla butter cream and sprinkles. Yum.

Celebrity Gift Bag Giveaway!

Molly — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:08:16 +0000

Last week, Cardstore.com stationery was selected for the VIP Celebrity Bags at the Grammy’s MusiCares Charity event. Musicians such as Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, and Elton John performed in honor of the MusiCares person of the year, Neil Young. Each VIP Celebrity Bag, provided by Jewels and Pinstripes, features the trendiest items in the parenting world, including our own personalized cards! One lucky winner has the opportunity to win one of Jewel’s and Pinstripes Celebrity Girl 2-5 Birthday Bag full of goodies for their little one. Don’t forget to enter and good luck!