Feature Friday -- Hope Loves Cards Review and Giveaway

CLOSED.

And, the winner is...

Congrats, Brooke Anna!

I had the pleasure of introducing you to Kim of Hope Loves Cards this past Monday in my Spotlight on Mommy post.  Check it out here, if you missed it.  Now, I am going to share some of my favorite handmade products from Kim's store, as well as offer a giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to be in used in her store and a 20% off coupon code to readers. 

With Valentine's Day just 2 weeks away, why not check out Kim's selection of handmade cards.  These would make great Valentine's for your children to hand out in school, or to send to family members and friends.  Here are just a few of my favorite Valentine's Day cards available at Hope Loves Cards.

In addition to Valentine's Day cards, Kim also offers stationery, party invitations, cupcake toppers,  thank you notes, note cards, address labels, plates and pocket mirrors! Kim also offers custom orders in which you can make the illustrations look more like your child by choosing their hair color, eye color, hair style, skin tone and add a name on the card.

All of Kim's stationary items are embellished with hand applied glitter accents, and she does all of the designing, printing and cutting in house, so you receive your orders quickly.

These are just a few of my favorites:

Buy Now:  Head over to Hope Loves Cards today to order your own handmade cards. Don't forget to use coupon code, FRIDAY, for 20% off your order. 

---GIVEAWAY---

One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to be used towards merchandise available at Hope Loves Cards.  To enter, please complete the mandatory entry first, and then enter as many extra entries as you want.  

First, you must be a Public Follower of this blog.  Then, visit Kim's Etsy store, Hope Loves Cardshttp://www.etsy.com/shop/hopelovescards and tell me which products you like most. (1 entry)

Make sure to include an email address in your comments, so I can contact you if you win.

 
Extra Entries:

 
1) Visit Hope Loves Cards and add this store to your Etsy Favorites.  (1 entry)

2)  Subscribe to my blog via email (2 entries)

 
3)  Follow me on Facebook (1 entry) 

 
4) Enter any of my other giveaways, leaving a comment with the name of the giveaway (1entry per giveaway entered)

 
5) Blog about this giveaway. It must include a link to this specific post, as well as a link to my blog, http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/.   (In your comment, please leave a link directly to your post – 5 Entries)

 
6) Follow me on Twitter (1entry)

 
7)  Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet, per day; please include link to tweet in comment below)

Enter to #win a $25 GC to Hope Loves Cards @rmccoy1234  http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/ #giveaway ends 2/11
 8)  Like SoothEaze (my company website) on Facebook! Please include your Facebook name with your entry, so I can follow you back. (4 entries)

 
9) Follow my blog via Networked Blogs (3 entries)

 
10) Vote for me on picket fence blogs (See button on right side of blog -- One entry per vote, per day)

Open to US residents only.  Giveaway ends on February 11, 2011 at 11:59PM EST.  I will then use Random.org to choose a winner.  Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond to my email to claim prize.  If I don't hear back from selected winner, I will draw another winner.

Disclosure:  I was not compensated in any way for this review  My views and comments are mine and mine alone.

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Spotlight on Mommy Post -- Kim of Hope Loves Cards

This week our Spotlight Mommy is Kim of Hope Loves Cards, an online Etsy stationary store.  I just love handmade cards, and fell in love with Kim's store and product offerings, which include stationery, party invitations, thank you notes, note cards, labels and pocket mirrors! Kim also offers custom orders, and is looking forward to working with you to create something extra special!  All of Kim's stationary items are embellished with hand applied glitter accents, and she does all of the desigining, printing and cutting in house, so you receive your orders quickly.

Don't forget to stop back to my blog on Friday, where I will feature Kim's store and products further.  In addition, Kim will be offering one lucky reader a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to use in her store.  I will also be providing a 20% off coupon code for everyone.  Why not make a statement this Valentine's Day with a handmade card from Hope Loves Cards?

---

Company Name/Product/Service:  Hope Loves Cards/Stationery with "Person"ality
Company Location: Clayton, NC
Company Website:  http://www.hopelovescards.etsy.com
Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/hopelovescards
Twitter Handle: @ hopelovescards
Age of Company:  1 year           
Favorite Inspirational Quotes:  When life gives you lemons...make lemonade!
Favorite Book:   Pinkalicious


Tell us a little bit about yourself.  How many children do you have?  What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.:

I have a wonderful daughter, Kathryn Hope, who is almost six years old.  I live in Clayton, North Carolina, which is just outside of Raleigh.  I love creating just about anything and take great pride in sending beautiful thank you notes!

Briefly explain your business.  How did it come about?: 

My daughter loves to draw, especially mermaids.  My business came about as a creative way to make things and spend extra time with Kathryn.  She is the one that decided that glitter needed to be added to my creations.  After searching around on Etsy for a couple of days and seeing all of the handmade creations,   I was totally hooked and knew that I needed to start creating personalized stationery.  Kathryn always likes seeing her image (the little girl with the ponytail) and I am always proud to pull out a notecard and send a special "little Kathryn" to everyone we know.
 
What is a typical work day like?: 

I work full time in retail - so my days are crazy.  Typically I get up between 5-6 in the morning and check emails and respond to convos that have been sent to my Etsy shop.  I help my husband get Kathryn off to school around 7:30.  Then, if I work in the morning, it's a shower and off to work until about 5:30.  I check emails and answer convos on my lunch break.  Then, I get home around 6:30-7 and spend a couple of hours with Kathryn.  She goes to bed around 8:30pm, then I go straight to my guest bedroom and work on proofs for customers, orders that need to go out the next day, I have all of the cards that need to go out spread across my desk, dining room table, and kitchen table so the glitter has time to dry, and then I go to bed around 12:30.  Then the next morning I get up, assemble all of the glittered cards and get them off to the post office!

What has been a struggle while starting up your company?: 

The biggest struggle for me is getting my stationery seen.  I am currently working on getting my stationery in retail stores so that I can gain additional exposure locally.  Also, funding for my stationery business can be challenging.  For the first several months for every order I had there was something that I didn't have to finish it - so I spent more than I made at first, but once I found suppliers for my envelopes and a good source for glitter, paper, and boxes things got much easier! 

What did you do in your past work life?:

I have always worked in retail.
 
What have been some of your major successes?:

This month, January 2011, I have started seeing an increase in sales.  I am extremely happy to see all of the business!  I also have someone working one a new box for my stationery - which will hopefully be very successful!
 
What have been some of your major challenges?:

The biggest challenge for me has been funding.  When looking back on my business this past year, I would love to have had more money set aside to offset the time that it takes to be seen by customers. 

On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?  I am motivated by knowing that I have great stationery that brings joy to people.  Whenever someone leaves me an email that they have received the order and that it was perfect, it makes me smile!  Also, I have a goal that someone that doesn't know me personally, will send me one of my cards as a thank you, without knowing that I created the card.  Wouldn't that be terrific!
 
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?:

Find a business that you can share with your child!  My company is named after my daughter, and she loves what I do.  For every order that I have, Kathryn gets one of them to draw on and keep.  She has one of every invitation I have created, one sheet of every notepad, one note card and she really enjoys doodling mermaids on them!  If you can combine your business and your family, it makes it easier.  Kathryn helps me on the computer and is always quick to ask if she can "send" convos by hitting the reply button.  It is quite funny!

What is next for your business?:

My business is branching out from it's Etsy roots and will hopefully be seen in retails locations in North Carolina within the next couple of months.  I would love to see my stationery sitting on shelves in boutiques and speciality stores throughout the United States by 2012.
 
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?:

Just find your niche.  Make sure that your business is something that you can see yourself doing five, ten, fifteen years down the road.  Have funding ready so that you can have all necessary equipment and supplies.  Be prepared for what you will do when your orders come in really quick.  Do you have the ability to get it done in time!  Plan ahead and don't be afraid to hire someone to do the things that you don't like to do - for example, I hate the record keeping so I find someone who can do it for me!  Remember that you can't do everything and be the best!  That keeps me doing what I love, which is cutting paper and adding glitter sparkles!

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Feature Friday -- Oliver's Labels

 

Today is label review day. Next up, I had the opportunity to test and review labels from Oliver’s Labels. They, too, make high quality waterproof labels and tags, which stick to all your children’s belongings. And, they are dishwasher and laundry safe – so, they will never fade or peel off. Oliver’s Labels offer iron-on clothing labels, bag tags, shoe labels, safety wristband labels and self-adhesive (sticky) labels. Every parent needs to get a set off these around the house and have them on hand for the school year, or for their baby’s bottles, sippy cups and toys.

 

There are many design options to choose from, including butterflies, toy animals, sea life, solid colors, sports and transportation. So, you are bound to find a design that suits your son or daughter.

For my labels, I chose the butterfly theme and had them personalize my labels with Savannah’s name. I was impressed with the quality of the design when I received them. And, the best part about these labels is that you have the option of adding a “Found -it” tracking system code to each label. So, if you lose an item with a label on it and someone happens to find it, all they have to do is log onto the Oliver’s Labels site (website added to your labels) and enter the code. Then, Oliver’s Labels will match you to your Found-it™ tracking system code and send you a notification email right away. They act as an intermediary between you and the finder, so you never have to share any of your personal information! How cool is that? Best of all – this tracking service is free of charge.

How it all began (taken from Oliver’s Label website):

"It all began with a small idea to keep Oliver, my nephew, from losing his stuff. After seeing the overwhelming positive reaction from his teachers and other parents, I realized there was a huge demand for high quality labels. I used my 6 years of experience in the printing industry to develop a label that was both durable and beautiful. The business was born and now our full-colour designs and exclusive Found-it™ tracking system are a few of the things that set Oliver's Labels apart from the competition." - Debbie

To learn more about Oliver’s Labels, or to order a set of labels for yourself, please visit their website. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook for updates on new products and more.

What will they come up with next?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and the Tomoson weekly featured sponsor Favorite Wigs - Shop Name Brand Wigs at Low Prices! Large Wig Selection of Forever Young Wigs, and other Quality Wigs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

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Feature Friday -- Dishwasher and Laundry Safe Labels for Kids and Baby!

I had the opportunity to try out labels from Applied Labels LLC and boy was I impressed. These labels are a must for any family with children. They come in handy when you want to label items like bottles, sippy cups, shoes, school supplies, clothing, hair clips, and anything else you don’t want your children or yourself to misplace. These also work great for labeling things that go with your children to daycare centers. And, the best thing about these labels is that they are waterproof and permanent, so they can put through the
dishwasher and laundry. So no more relabeling items after they come out of the dishwasher or wash.

I ordered labels with my daughter’s name on them and decided to try them out on her winter coat and shoes, along with a couple of her bottles. After being put through the wash, each label came out intact and like new. Now, I don’t have to worry about misplacing her belongings when we are out and about.

Labels come in packs of 30, 60 or 90, and can be customized with the font of your choice (4 to choose from) and/or the addition of an icon. Note, if you select an icon, you are only allowed 1 line of print, as compared to 2 with just text.

Icons to Choose From

So, you are wondering how they do you apply them on clothes. It is easy. To label clothing, sandwich an Applied Label (TM) with one of our blank backers. For shoes, stick on a Shoe Shield (TM) that will keep labels in place all year long.

Go here to check out  a brief You-Tube video demonstrating this process.
To learn more, or to order your own set of labels, please visit their website. Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and the Tomoson weekly featured sponsor Favorite Wigs - Shop Name Brand Wigs at Low Prices! Large Wig Selection of Forever Young Wigs, and other Quality Wigs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

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