Product Review: MoonPig, Personalized Greeting Cards, Printed and Mailed

 

I have another online personalized card store to share with you – MoonPig. If you haven’t heard about this personalized greeting card site, or purchased from them, you are missing out. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out their services and have to say how impressed I was not only with these easy-to-use ordering process and the large assortment of greeting cards available, but the overall quality of their final product is wonderful.  I ended up creating a few Christmas greeting cards for the grandparents and my husband, as well as a birth announcement card for our new arrival (Arabella Sofia was born on Nov. 10th).  I was impressed with the unique styles available.  Having been using other personalized greeting card sites for my holiday and greeting card needs, I haven’t seen a selection like this.  Just look at the birth announcement that I created – fun and unique, huh? 

 

And, for the holiday cards, I chose these styles:

 

 

Aren’t these greeting cards neat?  I also love that you can have the cards printed and shipped directly to the recipient.  So, no more waiting to receive your order in the mail, just to mail back out.  Instead, you can choose the date you want the cards sent and add the recipient’s contact info. into your order.  And, then, MoonPig sends them right out for you.  Now that is convenience.  With a new baby at home, this holiday season will be hectic, and any help like this will make my life easier.

So, what are you waiting for?  Why not give MoonPig a try this holiday season.  In addition to their wonderful holiday greeting cards, they also offer birthday cards, invitations, photo upload cards, all with their own individual categories, so you can create a card for moms, dads, children, grandparents, humor cards, etc.  I will definitely be using MoonPig for now on, when it comes to ordering my greeting cards!  And, after you try them out, you will probably say the same!

Disclosure:  I was given a credit to use towards the purchase of greeting cards from MoonPig, in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

 

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Create Unqiue, Personalized Products at Kidlandia -- Product Review and Coupon Code

I recently had the opportunity to try out products from Kidlandia and have to say I was impressed with the final products that I received.  What I loved most about each of the personalized items I created for Savannah, was the quality in which they came.  With a $50 gift certificate, I was able to purchase a pillow case, wall poster and placement, and have shipping covered.  Now, I have been purchasing other personalized items for Savannah over the past year and half and have to say that I found shopping on the Kidlandia site to be not only easy to navigate around, but fun.  I loved being able to create different products and adding names of family members and friends to each item.  What a great way to add a personal touch to a gift that she will enjoy for years to come.

If you have never heard about Kidlandia, you need to head on over to their website today and check out their offering.  You are bound to find something for your little one, or to give as a gift this upcoming holiday season.  

Kidlandia offers the following personalized gifts:

And, you can choose from the following characters:

Just look at the items I purchased for Savannah, in which I added a personal touch to. 

 Dora the Explorer Small Poster $14.99

Right now, she is in love with Dora, so I was excited to see products with Dora and Friends.I ended up creating this wall poster, which we eventually put in a frame and hung in her bedroom.  Savannah loves to walk by it and point out objects.  Eventually, when her vocabulary grows, it will be a treat to read off names to her and have her point to places.  This will make for a fun learning tool.

 Disney Princess Placemat $9.99

The next item I created and personalized was this Disney Princesses placement.  When I gave Savannah the placement to play with, she had a big smile on her face.  Now, every day when we sit down for a meal, she is entertained by the placement and I read names of each of the places on the placement to her.  So, again like the Dora poster, she is learning while enjoying the beautiful crafted placement, which was created especially for her.

Kidlandia Pillowcase $24.99

And, as for the third and final item, I created a family tree pillowcase.  I have put this away for when she gets a little older and transitions to a toddler bed.  I will enjoy sharing the story of her family heritage with her and she grow with this pillowcase.

I have bookmarked Kidlandia on my computer and will definitely be heading back their for more gifts for Savannah and her new sister due to arrive any day now.  I can't wait to create a Winnie the Pooh 100 Acre Wood poster for each of them.  It will look great in their Pooh-themed nursery.

---BUY NOW---

So, what are you waiting for?  Head on over to Kidlandia today and begin shopping and creating your own unique and personalized gifts today.  And, as a special gift to Inspired by Savannah readers, Kidlandia is offering a 20% off coupon code to be used on your total purchase.  To take advantage of this offer, make sure to use coupon code "MomBlog20" at checkout.  It is that easy!

Happy shopping!!!!

Disclosure:  I was given a gift certificate to order samples to aid in writing up an honest review, thanks to Kidlandia.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

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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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What Does Valentine's Day Mean to You?



With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I wanted to take a few minutes and share what Valentine’s Day means to me, and hear back from you. To some, if you don’t have a “Valentine,” then usually Valentine’s Day is just another day, or a day you dread, as you watch other happy couples snuggle. For others, if you are fortunate to have found that special someone, then Valentine’s Day is a day to show that special someone how much they mean to you.


I was lucky enough to find my special someone over 13 years ago, while attending college. We were total opposites, and from 2 different backgrounds – but, we clicked, and have been together ever since. This past year, we welcomed our daughter, Savannah Rose, and are now journeying down a new path a family, and will be able to experience things through our daughter’s pure eyes.

I remember back in elementary school, we would make homemade valentine’s, or by the boxed valentine’s to hand out during the classroom party. We would sit and wait to see how many valentines were left in brown bags we had at our desks. After the food and games, we would race back to our seats and start opening the cards. Popular cards were those of cartoons or movies during that time. Or, if you were lucky, a lollipop or candy was attached. Ahhh, the good ole’ days – without a care in the world. Now, as an adult you either love or hate Valentine’s Day. Which one are you?

Well, in honor of our first Valentine’s Day as a family, I will be stopping by Shutterfly to make personalized cards to send out to loved ones, as well as save a few in our daughter’s scrapbook, to show her first Valentine’s day. These are just a few options that I am looking at in regards to cards.

You can find a larger selection of cards here, as well as options for personalized gifts here. While you are at it, why not take a look at their beautiful keepsake boxes. I already have one for Savannah, were I am keeping trinkets and mementos that I will share with her as she gets older.

Do you have a special Valentine’s Day memory? How do you spend Valentine’s Day? I’d love to hear back from you all and hear your special stories of love.

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