The Shower Invitation No One Can Ignore

Fact: Moms like cookies.

Because Mother's Day isn't All Sunshine and Moonbeams

For new moms, it's not as though the baby can just whip out a drawing or pick some flowers on her own for Mother's Day. Someone has to help. And that someone is too often faced with syrupy greeting cards. ... [More]

Notepads Perfect For Kids. And Narcissists.

Baby Shower Invitations That Come With a Makeover

I was That Person who spent like six hours online creating my Simpsons avatar. Needless to say I got completely sucked into playing around on the Pose Prints website, which lets you do that very thing on custom invites and cards. ... [More]

Hey, Someone Forgot to Make the Online Invitations Look Ugly

In an increasingly paperless world, online correspondence is rapidly replacing snail mail even for major events. Does evite ring a bell? But I haven't lost my love for beautifully designed correspondence, whether offline or online. ... [More]

Paper Shouts: Not So Much Shouting. Which Is Nice.

I'm one of those few new mothers who actually enjoys writing thank you notes. Even if I thank you in person for your lovely and thoughtful gift, be assured that I will break out a box of fabulous cards to thank you in writing as well. ... [More]

DIY Baby Announcements That You Won't Regret Having DIY'd

Self-serve baby announcements that you create on the computer aren't necessarily my thing. Although I appreciate the cost savings (particular for children number two through 17) I am always squidgy about the quality of those things, to say nothing of... ... [More]

Video Birth Announcements: It's a New World, Isn't It

I procrastinated greatly putting together my second daughter's birth announcement, in part because I couldn't settle on a single photo ... [More]

Boys Need Cool Cards Too

You'd think that with all the girlie cards and personalized notes out there that boys would just let their sisters write all their thank-yous for them. ... [More]

The Modern Mama's Teddy Bear Motif

While I wanted to avoid baby gift thank you notes that were too babyish, I found that scribbling heartfelt words of appreciation for the squeaky rabbit toy across notecards bearing funky geometrics, was definitely a thematic disconnect. ... [More]

Doing Good By Grandma. And Mother Earth.

We've been fans of Stubby Pencil Studio since we were turned onto the Portland company's high-quality CIY for kids. That's, um, Color It Yourself. ... [More]

Wonder Woman, Mom...Same Difference

Ah, at last "mommycards" that recognize the true nature of the mommy has nothing to do with juggling grocery bags and walking a dog while wearing a Bjorn. ... [More]

Congrats, You're a Babysitter. Er...Grandparent.

Often seen on message boards: How should I tell my parents I'm pregnant?

C.W.A. (Cards With Attitude)

Nothing lifted my spirits as a new mom like a card in the mail, but the printed sentiments never quite nailed the realities of my situation. Like, Congrats on your baby. Now get ready for your hair to start falling out. ... [More]

It's Valentine's Day, Mamas. Now Go Out and Get Some.

My husband definitely has the lesser of the two libidos. So after a long day of wiping butts and chasing after the kiddos, I'm ready to go, and he's the one complaining about a "headache." ... [More]

The All-Purpose Thank You Note

I’ve been looking for thank you notes that would be equally suited for job interviews, baby gifts, and preschool directors. (God help me). Tall order, perhaps? Not once I discovered the lovely line of m: studio stationery from stationer Margot Madison.

Bringing the Rat Back

I used to look forward to my Chinese great-grandmother's new year celebration every year -- the gorgeous decorations, the yummy food, and new lucky animal. She could even make the boar look cute.

Tattoo Valentine's Card: Next Best to the Real Thing

If the sigOth skipped the flowers this year and came home with a permanent heart on his arm with my name in it, well I'd just be tickled. ... [More]

Upping the V-Day Sweetness Factor

Valentine’s is the kind of holiday that challenges progress. In other words, Snoopy is about the most cutting edge character I like on my cards. ... [More]

I Want to Be the Girl With the Most Cake

The sigOth and I had this great idea to save all of our daughter's birthday hats, ostensibly to watch the progression from Elmo to Diego to Toodee, if one day Yo Gabba Gabba licenses their characters to party supplies. ... [More]

New Year's Resolution: Give Up the Ecards

This year is going to be the year that I get way better about sending cards for my friends' kids instead of the cheesy free ecards.
... [More]

Editors' Best of 2007: Stationery & Announcements

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTSKristen: I have to pick Bird and Banner's completely handmade custom invites and announcements. Their personal touch is the next best thing to making all 100 announcements yourself.    Liz: For totally custom, designed just-for-you announcements, the portfolio at Pink Dot... ... [More]

Better You Than Me, Sister

Even having gone through two mostly uneventful pregnancies (I know, don't hate on me), I'm happy now to be back in my regular jeans and regular shoes with not one ounce of lower back pain--and no forthcoming labor and delivery. ... [More]

Personal Cards (Even When They're Not Personalized)

If there's anything that made me more weepy than is customary during those first few days after having my son, it was the kind cards and notes of congratulations that people sent me. ... [More]

A Super Eco-Conscious Pick, Even for the Super-Eco Conscious

While I do my part to recycle and use cloth grocery bags, I am definitely killing a few trees (okay, maybe more than a few) with my oodles of Christmas cards this year. Oh how my  eco-conscience disapproves. ... [More]

My Baby Wrote Me a Letter

Now that my older daughter is reading and writing, I'm eager to share my love of personal correspondence with her. But then, I'm not ready to spend the cash on the fancy monogrammed stuff for her just yet. ... [More]

Because a Whole Lot of Kids Think That Christmas Celebrates the Birth of Santa

You might want to skip this pick if you left your sense of humor at the office, because this is quite possibly the holiday item that's made us all laugh the loudest this year. ... [More]

They'll Never Be Able to Throw These Cards Away

I've decided to forgo the traditional family Christmas picture holiday card extravaganza this year. And thanks to Ruva Cards, my excuse will not be total laziness (for a change), but rather, my desire to show off my daughter's artistic talent. ... [More]

Christmas Tea

Every time I click over to Tiny Prints for a little virtual window shopping for Holiday Cards, I've found myself drawn to the same kinds of designs--they've got a slight Asian flair, and incorporate more unusual motifs than holly, like birds and delicate flowers.

Dear Santa, Please Don't Bring Me Anything On the Recall List

I admit I'm cynical about a lot of things, but Santa, for some reason, is not one of them. I am already having the best time telling my 2 year old about how this guy sneaks into the house while she's sleeping and eats the cookies that she's just made. ... [More]

Meta Ornament

I have this thing about choosing holiday cards - if there's any chance that mine ends up shoved to the back of the mantle behind the 8 million other cards, I'd just as well not send one. ... [More]

You Say Draidel, I Say Dreidel...

If you've been looking for some Hanukkah cards that feel a little more you and a little less Great Aunt Rose, you must stop by Pop Judaica, otherwise known as ChosenCouture.com. 
... [More]

Christmas Cards For a Song

We're always on the lookout for something a little special and different in the way of holiday cards. I mean, anyone can hit the local Hallmark for a box set--if you don't mind your generic card blending in with all the other generic cards on your loved ones' mantles. ... [More]

96 Pictures Are Worth 96,000 Words, Plus Your Signature

Living far from friends and family means that the holiday card has the burden of making up for a whole lot of missed milestones. But who can pick just one picture to represent a whole year's worth of cuteness? Well, now you don't have, to thanks to Ringobaby's brilliant solution. ... [More]

Rockin' the True Spirit of the Holidays

Aside from stressing about what toys won't poison my kids this holiday season and trying to communicate that clearly and effectively to my in-laws, I've got our Christmas cards on my mind -- what to wear, what should they say, how are we going to strap down my son long enough to get his picture... ... [More]

When You Think of David Baldacci, Think of My Kid

Think about how much harder it would be for someone to throw away your baby's picture on a bookmark. Or a refrigerator magnet.Clever custom stationer, Ringo Baby, makes both.

What's Pink and Blue and Green All Over?

Having recently addressed far too many baby announcements, it's a little disconcerting to think of the percentage that will end in the trash soon after delivery. Not just because of the cost to me, but the cost to the environment. I think like 36 trees must have given their lives so my grandmother could show off the baby to her friends. ... [More]

Announcements Worthy of the Postage Hike

Baby announcements aren't really intended to announce the baby, nor are they a solicitation of gifts. Let's be honest, baby announcements are meant solely to knock the socks off your friends and family. ... [More]

Lucky Little Devils

I'm not entirely sure if there really is a baby boom right now, or if I'm just more aware of every stroller on the street since having kids myself. ... [More]

Start the Sibling Rivalry in Style

When my son arrived, I wanted to include my daughter in the announcements. I figured what the heck, let's force the whole sharing thing on them early. ... [More]

Come On Baby, Light My Fire

Now that the weather is reaching stratospheric temperatures in my Northeastern neck of the woods, naturally my thoughts turn to barbecue. Nothing like that classic combo of a huge open flame and 147% humidity.
... [More]

Love, The Thoughtful Gift Giver With the Great Cards

Am I tired of paying $5 for a card to go with every gift for every kid's birthday party on the block? More like I'm tired of running around the house looking for a sticky note to slap on that puppy. Well, no more. ... [More]

Congrats, Fatso. Boy or Girl?

Sometimes the traditional greeting card just doesn't cut it. Sorry, but I can't bring myself to buy some foil-embossed doily covered in melodramatic sentiments without throwing up a little bit in my mouth. ... [More]

Shower Invites That Demand RSVPs

If I had to do my baby shower all over, I wouldn't change a thing. Okay, one thing: Instead of not so subtly pointing my best friend towards the invites that, um, you know, I wouldn't mind her using if, you know, she happened to like them too...I'd point her to Armato Design & Press. ... [More]

Because Some Babies Are More Equal Than Others

For those of you who use the pages of Cookie Magazine as a shopping list as opposed to a daydream starter, have we got the thing for you: The absolutely stunning baby calling cards from Sesame Letterpress Designs. ... [More]

Sealed With a Goose

Nothing says "last minute afterthought" than a present in a regifted gift bag. Believe me, I was the worst offender. But since having children, there's just something about watching a little one tear through a nicely wrapped package that warms my heart. ... [More]

Emily Post Would Be Proud

I nearly fell over when I received a birthday card from a friend of mine who had just had her baby one week prior. Heck. A week after having my baby I don't think I was getting enough sleep to use a pen let alone get a card in the mail. ... [More]

It's All in the Cards

There are a few things in life that you don’t realize you need until someone gives you it to you. And then you can’t believe you ever lived without them. Like that battery operated "massager." Thin Mints in the freezer. And personalized note cards. ... [More]

A "Save the Date" Announcement Worth Saving

The curse of a kid with a summer birthday: With vacation schedules and everything else that gets crammed into those few glorious months, I'm looking for an extra special announcement to make sure no one forgets my daughter's big day. ... [More]

Invitations from Simpler Times

We at CMP are sooooo over the over-the-top birthday parties for kids. While yes, we all want something that's creative and different and memorable, maybe blinging out your kids' invites with real diamonds and a voice chip that plays a birthday message recorded personally for you by Bono isn't so appropriate for a second birthday. ... [More]

Cards For Moms Who are More Than Moms

I never saw myself as the mommy calling card type - you know, someone who would have a stack of cutesie little cards giving me a job title like "So-and-So's Mommy" But then, I never saw calling cards like the ones from Hello Ink. ... [More]

Dear Mr. Darcy...

I always feel like a character in a Jane Austen novel when I pull out a box of fancy cards. Like I'm a 21st century Emma. Or Gwyneth Paltrow--in a good way. And with the new Glitzy & Golden cards from Dorothy Teng's Charlyn Koo Design Studio , I suddenly I feel like writing Mark Darcy a sassy, solicitous letter. ... [More]

Special Delivery

I think back to how panicked I was over choosing birth announcements for my first child and realize now I was being silly. Especially when there are so many services who make it easy for you. ... [More]

Baby Brings the Funny

I've groused before about the practice of sending thank you notes that are supposedly written by the baby. I know it's intended to be cute, but it induces involuntary eyerolls in me. ... [More]

Call Me? We'll Do Cheerios.

A desk full of odd scraps of paper with names and phone numbers scribbled on them - that's what I face each time I want to schedule a playdate for my older daughter. And I know that's what her friends' mothers face too, since I typically scrawl my details on the back of a grocery receipt. ... [More]

The Perfect Cards for Imperfect Kids

In an ideal world, every child would rush to the craft drawer immediately following his birthday and handwrite a heartfelt thank you note to acknowledge each gift. After which, he'd clean up his workspace. ... [More]

Mom Loves Pink Loves Brown

I've gotten so used to emailing people that when I actually need to write a nice little note, I've had to resort to white computer paper and a business envelope. How embarrassing!
... [More]

Shower Invites That Get The Crazed, Hormonal Nutjob Seal of Approval

While I'm pretty laid back in most areas of my life, as far as party planning I cannot let one detail go overlooked--handpicked favors, handmade invites, the works. When it came time for my baby shower, you can imagine that I was a full-blown nutcase. ... [More]

Let Me Call You Sweetheart (Or Something Far More Embarrassing)

I'll suspend my cynicism for a moment and assume that Valentine's Day really is all about celebrating love. Even so, why would you save up all of your sentiments and hard-earned cash and blow the entire wad on a single day? I say, spread the love around during the rest of the year too! ... [More]

Procrastinating Parents: We Have The Baby Books for You

I'm an overachiever in many ways, but a huge slacker in the baby book department. I started the book for my first child just one day before #2 was born. Oops. Don't even ask about how I've documented milestones for the second child. (Okay, it's Post-It notes).
... [More]

Announcements Not Only a Mother Could Love

As much as I love written correspondence of any kind, I've never sent a single announcement - not for graduations, my engagement, marriage, or the births of either of my children. Mostly because, to be blunt, the pickings are pretty slim. Or to clarify, the decent pickings. ... [More]

Thanks For the Um...the Thoughtful Uh...

The holidays are over, and if the commercials and billboards and return lines at the mall are any indication, a lot of us received a whole lot of stuff. But whether we loved the gifts we received - or we just pretended to - handwritten thank you notes are always a good idea. ... [More]

Spare Your Friends the Lame Cards This Year

When I go to pick out cards for the holidays, I just keep looking and looking at all those stacks of foil boxes, hoping something will jump out at me screaming, "Pick me! I am not sappy or cutesy, I promise!" Rarely does this happen however, and some years, I admit I find myself settling. ... [More]

Wrappers Delight

I'm a lover, not a wrapper. My version of creative holiday giftwrapping involves creating a messy patchwork of paper from mismatched leftover scraps. ... [More]

Stationery Gone Wild

If you've got kids, then you know what it's like to have a pack of wild animals roaming around. They make strange noises, they eat everything in sight, and they leave disasters in their wake. Even little girls do it - if you need proof, I'll send pictures. ... [More]

Another Chanukah Miracle

Chanukah-celebrating moms are busy enough picking out eight presents each for the kids, that the last thing they have time to do is weed through the paltry selection of decent cards out there. Most of them look as if they were slapped together in two seconds by design-school dropouts or little old ladies with a surplus of gold paint on hand. ... [More]

Return to (Stylish) Sender

After addressing way too many of my two-year-old's birthday invites, I realized the only return address labels I had were the free ones from charities that remind you you still need to send them a little something-something in return. These labels aren't so bad on a credit card bill, but perhaps not the greatest choice for my fancy photo cards and personal letters. ... [More]

Keeping a High Profile

I'm always thrilled to bits to get personal, handwritten notes. But I can't help but snicker when I get a thank you note supposedly written in first-person by a newborn. Are the new parents already outsourcing their chores to these (clearly gifted) children? Call me a skeptic, but I'm pretty sure I can recognize adult handwriting. ... [More]

Getting Out of Dodge

Thanks to the lovely interweb, it's easier than ever to inform the world about a change of address. But if you're like me, you'd rather do the classy thing and kick it old school with the snail mail. ... [More]

...and Thank You, Doc, For Not Saying Anything When I Forgot to Wax

The one time in my life I was totally dilligent about thank you notes was after the birth of my daughter. I couldn't thank everyone enough for nine months of love, support, and yeah, the gifts.
... [More]

Sign Your Name To Someone Else's Artwork

How many of us have wanted to chuck the soul-sucking corporate life and follow our hearts?  (I'm raising my hand over here.) Jenni Gaynor actually had the guts to do it. ... [More]

Now This is the Way to Brag

My daughter is definitely an early bloomer when it comes to artwork. She's already drawing faces that are a step above a massive scribble fest (if I do say so myself). But there's only so much you can do with 25 notebooks full of toddler art. ... [More]

For Those About To Be Born We Salute You

When I was pregnant, I spent roughly 400 thousand hours, give or take, looking for the right birth announcements. Nothing seemed to be...me. Not the pink bows, not the pink gingham, not the pink polka dots. And certainly not all those ducks.

... [More]

A Great Card Speaks Louder Than a Bad Gift

We all know that pregnancy doesn't mean you suddenly crave little ducks and teddy bears on everything you own. So then why is it so hard to find a card that doesn't look like it got lost at the pastel animal farm? ... [More]

A Recipe for the Perfect Gift

I love that my crafty friends are willing to share their cute knit bootie pattern with me, however the illegible scribble on a piece of notebook paper just doesn't do their creations justice. ... [More]

Orange You Glad It's Summer?

There's something about the sweet, icy, fresh from the freezer goodness of a popsicle that signifies summer. Well that, and mosquitos. But I much prefer to think about popsicles (as my bathing suit size would indicate). ... [More]

Save the Ducks for the Zoo

It's always a challenge to find the right stationery for the wonderful (yet daunting) post-shower or birthday party thank-you list. ... [More]

Cool Cats, No Hairballs

I don't entirely understand all the ducks and lambs and barnyard animals on children's stationery. I mean in my urban neck of the woods, where does a child even see any of those things, let alone grow to love them? ... [More]

Not Any Card Will Do

They struggled for four plus years. Dealt with an annoying roommate, egotistical advisor, and really bad food. So, you can't just give them any old graduation card. ... [More]

A is for Apple

You could get the coffee mug-chocolate candy-apple tote bag combo that every teacher truly treasures. (Ha.) Or you could actually get them something that they aren't going to pawn off to their friends and neighbors.

These Designs are a Chou-In

While I love the loose picture inserts in announcements and holidays cards, I find that it's very hard for the picture to actually make it out of the card and onto my fridge without getting crumpled, folded, or dirty.

First Impressions

Got a bun in the oven? Know someone who does? Voila! Ceci New York for your custom Baby Announcement needs.

Why Don't I Just Give You My Card?

Don't you wish you could just say Here, take my card when a friendly new mom asks for your phone number or email, instead of digging through your overstuffed diaper bag turned bad mommy purse? ... [More]