Save The Date Announcements And Save The Date Invites Are Popular, But When Should You Send Them?

With custom save the date stationery, timing is everything

Save the date announcements have made their way into mainstream wedding planning and wedding etiquette. When I got married, lo those many years ago (13 to be exact), save the date invites were hardly used at all and then only for destination weddings or holiday weekend weddings.

White Rose Save the Date Card

These days, it seems that everyone is using wedding save the date personalized stationery to announce their forthcoming nuptials. So what are save the date cards and how are they used? Continue reading ‘Save The Date Announcements & Save The Date Invites From Giftsin24.com’ »

There are only 4 days left for our “Name Our Blog Contest.” So far, we’ve received over 130 entries from people across the country. We’ve got some very creative customers and fans out there!

Remember the person who submits the winning entry will win a $250 gift certificate for Giftsin24.com. We will continue to accept entries until September 15^th, 2009, at which time our marketing team will deliberate until the best name is chosen from entries received.  The submitter of that entry will receive a $250 Giftsin24.com gift certificate and worldwide acclaim on our blog!

To those of you who have already contributed, thank you for your creativity and enthusiasm. For those of you yet to participate, there’s still time! Simply comment on the Name Our Blog Contest blog and be sure to enter your email address in the appropriate field so we can contact you if you win.

Writing business thank you notes is the just the first step in mastering business thank you note etiquette

They say that golf is essential to doing business. I don’t know about that, but I do know that etiquette is. Practicing proper business etiquette takes you (and your business) to the next level of professionalism in the eyes of your business partners, vendors and clients. That’s why learning how to write business thank you cards is so important.

Writing business thank you notes gives you a competitive edge

Knowing how to write a business thank you gives you the leg up

Business thank you note etiquette ranks among the top skills all professionals should hone in their arsenal of business etiquette tactics. Writing business thank you notes is as important as paying your bills on time and knowing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Believe it or not, learning how to write business thank you cards gives you a competitive edge. Continue reading ‘How To Write A Business Thank You Note and When To Send It’ »

September Is National Courtesy Month, So What Exactly Is The Meaning Of Courtesy?

I find ‘courtesy’ to be an interesting word, probably because we unfortunately don’t hear it too often. I assumed I understood the meaning of courtesy, but I looked it up, just in case.

The meaning of courtesy

Dictionary.com kindly informs me that ‘courtesy’ has a number of definitions; those most closely applying to our discussion include:

• 1. Excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior.
• 2. A courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.
• 3. Indulgence, consent, or acquiescence
• 4. Favor, help or generosity

I like it!

Striving for proper etiquette and the core meaning of courtesy

One of my career aspirations in younger years was to be an etiquette consultant – can you imagine the pressure of constantly trying to be perfect – and teaching others to strive to do the same? I’m glad I let that one go. I do still value and appreciate manners, and I think courtesy is a core value of good manners, as reflected in definition #1. Continue reading ‘September is National Courtesy Month’ »

Write a thank you message that captures the power of Thank You

One of my most important goals in life is to teach my children that the simple act of saying ‘thank you’ is among the most important things they can do. Of course, saying ‘please’ ranks right up there, but ‘thank you’ takes the cake for me.

Teach children to say thank you

Two simple words – thank you – hold so much power. Saying thank you not only expresses gratitude but also respect, courtesy and often love. For a child, saying thank you is short and sweet. For us grown-ups, it can become a more intricate task, especially when we are putting our thoughts into writing.

I would certainly say there is an art to good thank you note wording.

My mom writes me thank you messages for just about everything. I save all of them, not only because it makes me feel good to read them, but also because they are treasure troves of memories, helping me recall how we celebrated special occasions and how I expressed my love to her in gifts.

How to Write Thank You Notes

For me, the number one rule in how to write thank you cards is to try not to make it read like a thank you note. Confused? How boring is it to read “Thank you for the blender. It blends really well. We will get a lot of use out of our blender. Thanks again.” Blah. Instead, try something like… Continue reading ‘Thank You Card Wording And How To Write Thank You Notes’ »

Busy Summer? Don’t Forget Summer Thank You Cards For All of Your Events

From summer thank you letters to wedding thank you cards, make sure you remember to say thank you

I love receiving handwritten summer thank you cards in the mail. There’s something very special about reading messages from loved ones when you know they put time and thought into writing. With that in mind, I always try to write my thank you notes promptly.  Summer thank you notes are often more challenging, with all of summer’s distractions, but they’re just as important as any other time of year.

What better time to order summer thank you notes

Now is the perfect time to order personalized thank you notes for summer’s special occasions.  Summer thank you notes are nice because the design appears on the fold-over front, leaving you more room on the inside of the stationery for a lengthy message expressing your gratitude.  One of my favorite notes here at Giftsin24.com is the new Classic Monogram Note with border.  I think it looks great on white paper with a pink border.  We’ve also brought back the quirky Duet Monogram, with two letters instead of the traditional three.  Both notes, and all of Giftsin24.com’s other personalized notes, offer plenty of room for heartfelt, handwritten sentiments.

Classic Monogram Note with Border

Try summer thank you cards to remember the ones who made your summer events memorable

Summer thank you cards are another good option. Contrary to the note, the thank you card is a flat piece of paper with the printed or embossed design on the front of the card; the thank you letter is written on that same surface, rather than opening a flap to find the message inside like fold-over notes. Continue reading ‘Summer Thank You Cards & Summer Thank You Notes from Giftsin24.Com’ »

Trendy Colors For 2009 On Giftsin24.com’s Newest Personalized Stationery Products

As I was perusing the web for inspiration, I came across the announcement of this year’s fashionable colors for fall. According to the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Fall 2009 , the hot colors trends of the season are:

• American Beauty – a wonderfully balanced, true, cranberry red
• Purple Heart – a sense of refinement and sensuality, adding an air of creativity and excitement
• Honey Yellow – golden tones, surprising flair
• Iron – the new black
• Burnt Sienna – a deepened, earthy shade of orange, reminiscent of an autumn sunset
• Nomad – bridging the gap between beige and light gray, a timeless neutral
• Rapture Rose – the vibrancy of fuchsia and the softness of pink
• Warm Olive – a rich yellow-green, adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to fall
• Majolica Blue – a deep, cool, mysterious, teal blue with more vibrancy than the usual navy
• Crème Brulee – a grayed-down beige

2009 Fall Fashion Color Palette

Looking at the swatches, I immediately began to think of our newest items here at Giftsin24.com that can easily help you incorporate the couleurs en vogue…When you browse our “Hot Items,” you’ll discover ways to integrate many of this fall’s hot color trends into your lifestyle with fashionable personalized accessories from Giftsin24.com… without spending a fortune!

Continue reading ‘Look For Hot Color Trends For Fall from Giftsin24.com’ »

The Customer Service Team at Giftsin24.com works hard to make sure all of our customers get exactly what they want. It’s safe to say that they’re more familiar with our personalized gifts and custom stationery products than just about anyone. So I thought it would be fun to find out what their favorite personalized gifts from Giftsin24.com are and why.  Here’s what they shared.

Customer Service Team Leader Brandon’s favorite personalized stationery:

• Classic Cotton Memo Square – “I actually got one as a gift before I started working here and I used it all the time. Now I make sure I always have one handy.”
• California Classic Frame Monogram Note in Red Pepper – “The quality and color of the paper are outstanding. The red is so vibrant and different from just about anything else we carry.”
• Mother Earth Banner Card – “I really like the paper used to make this embossed card. Some people call it “Desert Storm,” which I think is a cool name. I also like that it’s made from recycled paper.”

Brandon's favorite, the California Classic Frame Monogram Note in 'red pepper'

Jessica brings a feminine side to the team

Her favorite custom stationery products include:

Jessica's favorite, the Motherly Memo Square

Zeke, the newest member of the Giftsin24.com Customer Service Team, prefers:

• Vegas Cards – “I like the variety of colors offered in one set.”
• Caslon Note – “The lettering is simple but also sophisticated. I spent several years in the Marines, and for some reason, it reminds me of the formality and respect associated with military service.”
• Magnet Mates – “It’s so convenient. I like to keep my ‘to do list’ right there on my fridge.”

Zeke's favorite, the Vegas Cards

Although I’m not on the Customer Service Team, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite personalized gifts from Giftsin24.com, too:

• Deco Note – I think this embossed note is just beautiful. I’ve always been drawn to art deco motifs. The combination of the embossing and raised ink lettering give it such elegance.
• Splendor Lettersheets – This is one feisty lettering style! It gives the stationery a kick, especially when you choose a fun color like emerald, or the gold or silver metallic.
• Strasbourg Guest Towels – My mom always kept guest towels in her powder room, and I thought it was such an elegant touch. These embossed guest towels look luxurious but don’t come with a hefty price tag.
• “Hello” Bookplates – I wish I’d known about these earlier! The “Hello Cub” personalized bookplate is my favorite, but I think all of the designs are adorable.

One of my faves, Hello Cub Bookplates

Well, there you have it…a few favorite personalized gifts from the Giftsin24.com team.

 I hope this inspires you to get creative in your gift giving and also to find places in your life that can be brightened by personalized paper products!

My Personalized Childhood

One of the things I enjoyed most as a kid in the late 70s and early 80s was the abundance of personalized products that flooded the marketplace, and subsequently my pockets, drawers, folders and various other hideaways. Although my name wasn’t always readily available in off-the-rack items, I still had tons of brightly colored, personalized stationery sets, hair clips, shoelaces, tee shirts, stickers – you name it – everything that made the 80s so wonderfully fascinating and tacky all at once.

Even children enjoy personalized stationery

One of my favorite items was actually a set of personalized stationery with my name in yellow at the top of each sheet and again repeated across the back flap of the envelopes. Although I disliked yellow, I loved seeing my name in big, fat ‘Cooper Black’ lettering over and over again on the paper.

Thinking back on all of that personalized excess makes me wonder why I was so enthralled by it all. So here’s my Psychology 101 analysis of why kids (and grownups) love receiving custom gifts and buying personalized stationery.

Seeing your name in print boosts your self-esteem

Let’s face it: we all appreciate recognition. Personalization puts our names out there for the world to see. Made-to-order items boost our self-esteem by showcasing our names in an attractive, positive way. Personalized stationery in particular makes me feel special, Continue reading ‘Personalized Childhood Memories Leave Lasting Impressions’ »

Family Reunion Planning With A Personalized Touch

How to plan a family reunion with Giftsin24.com

Somehow, my cousin and I got the brilliant idea to tackle the task of family reunion planning for our family’s first ever gathering. I don’t know what we were thinking, each of us having two young kids and working full-time. Nonetheless, the reunion is fast-approaching, and we’re getting very excited. Our small core of 14 aunts, uncles and cousins has grown over the years to include new spouses and kids, totaling over 40 people since our last gathering. We definitely had reason to plan a reunion!

How to plan a family reunion with that personal touch

Neither she nor I have experience in how to plan a family reunion, so we’ve done quite a bit of research. During our family reunion planning, we’re looking for ways to make our reunion special and memorable. Working here at Giftsin24.com, I didn’t have to look too far for inspiration.

Wondering how to plan a family reunion? Start with great personalized stationery.

First and most obvious were the custom invitations. Sure, we could’ve used email or even Facebook, but we really wanted to send our family the message that this is a significant event worth celebrating. We chose a fun, cheerful product, the Cherry Blossom Announcement Cards, as our invitation, and we inserted extra details about location and accommodations into the pocket holder with the invitation.

For our next bit of family reunion planning, we chose personalized napkins for the event. Personalized napkins? Yep. We wanted to infuse the event with reminders that we’re not just at some picnic, we’re at our family’s first organized family reunion. To coordinate with the Cherry Blossom personalized invitations, we chose the Beach Chair Foil-Stamped Napkins in white with red foil, customizing the napkins with our family name and the date of the reunion. I can’t wait to see the looks on our parents’ faces when they see this stylish touch!
Continue reading ‘Family Reunion Planning With A Personalized Touch’ »