Garden parties can be held in yards or parks. Why not celebrate a traditional garden party, graduation, birthday or Mother’s Day with a garden party. Use “real silverware,” china, bouquets of fresh spring flowers from your flower beds along with bowls filled with fresh fruit. Order your Classic Monogram, Serenity Personalized, Firenze or Paris Personalized Embossed in the most complementary colors for the season: Citrus, Emerald, Hunter, Orange, Yellow, Lilac or Bermuda Blue. All garden parties don’t have to be as elaborate as they are built up to be. You can tone them down or dress them up as you’d like. Even the smallest affairs will come alive with a few tasty tidbits, nonalcoholic or alcoholic drinks. Menus have included cucumber sandwiches, baked tomatoes with hazelnut crumbs, baby squash, pink lemonade, mint juleps, gin and tonic, strawberry shortcake and much, much more. Just remember to organize something as unique as your custom napkins and stationery.

Everyone has the best memories of birthday parties as a child because, in the worlds of the famous Chuckie Cheese, it’s a time when a, “Kid can be a kid!”

This is why it’s important to take the time to pick out the best kids birthday invitations possible.

Since the invitations are really intended for the parents to know when to drop their kids off and pick them up, some parents might think simply e-mailing their friends to let them know the details of the event might be the best way to spread the word.

However, this will make less of an impression since everyone is already overwhelmed with countless e-mails every single day. It’s also less personal, and their child won’t have the fun of opening up mail to see a brightly colored invitation that is sure to make them excited about the upcoming party.

Invitations are fun to hang on the refrigerator, looking at them make kids excited about the upcoming event and lots of parents like to save their kids’ friends invites in a scrap book.

When choosing kids birthday invitations, it’s best to opt for bright and fun colors.  You can also choose a fun a design that accompanies the theme of the party. For example, have a clown on the front if you hired a clown for the party.

Or, if it’s a pool party, you could put a beach ball on the front. This will remind the other parents that their child will need to bring a swimming suit and towel along with them to the party.

Your kids can help you pick out the invitations as well. Order a card with their favorite color, or have them create their own design.

Or, if they have a favorite super hero like Spiderman, you could try to include some images of that action hero so they feel like they had a part in the process.

If you involve your children in the procedure of picking out, writing and sending their invitations in the mail, it will help them get in the habit of using hand-written correspondence for future special occasions.

Since we now live in a digital age, it often seems like the art of sending traditional mail is losing its appeal.

If children grow up using personalized invitations for some of their communication, they’re more likely to use letters later on. They’ll remember how much fun it was to design and create their cards and they will have just as much fun doing the same thing when they’re adults.

They are also more likely to remember the event because they’ll end up saving the invites; in fact, they may even include them in a photo album or scrapbook later on after the event has taken place.

When you start looking for shower invitations, you need to consider whether you want to pick out ones that are striking and modern, or if you might want to opt for ones that are more subdued and traditional. Both are equally pleasing to the recipients.

When you’re determining which might be the best choice for you, think about what kind of shower you’re planning to have. If the shower itself is going to be a more casual affair, for example, you might want to stay away from overly ornate designs and patterns.

It can be fun to design invitations for a shower that have a personal touch. For instance, if you’re picking out invites for a bridal shower, you could personalize the invitations with a few images of items the bride particularly enjoys.

Or, you could simply use a color scheme that involves her favorite colors. When you’re thinking about what colors to pick out, you could also choose colors that are similar that are going to be used in the dresses the bridesmaids will wear at the wedding.

Another thing to consider when you’re choosing invitations is whether or not you’d like to pick an environmentally friendly option. Many stationery is made from recycled paper, and comes with envelopes that are made out of recycled goods as well. Stationery that is eco-friendly doesn’t necessarily have to be drab and boring; in fact, many invitations printed on recycled goods are just as stylish and vibrant as ones that are created on paper that is new.

Finally, when it comes to invites for a shower, it’s important to explore all your options before making a final decision. An excellent way to do this is by shopping online. You can do so from the comfort of your home, and you won’t have to waste time driving all over town from one stationery store to another only to end up disappointed with your options. Many online boutiques offer free shipping, and you can even request to have your delivery shipped overnight.

For instance, if you pick a formal looking card with a heavy card stock and a cursive script, they’ll know it’s likely going to be a formal affair.

Likewise, if you choose a fun color with a serif font, they’ll know it will most likely be more informal. You could even include an adornment, such as a ribbon, to make the cards even more special and creative.

One thing that might be helpful in considering shower invitations is to think about what kind of message you want to convey. Showers are usually fun occasions meant to celebrate an exciting event that’s about to happen.

So, it might be best to keep the invitations simple but enticing. Don’t stress out too much about picking the most elegant or fancy design; instead, just pick one that you feel captures the mood that you want your guests to have when they attend the party.

Eco-friendly shower invitations are another great option. You can spread the news of your upcoming event while also doing your part to save the environment. Contrary to popular belief, Eco-friendly invitations don’t have to be drab or boring.

You can still pick from a wide array of interesting styles that can showcase your style and creativity. It’s possible to choose cards that are made from 100% recycled materials both ideal for environmentally conscious people and their formal affairs.

Sending out hand written shower invitations, whether you write them yourself using a calligraphy kit or hire a professional calligrapher, is a great way to let your guests know that the upcoming affair is a really special event.

Hand written invitations are much more personal than simply sending out an invitations via e-mail. They show that you are a very detail-oriented person who cares enough to think about your guests and make a selection of invitation that will let them know that you will be honored if they’re able to attend your shower.

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?

Save the date invites: The when and where of planning your event

Personalized save the date stationery is designed to inform family and friends of an upcoming event, in most cases a wedding, so that they can mark their calendars to ensure their availability to attend. Save the date announcements most often take the form of a card or a save the date magnet.

Save the date announcements are typically mailed four to six months prior to the wedding date; however, those planning destination or summer weddings should consider sending save the date reminders up to one year in advance to give invitees ample time to make their plans (transportation, hotel, vacation time, etc.).

Portrait Save the Date Card

While save the date personalized stationery need not be as formal as traditional wedding invitations tend to be, they often carry the colors or theme of the wedding being announced. For instance, tropical destination wedding planners may choose the Paradise, Destination, Palm Tree or Sea Shell Save the Date Announcements to highlight the location of the wedding. Similarly, Portrait Save the Date Cards offer such a variety of ink colors, it would be easy to coordinate them with your wedding colors.

Paradise Save the Date Card

Short & Sweet: Space is a premium on personalized save the date stationery

Save the date reminders are short on space, so information presented should be kept to a minimum. Necessary information includes the names of both the bride and groom (or name of the event if not a wedding), event date and location, including city and state. Don’t assume that anyone receiving your save the date announcement will know you and your fiancé by first names only, and don’t assume that they will know where the wedding will take place. If you want them to attend, tell them what they need to know. That includes telling them that an ‘invitation will follow.’

That said, don’t bog down the reminder card with details that are not necessary at the time. For instance, the time of the ceremony and reception will be important but aren’t now. The guests of honor, the date and location will suffice. If you have a web site dedicated to your wedding or special event, include the address on your save the date announcement; that’s where you can go on and on with details about the event.

Keep your guest list in mind when sending save the date announcements

Here’s an important rule of thumb: you don’t need to send save the date reminders to everyone you plan to invite, but you do need to invite everyone to whom you send save the date reminders. So be careful of your send list; if you’re unsure of whether or not you will invite someone, or if you have space or financial restrictions, only send save the date cards to those you absolutely know you will invite.

Save the date invites makes planning your wedding or event much easier

Once you’ve sent custom save the date stationery, you can focus on other important details of your special day, knowing that you have notified your special family and friends of your big day. Sending save the date announcements can be a big step in the right direction when planning the day of your dreams.

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!

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.

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!

Everyone loves a family reunion planner who gives them something to remember

As a special memento, we’re going to give each adult at the reunion a personalized gift, the Family Arch Memo Square with the reunion information and family names personalizing the border. Personalized gifts are a great way of helping people display their own family pride by showcasing their name personalized on a special gift.

When it’s all said and done, the party’s over and everyone’s back at their own homes, we plan to send personalized thank you notes using the Fun Stripes Tiny Tag Announcements. We’ll personalize the tag with a thank you message and insert favorite photos from the weekend into the pocket holder.

Family reunion planning done right

There’s a saying that goes, “If you’re going to do it, do it right.” That’s how my cousin and I feel about our family reunion planning, which is why we are putting so much caring attention into personalizing the event using custom stationery and personalized gifts.

Emily's 2nd Birthday

Emily Enters the Terrific 2′s

My daughter Emily just celebrated her second birthday – I can hardly believe it! Who knew children’s birthdays were such an event? With all of the choices we had to make, it was a bit daunting, but there was one thing for sure that I felt strongly about: we had to have personalized invitations, thank you notes and napkins. Sure, it takes extra time, but it is so well worth it. Emily’s personalized invitations set the tone for the event. Matching personalized napkins helped establish the ambience at the party. And coordinating personalized thank you notes concluded Emily’s celebration with personal expressions of her gratitude.

Emily's personalized invitation

I guess you could say we went with a “sweet treats” theme, choosing lollipop motif invitations, napkins and thank you notes and carrying those colors through in the decorations and, of course, her cupcakes.

Making Her Day Extra Special

The personalized invitations were such a hit. It was truly a source of joy for us to get such glowing responses to Emily’s invitations – people just loved them. Many of our guests commented on the personalized invitations (those who weren’t familiar with my line of work asked where they could order some of their own, and I happily directed them to Giftsin24.com). I honestly think we had a higher turnout because we took the time to craft personalized invitations that illustrated what a great party they were about to attend.

Emily needs a napkin quick!

At Emily’s party, the personalized napkins were a big hit and a great help. You can just imagine the amount of frosting that ended up on those pink foil-stamped napkins, so they were well worth the effort.

Emily's personalized thank you note

We also ordered Emily her own personalized thank you notes. Although she’s only two and unable to write as you and I know it, she loves taking pen to paper and ‘signing her name,’ as you can see in the photo. We try to encourage her love of writing whenever we can, not only because it’s a dying art but also to support the family business!

Emily signs her thank you notes

Memories that Last

Emily’s birthday party was a wonderful day, made all the more special by infusing personal touches like personalized invitations, foil-stamped napkins and personalized thank you notes to match the sweet theme of my little sweetie’s celebration.

Emily relaxes after a long, happy day with friends

Make it Your Own

I encourage you to get creative with your own celebrations. Browse through Giftsin24.com to get ideas for themes and color schemes, order your personalized invitations, napkins and thank you notes, and even personalized gifts, and get planning!

Emily and her cousin enjoy the day

Emily opens her gifts

Emily playing peek-a-boo

Emily's big day

Emily's friends enjoy the party

Emily and her cousin sneak treats