When it comes to your child’s birthday, there are three essential elements to throwing an awesome party: presents, cake, and a cool theme.  It may seem easier said than done, but with a little help you’ll be watching him celebrate their new year with a smile.  We know there are an overwhelming amount of ideas out there for both girls and boys parties, but we’ve picked some of our favorites to share with you.

Having a theme picked out sets a solid foundation for the rest of the party.  You might decide to do something with your son’s favorite movie or TV show, for example.  Cars is still really popular with boys this year, so you might consider getting cups, plates, and posters printed with Lightning McQueen and the rest of the gang.  You can even have the soundtrack going in the background.

If you’re not sure of a favorite movie, you might want to try picking a theme based on your boy’s interests.  Maybe he’s really interested in books.  You could have a whole party built on one or several stories that he loves. Have the kids (or even better the adults!) dress up as his favorite characters like Curious George and the man in the yellow hat.  He’ll have a blast getting to meet everyone.

You might even decide to do a party based on his favorite sport.  Try getting a game of baseball or soccer going with all of the guests at the party before coming in for cake.  They’ll burn tons of energy and have a blast with all of their friends.  You might even host the party out on the local field or diamond and make it a picnic party.

There are so many ideas for great parties, and our custom invitations and thank you cards are just the icing on the cake.  Check out our products and we’ll help you get started.

Whether you’re already picking out names or you’re still just thinking about it, bringing a dog into your home is a big decision.  You’re not just getting a dog, but you’re picking a companion to stick with you for the next decade on up, so it’s important to consider your options.  We want to help make this decision a little easier by offering up some suggestions. 

The most important thing to do before you run out to adopt your new friend is to research.  Different breeds have different needs.  Some are more high-maintenance than others, so you should read up on the types you’re interested in before hand.  You should also think about what age groups you’ll be looking at.  A puppy can take a lot of time and energy, so think about how much you’re willing to invest.  Would an older, housebroken dog be more suitable?

Once you’ve got some of the facts, you might be ready to rescue.  Those puppies in the mall window can be awfully cute, but most pet stores are in support of puppy mills where dogs are mistreated and over-bred.  Instead, try visiting the local pound.  Phoenix has dozens of shelters with adorable and adoptable dogs, and there are tons of rescues for all the different types of breeds. 

You might even head over to your local PetSmart on one of their scheduled adoption days.  They work with different shelters in the area to help find dogs good homes, and they even have an online adoption program through their website in case you miss one of the store’s events. 

Once you find your match, we’ll help you tell all of your friends with a custom made announcement.  Just start with your favorite boy or girl birth announcement design and we’ll customize the rest for you! You’ll be able to add photos to your layout so everyone can see how cute your new family member is.  We want you to spread the joy, and we’ll be there to help you every step of the way.

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the girls!  Her birthday should be just as spectacular as his, and the great party ideas are still endless.  Choosing a theme makes the planning process a lot easier, and it creates a great atmosphere on her special day.  Here are a few suggestions to help make your girl’s celebration unforgettable.

Her birthday only comes once a year, so we know it’s important that she feels like a princess.  Throwing a glamour party is a great way to make a girl feel special.  You might have her friends come dressed up in their most spectacular outfits, or have different stations set up at the party where the girls can dress up, do their hair, and take fashionable photos.  (Accessorizing with candy watches and necklaces couldn’t hurt either).

Maybe she has a favorite Disney princess or movie that she watches over and over and over again.  You might decide to recreate The Little Mermaid by having an “under the sea” themed party.  If it’s warm enough, you might have guests wear their swimsuits for a fun day of water games like a balloon toss.

If you’re little lady is into a more action-packed day, you might consider throwing a dance party.  Setting up karaoke is a great way to let the girls play rock star, and having a few extra instruments around makes sure everyone’s included.  You might even ask a local dance instructor to stop by and teach the girls some moves so they can boogie all day to their favorite pop music.

We’ll help out with the before and after by providing you with stylish invitations and thank you cards.  Browse through our website and find something you like or create a layout all your own.

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to break out those swim suits you had boxed away for winter and put your sun screen on.  It’s heating up outside, and we think there’s no better way to cool off and celebrate the season than with a pool party.  Here are some tips on how to plan. 

Since you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, you might want to dress up your backyard.  You might add some sand and shells for a beach-like feel, or stock up on fake palms and flowers for a tropical touch.  Tiki torches and paper lanterns make for great lighting when the sun starts to go down, and they help give the party a relaxed atmosphere. 

Bright towels and lounge chairs serve as comfortable seating for your guests, but consider having some seats under an umbrella or in the shade for anyone who might want a break from the sun.  Bringing speakers out into the yard is a great way to add some personality to your party.  Try some reggae like Bob Marley or surf music like the Beach Boys to help get everyone in the summer mood. 

When they’re not splashing around in the water, your guests can sit back, relax, and sip on an icy summer drink like lemonade or punch.  Adding a mini-umbrella and some fruit to their glass is a great way to make the drinks more exotic. 

Also having some lighter food items like chips or fruit available throughout your party will help keep everyone’s stomach happy.  After your guests enjoy an afternoon of swimming, they’ll probably have worked up an appetite, so you might even consider firing up the grill. 

We’ll help you dive right in with some custom invitations to send out to your friends so you can celebrate the summer in style!

Baby is on the way and it’s time to think about setting up the nursery.  As you have probably realized, babies don’t come with a user’s manual, so hopefully these guidelines will help you feel confident that you have prepared a great nursery with everything you will need.

The main furniture components of the nursery are the crib, the changing table and a rocking or gliding chair.  You should also consider a bassinet or cradle for the first few months when babies are comforted by the cozier size, but you might want to keep it in your bedroom or use a portable one that can be wherever you are in the house.

The crib should meet current safety standards, so keep this in mind if you are buying a used crib.  Slats should be no more than 2 3/8” apart, and the mattress should fit snugly into the frame with no gaps.  Rails that lower are helpful and can alleviate back strain.   You’ll need crib sheets that fit tightly on the mattress, and baby blankets.  A baby mobile is a nice addition for entertaining and stimulating the baby.

A changing table with a safety belt and rail to keep the baby secure is a nice piece to have in the nursery.  There are many different styles to choose from – some have removable tops and convert into dressers.  All are designed to keep the baby at a comfortable height so you aren’t stooping over to change diapers many times a day.  You can stock your changing table with diapers, baby wipes, and creams.  Of course, where there is diaper changing there are dirty diapers.  A diaper pail with a secure lid is convenient and keeps odors down.

A comfortable rocker or glider is wonderful for nursing, reading and cuddling.  Test them out for comfort and buy extra pillows if necessary.

Smaller items for the nursery include lamps, a soft night-light, baby-sized hangers, and a small, stable bookcase or toy chest.  There are many decorating schemes to choose from, but be sure to keep one of your birth announcements to frame and save, or better yet order an enlargement on our canvas wall-art.

Baby names – if you are expecting, this is no doubt a topic that is always in the back of your mind.  Anywhere a name appears – movie credits, newspapers, celebrity news, characters in novels, branches of your family tree – you are rolling names around in your head to see what sounds right.  And family members, from your mom to great-aunt Edna, all have helpful suggestions.

The choice is yours, but keep in mind that your child has to live with the name for their entire life.  You might feel strongly that your special child shouldn’t be one of ten Jacobs or Emmas (the top names for 2008, according to www.babynameguide.com) in their class, but will you follow Gwyneth’s lead and go with Apple, or emulate Demi with a girl named Scout?

Baby Name Guide also encourages you to get creative with the middle name.  You can follow Sylvester Stallone’s lead with a name like Sage Moonblood, or think outside the box like comedian/magician Penn Jillette, who named his daughter Moxie Crimefighter. The Guide also advises you think of your baby’s initials and make sure they don’t spell out anything embarrassing.

There are great online resources for researching the meaning of names (we won’t keep calling them baby names, because remember – it’s for life) and delving into your family history can also provide some interesting and meaningful choices.  The Baby Name Guide also recommends that you check with family members to see if anyone else is planning on using Great Grandfather’s name and what special meaning it might hold for them.

After all of the list-making and endless discussion, don’t be surprised if after labor and delivery, when you get your first good look at that sweet baby’s face, a name comes to you out of the blue and you just know it’s perfect.

Put your baby’s perfect new name in print on a customized birth announcement to share with friends and family.

Does someone you know have a “special” birthday coming up?  You know what we mean by “special”…one of those monumental occasions that only comes up every decade. The dates you sometimes want to forget…40, 50 and on up?  Well, we think that every decade lived is most definitely cause for celebration!  Here are some party ideas for your “special” date.

The element of surprise is always a choice for the “special” birthday.  Just remember that at a certain age, people may decide they either love surprises or really hate them.  Do they want to keep their “special” age on the down-low or shout it from the rooftops?  You can adjust the size of the party from intimate family and friends to the entire rolodex.  Pick a venue that suits your guest of honor – be it home, a favorite restaurant, or renting out an entire ballroom.

A retrospective theme is always fun.  A walk down memory lane complete with photos and memorabilia will entertain everyone (remember leisure suits, prom dresses and those seventies hairstyles?).  You can include trivia like what was happening in the headlines on the guest of honor’s birth date, and musical selections from the various decades. 

Your entire party can be built around a theme.  You might choose the era the birthday guest was born in – play the music of that decade and have guests dress like they did back then.  If the guest of honor has a particular interest – a sport or particular sports team, a hobby or a favorite place (beach, Tuscany, New York City) you can set the theme up around it.  You could also actually plan a destination birthday celebration and invite everyone to join you there for a weekend of fun and reminiscing.

If there is a special charity the guest of honor feels strongly about, you can hold a birthday fundraiser.  Have guests make a donation to the charity or bring items on the non-profit’s wish list instead of bringing birthday gifts.  You might even be able to work with a venue and entertainers that would provide their services for free for a great cause. 

No matter which idea seems best suited to your “special” birthday, we can help you create memorable custom birthday invitations.

Dr. Seuss said it well: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

Graduation is such a special time for kids and parents, and for everyone who takes pride in seeing a young person on the brink of new discoveries and adventures.  They’ve made it through school and now the possibilities are endless!  For parents, graduation is a special celebration.  The hard work of parenting has paid off, yet it’s bittersweet to watch our “little ones” head off into the world without us.

A customized graduation announcement is a wonderful way to celebrate your child’s accomplishment.  Photos are among the ways we look back on our child’s progress and see how much they’ve grown and how far they’ve come.  Using photos of your choosing on a graduation announcement or party invitation is a special way to share your child’s unique journey.  Plus, it is the perfect excuse to sift through the photos and take the time to look back on all of the great memories and stages of your child’s life. 

Creating a customized announcement is also an opportunity to reminisce with your child as you select favorite photos and share memories.  Ask for their input on design and what stands out the most for them as accomplishments they’d like to share.  Then give them a big hug and remind them that “commencement” is just another word for “the beginning”.

We’ve realeased some new designs in our graduation invitation and announcement category.  Take a look and see if you can use one of our templates to summarize those wonderful memories for that special person in your life.

If a template doesn’t work for you, all of our designs can be customized to match school colors or completely altered to include more or less photos and almost any font style you’d like!

Look at this birth announcement for little Rico.  Using ideas from the “under construction” design we matched the colors of the card to that cool blanket.