Minted is not your average stationary shop. They describe themselves as a “global community of independent graphic designers and an online store that prints and sells the best of their designs in the form of paper goods.” Started in 2007 by Mariam Naficy, Minted holds monthly design challenges allowing graphic designers from all over the world to showcase their best creations. The Minted community votes on the best cards and winners earn cash, a place in the collection and on-going commission. Currently Minted designers represent 43 different countries!

That would be great as is. But even better? The products are created to the highest standard. Rich inks, thick card stock and a design process that lets YOU be in control. If the card options weren’t endless enough, once you select a Minted card, you can tweak colors, fonts, placement and more. You can make sure that the design is as YOU as the family picture on the front.

Plus, once you’ve choose and tweaked the card to your heart’s desire, a designer double checks everything and sends you a digital proof before the final OK on your order. So you can make sure everything is just as it should be.

Minted.com has an incredible selection of holiday photo cards (606!) and unique features like Storybook Photo cards (available as in interior option on all holiday cards), Yearline cards, or Minibook cards when you just need more room for updates and photos!

Yearline card

Minibook

Minted.com also offers lots of other fun extras like:

Skinny Wrap™ Address Labels: An innovative return address label beloved by customers that wraps around the top left side of an envelope for a chic burst of color on front and back.
Card Backers: This visually stunning option adds a solid color or pattern to the back of the greeting card for a coordinated and luxurious look.
Slip-In Envelope Liners: These matte, custom-cut envelope liners add uniqueness to any envelope and require just a bit of adhesive to fit into place.
Rounded Corners: This elegant detail is the perfect finishing touch.

Just for MWS readers, Minted.com is offering 10% off on all orders (Use: MOMMIESWITHSTYLE) or check out Minted.com’s other coupon codes and deals here. For holiday cards, baby announcements, wedding invitations, graduation announcements and more, I promise you won’t be disappointed with Minted.com!

My family's Minted.com card

Note: Minted.com provided product samples for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I’m also thinking I may do two sets this year – Christmas cards for those who celebrate, and generic Happy Holiday cards for those who don’t.  Really this is just my excuse to order two sets of cards though since there are so many fabulous designs to choose from.  How nice is this one pictured on the right?

Also, if you are inspired, be sure to order by end of day today.  You can use coupon code GIFTS for free shipping and coupon code thxhol20 for 20% off your order of $75 or more at TinyPrints.com!

Cancer sucks, no doubt about it, and we need to do every means we can to support fighting it and finding a cure.  You can now shop for birthday cards on Tiny Prints and help support the American Cancer Society.

When you purchase a card from the Less Cancer and More Birthdays collection at TinyPrints.com, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society.

The cards range from $1.99-$4.99 and that includes personalization and shipping to the birthday person which makes it nice and easy!  Plus the designs are unique and cute.  Visit TinyPrints.com to shop the collection and learn more.

Disclaimer:  this has been a sponsored post.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I didn’t know was that American Girl also has a line for birthday parties – American Girl Party Supplies.  Planning your daughter’s next birthday party?  These American Girl branded party supplies are affordable and fun for little girls!

They have invites, plate ware and adorable little add-ons like these cupcake holders pictured on the right.  These products are widely available at stores like Michael’s Crafts and online at Amazon.

After several years of watching people continually try and tweet me at “mommieswithstyle,” I decided enough was enough and I changed my name.  (I’m now WhitneyMWS for anyone not following me.  Go.  Click.  Follow.)

Of course a day later it occurred to me that I was about to leave for New Orleans and blogging conference Mom 2.0 Summit and that I had business cards printed up with my old Twitter id.  Ack!  It had been time for me to order new cards anyway so I checked out the business cards on Tiny Prints.  I’ve been using Tiny Prints for years for my Christmas cards and I also used them with the birth of my second son for birth announcements, but I hadn’t given Tiny Prints much thought for business needs.

But as you guys can see on the Business Cards page, they definitely have a wide selection of items beyond baby!  So here’s the style I went with – Unique Style.  These cards fold down and I liked the way I was able to customize it.  I put my logo on the front of the card:

And then I put all of my info on the inside flap once you open it up, plus a picture of me.  (Note my awesome new title that I gave myself of “Social Media Wonder Woman”.)

I’m really pleased with how they turned out and I got lots of compliments on them at my conference.  Plus, with the rush shipping they came in record time.

By the way, Tiny Prints always has wonderful coupon codes and promotions going for their customers. Visit their Tiny Prints Coupon Codes page to see which one fits your order best (Are you a New Customer?  Ordering Baby Shower Invites?  There’s something for everyone here).

Disclaimer:  Tiny Prints provided me with my business cards to facilitate this review.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

MyJotJournal.com is a website that allows you to do this. These paperbook 8×8 photo albums run themselves — connect to Facebook and it’ll make you a photo and status update album for a limited amount of time.

Here's one of my JotJournal pages. Important pictures and statuses but ones I hadn't saved for a regular photo album. Pretty neat, right?

I ran one for the last six months of my Facebook life. I can’t tell you all how cool this little album is.  It has updates of me griping about the winter, sick kids, mentions of my runs, pictures of my kids and much more.  One photo has a picture of our carved Halloween pumpkins – how fun is that?

Giveaway:  So here’s a totally awesome opportunity for the first 50 people reading this post.  Visit the Jot Journal Facebook page – there’s a code there that will work for the first 50 people who use it to get a free book – with free shipping!  Go!  Run!  Be nice and like them while you’re there too, okay?

And if you weren’t one of the first 50, no need to cry.  Once the code ceases to work (50 people have used it), the folks at Jot Journal will have a code up for $10 off (making your book only $5!)

PAPER CULTURE: If you’re tired of glossy, bright photo cards, the selection at Paper Culture will hit the spot. A perfect match for the budding home photographer, the styles and designs at Paper Culture meld beautifully with artfully taken family photos. Printed on sturdy card stock, these cards will make any mantle merrier.

GIVEAWAY – Win 25 free personalized photo cards from Paper Culture.

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PRINT ART KIDS: For a truly personalized holiday card, use Print Art Kids to turn your little one’s drawings into your holiday mailers. Whether it’s a holiday landscape, an alien spaceship or just scribble of colors, showing off your kids’ art skills with holiday cards from Print Art Kids will warm the heart of relatives – and make your kids feel pretty special too.

COUPON – Free standard shipping on all orders of $50 or more (before tax & shipping). Use code “MWSship”. Orders for holiday cards and gifts must be ordered by Thursday, December 9 for free non-rush shipping, but the free shipping code is good through December 31 for all other items (New Year’s cards, thank you notes, etc.)  (NOTE: The discount will be applied manually and will NOT show up in your shopping cart. Never fear, it will be applied when the item is shipped and your card is charged.)

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PINHOLE PRESS: Something about the cards at Pinhole Press seem to make the focus more on your picture and less on a glitzy background or font. I love the simplicity and warmth of these layouts and designs. Check out the old school Message Stationary that comes with a photo card and a personalized stationary card for a handwritten note. Or try the gorgeous, 7-picture accordion cards when you can’t choose just one picture to share.

COUPON – Get 10% off your order by using the code “PinHolePressVIP”.

DEAL – Free shipping on all orders through December 31st.

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SNAPILY: 3-D is all the range in the movie theater these days and now you can have it on your holiday cards too! Choose from more than a dozen 3-D (pop off the page – no glasses required!) and Animated cards (when you turn the card, the image flips between two different pictures). These unique cards are sold individually and best saved for those special people who will appreciate something different in their mailbox.

GIVEAWAY – Snapily is giving away one free 3-D picture notebook. A perfect stocking stuffer or gift for a co-worker!

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CREATIVELY ENGAGED: Owner and designer Alisa Donohue handcrafts a selection of holiday cards available in her Felt and Wire shop. She has a number of magnetic holiday cards though her collection of folding photo cards are my favorite. Plus there’s a LOL option for the Jersey Shore fans in your life.

GIVEAWAY – Win a $50 gift certificate to Creatively Engaged!

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METRO BABY CARDS: With a tagline of Modern. Funky. Unique. you know that Metro Baby Cards is going to offer you something different. These cards have unique photo layouts and vivid color options. Plus any of the cards can be modified into birth announcement/holiday card combinations – perfect for parents like me who’ve recently had a baby and don’t want to send out two cards.

GIVEAWAY – Win a $50 gift certificate to get cards, invitations, thank you notes and address labels.

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SHUTTERYFLY: Okay, I know Shutterfly isn’t really an unknown entity in the photo card world, but I just had to give their Story Cards a mention. We haven’t branched out into the world of holiday letters to accompany a picture, but sometimes there are a few highlights that would be nice to pass on. Shutterfly’s Story Cards are the perfect solution with room on the photo card to add in brief updates from your year. Brilliant!

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OH BABY PRINTS: Help your holiday card really stick out with Oh Baby Prints’ magnetic holiday cards. Although traditional cards are also available, I love the idea of your holiday card lasting on the fridge long beyond the holidays. Plus Oh Baby Prints has a great selection of multi-photo cards when there are too many cute pictures to choose from.

GIVEAWAY – Kelly at Oh Baby Prints is helping you celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas by giving 12 lucky MWS readers 12 cards each!

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MOO HOLIDAY CARDS: Strange name, great cards. MOO’s holiday cards are perfect for people who never want to settle on just one holiday photo and those who like to always include a handwritten note. Upload up to 25 different photos to adorn the front side of your holiday cards – mix and match 3 or 4 different holiday covers or make each card unique with its own photo. Plus MOO’s folded holiday cards give you the space to write your own personalized note or greeting to each recipient. Another great idea? Make thank you notes with pictures of your kids holding each gift – a personalized way to say “thanks!” to the giver – and easy to do with MOO’s format.

GIVEAWAY – Win a set of 25 cards designed by you, printed by MOO.

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PICABOO: You may know Picaboo from their free desktop program that helps you turn your photos into photo books, but they also have a stunning collection of flat and folded holiday photo cards. The program is free to download and extremely easy to use. Upload pictures, change text size, font, position and content and order! Plus while you’re at it, the grandparents would love one of their easy-to-make photo books or calendars.

GIVEAWAY – Win a $50 gift certificate from Picaboo good on holiday cards, calendars or photo books.

COUPON – Receive 30% off Classic Books and Calendars (CODE: HOLIDAY30), and 15% off all Cards (CODE: GREETING15)

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HI THERE PRESS: Send holiday cheer and do the Earth a favor with Hi There Press’s holiday cards printed on 100% recycled post-consumer waste. With a wide selection of holiday, Christmas and Hanukkah cards, you’ll be sure to find a design to suit your tastes. Plus Hi There has a great selection of photo gifts like magnets, water bottles, puzzles, coasters, wall prints and more.

COUPON – Get 20% off on your Hi There Press order using the code “HI203JE9″. Good until December 31st.

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IN A BABY CARRIAGE: Momprenuer Amber Gatej breaks out of the box with her holiday cards – literally! What makes Amber’s cards unique? These double-sided cards are die-cut in a variety of shapes and borders. I love the festive shape of the Ornate cut cards and the Scalloped Circle cards are perfect to use as ornaments. With holiday cards from In A Baby Carriage, you definitely won’t be just one more card in the pile.

GIVEAWAY – Win 25 die-cut ornament cards from In a Baby Carriage!

COUPON – Take 10% off any orders with the code “MOMMIESWITHSTYLE”.

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CAFEPRESS: CafePress lets you personalize just about anything. From baby blankets and boxer shorts to clocks, calendars and iPhone cases, CafePress lets you design a wide range of products perfect for your holiday gift giving. Their extensive collection of over 150 different holiday card designs will satisfy those looking for traditional, modern or funky cards. Plus CafePress just launched a special collection of holiday photo cards that help your choice of five different non-profit groups: Breastcancer.org, Operation Gratitude, Rock The Vote, PETA and Greenpeace. Select the card designed for your charity, customize it with your photos and text, and send out your holiday greetings knowing that with the proceeds of your card purchase going to charity, your cards are doing good far beyond the fridge or mantle they land on.

GIVEAWAY – Win a $50 gift certificate to use on cards and more at CafePress.

COUPON – 20% off and free shipping on orders of Flat Holiday Photo Cards through December 25 with code “CARD20″

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CONTEST RULES: One entry enters you into all the giveaways. Enter by leaving a comment below to “What is your favorite holiday tradition?” Earn additional entries by liking Mommies With Style on Facebook or any of the retailers featured here (leave a SEPARATE comment below telling us you did for each “like”). All entries must be received by WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8th, 11:59pm. Winners will be chosen at random and notified by email. You can’t win more than one giveaway. Please check directly with the retailer about any shipping costs and ordering times.

Note: Some of these companies sent samples of their cards for review or allowed me to create my own card to sample the process.

I need a planner that I can spread out each week – one where I can jot down random notes with return phone numbers, errands I need to do, lists of things I need to pick up.  I have so many random, haphazard and unrelated things I’m constantly having to do, having the weekly spread that the MomAgenda offers is the only way I can stay organized and sane. 

Right now, there’s a 25% discount on momAgenda Desktops from 2010-2011, plus you can get 15% off with coupon code GIFTMOM. 

The momAgenda Desktop — Pretty on the outside. Practical on the inside.

You: running errands here, there, and everywhere. Trying to balance your child’s practices and school schedules with your Yoga classes and work meetings. Bring in the momAgenda Desktop Planner.

Open its gorgeous cover and you’ll find the most mom-friendly format out there – a unique week-at-view calendar with space for your schedule and your family’s. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes from everything in one place.  The momAgenda Desktop Planner is a must-have.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored Post. MomAgenda is a sponsor for our Gift Guide Girls Holiday Guide.

It definitely helped that we were treated to a photo session in Mid-October at the Plaza, courtesy of the Hot Moms Club and Shutterfly. Photographer Michael Weschler took our photos and was very patient with my mischevious 5 year old and 2 1/2 year old. Picking a great Hanukkah card on Shutterfly.com was a no-brainer.  All I had to do was pick a photo that I liked, choose a card template and the text. The cards were gorgeous, delivered quickly to us and I love hearing the ooh and ahhs they generated. And for a mom with a newborn at home, it was done so painlessly. Shutterfly will even mail it for you, for an additional fee per card.

Click here to see a selection of custom holiday cards.

If you haven’t had time to do your cards yet,  it’s not too late — just check out Shutterfly’s Holiday Shipping Guidelines to find your deadline.

There’s a special sale going on until December 1st — check their Special Offers page. The site is offering 50% on some products, 30% off on cards and free shipping with code: SHIP25.

Thank you to Shutterfly and the Hot Moms Club for providing a photo shoot and holiday cards to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Butterfly Bliss 1st Birthday Invitation from Tiny Prints

If there’s one company I know I can count on for quality, its Tiny Prints. So when it comes time to order for announcements, greetings or birthdays, I instantly go there.

This time, it was Little’s first birthday. (I know. I couldn’t believe it either!) I had no idea what theme to do, or even where to start. But I knew I wanted classy. And I knew I wanted her picture in the card because, well, she’s so cute. (Biased, its true.)

As always, Tiny Prints was the absolute right place to look. Of course I fell in love with about 6 different invites, but found this Butterfly Bliss invite to be just calling her name.

I love how easy their interface is, too. You can add pictures, change wording, even fonts and colors. And after you place your order, rest assured that their customer service and follow-up is stellar. Tiny Prints really gets it all right.

This time, I was able to add matching thank you notes and return address labels. The thank you notes are perfect for my needs. Between you and me, I don’t like using big notes because they require so much writing to fill (and we all know who will be doing the writing.) So I love that the fold over thank you notes in the Butterfly Bliss collection are smaller. And the return address label added that perfect touch to make the envelopes something special.

Thanks to Tiny Prints for providing the products for this review.