Choose Shutterfly For Your Holiday Cards! {Giveaway}

It is really really hard to believe that we are writing about Christmas topics already. Are there truly only 7 weeks until Christmas?????? Goodness...this year has flown by and I am so excited for the holidays. Family parties, yummy food and many opportunities to make special memories. This time of the year though I am usually digging around in my photos from the year looking for pictures to use on our family Christmas card. It isn't hard to find good holiday cards when shopping online and that has been the source for my cards for the past few years. Every year, we receive such wonderful compliments on our cards...it just makes sending them out that much more fun.

Shutterfly is my all time favorite company for my Christmas cards and I have used them for the past several years. It is so easy to create cards and the ordering process is simple. One year, I didn't get enough envelopes with my order and called Shutterfly customer service. Their customer service representatives were amazing and so professional and I received my envelopes promptly. Ease of order, high quality cards and professional customer service is one of the reasons I love Shutterfly. Today, I am so excited today to share some of my favorites from their 2013 Holiday Card Collection. Some of the card designs styles that are new this year are as follows...

New card design styles for 2013 - 5x7 folded tri fold & back of card designs

• Classic: Traditional colors, iconic illustrations, aspirational sentiments, snowflakes, monogram
• Contemporary: trend forward colors, texture and layering, water color techniques, shine, glitter,        Instagram pictures are perfect for this style
• Whimsy: humor and nostalgia meet, fun sentiments
• Merry and Bright: all about color and having fun
• Religious: metallic type treatments, incorporated story ideas
• Photo Basics: multiple colors, vertical type, family name highlights

Ok, so I was asked to pick out my five favorite cards and honestly, this was difficult. There are just so many fun designs, styles and themes, it makes it very hard to find favorites. I know for a fact that I enjoy saying "Merry Christmas" as opposed to "Happy Holidays" so that narrowed my search down a bit. I also tend towards cards with a religious theme so that helped me a bit too. Here are my favorites that I wanted to share with you!

My first favorite is the Merriest Monogram Memories card. It is stylish, modern and very elegant. I also love cards that allow me to use many photos of the children plus, I am LOVING the large photo on the front. This card says "Merry Christmas" and allows you to put your family's monogram in the center, which is nice. I would probably go with this card for our cards this year...this one has to be my favorite!

The Wrapped In Burlap 6x8 Stationery Card is also a favorite of mine. If you enjoy a more "rustic" Christmas card, then this one is for you! I love the country look of this card and also, the way you can add multiple pictures. You can also add text and additional pictures on the back of the card too. 

For a more stylish and elegant card, how about this Snowflake Sophisticate 6x8 Stationery Card? I love the calligraphy font, colors and black and white photo effect. It just adds so much elegance to something so simple. This card also allows you to add text and additional photos on the back, which is helpful if you want more than just the large photo on the front. I LOVE this card. 

I consider my family to be the biggest blessing in my life so it is no wonder the cards that have the huge word "Blessings" across the top are a big hit with me. :) This card has is definitely a favorite of mine simply because it says it all. I love my family and love sharing pictures of them with others so this card, Year of Blessings would be a great choice for our yearly Christmas card. I love the colors and the fact that it shows just how blessed I am. 

Last but not least I cannot forget to pick out a favorite pet-themed Christmas card. Oh, how cute is this Purrrfect Holiday card???? I love it. If you have pets and want to share the joy of what they add to your home, Shutterfly has some special selections for you. We do not have a pet (we have a fish...but that doesn't really count.............does it? Ha ha!) so this is not a top priority for me but I know plenty of people who do have pets so I wanted to share the fact that Shutterfly caters to the pet lovers as well!

So this year as you start your Christmas Card shopping, be sure to check out Shutterfly's Holiday Card Collection. Their selection is HUGE and there is honestly not a better online card company that I can recommend. They also have some really cute photo gifts that can be used for loved ones. Also, there will be a Twitter party on November 15th at 8 PM ET using the hashtag #PhotosYouLove @ResourcefulMom RSVP signup page. This sounds like fun...hope you are able to make it!

I am so excited about ordering our cards this year and sharing photos of my children with my family. Happy shopping! Shutterfly has offered to give one of my readers a $50 off total order (plus free shipping) code! Here are your entry options into this giveaway...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I will be receiving free products as compensation for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the sponsor's website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Holiday Card Shopping Made Easy...With Minted!

Are you gearing up for sending out your Christmas cards? I have been sooo excited about my cards this year because it means I get to be creative and make my own. For the past few years I have made some gorgeous holiday photo cards and this year, we have a new family member to add to our pictures!! It seems that every two years we add a new baby and it has been fun to look back at past years and see how our family has grown. (Yes, I save a card from each year so I can look back with fond memories on the holidays that have gone by.)

I have recently discovered a wonderful company called Minted and they make some unique and GORGEOUS holiday photo cards, anytime cards and gifts! In case you have never heard of Minted, here is a bit more about them...

Minted is 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.

Minted holds monthly design challenges for stationery, invitations, calendars, and other categories and all graphic designers are invited to enter. The Minted community selects the best designs in a highly competitive process, which gives us a top selection of the freshest, finest cards in the world. Winning designers earn cash prizes, a place in the Minted collection, and commissions on all sales of their designs.

At Minted, we love the idea that our products will find their way into your most personal celebrations, and we don't take that honor lightly. That's why we only use fine paper stock, rich inks, and crisp printing methods. We guess you could say that quality is an obsession for us. We stand behind our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

I think it is really awesome that they utilize so many different designers from different countries for their products...that really makes them a special and unique company! Having never been to Minted before, I spent some time there tonight and wanted to share some of my favorite cards with you.

OK. So, this has to be the cutest card I have EVER seen. Can you just see your pooch coming at your camera like this one??? If you are a pet owner and are looking for a card that will be hung on a fridge for the rest of the year, this one is for you!! 

This card is my second favorite. This is the "Here's to New Year's" Photo Card and it allows you to customize the "list" on the front. I love this. You can let everyone know what you have in store for the upcoming year, all while showcasing some lovely pictures of your family. 

They also offer holiday cards for the newly weds or the new parents. This one is the "Us and the Baby" and I am just in LOVE with this one. If I was a first-time parent, I would pick this card. A new baby is such a precious gift and what better time than Christmas to share the news of a new arrival! 

So no matter what you are looking for, whether it is a holiday card or gift, Minted has you completely covered. Their selection is amazing and the ideas are endless! Look no further...you have found the right place for all of you holiday card needs. :)

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I will be receiving a free Minted gift code in exchange for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the Minted website and email. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Enjoy a FREE Card from Treat (Today and Tomorrow ONLY!)!

The holidays are fast approaching and it won't be long until we will be sending out our cards to friends and family. I always enjoy sending Christmas cards and have made some really gorgeous photo cards for the past few years. My children grow sooo fast and so I like to give everyone updated pictures of them. Photo cards are the perfect opportunity to do this.

Treat is an online greeting card company that is a new brand from Shutterfly. They offer many options when it comes to creating greeting cards, and they also allow you to make cards for any occasion! Whether you are looking for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or Thanksgiving card, Treat has you completely covered! Designs and layouts are endless so you could literally spend hours finding the "perfect card". :)

Today, I have a special...well...Treat for you! Treat is offering my readers a free card today (11/19) and tomorrow (11/20) when you enter the code TREATBLOGR at checkout. That's right...a FREE CARD, designed any way you want, from Treat. I think this is a great offer and would help you get a head start on your holiday greeting card list!

So, visit Treat today and see what they have to offer in way of holiday, birthday or anytime cards! You won't be disappointed and I think you will find that photo cards are really the best (and FUN!) cards to send!!

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I will be receiving free Treat greeting cards in exchange for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the Treat website and email. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

A Little Way To Thank Our Troops...

My brother was in the military for 8 years. I remember those years like it was yesterday. Because of his service overseas, he missed my wedding and that was a difficult thing for me. After he had joined the service we grew closer. We always had a good relationship, but didn't get close until he was gone. I guess it was the reality that there are some in the military who never return home and I was scared that he would be one of them. Fear can bring you closer to someone if you know you might never see them again.

Anyway, while he was gone I remember the one thing he craved was news from home. My mom often sent him military care packages with snacks, toiletries and other necessities. She always threw in some extra things for his platoon members and they always appreciated her thoughtfulness. When my brother would call home, I would take the phone into a different room of the house, snuggle up in a rocking chair and talk to him forever. I missed him so much. As my wedding grew closer and he was serving in Afghanistan, I realized that he was not coming home in time for my special day. On my wedding day, my thoughts were on my handsome groom...but also on my brave and strong brother. Oh, how I missed him.

Now that he is out of the service, he is married with two beautiful little girls. Out of habit, whenever I see a person in uniform, I try to thank them for their service. It isn't hard because I was there...I have deep respect and gratefulness in my heart for those who serve because I know the sacrifices that they make.

Thanks to Shutterfly, there is a Thank the Troops campaign running right now through Facebook that enables YOU to send a thank you card to a member of our military. This is such a fantastic idea...it really gives you a way to be a blessing to someone who is sacrificing so much. So, this Veteran's Day...take a minute and thank a veteran. Better yet, send a card to someone who is currently fighting for our freedom. It won't cost you a dime and believe me, they will be so grateful! Remember...all gave some but some gave all. Say THANK YOU!

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I will be receiving free Shutterfly gift code in exchange for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the Shutterfly website and email. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

FREE Greeting Card With FREE SHIPPING

I am a huge fan of personalized greeting cards and just adore the ones that you can add your own photos to! The CardStore is offering a free greeting card with free shipping and you can take advantage of this freebie until 9/23 at 11:59 EST and until supplies last...not sure how long that will be. I think I will create a birthday card for my baby sister...her birthday is not until October but I can get ahead of the game here! When you are at the checkout, enter this code: CCL2673 and you will be good to go! Happy creating! :)