A countdown to 2012 is just a little over a day away.  Pretty soon we’ll be saying goodbye to 2011 and ringing in the New Year with family, friends and loved ones.  Whether you’re staying home on the couch this year or partying it up at a club in the nearby city, all of us at InvitationBox.com would like to wish you a very happy, healthy, safe and fun New Year!

As you begin pondering your New Years resolutions tonight, remember that it’s not too late to start the year off on the right foot by sending out a New Years photo greeting card to all of your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors.  You can even get creative and use a fun or memorable photograph from this New Years on your photo card.  Capture a moment at midnight, a posed photograph of your family dressed up before they celebrate or a picture of your champagne bottle popping before the ball drops.  Our digital photo greeting cards can be customized with up to three different photographs, in case you have more than one great photo to share.

If you’ve forgotten to send out your holiday cards this year, or just got caught up in the holidays, no need to worry.  Remember, you can send out a New Years greeting card during the entire month of January!  We offer rush processing options for last-minute orders, as well as expedited shipping options.

Choose a New Years digital photo greeting card that best matches your New Years party style or how you feel about the upcoming New Year.  Our designs feature starry city night scenes, champagne bottles popping, the classic ball dropping, symbols of peace, fun New Year wishes, floral print borders, classy ribbons and vibrant mixes of colors.  If you’re excited about the New Year ahead, our greeting cards will certainly help you show it.

Take a look at some of our fun New Years greeting cards below and say hello to 2012 this weekend!  Again, from all of us at Ibox, we would like to wish you and yours a Happy New Year!

One of my favorite things to do in school each year was create my box for valentines when I was in grade school.  Everyone would bring in an old shoe box and you’d cover it in wrapping paper or construction paper and decorate it with heart stickers, lace doilies, loving words or x’s and o’s and then cut a slit in the top for your valentine deliveries.  It was always fun creating your valentines too, with that extra special one for the crush of the week.

It used to be that valentines were generic and could be picked up at the local drug store and you’d spend hours writing your name and message all over them so that you had enough to hand out to your thirty classmates.  At InvitationBox.com we now offer personalized valentines for kids, which take half of the work out of the equation…and not just for the kids, for parents too!  Add your own personalized valentine message along with your name.  Then just hand write who the valentine is for and you’re good to go!

Noteworthy Collections has come out with a bunch of great new valentine designs for the 2012 Valentine’s Day season.  Featuring designs for boys and girls, as well as generic designs, there’s something for all kids of all ages.  Girls can choose from cheerleading valentines, love themed valentines, lady bug valentines, candy valentines western valentines or even mermaid valentines.  Boys can choose from monster valentines, construction themed valentines, choo choo train valentines, fire house themed valentines, dinosaur valentines or animal themed valentines.  We also offer digital photo valentines for those who want to send a picture of themselves to their valentine to make it that much more personal.

Each valentine includes white unlined envelopes so that you can mail your valentines to your guests or place them in a mailbox like the one above at school.  All valentines ship in just 2-3 business days which is great for last minute purchases.

Check out all of our kids personalized valentines and get a small preview of our newest designs below…

Are you ready for some football?  We’re just a week or so away from the playoffs and if the Giants beat the Cowboys this football Sunday, I will be one happy blogger!  Planning to throw down with a super bowl party this year?   The super bowl will be on Sunday, February 5, 2012 so now is the perfect time to start planning.

If you want to plan ahead, we offer a variety of generic super bowl party invitations, which are non-team specific, as we won’t know who will be in the super bowl for a few more games.  Choose from designs with watercolor footballs and stadiums by Odd Balls, football field themes from IB Designs, beer and game day food themes, vintage bar sign themes from Noteworthy Collections and football helmet themes.  We also offer assembled invitations with footballs that dance on springs and large football designs threaded with white cord to look like a real football.

Looking for a more authentic game day invitation?  We also offer the ever-famous ticket stub invitations, from Special Event Ticketing, which are absolutely perfect as an invitation for game day!  These 2 x 5.5 inch ticket invitations are available in your teams favorite color – purple, blue, baby blue, green, silver,yellow, orange, pink or red.  Coordinate them with a colored envelope for no extra cost, too.  The entire ticket is customizable with your game day party details for your guests.  The side of the ticket is even perforated if you want to do reply cards or ticket entry.  These ticket invitations ship in just 1-2 business days, which is perfect for last minute football invitations or for those who want to wait until the Super Bowl XLVI teams are announced.

If you have a feeling that the Packers may be in the super bowl this year, (sigh), we do still have super bowl invitations themed with Packers colors from last year available.  These sporty invitations get down to the true grit and competitive nature of football, and will really get your guests riled up for the big game day.

Set the scene for your upcoming super bowl party and get your invitations out early – you don’t want everyone making other plans for your annual event.  Check out some of our favorite football party invitations below and place your bets on the Super Bowl XLVI teams this year…

Have you been hit by Cupid’s arrow?  I certainly was…though quite unexpectedly.   I was walking through Target’s opening aisles, expecting to see clearance Christmas decorations only to find an array of Valentine’s Day items for sale.  Have we really transitioned out of Christmas after only two days?  It would appear so, and when you think about it, Valentine’s Day is just a month and a half away…which means if you’re planning a Valentine’s soiree, the time to plan your party is now!

Our Valentine’s Day Stationery collection is full of adult Valentine’s Day party invitations, kids Valentine’s Day party invitations and valentines to help make your day special, whether you’re in love, looking for love or just spreading the love this Valentine’s Day season.  Set the scene with one of these loving Valentine’s invitations…

Adult Valentine’s Day Party Invitations - If you’re planning an elegant Valentine’s celebration for your coupled friends, we offer a full line of formal Valentine’s Day party invitations that will help you set the mood.  Choose from deeply colored reds and patterned backgrounds with hearts, swirls and detailed paisley designs.  The sparkling little love necklaces invitation to our left features two dazzling heart necklaces which indicate the elegance of your event.  We also offer more casual Valentine’s Day party invitations for those looking for love this holiday season or hosting a Valentine’s cocktail party, with cartoon hearts, love trees, love birds and filigree hearts.  Whatever your love-style this Valentine’s Day, there’s a perfect invitation to match.

Kids Valentine’s Day Party Invitations - If there’s one holiday that all kids enjoy, it’s Valentine’s Day.  Whether you’re hosting a Valentine themed birthday party or simply a gathering for your children and their friends on this loving day, we have the perfect kids Valentine’s Day party invitations to coordinate.  Choose from designs with conversation candy hearts, cupid’s arrows, cartoon heart designs, candy themes or Valentine’s Day cookies.  Host a party and let everyone create a valentine for their secret crush or decorate their own heart cookie to take home and share.  Offer your guests some fun conversation hearts to much on or create their own chocolate candy.  Kids Valentine’s Day parties are one of the easiest to plan, and add some sparkling pink, purple or magenta decorations, and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect love party.

Kids Personalized Valentines - Ready to tell your secret crush that you’re into him?  Or perhaps you need a valentine to pass out to classmates on the 14th?  We now offer a complete line of kids personalized valentines, just like the ones you picked up in the drug store as a kid, but with your own personal message and signature printed right onto the card!  Choose your child’s favorite design from monster trucks, rockstar themes, ocean themes, sports, jungle animals, cartoon hearts or more.  We also offer digital photo kids valentines so that you can send your child’s photograph with their loving message this Valentine’s Day.

Shop our entire Valentine’s Day Stationery collection to view our Valentine’s Day party invitations, Valentine’s Day return address labels, kids valentines, Valentine’s Day photo greeting cards or Valentine’s Day stuff animals and gifts and let your loved one know their special this February 14th!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah & Happy Kwanzaa, everyone!  Hanukkah began on December 20th, Kwanzaa starts on December 26th and Christmas is on December 25th.  We all have so much to celebrate this year and whatever holiday you’re celebrating, take the time to spend your holiday with those who mean the most to you.  Truly celebrate the season and the magic of the holidays together.  I thought I would honor the holidays this year by researching a little bit about each of the holidays we’ll be celebrating as we go into the New Year.  Read up and understand why we celebrate these magical holidays…

Christmas – Observed since 1870, Christmas is most known as a Christian holiday, however has widely become a worldwide cultural and commercial event celebrated by the religious and non-religious as well.  Traditions are passed on from generation to generation as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who formed the basis of our Christian religion.  Customs include exchanging of gifts, decorating of the Christmas tree, baking, attending church services, gathing with family and friends and of course, anticipating the arrival of Santa Clause on Christmas Eve night.

Hanukkah - Hanukkah, also known as the festival of lights, is a Jewish celebration lasting eight days which commemorates the re dedication of the Holy Second Temple in Jerusalem during the 2nd century.  Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of Kislev which features the lighting of the Menorah each evening, music, reciting of the blessings and gatherings with family and friends.  Children may receive gifts each night during Hanukkah.

Kwanzaa - Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa was brought forth after the Watts riots in LA as an effort to unite African Americans together in their community.  This celebration combines those from ancient harvest celebrations of the Ashanti and Zulu.  The name Kwanzaa comes from the phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” which interprets to “first fruits”.  Kwanzaa traditions include story telling, African songs and dances, drum playing, poem reading and family gatherings.  A candle ceremony each evening proposes the opportunity to discuss the meaning and principles of Kwanzaa.

No matter where you are in the world this holiday weekend, or what holiday you’re celebrating, be sure to spread wishes of peace, love, joy and spirit to others.  If you’ve missed out on sending your holiday cards this year, there is still time to order New Years Greeting cards, which can be sent out during the entire month of January.  Or, be a little different this year and send out an international holiday greeting card so that you can embrace and celebrate each of the cultures that you and your friends celebrate this time of year.  Our global holiday cards happen to have some of my favorite designs this year which feature birds of peace, electric designs of the world spinning on it’s axis and country flags strung together to create a ribbon of good wishes.

All of us at InvitationBox.com would like to wish you a very happy, safe and fun holiday weekend!

Merry Christmas!

Planning a 2012 wedding?  For those bride and grooms who are planning way in advance, a save the date card can be an essential part of your wedding planning process.  Once you have confirmed a date, you may want to inform your to-be guests of your chosen date, so that they can make arrangements to secure the date for you and attend.  This is especially important for those with a destination wedding where guests will need to make travel arrangements or do some financial planning.

Save the date cards should be sent out approximately six to eight months before your wedding date.  Be sure that your wedding date is FIRM with your reception and ceremony location so that you don’t have to make changes after you’ve already asked guess to hold the date.  If you are having a destination wedding, it is appropriate to send your save the date cards up to a year in advance.  If your wedding is less than six months away, there really is no need for a save the date, as your invitations will be sent out within time for your guests to make arrangements.

When choosing your save the date card, you can choose something that coordinates with your wedding ensemble or it can be completely different.  As save the date cards are sent so far in advance, it is not uncommon for a bride and groom to send out a fun and modern save the date showcasing their fun side and then send a very formal wedding invitation thereafter.  One of the most popular save the date card styles this year are photo save the date cards where you can share a couple of the bride and groom-to-be while asking your guests to save the date.  Choose an engagement photograph or a photo from your relationship before you were engaged.

Our save the date cards are available in a variety of styles and colors to coordinate with your ‘couple style’ and/or wedding theme.  Choose from modern color combinations of red & black, brown and blue, yellow & grey, olive & brown or pink & orange.  Choose from floral patterns, beach scenes, funky font combinations, calendar save the dates, magnet save the dates or engagement scenes.

On your save the date card be sure to include the bride’s name, groom’s name and date to be wed.  If you know the city or location of your ceremony/reception feel free to include that too.  If you are unsure, or feel that the location may be changed, do not include the information.  Follow your names and date with a short, “Invitation to follow” and feel free to list your wedding website, if you have one.

Check out some of our most popular save the date cards below and start planning for the first day of the rest of your life!

Hear ye, Hear ye!  Calling all royal princesses, big and small!  Celebrate her royal highness this year with a princess party that she’ll remember forever.  Help her to feel like a princess for the day by inviting all of her royal friends to attend.

Start with a perfectly pink princess party invitation from our girl birthday party invitation collection.  We offer a variety of princess invitation styles to choose from, featuring princess crown invitations, invitations with castle scenes in the clouds, princess characters in royal gowns, magic wand invitations, fairy princess invitations and invitations with horse drawn carriages.  We also offer digital photo princess party invitations in case you want to share a photograph of the princess-to-be with all of her friends.  It also makes for a great keepsake for Mom & Dad.  Dress her up in her favorite princess ball gown, add a tiara and some glittery makeup and she’ll be good to go.  Pair your princess party invitation with a fun return address sticker or party favor sticker to coordinate your event…and don’t forget about fill-in princess thank you notes so that she can send a royal ‘thank you’ to all of her guests for attending her royal ball.

Set the scene for happily ever after by decorating your party location with pink and white balloons, streamers and lots of glitter.  Create her own “red carpet” and paste a life-size picture of the princess at the end.  Ask your guests to come dressed in their best princess attire so that you can do a fashion show at the party.  Or, use old Halloween or dance recital costumes and let your guests play dress-up at the party.  Set a long mirror outside a short wall and create your own glam dressing room to prepare.  Set the scene with a small tea set so that the princess and her friends can enjoy a spot of tea and a scone, (cookies work too), while they wait for the princess show.

Keep your royal friends entertained with a variety of princess themed games.  Need suggestions?  Try playing Race to the Ball where you have two of the same outfits and split the group into two teams.  The first team to dress their princess for the ball and get them to base wins.  Play Find The Glass Slipper and have each child throw one of their shoes into a pile.  The first kid to find their matching pair wins and gets whisked away by the prince!

Serve up some pink and purple cupcakes so that each princess attending can have her own little cake.  Decorate your cupcakes with edible glitter and pearls to really make them sparkle.  Serve hot chocolate instead of tea or maybe even offer a candy buffet so that each princess can take a royal snack home with them after the party.

Hosting your own princess party?  Choose from one of the royal princess party invitations below and share your party ideas with us!

Wedding bells may soon be ringing…maybe it’s you, your best friend, a sibling or a relative.  Make sure the bride and groom are prepared for their big day with our collection of personalized wedding gifts and essentials for your wedding ceremony.  One of our newer vendors in 2011 was Personalized Memories.  This completely customized vendor takes everyday essentials and turns them into personalized works of art.  Their wedding collection is especially great for those heading down the aisle.  From gift items like unity candle sets, ring boxes, sand vases, picture frames and bridal party gifts, they have everything the bride and groom will need.

Check out some of our best-selling wedding gifts and make your favorite bride & groom’s day that much more special by creating a keepsake they can have for years to come…

Premier Unity Candle Set with Heart Stand - Celebrate uniting two families into one with this elegant unity candle set.  Available in a variety of styles and colors, the candle sets include your choice of candle color, a ribbon wrapped around the base and a unique personalized graphic representing your love for one another.  Add your name, children’s names, wedding date or new last name to make your unity candle set a truly personal keepsake.  Our candle graphics range from religious cross graphics to Celtic knots, monogrammed initials, beach themes, heart patterns, love poems or love bird themes.  You can change your base from gold to silver as well, to coordinate with your wedding style or theme.   Our unity candle sets are available in a variety of bases, styles and candle numbers and are also available for second marriages if needed.  We also offer a sand pouring unity glass set in case you are blending two families and would like to demonstrate that to your guests in a sentimental part of your wedding ceremony.

Wedding Signature Frames - A perfect accessory for outside of your wedding reception, and a great keepsake for the years to come after your wedding!  This signature frame features a solid black wood frame with a cardboard matting for your guests to write you a personal message with a silver or gold pen.  Add a favorite photograph of the couple-to-be in the center, and then switch it out with a favorite wedding photo after the big day.  A plexi glass cover will keep your signatures vibrant and protected as this classy frame hangs on your wall.  Add the bride and groom’s name and wedding date below their photograph for an added personal touch!

Smart Gal “Avery” Totes - Where would a bride and groom be without their bridal party?  Let your bridesmaids and groomsmen know you appreciate their support, assistance and dedication in helping to make your day special with a gift before the big day.  These Avery Totes make great gifts for your bridesmaids – choose your thread color, ribbon color and their monogrammed initials.  Give one to each of your bridesmaids and ask them to use it on your wedding day to carry their personal items.  You’ll have a very organized set of bridesmaids and everyone will know that they are part of your special day.  After your wedding day they have a great keepsake and bag to use for their everyday life.

Browse the above items as well as other personalized gifts for baby, business, anniversary, religious events, teacher and graduation gifts!

Time to start the countdown – Christmas is now just six days away, and counting!  Our elves over at InvitationBox.com are working double-time to process and ship orders in time for Christmas delivery.  Are you still searching for last minute gifts before the big day?  Or maybe you need a unique stocking stuffer to add to their stocking for Christmas morning?!

As our newsletter so brightly put it this weekend – you stuff it – they personalize it!  Our Snap Stamp Gift Boxes are a perfect last-minute gift to put under the tree or in a stocking on Christmas.  Each gift box includes a clear plastic box with a cover showing a sample of the stamp faces we offer.  A snap stamp base with black ink sits inside along with a coupon code and directions for your recipient to personalize their very own stamp face design of their choice.

So as they open up their Snap Stamp gift box, all they have to do is go to our snap stamp redemption website and type in the secret voucher code from inside their box.  They then can browse our 900+ unique stamp face designs and personalize it with their own address, wording or a fun holiday phrase.  They can choose from everyday stamp faces, holiday stamp faces, Greek and collegiate stamp faces or pet stamp faces.

When you purchase a snap stamp gift box, at $44.99, this will include the stamp, redemption code and the cost for the stamp face to be shipped to your recipient after they personalize their chosen stamp face.  They do not need to pay for anything after receiving your gift.  Our stamp gift boxes are flying off the shelves and we’re doing out best to ship them out as quickly as our orders are coming in.  We will do our best to ship your gift box within 1 business day – however you may want to choose an upgraded shipping method to ensure Christmas delivery.  All gift boxes ship from the east coast, (in sunny North Carolina), thus western customers should especially consider upgraded shipping options.

Shop now to view our Snap Stamp gift box or choose a personalized snap stamp for yourself or an after-Christmas personalized gift!

What is it about New Years resolutions that makes them so hard to keep?  We all get so pumped up to hit the gym, take a daily walk, do more with our kids and yet by the end of January we’re sitting on the couch with a bag of potato chips while the kids are running wild in their playroom.  The key to keeping a New Years resolution is to make resolutions that you know you can keep or care about enough to keep it.  If you’re trying to break an old habit, be prepared for a lot of hard work and daily dedication.

It seems like we all have most of the same resolutions year after year – what New Years resolutions will you be striving for this year?  Below is a list of some of the most popular New Years resolutions that people will be making (or breaking) in 2012:

1 – Lose Weight – famous words, I will get up early and hit the gym, sound familiar?  get healthy this year and go out and do it!

2 – Get Organized – whether it’s with your bills, your papers, files or at your office

3 – Quit A Bad Habit – smoking, drinking, using too much technology – revamp your worst habit into a positive

4 – Help Others – be it donating to a charity, volunteering or helping your neighbors by letting them borrow a ladder, etc.

5 – Be Nicer - sometimes the stress of the world can weigh heavy on our outlook on life and attitude toward others – be a breath of fresh air to all

6 – Manage your Debt – with the state of the economy over the past recent years those bills have been piling up.  come up with an action plan to take control of your debts and assets

Now that we’ve got our priorities in order for 2012, start the year off on the right foot by sending a New Years greeting card to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.  If you own a business, this is a great networking tool as you step into the New Year to spread word and recognition of your company.  Choose a jovial New Years card featuring a play on 2012, bursting fireworks, worldly ornaments or peaceful wishes for the new year.

We also offer holiday calendar greeting cards for corporate customers which will help your clients see and remember your business name all year along.  Choose from patriotic scenes, 2012 ornaments, seasonal nature scenes, tropical or floral patterns or designs showcasing teamwork.  Each card is folded to fit in a mailing envelope, and unfolds to be hung on your recipients wall or desk.  Add your company name or logo for a personal touch.  Most cards can ship within 2-3 business days, and as always we offer rush processing and expedited shipping options.

Take charge as you step into 2012 with a brand new resolution for the new year, and a cheerful greeting sent to family, friends and associates…