The bauble shapes and colors caught my attention. This card featured a hand drawn illustration by artist Brandi Powell that is hand printed on an antique press. Also check the Season greetings set by Sweet Harvey Letterpress on etsy.

+ Merry Christmas letterpress greeting cards $24 USD for pack of 6

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I selected these cute Holiday cards because they carry a good message while serving a cause. First from designer Bonnie Marcus, I like:

+ The Imagine Peace card (Have a peaceful holiday) was designed in collaboration with Nell Merlino, author & founder of “Take Our Daughters to Work Day”. A portion of the proceeds from this card will benefit Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women owned businesses. $37.50 USD for 25 cards and envelops

+ The World Peace card is a design done with Cindy Crawford, model and activist. A portion of the proceeds from this card will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, whose mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. $37.50 USD for 25 cards and envelops

Moderne Motive

Then, I selected a series of holiday cards printed 100% post-consumer cover stock with 100% post-consumer Brown Bag Kraft envelopes. I cannot decide which drawings of Moderne Motive I like the best between:

+ Set of 8 Holiday Trees $12.50 USD on etsy
+ Set of 12 Joy and Peace Reindeer $18 USD

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+ Sale Letterpress & Offset Cards at Egg Press. The I Love You Mother is just in time for Mother’s Day.

+ For one week only, you can get a box of 10 letterpress cards for $10 at Night Owl Paper Goods. This offer is valid on a large array of cards.

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I adore the unique design of Cartolina Cards. Each time, I gave one of of her cards, I get a positive reaction.

Have a look at some of her latest card releases. You now put some of her best selling designs on notebooks.

One Stop to Send Handwritten Message Cards

You can buy them online on GreetQ. This online store provides a practical delivery service. You can provide the inside message that can be typewritten or handwritten and they will ship your card anywhere in Canada and the United States.

An handwritten message card sent to the United States will cost you $8.41. Add 50 cents for delivery in Canada. You save $1 if you opt for a printed inside message instead of an handwritten one.

Other card makers are available on GreetQ. The catalogue is diverse. Take Offensive + Delightful; it is a totally different style. Their humour is not for everyone. I will talk about their line another time.

SOURCING:
+ Cartolina Recycled Notebooks $4 USD each
+ Cartolina Greeting Cards $5 USD each
+ Offensive + Delightful Cards $4.25 USD

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On a personal note, May 2008 marked a turning point. It will always have a special meaning since my ACL reconstruction surgery happened on May 1st. I expect my leg to be fully recovered in a couple of months. Let me tell me that I am thrilled to see the end of tunnel of a ski jump that turned into an accident.

+ This new beginning half explains why I selected First Birthday Party Ideas for a Girl as one of my favorite posts of May 2008. The second reason is many of you enjoyed this fun floral party theme.

+ As a blogger, I got more opportunities to discover amazing new products. I am still impressed by the unique Old meets New style of Cartolina Cards. These eco-friendly cards stand them apart from the crowd. Fiona Richards infuses a modern distinctive look to patterns from ancient cultures, especially India. Fiona’s blog, Café Cartolina is one my top 3 new blogs of 2008. This is a place to find lots of amazing eye candies.

+ Beside inspiring you, I try to give you shopping advices. I think the Web community appreciated since How to Select a Cookware Set was popular in 2008.

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I enjoy the tradition of sharing fun moments with your friends and family. Photo cards are great for families and couples to share with their love ones. You can handout the photo cards at holiday parties or tie a photo card to your hostess gifts. I like the idea of a Thank You card that you can distribute all winter long.

Get a Discount Until January 15th, 2009

It is not too late to order your sets. To make it easier on our wallet, Polka Dot Design is offering AHWKV’s readers 20% off on orders of $50 dollars or more. That special deal applies to their entire collection and is valid until January 15th, 2009. Simply use the code athome08 when you place your order.

The processing time takes no more than 2 business days to print at Polka Dot Design. I want to point out that the back of every card also exhibits a nice pattern. If you prefer illustrated cards, their catalogue is filled with modern design note cards. And you can get matching rectangular or square stickers.

+ To enjoy 20% on the entire Polka Dot Design card collection, click here.

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+ Encourage artists and small card makers this Holiday season by buying your Christmas cards on etsy. The owls of Magnolia Moonlight are simply adorable and express warm feelings. They are the design of Christina Flowers. Via Poppytalk

+ Finish the weekend in style by serving a memorable Brunch. Serve a homemade Brioche with Burnt Milk Ice Cream. Take clues from the way Aran wraps the brick brioche. Via Cannelle et Vanille (by the way, cinnamon and vanilla are two of my favorite spices)

+ Then, my friend Quynh published last September the most appetizing yogurt parfait I have seen lately. She composed a healthy combination of fruits, nuts, honey and cinnamon. Cinnamon again. Via QlinArt

+ Looking at this fireplace picture brings warmth to my heart. How can anyone resist that view? Fur and wood are at the center of a Nordic country Christmas home decor. Image galleries by Bo Bedre. Via PurpleArea

+ To help you track if your busy agenda until Christmas, get the Black + Blum Time Square. For $78, you get a clock, a chalkboard and a magnet board all in one. Via Holycool

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My friend Lisa Kothari of Peppers and Pollywogs sent me this gorgeous ecard from American Greetings. She sent me the very popular Halloween Magic. It is fun to discover the several scenes.

A Haunting Wish adds a funny touch at the end. I am not alone. Almost 600 people rate it 4.5 on average. I like the music and the atmosphere.

Have fun tonight collecting or distributing tricks or treats.

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I told you that I was busy all day last Thursday for an important appointment. In fact, I had an ACL Reconstruction Surgery. I am happy to report that my surgery went well. My recovery is doing fine.

A Little History

In February 2007, I jumped a cliff while skiing. Unfortunately the back of one of my skis got stuck on 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) of heavy snow. I tore my anterior cruciate ligament. I often felt that my knee was “giving out” in my daily activities. Because I enjoy mogul skiing, it is important to me to have strong legs.

The surgery grafts a piece of my tendon on my torn ACL. My full recovery depends of doing lots of post-surgery exercises to stimulate the growth of tissues. More than 90% patients return to full sport activities after 6 to 12 months.

I will continue to write daily on At Home with Kim Vallee. I am telling you all that because I may sometimes deviate from my blogging schedule for my physiotherapy. So be patient with me.

Greeting Cards on Etsy

I am taking this opportunity to feature adorable Get Well Soon handmade products from etsy. I could not resist the cute Nurse Penguin designed by teenybeak. People staying at the hospital for a while typically enjoy having a teddy bear to comfort them.

I bought a Get Well Soon card a few weeks ago for a friend and I did not like what I saw at the stores. So, I regret not stocking some at home. You never know when you will need it. I am presenting you two artists who used the Red Cross symbol for their cute and modern Get Well Soon cards.

Bytheairport created a Get Well Soon Nurse Post Card Set. Screen printed with Gocco on archival card stock, the front includes a collage of a red paper cross against the black ink.

ArtMind did a fabulous job with her Get well soon package. This Belgian artist tucked away a small hand sewn ‘red cross’ made out of felt. A charming idea!

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: nurse penguin by teenybeak – price: $20 USD
Buy online: Get Well Soon Gocco Post Card by bytheairport – price: $6.50 USD for a pack of 3
Buy online: Get well soon greeting card by ArtMind  – price: $6.50 USD

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The owner and designer of Cartolina Cards, Fiona Richards sent me a wonderful set of card samples. These greeting cards invite us to a multicultural trip through the centuries that wraps up in a fresh, modern twist.

Ancient Meets Contemporary

You catch influences of ancient cultures, especially India in the work of this independent design studio from British Colombia, Canada.

Fiona Richards grew up in Scotland. Her grandparents were dealers in old world Indian textiles. She often visited her uncle who was an illustrator. So it is not surprising that Fiona Richards successfully interacts with vintage patterns and infuses them with a modern distinctive look.

A pattern is printed on the front and the back of the cards. Therefore, these cards feel luxurious. Whether you are looking for a Have a Beautiful Birthday card, to transmit a Bravo, to forward your Best Wishes, to send Many Thanks, to celebrate Love in Wedding Wishes, check out their one of a kind catalogue at selected retailers across Canada, United States and Australia.

Eco-friendly Cards

Better yet, these gorgeous and uniquely original cards are eco-friendly. They are printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified recycled papers, printed with vegetable / soy based inks. Their printer was named Most Environmentally Friendly Printer in Canada at the 2006 and 2007 Environmental Printing Awards.

The retailer catalogue of Cartolina Cards that I received shows 58 models of greeting cards, 18 note cards and 37 mini cards. Note cards are sold in single or box of 8. Mini cards are sold individually or as a six pack.

>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: Cartolina Cards – retailers list on their Web site
Buy online: Cartolina Greeting Cards at Tansu, a few models only – price: $5 USD

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A sense of innocence characterizes this week board. Even if I qualified the color palette as juvenile, these objects are really cute. They have a certain “je ne sais quoi”.

1 | Apartment Therapy : The Nursery

The mix and match melamine Taylor Sectional Trays from Pottery Barn Kids reminds me of the 70s TV dinners that we saw on TV. My mother never served us these fake meals. But the idea of compartment trays is fun. They would be a hit at a kid birthday.

Janie from Apartment Therapy : The Nursery confessed that there are appreciate by adults as well. Right now, they are on sale at half-price if we forgot the 99 cents difference.

2 | Oh Joy!

Of all the sweet vessels from Yoyo Ceramics that Oh Joy! presented, a consensus formed around the Apple & Pear set.

But these Apples and Pears are not just cute. They come handy in the kitchen or as individual serving pieces on the table.

3 | Design Boner

If you are keen on scientific stuff, you will fall in love with the Periodic Table of Sentiments Card Collection by Pink Loves Brown (what a lovely brand name!). Cardboard of Design Boner uncovered this find.

The Periodic Table of Sentiments come as an emergency set for 6 typical occasions or each card is sold separately.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Taylor Sectional Trays at Pottery Barn Kids – on sale: $16.99 USD for a set of 4
Buy online: Apples & Pears at Yoyo Ceramics – price: £25 for a set of 2
Buy online: Periodic Table of Sentiments Cards by Pink Loves Brown – price: $13.50 USD for a set of 6

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Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. When we visited Toronto last week, I found this stylishly hip greeting card collection in a shop on Queen Street.

The minute I saw the romantic couple on the rug I knew I have to give it to his birthday. Just to prove how much I like it, I already bought him a cool couple greeting card the week before. Chut! (This is an exclamation in French that in this case refer to the fact that I said too much and I should keep it a secret).

Going back to the work of Nila Aye, her blank card collection for Beaumonde addresses over a dozen of occasions. The look spins around a fashionable and fun party mood. These cards are designed with the urban crowd in mind.

Nila Aye created nice illustrations that celebrate a Happy birthday, a new born, a new home, an engagement or a wedding. The Get Well Soon, Good Luck and Congratulations models are amazing.

About the card illustrator

Nila Aye was born in Burma in 1972. She moved with her family to England in 1975. Each one of her stylishly chic cards feature a silver foil detail that add something out of the ordinary. The cards are printed on high quality board and they come with a premium color envelop.

An ode to the blank cards

Whenever you want to send a card to someone, try to opt for blank cards. People appreciate blank cards more because you must make an effort to write your message. In this email and Web epoch, this is something that people value very much. With Nila’s cards you get a cool look and the personal touch.

Sourcing:
Illustrator: Web site of Nila Aye
Learn more: Nila Aye’s greeting card collection for Beaumonde
For retailers: International distributors of Beaumonde

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