If you ask my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up, she’ll say an artist. While all her friends want High School Musical or Disney Princess gifts, all she wants are some crayons and coloring books. So she was thrilled to receive her interactive cards & soy crayons from Stubby Pencil Studio.

The eco-friendly cards had the cutest pictures on them and included bright & colorful envelopes that were perfect for mailing to loved ones. There’s also a place on the back where kids can write their own messages. A great item for sending to friends or relatives!

The soy crayons were amazing, especially since they’re made from soybeans. The colors were bright and went on smoothly. They didn’t smear or rub off. As an added bonus we also received a Gourmet Chocolate Scented Pencil made from 100% recycled newspapers. I could have sworn I was sniffing a Hershey bar, because it smelled that good!

The best part of all these items are that they’re made from recycled products and are friendly to our environment. It’s a great way to teach children about going green. We loved them!

by Kailani

What fun for kids! The owner of Stubby Pencil Studio sent my kids 2 sets of cards along with a Smencil and some soybean crayons. Now if you are as clueless as I was, a Smencil is a scented pencil. In our case it was an orange scented pencil. The pencil, along with the cards sold by Stubby Pencil Studio, are made of 100% recycled material.

These greetings made saying thank you fun. They come in packs of six, with a bright assortment of colored envelopes. The cards are stenciled with designs and ready to be colored by the sender. On the back of the cards is a space for your child to fill in with the “colored by” and “age” information of the young artist. The soybean crayons did not leave a waxy look like ordinary crayons do and seemed to be sturdier than other crayons.

There are several assortments of cards sold by Stubby Pencil, including birthday, thank you and holiday card sets. At $7.95 per set of six cards, they are just slightly more expensive than regular cards at your local major retailer. The only negative thing anyone in my house had to say about the products we received was that the envelope glue tasted yucky. When I suggested they could use regular cards from somewhere else, there was a resounding no. My kids love these cards and it makes corresponding enjoyable instead of a chore.

by Perri

I’ve always enjoyed sending cards and notes to family and friends. When our son came along I visioned him drawing pictures and making cute notes in the cards we sent out. Problem is that he found the store-bought cards too boring and didn’t have enough attention span to sit and make an entire card by hand. Then, Stubby Pencil Studio sent us several packages of cute cards with rockets on them and my son was thrilled. They outline the picture in black and let the artist color it in as they wish.

These cards have been perfect to send to family we don’t see very often. They enjoy receiving a special note in the mail from us, but it’s something they can hang up on the refrigerator as well. Besides from the cards, Stubby Pencil also included a set of soy crayons that didn’t smear or flake off like regular crayons sometimes do. Add a smelly pencil to that mix and my son was in heaven! All this and their products are eco-friendly and made from recycled goods too. These items would make the perfect birthday present. I’m thinking of ordering a few sets to put in a little gift basket.

by Emily

Stubby Pencil note cards are a creative way for your kids to greet friends and relatives with whimsical creativity. My kids loved coloring their stationery and sending them with the postal carrier. Of course Nana & Papa were on the receiving end 500 miles away and called to rave about what they found in their mailbox. The kids were proud of their “work” and remembered mailing them earlier in the week.

The finished Color ’n Kids Cards are keepsakes for sentimental folks with the artist signature and information on the back. I would guess that the cards are posted on the fridge will have a place in the gallery far longer than a traditional thank you note or birthday card. These sets are an ideal gift for the hard to buy for child and parent.

by Helene

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You can enter to win by visiting Stubby Pencil and telling us which style of Color ‘n Kids Cards you would choose. Leave a comment HERE by Thursday, May 8, 2008.

You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have it posted on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

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The eco-friendly cards had the cutest pictures on them and included bright & colorful envelopes that were perfect for mailing to loved ones. There’s also a place on the back where kids can write their own messages. A great item for sending to friends or relatives!

The soy crayons were amazing, especially since they’re made from soybeans. The colors were bright and went on smoothly. They didn’t smear or rub off. As an added bonus we also received a Gourmet Chocolate Scented Pencil made from 100% recycled newspapers. I could have sworn I was sniffing a Hershey bar, because it smelled that good!

The best part of all these items are that they’re made from recycled products and are friendly to our environment. It’s a great way to teach children about going green. We loved them!

by Kailani

What fun for kids! The owner of Stubby Pencil Studio sent my kids 2 sets of cards along with a Smencil and some soybean crayons. Now if you are as clueless as I was, a Smencil is a scented pencil. In our case it was an orange scented pencil. The pencil, along with the cards sold by Stubby Pencil Studio, are made of 100% recycled material.

These greetings made saying thank you fun. They come in packs of six, with a bright assortment of colored envelopes. The cards are stenciled with designs and ready to be colored by the sender. On the back of the cards is a space for your child to fill in with the “colored by” and “age” information of the young artist. The soybean crayons did not leave a waxy look like ordinary crayons do and seemed to be sturdier than other crayons.

There are several assortments of cards sold by Stubby Pencil, including birthday, thank you and holiday card sets. At $7.95 per set of six cards, they are just slightly more expensive than regular cards at your local major retailer. The only negative thing anyone in my house had to say about the products we received was that the envelope glue tasted yucky. When I suggested they could use regular cards from somewhere else, there was a resounding no. My kids love these cards and it makes corresponding enjoyable instead of a chore.

by Perri

I’ve always enjoyed sending cards and notes to family and friends. When our son came along I visioned him drawing pictures and making cute notes in the cards we sent out. Problem is that he found the store-bought cards too boring and didn’t have enough attention span to sit and make an entire card by hand. Then, Stubby Pencil Studio sent us several packages of cute cards with rockets on them and my son was thrilled. They outline the picture in black and let the artist color it in as they wish.

These cards have been perfect to send to family we don’t see very often. They enjoy receiving a special note in the mail from us, but it’s something they can hang up on the refrigerator as well. Besides from the cards, Stubby Pencil also included a set of soy crayons that didn’t smear or flake off like regular crayons sometimes do. Add a smelly pencil to that mix and my son was in heaven! All this and their products are eco-friendly and made from recycled goods too. These items would make the perfect birthday present. I’m thinking of ordering a few sets to put in a little gift basket.

by Emily

Stubby Pencil note cards are a creative way for your kids to greet friends and relatives with whimsical creativity. My kids loved coloring their stationery and sending them with the postal carrier. Of course Nana & Papa were on the receiving end 500 miles away and called to rave about what they found in their mailbox. The kids were proud of their “work” and remembered mailing them earlier in the week.

The finished Color ’n Kids Cards are keepsakes for sentimental folks with the artist signature and information on the back. I would guess that the cards are posted on the fridge will have a place in the gallery far longer than a traditional thank you note or birthday card. These sets are an ideal gift for the hard to buy for child and parent.

by Helene

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You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have us on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

UPDATE: We’re experimenting with separating the contests/giveaways from the actual review and it looks like this may have caused a bit a confusion. Just to clarify, if you wish to enter the contest, leave a comment here (on this post). Our apologies for any confusion.

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They are so cute, yet not too cute. I chose the “Pink Lines” Momager Calling Cards and had them add my name, phone number and blog address to the cards. As I am not currently in the need of professional business cards, these will do wonderfully. I will say though, when I do need professional cards, I will be looking to Paperlicious first!

They offer great designs that are simple and clean. While they may be currently known for their hip invites and notes (which are made with 50% recycled fiber paper), they will soon be filling mostly orders for these cards.

I never really thought about handing out calling cards before, but now that I have them I cannot for the life of me figure out why I didn’t think of them before? Really, how many times have you needed, as a mom, to hand out your name and phone number? I seem to have to do this all the time, especially when dropping my children off at a new friend’s house. The Momager Calling Cards are ideal for this very purpose. Now I won’t have the need to consistently look for that ever elusive piece of paper and pen, and my friends or acquaintances won’t have to worry about losing that tiny piece of paper which seems to disappear as soon as it is needed.

Written by Laura, chauffeur to five beautiful children ages 9-18, freelance writer, amateur photographer, wife of 14 years and so not politically correct. Come visit her at Work At Home Mom to Five.

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I am always looking to impress people with my creative side, but lately it takes more energy and time than I have to spend. When I need to “wow” friends and relatives with a lovely invitation, note of thanks or congratulations, I chose a paper stock that goes green and gives back. Of the Earth features the most beautiful flower seed paper cards and sheets that can be customized with your own special greetings. These handmade recycled papers are infused with real dried flower seeds that bloom when planted.

After reading the inside message, the recipient of your note can plant the card in soil and watch it grow into fresh flowers. You can select a color scheme or variety of blooms that match the occasion. Some of the choices include: purple larkspur, plumosus fern, North American wildflower mix or marigolds. These flower seed papers are an ideal choice as gifts for mother’s day and birthdays. Plus they make a impact in the envelope and afterwards. Don’t you want to be the hip and cool friend that thought of it first?

by Helene

Mint girl scout cookies have always and will always be my favorite Girl Scout Cookie. There is something about the tasty crunch insides that has me hooked. I’ve always had a weakness for mint in candies and cookies, and it just got worse. M&M’s has launched a new limited edition mint crisp version of their chocolate candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hands.

Now some of you may be overwhelmed by the minty taste, but I was in heaven! My fear is that this will be a limited edition flavor and not a long term item that I’ll find regularly next to the plain, peanut and peanut butter candy they offer. This new flavor is being launched in connection with the new Indiana Jones movie. I don’t see the connection, but whatever it’s still yummy. If you see a bag at the store I encourage you to give them a try and if you like them you might want to grab a few bags to store away! They are a new must have food item in my pantry.

by Emily

I’m not sure how I initially found these but I can’t imagine going out to eat with my younger daughter without them. Table Toppers are disposable adhesive plastic placemats that cover your child’s feeding area and help protect them from germs. It really gives me peace of mind knowing that if her food spills off her plate, she can still eat it. And let’s face it, my daughter is a pretty messy eater.

An added bonus are the colorful designs that help keep your child occupied while you wait for the food to arrive. Once you’re done, just pull it off the table and throw away. It’s as simple as that! It’s also so compact that you can store a bunch of them in your diaper bag. We won’t leave home without it!

by Kailani

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I can’t say enough good things about Dawn and her service. I was originally going to get birth announcements, but ended up making my own before Dawn and I made contact. Instead she offered to customize my favorite announcement and turn it into a thank you! I checked with her and she’s happy to make absolutely any card a customer requests from any of her templates. See a Christmas card that you’d like to change the colors and make a birthday announcement? No problem! She’s incredibly flexible and very talented.

All I had to do was email my pictures, choose my design and she did the rest. All of the announcements, no matter how many changes you make from their templates, are less than two dollars! The baby ones that I chose, pictured here, are only $1.29 each and come with the envelopes.

The next time you need announcements, invitations or just a cute picture card to send go check out Announcements Galore. They also offer customized photo magnets that can be created from your announcements. What a cute gift to send to family and friends. Announcements Galore is sure to have exactly what you are looking for!

Written by Nicole, who blogs about whatever strikes her fancy at Much More Than a Mom. She’s a mom first, and then a whole bunch of other crazy stuff, including a teacher, fitness & yoga instructor and mother to two. She is also the founder & senior editor at The Opinionated Parent, where one of her favorite things to do is give great stuff away.

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I purchased the set of 34 handmade 3D type cards at Costco for about $15. At less than 50 cents a card it is the most affordable method of wishing someone well, congratulating them on their wedding or baby or saying thanks. The keepsake style box contains all types of individually wrapped cards organized by event, with gift enclosures and blank cards.

The amazing attention to detail of the cards and envelopes will make sure your card gets noticed. The heavy card stock features all types of embellishments like ribbons, sequins, beads, feathers, buttons, glitter and lace. These cards look like you spent a fortune. Creative minds will appreciate all the crafty handiwork involved and those of us that love the look of handmade products will be satisfied to just reach into the box and select the proper greetings without having to make them with tools and glue.

The feedback from the recipients has been overwhelming to me. I love getting follow-up communication from the loved ones who got my card in the mail. I guess I cared enough to send the very best!

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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The way it works is that you choose a card design, then enter the creative workstation where you make a caricature come alive. It was way too much fun selecting the eye color, skin tone, hair style, smile, clothing, jewelry and all the options they provide you with to customize the person until it becomes like you (or someone else)! You will instantly be able to preview your design.

You can even design a card with a man as the character or a little girl. What I really liked were the pregnant drawings. They would indeed make cute baby shower invites with a special twist. The opportunities are endless to create your own graduation announcements, recipe cards, bridal shower invitations and so much more. For the next party you host, sending a Post Print invite will definitely raise the question from guests of where you found such cute stationary.

In case you would like a custom card made specifically for you, the mother-daughter duo who created Pose Prints will gladly help meet your requests. Their goal is to make your creation come to life. They want to help you find the right pose and hand over a product that is fun, unique and memorable. Which is exactly how I would describe their stationary.

You can win you very own, personally customized set of 25 cards and envelopes (worth $50). All you need to do is visit their site and leave a comment here telling us which design is your favorite. Comments will be open until Saturday, February 2nd, then we will randomly choose a winner. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

Written by Emily, who is a married working mother of a very energetic 5 year old son. They reside in Southern Indiana (a little too close to the Kentucky border). Someday she’d like to visit Intercourse, PA and have her picture taken with the welcome sign. She writes at her personal blog, Fenicle and loves free samples and trying new things!

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