You-Print Christmas Cards from AbiGraphics

First off, the irony has not escaped me that right after posting about savoring the Autumn season, I'm posting about Christmas cards! But if you're like me, when the holiday season rears its jolly head, I better have some preplanning, or no one's getting a Christmas Card!

That's where my good friend Mark Suggs comes in! Through his graphic design company, abiGRAPHICS, Mark creates beautiful Scripture-based greeting cards. In the comfort of your own home, you can purchase, download, and print quality cards for one low price. Once you buy the design, you may print as many copies as you like. Each download includes complete instructions.

The Amos/Matthew design was my Christmas Card last year, and it was extremely easy to follow the instructions! There is a spot to type a personal message, and this particular one comes with a gorgeous desktop wallpaper for your computer, as well. Before using Mark's cards, I had always just ordered photocards from Walmart or Snapfish. But I decided to go with the traditional card style, and just insert a picture of the kids! That way, the recipient can frame the photo or use it as they wish throughout the year.

Mark does really creative word art, you can see all his designs by clicking here to visit his website. Scroll down to browse designs. These designs would also be great for scrapbooking!

EVERYONE can download a free card at abiGRAPHICS’ website here. The first image on the page is a free download.

Mark is also offering TWO free card designs of your choice to one reader! Can you imagine not having to pick out Christmas Cards in the store for two years in a row?! Here is how to enter:

• Visit abiGRAPHICS and browse through the designs. Choose your favorite, and leave it in a comment on this post.
• Mark welcomes your honest feedback about the cards, website navigation, and ease of using the card, so feel free to share your opinions and ideas!
• If you are a Real Life Review subscriber, you get an extra entry. (click here to subscribe by email) Leave a separate comment.
• If you follow me on Twitter, you get another chance!
  
• Three per family, please.

The contest will be open through Monday, October 20, and the winner will be posted Monday morning!

EZ School Supplies: Giveaway!

EZ School Supplies really makes it "easy" for parents to order school supplies, AND for your school or organization to make 10% back in cash or more supplies. (Hello? PTO anyone?)

Here's how it works:

1. Your school or organization signs up for the EZ School Supplies donation program, and uploads teacher or grade level supply lists.

2. Parents log on to www.ezschoolsupplies.com, and order the supplies they need. No more waiting in line for hours at Walmart, and getting into a cat fight with another mom over the last 3-ring binder with a view window! You know that would be all over Facebook!

3. You can have the products delivered to the school for free, or to your house and pay shipping. Your child's supplies will come to the school in a box with their name on it. There is NO SORTING of products involved!

4. Your School will get 10% of the revenue back in cash donations or more supplies. You could even donate the school's donated supplies to less fortunate children in the school or community.

5. If your school doesn't sign up, you can still get great school supplies sent to your door.

EZ School Supplies was involved with the 1st Battalion in Baghdad and Mosul , as they refurbished six schools for the Iraqi children using their services and supplies. They have also worked with other organizations and foundations nationally and internationally.

So, what kind of supplies do they have online? And are they quality products? Well, they sent me an EZ Pack, full of school supplies to check out, and it was great! They have tons of name brands to choose from, the same stuff you can wait in line for at the store. Here's what I received, (and you can, too - keep reading!):

a pack of 11x17 Construction Paper
10 Classic Crayola Markers
1 flexible plastic pocket folder
3x5 index cards
a Spacemakers storage box
a flexible ruler (my daughter was begging for one of those the other day!)
name labels
highlighter/pens/and eraser
a pad of graph paper
5 dividers where you can insert your own paper
looseleaf paper
a spiral notebook
a 1.5" 3-ring-binder with an insertable window. (no cat fights on Facebook)
a pair of Fiskars kid scissors, with a cover

And the surprise treat: the bubble wrap for the kids to pop!!! Also, the box doubled as a keepsake box for your child's work they bring home this year! Woot! (keepsake box is not available with all orders)


In my opinion, this is really a win-win for parents and schools. And this is Real Life Review, so you know I'll tell you what I really think.

Here's what you can do to win an EZ Pack for yourself:

• Leave a comment on this post saying what school supply you would get into a fight over. (Don't worry, I won't put it on Facebook)
• You get an extra entry if you subscribe to Real Life Review (Click Here)
• You get another entry if you email this article to your school principal or PTO president!
  

This contest will run through Friday, July 18, and I'll post the winner on Saturday morning.

Real Life Review readers can get 10% off a purchase by entering the promo code ezmb063.

Real Life Review: Announcements Galore

Announcements and Invitations are tricky for me. Anyone whose attended my kids' birthday parties knows I love a theme, and often go overboard. But I'm also very frugal. I like to make my own invitations and announcements, but for all the time spent making great ones, I could type out 14 blog posts!

I recently received a sample from Announcements Galore, and I was impressed. It's printed on professional photo paper, and designed well.


I was intrigued with this baby shower announcement, showing the ultrasound picture, so she sent me one. I love the design, but the pink color was a little deeper than it seemed on my screen. I would probably see if it could be made more pastel, but that's just my taste.

This would be a definite possibility for one of my good friends' next shower. (You know who you are!) And yes, I believe every baby should be celebrated with a shower, even if it's just cards or diapers.

There are so many more great designs at the Announcements Galore website. I love the brown and purple birth announcement, this graduation announcement, and the "she said yes" save the date announcement. You can also order a design, and print your own.

They have graciously offered to give a $20 gift certificate to one Real Life reader. If you'd like to win, here's how:

• Visit Announcements Galore and choose your favorite design.
• Leave it in a comment on this post. As always, subscribers leave two comments, you get an extra entry!
  
• Be sure to leave a valid email address or blog url, so I can get in touch with you.

The comments will be closed on Friday, February 15 at 5:00 PM; and the winner will be announced Saturday morning.