ecards – Page 10

How to Have an Exciting Easter Every Year

OK. I’m done with winter. I am READY for it to make an exit. It’s been a pretty long and harsh few months and I can’t wait for warmer weather. Which, hopefully shouldn’t be too far away, considering Easter is around the corner. (April 4) So, have you thought about how to celebrate?

No. I don’t mean how much you’ll spend on each Easter basket, or new clothes and hats, or on travel or whether you’ll tell your kids the story of the Easter bunny. But – how will you actually celebrate this wonderful time of the year? After all, the onset of spring is one of nature’s most spectacular displays. It’s not only pleasant on the eyes and a great time to venture outdoors after months of bitter weather, but it’s also symbolic. To many, spring also represent new beginnings of a different kind.

Now, my family doesn’t really celebrate Easter. But, in my online travels I stumbled upon some really cool Easter activities, crafts and games that I just couldn’t help paying attention to.

I know that the usual Easter egg hunt is fascinating in itself, at least for little ones. But sometimes, for us adults, doing the same things over and over again every year tends to get monotonous. Planning the same menu, cooking the same meals, the same shopping trips, the same gifts, the same holidays – sometimes you need to break away a little from tradition to value tradition. What do you think?

If you feel the same way and are game for some exciting new stuff to try this Easter, why not try to make up some your own traditions? After all – most of the customs and traditions associated with Easter and other holidays, including Christmas, revolve around the idea of making it appealing and fun for kids. Santa Claus, stockings, Easter bunny, basketful of treats…it’s all about getting the kids excited and to encourage their participation in the holiday.

So, what if you were to create new traditions based on your child’s individual personality or taste?

From making your own Easter basket or Easter bunny from an old sock (http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-bunny-crafts-recipes-printables/sock-hop-841022/), to paper crafts, to coming up with Easter games that the entire family could play- did you know that there are countless ways to personalize Easter? Or for that matter any holiday.

Age-old traditions are important and have their place.
However, sometimes, making up little traditions helps to keep the enthusiasm alive.

For example,
* Instead of sticking to the same menu, this year, why not experiment with a new dish to replace one of the usual items. Find a new recipe that you and your child could try out together.
* Or, instead of going for conventional Easter baskets and bunnies, why not spend a couple of afternoons making them from things readily available around your home. (http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/easter-baskets/bunny-basket-665124/). You could use the opportunity to talk about recycling and the environment, or simply have a good time ‘making’ something with your kids. It doesn’t matter how well the crafts turn out, as long as you both had a good time and keep the spirit of tradition alive.
* You could come up with an Easter game(http://www.garvick.com/annual/easter/easter-games.htm) and make it a tradition to play the game every year after Easter lunch. Or even come up with a new game every year.
* Or take a walk around your neighborhood and identify the different kinds of plants and trees, paying attention to the ones that already show signs of life.
* You could read up on the different ways in which spring is welcomed and celebrated around the world(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/spring-holidays-around-th_n_178955.html)and maybe add a few global customs to your Easter celebrations.
With just a little thought and effort, you can turn Easter and every holiday in the year into an exciting learning opportunity for everyone and a family bonding experience. Who knows, your kids may even grow up boasting to their friends that their mom’s holiday traditions were the coolest!

Oh! And don’t forget to add sending free Easter ecards and giving each other free Printable Easter cards to your list of new holiday traditions. That’s something you can do regardless of how you celebrate Easter!!

How to create Birthday Party Invitations

Online birthday party invitations –
a free and fabulous way to invite guests to your party

“Mom, can we invite Sarah and Sally to the party?” “Can I get a new bike this year?” “Can we go to Disneyland?”

All signs that a birthday is coming up!

If you’re a busy mom (or dad) planning Junior’s birthday party, you probably wish there were things you could cross off your to-do list (and your budget) right now! Kids’ birthday parties are supposed to be fun for everyone – after all they celebrate our most precious gifts. But, between guest lists and goody bags, it’s easy for parents to get overwhelmed by all the planning that goes into a child’s birthday party.

It doesn’t have to be so.

The trick is to keep party planning simple.

All kids really want is to have a good time with their friends and maybe a favorite character or two. How you execute it all is up to you. The details that go into the cake, the hand-picked favors for each child, the elaborate balloon arrangement – are all great add-ons. They look good in the birthday pictures you’ll send grandma. But truthfully, you only have to focus on the things that are important to you and your child. You can simply leave out the rest if you don’t have the luxury of endless free time or a large budget.

Planning a party

Birthday parties can be easy to plan if you start a couple of weeks ahead.
* Make a guest list.
* Pick a venue – a park or your backyard is great for outdoor summer parties. Indoor venues include kids’ party places like Chuck E Cheese, children’s museums or your living room
* Choose a cake, snacks and refreshments. Set a reminder to pick up the cake and other items on the day of the party. If the party place has food – terrific!
* Get your child’s opinion on what character or theme he likes. Use the Yellow Pages, the internet or your friend’s recommendations to arrange for a clown or character.
*Make a shopping list and go out and get all the plates, decorations and other things you need to match the theme.

All of this can be accomplished within a few hours if you plan well.

Send out free, personalized online party invitations

When it comes to sending out invitations, you don’t need to sweat it one bit. Simply use gotfreecards’ free birthday party invitations to invite as many guests as you like at no cost!

Our birthday party invitations – both photo cards and printable invitations – are specially designed for little guys and gals. Available in various kid-friendly colors and themes ranging from flowers to balloons to animal characters, these cards are easy to customize.
* Just upload your little prince or princess’s picture.
* Add the party details in the text box.
* Print them out and mail them to your guests OR just click send to email them.

And that’s all there is to it. Now go enjoy that party!!

Favorite Birthday Ecards

Some of our Favorite Birthday Ecards

Are you ever out of ideas when it comes to buying people birthday gifts? If you’re like most people, your answer is probably yes.

There comes a point when you really don’t know what to get people on their birthdays. After you’ve given someone books, gift baskets, CDs, picture frames, a watch or jewelry, maybe even a digital reader or smart phone, invariably, there’s bound to come a day when you go, “What do I get Nina this year? ”

It’s not that I’m against gifts or anything. I like buying gifts for people I love and like most people, enjoy getting thoughtful gifts on my birthday. But, there are times when I know I don’t have to get gifts to make someone’s day or to wish someone a Happy Birthday. Instead of cluttering someone’s home or desk with yet another picture frame, flower vase or a book they have probably read already, I opt to send free birthday ecards.

Sometimes I send free ecards even after I’ve bought gifts. They just add a fun, personal touch to the whole occasion. Either way, take a look at some of my recent favorites when it comes to Birthday ecards. Maybe you’d like to send one of these to your loved ones this year?

Someone Special Birthday Ecard: – A simple, elegant, tastefully designed ecard with no bangs and whistles. Just lovely flowers, soothing music and pleasant colors coming together to wish someone special a Happy Birthday!
Surprise Fairy: – Kids will love this, especially little girls and young ladies. After all who doesn’t wish for a fairytale birthday? With this charming birthday wish, it just might happen!
10Years Old Birthday Ecard I love sending birthday ecards to my little nieces and nephews and my friends’ kids. Kids are so thrilled when they receive email, especially if it’s someone wishing them on their birthday. If you have a young friend who’s turning 10 this year, you’ve got to send the little monkey this free Birthday ecard. Trust me, you’ll hear whoops of delight!
Sunshine and blue skies : Sometimes the best birthday gift you can give someone is…what they already have. But maybe, they just need a reminder to enjoy it. This birthday ecard is a special favorite of mine because it helps me notice how fortunate I am to be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. And no gift comes anywhere close. Go ahead wish someone a splendid day with this sunny ecard!
Budget Birthday : OK. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of free ecards inspired by the economic downturn. Humor is one thing that keeps us going during adversity. So, why not lighten up someone’s day with a joke about the economy ? This one’s a great pick…especially if your friend works in finance!

Check these free Birthday ecards out and do share your favorites!

Upcoming Spring Holidays Easter and Holi

Wow! Can you believe that March is almost upon us?! As hard as it is to accept that we’re already approaching the third month in 2010, I won’t deny that this is the time of the year I look forward to the most. Who doesn’t? What’s not to love about spring(allergies aside!)? Flowers in full bloom. Nature at her glorious best. Milder temperatures. Longer days. The anticipation of summer. Everything about spring reflects celebrating a fresh start. It’s not surprising that spring time puts people in a better mood, as many studies suggest! I could have told you that myself! Just seeing more sunlight, spending time outdoors, getting more fresh air, seeing lush greenery works wonders for your state of mind, mood and overall health.

And to top it all, you have the year’s first holidays coming up to lift your spirits further. No matter where you are and what your faith, the arrival of spring is marked by festivities of one form or another.

Take Easter. This colorful holiday celebrated in memory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, has its origins in the festival of fertility – Eastre. It has evolved into one of the most widely celebrated Christian holidays and is marked by children dressed in their best clothes going on Easter egg hunts and coming away with baskets full of goodies, families coming together to pray, spend time together and welcome new beginnings.

On the other end of the spectrum lies the Hindu festival of Holi that is not very different in spirit. This Indian spring festival is marked by a reenactment of Ras Leela – the divine dance and song celebrations of Lord Krishna and his beloved Gopikas in the gardens of Brindavan. In India, Holi is an occasion for children and adults alike to engage in fun and pranks such as splashing colored water or spraying paint over each other. There are a number of legends associated with Holi, but, in all of them, the underlying theme – the onset of spring in all its glory – is unmistakable.

No matter which part of the world you live in and what your beliefs, we hope that you will take some time to celebrate new beginnings and to rejoice in the blessings you are surrounded by this spring.

And to help you get into the spirit of Spring festivities, we have created dozens of free Holi Ecards and free Easter Ecards for you to share with your friends and family.

Don’t forget, Easter falls on April 4th and March 1st is Holi!

What do July 4^th and August 15^th have in common?
http://blog.gotfreecards.com/free-ecards/what-does-july-4th-and-august-15th-have-in-common/

Culture brings the world closer
http://blog.gotfreecards.com/ecards/culture-brings-the-world-closer/

Valentine Ecards

Happy Valentine’s Day! I am sure you have everything under control. But if you don’t and you need some last minute ideas. Here is how GotFreeCards.com can help

1. Free Valentine Ecards – Email your loved ones an instant animated valentine ecard

2. Free Printable Valentine Cards – Print one at home so you can take it to the party you are going to

3. Photo Ecards – Add your photo and send ecards

And since 14th is also the Chinese New Year click the link below for Chinese New Year Ecards

1. Chinese New Year Ecards

Free Valentine’s Crafts and Paper Projects for Kids

Not everything about Valentine’s day has to cost you a fortune. In fact, some of the most enjoyable aspects don’t.

This year, you don’t even have to run to the store to buy craft supplies and paper. You don’t have to stand in store aisles picking out a big box of Valentine’s Day cards for your child’s classmates. Just head to our printable cards or photo cards section. You’ll probably be amazed at the variety and number of colorful free printable Valentine cards we offer. But, wait! That’s not the best part.

Did you know that you could turn this into an easy and fun Valentine’s Day project for your kids to do?

What better way to spend a wet or freezing afternoon or an unexpected school closing than by helping your kids make their own, free Valentine’s Day cards at home?

Older kids can browse and select their cards themselves, They could even upload a picture you approve of to a photo card, print it out and add their own personal touch or note. With younger kids, you can encourage them to select a card or picture they like, or select one and print it out for them and get them to color in or doodle on the blank side to personalize it.
By encouraging your kids to make Valentine’s Day cards –

* You save what you would have otherwise spent on expensive store bought greeting cards

* Kids have the opportunity to express their creativity and talents, thus spending a few minutes away from TV, internet or video games

* Friends, teachers and relatives who receive the cards appreciate them more as your child took the time to personalize each card

* You teach your kids the value of money, time and effort

* You get to spend time with your children and engage in a family Valentine’s Day bonding activity! Just what it’s all about.

And it all takes just a few minutes. Browse, select, personalize and print!

Tip: You don’t have to settle for making just greeting cards with these printable cards. Use them as wall posters, invitations to Valentine’s Day parties or even as wrapping papers for Valentine’s Day gifts. If you come up with cool, new ideas for Valentine’s Day projects, tell us about them!

My Favorite Valentine Ecards

Valentine’s Day – What’s your take?

When it comes to Valentine’s Day – I come across two stark contrasts in people’s attitude towards the occasion. Either you go completely overboard with every possible budget-blower on the list from flowers and chocolates to an expensive dinner to diamonds and a moonlight cruise….or you pretend nothing’s going on around you and shirk all the eye-popping pink off as a silly indulgence for starry-eyed fools.

I myself fall somewhere in between – leaning more towards the latter than the former. I mean, sure, I enjoy my diamonds and flowers – who doesn’t? But, I’d much rather we do something unconventional, meaningful and something that adds value to my relationship. Like take a trip somewhere or enroll in a fun couple’s class or watch a show together.

But, I think, one thing we can all agree on and pretty much anyone can afford to indulge in is – sending free ecards to the ones we love. Regardless of your views on Cupid and this holiday, sending free ecards is something that’s easy and fun to do, which brings a smile to everyone and requires no investment in terms of time or money. It’s just a simple, sincere, fun way of expressing yourself. Whether you want to say the three magic words or just want to ask someone out, or even just want to reconnect with an old fling – sending a funny, witty or sentimental Valentine’s Day ecard is a great way to do it.

Here are a few that I like –

To Someone Special – A simple, elegantly designed ecard that conveys the message without much ado. I love the colors and the simplicity of this one.

Taj Mahal – If you’re in a committed relationship or approaching that stage, what better way to express your sincerity than by sending the person you love your very own virtual Taj Mahal? You can’t go wrong with this monument of love.

Lost Without You – Ok. This one’s for you if you prefer to express yourself visually…I just like the cute sentiment behind this ecard.

Love Magic – What do sunshine, a rainbow and love have in common? They can make the gloomiest of days and toughest of moments disappear….like magic!

Nurture the Garden of Love – I love this one for its symbolism – it takes several elements to nurture a beautiful garden. Just like it takes two people and a lot of trust, caring and understanding to nurture love into full bloom.

If ecards are not your thing – no problem! Check out these beautifully designed, free printable Valentine’s Day cards. These tastefully created cards match the quality and design of paper greeting cards and come without the price tag. Add your personal message or photo and print them out at home. The perfect option for those who want to avoid crowded greeting card aisles to buy ridiculously expensive cards.

So, no matter what your style – be it ‘overboard’ or ‘just not-into-it’ or something in between – you’re sure to find a free Valentine’s Day ecard to match it.

And that’s my take!

Chinese New Year – The Year of the Tiger

Out with the Old, In with the New

On February 14th, millions of people will celebrate love and family ties across the world. And many of the celebrations may have nothing to do with Valentine’s Day.

This year, February 14th is also the day when the Chinese will ring in their new year. Traditionally, in China and for Chinese families across the globe, the new year is the most important occasion of the year, more important than their birthdays or any other day of the year. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are occasions when the entire family gets together to celebrate, much like Thanksgiving or Christmas in the Western world. The exact date of the new year changes every year as it is based on the lunar calendar. The Chinese celebrate New Year on the first day of the first moon in the lunar calendar. This date usually falls between Jan 21st and Feb 19th. This year, it coincides with Valentine’s Day.

Traditionally, celebrations in China begin a few days in advance. Homes are swept, dusted and cleaned. Auspicious verses or Spring Couplets scrolled in black on red paper are hung on walls. Flowers are used to decorate homes. A grand feast is prepared for the Kitchen God who leaves a few days before the start of the New Year to report to heaven on his observations of the family’s behavior. New Year’s meals are prepared a day ahead and all sharp items are put away on New Year’s day as they are believed to hinder or ‘cut’ the coming in of good luck. Members of the family gather for a New Year’s eve feast. Even those not present are remembered. Children offer their respects to elders by bowing to them. The elders give them cash gifts in red envelopes which are considered auspicious. On New Year’s Day, people visit family and friends, exchanging wishes and gifts, dressed in their finest new clothes.

In China, the new year festivities last for a fortnight. There are fireworks, parades and lion dances on streets. The seventh day of the Chinese New Year is considered “Everybody’s Birthday”. This is the day when everyone adds a year to their age, since individual birthdays are not really considered very important in traditional China. The festivities come to an end on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival that involves dragon dances performed by men and people carrying lanterns into the street and joining the parade.

While, this may be how the Chinese New Year is celebrated in parts of China, it’s obvious that not too many of us today can afford a 15-day long break from work or to have a New Year’s party lasting two weeks. So, in America and other places with a considerable Chinese population, a shorter, simpler version of the celebrations can be witnessed. If you have the chance to visit Chinatown in San Francisco or a similar area in any other city, you might still get to see most of the above celebrations. It might just be packaged more appropriately to fit our busy work lifestyles, taking into account practical considerations.

One thing is for sure. It will be a celebration like none other. After all, it’s not everyday that you get to watch colorful lion dances and dragon parades and participate in celebrations that reflect a centuries-old culture.

And no matter where you are and how you celebrate, don’t forget to send your friends and family free Chinese Near Year ecards. They may not be part of Chinese tradition, but they are sure to be loved!

Source:http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html

On February 14th, millions of people will celebrate love and family ties across the world. And many of the celebrations may have nothing to do with Valentine’s Day.

Source:http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html

This Valentine’s Day – Fall in love…with yourself!

It’s a great place to start if you’re looking for love!
If you have a shiny new 2010 calendar in front of you, the month of February no doubt looms large at you. The 14th stares back silently. You may not have circled it, but, everyone knows that every time your eyes fall on the calendar, you sort of draw a mental circle around the date. For some of us, it’s a pleasant reminder of the blessings we have in our lives. And an opportunity to do something nice for the ones we love. Be it sending Valentine’s Day ecards, flowers, planning an elaborate date or a romantic getaway. For others seeking passion and adventure, Valentine’s Day holds promise.
But if you’re one of those millions of hopeful people looking for that elusive thing they call love…what does Valentine’s day mean to you? If you still haven’t found the One or feel betrayed by past experiences, you are probably wary of giving it yet another shot. If you find yourself feeling unworthy of love or think that you’re probably not desirable enough – I have one word for you. Stop! Instead of beating yourself up for being alone or not being able to find the right person, think of Valentine’s Day as a chance to get to know yourself better and to do something nice …for YOU!
It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how much success you’ve had with relationships. Before you find that someone who loves you, you have to learn to love yourself. So, if you don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day( and even if you do), why not start with these simple steps to celebrating YOU –
1. Do what makes you happy. Pick a hobby or sport. Indulge. Make time to enjoy it. Invest in yourself. It’s not your looks, career, bank balance or real estate investments that define your worth but the quality of time you spend with yourself and with those around you. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t danced or painted in ages. If it makes you happy, you should make time for it. It’s as simple as that.
2. Travel. Go somewhere you’ve always wanted to. Either by yourself or with a friend. Explore, experience and enjoy. Send your friends free photo ecards from wherever you are. Come back with pictures, memories, a journal and a rejuvenated spirit.
3. Join a class, club or group. A book club, writing group,marathon training session or sculpting class may help take your mind off some of the depressing, negative thoughts and help you realize the wonderful gifts you have.
4. Offer help. Whether you offer to care for your neighbor’s kids as she works her second shift or join a volunteer project in your community or tutor underprivileged kids – using your gifts and time to help someone is one of the surest ways to feel grateful and find a purpose, especially if you’re going through a bad patch in your own life. When you spread love around, you find that you’re surrounded by more of it.
5. Pamper yourself. Whether it’s a long-overdue spa visit, a luxurious massage session, an expensive dress you’ve wanted for months or a vacation you’ve been putting off – why wait until the perfect ‘One’ shows up to treat yourself to something special? Allow yourself the indulgences that you have earned and deserve to enjoy.
There you have it. Five simple ways to treat yourself to a beautiful Valentine’s Day, regardless of where you are in life. Each of these things is guaranteed to do one thing – help you learn more about yourself and appreciate your life. And, that is even better than having someone else say how great you are!

Free Birthday Reminders

Top 5 Reasons to use Free Birthday Reminders

Here’s a small sampling of what I had to do today: I took my dog for a walk, worked an 8-hour shift at my job, came home and worked out, paid the electric bill, made a deposit at the bank, and cooked dinner. That’s just a normal Wednesday, and it’s not over yet. But I’m not telling you anything you don’t go through yourself, on a daily basis. Our lives, after all, are usually packed from morning to night.

And usually, everything somehow ends up working out okay. But if you throw a little monkey wrench in there—a birthday, an unexpected car repair to make, visiting a sick relative—your whole day can get thrown hopelessly off course. Now, I can’t help you fix your car (I can barely fix my own!), and I can’t do anything for your sick relatives other than offer my best wishes, but there is one thing I can help with: making sure you don’t forget birthdays.

Free birthday reminders are a great way to, well, remind yourself of upcoming birthdays. Here are the top five reasons why you should use birthday reminders to help you keep track of all those birthdays that have a nasty habit of messing up your busy schedule.

5) They’re Free! You could hire your own personal assistant to let you know when a friend or loved one has a birthday coming up. And while your own personal assistant might be a little more entertaining that birthday reminders, they cost a heck of a lot more. Birthday reminders, in fact, are absolutely free

4) Birthday Reminders are Incredibly Easy to set up. How many times do you check your e-mail every day? Let’s say four or five (not counting checking your inbox at work!). Even if you check your e-mail five times a day, you’re still spending more time doing that than it takes to set up a birthday reminder. All you have to do is go to the birthday reminders homepage, type in a little bit of information, and boom! You’re done! Back to e-mail!

3) They see the Future. Most of us will probably use our birthday reminders just a couple of weeks or maybe a month in advance. But if little Billy has a birthday today, you can send yourself a reminder for his next birthday today! That’s right: a day, a week, or a month in advance, you can set up your birthday reminder to send you an e-mail on whichever date you choose!

2) Options Galore! Not only can you schedule birthday reminders for events occurring far off in the future, but there are plenty of other scheduling options available, to make sure the reminder works exactly how you want it to. You can, for example, set up a reminder to be sent to you on the day of the event, a week before, or even a month ahead of time. Also, you can set your reminder to do annual notifications, as well.

1) A Simple Part of a Complicated Life. Like I said above, we all have too much going on in our everyday lives to risk forgetting our loved ones’ birthdays. Free birthday reminders were created simply because of that fact: because we’re so busy, and any small thing to take away a little of the burden goes a long, long way.

So for these reasons—and many more you’ll discover yourself—try out free birthday reminders for the next birthday on your calendar!