Cards are wonderful, but personal cards are well just that personal. Tailor something to the ones you love, turn a card into more of a keepsake item in doing so. But how? It's not just about the words!
KEEPSAKE PHOTO GREETING CARDS
eyeownadesign greeting cards can often be purchased to include a keepsake photo. Keepsake colour photographs are 100x85mm and printed on premium glossy photo paper. These are fixed to the card by glue dot, making it easy to remove and keep without damage to the card or print.
eyeownadesign greeting cards are also always printed on the left inside, to allow a framing page for these photo keepsake gifts.
Explore Keepsake Photo Greeting Cards
GREETING CARDS WITH FRAMED GIFT CARDS
Having the inside left printed allows for gift vouchers and gift cards to be easily added and appear framed. This can turn the card into a gift and card in one. The voucher you choose can be personal to the recievers interests. You could add a tailored A7 card detailing a personal experience you have booked too, this has the same effect of card and gift in one.
PERSONALISED WORDS ON GREETING CARDS
The classic way to personalise cards is through words, so of course I offer lots of options to do this, in some cases I hand letter text which makes the card even more unique. Birthdays or congratulations are great cards to personalise in this way and turn a card into a keepsake for the memory box.
Explore Personalised Greeting Cards
BESPOKE GREETING CARDS
Perhaps you need a really tailored card, something extra special, or perhaps something more branded to send to clients. I offer bespoke card designs using my signature stock and style (inside printing, kraft envelope etc). I really enjoy creating these so let's discuss what you need.
THE REASON BEHIND THE #
No one can really prepare you for becoming a mother. I had a very different view of how I would be as a mum before reality hit and I had a newborn in my arms.
When I first became a mother, I struggled, everyone seemed to be taking things in their stride, the photos shared were angelic and breastfeeding was a breeze. Well not for me! I was crying in the shower to my husband telling him our lives were ruined, we would never sleep again and that I believed my nipples may fall off – so what did I do?
I shared my ugly truths with my close girlfriends from school – who were already a year or so into motherhood – I laid it all bare, all my struggles, the harsh reality I was facing despite my love for our new little one and the privilege of becoming a mummy.
Almost instantly my phone was buzzing with their truths, the unreasonable feelings in the early hours of the morning when you are exhausted, the painful post-partum recoveries whilst trying to mother newborns and the endless worry and expectations placed upon us by ourselves and society. In that moment I suddenly felt supported, understood and accepted, I wasn’t failing as motherhood it’s just bloody hard and many don’t share this.
So, I wanted to break the stigma and share my motherhood truths with mums I didn’t know. Those that perhaps don’t have this network of close friends, or don’t feel they can share with them. A place where mums can go to hear other honest struggles so they know they are not alone, I wanted the reality of motherhood to make it onto Instagram grids instead of just the filtered version!
So I created #motherhooditsanotherhood to help do this! Join in and support mums by sharing your motherhood truths on your Instagram grid and using #motherhooditsanotherhood. Precious about the look of your grid? No issue, use whatever image you like, what’s important is to share the truth in the text so others can read and feel seen and understood. Share the # with other mums and encourage them to do the same too, I share all posts on my insta stories via @motherhooditsanotherhood.
Motherhood is raw, it’s crazy, it’s unmanageable at times but it’s also rewarding, beautiful and helps us all grow into better humans whatever challenges it brings up.
#MOTHERHOODITSANOTHERHOOD
Below are some posts from other gorgeous mummies who shared their truths and gave awareness to the #.
@minitravellers
I can tell you one thing. When my three were the size in this photo this certainly wasn’t the reality! This is the edited possibly even airbrushed photo that’s made it onto the wall and would have made it onto insta if I’d been on it then. That’s because photos like this are what we want to remember. The lovely, cute well dressed moments. The ones when we showered and found clean clothes. However 99% of the time when they were babies and I had them on my own, I lived in pyjamas, they lived in sleep suits and I rocked us all gently as we were all exhausted. I cried a lot. I hardly went out and I wondered what the hell we had done. People ask me now how I coped with 3 under 13 months and I laugh jokingly and say ‘badly’ but tbh that’s how I actually remember it. It was hard and incredibly difficult BUT now I wouldn’t have it any other way - plus I have cute photos like this to look back on and trick myself briefly into thinking that’s what it was like! #motherhooditsanotherhood
@foundsomepaper
Although I have very fond memories of the beginnings there were MANY challenges (not only one hahaha).
* I had massive problems breastfeeding and I dragged myself until almost 3 months until I gave up. Yes, I gave up and that sounds so bad. I was just so down and my nipples were bleeding. Eventually, after also a doctor gave me kind of permission (because that’s what you’re looking for…), I decided it’s better for my mental health to stop breastfeeding.
* Oh, and there were a lot of new arguments with my partner about everything. Seriously, that was such a change. We never used to argue much but after Lilli Jazz’ birth it changed completely. I’m not sure if it ever goes away because the number of our arguments are still higher than before having a child. We’re working on it!
* When Lilli Jazz was less than 24 hours old I was told off about holding her the entire time. I wish I would see this woman again and tell her she’s crazy because I just had my first child and the best thing you can do is hold them and made them feel loved. All that crazy talk about not to spoil your child… Cuddles are the best! I also fell asleep with my baby on my chest which is noooooot good but at least the photographer was there to look after us ;)
So that’s the truth. Did I mention I cried quite a bit? But all of this is completely normal. And we can go through all of this because our babies are the most beautiful babies in the world. #motherhooditsanotherhood
@thelovelydrawer
My 5th Mother’s Day! I think the last year has been the year I’ve learnt the most about being a Mum by far. These sweet faces have brought me to the brink but have also given me a reason to stay alive at points.
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Mama’s you carry so much in the exhausting and rewarding role that it is to be a mum. For those who long to be Mum’s but aren’t for whatever reason, you are no less of a woman because of it. Your experiences make you strong & courageous in a different way.
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For those that grieve for mother’s lost on this day, you will always carry their imprint in who you are and how they’ve shaped you. #motherhooditsanotherhood
@goelene_v
#motherhooditsanotherhood ...where are the mamas with bubbas that only nap on you! Human pillow, it’s a hard life 🥰
@i.l.s.e.21 #motherhooditsanotherhood is about being TRUTHful and opening up about how hard it can be to be a mum, especially a new mum. Here's me with my newborn back in September 2017. Although I had an easy pregnancy and alltogether fairly smooth natural labour, I found the first few months of being a new mum incredibly hard. A baby that didn't breastfeed easily, hardly slept and didn't want to lie down by himself meant he was virtually constantly in my arms and unhappy. The sleep deprivation, hormonal upheaval, hair loss, sore boobs & bits, total loss of freedom, grief for the loss of time with my husband, the complete eradication of my "self", and the constant anxiety about whether I was getting it right were all consuming. My most vivid memory of that difficult time is falling into a heap on the floor and crying " I can't do this anymore".... Becoming a mum is without a doubt one of the most challenging and amazing things a woman can accomplish.
WANT TO SUPPORT FURTHER
Do you feel passionate about what I’m trying to create with the # get in touch I’m open to collaborations.
Below are some wonderful small businesses offering products which support #motherhooditsanotherhood. Buy these products for yourself or mum friends and help share the reason behind the # and get involved.
Eyeownadesign
Motherhood 'Never Alone' Art Print
Motherhood Cards to send to friends
The Lion and Sunflower
Motherhooditsanotherhood mama bracelet
Hello Pea and Me
Motherhooditsanotherhood art print
We were told our chances of another round working was just 10% and they even started mentioning egg donation. At 34 with no fertility issues this was a real blow. After careful consideration we decided not to do another round, apart from the huge cost, emotionally and physically it was just too much to go through again.
Firstly, hello!
Here I am taking the plunge and finally launching my new greeting card business.
]]>Firstly, hello!
Here I am taking the plunge and finally launching my new greeting card business.
I recently took an Instagram course with styledbynaomi.com and it was the best kick-up-the-ass I've had in a while (I highly recommend booking one with her). I learned so much more than just Insta tips on that weekend and gained the confidence to just begin. To put myself and my cards out there and accept that nothing is ever perfect, there's never a right time and that I can go at my own pace with this.
Note: I wrote the below blog when my daughter was six months old. I took some photos, began coding a website and then... life got busy and I never set anything live!!! Anyway, I thought I'd share it as it's still relevant, bar the paragraph below as I'm now 21 months into motherhood, but there we go...
I’ve recently become a mum to the beautiful Mila, and whilst my dreams for ample time whilst on maternity leave creating my own online business were somewhat dashed by sleep deprivation, sore nipples and poo-filled nappies, I feel six months in I am somewhat emerging from the haze. So what better way to emerge than to start my own online shop, blog and showcase some of my recent design work? Quite ambitious you may say.
The truth is this site and shop have been a long time coming. I’ve been a designer for over 12 years now, working agency side, in-house and freelance on a variety of projects, however my side hobby has always been cards, stationery and prints. I just love print. Some see it as a dying art, I however feel it’s re-emerging. In a digital age (which don’t get me wrong, I fully embrace) touching, smelling and owning something printed is somewhat more special.
Design geek alert: the smell and textures of a good quality paper with a freshly printed design is simply divine!
Cards have been a particular love of mine; giving a hand-written card is almost a gift in itself, choosing a design the receiver will love, penning something personal, placing it concealed in an envelope so it’s like unwrapping a present. Creatively this medium allows for such freedom too. My mother-in-law said if she was ever feeling down, a trip to a card shop to read the funny ones or peruse the designs always cheered her up. I guess what I love is the simplicity of a card – don’t even get me started on simplicity and minimalism…for a future post perhaps!
So here I am putting my creations out there. I hope you like them, and if you do please support my small business and make a purchase, share with friends and leave me some feedback.
Iona xx
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