If you have kids in school, back-to-school is like New Years Eve, but without the champagne toast and a kiss. There's shopping for clothes, hair cuts, school supplies and the chance to start off the year right. For mom's/dad's it's a second shot at getting organized and finishing what you meant to get done that's been lingering since January.
It's a great time of year, where kids are refreshed and almost excited to get back to school. In fact some kids get a little bored towards the end and are even ready to go back to school. Ahhh...how i sometimes long for the days when time stood still. What I wouldn't give to have some of that back! But then I remember
I would have to do high school again!
Let's get back to the being organized before I digress and forget what this blog is about, BACK -to SCHOOL resolutions; paper solutions.
The obvious one is finding easy ways to stay on top of your game and your kids social schedules.
Back-to-school usually means alot of birthdays parties for your kids. Instead of buying birthday cards, an easy solution is to buy each kid a set of "gift stickers" that say "a gift from Charlie". You slap them on the present and you are good to go. 
These stickers can also be used on your kids school supplies. It's a great way to label them so they can come home with there stuff. You could say something as simple as "This book belongs to Zoe" or "Lost and Found? Call Ethan at 310.555.1212" or "Henry's Stuff!"
Another idea is to order personalized stationery for the family. It's great if you need to write a quite note to teachers, other parents, principal or nurse. In the rush of our lives, even if you forget to sign it, it will have your name on it, so they'll know who it came from. it might be nice to order everyone there own set as well. With the holidays not too far aound the corner everyone will be ready to write there thank you notes and it's one less thing to worry about in December.
Also personalized calling cards or family business cards are great for your kids to exchange info with their new friends and for parents to exchange with other parents. This way your never need to locate a pen and paper.
If you are planning on doing family holiday cards, now is a great time to think about your photo and even get one taken. New clothes, fresh haircut even a suntan may get everyone excited. Come November everyone is a little more worn down, busy and stressed.
Planning now through the end of year will help free up some extra time for play or even a massage. It's true plans always change especially with kids, but it'll be easier to handle if you aren't scrambling.
Since we have been talking so much about what is eco-friendly stationery, Bumpercards has decided to introduce a few designs specifically on eco-friendly paper.
FYI all of the paper we use is Green-E Certified (meaning papers are bought from companies using alternative energy to run their mills), and Chlorine and Carbon free. We feel this is a great start, but we want to take more steps in the GREEN direction.
The papers and designs we have chosen are a Green Earth Robot and a Green Grass Monkey. Each of these papers are acid and carbon free, Green-E certified, Green Seal certified and paper stock use at least 30% PCW-Post Consumer Waste meaning recycled content.
Bumpercards will also be adding an eco friendly option to most of our personalized stationery line and many of our invitations. This is currently being tested in our Baby Stationery Section. This paper stock still be a high end white and will be FSC Certified, Acid Free and Made with 20% FSC Certified Virgin Fiber and 80% Post Consumer Fiber.
One of our favorite papers from Fabriano, a high end Italian paper with a deckled edge, has been environmentally sound for hundreds of years. Fabriano Paper Mill uses:
•ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: The Mill uses 50% Hydropower energy
•CHLORINE FREE: 100% Cholrine Free (no chlorine bleaching).
•MILL CERTIFIED: The Fabriano Mill is ISO 14001 certified to ensure the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly. This is a great paper for custom wedding invitations and wedding stationery as well as that first thank you note for a baby's personalized stationery.
Please let us know your thoughts and what you are looking for in stationery and the environment.
For Babies: Babies are always receiving gifts and all mother's want to properly thank everyone for their generosity. Even if it's hard to get them out in a timely fashion.
For Toddlers: You may (or you will) end of writing most of the note yourself, but it's good place to color and let your friends and family know you are thinking about them. And there are so many cute options out there!It's simple fun to buy.
For Pre-Schoolers-3rd: What better way to show off your new found mastery of the alphabet and your advancement with language skills?!
For Tweens and Teens: You know you have to write thank you notes and with the right stationery you may even be psyched to send a letter.
Graduates (High School and College): Now that you are to be "responsible", it's always smart to have stationery around to send thank you notes after job interviews as well as the usual thank you note for grad gifts and simply keep in touch as everyone moves onto their own life's journey.
20 something: May not be on the top of your 100 item to-do list, but writing thank you notes after a birthday or sending a congratz note to a friend is still the right thing to do.
30-40 something: Your momma always told you to be thoughtful! Now you may be wanting to set a good example for your kids. Hey, maybe you even like to collect stationery!
For your 50's and 60's: It's a personal gift that you know can be used. You can never have too much stationery. Each occasion you send a note for may need a different sentiment.
And 70, 80, 90....157: Stationery is never outgrown even when the use for it is constantly changing from congratulations notes to sympathy cards and anywhere in between. It's fun to give and fun to receive.
Bumpercards has been looking into creating an eco-friendly stationery line for about 2 years now. There is so much information out there and many different levels of eco-friendliness.
While researching paper, printing and the environment we found out we have always been "eco-friendly", yet there is more we can do. Most of our papers come from the bigger paper brands and these companies are in the forefront of creating greener options.
There are many different standards to call your company eco-friendly and I will give a summary of a few of the main ingredients to look for:
(Information below has been directly taken from http://www.neenahpaper.com, http://www.wausaupapers.com, http://www.mohawkpaper.com/ , http://www.legionpaper.com/Eco-Friendly.htm)
1.FSC CERTIFIED:
Ensures that the paper meets the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) standards for responsible forest management.
2. GREEN SEAL CERTIFIED:
Signifies that all of our recycled papers are made with a minimum of 30% post consumer fiber and that mill processes, including packaging, are environmentally preferable.
Green Seal Certified is awarded by a nonprofit that rigorously evaluates paper production with standards set for PCW content as well as inking, bleaching and other processes.
Founded in 1989, Green Seal is a non-profit standard-setting organization that awards the Green Seal of Approval to products that cause less harm to the environment than other similar products as defined by their certification standards. Green Seal both develops environmental standards and carries out the actual certification.
This certification insures the delivery of premium papers that are manufactured free of chlorine chemistry and from sustainable raw materials.
Processed chlorine-free or PCF indicates that no dioxin-releasing chlorinated compounds were used to bleach the product.
Additionally, the PCF-labeled product must be 30 percent PCW. Less desirable is "Totally chlorine-free," or TCF, which is made from virgin fiber. This label is regulated by the Chlorine Free Products Association.
Green-e identifies products made with certified renewable energy, including but not limited to wind power, solar power, low impact hydropower, and biomass.
As stated by Green-e, “Green-e is the nation's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products.”
5.CARBON NEUTRAL:
A voluntary and legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction and trading system. As a member, Neenah Paper has committed to reduce its carbon footprint, or net greenhouse gas emissions,
6. 100% POST CONSUMER FIBER:
Post Consumer Fiber describes paper that has reached its intended end-user and then discarded. This paper, recovered from curbside collections, is considered to be post consumer.
Post-consumer waste or PCW means that the product's pulp was made from paper once used by consumers;
100 percent PCW is most desirable, but rare. No independent certifier regulates its use.