Monthly Archives: April 2011

Graduation Contest

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grad contestWe are coming to the end of our grad contest and we have received some remarkable stories! From overcoming life’s hardships and making an amazing life for themselves to helping a single parent get through day to day work by caring for his or her siblings to creating their own foundation to raise money to find a cure for a disease to going on youth mission trips to help those in need. These are inspiring, unforgettable and truly uplifting stories. Our 2011 grad contestants are something amazing and we, at Pear Tree, are so proud of them for reaching their goal and continuing to reach for their dreams. Please read the entries and vote for your favorite- they could win up to $6k for their future plans!

Check out our graduation announcement collection to share your journey with family and friends!

Earth Day

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100% Post-consumer recycledToday is Earth Day. With gas prices so high, oil spill cleanups in progress, storms and earthquakes ravaging the earth, it’s hard to be upbeat about the state of our planet. But we are doing what we can here at Pear Tree by creating most of our cards from 100% post consumer recycled paper. Sounds good, right? But what exactly is post consumer recycled paper?

Post-consumer wastepaper is the paper collected by recycling centers in your city, which would otherwise go into landfills. Most paper products labeled “recycled” contain very little post-consumer material. They are made from waste created by the paper and printing industries (pulp, scraps, trimmings and other material that has not been used by you or me) which may be good business for the company, but is not considered recycling in the traditional sense.

The higher the content of post-consumer waste in paper, the better it is for the environment. There are many reasons to seek out post-consumer recycled paper over other types of paper:

-It reduces the amount of paper going into landfills.
-It reduces the amount of virgin wood (trees) needed to make paper.
-White virgin paper is made using chlorine, a process which forms hazardous toxic compounds called dioxins. Post-consumer recycled paper can be made using a less toxic process, thereby reducing water pollution.
-Producing post-consumer recycled paper uses up to 70% less energy, as well as far less water, than virgin paper.
-It increases the demand for recycled paper, creating a market for what would otherwise become waste.

That explains why we at Pear Tree have made a commitment to using the highest content of post-consumer waste material we can in our cards and stationery. Recycling your household paper is one way you can help conserve our earth’s resources. Choosing post consumer recycled paper whenever possible can be another. Happy Earth Day, 2011.

 

Sources:

“Treecycle Recycled Paper: About Recycling and Recycled Paper.” Treecycle Recycled Paper and Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

“Recycled Paper, Post Consumer Waste Paper.” Presentation Folders, Pocket Folders, Business Binders, Custom Printed Folder. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

May Day Ideas

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May Day IdeasIt’s almost May! (Didn’t April just begin??) I’m not complaining, mind you. I am more than ready to end the showers and welcome the May flowers. May also brings May Day, which was one of my favorite days when I was younger. When I think of May Day ideas, I think about the basket I used to make every year.

It took me at least a week to get just right. I would then fill it with little candies, flowers, miscellaneous toys that I found laying around the house, and sometimes a couple of my pennies (which I worked so hard at getting). I would take my lovely basket and hide in our bushes, making sure my neighbor couldn’t see me, and then run as fast as I could to ring the doorbell and then back to my hiding spot in the bushes. I’d peek through and watch her open her door and find the basket sitting at her feet. She’d be so surprised every year and say, “Oh my goodness, isn’t this beautiful!” She would smile and so would I, and then I’d run back to my house and tell my parents about it. That was such a great feeling.

May Day ideas can be so much fun. Get creative and use gift tags as stickers to put on a jar of jam or on a small bag of candy and don’t forget to include a card saying “Happy May Day!” Any activity involving candy is a big hit with kids, of course, but the secret delivery is the best part.  It’s such a fun surprise to leave a little basket with flowers or candy for someone you love.

Happy May Day! Who are you surprising with a May Day basket?

Graduation Party Theme Ideas

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Ice Cream BarIf you have a 2011 grad, now is the time to start planning the graduation party! Before you start, be sure to talk to your grad. After all, this is their party and it should reflect their tastes and personality.

First, decide where you’re going to have it (if someplace other than at your home). Popular places book early!

Many kids have strong opinions about the types of food they’d like to serve (with your approval, of course) while others would rather leave it up to you. Does your grad like a particular restaurant or take-out? Give them a call and see if they cater. Do you feel up to making the food yourself? Keep it simple or keep it small, unless you have an army of friends to help you. Deciding on a menu can help you come up with your graduation party theme idea.

Does he or she want a big party, including their classmates and your friends, or just a family affair? Some grads are uncomfortable with having a party at all. Your budget may dictate how many people you invite, but there are plenty of affordable ways to entertain more people—especially when many of them are teens. Here are some of the simple ideas we’ve heard lately:

-Ice cream sundaes
-Root beer floats or a soda fountain theme
-A chocolate fountain with assorted treats to dip
-Simple appetizers and snacks
-Taco or burrito bar for a Mexican theme
-Gyros
-Fondue
-White Castle sliders
-Grill your own burgers and hot dogs and set up a volleyball net for a beach party theme
-Rent a Cotton Candy machine and a giant inflatable for a carnival theme

Once you have a graduation party theme idea, you’re ready to order the graduation party invitations. These can be all about your theme (an example might be our BBQ Graduation Party Invitation) or all about your grad (such as a photo graduation invitation). Don’t forget the thank you cards! You will need them even before the party, because often people send gifts in the mail. Our Graduation Party Invite Packs make it easy, with invitations, matching return address labels and thank you cards packaged together for a savings.

Now you can think about details like decorations. Remember, this party is about sharing your son or daughter’s accomplishments with your family and friends. Many parents put photos of their grad on display, from baby photos to their senior portrait. You may want to display academic or athletic awards as well. If your photos are all digital, an easier option is to create a slideshow, and loop it on a laptop or monitor during the party.

A graduation party is a celebration of endings, and beginnings, and most of all, the journey. Be sure to take lots of pictures and enjoy these last days at home with your grad.