eCards Blog

Every Christmas I have the same trouble - finding interesting and unual presents. So I have been searching the internet for inspiration and have come up with these little gems:

The Magic Wand Remote Control - £48.99

 

As seen on Dragons Den...........Fancy yourself as a wizard or witch, but can’t seem to find your invitation to Hogwarts? Inspired by the magic wands in Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, and countless other masterpieces of the imagination, this authentic looking ‘magic wand’ universal remote gives you the enchanting power to take control of any television, music centre, DVD player – or anything that uses an infrared remote control system!

 

Light Ice Cubes - £7.99

Litecubes are made of non-toxic, FDA-approved plastic and contain a gel that allows it to be frozen to help keep beverages cold. Simply turn on the Litecube and place it in a drink, cocktail, punch bowl, and enjoy the really cool effect. Litecubes are re reusable and when used intermittently the battery lasts for dozens of hours!
You get three cubes for £7.99. Use them in cool drinks, soda pops, cocktails, punch bowls, on party platters, or even in the bathtub.

Desktop Henry The Hoover - £9.99

Take a look at your desk and computer keyboard right now? We bet it's far from 100% tidy… Even the most diligent of cleaners is bound to have the occasional speck of dust and stray breadcrumb from that lunchtime snack lingering between the keys.
This fully licensed mini replica of the classic Henry Hoover is fully functional and has superb sucking abilities.

The Alcohol Breathalyser - £9.99

 

Simply turn it on, breathe into the sensor for a few seconds and a reading appears on the digital display within 5 seconds. Unlike many similar priced models available in the UK, this device is extremely accurate and displays the precise BAC (blood alcohol content) reading on screen in 0.01 increments rather than simply giving you a wide band that your reading is in.

 

Christmas eCards are free to send, and you can send as many of the 1000's of designs that we have.  Visit www.eCards.co.uk today!

 

 

A study found that 18% of the 1,576 people interviewed used their birthday as their PIN code, with a further 13% keeping their PIN written down somewhere in their wallet, making it an easy target for thieves.

21% admitted that they had given their PIN to a friend and 3% to a work colleague. Of those in relationships, 64% admitted that their partner knew their PIN number. 9% of those interviewed had forgotten their PIN in the past when trying to buy something.

Although 11% of those surveyed had been the victims of identity fraud in the past, the study suggested that poor choice of PINs was indicative of a general lax attitude towards credit card security in general. Just over half of those with multiple credit cards had the same number for every card, despite the obvious security risk.

The study comes at a time when personal information is more freely available than ever. With millions of people in the UK using social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, it is becoming ever easier to obtain data such as birthday dates.   So please don not make your PIN obvious – you are at serious risk if you do.

The Queen celebrates her actual birthday on 21 April. She also celebrates her official birthday on either the first or the second, and sometimes the third, Saturday in June.

The tradition of having an official birthday for the Sovereign was begun for practical reasons. Monarchs who had their birthdays in the winter months often encountered problems due to cold, wet weather spoiling parades and other outdoor celebrations.

King Edward VII, who was born on 9 November, was the first Sovereign to mark his official birthday on a separate day to his actual birthday throughout his reign, holding celebrations in either May or June.

Subsequent Monarchs had birthdays which fell at convenient times of the year, but the tradition was revived by The Queen\\\'s father, King George VI. He was born in mid-December, and so also \'moved\' his birthday to June, when fine weather was more likely, and thus the tradition of the official birthday was established.

The Queen continues the tradition by celebrating her official birthday in June each year. Her Majesty usually spends her actual birthday privately at Windsor with friends and family whilst her official birthday is always marked in the same way with the Trooping of the Colour ceremony and a fly-past over Buckingham Palace.

With eCards, there is every excuse to have several Birthdays a year! Hurray! eCards are free, fast, easy and environmentally friendy - so why not send an eCard Birthday surprise today!

 

 

Visit www.eCards.co.uk today!

 

So you think you have it in the bag this year. You sit down having brought a 150 strong, bumper box of cheap and nasty Christmas cards, 3 pens, and your address book. Not forgetting a mince pie and a glass of your favourite tipple to get you in the Christmas mood……….

 

The first 25 – no problem! However come number 26 your hand is aching, the taste of the envelope seal is making you feel sick, and you realise you have forgotten the stamps! Even another mince pie could not make this situation any better……

 

No, Christmas card writing is not my favourite job of all time so this year I will be using eCards to send my Christmas cards. No writing, no horrible taste of envelope seal, no searching for stamps and no rush to the post-box in the rain! Yipeee!

 

eCards Media have an amazing array of Christmas cards, suitable for all ages.  You can personalise each card to suit your recipient with a click of the mouse – simple!  You can upload several photographs, and write your own message on the front and on the inside of  the card, giving your recipient a huge smile for Christmas.

 

eCards will brighten up your Christmas card send! Indeed these cards will bring immense pleasure to you and your recipient and will not just be another boring card that your recipient has to find a place for on the mantel piece!

 

These fabulous cards are of the same, if not better quality as the cards you would find in any major High Street store, and with their tiny price of 99p, great value for money!

 

So why not give eCards a go this Christmas? Visit www.eCards.co.uk 

 

 

The problem with most Christmas cards is that they are only semi-relevant. By the nature of the market, companies that crank out hundreds of greeting cards have to ensure that they appeal to as many people as possible. We are not all interested in the same things, and cards that are designed to appeal to everyone do not always have any special characteristics that make them particularly relevant.

With an ecard, its all different. There is no reason for ecards to cater to everyone – they are digital so companies do not need to produce thousands at once. As a result, you can create a card thats 100% tailored to whoever you are sending it to. Do not worry about a one-size-fits-all message, use an ecard and have an ultra-exclusive message winging its way to your friends and family this Christmas.

eCards.co.uk has a load of lazy buggers working here and we have all decided to start cycling into work so that we not only save the enviroment but save a bit of cash also (apart from Lindsey who is heavily pregnant and has an excuse).  Lazy and cyclying these two can not go together I hear you say but you can if you turn your push bike into a super speeds electric ebike.  We have bought some electric wheel motors from China and these are great litle gadgets which have a brushless motor built into the front wheel.  You strap a battery onto the back change the wheel and bobs your uncle!!  These puppies will do 30MPH for a radius of 40miles.  Its just fantastic.  Here are some pictures of the bikes from the ebay shop we got them from and also the link to them.

eBay Shop link here

The order is coming from China and they have not arrived and as soon as they do we will post the pictures on the blog.

Dont forget Christmas is just round the corner and we have a great new selection of christmas cards online so check them out!!

The compnay has adoped the new government cycle to work scheme and there is even a grant to buy these toys - if you want to check it out click here

Tis the season to be jolly, merry and gain 2 stone usually (well for me anyway)!!  So we have developed a whole load of new Christmas Cards which are still free to send.  The ecard site is progressing nicely and we have developed a whole new section where you can send Physical cards to friends and family.  

Fascinating facts and awesome ideas ready for bonfire night

 

Love it or hate it Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night as it’s more commonly known, has become a popular event in our diaries. Something about standing around a massive blazing bonfire whilst wrapped up in winter woollies and chatting with friends oozes appeal.

As long as it is not raining, standing outside in the pitch black with nothing but a bonfire and sparklers to provide light is a great way to spend the evening on the 5^th of November, as long as you are with some great friends and family, going to your local bonfire night can be a fun filled experience. Everyone waits for the main event – the firework display! The bright colours and patterns the fireworks make in the sky are mesmerising and never cease to amaze – no matter how old you are.

The shops are starting to fill with sparklers and fireworks so with this in mind here are some facts about Guy Fawkes Night you might be interested to hear about.

A man named Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up King James 1^st by placing barrels full of gun powder under the Houses of Parliament. Luckily for the King and his leaders, Guy Fawkes was discovered and arrested, the trail of explosive gun powder was never ignited.

The celebration on the 5^th November is because King James wasn’t assassinated, locals were encouraged to light bonfires in order to celebrate, and the tradition has stuck many years later. Many people make their own Guy out of old clothes, straw and paper to put on top of the bonfire whilst an impressive firework display provides some loud and colourful entertainment.

Many towns and villages host their own individual celebrations- you can definitely feel the community spirit with these events. On the 5^th November Ottery St Mary in Devon holds the exciting event of tar barrel rolling which involves covering barrels with tar which are then set alight and carried through the town. Many people frown upon this tradition stating that it is far too dangerous, however this doesn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the locals who carry the barrels with pride. This event caters for all the ages of the villagers, the smaller junior barrels are lit in the afternoon, and the sizes of the barrels increase to around 30kilos for the biggest barrel which is lit at midnight. This really is a wonderful tradition which brings locals together and strengthens the heart of rural communities.

Another event which deserves a mention occurs in Battle, East Sussex, here around 30 bonfire societies dress up in costumes and march through the town. Anyone is welcome to join the procession as long as they are in fancy dress, so this is the perfect chance to really let your imagination run wild and dress to impress. You definitely get the feeling of “the more the merrier” with this event as participation is encouraged.

 

 

Fireworks are nothing new, they are said to have originated from China around 2,000 years ago. The reason behind those magical displays were also much more than just providing an evenings entertainment. They were traditionally used to warn away any evil spirits and ghosts that might be lurking, apparently the loud noises scare away any nasties that could ruin good fortune. On a more positive note, people in China also set off fireworks on special occasions such as birthdays, births, and New Year.

Nobody wants to be a kill joy, but fireworks are dangerous if they are not handled in the correct and appropriate manner. It is always worth reading instructions if you plan to use fireworks for a display at home.

Every bonfire night brings accidents, some minor, but others as serious as 3^rd degree burns or even death. A&E rooms across the country find themselves extremely busy around the 5^th November with people of all ages being brought in to receive treatment for accidents involving fireworks. Just to prove how common these kinds of accidents are in 2007 over 7,000 people were treated for burns from firework accidents, I can’t imagine how painful this must have been for those people. The golden rule is to be safe, read the instructions thoroughly and be careful especially if there are young children around. Even sparklers can cause harm if not handled correctly, just to prove how hot they can become three lit sparklers generate the same heat as a blow torch! So definitely advisable to keep well away from young children.

If you are a pet owner you will want to protect your four legged friends and keep the happy. Bonfire night is a night that can cause distress to your pet, with the loud noises and bright flashing lights it’s enough to send any cat or dog hiding behind the sofa. There are many sites around which provide helpful advice on how to keep your pets stress levels down and keep them happy. The RSPCA website has a wonderful article called “Protect your pet from firework fear” which aims to give all pet owners handy and helpful advice on how to protect your furry companions around the 5^th November.

Some people even buy their pets ear muffs to help drown out the loud noises from the fireworks on bonfire night. Barking mad or a great idea – you decide!

Even though you can buy fireworks in supermarkets and shops there are some rules which some people may not know. If you are caught misusing fireworks you could be stung with an on the spot £80 fine, not something you want when you should be out enjoying yourself. Also if you cause any unnecessary harm to animals – yes some twisted people do – you could face a jail sentence or a fine £20,000. It is upsetting but the RSPCA does receive some animals in a terrible state all inflicted by cruel people. The RSPCA urges people to call the 24 hour hotline for advice or if they see any signs of animal cruelty on 0300 1234 999.

Now onto a more positive aspect of bonfire night! Like with any occasion food and drink is a must! So this year why not create some gorgeous nibbles and drinks and invite a few friends over before heading out to watch a firework display. A popular drink to warm up during those winter months is mulled wine full of autumn fruits. You could even take a supply in a thermos flask to keep you warm whilst watching the fireworks! Roasted chestnuts are also another wonderful light bite to keep your guests happy. Mainly associated with Christmas, roasted chestnuts are also a much loved and easy snack for bonfire night. There are many websites around for all you budding chefs out there, if you are feeling adventurous why not go one step further and make a hearty meal for some close friends and family?  This will definitely make your bonfire night one to remember. Consult cook books or alternatively check out the internet for some recipe inspiration, the Good Food, and Silver Nut Meg websites can point you in the right direction for some great seasonal foods.

If you adore fireworks and would like to learn more about them, their history and other interesting facts then The Fireworks Magazine is an ideal read. Published twice a year in February and July, firework enthusiasts can learn all about displays, interesting facts and figures, and the origins and history of fireworks.  This specialist magazine is a great way to learn all about fireworks and different celebrations that use them.

These are just a few facts about bonfire night and some ideas to hopefully inspire you to make this 5^th of November go with a bang. Have an amazing evening however you decide to celebrate Guy Fawkes night, just remember to stay safe.

The team here in the ecards office have some exciting news to share! We always have our thinking caps on to come up with new ideas to keep the site bursting with a wide variety of greetings cards suitable for any occasion. So, with this in mind we would like to introduce you to a brand new category – video eCards!

Yes that’s right, now you can view some hilarious video clips and send them to your friends as an eCard. There are some great clips on the site right now, a husky saying “I love you” makes a cute romantic message to send to your other half. There are loads of funny video eCards too, a compilation of animals doing funny things is a definite must for all animal lovers, and a collection of some of the best footie bloopers ever makes a great watch on a Friday afternoon for all the football fanatics out there. Why not try sending one and see what your friends think? Likewise with all our greetings, all our video eCards are totally free, can’t get better than that.

Keep an eye on the new video eCard category to be up to date with the very latest hilarious and crazy offerings we have discovered. These really make awesome ecards with a twist and are a great way jazz up anybody’s afternoon.

What?! It is still a few months till Christmas I hear you cry! With food, drink, decorations and of course gifts to buy, many people are starting to save up sooner rather than later. Every year we are bombarded with adverts trying to tickle our tastes buds and entice us to part with our hard earned cash. So what sort of gifts ideas are you going to buy your nearest and dearest for Christmas this year? It never hurts to keep an eye open and get some ideas, here are just a few to help inspire you.

No matter what your taste, everyone enjoys a bit of a boogie or sing along to their favorite tunes. Long gone are the days of the portable CD player and having to lug around your collection of CD’s, thanks to the MP3 player, we can now store all our songs digitally. The Apple ipod comes in a wide range of models, from the cute and colourful Nano-Chromatic and ipod shuffle, to the traditional Classic ipod and touch screen varieties. The ipod has been around for many years now but it seems they are still as popular as ever with more advanced models being launched. The ipod Touch is a rather nifty creation, not only can you store and play all your favorite tunes, but you can also store photographs. This version has a build in speaker, so no need for earphones, perfect if you want to share your music collection with your friends. Why not shop around to find the best deal? With a few months till Christmas you can start saving up now and treat someone special in your life.

 

 

 

 

If a family member is always running late and constantly asking “what’s the time?” then a watch would be the perfect Christmas gift idea, with loads of styles around to suit every taste and any budget you won’t find it difficult to find a watch which is ideal for your chosen recipient. Whether  you are buying a watch for a man or woman you need to find out what their personal taste is. There are so many styles available, leather straps, or metal, digital, or analog, do you need it to be waterproof? Once you have figured out what the recipient prefers you can browse through the shops and see what grabs your attention. There are some lovely women’s watches around at the moment with elaborate designs and cool colours. Not only that there is a wide selection of gift sets which contain a stylish watch and a matching bracelet or necklace, whilst men’s gift sets can contain cuff links. A watch is a great idea for a Christmas present for anybody, they can last a life time if look after properly. The great thing is there is no need to worry if the straps don’t fit, your jeweler can take or put in additional links to make the perfect fit, whilst leather straps can be replaced. For an extra special touch why not get the back of the watch engraved with a few heart-felt words – wonderful idea for all you romantics out there.

 

With all those glossy women’s magazines around it would seem that the amount of home pampering and styling products is on the rise in order to re-create those salon inspired looks for a fraction of the price.  The popular GHD styling irons are used in hair salons across the country and with the IV styler being the latest offering from the range you can turn your locks into a gorgeous and glamorous hair do. The styling irons can be sold individually, but also can come as part of a gift set which contains products from the GHD range and a handy carry case. Perfect Christmas gift ideas for anyone woman who deserves a bit of a treat is anything which will give rest and relaxation. Home massage kits are popular, brilliant to take away all those wintery aches and pains. A really great idea is the HoMedics Swedish Massager with heat, this massager slips over chair and you simply sit back and enjoy whilst the heated rollers move up and down your back and across your neck and shoulders. The hand held control makes it so easy to choose what area you need to target whilst the soothing heat warms and massages those tense problem areas. This is a really great gift idea for anyone who needs to take a few moments out to rest, unfortunately you do need to make your cup of tea to go with it!

 

If a friend or family member loves being outdoors and nurturing their garden then any accessories are bound to make Christmas gift they will be overjoyed with. From wooden wishing wells and elaborate plant pots, to lighting ideas and wind-chimes you are sure to discover something any gardening enthusiast would love. If a friend doesn’t have a garden why not buy a window sill plant pot and some seeds, that way they can still grow flowers or create a mini herb garden, ideal for the kitchen.

 

 

For those of you who want to give something back to world Oxfam has some great ift ideas which help those less fortunate than ourselves. All you need to do is choose a gift such as a goat, reading books, seeds and safe drinking water. Your money will provide these gifts to those who need it the most while your chosen recipient will receive a certificate or an ornament to show where your money has gone. This is a simple idea but seems to be popular with many people worldwide, just visit the Oxfam website or pop into one of their shops to ask for more information.

 

We all like to feel we are doing our bit for the environment, even the smallest of gestures can help. Whether you choose to recycle, walk to work instead of driving, or invest in energy saving light bulbs, every action contributes towards helping the environment. The good news is that there are loads of sites around which only sell eco friendly products, ideal if you have a friend who is keen to be green. All things green has a wonderful collection of gift ideas which would make great Christmas presents, from children’s clothing, home and garden accessories, and eco gadgets. Some cool ideas are recycled Desperado and Corona beer bottles which have been transformed into tumblers, Fair Trade recycled aluminium dip trays – perfect for parties, and even a stylish arm chair created out of bamboo. No matter what you are looking for there is something for everyone on this site and you are safe in the knowledge that your gift has been sourced ethically and created using recycled materials – nothing goes to waste here.

 

 

What classic games do you enjoy playing? Mega four, dominoes, or even chess? All of these much loved games are available in giant sizes for use in the garden. Imagine a group of your friends playing super sized games on the lawn. Buy some nibbles, make sure the drink is flowing, and you are set for a great night. The great thing is that giant game sets are suitable for all ages, so this would make a wonderful gift idea for anyone who has a large family, or someone who enjoys having friends over.  Giant games would also come in handy during those longer summer days, if a family member or friend hosts a BBQ, then games such as these would certainly provide hours of entertainment.

 

Cuddly toys have always been popular amongst younger children, so if you have a younger family member or a friend who has children then buying them a soft toy for Christmas is a great idea. However, why not go one step further and create your own cuddly creature and personalise it for your recipient? Build a Bear Workshop allows you to choose, stuff, and dress your own teddy bear, you can even choose a name which is printed on a certificate which you can give to the recipient. Once the cuddly creature has been created you can choose from a wide selection of clothing to add an extra special personal touch. Choose from football strips, ballerina costumes, or even a handsome tuxedo, a great idea is to dress the toy in a costume of a hobby which your chosen recipient enjoys. You could either go to the work-shop and build the toy yourself, or you could arrange a trip for the child to go to a workshop where they can choose everything for themselves. Build a Bear Workshop also sells gift cards which are a wonderful idea, that way the lucky recipient can choose when they pay a visit to the shop. This is a wonderful idea if you are searching for a Christmas gift idea which shows that you have gone that extra mile.

 

 

How about giving the ultimate Christmas gift? Activity and adventure days are becoming very popular and are a truly unforgettable experience. Thanks to the great site Track Days you are able to browse and select the perfect activity gift easily. Choose from activities such as skydiving, British sports car extreme driving, helicopter flights and water-sport experiences. Some of the more daring activities can be quite pricy which is why it might be worth saving up now! No matter which sport or activity is chosen, a full health and safety introduction is given and you are supervised by highly qualified and experienced instructors. With the car experiences you can even select which car your recipient will drive such as an Aston Martin, Bentley, Lamborghini or Subaru. No matter what you decide your recipient will be absolutely thrilled with such an amazing present, remember to take lots of photos so they can look back on them over the years. If you want to share the experience with them, there are a wide range of experiences for two people, perfect for a romantic gift.

These are just a handful of some Christmas gifts you could choose for your loved ones this year. The festive season does seem like a long way off but the time always whizzes by! No need to worry about sending your Christmas greetings cards off just yet so that is one less thing to worry about for now! It is always a good idea just to keep your eyes peeled because you never know when the perfect gift will pop up in the shops.

 

The traditional wedding has a make over!

What springs to mind with these words - Disney, pirate, Halloween, Elvis. Fancy dress, yes, but what about wedding themes? I know they are a little odd, and not everyone’s cup of tea, but these themes are certainly different, daring and memorable! I came across some wedding pictures in a newspaper, the bride and groom exchanged vows as Shrek and Princess Fiona from the movie Shrek. Genius! They definitely went all out, complete with costumes, green face paint and wigs, not only that, the guests got into the spirit of the theme and wore costumes similar to ones seen in the films. 

 

Some might roll their eyes and think this choice for a wedding is making a mockery of the ceremony, whilst others may feel that a wedding is about the couple and their wishes, therefore they should do what makes them happy.

 

Perhaps the traditional dress code of a wedding has evolved, even if women wear a long flowing dress, the choice of colour is more than white, cream, or ivory. Now the bride to be can opt for a two-toned dress, fluorescents and even black. This is definitely different from the more traditional look we are so used to seeing, but change is good and this shows more people are becoming adventurous and bold in their dress making decisions. One thing’s for sure, the guests will be surprised and let’s face it, it is nice to stand out from the crowd, be different and have your own style, rather the follow the norm.

                      

So if you have been invited to a themed wedding, throw yourself in and enter into the spirit if the occasion. Remember to send your wedding greeting cards to the happy couple in time, perhaps pick a gift which is unique and unexpected. Take lots of photos, have a wonderful time and celebrate with the happy couple.

Here is a great You Tube clip of a couple who went all out and had an Elvis themed wedding. Try to ignore the photographer who gets in the way at the beginning! This is a great video, it features some classic Elvis hits which the wedding party has a good old boogie to! How the couple kept a straight face when they said their vows I don’t know, but you have to give them credit for doing something unique. This is going to be a fabulous video to show the Grandchildren!

 

 

Weird and wacky weddings are only the start, what about all the little bits and pieces that are essential such as the cake. The traditional sponge cake decorated in pure white icing has always been a popular favorite, but keep your eyes peeled for some truly delectable wedding cakes.

        

I guess if you have an object in mind a great baker could create the wedding cake of your dreams. If you want something a little different but don’t want to go over the top then why not try browsing through some of these wonderful sites and see if anything takes your fancy.

Arty Party Cakes has some fabulous ideas for decorating wedding cakes, the more traditional cake shines through but with some added glitz and glam. These cakes can be delicately decorated with sugar flowers which makes them eye catching and extra special.

Another great site to look at is novelty-cakes.net, this is a great site which has many novelty, contemporary and traditional wedding cakes to choose from. Whether it be a special sports cake, a cool and colourful creation, or quite simply a tempting traditional tiered cake you are sure to find something that will taste amazing and surprise your guests.

If you are getting married and want to have a cake which is unique and special then let your imagination run wild, do some research and find out what kind of style suits. Even better go and have lots of meetings with bakeries and ask to sample the cakes they have on offer. Like the design, the type of cake is endless, chocolate sponge, vanilla, lemon, fudge, carrot…

Every bride should make a grand entrance on her wedding day, so why not think outside the box and go one step further than a shiny black car with white ribbons? Of course it really depends where your ceremony is going to be held as this could limit your options if the location is difficult to get to. However there are now loads of amazing modes of transport available, here are some ideas to inspire.

A horse drawn carriage is a popular option with many types and colours of carriage to choose from, you too can feel like a princess for a day. Opt for a traditional style carriage, or maybe choose something a little more daring – like a glass carriage. No matter what you choose you are sure to arrive in style and just think of the amazing photos you will be able to take.

Take to the skies and arrive in a helicopter, this is such an alternative way to make a grand entrance! Imagine the breath taking views whilst flying in to land to greet all your guests. This is one mode of transport that all your friends and family will be talking about for years to come. Perhaps not such a great idea if you or your partner is scared of heights, but with that small problem aside arriving by helicopter is a wonderful way to make that grand entrance.

If you like to keep your feet firmly on the ground there are many more marvelous ways to arrive to your wedding destination. Why not transport your entire wedding party in a bright red London bus? Yes it can be done – there are loads of places which allow you to hire those iconic London double decker buses. Another great idea for motoring modes of transport is to hire out vintage cars. These will always look sleek and elegant and are a great way to arrive in style.

Alternatively if you prefer your wedding party to be with you why not opt for a limo – there is more than enough room and you can sip on the bubbly on the way to your wedding!

No matter how you choose to arrive, what you choose to wear, or how your cake will be decorated, the most important thing is have fun and enjoy yourself. Celebrate with your friends and family, take lots of pictures to remind yourself of your wonderful day and be happy in the knowledge that you did things your way!

 

 

 

We are a very active bunch in the e cards office and we often organize lots of trips out including wakeboarding, clay pigeon shooting and the occasional spin in an off road buggy.

 

 

It is great fun to try something new, the last wakeboarding trip was awesome, everyone had a go and we all managed to stand up for a few seconds (well, sort of!) It is a lot harder than it looks but well worth a try.

 

After the days activities we love going down to the local pub by the sea front, share baskets of chips washed down with some cider. Fingers crossed the weather clears up soon as we are trying to plan our next trip, watch this space to see some photos!

Birthdays are great! Whether it is an old friend, or a member of the family, it is always thoughtful to throw a bit of a birthday bash to celebrate! What sort of things do you buy when holding a birthday party? Balloons and birthday cake complete with candles have always been firm favourites, but what about buying something different and more exciting. Here are a few ideas to help you throw a fantastic birthday party using those classic favourites with a twist.

Edible photographs

Yes that is right! Thanks to eatyourphotos.co.uk you can create a wonderful birthday cake with a real surprise. Simply send them your chosen photograph and they will design an edible masterpiece which you then place onto your cake. You can choose to either have the actual photo created into a delicious delight, or you can add some humor and request to have a caricature made, the choice is yours. This is a wonderful way to jazz up a birthday cake and really show the lucky birthday boy, or girl, that you have made an extra effort to make their day special.

 

Party Cannons

If you have ever thrown a surprise birthday party no doubt you would have used classic party poppers. They might be mini, but they sure pack a punch once the string has been pulled. However, if you want to go one step further how about opting for the party popper’s bigger and louder alternative – the party cannon. The party cannon is just a large version of the classic party popper and has lots of glitter, confetti, streamers, and other goodies concealed inside.  They can be used both indoors and outdoors, but obviously must be used with caution, don’t point it at someone’s face then let it off – a trip down A and E will not make for a good birthday party! Sites such as partybox.co.uk provide a huge variety of fantastic party treats.

                                   

These are no ordinary candles

No birthday party is complete without a yummy cake and if you have a cake, you will definitely need candles.  The partycandleshop.com is ready to provide you with candles for all occasions – with a twist. You can buy musical cake candles which rotate, play music and some even change colour, dazzling cake candles which are almost like sparklers, or colour flame candles which provide a rainbow of coloured flames. All of these would make a special change from the traditional candles seen on a birthday cake.

                                  

Alternative fun foods

Why not add something to the party which is sure to surprise everybody and create a great conversation piece for years to come. Why not hire out a giant chocolate fondue set, a pop corn stand, or even a candy floss machine – the guests are sure to enjoy the delicious treat and it will definitely make for an unforgettable party. There are many companies around where you can hire from, the Premier Fondue Company can provide an assortment of fountains and other tempting food creations. Why not hire a ‘grown-up’ treat such as their Bailey’s or beverage fountain, a brilliant boozy idea.

                    

Personalised decorations

Balloons and banners are a great way to inject some colour and they really create a party atmosphere. Go that extra mile to make the decorations special by personalizing them.  There are many sites available where you can add your own personal message, such as net balloons, which allow you to do exactly that. This site also provides an option called bear in a balloon which could also double up as a cute gift idea.

                                                                    

These are just a few ideas to make any party one to remember, the most important thing is to really pull out all the stops and make the birthday boy, or girl the center of attention and throw them an awesome birthday bash.

 

The terrible weather has been causing some problems in Devon!

Here is a picture of the ecards company boat which has been on the receiving end of the harsh weather - the boat sank in the horrible conditions! The problems did not end there, next the trailer used to bring the speed boat to a safe place to be fixed fell apart on the way, the wheels decided to fall off! Not a good start, luckily all was sorted out and the next mission is to fix the huge hole so the boat can float once again.

We are constantly being encouraged to become more environmentally friendly in order to help protect the planet. We recycle as much as we can and we try and opt for healthy and green alternatives to driving our cars, but what other things can we do to help out? Here are suggestions for a greener lifestyle, why not try some out for yourself and see what you think.

Buy natural bath and shower products

You can buy bath and shower products which contain natural ingredients and are free from nasty chemicals in many beauty shops. What if you could walk into a shop and everything they sold was natural and all packaging was created from recycled materials? With Lush Cosmetics this is exactly what you get, a whole shop totally dedicated to providing quality bath, shower and grooming products.  Not only do they provide single pots and bags of their lovely products, but also gift packs are available which make great gifts for friends. With so many products to choose from suitable for men and women at pocket friendly prices, Lush Cosmetics are great for a present or a relaxing treat for yourself.

                    

Opt for ‘greener’ clothing

Shops such as Sea Salt pride themselves on selling clothing which has been given the Soil Association seal of approval. This means that the cotton produced in order to make these clothes have been grown in chemical and pesticide free soil, which is a great way to be absolutely sure that your clothes are environmentally friendly right from the source. Not only does Sea Salt sell a whole host of clothing which is eco-friendly, but also a range of stationary and other accessories which are 100% recycled. Great items include a tide and time clock made from recycled coffee cups, pencil cases recycled from car tyres, and a variety of note pads containing recycled paper whilst the front and back is created from recycled plastic boxes! No matter what your budget there is something to suit all pockets and the recycled accessories would make fabulous gift ideas for friends and family.

 

        

Instead of plastic bags opt for the environmentally friendly alternative

With many popular shops such as Marks and Spenser, and W.H Smith charging for plastic bags as a way to encourage us to reuse them why not invest in an eco friendly ‘shopper’ bag which will last the distance. A great site which sells a whole range of environmentally friendly jute (or hessian) bags is The Good Bag Co. This site sells a wide variety of shopping bags in an assortment of sizes, colours and each bag has a fun catch phrase printed on it such as “Love is good” “My Little Lunch Bag” and “Wine is good”.  Using plastic bags is ok as long as you remember to reuse, or recycle them, the problem is that they are not very strong and can tear easily. By investing in a few ‘shopper’ bags you can use them time and time again since they are very tough and surprisingly they can hold a large amount of items – no need for plastic bags ever again!

         

Opting for eCards rather than traditional paper greetings

Traditional paper greetings cards are very popular especially during birthdays, Valentine’s Day and Christmas, but what if there was a way to still send friends and family great greetings but lower your carbon footprint at the same time? Well look no further because here at ecards.co.uk you can do exactly that – send as many quality online greetings cards as you like because not only are eCards better for the environment, but are also totally free. Choose from loads of lovely designs for a whole range of occasions and do away with expensive paper greetings and postage costs whilst helping Mother Nature at the same time.  Another great reason to opt for an ecard is that you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home in order to send a greeting to a loved one! This also comes in handy if you have perhaps left it too late to pop down to the shops to buy a card, why not browse through the site and see what amazing cards are available.

Make every little count

No matter how big or small the action every little helps when it comes to the environment. There are many different things we can incorporate into our busy lifestyles in order to help out. Why not consider taking showers instead of baths or rather than turning the heating up in your home simply put another jumper on. We are constantly being encouraged to recycle more, so in addition to this why not put left-over food to good use by creating your own compost, great for gardens! Another great idea is lift sharing, if your destination is too far away to walk, then sharing transport with friends is a great alternative to help lower your carbon footprint.

There are many more ways to become greener and more eco-friendly, chat amongst your friendship group to swap and share ideas, or do your own research to discover different ways you can help the environment.

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day is regarded as the most romantic day of the year, but why wait till February 14^th to show your other half how much you love and appreciate them? Why not buy your partner a small gift, or take them for a lovely meal at their favourite restaurant, or have a cozy night in with a few DVD’s. These are some great ways to surprise your other half and treat them to something special.

What if you want to be extra spontaneous and perhaps sneakily surprise them at work? then sending a romantic e card is a great way to do exactly that. We have a wonderful range of lovely romantic cards to choose from and what’s more you don’t have to spend a penny! This is because all our cards are absolutely free, so you will be keeping your other half and your wallet happy.

Browse through our ever expanding collection of love greeting cards and you are sure to find something that will impress that special person in your life and show how much you love them. Choose from lovely classic greetings with a sentimental message such as You’re purr-fect and I will always love you, or opt for a something flirty such as Love to tease or You make me hot. It really depends on what kind of romantic your other half is!

Fancy putting your own personal touch to your love greeting? Then our popular ‘Face It’ application gives you the chance to upload photographs of the pair of you and make yourselves the starring feature in your very own romantic ecard. This is a great way to add the element of surprise and is definitely going to provide some giggles. A couple of great romantic ecards from the ‘Face It’ range include I love you and Romantic Knight both of these will do the trick to make your loved one smile and is something a little different to jazz up your thoughtful and romantic greeting.

                   

No matter which greeting you select there is plenty of space for you to include your own personal message so really let your hopeless romantic side take over! So don’t leave it till Valentine’s Day to treat your other half to something special, keep the magic alive with surprises every so often and really brighten up their day.

 

How wonderful is the internet? One thing’s for sure, it has definitely made our lives so much easier, we can find information with a few clicks of the mouse. Being able to discover news and information is great for work, but what about play?

How do you relax and take some quality time out after a stressful day? Some may choose to indulge in some retail therapy online, others may decide to watch a film or documentary, whilst some may opt to play computers games. There are many computer games you can play online, from traditional card games, to action packed games, it just depends on your preference.  With this in mind here are some awesome games you can play online to either unwind, or simply have fun after a hard days work.

The classic Pac Man

Pac Man is a well known and much loved arcade game. The rules are simple – gobble up all the yellow dots around the maze whilst avoiding the ghosts on your way. A life is lost if you run into a ghost, so be wary and navigate your way round the maze quickly, but carefully! Try and eat some of the fruit which pops up randomly, you will get bonus points. This is a classic game, and it may look easy, but those pesky ghosts are clever and will follow you. However, there is a way to get your own back, eat one of the large flashing dots located in the corners and you will be invincible for a few seconds – use this time wisely and watch your score rocket!

Space Invaders

Another classic game that is popular with many people is Space Invaders, the simple graphics have not changed much over the years which definitely adds to the charm. The object of the game is simple-destroy the alien invaders, before they destroy you! Hide behind shelters to protect yourself, but be aware – gradually these defense bunkers are destroyed in the battle. This is a great game to play online and is seriously addictive, why not give it a try and see what you think?

Othello

If you prefer to play traditional board games then online Othello is ideal. Just like the board game, the object is to ‘trap’ your opponent with your discs in order to flip them to your colour and dominate the board.  Othello, which is sometimes referred to as ‘Reversi’ is a game of strategy, the more you play the more you improve. So get yourself comfortable and use your logic and skill to outwit the computer.

Tetris

Tetris is a much loved game which looks easy, but actually can be quite challenging! An assortment of different shapes, each made out of four squares appear. The object of the game is to try and rotate the shapes in order to create a solid wall without leaving gaps. Once a solid line from edge to edge is made the line dissolves and the remaining pieces move down. Points are won for successfully dissolving lines, but be careful as the shapes are released thick and fast so you need to think about your next move quickly! This is a great game to play and is suitable for a whole range of ages, it is seriously addictive - you will want to keep playing in order to make an awesome high score.

Bingo

Games have always been popular as a form of entertainment, with many people making a real event of inviting friends and family over for an evening of nibbles, drinks, and an assortment of games. What if all you want after a long day at work is just some quiet time by yourself? You can still play many games online that are derived from the traditional multi-player ‘real life’ versions. Online bingo is always fun and a great ‘pick-me-up’ at the end of a stressful day. With the same game play to regular bingo, players need to pay close attention to the numbers they were given, to the numbers displayed on the computer screen.  Depending on what you want from your online bingo games you can play for free, or play for cash prizes.

No matter what games you like, the trick is spending time looking through the hundreds of sites available and discovering what works for you and what you enjoy playing. Many sites enable you to play these great games for free and many more, so sit back, relax, and have fun. Happy gaming!

It may be a fair few months away yet but time always seems to fly by and before we know it Christmas will be upon us once more. If you are someone who loves to be organised in advance to avoid that last minute panic then it is never too early to start thinking about the festive season!

Sending Christmas cards is a tradition, and there are always some gorgeous designs in the shops, the problem is that they are quite expensive and the costs soon start to mount up. Not only this but we are constantly being encouraged to recycle, and perhaps not as many of us are listening. This is why it is time to take a fresh look at the way you send a greeting at Christmas.

Many people are opting to send Christmas greetings cards online and doing away with costly shop bought cards, and having to fork out money on stamps. We have a whole host of cheerful Christmas eCards to choose from. Whether you want to send a traditional snowy scene, something a bit saucy for your partner, or just something fun and light hearted, we have covered all the corners to ensure that there is something for everyone.

Thanks to an application called ‘Face It’ you are able to add that element of surprise by uploading photographs of friends and family and make them the starring feature in their own Christmas greeting cards. This is great if you want to send a truly memorable greeting. Sending free Christmas greetings cards is so easy, just follow our step by step instructions. All our Christmas eCards have a section ready for you to include a heartfelt message, so say as much or as little as you want.

 

Just think about all the money you will save by choosing to send free e cards this Christmas – your bank balance will be grateful! Not only that but you are also helping the environment – two great reasons to try this fresh approach to sending a Christmas card. Christmas is about spending quality time with the important people in your life, so eat, drink, be merry and have an amazing time.

Sending an ecard has fast become a popular and alternative method to sending a text message, an e-mail, and even the traditional hand written letter. There are many e card sites out there, each with their own collection of greetings sorted into various sections to make it easy to search for the perfect card.

What if there were ways to make your greeting extra special and totally unique? Many ecard sites promise exactly that –a chance to create and send a truly unique card for your chosen recipient.              

Here is a hand-picked selection of some of the weird and wonderful applications around in order for you to design a greeting that will make someone’s day.

For the budding artist and designer

Sites such as pencake are online ecard drawing platforms where you can create an online work of art. Simply let your artistic talent shine through by experimenting with the various drawing and colouring tools. Once you are happy with your card design submit it to the sites collection where others can view your artwork.  You can send your creation to a friend, or if others admire your efforts they too can send your ecard design to someone special.

 

The slightly weird!

There are some strange ecard sites out there and bloody finger mail is just one of them. Sites like these provide a few minuets of entertainment. As the name suggests, this gruesome site has a chopped finger as a writing tool and you create a message in blood. A little odd, and probably not the best for those with a delicate tummy! You might want to remember this site come 31^st of October because it is ideal for creating a spooky Halloween ecard.

The photo upload

To really add that extra special touch to an ecard why not choose a site where you can upload photographs of friends and family? The free greeting cards site ecards.co.uk has an application called face it which enables you to place photographs of your loved ones onto a variety of fun characters.   These include can-can dancers, an assortment of animals, and even iconic movie stars. This site is totally free to use, and with many different ecards for a whole host of occasions there is sure to be something to suit every taste and personalities.

 

Encourage a healthy life style

If you want to try and encourage a friend to stop smoking, or suggest that you both go on a health kick then sites like health finder provide the perfect solution. Primarily health finder is a site dedicated to helping you find information and support to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, but they feature a range of ecards designed to encourage and inspire loved ones to stay fit and healthy. This is a great way to give a mate a gentle nudge in the right direction if they need to kick an unhealthy habit.

Build from scratch

Many ecard sites such as buzzle allow you to build your very own greeting from scratch. This particular site allows you to upload your own background picture, (or choose one from their selection)select fun icons which you can place anywhere on the card. This means you are in total control of what your finished ecard will look like. Finally add a message for your chosen recipient and you are done! The lucky chosen recipient is bound to appreciate the fact that you have gone that extra mile on order to create something unique.

 

         

 

With so many new and exciting applications around to help you design something special, take time to explore some sites and see which ones work the best for you.

Sharing stories, uploading holiday snaps, and playing games is all part of the fun of joining a social networking site. These sites are a wonderful way to keep in touch with friends near and far, with many sites free to join and profiles simple to set up, it can be tricky deciding which sites to join.

We bring you a break-down of some of the most popular sites around so you can stay in touch with friends and family.

Facebook

Easy to use with a clean and simple design, facebook is one of the most loved social networking sites around. Setting up a profile is free, and with activities such as playing games, uploading photos, and joining a fan page based on your interests, facebook provides a whole host of additional functions as well as keeping in touch with your nearest and dearest.

Search for friends with the finder icon and once connected, you can send messages, add posts, and share news feeds. Even better, you can upload photos to your own profile page, and then send a copy to your friends by creating a tag. This is a great way to share pictures, and you can create as many albums as you wish.

Myspace

Just like facebook, Myspace is another easy way to share news and write messages. One of the major differences is that you can customize your myspace profile page however you want. By adding patterns, colours and altering font design, you really can let your creativity run wild and make a truly personal profile that will stand out from the crowd. Sharing messages with friends, uploading not only videos and photos, but also music from artists you love, has allowed myspace to become a firm favourite with millions of people word wide.

Bebo

Blog early, blog often is what Bebo stands for. This site encourages members to let their imagination flow by allowing them to create their own personalised profile page. Select from a wide variety of skins, some of which have been submitted by other users, and customize them to suit your tastes. With the traditional methods of staying in touch with friends such as adding posts on the main wall area, submitting news feeds, uploading photographs and tagging them, Bebo is another popular social networking site. What appears to make it stand out from the crowd is that you are able to move various applications on your profile page and place them where you want. This provides another great way to add your own personal touch and really make your profile fun and funky.

Friendster

This is yet another much loved social networking site. Created to make searching and making new friends easier and safer, friendster allows people to write messages, upload images and videos in a few short and simple steps. Members can even see who has been viewing their profiles, a good way to keep on track of who sees what.  Join groups based on your hobbies and interests, then connect and chat with like-minded people across the world. You may even make some new friends. A great aspect about friendster is that there is a help section filled with many queries and answers should you get stuck. Users are also encouraged to report any offensive content to the friendster customer services.

Second Life

Ok, so Second life may not be classed as a social networking site in the true sense, but is it still a pretty awesome site and deserves a mention. Second life enables users to become part of a virtual world, initial set up is free, but you can pay a small fee in order to have additional technological back up support, or you can pay to have your money exchanged into second life currency called linden dollars. You create an online character and customize your appearance, so this is the perfect chance to really let your creative juices flow. Once set up you can interact and chat with other characters, and explore loads of different places. This site could be a great way to make new friends because behind every second life character is a real person somewhere in the world.

 

No matter which social networking site you use, have fun exploring the host of applications these sites bring, make new friends, stay in touch with old friends, and express yourself.