Bella Ink Blog

FOLDED NOTE CARD FRIDAY

This Folded Note Card Friday we're going to keep up with the "Think Pink" theme since it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Pictured above is EF-59, a folded note card that comes with or without a rhinestone embellishment over the i in "Pink."  This card was the first in Bella Ink's series of Cards that Care.

Cards that Care was created to give back to the communities close to our hearts.  Being a female owned and operated business, and knowing more women in our lives than we'd like to who have battled different women's cancers, a card that would raise money for an established research and education organization was tops on our list.  

In 2008 we donated 10% of the wholesale proceeds from this card to Bright Pink, a Chicago-based organization whose goal is to educate at-risk women about their breast and ovarian health .  You can read our interview with Lindsay Avner of Bright Pink in our December 2009 archives.

At the end of 2009 Bella Ink will be donating 10% of the wholesale proceeds from this, and any of the "Hope" stationery products, to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  

Think Pink with Bella Ink Designs

(Pictured above: SF-15 "think pink" by Bella Ink Designs)

Bella Ink Designs would like to give "Hope" to the fight against breast cancer with a little help from our friends... YOU! Available at boutique card and gift shops throughout the United States are the latest in our series of Cards that Care, the "Hope" stationery set (WP-15/WP-15A), folded note card (SF-15/SF-15A) and invitation (PH-35).  With 10% of the wholesale proceeds from each sale going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, we can all give a little hope this year!

Our "Hope" collection made its debut at the 2009 National Stationery Show in New York City, May 17-20.  Donation dollars have been adding up through sales of "Hope" merchandise nationwide since then, but we would love to contribute much more to the cause.  A donation will be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in one lump sum at the end of 2009.  To see where you may purchase Bella Ink, and help keep "Hope" alive, please visit our "Find a Store" page.

The folded note cards and writing paper in the "Hope" stationery sets, printed on cream paper, are adorned with a design of pink bubbles and the iconic pink ribbon associated with the Breast Cancer Awareness movement.  The folded note card, which may be ordered as part of the set or on its own, comes blank for personalization or pre-printed with "think pink."  All stationery sets are packaged in sleek, chocolate brown boxes that won't leave a desk or countertop looking cluttered.  

A coordinating invitation, printed on white card stock, is also available.  And, as always, we believe that invitations should lead double lives.  Print fundraiser menus on extra invites and place one at each table setting or food station for an informative and cohesive design element.  

To see more of the "Hope" stationery products that are available, as well as the other products in our Cards that Care series, please visit our gallery, at the left.

If you would like more information on breast cancer, or how to help, please visit the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month home page.  But remember, we can, and should, contribute to the cause year-round!

5 Ways to Help with "Hope" Products:

 

Q&A with Lindsay Avner of Bright Pink!

Bella Ink Designs released the folded note card pictured above (EF-59 "Think Pink") into the world about one year ago.  As promised, the time has come for us to donate a portion of this card's proceeds to Bright Pink, a group whose goal is to educate at-risk young women about their breast and ovarian health.  We asked Bright Pink's founder, Lindsay Avner, to take part in a short Q&A.  She graciously took the time to provide us with insightful and inspirational answers.  

So Lindsay...

Q: What is the most important thing a young woman should know about her breast and ovarian health?

A: That you know your body better than anyone.  If you notice any changes in your body, you have the greater responsibility to speak up and demand the attention and care you deserve.

Q: What has been your best moment as a businesswoman in the last year?

A: For me, it was securing our partnership with Wrigley's Orbit White.  In September and October, Bright Pink was on every pack of Orbit White Bubblemint gum.  The exposure we received was unmatched and it was so fabulous to have the financial support, as well as the opportunity to reach our girls at a moment when they were least expecting.  We just signed our contract for 2009 this past week!

Q: What is your personal motto?

A: Be Brilliant.  Be Bold.  Be Bright Pink.

Q: What is going to be your New Year's resolution?

A: To try and bring some separation between work and home.  I think that when you are a Founder of a business and organization, you can sometimes let the boundaries slide because you are so passionate about what you do that it doesn't even feel like work.  But some of my best ideas come to me when I am not actually working.  In order to continue to stay fresh and relevant, it is critical.

Q: You must travel a lot since your organization has events and branches throughout the U.S., so what is the one thing you can't board a plane without?

A: My business cards!  I can't tell you how many wonderful people I have met simply by striking up a conversation with the individual sitting next to me.  One time, a business man was so moved by what the organization does that he wrote me a check for $5,000 on the spot.  His wife had had breast cancer and he had a 4-year-old daughter.  "I want to make sure Bright Pink is there for my daughter when she is ready to confront her risk head-on," he said.  I was overwhelmed!

Q: What are you looking forward to the most for your organization in the year ahead?

A: Growing Bright Pink nationally by establishing a strong presence in 4 new cities.  We have created an Ambassador Kit, which allows us to maintain a certain level of control, but also begin to successfully bring Bright Pink to new cities nationwide.  It is important that we don't half-heartedly establish a presence.  In order for a Bright Pink chapter to be formed, there must be an educational, support and fundraising component.  We have worked on this initiative all year, so I am really excited to roll it out!

We would like to thank Lindsay again for her participation.  Please take the time to visit Bright Pink and learn more about the organization.  We would also like to thank the customers who helped contribute to our donation by carrying "Think Pink" in their stores:

All She Wrote * Alspaugh's Ace Hardware * Ann's Hallmark * Announcingit.com * Apropos * Cardventure   Cloud Nine * Cool Scrapbook Stuff * Dandelion Patch * Etcetera-Louisville * Express Yourself-Evergreen * Farm Basket * Inviting Affairs * Kay's Hallmark * Knickers of Hyde Park * La Ti Da * Lolo Card & Gifts * Lulu's * Montclair Paperie * Note Bene * Oh Yeah * Open House * Paper & Plume * Paper Caper-Burlingame * Paper Closet * Paper Creations-Orland Park * Paper Savvy * Papier Girl * Papyrus Lafayette * Parchment, Inc. * Penpals Stationery * Pris Paper * Sherry's Fine Stationery * Signature Collections * Silver Papery * Socially Write * Something Blue * Sugar Press * That Absolutely Fabulous Paper Emporium * The Inviting Place * The Kitchen Outlet * The Papery of Annapolis * The Papery of Arlington * The Papery of Bethesda * The Papery of Rockville * The Write Stuff * Vintage Rose Emporium * Watermark * Windsong Stationery * With Grace * You're Invited-Nashville * You're Invited-Tulsa

Think Pink! October = Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The month of October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness month on a national level, but the search for a cure and the movement to educate women about the disease happens every day of the year, all over the world.

If you would like to join those contributing to the fight against breast cancer this October, Bella Ink Designs has an idea on how you can spend one day...

Wake up and head to Panera for a pink ribbon bagel. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bagel, full of dried cherries, cranberries and cherry chips, will go to various breast cancer organizations. Be sure to take the Pink Ribbon Bagel Pledge, committing yourself to monthly self-breast exams and yearly mammograms.

After breakfast, head over to your favorite card & gift boutique and purchase Bella Ink's "Think Pink" (EF-59) folded note, pictured above. 10% of the wholesale proceeds from this card in 2008 will be donated to Bright Pink, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to educating at-risk women about their breast and ovarian health. Bring your notes home and take this opportunity to pick up a pen and write a personal letter to friends or family members used to receiving short emails from you. They'll be surprised and touched, trust us. (FYI: The purchase of this card in not limited to the month of October. It's here for the year!)

After you've taken care of your correspondence, hop on the Internet and head over to Red Envelope. Spend the rest of the afternoon browsing through their Give Pink shop. 10% of sales from items in this shop will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can start shopping now, too. Sales from September and October will be factored into their donation.

Sounds like you're in for a fabulous day!

By the way, if you live in the Chicagoland area, there's still time to register for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure run/walk event on September 27th, 2008 in Grant Park. Their goal is to earn $1,295,000 for the fight against breast cancer. Right now their total donations are only at $487,069, so they need your participation! If you can't make it out to Grant Park, head over to their general donation page to contribute to the cause. To find a race near you visit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure web page and see what they're doing on a year-round basis to raise funds worldwide.