If there’s one form of papermaking I truly adore, it’s letterpress. Letterpress is the art of creating a template, adding ink, and delicately pressing the form onto a card the old fashioned way. Of course, it’s a lot more complicated, but the idea of handmade cardmaking makes me a little giddy.

sweetbeets is one of my favorite letterpress card artistes, capturing not only the beauty of letterpress as an art, but the wonders of childhood with simple yet stunning images. All Sweetbeets cards are printed on chlorine-free, 100% post consumer recycled paper stock, on a vintage printing press. Envelopes are 30% recycled brown kraft. And the cards are one in a million, just like your kids…

This “tea party with bunny” card speaks to my childhood. I may have had a Cabbage Patch Kid instead of a bunny sitting across from me, but tea parties were a big part of my imaginary playtime. This is a card for a special little girl who pours tea over and over again, to anyone who will sit and stay awhile. Retro yet modern, sweet and simple, this card should be framed for years of reminiscing of fond memories of cupcakes, friendship, and quiet time.

Is it holiday time yet? Walking around the mall today (and with a chill in the Florida air this week), it almost felt like it should be late November/December. Even though Halloween isn’t until Friday, holiday lights are starting to pop up and my daughters’ eyes are tuned into the sights and sounds of the season. One thing I know many people are starting to organize are holiday cards, often a major part of the year-end tradition of sending good wishes and words of joy and love.

One new line of card I was recently turned on to is Paper Shouts - with their funky name and equally unique “shout” cards for virtually every occasion, I was immediately hooked! Paper Shouts cards come in modern, traditional and vintage styles, and for someone like me who is a total stationary addict, this is a new favorite place to browse.  They’ve also announced that all designer shouts are from now on to be printed on 100% PCW recycled, heavyweight (110#), uncoated paper and are shipped with 50% recycled envelopes (30% PCW/20% VF)! Good move, I say! Plus, from now through November 5th, all proceeds from their Holiday Shouts line will go directly to Our City Forest (OCF), an urban forest renewal/education organization created to cultivate community through urban tree planting.

This week, Paper Shouts wants you to start your holiday planning early with an awesome giveaway! They’re offering a $50 gift card toward any Paper Shouts product - whether it be for holiday time, a new baby or your daughter’s Sweet 16. The rules go like this - please leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what Paper Shouts “Holiday Shout” would you love to send to your loved ones this holiday season? Choose from Christmas, Chanukah, Feliz Navidad and Holiday party cards, many of them with room for a lovely pic of your family offering friends and family good cheer this year. This contest will be open from now through next Wednesday, November 5th at midnight PST, so get shouting!

Additionally, Paper Shouts is offering 10% off your order! Please use the coupon “teensygreen” at checkout!

This contest is now closed! Thanks to everyone for entering!

A year ago, I was living in Panama and starting teensygreen the only way I knew how - by emailing, contacting and searching for people to connect with. I met Emily, creator of subu, inc. handmade recycled notebooks through a crafting website. Since she has the word “recycled” in her offerings, I jumped on it. Being a notebook fanatic, I not only ordered some custom notebooks from her, but launched my very first giveaway. Emily must have had a huge email circle, because I couldn’t believe how many responses I received after only writing for a couple of weeks! (It helps that her notebooks are no less than awesome.)

subu’s notebooks rock, not only because I can carry them in my bag, but they have an artsy vibe to them so even my grocery lists seem cooler. Emily has really expanded her line, with many different designs and sizes. The best part is she uses discarded printer paper, so you may find some quirky paper inside. But that’s all part of the fun. You can also get them customized, from the color of the cover to the image printed on it, from words to flowers, to, um, Bill Clinton. These are great for teens looking for funky additions to their school supplies, but you may want to keep them for yourself!

This week, two winners will each received two subu notebooks each! Just leave a comment with an answer to this tough question - which subu notebook will you be jotting notes down in if you could? This giveaway is open until next Monday, September (!) 1st at midnight, PST. Good luck!

This contest is now closed! Keep an eye out for more giveaways soon!

Happy almost Spring! I know everyone is anxiously awaiting the arrival of warmer weather and more time outside, especially with Easter this Sunday. While the weather is still chilly, why not reenergize your kids with new, eco-friendly cards and coloring fun! I’ve written about Stubby Pencil Studio for Valentine’s Day, and I asked Kate Rosenthal, Stubby Pencil’s creator, to make party invitations for my daughter’s third birthday party. What a hit! I am so loving this paper company, I thought it was time to share with all of you. Stubby Pencil Studio’s “Green to the Letter” Stationery basket includes:

• 4 packs of Color ‘n Kids cards (winner’s choice of styles) - click the categories under “multi-pack sets” to see the styles
• Set of 10 Smencil pencils
• NEW! Set of 10 Colored Smencil pencils
• Box of 24 Soy Crayons
• One ’spring top’ pencil sharpener (winner’s choice of style)

This is an artsy kid’s dream! My girls love these cards, and it’s a great feeling to have them handy and not have to run to a card store for every holiday or occasion. The cards also have letter tracing and fun, unique, kid-centric designs.

You know the rules - leave a comment here with an answer to the following: what’s your favorite Color ‘n Kids pack? You have until Thursday, March 27th at midnight PST to enter. Good luck!

This contest is closed!  Congrats to Donna! 

One thing you MUST know about me is, I’m OBSESSED with all things paper - notebooks, stationery, you name it, I’m all over it. I could do a whole blog on paper - but for teensygreen, we’ll stick with the sustainable stuff. One paper and ecofab goods designer is blissen, by Jill Bliss. Bliss gets her inspiration from all things nature - right now, she’s featuring beautiful water and forest motifs in her paper line, with rich details inside and out. Of course, using veggie inks and recycled, post consumer paper makes the whole blissen line that much more special, but I guarantee you will be enamored as much as I am with her beautiful drawings.

Instead of the usual chocolate Valentine’s Day giveaway you might have expected, I thought blissen’s limited-edition ‘Kissy Kissy’ pocket pouch might be more appropriate. There are only a few of these left, so enter and get your Vday on with a little something for yourself. Or, if you have any daughters like mine who collect seashells or hairbands or pennies or anything they find on the sidewalk, give it to a little one who will always appreciate one more bag in their collection. This is a quick giveaway - please enter your comment with an answer to the follow question by Thursday night at midnight, PST. What is your favorite blissen notecard collection? (My fav is ‘tidepools’.) Good luck!

This contest is now closed!  Congrats to Carrie, and thanks for entering!

If you’re like me, you’re almost done with Chanukah, stuffed full of latkes and applesauce (I’m a sour cream woman myself), strung out from one too many dreidel games, and about to sit back, relax, and let the millionth holiday commercial on CNN come and go without even a peek. If you’re not like me, you’re still on a countdown of shopping, organizing, finalizing, and wrapping. And herein lies the problem for many of us. I’ve written about what a waste wrapping paper is…all that paper, made to look pretty and then BAM! Instant trash, especially with kids, who will shred wrapping paper until every last glittery piece is ready to be landfilled.

What an amazing find with these box sets from treeo design, resuable boxes that are more like attention-grabbing accents for gifts - and will gladly be used again to make someone else’s face light up. Made from either recycled or FSC certified paper (meaning, no new trees were used to produce them), and using vegetable dyes for printing, the boxes have a funky, totally carryable shape and design to match any gift giver (or recipient)! The boxes come in either a set of three - large, medium, and small - or, a four pack of small boxes for stocking stuffers or ‘good things come in small packages’ gifts. Treeo is a mom/sister/friend-run company out of upstate New York, which gives me the feeling that a lot of heart and personality went into these designs. Guaranteed you’ll find a box set that fits your gift-giving style!

I just so happen to have the pleasure of giving away a treeo box set (3-pack) to one lucky winner this week! Just tell me which design is your favorite, leave a comment here, and you might win it…The giveaway is, as always, open until Thursday night at midnight, PST. Have fun choosing, and good luck!

PS - They make good, old-fashioned recycled wrapping paper too!

This contest is now closed!  Happy Holidays, and look for more giveaways in the New Year!

Sorry for the lack of posts last week…between traveling, the holidays, and lack of computer access, well…I’m going to make it up by doing a special mom giveaway this week.  I found Blossom Creations on Etsy a while ago, and fell in love with the colorful and nature/artsy stationery.  Australia-based Erin Corvisy became intrigued with the green movement around her, and decided to leave her job and try her hand at graphic design.  Blossom Creations is her result, and boy, are we happy she made a career change!  Her stationery and notebooks are made from 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, and she’s already branching out to include eco-friendly home goods, giftwrap, and accessories, all with her beautiful and totally original designs!

This week, I’m so excited to giveaway Erin’s “Raven” notebook.  These little birdies will keep your recipes, school project notes, or free-time sketches looking their best!  Leave a comment here by Thursday night at midnight, PST, with an answer to this question - What are one of the names of Erin’s other Blossom Creations notebooks?  Good luck and happy Monday!

Congrats to Nicole Mendoza, winner of Blossom Creation’s “Raven” notebook!

For older kids, notebooks are a necessity, but if you’re a paper lover like me, your kids probably have a stack of their own as well. Notebooks all over the house means the ability to draw, write, doodle, and sketch whenever necessary. These paper products will help your kids start the school year off right, and hopefully inspire them!

If you have a girly dreamer in the family, these adorable notebook/journal, made with 100% post-consumer recycled notebooks and printed with veggie inks, will let her pour out her dreams. These wirebound notebooks are more practical for class, made from 50% recycled and 30% post-consumer fiber that contains bright, lined paper with low glare (who knew?). Comes in 1- to 5-subjects for your high schools juggling multiple subjects. And little scientists will love to carry these buggy notepads, also made with 100% recycled content and unbleached paper.

Of course, there’s always an old standby. This classic Composition Notebook with recycled materials works for moms too! Happy writing

All notebooks are available at grassroots, via Design Milk.

Giftwrap/wrapping paper is a sore subject with people who like to give gifts (ok, everyone), but hate knowing all that paper is going to end up in a big black garbage bag for the trash man Monday morning (ok, me).  I don’t like the comics thing…too dirty.  Lately I’ve been wrapping gifts in my kid’s artwork, but it involves a lot of tape and glitter/sequins all over the place.  Then I found Fish Lips.  Great name, right?  Fish Lips Paper Designs makes 100% post-consumer, totally oversized, soy-based ink recycled giftwrap in designs you might want to frame instead of put on a gift!  I promise, you will keep this paper for yourself unless it’s for your best friend or someone who will totally appreciate your thoughtfulness. 

I have two mama-sized sheets of paper in your choice of styles for one lucky winner!  Leave a comment here now through Thursday night at midnight.  And keep checking back at Fish Lips for more products!

When I was a teenager, I wrote in my journal.  A lot.  More than anything, I wanted to make sure no one would read them, so I hid them well.  These days, kids have seem to lost the art of using journals.  After seeing these beautiful recycled, handmade notebooks by suburose, maybe you can change their mind!  These colorful books can be made completely customized -choose your color, with embellishments or text on them.  But the inside of the books are the coolest.  subu uses discarded printer paper as stock, so some pages have the print they came out of the printer with.  Now, I used to work in publishing, and I remember with horror how much paper we wasted from printer mishaps.  Makes me feel better to know some of it is being put to good use…

EXCLUSIVELY FOR TEENSY!  Win suburose’s ‘Top Secret’ journal for you or your secretive teenager.  Leave a comment here and I’ll pick a winner at random.  You have until Wednesday, July 25th at midnight to enter!  Good luck!