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Haven Business Card Round-Up & MOO Giveaway Winners!

Blogger Business Cards using MOO and PicMonkey! by The Thinking Closet

Hiya, friends!  So, I have to say, I was floored by the enthusiastic response to my new MOO business cards last week.  You folk do wonders for a girl’s self esteem.  Thank you!  Also, it just affirms the fact that you don’t have to be a professional designer with fancy software to create biz cards that make a lasting impression.

Today, I’m going to share the survey results from last week, as well as a round-up of business cards I collected at Haven, but first, I gotta get something off my chest…or something(s) rather.  And those somethings are…the names of the three winners of a set of 50 classic MOO business cards!  Ow, ow!  

We had 673 entries from folk all over the world (thanks to MOO being international-friendly), and here are names of the three winners that the Rafflecopter Widget spit out as powered by Random.org:

MOO Business Card Giveaway Winners!  Congrats!

Congrats you three!  Y’all are going to get hooked on MOO cards like a fish on a line after receiving your 50, let me just forewarn you.  {Fine print: I have emailed you all for confirmation; please respond within 48 hours or I will have to choose other winners.}

And the people spoke:

Thanks to every for your feedback on my business cards.  Here were the survey results to my two questions that I threw out there:

The People Speak!  Results to my business card survey questions. The People Speak!  Results to my business card survey questions.

So, clearly we need to plan a craftsy get-together at night where we cut things with our Silhouettes and sip chai lattes.  Sound good?  Good.

And I love the suggestions y’all offered up in the “Other” category!  I SO am going to use some of them in the future.  I mean, who doesn’t have a soft spot for Manatee videos?

Seriously, though, this feedback is going to prove really helpful for when I go to print more MOO cards  And you know I’m going to design even more backgrounds next time…because I’m a bit obsessive about it and why wouldn’t you when there’s Printfinity!

Haven Business Card Round-Up

So, as many of you know, I got business cards printed in the first place because I attended Haven blog conference last weekend in Hot-lanta, Georgia.  Pretty much immediately upon meeting someone and introducing yourself, you’d swap cards.  I was delighted to learn that several folk had seen my Instagram pic of my seven different backgrounds and my post, so some even made a special request for a certain card!  I also targeted the Florida bloggers with my Sunshine State card and brands with my “Let’s Connect” one.  #strategery  (Name that SNL sketch!)

The conference planners were really smart with name tags this year because our name tag satchel had enough pockets that it doubled as business card storage!  It was like a fanny pack…for your neck.  See:

Nifty Way to Store Business Cards at a Conference!

I’m definitely going to keep that sucker for future conferences!

Now, I thought I’d share some snapshots of most the business cards I collected last weekend at Haven.  I say most because I’m sure I’m missing a few in this mix (Rachel?  Kelly?  Candace?  Didn’t we trade?).

May they give you inspiration for all that’s possible when it comes to designing your own business cards.  Really, there are no rules!

First up, here are some of the cards of folks I got to spend quality time with at Haven–folks whom I am proud to now call my friends.  They’re incredible women in real life as well as in blog life, so I highly recommend paying them each a visit:

I loved collecting business cards from my blogger buddies turned real life buddies at Haven 2013!

Most cards I collected went the classic route with a horizontal orientation.  (As did mine.)  When designing your own, consider including your blog logo or profile pic to help folk connect the name to the blogger.

You could go the classic route with horizontal cards...note which ones catch your eye in this bunch and ask yourself, "Why?"

Or if you’re feeling gutsy, you could change it up and orient your card vertically because…well…it’s mysterious and unexpected.

You could go the unconventional route and create a vertical oriented card!

A handful of us included QR codes on our cards to whisk people off to our blogs quickly with the use of a smart phone app like  q·.:Launcher!  I used QRStuff.com to design my QR code in a matter of minutes.

Consider adding a QR code to your card to quickly whisk people to your site using a smart phone app!

Some folk went above and beyond and added a bit of “swag” to their business cards.  I got mints from Finding Home, a paint chip card from Southern State of Mind, dried lavender from Cottage in the Oaks, a binder ring for collected cards from Black & White Obsession, and a funny pin from Two Twenty One.  I also heard rumor of Swedish Fish coming with Homemade Ocean’s cards…of course, I kicked myself that I didn’t get to meet her!  (And not just because of the Swedish fish, but because I love her blog.)

If you want to go above and beyond, add some swag to your business cards!

I could recognize the other conference attendees who used MOO for their biz card printing based on feel alone.  I love that MOO cards are sturdier than other cards and sMOOth as butta’!  Also, note the rounded edges on 2 of them, which I also opted for!

MOO Business cards are known for their high quality cards...they're thicker than other cards and sMOOth as butta'!

Some folk really thought outside the business-card-box with some unconventional sizes.  Anna from Ask Anna had a folded flap on top of her card for more surface area, and the square-shaped cards from Shaunna at Perfectly Imperfect and Beth at Home Stories A to Z were real stand-outs to me!

Think outside the business card box with unconventional sizes!  You want to stand out and this is one great way to do so.

My absolute favorite business card that I collected from Haven had to be Therese’s from Fresh Idea Studio.  (Shout out to my Central Florida Blogger buddy!)  Therese’s cards were made by hand (yes, those are real brushstrokes on heavyweight cardstock), and the best part that you cannot tell through the screen is that they smelled sweet!  Like a beachy candle!  They made all the other cards in my fanny-neck-pack smell sweet without being overbearing.  She gets my Business Card of the Summer award.

My favorite business card from Haven...and it was handmade!

Dear reader, is there a card in this mix that stands out most to you?  Or one that is most inspiring?  I’d love to know!

10% off MOO

Now that we’ve got business cards on the brain, I’m guessing some of you will want to print your own!  Well, if you want to show The Thinking Closet some love and save 10% off on your purchase of MOO cards, you can use my referral link (click HERE).  Thanks in advance!

And once you make your first MOO purchase, you’ll get a referral link of your own, so every time you refer 3 customers, you get a credit for 50 free classic cards.  Pretty nice, huh?

Thanks!

Thanks again to MOO for spoiling my awesome readers with this great giveaway and for doing such quality work.  I’m a fan for life!  Thanks to the Haven Mavens for inspiring us all with your incredible designs.  And thanks to you all for jumping in on the giveaway fun and for being such engaged and responsive readers.  Sending everyone a virtual hug!

Full Disclosure: This review was not compensated in any way by MOO.  I am just that excited about MOO business cards and wanted to share that excitement with you all.

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63 Comments

    1. It’s true – – handmade touches can take extra time, but in the end, they can be so worthwhile for their impact on the recipient.

  1. These cards are so creative and fun! I will have to borrow some ideas for my future professional nursing card which is currently WAY boring compared to these.

    I never would have thought to organize and showcase business cards but it was a great idea and as you said, kept the Haven-conference-glow burning even longer!

    1. Ha ha. You know, I never really saw the potential for creativity with business cards until I started looking at other people’s wrap up posts after blog conferences. It just opened up my mind to world of possibility…and I figured, others might benefit from seeing the creative cards I collected at Haven. Glad to know you were one of those “others,” Mama! 😉

    1. Thanks! I collected so many cute business cards at Haven…I just felt like they needed to be showcased in some way!

  2. Awww, thanks for the sweet shout out & card shot! I’ll be recommending MOO to everyone; I’m so impressed with how they feel, but even more impressed with the endless inspiration in the Printfinity feature 😉 Oh, the possibilities!

    1. You are so welcome, Emily. And I’m delighted to hear you’re a fan of MOO, too, now! I know, it’s pretty hard to resist unlimited options! #choiceschoiceschoices

  3. What a fun collection! And really, who doesn’t want a fanny pack for their neck? Thanks for sharing the cards with us…I love how people in the creative industry really go above and beyond the traditional boring work card.
    And that name that sketch I do believe was portraying one of our former presidents GWB played by Will Farrell.

    1. Right? I think neck fanny packs are going to be hitting the European runways any day now…Haven was just ahead of the game. 😉 I know, there’s so much more that you can do…in fact, I think it can be a little overwhelming with how many options there are. I just did my best to have fun with it!

      And yippee! You win the “Name-That-SNL-Sketch” prize! Your prize, which of course is a cowbell, will be arriving at your place of residence in 2-3 business days. 😉

  4. LOVE the cards! I’m such a business card nerd too! And by the way, if I was giving away a business card of the summer award too, yours would totally win! I loved the little word bubble/quote you included by the QR code….so adorable/unique! So great meeting you at Haven! Can’t wait for Haven 2014!

    1. Aw, Angie, you’re too kind! Thanks, girl! I’m so glad that you joined us for dinner that last night, so I could meet you and your fab self. I only wish we had been sitting closer so I could have heard more about how you re-roofed your house. Guess that’s what blogs are for! And Haven 2014!

  5. Love this post! And thanks for sharing my card! Yours was one of my favorites and I told several people to head to your blog and enter your giveaway. I’ll be using MOO at some point in the future!

    1. Thanks for spreading the news, friend! And for the sweet words! So glad we got to hang together at Haven. 3 days was too short.

  6. Is that my business card?! Say what?! Thanks for the shout out.

    Glad I got to net you at haven, sad w didn’t get to hang out more. There’s always next year though right?
    Loved your business cards, if I want so busy finishing the site redesign, I would have chosen the ‘lets connect onour silhouette obsession.’ You know because my cards were cut using that machine 🙂 P.S. I totally snagged the collage one!!

    1. You know it! Had to feature that awesome binder ring you included. If the Haven Mavens hadn’t been so clever and thought of the neck fanny pack idea, I totally would have used that ring to store all of my business cards. In fact, I might end up storing them on it now just to keep them organized. So, thanks again for that giftie!

      And I LOVE that you used your Silhouette to cut your cards! Way to go, Silhouette rockstar! 😉 If you ever want to join my Silhouette FB group, Trisha, let me know.

  7. So I think you’ve answered my question on where you ordered your biz cards from! I love YOURS the best! Gorgeous 😉 And I have the same creative cards as you. Amazing creativity out there!
    Hugs,
    Jamie

    1. Blush-face. Thanks, Jamie! And it’s true, the Haven Mavens are some of the most creative women (and men!) on the planet…I’m convinced.

  8. This blog definitely gets bookmarked and PDF’d. There are some terrific ideas and I am sure you were just scratching the surface. I am going to use this blog as a reference tool when my brain is low on creativity.
    I saw a post on how to make scented things using paint and now I am going to have to try and find it. I thought at the time they were making them to put in drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh.
    Thanks for another great blog post.

    1. Thanks for the bookmark and pdf action! Though I can’t really imagine your brain being short on creativity, Karen. Creativity you have in spades!

      And you can make things scented with paints? Yes, that would be perfect for dresser drawers. Or…handmade business cards. You hear about the coolest things.

  9. Love this post!! You are adorable and I’m so glad I met you. You truly do have a smile that lights up the room. I do love the whole QR code thingy, and I enjoy studying everyone’s cards. The creativity blows my mind. Look forward to following your blog and your cute self! xoxo

    1. Way to make my night with your super sweet comment. I’m glad we got to meet, too, Janis! Looking forward to continuing to bump into each other in blogland. Hugs!

  10. Lauren, I love seeing everyone’s business cards! What a great post. And I agree. Next time I’ll Moo too! You really can feel a difference in the Moo quality. And this opinion is all my own (aka not being compensated). 🙂

    1. Ha ha! Thanks for your sharing your honest opinion, Michele! (And I’m delighted to know you’re a MOO fan, too.)

    1. Thanks, Debbie! It was great sharing breakfast together Saturday morning. And I’m glad you enjoyed the round-up! It was fun to put together…and helped me hold onto Haven just a little bit longer.

  11. Ahhh, cool post! I don’t have so many of those different ones you got! Next year I clearly need to talk to more people. 🙂

    1. I found that by the last day, I would get so caught up in a good conversation, I would forget to ask for a card. So, maybe you were just doing a better job of actually getting to know people!

    1. Pshaw…thanks, girl. I had to snap ’em quick before the wind picked up and blew them all off the dock into the lake. (I kept seeing that scenario flash before my eyes.)

  12. Hi Lauren,

    How fun to take a peek at everyone’s cards, and you categorized them in such a cool way!!
    Loved meeting you at Haven, in REAL life. Let’s keep in touch.

    Laura

    1. Thanks, Laura! Great to meet you, as well. I’m glad you enjoyed the categories. It was fun for me to see all the different approaches people took to designing their business cards. Sky’s the limit!

  13. Oh my goodness Lauren! It was so awesome to hug your neck in Hot-Lanta and even though it was waaay too quick and only wish there’d been more time to hang out.
    I absolutely loved my FL blogger thinking closet card and you’re such a sweetheart for shouting out my diy’d card like that!
    Thank you for yourSummer business card award my friend! 😉 You have me blushing.
    Cheers to you and yours

    1. Well, good thing we’re not too epically far from each other, so we get together for a more extended rendezvous in the not too distant future! Forgive me for blanking on this, but remind me if you’re going to FLBlogCon or not? And I’m glad you enjoyed your award! You most definitely deserved it, Therese! And you’re just as warm and friendly in person as I knew you would be. Hugs!

  14. Lauren,
    I am in love with each of the cards. But I expect nothing less from a talented bunch of women! I am going to try and get the MOO cards done before the Florida Bloggers Conference in September. I hope you will be there!
    Hugs,
    Sandra
    The Adored Home

    1. Ha ha. What if I send you a pre-paid, self-addressed padded manila envelope? I could give those Swedish fish a happy home…in my belly. Ha ha. J.k. We’ll have to make it a priority to meet up next year, Christina!

    1. Ha ha. Nope! Not surprised in the least. You are a paper-crafting wizard, so I know they’re are going to be award worthy in and of themselves. Can’t wait to see ’em!

  15. Why, yes, darling!! We did swap cards! Mine was the one with the “After Haven To-Do List” attached… it probably got misplaced because it’s gargantuous size prevented it from landing in the neck fanny pack..ha ha! Next year!! Besides you know where to find me!!! 🙂

    1. Aw, man! An “After Haven To-Do List” sounds awesome! Okay, I may not be able to wait another year to get one. I might need to give you my address and ask you pretty please if you can mail me one. Knowing you and your creative ways, I’m sure it’s awesome.

  16. Lauren- I cannot BELIEVE we didn’t exchange business cards! I read your post, ran to my stack, and realized I came up short without one of your amazing designs! Next year- business cards AND an insta-photo! STAT! 🙂

    1. I know! What the what? I think we just met in a flurry of activity at one of the booths, probably with armfuls of swag, that it slipped our minds! Dope! (slapping hand to forehead.) Yes to next year biz card swap, and yes to insta-photos; adding them to my Haven 2014 to do list…now!

  17. Woweeee! Congrats to the winners! Your blog is growing in leaps and bounds! Hope you post some tidbits that you gleaned from the Haven conference. Although, my blog is very small potatoes, I hope to attend the conference next year.

    1. Sandy, I’m glad you’re considering attending next year! That’s really exciting to me. And I did learn a ton…it almost was SO much, it felt overwhelming to sum up in a post. But I’m sure I’ll be dropping tid-bits that I learned at Haven here and there! (And of course, you know where to find me via email if you have any specific questions I can help with!)

      And small potatoes? More like the bee’s knees! One thing I CAN share that I learned at Haven is that brands care less about pageviews when it comes to working with bloggers and more about influence or reader engagement. And Sandy, you have influence in spades, m’dear! That’s a fact.

    1. No rush, my friend! The referral link is good indefinitely! Can’t wait to see what creative designs you think up, Emily. I know they’ll be fantasmagorical.

    1. Thrilled to see what you end up doing for your biz card designs! Have fun with those 50 free cards, Rebecca!

  18. Seeee, I told you I wouldn’t win! Boo. I did find out that Moo is available here, though, so I may just have to get some cards made after all! I wonder if your referral link only works in the US?
    I personally love the card in the Moo cards photo next to yours! And yours, of course 😉

    1. Sad-face! I was rooting for you, friend…I know how enthusiastic you were about winning! And I can attest as someone who dished out money to buy MOO cards that they’re worth every penny, so you should totes go for it. And I’m not sure why the referral link wouldn’t work outside the US…you’ll have to try it and let me know! 😉

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