Poppin Prints creates beautiful, high-quality birth announcements, like this Adore style. Printed on signature metallic card stock, the announcement is fully customizable, built around the photo of your new baby boy. 25 cards sell for $44.75; and other types of card stock such as heavy matte or linen are also available (some at an added fee). You can view all of the choices at PoppinPrints.com.

Every year it’s hard to choose which Valentines to send in to school with my son. I really like these Valentine’s Day Trading Cards by Munchkin Designs. They’re small, perfect for young kids, and come in packs of 30 for just $4.95 (a real bargain when you begin pricing packs of kids’ valentines). Better still, you can add 30 organic lollipops to your order and really make the kids in your child’s preschool or classroom happy! These unique Valentines are available at MunchkinDesigns.com.

Etsy seller birdieprints has created these cute Quack Quack Baby Shower Invitations. Each is printed on one side of 5″ x 7″ card stock paper, and they come in sets of 10. The price is just $16.50 per set, which is a bargain when looking at prices for custom-made invitations. You can view and purchase them at birdieprints.

Invitation Consultants has introduced a new line of invitations and birth announcements, Red Leaf Papers. The styles and designs run the gamut from traditional to contemporary, from popular to one of a kind. The style pictured above, Lullaby Baby, is one of my favorites. It’s just so different from the normal, boring designs one often finds in birth announcements. They’re fairly affordable, as well. These announcements sell for just $60 for 25, $169 for 100, at InvitationConsultants.com.

Snowflake Gift Company creates one of a kind, customized, three-dimensional pop-up cards for many occasions, including baby announcements, baby shower or birthday party invitations. You can choose to either have your card created from scratch, or to customize a pre-existing design. You provide personal images or artwork you want used in the card, and Snowflake creates a design around it. Proofs are emailed to you, and once a proof is approved, you’ll receive the cards in about 2 weeks. They also provide a mail service in which they’ll mail your cards for you if you provide them with a complete mailing list. These cards are perfect for a variety of occasions. Prices range from $12.20 for 20 1-layer small cards to $17 for 20 4-layer large cards. A complete price list can be found at SnowflakeGift.com.

OMG baby cards sells high-quality, traditional birth announcements in a variety of styles. This “Baby Bottle” style is fun and one of my favorites.All of their cards meet both US and European Union environmental standards, use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved papers and soy-based inks and are shipped in biodegradable packaging. Many colors of text ink are available as well. You can view the line of cards for sale at OMGbabycards.com, where cards sell in quantities of 50 and up (this style, for example, costs $282 for 50 cards). UpscaleBaby.com readers can receive free return address imprinting on envelopes (regularly a $42 charge) for the remainder of 2009 by typing “Upscale Baby” in the special instructions section of the order form.

If you want to encourage your child to write, why not make it fun by allowing him or her to compose and send letters to friends and family members? I know I have a lot of fond memories of letter writing as a child. Even when I was too young to really write well, I enjoyed drawing pictures on postcards to friends, and dictating words to my mom. Fun stationery, like these Animals on Parade cards from Sukie, makes the process even more exciting. This set includes 16 cards and envelopes that can be used for just about any purpose. I think most children will be drawn to the colorful animal images. You can purchase a set for $12.95 at ittikid.com, and let the (educational) fun begin! The set would also make a great gift for a slightly older child.

Paper Locket specializes in modern photo birth announcements with stylish designs. I particularly like the “Chi Chi Baby” design shown above. Their birth announcements are made-to-order, and can be modified to fit 1 to 6 photos provided by the customer. Online proofs are provided within 48 hours, and are delivered in about 2 business days from the customer’s final approval. They are also printed on both sides for no extra charge. Prices start at $2.00 for the first 25, which is a 20% discount from regular prices. This special offer is good through September 18. Check out the selections available at PaperLocket.com.

I really like the looks of these Trifold Baby Announcements by In A Baby Carriage. This design is Sweet Baby-Boy. Each trifold announcement measures 5″ x 5″ 3 panel folding cardstock, and comes with envelopes. I like the antique look of this design as well. You can view all of the beautiful announcements available at InABabyCarriage.com, where these tri-fold announcements sell for prices starting at $95 for the first 25 announcements.

I really like these Baby Announcements featuring baby’s Zodiac sign. Custom made by Simply Put by Ashley Woodman, each announcement features a baby version of the Zodiac sign, with baby’s name, birth weight and length, and parent’s names. They come with matching blank envelopes. These announcements are so colorful and eye-catching, yet still elegant and simple at the same time. You can view them at SimplyPutByAshleyWoodman.com, where they start at $125 for the first 50 announcements. Each online order comes with a complimentary proof and free ground shipping.

Here’s a fun, unique way to send a message or invitation: Kookie Stationery is a jumbo-sized cookie featuring personalized messages. Each kookie comes with an edible-ink marker so that you can add your own personal touch before giving it to someone special. It also comes with a display package shaped like an envelope, and a built-in easel. Kookies are available for various occasions or reasons (including birthdays, Halloween, other holidays, and more) and cost $9.99 each at KookieStationery.com.

Lil’ Grams is a recently launched website that creates modern, online baby books for busy parents. They promise to help parents organize baby’s most important moments and photos to share with family and friends. It helps parents by suggesting different “grams” to send out, including milestones baby might be doing at their current age, such as “babbles a few words repeatedly” and “shakes head to indicate ‘no’”. There is a tool to help upload photos to your grams as well. Parents control who sees each “gram,” ensuring privacy, unlike many websites. You can check it out for yourself at lilgrams.com, where a free trial is available, and plans start at just $29 for one year of service. In addition, UpscaleBaby readers can receive a 15% discount on plans using the code “UPSCALEBABY” .

Sometimes it can be hard to plan a baby shower when you don’t know the sex of the upcoming baby. Paper Culture makes some beautiful gender-neutral baby shower invitations, like this one called “Parental Love,” featuring modern birds and an Asian influence. All Paper Culture cards are printed on recycled paper and have rounded corners. Paper Culture also offers a “mail & message” service in which they print envelopes with recipient and return addresses, stuff them, stamp them, and mail them. This could be a great time-saver for new parents. You can view the array of options available at PaperCulture.com, where these Parental Love cards sell for $2.29 each for the first 20 cards (each card costs less the more you buy).

I love these custom made birth announcements by Nesting Shoppe. All are made in the USA and printed on recycled paper. This one, “Baby Avery,” is available in a 5″ x 7″ size, and starts at $58 per set of 25. Once you send your photo to be used in the birth announcement, a digital proof is emailed to you for approval upon payment. High resolution photos are also accepted. Nesting Shoppe’s customers include parents Charlie & Brooke Sheen, Trista & Ryan Sutter, and Scott & Kelley Wolf. To view the array of designs available, visit NestingShoppe.com.

If you’re looking for a truly elegant way to announce the birth of your little one, these Adorned Baby Birth Announcements by Amalgam Invites are perfect for you. It combines your baby’s photo, printed on shimmery metallic card stock or smooth Crest card stock accented at the top with Japanese chiyogami paper, with baby’s birth information printed on a vellum envelope that shows over top of the photo. These are a beautiful and luxurious way to announce the arrival of the most special little person in your life. As these are custom-made, prices are personalized, but the average total for just one announcement is $30. You can view these stunning announcements and more at AmalgamInvites.com.