Cardecards.com - The new home for all of my Daftoons eCards

 

Some of you may have noticed that the links in my previous posts no longer lead to my eCards.  Sorry about that, but I have a very good and exciting explanation.

I have now set up my very own eCard site at www.cardecards.com.  All of my most popular cards are there - The Beak Boys Birthday Song, Baggins Birthday Blues, Happy Anniversary Musical and many more. 

It's absolutely free to send the eCards, so why not take a look?  There are a few ads dotted around, but that's how I can keep the cards free and make new cards to add to the collection.

Those of you with a very long memory might recall that I had my own eCard site (Paul Solomons Cards) a decade or so ago.  I was then approached by 123Greetings and moved my content over to them.  Well, now it's all come home once again.

Hope you like the site! 

Rock 'n' Shock!

Lots of ecards have been added to the collection since my last post.  You can always see my full list of offerings at https://www.123greetings.com/profile/daftoons/

I thought I'd give a special mention to a couple, mainly because they allowed me to have a rhyme in this post's title.  Firstly, there's my Head Bangin' Happy Birthday card for all you rockers.  You can view it here: https://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/headbangin_happy_birthday.html  There's nothing like an ageing rocker to reassure you that all is well with the world.

Slightly more troubling is my Happy Halloween Song card that has just been released.  Another tiptoe into the world of live action, it was lots of fun to make.  And, of course, a special mention goes to Alison Mitchell whose singing and wonderfully deadpan performance makes the card.  Here it is - I hope you enjoy it: https://www.123greetings.com/events/halloween/wishes/happy_halloween_song.html

Have a Happy Halloween folks and I'll see you very soon.

Time Flies

They say that time flies when you're having fun.  Well, I must have been having an absolute ball as it's already April and I've not posted here since Christmas.  Where did all the time go?

No matter.  I've still been busy making eCards and am glad to have some new ones to show you.

I was excited to see a new technique that gives the impression of 3D and was eager to try it out in a card.  My "Birthday Cannon" eCard is my first attempt.  It was fun to make and certainly has a bit of depth.  You can view it here: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/birthday_cannon.html

As well as the usual greetings cards, www.123Greetings.com also feature invitations on their site, so I thought I'd put one together.  Here it is.  I hope you like it.  You can see and send the card here: http://www.123greetings.com/invitations/food_and_drink/party_invitation_song.html

Finally, I thought it might be fun to work with Professor Johan Gloosbaby again.  You might remember him giving a lecture in a Father's Day card I created a few years ago.  Now the Prof. is lecturing in a birthday card all about the Periodic Table.  Give it a look: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/a_fun_birthday_lecture_for_you.html

That's it for now.  I'm working on what I hope will be an exciting live action card next.  Thanks for reading.

The Baubelles' Christmas

Is it really that time already?

Christmas seems to come around quicker each year.  And, just like all of the high street superstores, I like to try to come up with something special for the holiday season.

Phil Spector's Christmas album seems to play everywhere at this time of year and I thought it might be fun to emulate his production style for this year's Christmas ecard.  But, without the superb Darlene Love or Ronnie Spector on lead vocals, how might that be done?  Luckily I have a very talented niece in the shape of Kelly Moss.  She stepped up to the plate and sang a wonderful lead vocal, making my "Baubelles' Christmas Song" ecard work just as I'd hoped.  Thanks Kel!  You can view and send the card at http://www.123greetings.com/events/christmas/merry_christmas/the_baubelles_christmas_song.html.

All Change

I've been really busy here at Daftoons Towers.  Not only have I been hard at work on new ecards, but those lovely people at www.123Greetings.com have been updating their website to swap all of the Flash-based cards for video versions.  Why?  Well, more and more people are using phones to access their ecards and sadly, most mobile devices don't support Flash.  So, I've been reworking some of my old Flash cards to make sure they work for everyone.

Meanwhile, three new ecards have been added to my collection since my last post.

Firstly was my "Mother's Day Song" card.  This went up just in time for Mother's Day in the US.

You can view it here: http://www.123greetings.com/events/mothers_day/happy_mother/mothers_day_song.html

I've always found frogs fascinating, especially when their throats puff up like balloons.  I thought it might be fun to use the idea to help "Frog Dylan" play a song for this Happy Birthday ecard:

http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/frog_dylan.html

And finally for this post, I was asked to create a card for the "I love You" category.  Cats are always popular with users so I had a bit of fun turning this feline into a singer.  I hope you like it.

You can view the card here: http://www.123greetings.com/love/i_love_you/general/cat_love_song.html

That's all for now, folks.  See you next time.

I've Been Training!

This month I've been creating a new birthday ecard featuring a train character.  I like the idea of this little train chugging along the "Track of Life" with all its ups and downs and arriving each year at your birthday station.  I tried to make the music trainy too, so I hope I've achieved that.  Hope you like it.  You can view and send it here: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/your_birthday_train_song.html

You Can Run the World

This month I've gone for something I haven't tried for a number of years.  Instead of creating an eCard for a specific occasion, I've added one that is a general everyday greeting that might be sent to someone at any time to wish them a happy day.  What's more, the card gives the recipient the chance to run the world.  Let's face it, there are plenty of people out there who seem to know how to do it.  What will they do with their stint in the role?

You can view and sent the card here: http://www.123greetings.com/general/have_a_great_day/you_can_run_the_world.html

I hope you enjoy it.

Feline Good!

My new birthday card featuring a group of singing cats - The Cat Chorus - has just gone live on the 123Greetings site and I'm hoping that it will be well received.  It's a lively little ditty, so you might be surprised to learn that when I first set about creating it, I had a very different style in mind.  Rather than the clapping and dancing, I was planning a folk song - a single character with a guitar and harmonica.  But that's the way it goes with these cards - it's not until I start recording the music that I really know where I want to go with it.

But before all you folk music fans hold an anti-Daftoons rally, never fear, the folk ecard is just around the corner.  I have a nifty character in mind and can't wait to work with him/her/it (tantalising, eh?).

Anyway, in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the Cat Chorus ecard.  You can view and send it from here: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/cat_chorus_birthday_song.html

Poles Apart

I've added a few more cards to the catalogue in recent months including one for Jewish New Year and one for Halloween.  But I'm thrilled to say that my "Beak Boys Birthday Song" ecard is going great guns.  It's inspired the Beach Boys and anyone who knows me will tell you what a huge fan of vocal harmony I am, so it was enormous fun putting the card together.  You can view it here: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/the_beak_boys_birthday_song.html

So from the South Pole, we now move to the North Pole.  It's Christmas time again and there is rarely a better time to connect with friends, relatives and business acquaintances.  I've put together a little ditty in a card featuring Santa, sending Christmas and New Year wishes to the recipient.  I hope you like it.  You can view it here: http://www.123greetings.com/events/christmas/merry_christmas/santas_christmas_song.html

Of course, don't forget that there are lots of other Christmas eCards in my collection including last year's Ethelred the Unready Turkey card that arrived quite late for last year's rush, so why not send it this year?  You can find it at: http://www.123greetings.com/events/christmas/merry_christmas/ethelred_merry_christmas.html

That's all for now.  Happy Holidays and I look forward to seeing you next year.

Altogether Now

It's been a busy time at Daftoons Towers.  I've managed to make a few eCards and am happy to report that they are performing well.

I reworked an old Messenger Wink animation of mine from several years ago to create an aeroplane-based Father's Day card that really took off (sorry!) over the event's weekend.  You can view the card here: http://www.123greetings.com/events/fathers_day/happy_fathers_day/biffo_the_skywriter.html

After Father's Day came another birthday eCard - this time featuring a cute, but naughty dog.  You can view the card here: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/naughty_dog.html

A more recent addition to the stable has been an Anniversary card.  It features 2 loved-up jigsaw pieces who were "made for eachother".  I had some assistance with this one from the very talented Raffy Lachter, who spent the week with me do work experience.  You can view that card here: http://www.123greetings.com/anniversary/wedding_anniversary/couple/anniversary_jigsaw.html

And finally, a bit of news on good old Moanin' Mo Baggins of Baggins' Blues fame.  He now has a single out called "Password Blues".  In it, our hero sings about the woes of choosing a password.  You can preview and even buy the song from here:  https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/moaninmobaggins

That's all for now.  See you next time.

A Little Bit of Country

This month I thought I'd take a walk on the country side.  Randy Fawcett is my new country singing character, making his debut with a birthday song about his suit (not his birthday suit!).

This was a fun card to make and nice to have my son, Jonah, on board adding a few tasteful licks on the guitar.

Hope you like it.  Here's the card http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/country_birthday_song.html

Hope You're Feeling Tickety Boo!

I hope your year has got off to a fine start.  Winter has reared it's ugly head and with it come the nasty little bugs that give rise to coughs and sniffles.  What better time to put together a Get Well Soon card with a catchy little ditty that is bound to make you feel better.  Hope you like this one http://www.123greetings.com/general/getwell/tickety_boo.html

The passing of David Bowie was very sad.  I grew up with a twin sister who was Bowie mad and so he played a major part in my youth.  A very talented, unique and creative man.  With musical tributes appearing everywhere, I thought I should give my own an airing.  This eCard was created some time ago, but no prizes for guessing who it was influenced by.  Performed by the very talented Robert Marshall.  http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/happy_birthday_superstar.html

Thanks for reading.  See you next time.

Ethelred's Christmas Song

Ethelred the Unready Turkey made it through Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd feature him on this year's Christmas offering.  You can see it HERE   I hope you enjoy the song and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

A new eCard for Thanksgiving

November 26th is Thanksgiving in the US.  Though I'm in the UK, I thought it might be nice to create an eCard for the occasion.  I'm a sucker for old movies and used one as my inspiration for this offering.

I probably should have called it "Sparturkey", but I like Ethelred and might use him again in the future.  Anyway, here's a link to the card

http://www.123greetings.com/events/thanksgiving/wishes/ethelreds_thanksgiving_message.html
I hope you enjoy it.

Baggins Lives!

As you may know, one of my most popular eCards is "Baggins' Birthday Blues", featuring the hairy blues singer Moanin' Mo Baggins.

Mo has also featured in a Christmas eCard that proved popular over the festive season.  I've really enjoyed working with him.

So, having featured Mo as a 2D cartoon character, I thought it might be fun to bring him to life and create a live action eCard.  The result is now on the www.123greetings.com website.  Click here to see it: http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/baggins_birthday_booze_live.html

I hope you like it.

Bubba, Whiteboards and Double Acts

Since my last post I've been busy making lots of new eCards.  Sometimes, if I've got loads of other animation work on, I don't get the chance to produce the all-singing, all-dancing cards that I particularly enjoy making.  So, when I find a gap, my first thought is to dive into production and have some fun.

If you enjoyed Eddie Croonier's first outing in the belated birthday eCard, you'll be glad to know that he's back - this time partnered (in good old American TV/film fashion) with my New York(ish) comedian Jack Tonic.  Stand aside Bing and Bob, Dino and Jerry!  Jack and Ed have a birthday song for you.

You can view and send this one from http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/happy_birthday_duet.html.

I like to try out new techniques with my eCards and as I've been doing a fair bit of whiteboard animation for clients recently, I thought it might be fun to apply the same style to a card.  I've created 2 for the 123Greetings site now.  Here's the latest, "Birthday Drawing".

You can view it at http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/birthday_drawing.html.

I've just completed the latest birthday card - a fun and (I'm proud to say) very silly country-style song.  I'm hoping this one, "Bubba Lou's Birthday Song" will be a hit with the site's users.  Fingers crossed.

You can view and send Bubba from http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/bubba_lous_birthday_song.html.  The nice people at www.123greetingscom have reacted to the upsurge in mobile phone usage for viewing cards and following a fascinating webinar for their artists, our offerings are now going to work on all devices.  That's great news.  This card is my first one that is completely optimised for the current market.

See you with more news and eCards soon.  Thanks for reading.

BelatedBirthday Card

Hi,

Another couple of eCards in the collection this month.  Today saw the launch of a belated birthday eCard - a fun little ditty sung by Eddie Croonier Jr., a good, old big band singer in the style of Frank, Dean, Sammy, et al (if only I could actually sing like them!).

Anyway, here's the link http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/belated_birthday/tony_martinis_late_late_birthday_show.html

I hope you enjoy it.

See you next time.

PAUL

Thank You Card

It's been a while since my last post as I've been mega-busy with other cartooning and animation projects here at Daftoons Towers.

I have put up a selection of ecards over the past month or so.  Most of them have been adapted versions of the many winks I produced for Windows Live Messenger, but here's my latest, purpose built card - "The Thank You Guy" - a Thank You card that could be used to say thanks for a gift, or even to respond to someone who has sent you an ecard greeting.  Here's the link http://www.123greetings.com/thank_you/everyday/thank_you_guy.html

I enjoyed creating this one as it gave me a chance to produce a fun little backing music track, as well as performing a silly voice.  I've already had a couple of people suggesting that it sounds a bit like the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz movie.  What do you think?  I wasn't aiming for that - actually, I took my inspiration from The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

I hope you like it.

To You We Sing Happy Birthday

I've been able to add quite a few new eCards recently, particularly over the Valentine's Day period.  I used to create a lot of content for www.quebles.com in the Netherlands - winks, dynamic display pictures and so on for Windows Live Messenger.  I put together hundreds of animations for them.  Alas, Messenger has all but gone now and the nice people at Quebles have agreed to me reusing some of my content for 123greetings eCards.  I'll have to do a fair bit of adapting, but I'm thrilled to have the resource at my fingertips.

The latest eCard created from scratch is a little birthday ditty called "To You We Sing Happy Birthday" (see image above).  It features some characters that I've earmarked for a series, so I hope the public like them.  Here's where you can view and send the card from  http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/to_you_we_sing_happy_birthday.html.

Huge thanks to the very talented Alison Mitchell for her help with the vocal duties.

Baggins is Back

Hi all,

My new Moanin' Mo Baggins' Christmas ecard has just gone live on www.123greetings.com.  I hope he'll be well received.  Here's the link: http://www.123greetings.com/events/christmas/merry_christmas/baggins_christmas.html

I really enjoy working with this character.  I have plans do more with him soon, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy his Christmas offering.

If you're interested (probably not, but I'm going to tell you anyway), Earl Records, the label on the disc at the start of the card, is my own real record label.  My doo-wop group, The Metrotones, records on it.

Hanukkah starts tonight, so don't forget the new eCard created specially for that.  Here's the link: http://www.123greetings.com/events/hanukkah/happy/happy_hanukkah_by_wicky_the_candles.html

Have a great holiday season and I look forward to putting up more posts as soon as another eCard hits the site.

Paul