December, 2010 - PaperDirect Blog

December 30, 2010

Fun Invitations for Game Night

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — Tags: custom invitations, game night, sports invitation — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

When it comes to game night, we get all kinds of opportunities to have a get together, especially during football season. You’ve got college ball on Saturday, pro ball on Sunday and then Monday Night Football as well as Thursday night football. And that doesn’t include all the other nights when sports are played. That means there are tons of opportunities to have a get together, meaning you’ll have lots of times you need to send game night invitations.

Having neighborhood get-togethers and parties for friends during a ball game (football, baseball, basketball) is a natural for fun times and good company. But setting up a great party means there will have to be a bit of planning. And a well planned party means invitations. Since we’re talking about game night, sending out fun invitations has to be a given, since the party is going to be about having fun. That means we need to come up with ideas for fun game night invitations.

The easiest way to sent out invites like this will be on a postcard. Not only are they inexpensive to order, print, and mail, but they can hold a lot of information as well. You’ll want to put the place and time on them, but there is also plenty of room for graphics, meaning you can put football players on it, cheerleaders, or whatever other graphics that will apply to the night. Putting the team names on it, especially if there’s a huge rivalry involved will be a fun factor as well.

If you’re putting together a large affair, like a Super Bowl party, you can use regular invites with RSVP cards so you will have a better idea of how many people will be there. This will enable you to have enough food and beverages for everyone, and to have enough time to prepare. Fun invitations are easy to create, and basing them on a football or other sport game night makes for a fun time.

Check out the invitations you can get online and see what ideas you can come up with for a game night. Depending on what sport you like best and want to throw a party for, you’ll have lots of options for layouts and designs and the templates for the invites and postcards makes it a snap to do. Have a great party!

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December 29, 2010

Mission Critical: Improve Team Morale Now

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

As with every department in an organization, especially in this economy, trying to find ways to make that dollar go as far as possible has become more important than ever. However, finding ways to improve team morale is just as important. Even more so, actually, as morale is impactful enough that cutting a few dollars here and a few dollars there can mean the difference between having a job and having a company that has to shut its doors. Even when it comes to something as seemingly unimportant as the employee recognition budget, making sure you’re getting your money’s worth is a definite key to success.

Right off the bat, one would think that dropping an employee recognition programaltogether would be the best way to recoup those dollars. The truth is that will cost the company more dollars in terms of lowered team morale and decreased productivity than it would if the employee recognition budget were actually increased. Employees need to have that recognition and acknowledgment that the team’s efforts are being noticed and that the company actually cares. Without that recognition, it affects how they feel about working for the company and their overall attitude. So that means cutting the program out completely is the absolute wrong answer as a way to improve team morale.

The best way to improve team morale is to show the company appreciates their efforts. While the team also understands the need to economize, that need for recognition to build and keep team spirit is worth the money. With the difficulties everyone seems to be having, there is a level of gratitude that there are jobs to begin with, let alone one with extravagant bonuses, perks and benefits. However, even with that need to economize, employees still need that recognition. That means finding the ways and means with the existing employee recognition budget to give out the awards and rewards that will keep morale from slipping.

That’s where doing such things as printing your own certificates and awards in-house comes into play. Also, using inexpensive, but personalized, employee gifts can be used as incentives and rewards that will improve team morale. The need to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of the employees is important, however that doesn’t mean you have to spend tons of money to do it. The employees appreciate the recognition as much or more than the award that memorializes it.

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December 24, 2010

Wedding Invitations Etiquette & Wording

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: diy wedding invitation ideas, wedding invitations, wording — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

The Value of Following Wedding Etiquette
Whether you are planning a small, informal wedding or an extravagant event, you will want to make sure that you start your marriage on the right foot with your extended family. Wedding etiquette helps guide a bride and groom and provides an assurance you have done your best to properly acknowledged important parties and avoided any unnecessary hurt. Following etiquette can help set the tone for your future relationship with your new in-laws.

The Importance of Wedding Invitation Etiquette
When it comes to making every effort to have the perfect wedding, no detail can be overlooked. Following the proper protocol provides the tools needed to handle the nuances of a situation and the complex relationships often involved without causing the appearance of alienation or favoritism. This is particularly true of wedding invitations, when everything from wording to whom to send invitations, matters.

Courtesy Must Prevail
It is important to remember that wedding invitation etiquette is intended to assure that the feeling of others remains a priority. Sometimes, etiquette may suggest something that in your situation would cause undue hurt feeling. When adhering to a guideline would cause hurt feelings, courtesy must prevail and you do what is most right in your circumstance.

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December 22, 2010

Very Special Award Certificates

Filed under: How to Design Certificates — Tags: template ideas, templates. — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Looking for a great way to recognize employees that go above and beyond, use our award certificates for employee of the month, special achievements, or employee appreciation.

Blue Ribbon Specialty Certificates

Star Power Specialty Certificates

Festive Star Casual Certificates

Border Foil Stamped MiniAwards

Traditional Blue on Blue Gift Certificates

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December 17, 2010

Wedding Invitation Wording for Complex Relationships

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: wedding invitations, wording — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, ensuring all the aspects of a relationship are covered is important. Knowing how, or whom to include can sometimes be difficult. However, since weddings are such special occasions, it is important to use the opportunity to honor important people in your life.

Even in difficult situations, following etiquette can not only help family to feel honored, it can also mend bridges and help set a new tone for the future of the relationship.

Wording invitations for complex relationships also gives guest valuable information about the current situation for the hosts and help them avoid uncomfortable situations. For example, perhaps a bride or groom’s parent is recently deceased and only a few people are aware. The wording of an invitation can guide a guest into understanding the situation and avoid asking or stirring up something painful. Or perhaps a parent has a new spouse that should be included. How you word the invitation is an important part of ensuring that respect is shown to all parties involved.

Here are some sample formats for trickier situations:

One parent deceased and remaining parent not remarried:
God has led two lives
to take one path
Mr. John J. Jones
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Jean Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s parents:
(divorced)
Mrs. Anne M. Jones
Mr. John J. Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jean Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado
Dinner and dancing to follow

From the bride and groom and their parents:
Before they met, their strength was of one
Through marriage, they will experience
the strength of much more than two
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
together with their parents
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s mother:
(remarried)
Mrs. Anne Marie Hughes
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Marie Jones
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s mother and stepfather
Love isn’t love ’til you give it away . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Scott Hughes
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of Mrs. Hughes’ daughter
Jane Marie Jones
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s relative:
(both parents deceased)
Mr. Jonathan H. Jones
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage his sister
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

When it comes to wedding invitation wording, ensuring all the aspects of a relationship are covered is important. That’s where all the rules of etiquette apply, and that’s the detail that makes a wedding invitation special. Paying attention to those details may be one small part of the overall wedding plan, but it is still an essential part.

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December 9, 2010

Insider’s Guide to Throwing Great Parties

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

It’s coming up on the holiday season where parties are going to be thrown. And throwing a great party is exactly what a lot of people are going to try to do this year, even with the economy in the dire straits it’s in. There are some totally easy tips which make throwing a great party a breeze, and you, too, can throw a great party this year.

First, plan ahead. Start as soon as you can to make plans for your party. This enables you to make changes as need be, to get everything that needs to be accomplished done, and to give yourself enough time to get it all done without having to stress and fret over every detail. Sit down with a desk calendar or day planner and mark down when to take care of certain things. For instance, send out your invitations with plenty of time to spare. That way, if you need to do RSVP’s so you can have a good idea of how much food and beverages to have on hand, you can get the replies back in time to make your plans. Keep in mind that even with RSVP’s things change, so allow for a little leeway.

Make sure you’ve got any entertainment you’ve got planned either booked in advance or purchased early enough to ensure you’ve got what you need. Follow it up a few days later to make sure all your plans are still locked in place. Next, make sure your menu and food plans are set. If you need to split purchases across time, make sure you get items that don’t spoil first, that way you can store them as long as needed. Last, get the food that does spoil purchased and prepared. If you’re doing a catered party, make sure the caterer is still planned, and that everything is a “go”.

Then, on the day of the party, with all your plans in place and going, sit back and relax and enjoy everything as it happens. When it’s all over with, you’ll have thrown that totally great party, and gotten to enjoy it in the process.

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December 8, 2010

Employee Retention Programs That Deliver Results

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

When it comes to keeping good employees, companies have developed employee retention programs and some are willing to try just about anything short of using a ball and chain to prevent an employee from leaving. They’ll use monetary incentives, benefit inducements and a whole host of other techniques to try to maintain the employee loyalty that keeps them there. While there are no sure-fire ways to ensure an employee will stick, there are a lot of little things that will keep an employee from looking to change jobs in the first place.

Granted, paying an employee a competitive wage for their efforts is the main way to keep them on the team. Also, having health insurance and other benefits in place also encourages an employee to stick. But as powerful as those two incentives are, very rarely are they capable of having the impact that good quality employee recognition does.

Employees want to know that their efforts are noticed and that they’re a valid part of the company instead of being just another timecard. When employees get that recognition, whether it’s a certificate or award, a nameplate on a plaque or even the recipient of “special” employee gifts like stationery and post-it notes, that lets them know they’re being seen. While there are some employees that could care less whether anyone knows they’re around, good employees appreciate the recognition because it makes them a part of-instead of apart from, a team.

These are the employees that, when given the recognition they deserve, are willing to work the extra hours, are willing to go that extra mile for the employer, customers and clients. They’re even willing to work for a company that will recognize their efforts rather than work for one for more money that doesn’t. Knowing what an employee wants in order to be that loyal employee isn’t very difficult. They want the company to be loyal to them, and that is what an employee retention program provides.

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December 3, 2010

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: wedding invitations, wording — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Weddings are a momentous occasion that most people hope to share with friends and family. No matter the type of wedding, or where it is held, it is important that we follow wedding invitation etiquette to properly honor the hosts and or parents. How an invitation is written gives guests important cues on relationship dynamics and helps them to avoid small blunders which can cause problems. Wording for example can indicate that the bride’s mother alone is hosting the affair, which gives guests a cue that the father is absent or deceased, and treat the situation accordingly.

Here are some examples of less complicated invitation wording situations:

From the bride’s parents:
For everything there is a season
a time and a purpose
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s parents
with mention of the groom’s parents:
A life of sharing, caring
A love of endless giving together
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
invite you to share in the joy
of the marriage uniting their daughter
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Smith
On Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s parents:
Each hour, each day, each year
We grow as two, yet as one,
We grow apart, yet together
Forming an eternal love
John and Anne Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado
Dinner and dancing to follow

From both sets of parents:
We have experienced love . . .
in our parents, our families and friends
and now a new love in each other
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew A. Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the groom’s parents:
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew A. Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Miss Jane Marie Jones
to their son,
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Destination wedding—from the bride’s parents:
The most joyous of occasions
is the union of man and woman
in celebration of life . . .
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
invite you to share the joy as
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
are married in a
torch light ceremony
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at seven o’clock in the evening
Waimea Falls,
Oahu, Hawaii

Reception invitation:
Love was meant to be shared
with parents, family and friends
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage reception of their daughter
Jane Marie
and
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at seven o’clock in the evening
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Contemporary—from the bride’s parents:
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
invite you to share the joy
as two special people
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
become one in marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at seven o’clock in the evening
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Reception invitation from the bride and groom:
My family, your family — blending as one
Sharing, caring — a new life’s begun
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
are pleased to announce their marriage
on Saturday, March Sixteenth
during a private ceremony in Hawaii
Please join us for a celebration
when we return as husband and wife
Friday, April 10th at 8:00 p.m.
La Baguette Cafe
Denver, Colorado

Fun contemporary—from the bride and groom:
His love is the sunshine
that keeps me warm
To me, she’s the rainbow
after the storm
His love gave me wings
it has set me free
And wherever she is
that’s where I want to be
We invite you to be with us
as we begin our new life together
Ms. Jane Marie Jones
and
Mr. Steven James Smith
are pleased to announce
they will be married
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride and groom and their parents:
Before they met, their strength was of one
Through marriage, they will experience
the strength of much more than two
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
together with their parents
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride and groom and their families:
It is our moment to celebrate
the love that unites us
Together with their families
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride and groom with reception following:
In the presence of our loved ones
we will exchange vows of marriage
and pledge to live all our tomorrows
together in love
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
request the honor of your presence
to share in the celebration
of their marriage
on
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow
The Victorian at Heritage Square

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December 1, 2010

Affordable Recognition: Printing Certificates In-House

Filed under: How to Design Certificates — Tags: template ideas, templates. — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

When it comes to boosting employee morale and increasing productivity, nothing is quite as impactful as a good recognition program. Employees respond to the “carrot” method of encouragement a lot better than they do the “stick” method, so finding ways to reward them for their efforts and skills is important to the health of the company. However, it can get expensive to have awards and rewards for employees on a monthly basis if you go for gifts and rewards that require money. That’s where printing certificates and awards in house can save money in all kinds of ways.

While employees want recognition for their work, farming out the job of printing certificates or making awards to an awards company can cost a lot of money. Even inexpensive awards and certificates from these companies can still be twenty or thirty dollars apiece. That could absolutely kill a budget if you’ve got a lot of employees that deserve recognition.

However, if you want to be just as effective with a much more realistic budget, printing your own certificates is what to do. Not only will you save money, but you can custom design each certificate or award any way you choose. There are lots of great looking certificates and awards available. All you have to do after that Is download the template for Word or some other word processing program for that certificate and simply fill in the blanks. Fill out the employee name, the reason for the recognition, etc. Then have the CEO or President of the company sign the certificates, and you’ve created an award that the employee will appreciate and that he or she can hang on their wall so others can see.

Employees do appreciate the recognition. Plus, they like being able to have something tangible to show others that the company did give them something special for their efforts. It helps them to feel important to the company and shows others that they can be important too. And since the certificates were created and printed as a part of the regular company processes, the cost is minimized and the positive impact on the company is maximized. That’s a smart way to do business.

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