December, 2012 - PaperDirect Blog

December 28, 2012

Creative Baby Shower Ideas for a New Year’s Baby

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 7:41 am

What better way to start a new year than by bringing a bouncing baby boy or girl into the world?! If you know someone who is due around the new year, here are some creative baby shower ideas for entertainment for your guests.

Remember that PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for many of things you’ll need to host a fun baby shower that will be remembered by all, especially the mommy to be. We offer a variety of baby shower invitations, response cards, banners, place cards and personalized napkins that will make the shower you’re hosting a huge hit. After you have ordered everything you need from PaperDirect, you should start planning the menu and games. No baby shower is complete without some creative games to keep the guests amused and interested while they enjoy the great food and wait for the mommy-to-be to open all her presents. Many baby showers have become co-ed, so try to include the guys as much as possible in the games you plan.

Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

Forbidden Word: This is really a great icebreaker as it begins as soon as your guests arrive. Give each guests a diaper pin to wear on their shirt or jacket, and after all the guests have arrived, explain that the word “baby” is forbidden throughout the course of the shower (or maybe until it’s time to open presents and it will be virtually impossible to not say the word “baby.” If a guest is “caught” saying the forbidden word, she can steal the pin from the person who said it (clearly this is a game based on the honor system). At the end of the game, the person with the most pins wins a gift. You can order small gifts from PaperDirect such as coffee mugs, water bottles, tote bags and even mouse pads!

Guess the Baby Items: This is a fun, practical game that everyone can enjoy. Start by putting 10-20 common, useful baby items inside a diaper bag; some popular items are a bib, teething ring, rattle, bottle and onesies. They’re also fairly inexpensive. Give each guest a pen and paper before passing the diaper bag around. Without looking, each person puts a hand inside and the bag and tries to identify as many items as possible. Give guests a set amount of time (two minutes) to make their guesses and then pass the bag to the next person. After all the correct answers are tallied, a winner is announced. The mother-to-be gets the bag filled with lots of baby essentials.

Guess the Baby Food: If you’ve ever thought that baby food in jars looks less like the ‘peas’ or ‘carrots’ they purport to be and more like miscellaneous mush, this is the game for you. Gather seven to ten unique flavors of baby food jars, number each lid and tear off the labels. Ask each guest to grab a spoon and start sampling these delectable delights! Yummy! The guest with the sharpest palate (or has an odd fondness for the taste of baby food) and has the most correct guesses wins a prize! Obviously, you don’t want to pass on open jars of baby food to the new mommy, but you can always ask!

The Price is Right: You can be Bob Barker at the baby shower you host, and all you have to do is buy a few baby items that the mommy-to-be can get good use out of and set up the game! Use blank note cards and write the price of each of the items on one side and the name of the item on the other side. Gather guests together and play it just like the TV show: each guest must guess the price of the items on the cards, and the person with the highest total—without going over—wins. The parents-to-be get to keep all the items that are a part of the game! How fun is that?

Diaper Relay: With this game, changing diapers is a team sport! Set up diaper stations with dolls in diapers, and break your guests up into teams. Hand out a blindfold to each team and be sure to have a timer or stop watch handy because this game is all about diaper-changing speed! On “go,” the teams will take turns changing a doll’s dirty diaper while blindfolded as quickly as possible. Prize goes to the fastest dirty diaper changer!

Here are some other PaperDirect blogs about creative baby shower ideas to inspire you:

Be sure to shop online at PaperDirect for all your New Year’s Baby Shower supplies and party favors.

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December 26, 2012

Thank You Notes for Gifts You Don’t Love

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: wedding thank you note — PDWriter @ 9:09 am

We all know that feeling–the feeling you get when you open a gift (especially if the gift giver is sitting next to you) that you really don’t love but you have to be gracious and appear as though it’s wonderful and that you love it! Sometimes we even have to write thank you notes for gifts we’re less than thrilled with receiving, but common sense (and proper etiquette) dictates that we must send thank you notes for gifts we don’t like or will never use (check out our blog on re-gifting if you are considering re-gifting an unwanted holiday present).

There’s an old saying you should keep in mind when you have to write thank you notes for gifts you hate, “When you’e not grateful, simply appreciate,” which obviously means even if you aren’t happy with the gift, show how much you appreciate the thought with a handwritten thank you note. No, a text message will not suffice, nor will an email!

Classic Thank You Greeting Card Set by PaperDirect

Tips for Getting the Kids Excited About Thank You Notes

Let’s assume that since you’re an adult, you can motivate yourself to write those thank you notes you dread. We should turn our focus to the kids. Children should be taught at a young age the value of money and what gratitude and appreciation are. Even when they’re young, kids should be strongly encouraged to write thank you notes to family members and others who have given them gifts. In fact, they really should write the notes fairly soon after the holiday is over.

It’s important to reach out to gift givers and let them know how much the gift and thought were appreciated. Here are some tips to get your kids writing thank you notes:

Get the kids involved by allowing them to choose the thank you cards or stationery. Explain why a text message or voicemail is insufficient, and explain why they must send a note even if they see the person regularly.
Make sure the kids are comfortable and have a snack ready for when they’re finished.
Give them a deadline (but a reasonable one) in which to finish and allow them to write a few minutes at a time at their own pace.
For little, little ones, you can use fill in the blank notecards and they can simply write single words instead of full sentences.
Help the kids think of something positive to say about the gift. Even if it’s a gift they don’t like, there’ something about it they may like. Color? Style? Anything.
Include a picture of the child with the gift, is possible.

Check out PaperDirect’s extensive line of thank you notes for all occasions!

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December 21, 2012

Employee Anniversary Gifts to Start the New Year

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Tags: employee anniversary — PDWriter @ 8:07 am

Start the new year off right by beginning the tradition of getting your employees a little something to mark their anniversary with the company. Beginning January 1, send the message that you care and that you appreciate their hard work by presenting employees with a gift on their date of hire anniversary. Employee anniversary gifts boost morale and raise productivity, studies show. PaperDirect has some great employee anniversary gifts to start the new year off right!

PaperDirect award certificates come in a variety of styles to suit what you’re looking for, and we offer free certificate layout templates for every design. For honoring an employee’s anniversary, you can include the employee’s name, date of hire and any other information you’d like to include. Whether your company’s big or small, these award certificates will be a great gift at the employee’s anniversary.

You can make your own certificates, too, with a little help from PaperDirect. Just use our easy online design tool, and we’ll print up your custom certificates! We offer full color printing, customizable front, 8.5″ X 11 size, free logo and image uploads, and we print and ship most orders in just 1-2 days! For ten custom certificates they’ll love, you pay just $6.99!

You Do It ALL NoteCards by PaperDirect

A handwritten note or thank you card is thoughtful and doesn’t take long to write. Instead of sending an email, take the time to write a personal note to the employee and mention something unique he has contributed to the company. This is much more meaningful than a generic email that reads “Happy fifth year anniversary. Thanks for all you do.” Write something that will let that employee know you truly appreciate the specific contributions he/she has made to the success of your company.

Star World of Difference Recognition Pin by PaperDirect

Be sure to shop online at PaperDirect for other employee anniversary gifts like trophies, plaques and motivational gifts like key chains and water bottles.

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December 17, 2012

Writing a Thank You Note at Christmas

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 8:05 am

In a world where technology rules and handwritten notes are practically non-existent, there is one handwritten note that will never go out of style or become obsolete–the handwritten thank you note. There is absolutely no acceptable replacement to writing a thank you note to show your appreciation for a gift you received or a kind gesture someone did during the holidays to help you out. A phone call is nice but just isn’t enough, an email is a bit of a cop out, and a text message is simply unacceptable. PaperDirect has a large selection of thank you notes at affordable prices, and the best part? You can order online and receive your thank you cards in just a few days!

Christmas Thank You Notes

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s important to know the necessity of writing a thank you note to the person who was kind enough to give you a gift for Christmas. Writing thank you notes does not take a lot of time, and receiving a handwritten thank you note will show the gift giver that you really appreciated what they did for you.

It’s never too early to teach your kids the art of writing a thank you note to show their gratitude. In fact, writing out thank you cards should be part of the Christmas routine. Sure, let the kids play with their new toys for a few hours, but before bedtime, ask them to sit down and start writing thank you notes to their loved ones, especially the ones who mailed Christmas presents from afar.

Here are some tips for writing a thank you note at Christmas:

Address the gift giver with “Dear” rather than just beginning the first sentence of the note.
Describe the gift you are giving thanks for instead of sending a generic message to all recipients; include specific details that show the gift was a memorable one. Instead of “thank you for the jewelry box,” you could write, “Thank you very much for the beautifully hand-crafted gold jewelry box that will make a nice addition to the master bedroom bureau.” This shows you truly remember the gift and appreciate its value.
Discuss briefly how the gift will be used. For example, “The jewelry box will make the perfect storage for my rings and bracelets that I don’t wear when I sleep.”
If you received a cash gift, do not say “Thank you for the cash.” Instead, write something along these lines, “Thank you very much for your generosity. Your gift will come in handy when we begin the addition to the upstairs kids’ play area.”
Include something personal that shows your relationship to the gift giver. For example, “It was so nice seeing you this Christmas, and we’re looking forward to seeing you and the kids again at Uncle John’s birthday party in March.”
End by reiterating your gratitude with a simple, “Thank you again for your kindness.”

Shop online at PaperDirect for all your thank you notes this Christmas.

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December 14, 2012

Employee Recognition Gifts at the Holidays or Year’s End

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Tags: office gifts — PDWriter @ 10:59 am

When you own or manage a company, whether large or small, it’s absolutely crucial to recognize employees for their hard work.

Studies have proven that showing employee appreciation boosts morale and increases productivity, and it certainly doesn’t take an expert to confirm that when people work hard, they appreciate a pat on the back.

It doesn’t even have to be a grand gesture like a huge bonus, raise or promotion. A simple verbal “thank you,” a handwritten “‘Nice Work” or a small gift are often appreciated just as much as a monetary award.

Some Ideas for Employee Recognition Gifts:

Personalized Mugs
Tote Bags
Mouse pads
Water Bottles
Post it Notes
Personalized Stationary
SWAG
Gas Cards
Recognition Award
Bottle of Wine

Expensive or Inexpensive? That is the Question

Employees may appreciate the big gifts like a vacation, corporate car, gift cards to fancy restaurants or high end stores, but even less expensive gifts will reach out and touch an employee as effectively as something more expensive. Being able to give fairly inexpensive employee gifts to numerous deserving employees will do more to boost morale and make happier employees than giving once-in-a-career luxurious gifts and large monetary rewards to a select few top performers/earners.

At the holiday’s and at the end of the year, you can show your appreciation and let your staff know you value their contributions by giving employee recognition gifts to those who have truly earned them. Here are some suggestions regarding gift giving in the workplace around Christmastime.

Workplace etiquette certainly doesn’t “require” that gifts be given to employees at year’s end or during the holidays, but in many businesses, it’s just something that is done each year and it’s something employees really look forward to. If you’re new to your job and don’t know what the office custom is regarding gift-giving, ask a colleague or someone in Human Resources to let you know what’s been done in the past.

Gifting Etiquette

Decide what the company can spend and stay within budget.

In many companies, giving the boss a Christmas gift is not standard practice as it can be deemed a way to win favor or get preferential treatment. It’s also awkward to buy a gift for someone who makes a good deal more money than you. However, in many workplaces, employees will chip in at Christmas and give the boss a group gift–something related to his/her hobbies such as tickets to a sporting event, a gift card to a favorite restaurant or something collectible. Many bosses prefer the “gift” of year-round hard work and dedication to the company rather than a gift card to Outback for a free steak.

If you decide to do a group gift to the boss, contribute what you can afford, and if you’re the organizer of the group gift effort, give the employees a dollar amount range and emphasize that they need only to contribute what they can afford. You don’t want to embarrass anyone by asking for a large contribution the employee simply cannot afford.

A handwritten holiday greeting card with a kind message is a simple, inexpensive way to show employees you recognize their value to the company. If you’re not sure of your employee’s religion, choose a neutral Seasons Greetings type of sentiment and keep your note short. Wishing them best happiness, health and prosperity in the new year in a PaperDirect holiday card is an employee recognition gift that goes a long way.

When giving gifts to people you work with, avoid perceptions of discrimination and favoritism by offering similar gifts of equal value to all. Although you may not expect it, the reality is that some of your employees will compare their gifts to that of their colleagues.

If you’re the boss or manager, you may want to consider a group gift to your staff such as a basket of goodies, providing breakfast in-house or even allowing an “early dismissal” around the holidays so time can be spent with families.

If you have a small company, the amount of money lost by allowing your staff to leave a couple of hours early will not even come close to the amount of gratitude they will feel for this very kind gesture.

It’s time to start thinking about employee recognition gifts for the holidays or end of the year. If you’d like to buy each of your workers an award of some sort, check out PaperDirect’s trophies, plaques or motivational gifts like coffee mugs and water bottles.

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December 12, 2012

Gift Etiquette: Is Re-Gifting Practical, Forbidden, or an Art?

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: holiday party, office gifts — PDWriter @ 12:59 pm

Re-gifting is a nice way to utilize unwanted or un-needed gifts that others may really need or enjoy. When it may be impossible or just impolite to make a return, re-gifting has become an acceptable practice (in most cases) for getting use out of something you really can’t use. Some people justify re-gifting by imagining gifts they’ve given to others in the past have been re-gifted, while others are just not comfortable re-gifting no matter what.

When handled politely and kindly, re-gifting can really be a practical means of passing along something you don’t need to someone who does need or want it. Just don’t get too involved in the process and make re-gifting an art by craftily planning how you will “pass on” every single gift you receive. That really has nothing at all to do with the spirit of giving, especially during the holiday season. When done tastefully, re-gifting is not forbidden at all. Let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions about gift etiquette and the process of re-gifting.

If you’re hosting, be sure to order Christmas invitations online from PaperDirect.

Gift Etiquette: Frequently Asked Questions About Re-Gifting

When is it acceptable to re-gift? If and when re-gifting is permissible depends largely on the feelings of the giver. Will the gift giver ever discover that you have passed along their gift? If you are certain there’s no way the giver will know you re-gifted, then you may feel safe to do so. There are time when it just makes sense to re-gift such as when the person to whom you are re-gifting will get a lot of enjoyment out of something that doesn’t necessarily suit your personal tastes.

Should I admit to my gift recipient that I re-gifted? Sometimes this may be appropriate, such as when you re-gift an expensive item. If you don’t tell the recipient that you re-gifted, he/she may feel obligated to buy you a gift of equal value. This could cause both of you to be uncomfortable and cause financial hardship for the giver.

How should I re-package the gift? Whatever you do, don’t re-package your item so that it appears to be from another retailer. Imagine the embarrassment if someone tried to return your re-gift! Select beautiful wrapping paper and a gorgeous piece of ribbon just as you would for any other occasion.

Are there certain occasions where re-gifting is a good idea? Absolutely! Consider a couple with a large family who is celebrating the arrival of a new baby. They may receive baby equipment or clothing that they already own. In such an event, it might make sense for them to pass along these duplicate gifts to someone in need.

What is one very important rule to know when re-gifting? Other than not hurting the feelings of the original gift giver, the most important thing is to be sure that the re-gift is suitable for the new recipient. Are you merely burdening someone with an unwanted item, or presenting someone with something they really will enjoy?

Shop PaperDirect for things you need for the holidays like Christmas invitations, holiday greeting cards, and Christmas stationery for holiday newsletters.

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December 10, 2012

Christmas Bridal Shower Ideas

Filed under: DIY Invitation Ideas — Tags: bridal shower — PDWriter @ 12:08 pm

Use the holiday season to inspire wedding festivities like a Christmas bridal shower! When having a Christmas wedding, you can draw inspiration fro holiday decorations and traditions and celebrate the upcoming nuptials and the holidays. With some creativity, you can wow the bride and still be ready for the holidays. For the bridal shower invitations you can choose holiday-themed invitations and send those to your guests, or you can include a pre-printed sheet in your Christmas card. The sheet should include all the details like the date and time, location and any specific instructions regarding food, beverages or gifts.

Food, Drink and Decorations

When planning the menu for your Christmas bridal shower, be sure to keep to the holiday theme with brightly colored red and green vegetables, finger sandwiches cut into holiday shapes using a cookie cutter, and decorated holiday cookies. A festive red punch or eggnog (spiked if you so chose) make great drinks for bridal showers during the holiday season. The obvious bridal shower party favor would be a lovely Christmas ornament. Poinsettias make lovely shower decorations, and you can hang mistletoe and holly throughout the house or other venue to add a special holiday touch.

Gift-Wrapping Ideas

Wrap gifts using the bride’s wedding theme and colors, which, for a holiday wedding are probably the same colors you would associate with Christmas: red, green, gold, silver and white. You can even be “green” (eco friendly, that is) and wrap your gift in brown paper bags or newspapers; use environmentally friendly paints for splashes of color. Accessorize the gift with paper flowers that you’ve cut out or household items that you can make work as gift wrap accessories. There are fancy (yet inexpensive) fabrics that can be used to wrap gifts; try chiffon and see how that works for you.

Gift Ideas

Since it’s the holiday season, you may get exhausted just thinking about doing more shopping, but you have to get the bride a great gift for her Christmas bridal shower. Try some items that will allow her to pamper herself like relaxation materials, bath products, entertaining magazines and even some delicious chocolates are all things she can indulge in and enjoy some me time before the big day.

If the couple is planning a honeymoon in a warm location, you can present a gift bag filled with items she can use on her honeymoon like sunscreen, a large beach towel, a good book or even a travel guide for the country she’s traveling to.

Membership to some type of monthly club like a wine club or a cheese club. If you’re feeling very generous, you can buy a one-year gym membership for the bride, but be careful she doesn’t take this the wrong way and think you’re saying she’s out of shape! Wine-of-the-month clubs are great fun, and each new month brings a new bottle of wine to enjoy. The bride and groom can enjoy your gift for months following the wedding.

PaperDirect is your online shopping source for bridal shower invitations and supplies you need to host this type of event and so many others!

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December 3, 2012

Business Holiday Greeting Cards for Clients

Filed under: Marketing & Sales Promotion Techniques — Tags: business cards — PDWriter @ 11:55 am

It’s that time–holiday cards for clients and customers should be mailed out by December 15. If you’re trying to decide whether or not to send business holiday greeting cards this holiday season, we think it’s a great idea. Not only are holiday cards a tradition, but sending holiday cards to customers lets them know you appreciate them.

One thing to keep in mind when sending holiday cards to clients is to remember that not everyone shares your religion. If you don’t know all of your clients’ religious affiliations (and most business owners/manages don’t), it’s best to send a neutral “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.” Sending a Christmas card to someone who celebrates Hanukkah shows that you don’t know that person at all or indicates a bit of insensitivity to other people’s individual differences.

Business Holiday Greeting Card Tips

Here are some more suggestions for sending holiday cards this year:

Send business holiday greeting cards of high quality like the ones from PaperDirect. Sign each and every card instead of using a signature stamp, which can appear impersonal. Adding a personal message above your signature is a wonderful added touch that will mean a lot to the recipients.
Send tasteful cards as some clients will not appreciate an off-color holiday greeting, and you must maintain the business/client relationship even at the holidays. While you may find a card funny, your recipients may find it offensive. Keep with traditional themes and festive sayings to make a great impression on your clients.
Feel free to include your company information below your signature, and you can even include a business card inside, but if you do, you must include a personal, hand-written message. Simply including a business card with no note will look as though you’re just trying to get more business. You don’t want to appear to have an ulterior motive for sending out holiday greetings.
Try to avoid using computer-generated address labels as this looks tacky and appears as though the recipients are not important enough to have their own cards filled out. Even if you have hundreds or thousands of cards to mail, enlist the help of office staff to hand write the addresses, which is a nice, much-appreciated personal touch.
Use proper titles when addressing the recipients. For instance, “Dr. and Mrs. Brian Taylor is more appropriate than “Brian and Carol Taylor.” If you are sending a card to a couple with different last names, be sure to address the envelope and greeting as such. For instance, “Dr. Michael Thompson and Ms. Linda Arnold.” Traditionally, the man’s name comes first in the address if the couple is married and if not married, put the names in alphabetical order: “Ms. Linda Arnold and Dr. Michael Thompson.”
Send business holiday cards to the business address of the recipient unless you know the recipient on a personal level. If you send the holiday card to the recipient’s home address, be sure to include the spouse’s name in the address (if there is a spouse or partner).
Send your business holiday cards in time to arrive before the date of the holiday. December fifteenth is the standard cut-off date for cards to arrive on time in the states. International cards should be mailed out sooner. Here is a table for suggested holiday mailings.

PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for holiday greeting cards. Check out our huge selection and stock up today!

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December 28, 2012

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December 17, 2012

December 14, 2012

Some Ideas for Employee Recognition Gifts:

Gifting Etiquette

December 12, 2012

December 10, 2012

December 3, 2012