Though it’s a wonderful idea to have set aside a week in early/mid February to acknowledge Random Acts of Kindness, wouldn’t it be nice if every week celebrated random acts of kindness? If you make a point of doing nice things for people you know or strangers, then you are surely making a difference in the society in which we live.
For those of you who may not make time to perform random kinds acts for others or just can’t seem find the time to donate time or material things to the less fortunate, maybe you can set a goal for yourself to actively take part in Random Acts of Kindness week which will be here in just a few short weeks. To learn about the work the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has done in the past, please visit its website.
Here is some basic information about this wonderful organization:
Established in 1955 as a nonprofit organization for people committed to spreading kindness. The RAK Foundation is privately held and funded, and it accepts no donations, grants or membership dues. The RAK Foundation has no religious affiliation, and the goal is to encourage the practice of kind acts in all aspects of society. Here is the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s mission:
“The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to pass it on to others. We provide free educational and community ideas, guidance and other resources to kindness participants through our website.”
How about a party to kick off Random Acts of Kindness Week? PaperDirect is your online shopping source for invitations, banners, fliers and other supplies you’ll need to celebrate this wonderful cause.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so you need to start making romantic plans to show your spouse or significant other just how much you are still in love. You may have dinner reservations already made, or a wonderfully romantic meal planned to whip up at home. Maybe you’re taking your mate out on the town for a night of dancing or a trip to the theatre. Or, maybe you prefer a quiet evening at home watching classic romantic movies while cuddling on the couch and sharing a big bowl of popcorn or bottle of wine.
Whatever you have planned this Valentine’s Day, why not begin (or end) the evening with some handwritten words of love and devotion inspired by some of the most famous love letters ever written? Your mate is sure to swoon when he/she reads how you really feel about them, especially if you’ve not expressed yourself on paper in the past. If you do write a love letter to the object of your affection, be sure to choose some lovely Valentine’s Day stationery from PaperDirect. Easy online ordering makes choosing and receiving your favorite style a breeze!
Famous Love Letters
Here are some of the most famous love letters ever composed according to Time magazine online:
1. Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife, Josephine: Obviously, this brutal French leader had a soft spot for his wife even though he divorced her when he found she could not conceive. A few days after they were married, he left to command the French army but kept in touch through letters expressing how much he missed and longed for her. Here’s an excerpt from a letter Napoleon wrote in July 1796:
“Since I left you, I have been constantly depressed. My happiness is to be near you. Incessantly I live over in my memory your caresses, your tears, your affectionate solicitude. The charms of the incomparable Josephine kindle continually a burning and a glowing flame in my heart. When, free from all solicitude, all harassing care, shall I be able to pass all my time with you, having only to love you, and to think only of the happiness of so saying, and of proving it to you?“
2. Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn: While ole’ Henry originally courted Anne’s sister, Mary, he really only had eyes for Anne, who refused to be his mistress. As most of you know, Henry did not take rejection well and ordered her execution in 1536. But here’s what he wrote nine years earlier to Anne in 1527:
“I beg to know expressly your intention touching the love between us. Necessity compels me to obtain this answer, having been more than a year wounded by the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail or find a place in your affection.”
3. Winston Churchill to his wife, Clementine: Winston and his wife, “Clemmie,” wrote each other often when they were apart, and here’s an excerpt from a letter Winston wrote Clemmie in 1935 while she was traveling abroad:
“My darling Clemmie, in your letter from Madras you wrote some words very dear to me, about having enriched your life. I cannot tell you what pleasure this gave me, because I always feel so overwhelmingly in your debt, if there can be accounts in love…What it has been to me to live all these years in your heartand companionship no phrases can convey.”
4. Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor: Though probably most famous for their physical brawls, Richard Burton had a knack for writing sweet nothings to his beloved “Liz.” Here’s an except from a letter Burton wrote to Taylor during their first marriage in 1964:
“My blind eyes are desperately waiting for the sight of you. You don’t realize of course, E.B., how fascinatingly beautiful you have always been, and how strangely you have acquired an added and special and dangerous loveliness.”
5. President Ronald Reagan about his wife, Nancy: Former actor turned politician Ronald Reagan sure had a way with words. Check out this Valentine’s Day letter excerpt from 1977:
“Dear St. Valentine,
I’m writing to you about a beautiful young lady who has been in this household for 25 years now—come March 4.
I have a request to make of you but before doing so feel you should know more about her. For one thing she has 2 hearts—her own and mine. I’m not complaining. I gave her mine willingingly [sic], and like it right where it is. Her name is Nancy but for some time now I’ve called her Mommie and don’t believe I could change.
My request of you is—could you on this day whisper in her ear that someone loves her very much and more and more each day? Also tell her, this “Someone” would run down like a dollar clock without her so she must always stay where she is.”
6. Our last love letter writer may be fictional and it may be about being broken up, but he may just take the cake for the art of writing the love missive. If you’ve seen the movie, “The Notebook,” you may remember this from Noah to Allie:
“My Dearest Allie. I couldn’t sleep last night because I know that it’s over between us. I’m not bitter anymore, because I know that what we had was real. And if in some distant place in the future we see each other in our new lives, I’ll smile at you with joy and remember how we spent a summer beneath the trees, learning from each other and growing in love. The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I’d hoped to give to you forever. I love you. I’ll be seeing you. Noah.”
Be sure to shop online at PaperDirect for everything you need to compose your Valentine’s Day love letter. Maybe yours will one day be famous, too!
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The country’s holiday of romance is right around the corner. Check out these fun Valentine’s Day trivia tidbits to get in the mood for every couple’s favorite day of love. Be sure to get your Valentine’s Day stationery at PaperDirect. Compose the most romantic love letter of all time on lovely, vibrant Valentine’s Day paper from PaperDirect.
According to the Chocolate Manufacturer’s Association, 36 million boxes of chocolate were sold for Valentine’s Day in 2003.
The oldest known Valentine love letter was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife and is now located in the British Library in London. The Duke wrote the a poem when he was being held in the Tower of London following his capture.
According to the Greeting Card Association, 86% of Valentine’s Day cards are bought by women.
Second only to Christmas, Valentine’s Day sees more greeting cards sent than any other holiday with about 1 billion cards each yet.
Cupid was the son of Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
The average American will spend approximately $120 on Valentine’s Day this year.
Men spend twice as much as women on Valentine’s Day.
More than one-third of men say they’d prefer not receiving a gift on Valentine’s Day, but only 20% of women say they’d prefer to not receive a gift.
Around Valentine’s Day, a long-stemmed red rose will cost about $75, about 30% higher than its normal price.
Nine million pet owners will buy gifts for their pet this Valentine’s Day.
15% of women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.
More at-home pregnancy tests are sold in March than in any other month.
Teachers receive the most Valentine’s Day gifts of all groups.
Over half of all Valentine’s Day cards purchased are bought six days before the holiday.
Hallmark produced its first Valentine card in 1913.
The start of St. Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, when a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year.
Celebrity Valentine’s Day weddings: The Captain and Tennille, Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, Jerry Garcia and Deborah Koons and Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee.
Flower colors have different meanings. Red roses mean love, yellow roses indicate friendship, and pink roses mean friendship or sweetheart. Red carnations mean admiration, white carnations mean pure love, red chrysanthemums mean love, and primrose means young love.
In the medieval times, doves are widely believed to choose their mates on February 14. It has become a favorite symbol for Valentine cards.
Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine cards every year.
Are you hoping to compose the perfect Valentine’s Day love letter for your spouse or significant other this year? Do we have some tips for you! But before you get started composing the missive that will make your mate fall madly in love with you all over again, be sure to order romantic Valentine’s Day stationery online from PaperDirect.
With bright, beautiful paper and matching envelopes from PaperDirect, you’ll have all the supplies you need to write Valentine’s Day love letters worthy of publication. If pink is her favorite color, you’ll find no shortage of pink paper selections from our vast variety of Valentine’s Day paper. And if you’re looking to go even bigger, then a Valentine’s Day banner may be just what you’re looking for!
Do Great Love Letters Trump Gifts?
Men may be surprised at just how exciting it is to receive a well-crafted, thoughtful, sincere love letter, and they may be thrilled to know that a heartfelt Valentine’s Day love letter will be treasured more than the most lavish gifts (by some women, that is). Instead of spending money on flowers that won’t last long and chocolates many women would rather avoid eating, men should take the time to write passionate, honest love letters on the national day of romance. Here are some tips to consider before you compose:
Be sincere. If you’re not in love, then your letter will not be convincing. If you’re in a new relationship, don’t force the words to come if they don’t come naturally. It’s also best not to utter the words, “I love you” for the first time in a letter.
Be tasteful. Keep it clean as Valentine’s Day is about love not lust. Be mature, but don’t be nasty as there are certain things that should be reserved for private conversation, not a love letter on Valentine’s Day.
Be original. Never just cut and paste something you’ve found on the Internet. Of course, you can “borrow” favorite song lyrics or lines from a favorite poem, but give credit where credit is due. Your partner will appreciate a heartfelt message much more if it actually comes from your heart.
Be specific. Women love to know that their partners remember the small things. Whether you’re a man writing to a woman or vice versa, be sure to include an especially fond memory you have of your time together. Maybe a meal you shared at a quaint little restaurant on a vacation you took, or a moment on your first date that was just silly and awkward. Whatever you choose, be sure it’s something unique to your relationship and something he/she will remember, also.
Be yourself. Don’t try to write in a different voice than your own. Just relax and let the words flow. Be honest about how you feel and nothing can go wrong.
Be neat. Try to make the letter as attractive as possible. Avoid sloppy handwriting, crossed out words and spilled liquids. If you need to write several drafts to create the perfect missive, then do so. Take your time and your partner will greatly appreciate the effort. Be sure to make this a letter one she or he will want to keep for a lifetime!
Valentine’s Day is our country’s national day to celebrate love and romance. February 14th is a day to express your love for your long-time love or to celebrate the overwhelming feelings of falling madly in love with someone at first sight. Some people enjoy showing their love with grand gestures such as elaborate plans for a 24-hour getaway to a luxury hotel with a five-star restaurant and all the amenities you can think of, while others prefer a quite evening at home with a good movie and a bowl of popcorn.
Some men and women plan for Valentine’s Day months in advance, while others, much to their partner’s dismay, wait until the very last possible second to choose a gift or card for their mate. We want you to know that there are ways to impress your spouse or significant other that won’t break the bank. If you’re “creatively challenged,” PaperDirect has some creative Valentine’s Day plans to wow your honey.
Of course, you can go out and buy traditional Valentine’s Day gifts like roses, expensive chocolates, jewelry and the like or you can be more creative and even save a lot of money with some more creative ideas. How about some of these ideas?
Plan a Day Off From Work to Match His/Hers
Spending time together is important and having a whole day off together would be a real treat for you both. You could plan a romantic afternoon at home, a walk in the park, or a drink at your favorite watering hole. hole day for some cozy moments and a lot of fun? You can arrange for food for two and get some DVDs of a baseball match. Pop corns and beer would add to the excitement of the match.
A Full Day of Pampering
Who doesn’t enjoy a great massage, being waited on hand and foot, being cooked for and getting to enjoy a day without lifting a finger? That is one way to wow your honey without spending a dime. And just think how much he or she will appreciate all the effort you put forth to make sure their day is as relaxing as possible. The trick is to do something special, something that you have not done before or something that you would not regularly do.
A Personal Touch
Leaving ten post-it notes around the house naming things you love about your mate is a really sweet way to let her/him know how much you love them. Be creative and don’t just jot something down that shows you put little or no thought into this gift whatsoever. Remember specific things or events that reminded you how in love you are with the person. If you’re making some type of card or gift and creativity is not your strong suit, have no fear. It is the thought that counts-that saying is a cliche for a reason! You could create a photo card with a great picture of the two of you during a special time of your lives or from a special event.
Remember that Valentine’s Day is all about spending time together, appreciating one another and loving each other. That doesn’t have to cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Do something nice for your special someone; show him or her that you love them more than you did yesterday.
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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:
PaperDirect has a large selection of Christmas border paper for your holiday newsletters this year. The Christmas newsletter is a time-honored way to stay in touch with long distance friends and family members and let them know how everyone is doing. Many families have made the Christmas newsletter a yearly tradition, and with December right around the corner, it’s time to look at the various types of Christmas border paper you can order online from PaperDirect. Printing newsletters for Christmas is easy and fun when you use high quality, festive Christmas border paper that will surely brighten the holidays for all your recipients!
Here are some popular paper designs to make your Christmas newsletter especially festive this year:
Christmas Newsletter Tips
If this is the first time you’ve written a Christmas newsletter, you may need some tips.
When composing a letter to loved ones and friends you may not see very often throughout the year, keep your audience in mind and think about what you would like to know as a newsletter recipient. By tailoring your news to your recipient, you’ll have a captive audience. Think about who you’re sending your newsletter to. What should you include in a Christmas newsletter? Possibilities might include marriage, any moves/relocations, vacations, new pets, children’s news, graduations, new employment situations and any significant changes in your life. You really don’t have to go into great detail–be succinct and your audience will be more interested. Highlight the year’s milestones and joyous occasions.
Be positive and festive in your tone, but don’t go on and on about how many wonderful accomplishments your family has experienced this year because it sounds like bragging. There is a difference between reporting good news and boasting. Be careful not to cross this line in your newsletter. Similarly, don’t include tragic news or tales of hardship you’ve experienced this year. This is Christmastime, when love, warmth and happiness are the focus. The goal of the holiday newsletter is to simply update long distance friends and family about your past year, so keep it short, to the point, and fun!
Include a family photo if you like as this is a nice added touch.
End your Christmas newsletter by wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and safe, healthy and prosperous new year!
PaperDirect is your online shopping source for Christmas border paper of many designs for your family Christmas newsletter this holiday season! Order online today.
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Are you having a formal Thanksgiving dinner party and are panicked over getting everything together in time? With this wonderful holiday right around the corner, now is the time to think about all those little, finishing touches you’ll need to ensure the planning and dinner party go smoothly and as planned. Thanksgiving place cards from PaperDirect will not only help everyone know who’s sitting where, but they will add a touch of elegance to any Thanksgiving feast!
Here are some of the most popular PaperDirect Thanksgiving place cards:
Adornment Folded Place Card
Fall Brilliance Folded Place Card
Swirls of Autumn Folded Place Card
Mahogany Rouge Folded Place Card
Symmetry in Nature Folded Place Card
Autumn Etching Folded Place Card
Have you made your Thanksgiving dinner list and checked it twice? PaperDirect is your online shopping source for other supplies you may need this holiday season. We have Thanksgiving invitations,Thanksgiving personalized napkins and even Thanksgiving greeting cards for loved ones and friends you may not see this year. Need suggestions on hosting a party? PaperDirect can help you there, too! Read some of these helpful blogs about hosting parties around the holidays:
If you are planning a Halloween party, PaperDirect has the creative Halloween invitations you need to impress your guests and set the mood for a ghoulish Halloween bash this year. With over 115 creative Halloween invitation designs to choose from, you’re sure to find one you love! Whether your party is for adults or children or both, PaperDirect’s huge selection of Halloween designs will create only one challenge for you: Deciding which one you love the most, and that’s not a bad problem to have, huh?
Invitations, Postcards, Border Paper and Banners for Halloween
Here are some of our most popular creative Halloween invitations:
Haunted Hill Casual Invitations
Smiling Jack Casual Invitations
Lil’ Monsters Casual Invitations
Halloween Masquerade Casual Invitations
You can also create your own creative Halloween invitation wording by selecting PaperDirect fall/Halloween themed border paper including these popular designs:
Pumpkin Parade Border Paper
Good Ghost Border Paper
Haunted Hill Border Paper
Spooky Lane Border Paper
Haunted Cemetery Border Paper
PaperDirect postcards can also be used to create your own Halloween invitations. Take a look at these festive Halloween postcards that make great invitations that are easy to write up and inexpensive to mail out to your guests:
Spooky Lane Halloween Postcards
Black Cat Capers Postcards
Fright Night Postcards
Witchy Kitty Postcards
I Want My Mummy Postcards
How about PaperDirect Halloween vinyl banners that make create-your-own Halloween invitations?
Pumpkin Hayride Vinyl Banners
Haunted Hill Vinyl Banners
Lil’ Monsters Vinyl Banners
Harvest Sunshine Vinyl Banners
The PaperDirect blog is a great place to read about creative Halloween party ideas, Halloween games and party planning tips. Here are some recent PaperDirect blogs that offer party planning tips (even for the novice) and other Halloween-related tidbits that you may find useful as you get ready for this very popular holiday for kids and adults alike!
Now that you have ideas for invitations and how to plan/organize your party, this blog has some fun Halloween party games to keep your guests entertainment.
People born on October 31, get to celebrate their birthday and Halloween, many people’s favorite holiday, on the same day. If your child is born on Halloween, you have many years of fun birthday/Halloween party planning to look forward to. If you host a birthday party for your child on Halloween, sending spooky birthday/Halloween invitations available from PaperDirect will set the tone for the frightful festivities. Some of PaperDirect’s best-selling Halloween invitations that can serve the dual purpose of inviting youngsters to a birthday bash on Halloween are:
When you order from PaperDrect, you can also personalize your Halloween party invitations; simply tailor your message to create a unique Halloween banner with a ghastly message or a ghoulish welcome message. PaperDirect also has large vinyl banners for store windows or to announce a large birthday Halloween block party.
If you want to throw your child a combination birthday and Halloween party this year, check out PaperDirect’s extensive line of Halloween birthday invitations–great for adults too!
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If you’re looking to jazz up your Halloween party this year, try sending out Halloween postcards as your party invitations to mix things up a bit. If your friends, family or neighbors are counting on you to host the annual Halloween bash, you certainly don’t want to disappoint by sending out the same old boring invitations this year. Make it simple (and save on postage) by sending out Halloween postcards for party invitations this year. If you’re going the “open invitation” route, then you can use Halloween postcards as a mailer to everyone you’d like to be included in the spooky festivities.
PaperDirect has many of the party planning items you need for a great Halloween party this fall. Check out our custom print option and save time and money by designing and printing (or letting PaperDirect do it for you) your own Halloween postcard invitations today! Some of the best-selling PaperDirect Halloween postcards are:
Pumpkin Parade
Haunted Hill
Spooky Lane
Fright Night
Witchy Kitty
Good Ghost
Magical Pumpkins
Black Magic
Since Martha Stewart is such a well-respected party/hosting expert, let’s take a look at some Halloween games for kids (and big kids) that will keep your guests happy and entertained:
Pop Goes the Pumpkin: A Halloween version of the classic carnival game makes a great wall decoration, too. Simply blow up several orange balloons (fill some with candy and some with confetti) and put them up on a wall with some type of backdrop to protect the paint or wallpaper. Have one adult use a stick pin or dart (kept away from the kids, of course) and have the kids guess which balloon has treats, confetti or is empty. Start popping balloons and the kids will love the goodies that come out of the balloons that are stuffed.
Doughnuts on a String: Tie a length of rope between two trees. With kids standing under the rope, tie pieces of ribbon to the doughnuts (one per player) and then to the rope so the treats hang slightly above mouth level. Have players start on the count of three. Instruct each to eat an entire doughnut without ever touching it and without letting it fall off the ribbon. The first to finish wins. The prize? It’s already been eaten!
Pin the Pumpkin on the Face: Any child who has played Pin the Tail on the Donkey will be able to play this game. Cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from black construction paper. Stick a reusable adhesive, such as Blue Tack, on the back of each cutout, and give a set of cutouts to each player. Put a large pumpkin on a low table or a bench. With blindfolded players starting four feet away (little kids may stand closer), instruct them to walk toward the pumpkin and create a jack-o’-lantern face (without peeking). After each turn, take a picture of the player with the finished pumpkin.
PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for all of your party planning needs this Halloween. You can order Halloween postcards, creative Halloween invitations, or Halloween banners everything you need for a great party.
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Many married couples say their first anniversary (symbolized by paper) is the most exciting and most memorable. A first wedding anniversary is a great time to plan a celebration that gives the newlyweds many heartfelt memories for years to come. Paper Anniversary wedding parties are usually casual and inexpensive; after all, you have to save up for when you make it to your silver and gold anniversaries!
Paper Anniversary Party Tips
If you are hosting your own paper anniversary party or are hosting for a friend or family member, here are some tips to help make your paper anniversary party a huge success:
After deciding on your guest list, order your anniversary invitations from PaperDirect way ahead of the date of the party, so you have plenty of time to get them organized, addressed and mailed out. For a special added touch, include a wedding photo or a fun photo from your honeymoon or any experience in your first year (maybe a picture of your child or children?). In the invitation, include all the pertinent information the guests will need: reason for the event, location, time, attire (if it’s even necessary to mention this), and remind guests that the theme is “paper anniversary.” Include information in the invitation such as whether or not children and/or pets are welcome, if no alcohol will be served may guests bring their own and items of that nature.
If the party is outdoors, be sure the area is clean and safe; if there is a pool present, hire a trained lifeguard to protect your guests. While parents should always watch their children while at a pool party, you need a trained professional on hand because parents will look away, and tragic accidents can happen in a split second. If there is a pool that is off limits, be sure a gate or barrier of some sort surrounds the pool and that there is no way a child could get close enough to the pool to fall in.
Help your guests by including fun and inexpensive gift ideas related to paper such as paper products for house (e.g. paper towels, paper napkins, toilet tissue, paper plates and other practical gifts any new couple could certainly use).
Choose festive decorations that match the theme of the party if you have a theme in addition to the obvious “paper anniversary” theme. So, if you’re doing a Mardi Gras theme, order decorations from PaperDirect that will make your theme obvious to the guests. PaperDirect has a huge selection of vinyl party banners to choose from, so we’re sure you’ll find all the decorations you need at the best one-stop online shopping source for event planning and hosting–PaperDirect.com.
Plan the menu and beverages. Are you going to have it catered? Are you going to cook the food yourself or have friends and family help? As you plan your menu, consider food safety and how long certain foods can sit out in the sun (such as mayonnaise-based salads and desserts with cream/milk in them). Be sure to have enough food and be sensitive to food allergies your guests may have. Many people do not eat meat, foods with gluten or shellfish (due to allergies), so in the invitation, you can include a note asking your guests to please let you know about special food requests they have. Strategically place plenty of trash bins around the party venue, so your guests are not stuck holding dirty plates, cups and napkins.
Make sure restrooms are available, clean and well stocked.
If alcohol is served, be sure no one drives home after drinking. Either provide transportation via cab or sober driver or insist the intoxicated guest spend the night at your home or nearby hotel. You can be held legally responsible if someone is injured or killed in a car accident after drinking at your home.
If you are throwing a party, any type of party, PaperDirect not only has a lot of the supplies you’ll need, but the blog includes an entire section devoted strictly to all types of event planning. Here are just a few PaperDirect blogs that offer tips on throwing a really great party!
With Memorial Day quickly approaching, it’s time to break out the grill, hamburgers and hot dogs, and your most patriotic red, white and blue garb to honor those who have lost their lives in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day is considered the kick-off to summer and is a time for friends and family to gather, enjoy a long weekend or travel to a relaxing destination.
If you’re hosting a Memorial Day get together, you will need patriotic invitations to set the tone. PaperDirect has quite a selection of patriotic invitations from which to choose, and the great part is that with July 4th coming soon, you can stock up now and use the invitations again in July (that is, if you’re up to hosting another summer bash!). Here are just a few samples of our patriotic invitations for upcoming American holidays:
Baby shower games are a traditional part of any baby shower, and while they are often silly and childish, they are fun, nonetheless. If you are hosting a baby shower, you may be struggling to come up with some baby shower game ideas that are not your run-of-the-mill, decades-old boring baby shower games.
Baby shower games at the shower can be one of the most memorable experiences for the mom-to-be. Part of making the experience a huge success is by thoughtful party planning and hosting fun baby shower games. Before starting the games, it’s good practice to go around the room as an ice breaker and have everyone introduce themselves and explain how they know the mother-to-be.
Now, let’s jump right into some popular baby shower ideas that will keep your guests entertained and involved!
“Never Say ‘Baby'”
Materials: Baby safety pins you can place on a string for each guest and string or yarn, enough for each guest to wear as a necklace.
Have each guest place the necklace with the baby safety pins around their neck when they arrive at the baby shower. The rules for this baby shower game are given out at the beginning of the baby shower. Whenever someone says the word “baby” during the shower, anyone who calls it out gets a pin from the other guest who said the word. At the end of the baby shower, the guest with the most safety pins wins!
Name the Most Baby Items
Materials: Pad of paper and pen for each guest.
Have everyone write down as many baby products as they can name (bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc) within 5 minutes. Sure it is easy at the beginning, but towards the last few minutes, the women will start racking their brains for more. A prize goes to the guest with the most baby items listed.
Guess How Many Safety Pins (or Diapers)
Materials: Safety pins, jar, diapers, large container to house diapers. Pass around a jar full of baby safety pins. The one who guesses the closest wins a baby shower prize. Do the same with a large container of small diapers and at the end of the game, the mommy-to-be gets the containers!
Baby Trivia Game
Check out this blog for some great ideas for this baby shower game–Play Baby Trivia!
PaperDirect has everything you need for your baby shower from invitations to thank you cards and announcements. Shop PaperDirect’s online store today for all your baby shower planning needs.
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Are you knee deep in anniversary party planning and don’t know know what to do next or even where to begin? If you’re hosting an anniversary party for your parents, children or even a friend or co-worker, these partying planning suggestions will help you take on this daunting task and host an anniversary party that will be remembered fondly for years to come.
Traditionally, many couples celebrate their 25th anniversary (silver) and their 50th anniversary (gold) in a big way. However, it is also very common and acceptable to have a party on any of the five-year milestones of a marriage (5th, 10th, 15th and so on) on a smaller scale. These anniversary party ideas can be applied to virtually any type of celebration you can think of.
First, try to establish some sort of planning committee. Enlist the help of anyone capable who offers; it may not seem like you need that much help in the early stages, but once you get going, a handful (or more) of people helping out will be much appreciated.
Establish your budget and then from there, you can create your guest list. Whether you’re hosting a huge anniversary bash for two hundred or a small intimate dinner party for ten, it’s important to stay within your budget and not over spend. It’s also a good idea to leave some funds set aside for those last-minute expected problems that could turn your bash into a bust. Caterers not showing up, bartenders being late and an unpredicted rain storm can all force you to make last-minute changes that will cost you money. Be sure to have a little bit set aside to cover these costs.
As you develop the guest list, it’s important to keep in mind the comfort level of the anniversary couple and what they would want if they were planning their own party. Are they comfortable around large groups and a festive atmosphere, or do they prefer smaller more intimate gatherings? As you create the guest list, it’s always important to keep in mind the wishes of the anniversary couple. Only invite friends and family you know they will be comfortable around.
If the party is not going to be at your home, then you need to decide on a venue and make reservations. This is all dependent upon the number of guests you’re inviting and the size of your party. You may be able to reserve a small room in the couple’s favorite restaurant, or you may need a larger space like an old community theatre, recital hall or the like. You absolutely must know how many people will be attending before you can reserve the venue. What if you reserve a huge space, but only half of the invitees respond they’re coming? The space will feel empty and cold instead of warm and inviting.
When deciding on the day and time, try to get the party date as close to the actual anniversary date as possible. But you must almost keep in mind your guests’ work schedules and travel plans. You certainly don’t want to have a party in the middle of the week if most of the guests are still working full time and have to get up early. If most of the guests are at retirement age, then you can be a little more flexible with the day of week and time.
Plan your party theme and menu (if you are doing the food yourself). Hiring a caterer or having the party at a restaurant eliminates this huge task, and you can rest easy knowing the food and drinks will be provided. If you are doing the cooking yourself, be sure you have everything you need well in advance and some helping hands. Prepare as many dishes before the day of the party as you can. This will prevent a lot of rushing around the big day. Why not just hire a caterer so you don’t have to worry about any of this and you can relax a bit more?
Send out your invitations and then start getting all the decorations and other supplies ready for the big day. If you’re hosting the party at your home, you’ll probably have a lot more work to do than if you hired a party planner, but in the long run, it will all have been worth it. The happy couple will have wonderful memories of this special event that you hosted in their hearts and minds forever.
PaperDirect has everything you need for your anniversary party from invitations to thank you notes. Need some more party planning tips? Check out these PaperDirect blogs:
Mother’s Day is a very big deal for many men and women around the country, as it’s a day to honor the woman who brought us into this world and make her day as special as possible. Whether you want to honor a biological mother, stepmother, adoptive mother, grandmother or just someone who has been like a “mom” to you your whole life, what better way to say I Love You, Mom than with a Mother’s Day Party.
Some mothers will prefer a more low-key type of celebration–maybe just a quiet family dinner at home or in mom’s favorite restaurant. But for those moms who like a good party, why not use these Mother’s Day party ideas to throw mom a bash she’ll never forget!
When considering throwing a party for someone, it never hurts to find out how they feel about parties. If you know your mother is shy and prefers the company of family and maybe a few close friends instead of hundreds of acquaintances, then you should nix the idea of a Mother’s Day party altogether. But if you know the special woman in your life enjoys a good party and likes being the center of attention, check out these Mother’s Day party ideas to get your creative juices flowing. After all, Mother’s Day, which is always observed on the second Sunday of May (May 13, 2012) is right around the corner.
Mother’s Day party tips:
For a surprise party:Create a list of all invitees and send a spring themed invitation that clearly states it is a surprise party. PaperDirect has an extensive line of party invitations for all occasions and tastes.
Party decorations are a very important part of any celebration. Decoration should always be according to the taste of the person for whom the party is being thrown. Decorate the venue, be it a home or anyother place with flowers of your mother’s choice. If the party is at home, then change the look of home by putting up some beautiful family photos. PaperDirect also has a variety of vinyl banners on which you can personalize special messages to mom.
If you want to be really creative, you can choose a specific theme for your Mother’s Day party such as the 50’s or whatever decade will bring back fond memories to your mother or grandmother. You can do a Hawaiian theme party or an all white party. You can host a pool party (as long as a lifeguard is provided), or any number of other themes. Just make sure your mom would enjoy and approve of the theme you choose.
Food is one of the most important aspects of every party, and you want to be clear on the invitation what type of food will be served (appetizers only, full dinner, buffet, desserts, etc.) People don’t want to show up hungry expecting to eat only to find cheese and crackers and other light snacks. If you serve food, you must estimate how much food will be necessary to adequately feed all of your guests. Drinks are important, too. You must provide non-alcoholic drinks for those who don’t drink at all and you must be able to monitor alcohol consumption in case someone becomes too intoxicated to drive. It is your responsibility as host to ensure your guests get home safely. You can either have a designated driver to get your guests home or call them a cab.
Choose music that will be pleasurable to the majority of the guests. If your guest of honor and guests are senior citizens (or even if they’re not) you need to keep the volume to a comfortable level at which people can easily hold a conversation without having to raise their voices. Be sure to provide an area to dance and dance music in case people want to boogie.
Hire a photographer and/or videographer to capture the party so it can be remembered for years to come. If you don’t have pictures and videos of this special event, you may regret it when Mom’s no longer with you.
PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for many party items including personalized napkins, place cards, and thank you notes. Looking for more party ideas and tips? Check out these PaperDirect blogs:
One of the most memorable events of a young couple’s life is their baby’s first birthday party, so if you’re getting ready to plan your little one’s first birthday party, you may need some birthday party tips for kids’ parties. While many young parents have visions of throwing an elaborate party that will be unforgettable for all those who attend (except, probably, for the guest of honor and all of her one-year-old guests), you must keep in mind that because your baby is only one year old, he may not be able to handle all the excitement you have planned. As much as you want to make this day unforgettable, you have to keep your guests’ comfort in mind as you plan. PaperDirect offers these birthday party tips for your little one’s big day:
Keep the guest list fairly small. You can invite just a few relatives, friends and their kids, and grandparents. Most party planning experts recommend no more than five kids (accompanied by a parent) at a baby’ first birthday party, but if you feel you can handle a larger crowd (and have plenty of help to do so), then, of course, feel free to invite as many little guys and gals as you like. Just remember that huge crowds may overwhelm the guest of honor.
Choose a baby-friendly venue. Your backyard or a local, familiar park is ideal so the kids can crawl and toddle around in the grass, and when things get spilled, no one will care since you’re in the great outdoors. But if you don’t want to gamble on the weather, or if you’re looking for a place away from home, you may want to consider fun places like a family-entertainment activity center, a kid-oriented gym, a kid-oriented pizza place, or even your own daycare center. These places are familiar to your child, and the staff at these locations know how to entertain children.
Pick a time for the party that matches your baby’s schedule. The best time of day for a party is when your child is most alert and calm–usually in the morning after a nap. Most experts say that 1.5 hours is long enough for a child’s first birthday party. Long parties and those held late in the afternoon or in the evening will find all the young guests low on energy, patience and attention.
Don’t go overboard with the entertainment. Loud music, performances and other types of shows may scare your child and his guests. Keep the activities fun but not too loud and rambunctious as your little guests will be scared if too much is going on at once. Here are some ideas for appropriate “entertainment” for a one-year-old’s birthday party: a short sing- and clap-along session with some of your child’s favorite songs and other age appropriate games. For a backyard party, supply push toys, tents, or tunnels, and if possible, a sandbox or digging area. Indoors, create a safe play area by removing breakable, dangerous items and setting out plenty of toys appropriate for the age group.
Offer food that caters to kids. For a morning party, the only food you’ll really need will be the cake and some juice. If you’re scheduling close to lunchtime, you can offer nutritious finger foods such as fruit slices, bread sticks, bite-sized treats and maybe some cooked pasta. Avoid any foods that may present a choking hazard, and of course, find out about any food allergies your young guests may have ahead of time.
Avoid opening presents during the party. Many experts say that opening gifts often turns into a grabbing “free for all,” and that it’s best to put the gifts out of sight and explain that they’ll be opened later.
Take plenty of pictures and video, so you can look back on one of the most important milestones in your child’s life. Not only will you, the parents, be able to relive your baby’s first birthday, but with pictures and video, this wondrous occasion will be preserved for generations to come. Imagine what it will feel like when you and your child watch this video with your grandchildren. Years later, when it comes time to watch this special event with family and friends, the effort will have been well worth it.
PaperDirect has an extensive line of party supplies including banners, invitations, place cards and thank you notes. Shop online and get everything you need at our one-stop online party shopping headquarters.
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The key to throwing a surprise party is keeping the guest of honor from ever finding out, which is not easy. Another challenge throwing a surprise party presents is making sure the guest of honor actually shows up, and while many people say the only way to ensure this will happen is to hold the party at the guest of honor’s home, this can be very difficult to pull off. While you may know the schedule of the guest of honor and have help from his/her family members, something may come up that will make the guest of honor come home and catch everyone in the act of organizing the party.
Once you decide where you’re going to hold the surprise party, you must enlist the help of several friends and family members to make sure the party goes off without a hitch. There is nothing worse than the guest of honor finding out ahead of time that there is a “surprise” party in their honor. Then they’re forced to act surprised so as not to hurt the host’s feelings. Before you decide to host a surprise party, be sure the guest of honor will enjoy the occasion. Some people hate surprises so much that they may not even appreciate the gesture, which is the party host’s worst nightmare. Here are some suggestions on how to throw a surprise party in which your guest of honor will truly be surprised.
If the party is being thrown for someone in your household, ask a neighbor if you can store all the party supplies at his/her house, and make sure your neighbor keeps them well hidden just in case your guest of honor decides to stop by the neighbor’s house unannounced. If the celebrant does not live with you, then you can decorate your house in advance and just make sure the guest of honor does not stop by. Be sure that the people you ask for assistance can keep a secret because some people just cannot keep something this juicy to themselves.
Another suggestion on how to throw a suprise party is to have the the party held at a location the celebrant won’t consider suspicious. If you’re not having it in someone’s home, then choose a restaurant or bar that is familiar to the guest of honor. If you suggest going to someplace you’ve never been and don’t have a good excuse for going there, he/she may become suspicious.
Make sure all the guests park their cars far enough away from the party site so as not to arouse suspicion. If the guest of honor shows up at a house with twenty cars, he will surely figure out what is going on.
Another great trick to surprise your birthday guy or gal is to take them to a birthday dinner and let them think that is the gift or the party. Then, after dinner you can suggest stopping by another establishment for dessert or even a friend’s house to pick up a gift and that is where the actual surprise party will be.
If you are thinking about throwing a surprise party for a friend or a loved one, you must carefully plan and also plan for the unexpected. PaperDirect is your online source for party invitations, banners, and all the party event accessories you will need. The PaperDirect blog offers some great party planning tips.
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Avid golfers dream about golf year round, but with inches of snow on the ground, it’s not realistic to think about having a golf party or a golf-themed party, but you can certainly start planning your golf party for the coming months. If you’ve been given the task of hosting or planning a golf party, you are going to need golf party ideas, especially if you’re not a golfer yourself.
Invitations
You can make the golf party invitations out of material that looks like a putting green or have invitations made in the shape of a golf ball or club. Using scorecards from an actual golf course, you can create golf party invitations from the scorecards and include “Tee Time” (the time the party begins), the name of the golf course (venue location), “Course Length” (length of party) and “Water Hazards” (whether the opportunity for swimming is available). You may also include “19th Hole” information, which would be any additional information you’d like to include about the party such as whether or not to bring a dish or drinks, whether children are welcome, and if there is a certain attire required (golf attired would be a great idea here). Of course, it only makes sense that golf attire be required if you’re hosting a golf party! Guests can even purchase “Caddy Shack” costumes and old time golf costumes including knickers and the little golf hat men used to wear decades ago. The possibilities for golf party ideas are endless. You can also include golf photos on the invitations. If the party is honor of one person, you can include a picture of him/her playing golf.
Decorations
As far as golf part supplies are concerned, you will need golf decorations. You can set the golf tone by hanging a golf banner at the entrance with some clever golf saying or just a simple “welcome” message. You can create golf flags to note important spots in the venue such as where the food and bar are located. You can also line the walkway to the front door of your home with colorful golf flags. You can even create numbered flags and give guests a program upon their arrival that says something like, “Hole 1–appetizers,” “Hole 2–salads,” “Hole 3–entrees,” and so on. You can also have your local copy shop blow up photos of golfers to have life-sized photos of some of your favorite professional golfers throughout the party.
If you have extra golf bags, balls and clubs in your home (or donated by guests), you can use them as golf party supplies and place them throughout your home or golf party venue. You can even buy putting green-like turf to put along the walkway to your home or around the food/bar area.
You can set up a putting green and have a putting contest and offer prizes to winners. The possibilities for your golf party are endless, so with some creativity and some great supplies for PaperDirect’s online store, your golf party can be the best one ever! Here is an idea about golf party awards you can offer to adults and children.
Shop PaperDirect online today to buy banners, invitations and any other golf party supplies that will make your party a huge success.
With winter only a few weeks away, time is running out to throw a great fall party. No matter what the occasion, whether it’s a school event, football tailgate party, wedding anniversary, bridal or baby shower, or just a neighbor or family get together, fall is a beautiful time to throw a party. The crisp, cool autumn air and changing of the leaves just seems to put everyone in a great mood. While it may be too cool in your area of the country to throw an outdoor fall party, there are plenty of great fall party ideas for indoors.
Who doesn’t love movies? While it may not be the most original idea, hosting a movie night is a great way to get together with friends and family, eat some delicious food and watch some classic movies. You can make your fall movie party a themed party such as everyone brings his/her favorite romantic comedy or horror flick. You can offer snacks such as popcorn, chips/dip and hot appetizers, or you can make it a pot luck (which certainly takes some of the pressure of cooking off of you).
Game night is also a fun way to spend the evening on a cool autumn night, and some games like Pictionary and Taboo make for some good laughs. You can have a couple’s only game night and separate the couples to make things a bit more interesting. Since couples usually have their own “language” not allowing couples to be on the same team makes the game more challenging for everyone.
For the kids, you can host a fall arts and craft party where the kids are provided art supplies and asked to create some fall-related piece of art. They can paint, sculpt from clay or build something that reminds them of fall. Carving pumpkins (with careful knife supervision, of course) is a fun activity that is not reserved for Halloween. You can provide gourds so the kids can paint faces on them, and you can use them as Thanksgiving dinner party decorations.
Show and Tell is another fun kids’ fall party idea. Each of your child guests can bring one special item to the party and explain what it is, what it means to them and why it’s special. The children will learn a lot about each other, and this game also teaches them to be good listeners and respect individual differences.
Fall party ideas are aplenty, so when you decide which of these fall party ideas sounds good to you, shop PaperDirect for your fall party supplies. We have fall invitations, banners, place cards, personalized napkins and everything else you will need to make your fall party a huge success. PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source! For more Fall party ideas visit PaperDirect’s blog.
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Though it’s a wonderful idea to have set aside a week in early/mid February to acknowledge Random Acts of Kindness, wouldn’t it be nice if every week celebrated random acts of kindness? If you make a point of doing nice things for people you know or strangers, then you are surely making a difference in the society in which we live.
PaperDirect also has 
