Is your anniversary coming up and you’re trying to think of a unique anniversary celebration idea that won’t cost an arm and a leg? Throwing a party for someone (or yourself) doesn’t really have to cost a lot of money. You can still have a well-decorated party with lots of tasty food and yummy drinks on a tight budget–you just have to be a little creative and open-minded. Here are some suggestions that aren’t the same old thing you see at every anniversary celebration.
Celebration Ideas that Don’t Cost a Lot
While lavish gifts are nice, they may not be quite as meaningful or thought-provoking as another gift that will not cost nearly as much. Check out these anniversary celebration ideas that can be incorporated into just about any party to celebrate a couple’s love:
Arrange for a replica of your wedding cake to be made. This isn’t terribly expensive and will be a sentimental touch for your anniversary party. If you have a good picture of your wedding cake, most any bakery should be able to make the exact cake with any changes you’d like to make.
You can have family help create a video to memorialize your life together. This costs absolutely nothing, really, and will be a treasure you will have for the rest of your lives. Start with pictures of the happy couple as children, include pictures from when they dated, then got married, had children and so on. Arrange the pictures and videos into one and set to music. If you want to pay for a professional videographer to put this together, it’s money well spent. You and your spouse and family members will have this to watch and enjoy for years to come.
Prior to your anniversary party, ask family and friends to write a short paragraph or two about a special memory they have of you and your spouse. Compile all the snippets into a scrapbook and display it on the table for all guests to see. You can also have family members to make poster boards of family photos. These can be displayed on easels all around the party venue. You can also ask family to put old movies on CDs so you’re able to watch home movies anywhere you like with ease.
Whether you’re throwing a huge bash or are just having a few people over for a quieter, more intimate gathering, PaperDirect has anniversary party invitations, banners and even thank you notes for all the lovely presents you’ll receive! Shop online–it’s easy, fast and convenient!
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You’ve set the date, picked out your colors, ordered your flowers, and managed to talk your fiance out of reuniting his old Twisted-Sister-meets-the-Backstreet-Boys cover band from high school to play the reception. Crisis averted! Now comes the real challenge: Creating a wedding reception seating plan that works… for everybody.
Family dynamics can be — shall we say – a bit complicated. Maybe you can’t seat Aunt Nancy within dirty-look range of her ex-husband Bob and his brand-new wife, or maybe your fiance’s sisters — who haven’t spoken since 1992 — need to be seated on opposite sides of the room. Or perhaps you just want your wedding reception to run as smoothly and enjoyably as humanly possible.
Either way, a bit of planning combined with the right tools will make all the difference. For a stress-free wedding reception, consider these simple tips.
Keepin’ it Real… Formal
We know, we know, you’re a free spirit who doesn’t like rules and hates being micromanaged. But unless you want the next episode of “As the World Turns” taking place at your reception, you’re going to need a formal seating chart.
It’s really not as difficult as it sounds, either. Simply create a spreadsheet of all the yes-RSVP invitees and then organize them by relationship: bride’s friend, groom’s family, bride’s family, and so on. Highlight your more “sensitive” guests by color. For instance, if Nancy can’t sit by Bob, highlight their names in the same shade. That’ll make them stand out — so you’ll be sure to seat them far, far apart.
Draw it Out
Draw a map of the room – tables included — and assign each table a number. Use your spreadsheet to create groups of guests for each table. Mix it up by grouping those who know each other together, placing singles with other singles, and quieter guests with more gregarious invitees.
Traditionally, the bride and groom sit at the front or most central table, surrounded by their wedding party. However, if you’ve got guests who’ll feel like they’ve been banished to Siberia if they’re not at a central table, make every table more special by spreading the wedding party out across around the room.
When you have a rough outline, write each guest’s name on a post-it note. Stick the notes, organized by table, onto the room map. You’ll probably have some tweaking to do as late RSVPs trickle in, so keep your chart handy.
Simplicity + Planning = Reception Serenity
Now that you’ve created your seating chart, make it easy for guests – and wait staff, if you have them – to find their seats. Individual place cards add a sophisticated, personal touch at each place setting, while customized table tents feature a list of each table’s guests. Both can be customized to complement your wedding colors and theme.
Be ready for the unexpected; some guests may no-show, while others might arrive without bothering to RSVP at all. Keep some space open just in case.
Most importantly, don’t wait until the last minute to create your wedding reception seating plan. Just a bit of planning leads to a smooth, stress-free event that all will enjoy.
Easter Sunday is March 31, 2013, so now is the time to order all your Easter holiday supplies like invitations, flyers and banners. Are you planning a big Easter egg hunt for all the kids in the family, or is your neighborhood having a special outdoor celebration on Easter? If so, you need to get the word out with Easter flyers from PaperDirect. You’ll love all of our selections in a variety of lovely pastels and festive designs to suit all tastes. As you contemplate your Easter flyer choices, check out some interesting Easter facts and maybe you can include some of this information in a game for the kids or adults. Why not make a learning experience out of your Easter celebration this year?!
Easter Facts
Easter is one of the oldest and holiest of all Christian holidays, even more so than Christmas. What does Easter celebrate? Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross and on the third day, He rose from the dead. Known as the “Resurrection of Christ,” Easter is believed to bring joy and relief to Christ’s followers, who began to celebrate this day to commemorate the blessed event. Here are some interesting facts about the most important Christian holiday of the year:
The word “Easter” comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes hare and egg
Easter will always fall between March 22 and April 25
The egg has long been considered the symbol of rebirth
The earliest Easter egg baskets were the shape of birds’ nests
Approximately 90 million chocolate bunnies are made each year for Easter
Second only to Halloween, Easter is a huge “sweets” holiday
About 76% of people who eat chocolate bunnies eat the ears first
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.
Teachers, are you running out of ideas for student recognition awards? PaperDirect has you covered! While Student of the Month, Most Improved, and Highest Grade Point Average are wonderful award certificates to hand out, there are a lot of creative ideas out there for recognition awards for students of all ages.
Most teachers have such busy schedules that the thought of having to come up with one more creative task can be daunting. PaperDirect is here to help. We have award certificates that can be customized to award anything you choose. Our huge variety of styles will allow you to find certificates you really love. Just fill in the name and date and you have creative recognition awards the students will really appreciate!
Academic Award Ideas
Instead of awarding students for good grades or most improved classroom performance, try these unique award ideas and make any changes necessary to fit the age of the student:
The Albert Einstein Award (future brilliant scientist)
The Lewis and Clark Award (most excited to try explore something new)
The Deep Thinker Award (best problem solver in the class)
The Survivor (the one who never gives up)
The Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost Award (the best poet in the class)
The William Shakespeare Award (best playwright in the class)
Candy Bar Student Awards
The Butterfinger Award (the kid most likely to drop things or break things)
The Payday Award (the kid who forgets his lunch money)
The Three Musketeer Award (always surrounded by friends and supportive of others)
The Almond Joy Award (always happy and optimistic)
The Snickers Award (the class clown always making others laugh)
The Milky Way Award (the student who loves astronomy)
The Watchmacallit Award (the student who forgets the names of things)
The $100,000 Bar Award (the student most likely to be a millionaire)
Other Creative Recognition Awards
The Dale Earnhardt Award (the student who speeds through the hallways and is always told to slow down!)
The Emily Post Award (the most well-mannered student)
The American Idol Award (the kid who loves to sing)
The Bobby Flay Award (the future chef in the class)
The Edgar Allan Poe Award (the kid who loves a good horror story)
The Rolex Award (the student who is always asking what time it is or who watches the clock)
The Patrick Mahomes Award (future football star)
The Dr. Phil Award (the kid always giving advice)
The Anderson Cooper Award (the student who loves current events)
The Barbara Walters Award (for the student who loves asking personal questions)
The Justin Bieber Award (for the student who just loves to perform)
The Joe Biden Award (for the kid who wants to be President)
The Florence Nightingale Award (for the student who loves taking care of others)
This is just a short list to get your creative juices flowing. PaperDirect has hundreds of recognition award certificates for kids. With our “Print Right Now” option, simply customize your certificate and print them out on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper in any color you like. PaperDirect certificates are designed to print on our Perfectly Plain 28lb paper.
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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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Valentine’s Day is not a just an opportunity for boyfriends, girlfriends and spouses to express their undying love for each other and celebrate their lifelong commitment to love and cherish each other til death do they part. It’s also a time for businesses to show customers how much they appreciate them and offer great deals that not only say “Thanks for your patronage” but encourages them to keep coming back (and bring a long a friend or too!). And since it’s the second most popular holiday (Christmas is first) for gift giving, the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are a great time to do some aggressive, thoughtful marketing.
Valentine’s Day Marketing Tips That Work
Here are some unique marketing ideas for Valentine’s Day applicable to small and large businesses:
Promote love in every way you can possible think of–love for pets, family members, lovers, sports teams, cities, countries, foods, etc. You name it! Use love as a marketing tool this Valentine’s Day to get customers to your door and/or to your website.
Offer couples coupons, which require two people to be present to buy or require two items be purchased. You can offer a special buy one get one at a discounted rate or buy one and get the other free.
Day spas, hair salons and other “pampering” types of businesses do a tremendous amount of business around Valentine’s Day, so take advantage of the “love holiday” and offer relaxing, romantic spa days for couples.
Restaurants can offer meal deals such as dinners and desserts for two.
Movie theaters can offer two tickets for a discounted price, and the possibilities for candy shoppes, jewelry stores and florists to make huge profits on this holiday are endless. Be creative, beat the competitions’ prices and offer superior quality products and services, and you’re sure to set record sales this Valentine’s Day!
If you own or manage a business and need marketing supplies, PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for advertising tools like banners,fliers,postcards and the like. Place your order online, and in no time at all, your treats will arrive at your front doorstep! No shopping in crowded stores and no paying exorbitant prices!
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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.
Wedding programs are one of wedding touches that add something very special to what will surely be the most memorable day of your life. Do-it-yourself wedding programs not only give the guests a play-by-play of your ceremony, but they help guests feel included and understand what is happening, and they introduce your bridal party. DIY wedding programs will be a wonderful addition to your wedding scrapbook. Many wedding planners will tell you that you must have a wedding program, but the choice is yours. DIY wedding programs are necessary (and very helpful) in these situations:
For religious and traditional weddings, especially when guests are of a different faith or culture
For large weddings where guests probably do not know the bridal party
For long weddings
Parts of a DIY Wedding Program
Typically, you will want to have these parts included in your DIY wedding program with the following information:
The Cover–Include the date of the wedding and names of the bride and groom. You may also include the location and time of the wedding, a picture and some design element.
The Order of Events–This list will include what will happen during the wedding ceremony such as music, greeting, readings, prayers, vows, ring ceremony, candle ceremony, marriage pronouncement and recessional. Be sure to organize your list in the actual order that the events will occur.
Members of the Bridal Party–Here is how you can word this information:
Officiant: Name
Parents of the Bride:
Parents of the Groom:
Grandparents:
Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor:
Best Man:
Bridesmaids:
Groomsmen:
Readers:
You may also choose to include the following information in your DIY wedding program:
A brief explanation of traditions you are following
A request for audience participation such as singing, standing and kneeling
Thank you mentions
Memorials
Quotes or poems about marriage
Directions to the reception venue
Be sure to shop online at PaperDirect for the DIY wedding program you will love!
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Every bride (and groom) must write (yes, with your hand) thank you notes for gifts they received. Despite the fact that most people communicate electronically via email, text message and social media, expressing gratitude using any of these media is simply unacceptable. As a newly married couple, you must share the responsibility of handwriting thank you notes to each and every person who gave you a gift. By taking the time to hand write a wedding thank you card, you have shown your gift givers that you really do appreciate their kindness and generosity.
If you are not experienced with writing thank you notes, they really are very simple and don’t have to be long-winded at all. Proper wedding thank you card wording requires that you thank the sender for a specific gift. It is important to be specific when thanking the gift giver because if you’re not specific, the gift giver may feel as though you are just writing impersonal thank you notes and that you really don’t remember their gift at all. Try something like this:
Dear Aunt Jean and Uncle Jack,
“Thank you so much for the beautiful wine decanter. Greg and I are looking forward to sharing our first bottle of wine as a married couple using the elegant decanter you chose for us.”
It is also suggested to include a sentence or two about how the gift will be used. Proper wedding thank you card etiquette also states that when you are given a gift of cash (or check), that you should not mention the specific amount in your thank note. Instead, write something like this:
“Thank you for the generous gift and joining us in celebration of our marriage. We are so excited to be able to add to the savings for our new home!”
In addition to the proper wording, be sure you address the gift giver properly by name and title, if applicable. For example, if the gift is from your aunt and her boyfriend, then you must address the thank you card to acknowledge both your aunt and her boyfriend. It is important to be specific when thanking the gift giver because if you’re not specific, the gift giver may feel as though you are just writing impersonal thank you notes and that you really don’t remember their gift at all.
If you’re recently married, be sure to order your wedding thank you cards online from PaperDirect!
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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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There’s nothing wrong with wanting to save a little money by having a do-it-yourself (DIY) wedding or by doing some parts of the wedding by yourself. Many do-it-yourselfers make their own wedding cakes, decorations, invitations and wedding favors. DIY bridal shower invitations can be as fancy or as simple as you like (or as your skill level allows). If they’re attractive and include all the necessary information for your guests, the possibilities are boundless when creating DIY bridal shower invitations. Here some different types you may consider.
Photo Bridal Shower Invitations
A simple but effective do-it-yourself bridal shower invitation idea is to use a photo, such as one of the bride or the couple together. To keep the photo invitation simple, you can write all of the details on the back of your picture. Another is to try pasting the image to some pretty, decorative paper to make cards. Find paper matching the bridal shower’s theme or the wedding’s colors and add special decorations like lace or pearls for an elegant touch.
Computer-Generated Bridal Shower Invitations
Printable bridal shower invitations are available from PaperDirect. Your bridal shower invitations will look professionally made when using templates and other products from PaperDirect. DIY bridal shower invitations are easy to create and print yourself. Our elegant or simple invitations come with envelopes, ribbon and seals, where specified.
How to Write Bridal Shower Invitations
If you’re planning a bridal shower for a friend or family member, you’ll want to know the proper way to word the invitations so guests know the details regarding the shower. Like wedding ceremony invitations, the wording should reflect the level of formality of the bridal shower. Remembering a few key points when creating the bridal shower invitations will help to eliminate confusion and make for a fun time for all who attend!
Use a calligraphy pen to write formal bridal shower invitations. State the bride’s full name at the start of the invitation as well as the name of the groom if the shower is coed. Begin the invitation with a phrase like “[name of bride] requests your presence at her bridal shower” or “Please join us for [name of bride]’s bridal shower.”
After you’ve written the bride’s name, state the date and time of the bridal shower. Write out the date and time completely for formal invitations as in: “The sixteenth of June, at six o’clock in the evening.” Then write the location of the shower, as well as the full address. If you’re inviting several of the bride’s friends and loved ones who live out of town, provide written directions on the back of the invitation.
Finally, write the RSVP date at the bottom of the invitation. Include the name and phone number of the person with whom guests should confirm their attendance. The end of the invitation is also a good place to let guests know if the shower is a surprise, so that they do not unintentionally mention the celebration to the bride. If the shower has a theme, such as a time of day shower or a particular color scheme, write this information at the end of the invitation as well.
Shop online at PaperDirect and order the bridal shower invitations you need for the big day!
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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:
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!
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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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!
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.
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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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.
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.”
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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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.
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?
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!
Is your anniversary coming up and you’re trying to think of a unique anniversary celebration idea that won’t cost an arm and a leg? Throwing a party for someone (or yourself) doesn’t really have to cost a lot of money. You can still have a well-decorated party with lots of tasty food and yummy drinks on a tight budget–you just have to be a little creative and open-minded. Here are some suggestions that aren’t the same old thing you see at every anniversary celebration.
another gift that will not cost nearly as much. Check out these anniversary celebration ideas that can be incorporated into just about any party to celebrate a couple’s love:
a scrapbook and display it on the table for all guests to see. You can also have family members to make poster boards of family photos. These can be displayed on easels all around the party venue. You can also ask family to put old movies on CDs so you’re able to watch home movies anywhere you like with ease.
Easter Facts
birds’ nests
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