Event Planning

Why send invitations?

What should you write on a christening invitation?

How soon should you send invitations to a christening?

What about invitations for non-religious baby ceremonies?

There's nothing better than making sure that your children have wonderful memories to look back on and primary school is the perfect time to help them do that. It's a bit sad when it comes to an end, but with a leavers' book, you can ensure that your little ones have lots of good wishes and fond messages to revisit whenever they feel like it. With so many pages, there's tons of space in each one to let your kids leave their mark in the most original way. We've put together a few suggestions to get you started

Stay on track with an immediate view of your week

Make a note of important occasions

Keep on top of your weekend plans

Looking to get more organised? The idea of purchasing a pretty desk planner can be very appealing, but it's essential that you use it properly and avoid letting it sit under your laptop. We've compiled our top 5 tips on how to use a desk planner effectively, so you can avoid ever missing an important appointment again!

1. Plan the week ahead

This may seem obvious, but it's a good idea to sit down at the start of the week and plan your general tasks. Include things such as any appointments you may have, or any small jobs you need to carry out but which could be forgotten easily. That way you can estimate the busyness of each day and be prepared should anything else crop up into the schedule.

2. Use the daily planner

This is where you can add detail! Once you have planned for the week, you can include all your more minor and specific goals using each day on your desk planner. Featured Product: Sweet Sherbet Dreams - Desk Planner The biggest highlight of the daily section is how large the writing space is. If you love to plan ahead, then our desk planners offer plenty of room for you to include everything you may want to achieve that day. From writing down what outfit you want to wear to planning your workouts and meal options, it can mean that you really are prepared for the day ahead.

3. Be specific

When planning your day on the daily pages, it is important to include specific details. Instead of simply writing 'send emails,' you should write the details, such as 'send email to Jess to RSVP to her birthday party.' You'll not only be more likely to complete the task, but you'll also be able to predict how much time you will require to complete the task.

4. Only use one planner

Desk planners are great because they are so large, meaning there's space to keep track of all your tasks. Using more than one planner will confuse your schedule, and you're more likely to miss an appointment or not get a task done. Featured Product: Pinking Out Loud - Desk Planner Instead, optimise your desk planner by colour-coding for better separation, such as highlighting work tasks in pink and personal tasks in blue.

5. Have a regular planning session

It's very easy to have one very efficient day of planning, and then missing it for a couple of days. You should set a time each day to sit down at your desk planner to check and note down any additional tasks. This may be better to do at the start of the day so you can plan your time wisely. Featured Product: Be-Leaf In Yourself - Desk Planner So there you have it! Our top 5 tips to help you use your desk planner effectively. All that's left to do now is purchase your perfect one. Take a look at our colourful range.

If your birthday is coming up, why not get creative with your invitations? There are so many cool ideas that you can find online. So whether you're having your invites professionally printed, or getting creative, you're sure to find something that suits your party!

Shaped Invitations

At the moment, we are loving shaped invitations. They can be so much fun! If you're having a beach-themed party then why not handcraft some invitations in fun shapes, such as buckets, flip-flops, or waves? There are so many cool ideas available online - take a look!

Tickets

We have also seen a lot of ticket-style invitations, which are super cool. These are perfect for festival, nightclub, or cinema parties, and also make a great memento for guests to keep! Photo credit: Press Print Party Pair with matching wristbands for an on-trend festival vibe!

Jigsaw Puzzle

For big budget birthday parties, why not create your own jigsaw puzzle invitations? This is so much fun, and is sure to be remembered by party guests. Including all of the details is important - don't forget them!

Creative E-card

On the other hand, if you are looking for an affordable option, we recommend to choose an e-card! Whether you're making your invitations on Whatsapp or want to get extra creative, this could be the perfect choice for you. There are lots of free templates available online.

Still struggling?

If you're still struggling, then why not check out our full range of invitations - we have stationery for so many occasions! Featured Product: 40th Birthday Invitations - Striped Peony Pattern Whether you're after stationery for kids birthdays, adult birthdays, christenings, or engagement parties, you're sure to find what you're after. We hope you have enjoyed this blog, and have thought of some creative ideas for your invitations! Don't forget to check out our other blogs - we have blogs for every occasion.

Personalising our birthday invitations is really easy! Follow this simple 5-step guide to find out how:

Find a design

Before getting into the details, go and find your ideal design! At Dotty about Paper, we have designs for any birthday - with invitations for every age or party theme. Featured Product: 30th Birthday Invitations - Blush Leopard Print Whether you're looking to stay on-trend, or go for something unique, you're sure to find what you're after. Prices start from just 80p for personalised invitations - amazing quality for the money!

Add your wording

Then, add your wording. You can add any unique wording that you would like - get creative! Featured Product: 30th Birthday Invitations - Sakura Blossom Here are some of the main things you need to include: -Your name -The time and location of your party -The dress code -Whether children are invited -What food you will be serving / details about the bar -RSVP Details

Add to basket

Once you're happy with your wording, add your cards to basket. Featured Product: Foil 30th Birthday Invitations - Sparkly Typography

Check your proof

Once we have received your personalised order, we will add all of your wording to your invites and then send you an online proof via email. This gives you the chance to check your invitations before they are sent to print - so useful! You may want to ask a friend or family member to check over your wording, just to be extra sure.

Confirm

Finally, confirm your order! We will then have your invitations printed and sent to you. Featured Product: 30th Birthday Invitations - Happy Hour Once you've received them, you can send them out to guests. Whatever your design, guests are sure to love your invitations! We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog, and are excited for ordering your personalised birthday invitations. We have so many other birthday blogs that you may like to read - check them out!

Writing a card for a teacher who is leaving can be tricky. What should you write? How personal should it be?

Creating your own personalised placemats is easy! Whether you decide to hand-craft them or buy them fully personalised, it is sure to be a lot of fun. In this blog, we will be telling you how to personalise our kids placemats. Read on to find out more!

Choose your favourite design

First, find a cool shop that sells personalised placemats (like us!). Here at Dotty about Paper, we have a wide range of fun designs that kids of all ages will love. Whether you're after a placemat for a child who's dinosaur-obsessed, loves animals, or is a budding farmer, you're sure to find what you're looking for! We have designs for both boys and girls, as well as gender-neutral styles. Featured Product: Personalised Kids Placemat - Green Farm Tractor Our personalised placemats have a durable laminate finish, making them perfect for dinner or play time. Simply wipe them down with a damp cloth to clean.

Add your wording

Next, add your unique wording. We recommend to add your child's name, however we can add any wording that suits you - why not get creative? To personalise, simply type your wording into the box on the product page, and we will do the rest - it is so easy! Featured Product: Personalised Kids Placemat - Cute Safari Animals Once you have fully personalised your placemat, it will be added to your online basket where you can go on to purchase. All of our personalised placemats cost just £9.99 - amazing value for the high quality! Wondering about how to order yours? Check out our guide or get in touch. We hope you have enjoyed this blog, and find your perfect kids placemats! Don't forget to check out our other blogs - we have a blog for everything stationery related, as well as a blog for any occasion.

There are many different ways to create Christmas cards! From hand designed crafts to professional personalised styles, here are some of our favourite ways:

Get crafty

If you want personalised Christmas cards that are completely unique, why not get crafty? Bring out the pens, pencils, or paints, and prepare for a fun afternoon of crafting. If you have kids, this also makes for a fun afternoon together. Friends and family will love the extra thought that has gone into creating your cards, and you'll save some money, too!

Send an e-card

If Christmas cards aren't your style, you could send an online card. This will save you some money at Christmas time, whilst still being appreciated by friends and family. Lots of websites offer free e-cards, so go and take a look!

Use a template

If you are creating your cards online, then why not use a template? This will make designing your cards so easy, and save you a lot of stress. There are lots of websites with free Christmas card templates that you can use, whether you're struggling with the wording or the design.

Go professional

Whilst we love all of the other ideas, we think there's nothing better at Christmas than beautiful professionally printed cards! Featured Product: Personalised Christmas Cards - Geometric Winter Hills - Pastel Polar Bears Our lovely personalised cards start from just 60p - amazing value for the quality. Featured Product: Personalised Christmas Cards - Use Your Own Photo We have so many designs available, whether you're after traditional or modern. We even have cards that can be printed with your own photograph. Our cards can be printed with a message inside, or left blank to hand-write. We hope you have enjoyed this blog, and it has helped you create your perfect personalised Christmas cards! Don't forget to check out the rest of our blogs, as well as our full Christmas stationery collection.

Customers often ask us what wording they should include on their business Christmas cards. Here is the answer!

Wondering when to send out your Christmas thank you cards? Whether you're getting organised before Christmas, or running behind schedule after the Christmas rush, you will be happy to know that there is no set rule! Whilst it's better to get your thank you cards sent early, it is never too late to send them out! However, here is our guide to sending out Christmas thank you cards:

When is best?

We recommend to send your thank you cards a week or so after Christmas. This gives you time to try out your presents and settle back into your routine, before having to worry about thanking friends and family members. Featured Product: Christmas Thank You Cards - Father Christmas If you miss this deadline, don't worry. Receiving a thank you card late is better than not receiving one at all!

Card or message

Many people ask us whether it is okay to send a thank you message over text or social media. Whilst this still is polite and kind, we think that nothing compares to a handwritten thank you note! Choose a design that will remind them of you - it makes a wonderful keepsake! What should you write? The beauty of thank you cards is that you can say whatever you like! It is a special way to communicate between friends and family, so you can make it as personal as you wish. Featured Product: Polar Bear & Robin - Christmas Thank You Notelet - Pack of 20 However, here are some of the main things you should include:

• Your names - this makes it personal and they will remember who it is from!
• What the gift was, and what you plan to do with it
• How they made your Christmas special
• A thoughtful sign off (e.g. 'Love from Emily xx')

We hope you have enjoyed this blog, and it has helped you out with your Christmas thank you cards! Don't forget to check out our other blogs - we have so many lovely festive reads.