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Event Planning

Wedding Invitations

What Time Do You Put on a Wedding Invite?

Whose name should be placed first on the wedding invitation? Here is the answer you are looking for!

UPDATED ON December 08, 2023
Wedding Invitations

Can You Send Wedding Invitations Too Early?

It really can't hurt to get things done early when you can, but when it comes to wedding invitations, is there such a thing as too early? That's the question we ask in this blog.

UPDATED ON December 08, 2023
Posted on December 04, 2019

What Do Your Kids Need for Going Back to School?

What Do Your Kids Need for Going Back to School?
Whether the kids are going back to school after their summer holidays or their half-term break, it can often feel like a massive challenge. Suddenly it seems that they've lost their uniform and you haven't got anything prepared! Thankfully, we are here to help! We have put together a list of essentials, so you can make sure the kids have what they REALLY need for going back to school.

Uniform

-Shirt -Trousers or skirt -Dress -Shoes -Socks -Coat We also recommend you label your kids clothing with name labels before sending them back to school, as they so frequently lose their belongings! What Do Your Kids Need for Going Back to School? - Personalised Iron On (Clothes) Name Labels - White Featured Product: Personalised Iron On (Clothes) Name Labels - White Our iron on name labels are super easy to use, as well as affordable. Find out how to use them here! We also have a wide range of other labels, including the perfect name labels for their shoes, stationery, and even allergy labels.

Stationery

Depending on their age, you may want to get them different stationery for back to school. But here is a basic guide to follow. What Do Your Kids Need for Going Back to School? - Kids ABC Colour Me In - A5 Exercise Books - Pack of 2 Featured Product: Kids ABC Colour Me In - A5 Exercise Books - Pack of 2 We recommend you send them to school with all of these essentials. -Pencil case -Pens -Pencils -Colouring Pencils -Felt-tips -Eraser For older children, we recommend you add a hole-punch, ring-binder, tipex, glue stick, stapler, and protractor. Children going into secondary school will often need a more advanced calculator, too, so be sure to get prepared! What Do Your Kids Need for Going Back to School? - Medium Personalised Stick On Waterproof (Equipment) Name Labels - Cute Fox - Pack of 42 Featured Product: Medium Personalised Stick On Waterproof (Equipment) Name Labels - Cute Fox - Pack of 42 Our wide range of stick-on name labels are perfect for labelling your child's stationery. They are available in so many fun colours and designs, including cute animals, sports, and science themes - there is definitely something that every child will love! Our labels are also ideal for older kids, too.

School Bag essentials

There really aren't that many things you need to put into your child's bag. Here are the items you should definitely not forget: -Bag -Lunch box -Water bottle -PE kit

To do

Before sending the kids back to school, you may also consider a few of your to-dos. These may include preparing some lunches in advance, taking the little ones for a haircut, and prepare to get back into the routine. We hope you have found this blog useful and feel prepared for the upcoming term! We have blogs to help you with all of life's special occasions - make sure to check them out.
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30th-Anniversary-Invitation-Photo-Strip-Leaf-Pattern

What to Write in an Anniversary Invitation?

As we often get asked what wording you should include in anniversary invitations, we thought it would be useful to create an easy guide for you to follow.
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Should You Put Your Child’s Name on Their Backpack?

Should You Put Your Child’s Name on Their Backpack?

It is important for you and any caregivers, such as a teacher or family member, to be able to locate your child’s backpack. Unless your child has a particularly loud and colourful bag that isn’t common amongst their classmates, identifying bags can be a challenge. Whether your child’s school has a strict policy on bags or a backpack you must purchase as part of their school uniform, you need to be able to know whose bag belongs to which child. That's where our wonderful name labels come in!

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Do Iron on Labels Stay On?

Do Iron on Labels Stay On?

Your children have gone back to school and the dreaded P.E lessons are due to start again, with your child’s school shirt or skirt likely to go missing while they rush to get back into their school uniform.
So, how do you prevent your child’s school uniform going walkabouts and ending up in the possession of another student?

So, do they stay on?

One common question is: do iron-on clothes labels really stay on your clothes?
The answer is yes!
As long as you follow the instructions that are provided with your high-quality labels, you should have no issue with them falling off in the wash or during everyday use.
One reason you should opt for iron-on labels from Dotty about Paper is that they are smooth to the touch with rounded corners, meaning your child’s delicate skin will not be irritated!

Will the name smudge or fade?

One concern with personalised labels for clothes is that the ink on the label may smudge, making it illegible or fade so the label becomes useless.
Not our labels, the names are all printed in colourfast ink which means they will not smudge or fade once they have been through the washing machine.
The labels are white with black writing, meaning your child’s name will be clear as day, and uniform and sports gear should not go missing (hopefully!).

Why are these so useful?

You can buy packs of 20, 50 and 100, so you can be covered for when your child gets a new school uniform every September.
You could also opt for your surname if you have multiple children, that way you can save even more of your precious time!

Iron-on or sew-on labels?

The difference between iron-on and sew-on labels is that iron-on labels are much easier to apply, and for those that have more than one child, stitching these labels into each item of clothing could take hours!
In a world where time is precious and you would rather be spending that time with your loved ones, sewing a label into every item of your child’s school uniform can seem like a waste when you could simply use your iron.
The beauty of iron-on labels is that they can take mere seconds to apply, so for all you busy parents this could be a real lifesaver!
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Do Iron on Labels Stay On?

How Do You Use Iron-On Labels

Anyone who has ever hosted a party before will know what a nightmare matching up all the kids with their possessions can be. That's why we always recommend that you include a reminder with your party invites to ensure that the kids all turn up with their names on any items that they bring with them. You could maybe even provide some iron on labels with your invites so that parents don't have an excuse. Our iron-on labels are extremely easy to use, but just in case you need pointers, we've got you covered.
Not only are our labels easy to use, but they also come with a full set of instructions printed on the backing sheet. But, there are a few extra things that you do need to bear in mind.
How Do You Use Iron-On Labels - Personalised Iron On (Clothes) Name Labels - White
Firstly, you probably shouldn't use the iron on its hottest setting. The best bet is to heat it to the cotton setting and to make sure that you turn the steam option off. It is important that the iron is dry when you use it - and the steam will make it wet. Once heated to full temperature, iron the clothing around the area where you would like to place the label. This area needs to be hot for the special glue to affix properly. Then it's a case of placing the label, pressing it down with the iron firmly and holding it down for a few seconds. Once that is done, iron over it again moving the iron around forwards and backwards to make sure everything is properly stuck in place.
Once you have ironed on your label, you should leave the item of clothing alone for approximately 24 hours to ensure it cools and that the glue sets properly. After that time, you can try lifting one of the corners gently to make sure that the glue is doing its job and that it is all set properly. If it does, you might need to increase the heat on your iron and have another go to see if you can get it fully stick. You should be able to wash clothing once the label has been ironed-on properly. If the label does start to come off, just follow the ironing process.
How Do You Use Iron-On Labels - Fun Pool Party - Party Bag & Sticker - Pack of 10
Imagine how much easier your party will run if all the kids come with their names on the items! All that will be left for you to worry about at the end of the event is handing out the party bags.
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What Can You Give Instead of Goodie Bags?

What Can You Give Instead of Goodie Bags?

Goody bags are a great addition to any kids party. Children love to walk away with a special surprise that will remind them of your fantastic event for the days ahead. Along with old fashioned games like ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ or ‘musical chairs’, the humble goody bag is often another victim of modern times.
But, that’s possibly no bad thing. With many parents choosing cheaper or more practical options for party gifts than hunting for sweets, lollies, cake and plastic toys to fill out goody bags.
So if, like many, you remember goody bags as a staple of childhood parties and are struggling to think of alternatives, here are some great ideas that won’t break the bank.

Something sweet

Sweet cones are a quick, cheap and potentially creative gesture to give to youngsters who have attended your child’s birthday party. The great thing about them is they’re fairly small and lightweight, so easy to transport to the venue, and you can put whatever sweets you choose in them, so they can be a perfect match for the party theme.
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You can also buy personalised stickers to place on the cone bags too, for an extra professional touch.

The practical party favour

Kids are likely to have had a lot of sweets and cake at a party, so sending them home with more may not be for everyone. Fortunately, there are some great alternatives which could still come in at a similar price. There are several places where you can pick up a selection of storybooks for around £1 each, and these could make a lovely, practical token that other parents will love too. Or why not pick up a pack of notebooks or colouring books and a selection of pens, or maybe a sticker book for younger children?
What Can You Give Instead of Goodie Bags? - Dinosaur World - Party Bag & Sticker - Pack of 10
Another great way to gift your attendees is with bags and stickers. We have a gorgeous selection available to add that little personal touch.

Get creative

A great idea could be to turn the party favour into the party entertainment. Why not pick up some felt pens and plain white t-shirts and get the kids to decorate one each, or they could even decorate their own cookies which you could prepare in advance.
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What Do You Put in a Party Bag for a 4 Year Old?

What Do You Put in a Party Bag for a 4 Year Old?

So you've sent out the party invitations, organised the entertainment, planned what food to serve and now it's time to think about the party bags. Party bags open up a whole world of opportunity and allow you to get super creative. That being said, some struggle to select what items to include. The best bet is to provide them, but, minimise the items inside. Use small meaningful items that actually have some use to keep parents happy as well. A few sweets to make the child's day. We've come up with some great ideas for you below.

Books

Books always go down well with parents, they are something that they can keep and that they know their child will appreciate come bedtime, over and over again. There are some great deals to be had on picture books. So, take advantage of those and put something into your party bags that will really delight everyone. Alternatively, colouring books and a nice set of crayons are something that will offer a 4-year-old child endless hours of fun, if you fancy something a bit different.
What Do You Put in a Party Bag for a 4 Year Old? - Bunny Tutu - Party Bag & Sticker - Pack of 10
You will need to have some pretty big bags to hold a picture book, but luckily our range includes a wide variety of sizes to fit your needs.

Hair accessories

If you have lots of girls coming to your party, it’s always good to remember that among this age group hair accessories always go down a treat. The girls love them and because they are always getting lost, parents really do feel like they can never have enough. Place some pretty hairbands or slides into your party bags and you will really excite the little ones attending the party.

Bath sponges

Bath sponges are also a great parting gift that goes down well. Choose a cute design and you will guarantee that your party-goers will be looking forward to bath time. This is something that we're sure the parents will be thanking you for when they see you next.
Remember, when choosing gifts the best thing to keep in mind is that it should be something that can actually be used rather than something that will just clutter up the homes of your party-goers. One nice, thoughtful gift and a few packets of sweets will ensure that everyone is happy and remembers your party for the right reasons.
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What Do You Put inside a Party Bag?

What Do You Put inside a Party Bag?

We all know how stressful organising a child’s birthday party can be, but once you pull it off you can relax and enjoy the celebrations. If you’ve already organised the venue, invitations, cake, entertainment and food, the final thing on your to-do list will be the party bags. The contents of a party bag will totally depend on the age of the child, however, there are a few staple items that can be adapted to all ages and interests. Choose from tried and tested ideas like bubbles and cake, to slightly more creative items such as masks, sweet cones, and vegetable seeds. We have created a list of some of our favourite items to put inside party bags.

It all starts with a bag

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Before you can begin to fill up a party bag, you will need to find the right style. Ooh La Llama paper bags offer plenty of space for your items and come with personalised stickers - ideal if you have children with different dietary needs. This style of bag comes in lots of varieties with a choice of dinosaur, make-up, rocket, and unicorn stickers.

A piece of cake

You’ve put so much effort into finding the best birthday cake, the last thing you will want is to forget about it at the end of the day. If you haven’t eaten the cake during the party, slice it up and put a piece into each bag. After all, the kids have probably had enough sugar by this point anyway!

Sweet cones

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For another tasty treat, use sweet cone bags and fill them with your kids’ favourite sweets. Pour the sweets into layers to add a splash of colour and creativity to your bags. You can also add lovely thank you stickers on top, for a personal touch.

Bubbles

A party bag staple, bubbles are a popular item that will go down well with your guests. They are also affordable to purchase in bulk, suiting all budgets. Bubbles can come in a variety of containers and styles to match your theme.

Stationery

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Colouring pencils, books, pens, rubbers, and pencil sharpeners all sound like they belong in a school pencil case, but they are also a great option for party bags. A small colouring book and some pencils are easy to find and certainly won’t break the bank. They are also a good way for kids to unwind after the party.

Seeds

Better for older children, seeds are a unique option and will make your party bags stand out. Plant seeds or vegetable seeds are an eco-friendly option and a great educational gift. This way the children have something to plant and watch grow in their garden, making it a fun and useful gift.

Cookie/cake mix

Another useful gift is a cake or cookie mix. Get creative in the kitchen and put together your favourite mixture. Bag it up and write down the recipe, or order some personalised stickers to put on top. Layered cookie mixes also look really exciting.

Masks

Perhaps you’ve had a superhero, dinosaurs, jungle animal party or something completely different. Whatever the theme of your party, there will be a mask to suit it. Perfect for most ages, children love masks and enjoy showing their friends what they got. Randomly place the masks into bags, without looking at their names, for some added fun and laughter.
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What Do You Put in a Sweet Cone?

What Do You Put in a Sweet Cone?

As most parents will know, sweet cones are the trendy accessory to any modern kids’ birthday party.

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What should be included in a birth announcement?

What Should Be Included in a Birth Announcement?

A new arrival in the family is a joyous time for all and understandably, new parents are as keen to share their happy news as their nearest and dearest are to hear it.
While a phone call or, in modern times a WhatsApp message, are personal and immediate ways to spread the joy - a baby announcement card is becoming increasingly popular too. Especially once you’ve had time to take stock and settle into life with the new addition.
Baby announcement cards are a lovely way to share your news with those outside your immediate family, but who you’d still like to introduce to your little bundle of joy.
But other than the baby’s name, what else can you include on the card?

Photographs

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It’s a good idea to wait at least a few weeks before sending the baby announcement cards to give you time to collect a few nice photos, which can show how much the little one has changed since birth. While some baby announcement cards may include just the one picture, there’s no reason why yours can’t show off the new arrival in a few different outfits and poses. Try and keep it to a maximum of three pictures though, to ensure the receiver can clearly admire the baby’s features, and that there’s comfortable room for other details.

Birth details

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Among the first questions, new parents get asked are about the baby’s birth weight and the time they were born - so be sure to include these details alongside the date of birth. You can also let friends and family know where the baby came into the world if you have space.

Personal messages

While some people may like to keep the baby announcement cards simple and generic for all who receive them, others may like to leave space to include a little personal message from the parents. This can be anything from delight at the new arrival, thanks for any cards or gifts received, or an invitation to a christening or celebration of the baby’s birth.
What Should Be Included in a Birth Announcement? - Baby Announcement Cards - Girls Photo Typography
The beauty of baby announcement cards is that, while there is standard information most will include, they can also be really personal to the people sending and receiving them.
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When Should You Send Baby Announcements?

When Should You Send Baby Announcements?

Baby announcements are a lovely way to let friends and family know of a new arrival. The cards can include photographs of the bouncing bundle of joy, as well as a name, date of birth, time and location of birth, weight, and a personal message too if you wish.
But how soon after the baby’s arrival into the world should you be expected to send them out?

Following tradition?

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Typically, new parents will send their baby announcement cards out within six months of their little one’s birth. This is hopefully enough time to settle into a new routine of nappy changing and sleep deprivation, without it being so long after the arrival that everyone will already know all about your new addition.

Get creative

When Should You Send Baby Announcements? - Baby Announcement Cards - Pink & Turquoise Photo Featured Product: Baby Announcement Cards - Pink & Turquoise Photo
Some may like to leave it a little longer, and include a collage of photographs on the card, showing baby’s changes from birth to several months old. If you decide to wait a while, you could even add a lovely personal touch by decorating the cards with baby’s hand or footprint at birth and after 6 or 9 months, to show their growth and development.
Of course, there’s also the option to send an earlier email note or post your news on your social media accounts, to keep your loved ones in the loop until you have time to send more formal cards.

Do it early

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But, if you’d like to get the cards sent out to your friends and family sooner, whether because you’d like to thank them for cards and gifts, invite them to a celebration or christening, or simply just because you’d like to share the happy news as soon as possible, then it could pay to be organised before the baby arrives.
While you obviously won’t know all the details to include or have any photos, you can still give the inevitable ‘baby brain’ a helping hand and be prepared by selecting your template - or designing one if you’re creative - ready to add the all-important information when the time arrives.
Whatever you decide, baby announcement cards are a lovely way to let your nearest and dearest know of the new addition. So, whenever they arrive in the post, you can be sure they’ll be treasured.
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What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card

What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card

Here at Dotty About Paper, we get plenty of questions about one of the most exciting parts of welcoming a new baby into the world - telling everyone else about it! Baby announcement cards might seem a little old-fashioned, but they're a personable and unique way to tell your family and friends about the new arrival. So, we've put together a handy guide to what you should put on a baby announcement card. Our large selection of baby announcement cards has something special for everyone.

Decide on your style

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Are you going to be formal or fun? Will you use photos of your new bundle of joy or cute cartoons and pictures? The type of card you pick will often inform the kind of information you put on there, so pick your card carefully.

Keep it simple

The purpose of the birth announcement card is to let people know that there's a brand new baby in the world - and it's yours! So it's better to keep things simple when you sit down to write it, rather than cluttering the card up with information people don't need to know. Traditionally, the card begins with a phrase or saying like 'Congratulations' or 'Hello, World'. Then, the names and surnames of the parents and of course, the new full name of the baby.
What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card - Baby Announcement Cards - Grey Photo Trio
Some cards also include other information about the baby, including its date of birth, what time it was born, how much it weighed and its height. You can also include the names of any siblings that the new baby has and how proud everybody is about the new birth.

Example Structure

Mrs X and Mr Y are proud to announce the birth of
First - Middle - Last Name
January 1st 2020
6lb 5oz
17 inches
Extra Information
What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card - Baby Announcement Cards - Neutral Photo Typography
If you're looking for your cards to be informal and fun, you can include a little message at the bottom of them. Sometimes these will be pre-printed, so make sure you pick an announcement card that matches how you feel. Lots of parents choose phrases like 'Mum and baby are doing well' or 'Mum and Dad are tired but in love with the new arrival'. If you do want to put an extra message onto the card, pick something that comes from the heart so people can really see your joy through the announcement.
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