Event Planning

You'd assume that filling out birthday invitations would be an easy thing to do, but anyone who's had to write out 30 identical invitations before knows it's an easy thing to get wrong

Celebrating someone’s special day is one of life’s true joys. Whether you’re organising your own shindig or putting something together for a good friend or loved one, sending invitations is a great way to kick things off for a birthday bash. While it’s helpful to hand your invites out whenever it’s convenient, a little extra planning may be necessary. So, when is it helpful to send your invites out in advance and why?

For a big birthday

Featured Product: 21st Birthday Invitations - Blush Tiger Print A big occasion demands a big celebration. Whether it’s a roaring 20th, a subdued 60th, or a triumphant 90th, picking out a bespoke design is a fantastic way to make the day even more unique. Having a beautifully designed card is a lifelong keepsake. These can easily be personalised and posted in time, to ensure everybody gets their copy and no-one is left out.

Organisation

Featured Product: Great Gatsby - Invitations If you have something truly special planned, it’s important to send out cards a little earlier in advance. This can help give your extended friends advance warning and allow people to book leave from work, source affordable flights, or arrange car-sharing.

When someone special is involved

Birthdays are a fantastic excuse for friends and family to get together from across the world. And if you know a few individuals can’t make it, it’s great to have a hand-written invitation asking them to come. A little thought goes a long way and those that may be unable to attend due to personal reasons will still feel like they were part of the fun.

For a bespoke design

Featured Design: Kids Birthday Invitations - Princess Pamper Party If you’ve decided on personalising your cards, it’s important to take the right amount of time to plan it out and get them printed. Sending custom cards out early is a great way to avoid getting analysis paralysis or decision fatigue, and our in-house design service is always available if you get truly stuck. If you want to look at our amazing range of cards, review our birthday selection in full. Or if you want more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch and let us know exactly what you need.

Want to Create Birthday Invitation on WhatsApp? You may only think of WhatsApp as a basic chat tool, but you can do more on it than simply have conversations.

With everyone communicating through social media and text messages, writing letters and cards has almost become a forgotten tradition. Sending greetings cards dates back hundreds of years, but it’s still super special and relevant today. Here are the reasons why we love writing cards (and why you should too!).

1) Loved ones will appreciate it

Featured product: Kraft Scattered Flowers - Personalised A6 Note Card No matter your age, receiving a card is always so exciting! Whether you’re sending a classic greetings card for a special occasion or just a note to say thanks for being there, a handwritten card is sure to make someone’s day. We think that writing a card is such a simple way to remind someone how much they mean to you.

2) It can be a special keepsake

Featured product: Ready to Write Thank You Cards - Bright Summer Flowers Whilst a text is forgotten about within minutes, a heartfelt message written with pen and paper is likely to be cherished forever by the ones you love. Cards and letters are perfect for capturing a moment in time and never letting it be forgotten.

3) Keep in touch

Lost touch with an old friend? Reach out with a special letter! This extra bit of effort really shows that you care. It’s sure to make them smile. Plus, you get the excitement of waiting for their reply in the post!

4) It's a great way to get creative

Featured product: Vintage Flowers - Thank You Notelet - Pack of 20 Writing a letter doesn’t have to be boring! Get creative by expressing your feelings in a unique way. Perhaps try writing a poem. A funny rhyming verse will go down a treat with friends and family, whilst a classic Shakespearean sonnet is super romantic for your partner. You could also add illustrations alongside your message to give it an extra special touch.

5) It's romantic

Who doesn’t love a bit of romance? We find that many couples like to give their significant other a special card to open on the morning of their wedding day. This is a great way to express your feelings, plus it makes a lovely keepsake. Love letters and romantic cards can also be passed down the generations so your children and grandchildren can look back fondly on your special memories. It also makes a beautiful tradition. Super sweet!

6) Practice your writing

Featured product: Sweet Sherbet Dreams - Notelet Writing Set So many modern jobs involve working at computers or away from a desk. This means writing has become a rare activity for lots of people. And even if you do write regularly, it can still be a struggle to write in a neat and presentable way! Greetings cards are not only a great way to express yourself, but they’re also ideal for practising your handwriting. Looking for a new hobby? Try out calligraphy! It makes your handwritten cards, letters, and invites just that little bit more special.

7) It's a great excuse for new stationery

Featured product: Got To Dash - Greetings Cards If you’re going to be writing cards, why not treat yourself to some new stationery? As stationery lovers, we find that we always need fancy new pens and paper! Sending cards makes the perfect excuse to splash out.

8) It can make you happy

We’ve talked about how you can make someone’s day by sending them a personal card. But writing notes can make you feel better, too. Taking some time out to sit down, relax, and focus on a creative activity can be a great way to unwind. Plus, knowing that you’re doing something special for someone else is very rewarding! Overall, we think there are so many different benefits to writing cards. No matter the occasion, sending cards is such a lovely thing to do, and a tradition that should be continued for later generations. Why not write a card today?

Trick or treating is a fun Halloween tradition that kids love every year. However, there are a few things to consider beforehand. Here are our favourite tips to make sure your kids have a spook-tacular day!

1) Costume

If you're looking for a traditional spooky costume at a low price, try this skeleton costume, it's super simple and classic! We also love this witch outfit, which is adorable as well as scary. This bat cape makes a super easy costume for time-pressed parents, all you need to do is add black trousers. If you're extra creative, you could always try a DIY outfit. We love this zombie outfit by Betz White. It's super easy to make and perfect for parents on a budget, and can always be made with clothes your kids already have. Add some fake blood to make it extra scary!

2) Costume Safety

Fire Safety Fire is one of the largest dangers while trick or treating. With many houses having carved pumpkins or lanterns decorating their gardens, make sure your costumes aren't completely flammable. If your child is wearing a dress or cape, make sure that they're a suitable length and don't drag across the floor, risking setting alight if they stand too close to a pumpkin! Hemming costumes prevents danger and also means your kids are less likely to trip up and hurt themselves. Shoes While sandals might look lovely with your daughter's witch costume, you should try and stick to trainers or canvas shoes. These are much more practical and will make sure your kids are comfortable. Before they leave, double tie their laces to prevent them from tripping over. Makeup and Face Paint Test out any products you're directly applying to your children's skin by doing a patch test around 48 hours before full use. Toy Weapons Make sure any weapons your kids have in their costumes are safe, you don't want anyone's child getting a devil's fork to the eye! Many plastic weapons can be replaced with foam ones, which are much safer, or just not used. If you want to be extra savvy, try making your own weapons out of cardboard.

3) Be Seen in the Dark

Late October nights are short, which means kids will probably be out after dark. It is important to make sure your kids are equipped with torches. We also recommend trying to co-ordinate some reflective accessories into their outfits to help them be seen by passing vehicles. We suggest adding reflective stickers to kids' Halloween baskets or giving your kids glow sticks to wear as bracelets or necklaces. Not only will this help them stay safe, but it will make their Halloween even more fun! This DIY glow-in-the-dark skeleton costume by Hello Bee is super simple and keeps kids safe, too! It also works amazingly with glow-in-the-dark face paints. Face paints will help kids be seen and are super fun.

4) Stranger Danger

We always tell our kids to stay away from strangers, so why does this go out of the window on Halloween night? Make sure your kids are safe by only letting them go to houses of people you know and trust. This prevents any nasty surprises and possibly even worse. If you live in a close-knit community, letting your kids roam around with some friends is probably fine; however, if you live in a big city or don't know all your neighbours, make sure kids only go to houses that you've approved beforehand. If you want to make sure they're extra safe, go with them. Depending on their age, your kids might find it a bit embarrassing being with a parent, but it's definitely better to be safe than sorry!

5) Knock Knock

If you do let your children have free rein over the neighbouring streets, make sure they don't pester anyone who doesn't want to be pestered. Make sure your kids stay away from houses with 'no trick or treating' signs. If they knock on a door once and no-one answers, make sure they don't keep knocking!.

6) Inviting Friends

Nothing excites kids more than a fun invite for an evening with their friends! This 'Haunted House' invite sets the tone for a spooky party. If you want to involve trick or treating in your Halloween party, make sure to mention a specific time for the kids to meet. Featured design: 'Haunted House'

7) 'Treat' Ideas

Whilst this blog is all about preparing your kids for trick or treating, remember that other kids will knock at your door, too! Stock up on treats beforehand so nobody is left disappointed. Below, we have included a list of our favourite treat ideas, including non-edible options. Sweets Sweets are the highlight of Halloween for many kids, but they can be expensive. Rather than buying sweets individually, buy multi-packs like these Mars Fun Size Party Mix and these Haribo Star Mix, as this works out much cheaper. If you buy large packets of sweets, make sure they are wrapped individually! For something extra spooky, try these pumpkin-shaped chocolates or these eyeball lollipops. Toys Everyone knows kids love stickers. A spooky set of stickers, like these, are perfect for a low-cost treat and will make kids smile. Likewise, temporary tattoos are also a favourite. Eyeball bouncy balls will make kids laugh, too. If you want to buy a range of toys at a low price, this Halloween toy assortment is ideal.

8) Fill Up

For parents, kids that are full of E numbers can be one of the scariest sights on Halloween! Prevent a sugar overdose by feeding your kids a filling dinner before trick or treating begins. We have found some ideas for meals that keep the spooky spirit going. Spider Pizzas This recipe by BBC Good Food is perfect for kids on Halloween. Making pizzas keeps them busy and entertained before they dress up. These ones have a spooky feel, with the tomato sauce looking like blood and the creepy spiders made out of vegetables! Hot Dog Mummies Wrap hot dogs with long strips of pastry to create these hot dog mummies (recipe by Yummy Healthy Easy). These tasty treats make a healthier alternative to sausage rolls and are much more fun for kids. Pair these with some classic tomato soup for a bloody twist. Go on and treat them, it's the only time of year we encourage kids to play with their food! Spooky Smileys Most kids are a fan of classic potato smileys. Add a Halloween twist by making them out of sweet potato. They look just like tiny pumpkins and are super healthy and delicious. This recipe by Live Eat Learn also has potato ghosts and beetroot witch hats.

9) Sweet Safety

When your child comes home with a basket full of sweets, give them an inspection before letting them scoff their faces! Having dodgy treats is rare, but does happen. Check for holes in wrappers or discolouration, and throw out anything that isn’t wrapped. If your child has any common allergies, double-check the ingredients of shop-bought treats and skip homemade ones. Finally, if you have young children, remove food that could be a choking hazard (such as boiled sweets and lollies).

10) Road Safety

Make sure you inform your kids all about road safety before they go. Children can become very excited and want to run around, which can be dangerous if you live near busy roads. Make sure your children keep their torches on at all times and they look both ways before crossing any roads. If your kids are under 12, it is best to either go with them or send a responsible older sibling or friend. It is also important as an adult to remember to drive carefully and slowly, as a child could run out into the road at any time. Remember that although you can see them, they might not see you!

To celebrate Talk like a Pirate Day, we thought it would be great to share some inspiration to help you host a pirate-themed party that kids will love! From awesome invites to pirate party games, we'll get you 'hooked' on these cool ideas!

Invitations

Featured Design: "Kids Birthday Invitations - Ahoy Shipmates Pirate Party" Themed invitations are a great way to start off your pirate party. A fun design gets children excited for the adventure! Just remember to include the important details, including the time and address. You can also add whether the party is fancy dress or not!

Food and Drink

Gold coins are a traditional kids favourite and make a great pirate treasure. Put them in pirate party bags or send the kids on a treasure hunt, they will be sure to thrill as they 'arrrr' delicious! Gold Coins: Amazon If you're looking for a healthy snack, these fun fruit skewers make a delicious treat. Choose an array of fruit to make your own pirate boat masts! First, create your own boat by carving a pineapple. Alternatively, save time and put them in a decorated bowl instead. Then arrange the skewers and decorate with pirate flags. They're 'shore' to go down a treat! Skewers: Catch My Party This bright pirate punch will delight. Choose a blood red or ocean blue colour for the ultimate pirate theme. Then serve in a barrel to compete the look! Punch: Kara's Party Ideas

DIY

This fun telescope DIY is super easy for kids to make! Simply paint an empty cardboard tube black and then add a touch of detailing with gold paint. It's super affordable and will allow kids to get creative. Telescopes: The Imagination Tree Kids love playing pretend, so fuel their imaginations with a classic treasure hunt. Creating a fun treasure map with your kids is a great experience and will also allow them to spend some quality time outside! For a blue sea theme, use watercolour paints to give it a nautical twist. For a more vintage look, use watered down tea to stain your paper and then crinkle the edges to make it look worn down. Next, paint or draw a map of your party location and then use a classic 'X' to mark the spot. Treasure Map: Make the Best of Everything

Pirate Party Games

A fun twist on the classic 'pin the tail on the donkey', 'pin the patch on the pirate' is an awesome pirate-themed children's party game. Continue using your DIY skills to create this game by painting a large pirate's head and cutting out your own eye patches. If you're pressed for time, buy it online! Pirate Game: Hodge Podge Craft Face paint will take your pirate party to the next level! You can make these as detailed or as simple as you want. An easy way to recreate the pirate look is to paint a black eye-patch and beard, as you will only need black face paint. Combined with a pirate party outfit, this will really help get kids into the spirit. Face Paint Tutorial: Made for Mums

Thank You Notes

After the party finishes, it's always kind to thank guests for any gifts. So, use a pirate-themed thank you note to finish off your theme - it makes saying thank you fun for the kids, too! Featured Design: "Ready to Write Kids Thank You Cards - Pirate Boat"

With so many genres out there, a music party can be anything you want it to be! Everyone loves music, so you can rely on a musical birthday party theme to please guests both young and old. Here are just a few of our favourite music themes, along with ideas to inspire your decorations and food.

Karaoke

Karaoke parties can easily be tweaked to fit your own style. Choose your favourite genre and theme the party around the tunes or the musical time period. Think 1950's America for rock and roll, space-age decor for electronic hits, or an all-80's retro theme. Also, make sure to find fun invitations to match! Featured Design: "Birthday Invitations - Karaoke Party" Add fun microphone motifs to your food and drink to keep guests singing the night away. This fun recipe for microphone cake pops is sure to add a modern twist to your buffet table! Cake Pops: Scholastic Karaoke parties are a hit with kids and adults alike! If your child would love this theme for their next birthday, simply update the playlist with kids favourites. Then, give the children inflatable microphones and glowsticks to add bright and colourful vibes to the party. Featured Design: "Ready To Write Kids Birthday Invitations - Fun Karaoke Party"

Live Music

Any music lover will adore adding live music to their birthday party plans. So, take things to the next level and theme the whole party around the entertainment. Hire a band, or let your musically talented friends perform to make the day even more memorable. Base your day around the genre style. For example, an acoustic guitar performance would be perfect when paired with rustic country-style decorations. Featured Design: "Birthday Invitations - Acoustic Guitar" Or you can simply add music note patterns to decor and food, using items like this unique rolling pin and some subtle sheet music bunting. Rolling Pin: AlgisCrafts If you want to add a spin on this theme for a children's birthday, why not have a musical party? Let the guests become the musicians with a selection of child-friendly instruments, like tambourines and xylophones. Base decorations and food around music notes and instruments. Percussion Set: Gear4music

Disco

Another great music party idea for both children and adults is a disco night. This funky theme will soon have guests up and dancing. To start, get guests ready for the fun to come with eye-catching invitations. It's a good idea to remind everyone to bring their dancing shoes in your invitation wording! Featured Design: "Kids Birthday Invitations - Disco Party" Then you can start planning your food and decor! Of course, glittering disco balls and colourful lights are a must. Lights: lights4fun Pair up your impressive decorations with equally impressive food! Disco ball cupcakes, anyone? Cupcakes: A Beautiful Mess Whatever theme you choose for your music party, you're sure to have a firm favourite no matter who you invite! So, grab your microphone and dancing shoes, and start planning your musical celebration!

It's been one year since we changed our name to Dotty about Paper. So, while we celebrate 14 years of business, we also celebrate Dotty's 1st birthday on 21st July! A huge thank you to our team, our lovely suppliers, and most of all - you! We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for our customers' support, so we'd like to say an extra special thank you for choosing Dotty!

Dotty about Deals!

We've got some exciting special offers running from 16th to 20th July - check back here every day for a new deal! One lucky winner will also receive a Big Birthday Giveaway bundle of goodies. Click this link for details on how to enter our competition! (This giveaway is open to UK residents aged 18 and over. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Facebook.) Monday 16th July - Get 20% off wedding stationery orders over £30! Tuesday 17th July - Get a special half-price desk stationery bundle - available for one day only! Wednesday 18th July - Get 20 free ready-to-write thank you cards when you order 20 or more birthday invitations - just add your chosen designs to your basket! Thursday 19th July - Get a 15% off wedding stationery voucher when you order free wedding samples today. We'll email you the discount code, which is valid for 6 months. Friday 20th July - Get a half-price Glitter Journal of your choice with any order over £25 - just add your goods and chosen journal to your basket, then apply the code! We thought we'd take a look back at what we've accomplished in the past year. It's been a busy year, so here are our top moments!

Changing Our Name to Dotty about Paper

Before our 13th year of business last year, we changed our name from The Card Gallery to Dotty about Paper. We'd been planning this for a while, and the months leading up to the big change were so exciting! Our logo, website, and even the Grade 2 Listed studio all got a makeover... Our new name fit like a glove! It was the perfect way to start our 13th year of business. The name and logo not only reflect the modern stationery company we've become, they have also helped us increase our visibility. Lots of people wanted to hear about our experience and the things we've learned since the change, while others just loved our new look! Overall, we've really seen how careful planning and research - along with a lot of teamwork - pays off in the end.

Desk Stationery

As 2018 began, we released an all-new product range - our beautiful desk stationery collection. Since we're dotty about all things paper, it made sense that we'd have a stunning range of journals, notepads, and other goodies available. And it looks like everyone loves them as much as we do - the desk stationery range has been a hit! In fact, it wasn't long before we started adding more designs. Keep an eye out this year for our next desk stationery designs!

Launching into Trade

While many businesses start in wholesale and move on to selling directly to customers, Dotty about Paper was the other way round. In 2018, after lots of preparation and hard work, we finally launched our new trade website! We also created printed brochures for our products, which is something we had never done before. Packed with ready-to-write invitations and thank you cards for weddings, birthdays, and more - not forgetting our desk stationery, too - our trade site opened up a whole new market. And with that market came trade shows! Spring Fair 2018 was a daunting but fun experience, and we learnt so much from the suppliers we met. Our logo was even chosen to appear on the main hall plan! We're planning more exhibits down the line - the details will be posted on our Trade Shows page!

More to Come!

It's been an exciting year, but there's plenty more to come! The team are always busy working on the next project, and thanks to all the experience we've gained during our 13th year, we're ready to take on any challenge. Planning, research, hard work, and lots of motivation really can work wonders.

A teddy bear picnic is a birthday theme that both boys and girls will love! To celebrate International Picnic Day, we're taking a look at some irresistibly cute ideas to inspire a truly magical teddy bears picnic theme.

Teddy Bear Picnic Invitations

Start the fun with adorable personalised invitations. A teddy bear design introduces the party theme and gets the children ready for an outdoors adventure. Don't forget to include all the important details, like the time and location. You could also remind the kids to bring their favourite teddy bear along to the picnic. Featured Design: 'Teddy Bears Picnic'

Decorations

No picnic is complete without a traditional red and white gingham blanket! The pattern will give any party a classic picnic feel, and it can always be reused for family picnics in the future. Add a wicker basket packed with treats, set up some stuffed bears and child-friendly cutlery, and you're ready to welcome the guests. For larger parties, you can serve food up in individual bags rather than putting them inside the basket. Our party bags and stickers are perfect for this! Blanket: All Things Brighton Beautiful Hang some bunting around fences or trees to add some colour - if you're having an indoors party, you can add bunting to the walls. For something different, check out this cute felt teddy bear face bunting! It makes a lovely birthday gift for decorating your child's bedroom after the party. Bunting: CosyFeltCreations

Food & Drink

It's easy to make adorable teddy-themed snacks! To start, buy a bear-shaped cookie cutter to create some delicious sandwiches and biscuits that the kids will love. Cookie Cutters: Party Delights Cupcakes are a must-have for any birthday party. Bake up your child's favourite flavours, then decorate with teddy bear picnic toppers and wrappers to make them extra-special. Cupcake Decorations: ThePartyArtisan You will also need a spectacular birthday cake! So, why not get creative and give this lovely recipe a go? Cake: Little Button Diaries If you're not confident in your baking skills, you can always purchase a beautiful ready-made cake, like this one from Marks & Spencer. Cake: Marks & Spencer

Party Games

Have fun with face-painting after the picnic. Children will love having cute teddy bear faces painted on before the games begin. For an outdoor scavenger hunt with a twist, hide small teddy bear toys for the children to discover. You could start the party with this game, then enjoy the snacks once all the teddy bear 'guests' have been gathered up. Finish the day with party bags filled with teddy treats, including a small stuffed bear.

8th June is Best Friends Day, making it the perfect time to show your own best friend how much you care. There are so many ways to put a smile on their face, whatever the day of the year! Here are some lovely ideas on how to treat your friends.

Write a Letter

There's nothing like a hand-written message to brighten your best friend's day. You can thank them for sticking with you though all the ups and downs, remind them of fun memories you've shared, and let them know just how special they are to you. Use a beautiful notelet or greetings card to make your message extra-special! Featured Design: 'Sweet Sherbet Dreams - Greetings Cards'

Find a Gift

Treat your best friend to a present they'll adore. You could get them that special something they've wanted for ages. Or maybe a reliable favourite that they always love, like a box of luxury chocolates or a flower bouquet. Alternatively, look around for a unique gift that reminds you of them. It could be a quote that sums them up perfectly... Featured Design: 'Business Print - Working Nine to Wine' Or, for the practical friend, get them something that's as useful as it is gorgeous. This one is for the stationery lovers who have a list for everything! Featured Designs: 'Earn Your Stripes - A5 Chunky Notebook' & 'Join The Dots - Notepads - Pack of 3'

Best Friends Day Out

Gifts and cards are lovely, but nothing beats meeting up with your best friend for a chat. So, why not make a day of it? Visit your favourite spots, explore somewhere new, or just sit back and share a relaxing afternoon tea! It can be whatever you want it to be, so start brainstorming a list of the things you love doing together and make a plan for an unforgettable day out.

Dads are amazing, so why not make Father's Day extra special with these great ideas? Treat your dad to an unforgettable day with these inspiring ideas!

Father's Day Feast

If your dad is a food fan, now is the perfect time to test your cookery skills! Whether you treat him to a breakfast or a barbecue - or maybe even both - he's sure to appreciate the effort you put into cooking up something really special. We think this breakfast bap recipe is the perfect way to kick-start an amazing Father's Day! (For those less confident in the kitchen, a meal at dad's favourite restaurant works just as well!) Cakes are a classic part of any celebration, so why not whip one up for Father's Day, too? This brilliant recipe lets you get creative with your cake. Just pipe on icing in a design that features dad's favourite things, then top with the words 'Happy Father's Day'!

Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day isn't complete without a heartfelt gift. Personalised presents are the perfect way to put a smile on his face, whether it's a personalised print, a mug fit for a DIY king, or a handy notebook for the office. Featured Design: 'Personalised Print - Dad You Are My Superhero' Featured Design: 'Black A5 Colourblock Notebook' Take 'personalised' to the next level and try crafting your own gift. Find a tutorial for an item that fits your dad perfectly, whether it's a new tie rack or homemade shaving cream. Alternatively, if you can't find that ideal project online, you can also come up with your own ideas.

Father's Day Fun

There's no end to the fun activities you can plan for dad. Take some time to think about his favourite pastimes and plan a day out around it. Whether it's a simple walk out in the country or a visit to somewhere he's always wanted to go, the most important thing is spending quality time together, so why not get the whole family involved?