Event Planning

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?

Celebrate your engagement in style with an unforgettable party! Whether you're matching your engagement party to your wedding theme or going for something a little different, there's no shortage of ideas to inspire you. So, here are some of our favourite engagement party themes.

Engagement Party Themes

Rustic

A rustic theme is the perfect choice for a boho couple. Earthy tones and natural details are timeless and beautiful. Featured Design: 'Rustic Festoon Lights & Mason Jars' Think woodland whimsy, lace, and foliage for your decorations. You can also add in some festoon lights to keep the celebrations going into the evening. Source: Lights4Fun

Contemporary

If you're planning a modern wedding, a subtle and minimalist engagement party could be the perfect teaser. Look for stylish clean lines and bold colours. Also, don't forget the chic typography invitations... Featured Design: 'Diamond Ring Typography' Muted colours combined with greenery will give your party decorations a fresh atmosphere. Add a simple twist on the classic guest book to create a lovely memento of your engagement party with a personalised signing print. Featured Design: 'Heart Guest Signing Board'

Art Deco

Great Gatsby themed parties with art deco styling are on-trend for all sorts of special occasions. We think this glamorous theme is the perfect choice for a engagement party, too! Featured Design: 'Art Deco Rose Gold' Roaring 20's accessories, like vintage typewriters and glitzy decorations, will give your venue the perfect vibe. Also, mix in cocktails and fancy o'dourves for a night to remember. These geometric rose gold plates have a gorgeous art deco vibe! Source: Ginger Ray

Memories

Do you both love photography? Or are you the kind of couple that can spend hours with a scrapbook? Then make memories the theme of the day. This versatile theme lets you add in your own personal touches when it comes to food and entertainment. You can simply fill the day with all your favourite things. Featured Design: 'Chalkboard Photo Booth' Guests will love seeing snaps of your journey as a couple, so pull out those proposal shots! It's a cute way to look back on how far you've come - and to look ahead to the future. Make some great memories for the future with stylish photo-booths and an old-school Polaroid camera for guests to use. Source: Hello May

Is your little one a pastry chef in the making? If so, a cupcake party is the perfect theme for their next birthday. Get creative with these sweet party ideas, guaranteed to whip up some fun!

Cupcake Party Invitations

Invite guests to the cupcake party with some themed invitations! Cute cake designs are a must. If you're handing out the invites, why not include a cupcake treat with the envelope to get everyone excited for the fun ahead? Featured Design: 'Kids Birthday Invitations - Cupcake Making Party'

Cupcake Decorations

Fill your party room with some sweet-inspired decorations. Bunting is a classic birthday decoration, and this cupcake case bunting is a simple spin you can make yourself. Just thread string through some pretty cases.

Cupcake Party Games

Provide some party games with a baking twist. How about pin the candle on the cupcake, or even a cupcake piñata? Making your own cupcakes should be the main event. Depending on the age of the children at the party, you could prepare some cakes for them to decorate or let them make the mixture themselves. Even if you choose the latter, though, it's a good idea to make some cupcakes beforehand in case the mixture doesn't quite go to plan! Get a great selection of decorations ready for the kids to use. These lovely kits features icing bags and cases, ideal for letting everyone design their own icing patterns. You'll also need something to go on top. Sweets, cake toppers, and pretty cases will go down a treat. Another way to add to the fun is to have a competition at the end for the best cupcake - a beautiful cupcake kit makes the perfect prize.

After the Party

Let everyone take home their cupcake creations with some cake boxes. Buy some standard white boxes to keep the cupcakes safe, then personalise them for the guests with some party stickers. Later, send out cupcake thank you cards after the celebration to thank everyone for attending. This lovely design will be a great reminder of the party! Featured Design: 'Kids Thank You Cards - Vintage Cupcakes'

Here at Dotty about Paper, we can't get enough of the 2018 Royal Wedding excitement! The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan on 19th May is the perfect excuse to throw a street party with friends and family. So, to help you celebrate in style, here are our favourite royal street party ideas! Before we take a look at some beautiful inspiration, there's just one important point to remember. Think about the size of the event you'd like to hold before you begin planning. If you really want to get into the community spirit and plan a proper street-wide party, you'll need to get permission from your local council. But for a smaller party, there's no need.

Invitations

Start the party off with some traditional British tea party invites. This will set the tone and get guests excited for the fun ahead. Use a design that really captures your Royal Wedding street party theme. Featured Design: 'Tea Party Invitations - Royal Tea Party' Make sure you include all the key details guests will need, such as the location and time of the party. While a dress code isn't usually important for a street party, we think it's a fun idea to ask guests to come in their best royal family or 'red, white, and blue' themed outfits - you could even hold a 'best dressed' competition. Featured Design: 'Tea Party Invitations - British Street Party'

Entertainment

The main event of the day is, of course, the Royal Wedding itself! And there's good news - the BBC have said there'll be no TV License fee to screen the special event. The service starts at midday, followed by carriage procession at 1pm. For kids and adults at heart, you can add some classic party games in throughout the morning. Bowling pins on the lawn, a ring toss competition, or even a spot of croquet will all go down a treat! In addition, why not consider music - live or recorded - so guests can really party after the Royal Wedding? You could also capture some magic memories of the day with a photo-booth and props. Source: ThatPerfectPartyCo

Decorations

It's not a street party without bunting! So, use a flag mix of red, white, and blue to represent the royal couple. You could use this colour palette to decorate your tables, too. Or, if you're in the mood for a regal and refined vintage street party, go for something floral to capture the springtime wedding. We think these beautiful vintage paper plates and napkins will look stunning in an outdoor setting! Source: Fabulous Partyware

Food & Drink

Treat your guests to refreshments fit for royalty. In celebration of Harry and Meghan, why not cook up a mix of quintessential American and British snacks? Think savoury bites like posh burgers, paired with sweet bakes like scones and Victoria sponge. And of course, no street party is complete without a range of teas, juices, and fizz. Also, you can add some decoration to the food table with cute cake toppers and adorable mini-bunting. And how about this lovely cupcake kit, complete with a cake stand? Source: Cake Craft World

To celebrate World Stationery Day, everyone at the Dotty about Paper studio has been picking their favourite products from our desk stationery collection! Here are the top picks from the team.

World Stationery Day - Our Top Picks!

First up is our Director, Lisa! Lisa loves a little bit of sparkle to inspire her as she works, so she's picked our Time to Shine - Gold Glitter Journals as her favourite item. In addition to looking fabulous, Lisa says she likes how the notebook is hard-wearing, making it a great accessory to keep in your bag when you're on the go. The Design and Marketing team members all picked one of our A5 exercise book sets. Design & Marketing Manager Natalie, is particularly fond of Llama Drama. She loves the way the pretty pastel palette can be combined with the Join The Dots range. Leah, our creative assistant loves animals, so the Panda Eyes set was an obvious choice! And apprentice Alice can't get enough of our cute Pink Bee books when she's taking notes. Our Pinking Out Loud Chunky Notebooks are popular with Nici and Hollie from the dispatch department. Customer services advisor Katie agrees; the motivational bookmark and fun design keeps them smiling during their busy workdays. Customer services advisor Charlotte and apprentice Lainey both picked the Light Blue Colourblock, while apprentice Emma chose the Sweet Sherbet Dreams Desk Planner as her favourite. She loves the way there's a to-do list column for each day of the week, along with an extra box for jotting down all her weekend plans! Customer service team leader Yvonne went for the Earn Your Stripes Pack of 3 Notepads. She's always busy taking notes on the latest orders and queries, so she needs plenty of room to write. Having three list pads ensures she never loses track of her tasks. Our stationery collection has something for everyone! You can explore our complete range of products on our website today - which one will be your favourite?

Getting organised is easier said than done. But it's worth the effort! If you want to up your productivity and stay stylish at the same time, desk stationery is the perfect way to get the best of both worlds. Here are some tips on choosing the right stationery for you.

Choosing Your Desk Stationery

Look for a design that you love. An inspirational design will make you want to use your stationery to the full. It's also important to keep your key organising tools in a prominent place on your desk. With a beautiful design, this will be so much easier to do! Show off your style and stay focused on your schedule by making sure your planners take centre stage on a clutter-free desk. Featured Collection: Got To Dash So, how do you pick the perfect design? Well, you can theme your desk with matching ranges if you love a specific style. If you prefer a trendy twist, you could mix and match complementing colours and patterns to create your own unique look. And, if you feel like you need some extra motivation during the day, there's loads of great designs featuring inspiring quotes! Take a glance at them when you're feeling low to get back on track. Featured Design: Pink Bee A5 Exercise Book There are also lots of different styles of desk stationery to consider. Each one is ideal for a specific job, so make sure you get the item that suits your own needs.

Notebooks

You can get many different shapes and sizes of notebooks. They're the perfect way to store your thoughts and ideas to review later. Thin exercise books are ideal for carrying with you when you're out and about. These lightweight books let you jot down quick thoughts across ruled lines. They're more affordable, so they're excellent for disposable notes. If you're keeping the notebook at a work desk, however, you might want to invest in something more versatile. A thick and durable journal keeps your writing safe. If you want to find your place quickly, get one that comes with a ribbon marker or bookmark. In addition to notebooks for work, bullet journals have become a popular way to track your mood and social life as well as your jobs! Bullet journals mix images and scrapbooking with writing, and while you can choose any size of book, we recommend a large journal, with plenty of space to set your imagination free! Featured Collection: Sweet Sherbet Dreams

Notepads

If you prefer shorthand notes, bullet points, and lists, a notepad might be for you. The pages are usually easy to tear out, so you can pin up pages or easily remove them from the pad when you're finished with them. This makes them great for keeping things clutter-free. You can keep a larger notepad at your workplace for more detailed writing and store a small list pad in your bag for quick on-the-go notes. A blank notepad is also a good choice if you prefer making doodles, diagrams, and mind maps. Our packs of three come with one of each of these styles!

Desk Planners

Desk planners are similar to calendars, giving you a snapshot of your weekly appointments. Jotting down your schedule on a desk planner will help you keep your tasks in view at all times while you work. Some planners even have additional areas for weekend plans, helping you keep work and social notes separate. Featured Designs: Join The Dots, Llama Drama, and Light Pink Colourblock By finding your own perfect set of attractive stationery, you'll soon be able to organise your busy world - and stay stylish at the same time!

When it comes to planning a wedding palette, there's nothing quite like pastel colours! Gentle sunshine and blooming flowers provide soft pastel inspiration that's guaranteed to give your special day a wonderfully whimsical vibe. Here are our top picks for a dreamy pastel wedding colour theme...

Pastel Pink

Pastel pink is a wedding favourite all year round, but we think bright summer weather really makes this shade shine. This colour is perfect for your wedding reception, too - just think how sweet pink decorations would look when paired with berry cocktails and a floral wedding cake! Featured Design: 'Watercolour Roses Wedding Menu'

Pastel Blue

This hue brings the crystal clear blue beauty of the sky to your pastel wedding theme. Perfect for a relaxed wedding in the city or the country, it can easily be paired with whimsical bridesmaid dresses and plenty of soft powder blue lace embellishments. Featured Design: 'Bohemian Love Birds Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP'

Pastel Purple

Pantone's Ultra Violet is the 2018 colour of the year. But, if you prefer more gentle tones, why not opt for a more subtle shade of purple? A gentle pastel purple will look stunning when represented through wildflowers. And, just like the pastel pink shade, you can even theme your reception refreshments with purple fruits, cakes, and drinks. Featured Design: 'Royal Botanical Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP'

Pastel Yellow

When we think the colour yellow, we think daffodils, daisies, and plenty of sun. If that sounds like your idea of heaven, pastel yellow is the wedding colour for you! Blend softer yellow hues with brilliant white to give your wedding an effortlessly light and airy style. Whether your theme is traditional or quirky, this palette will look gorgeous. Source: Martha Stewart Weddings | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes

Pastel Wedding Mix

Can't pick your favourite colour? Why not use a mix of pastel colours to give your wedding a unique and colourful look? Use subtle hints of pastel shades against a neutral tone to stop your palette from becoming overcrowded. A rustic brown is a great choice, as it really captures a natural earthy vibe that complements brighter floral colours. Definitely one for a woodland venue! Featured Design: 'Rustic Pastel Butterflies Invitation & RSVP Card'

Here at the Dotty about Paper, we're dotty over our new desk stationery! Whether you’re planning for work or keeping up with your busy schedule, our brand new range will help you stay organised while making a statement. We're offering everything from writing sets and desk planners to journals and notepads, giving you plenty of options for brightening up your desk!

Desk Stationery

Notebooks Notes and ideas will be kept safe with our chunky journals, exercise books, and Colourblock notebooks. We've got lots of designs to suit everyone, from kids to adults. Notepads & List Pads List lovers will adore the matching to-do list notepads, which come in packs of two or three. We also have luxury list pads, which make a perfect present. Desk Planners If you have a busy schedule, keep the big events in sight with our A4 desk pads. The quality paper has a gorgeous pattern printed around every page - discover five designs to love. They're as beautiful as they are useful! Cards & Writing Sets And finally, send messages to friends and family with our greetings cards and writing sets. We've got a design for every occasion. Here at the studio, we're dotty about all things glitter, so we couldn't resist designing some stunning journals! Time to Shine journals come in two designs, Gold Glitter and White Glitter. Featuring luxurious sparkly covers and matching ribbon markers, this large notebook ensures you'll never lose your place. You can also get wedding journals, the perfect gift for a busy bride-to-be.

There's nothing quite like the glitz and glamour of a New Year's Eve party! Dancing the night away, the excitement of the big countdown, and of course, plenty of champagne! If you want to capture that magic for your occasion, check out these inspiring ideas.

New Year's Eve Stationery

New Year's Eve is a great time to host an unforgettable party. Most people plan to spend the night celebrating anyway, so they'll love to attend your extra-special occasion! Start things off with invitations that capture your theme - gold details and luxurious black capture the sophisticated style of a midnight celebration. Featured Design: 'Black Tie Dinner Party - Invitations'

New Year's Eve Decoration

Classic New Year colour palettes include gold, black, and silver. Clocks are a typical theme for decorations, representing the countdown to the new year. And for something more subtle, you can incorporate elegant circles instead. Complement them with chic, bubbly items like sparkly balloons that highlight the party aspect. It's perfect if you want a fun, contemporary look. If you want something refined, a Great Gatsby theme could be the perfect choice. Think effortlessly elegant Art Deco styling, with gold flourishes popping against sleek black backdrops. Encourage guests to come in their best roaring 20's suits and dresses. Featured Design: 'Great Gatsby - Invitations'

New Year's Eve Food & Drink

Get into the party spirit with beautiful cocktails - and get creative with some unique signature names! Cocktails: The Cookie Rookie Light bite buffets are the perfect way to help everyone stay dancing the whole night through. A showstopping cake should be just as glitzy and glamorous as the celebration itself. Sparkle and elegant details are a must. Cake: Desserts for Breakfast

New Year's Eve Entertainment

It's not a New Year's Eve party without some fireworks! Plan a spectacular display and hand out sparklers. Even if your venue is indoors, you can still get in on the fun with professional indoor firework displays. A photo booth is always a popular choice, too! Make some fun memories or take stylish snaps with a few props. Finally, make the big countdown a special event. Have an announcer count down the seconds and welcome the new year with a burst of streamers, music, and champagne! A live performance by a band or musician will make the party even more memorable.

Looking for your perfect Halloween party theme? We take a look at three of our favourite themes that will help you host a frighteningly fun party this year!

Haunted Halloween House

A haunted house is a great theme that lets you get creative. It's a big favourite for all ages, too! Featured Design: 'Haunted House - Halloween Party Invitation' Use creepy decorations to turn your house into a spooky manor with surprises around every corner. Start with gravestones in the garden to set the tone. Inside, decide how many rooms the guests will visit and decorate them. You might use a variety of props, or theme each room separately. For example, make the dining room a gruesome kitchen with snacks like eyeball cake-pops and slime punch... ...While hosting games in a deadly dungeon-themed living room, with skeletons and chains. Add some music and sound effects for an unforgettable party night!

Gothic Elegance

Want a refined adults-only party? This theme is perfect for an Autumn evening occasion. Decorate with dark silky tablecloths, mysterious wilted roses, and intricate vintage lace. Skulls and cobweb-covered Gothic candlesticks add to the creepy atmosphere! Focus on elegance and macabre Victorian style to pull this theme together. Have a devilish dinner party with dark twists at every turn. These toffee apples make the ideal dessert, while a posh pumpkin dish could provide the perfect main course. And who could resist these striking blood-red cocktails?

Zombie Outbreak

This terrifying theme is very trendy, but it's not for the faint of heart! Featured Design: 'Zombie - Ready to Write Halloween Party Invitation' Decorate your venue with quarantine signs, some fake blood splatters (for older party-goers), and zombie cutouts. Why not close off rooms in the house with some warning tape for a fun touch? We love these simple DIY zombie barricades - they're cheap and easy to make, but look so effective! And guests will love how unique they look. There's also no shortage of ghoulish food ideas. If you want something to gross out your guests, try a melon brain. But, if you want something a bit tamer, these creepy undead cupcakes have just the right amount of spook-factor! Add a few biohazard signs to your buffet to really set the tone! You can also get creative with party favours. Give guests 'survival kits' filled with sweets labelled 'antidote' and novelty IV bags.