Event Planning

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.

Everyone loves the beach, so it's no surprise that many couples are choosing seaside settings for their special day. Beach weddings also allow couples to get creative. From a nautical day by the coast to a destination wedding abroad, there's no shortage of oceanic options. That's why Dotty about Paper has created a brand new collection of beach wedding stationery to suit every taste!

Tropical Beach Wedding

Planning an escape to an exotic island? Get guests ready for fun in the sun with an idyllic beach scene. Featured Design: 'Tropical Beach Scene - Save the Date Card' You can introduce your destination wedding theme subtly with a design featuring tropical floral patterns. Featured Design: 'Tropical Floral Palm - Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP' We also created Elegant Gold Palm Leaves for couples who want something sophisticated and refined. Featured Design: 'Elegant Gold Palm Leaves - Evening Invitation and Envelope Seal'

Nautical Beach Wedding

Nautical themes use classic ship motifs, like anchors and helms, to set a seaside tone. Navy blue colours are a popular choice for nautical weddings, so we recommend our vintage Nautical Heart & Anchor stationery. If blue doesn't do it for you, choose an alternative colour for this design from our palette. Featured Design: 'Nautical Heart & Anchor - Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP' Perhaps you want something a little bit quirky to match your unique beach venue choice? Mix in some unusual colours and crazy coral to add your own twist to the nautical theme! Featured Design: 'Blue & Coral Nautical Pattern - Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP'

Coastal Beach Wedding

While it is a lovely setting, tropical sands abroad aren't the only option for your beach wedding. So, try something closer to home and have a Great British seaside theme? The iconic beach hut is a popular choice, as guests will instantly know what kind of venue to expect. Featured Design: 'Seaside Beach Huts - Day Invitation and RSVP' Do you love the sound of waves crashing against cliffs? Coastal Lighthouse is perfect for a dramatic clifftop lighthouse wedding... Or perhaps just a cosy seaside resort with nautical details! Featured Design: 'Coastal Lighthouse - Day Invitation and Guest Information Card'

Barn dance parties are fun for all ages. They're a great way to celebrate a birthday with a big guest list. Country fans and western enthusiasts will love the classic American theme, but everyone can enjoy the fun easy-to-learn dances. Here's a few tips on organising the perfect hootenanny!

If your little princess is dreaming of a fairy tale birthday, you might be wondering how to make the party truly magical. Here are some ideas on throwing a regal party that's fit for a princess!

Stationery

Get the girls ready for a magical party with princess themed invitations - think tiaras, castles, and lots of pink! Personalised invites with a photo of the birthday girl are great for adding a unique, special touch. Dotty about Paper has a great range of princess invitations. So, just add the wording and you're ready to go! Featured Design: 'Little Princess Use Your Own Photo Birthday Invitation'

Decorations

Pretty pink decorations can transform a room into a colourful castle! First, purchase tablecloths, paper plates, and cups. Party Delights has a fabulous range of essential party items in a gorgeous pastel pink. Next, add these pink balloons into the mix - the girls can also have fun playing with them! And you can celebrate the birthday girl with some personalised bunting, too! Finally, fill the party room with sparkly flourishes. Glittery tiaras look beautiful!

Food

To make princess party food, you just need to add a spin to old favourites. Sandwiches and biscuits become a special treat when they're cut into crown and castle shapes! You could even go further and cook tiara-shaped pizza. And you can transform fruit into a magical treat by making a fruit wand! To make them, all you need to do is cut watermelon into star shapes and add berries or grapes to a stick. There's a lot of choice when it comes to a princess-themed birthday cake. Choose a recipe that your birthday girl will love, like this decorative bake. Or if you need a quick, stress-free option, you could order a ready-made cake, like this stunning one from Tesco. Alternatively, you could make a simple bake and decorate it with cake toppers. You could also use these to make some cupcakes for the guests! And, if you decide to bake cupcakes, make them extra special by displaying them on this magic castle stand from The Book People! Next, you'll need to get drinks ready! Strawberry milkshakes, pink lemonade, and other bright drinks will go down a treat, especially when served in these petite plastic milk bottles. You can add berries and colourful straws to really make them stand out.

Princess Themed Entertainment

Dressing up in regal attire is a must for the perfect princess party! On the invitations, ask the girls to come in their favourite royal gowns. Continue the fun at the party with glitter tattoos and make-up. It's great fun for the kids and makes for some memorable photographs - especially if you get some fun themed photo booth props! These 'make your own' tiaras will keep the kids happy for ages! They come with everything they'll need to design and craft their very own royal crowns. Once they're dressed up, it's time for some games! A sing-along is always a favourite. Additionally, you can change up classic games to fit the theme - pin the crown on the princess, have a scavenger hunt for candy jewels, and play enchanted ball-themed musical statues. If you really want to make the day unforgettable, you could consider inviting a princess to the party! Visit sites like My Little Princess Parties to hire an entertainer who can sing, dance, and play games with the girls. Finish the day on a happy note with some party bags. Fill the bags with small sweets, stickers, stationery, and age-appropriate jewellery. A special personalised sticker on the bag is the icing on the cake. Featured Design: 'Princess Tiara Party Sticker and Princess Tiara Thank You Card'

Other Ideas

If your birthday girl is set on a princess party, but boys are invited too, try combining it with a superhero theme! All you have to do is add a spin on the ideas in this blog - use a range of hero cake toppers, pair 'make your own masks' with 'make your own crowns', and try out some superpowered games by clicking here! And don't forget to pick invitations that both groups will love! Featured Design: 'Princess and Superhero Party Birthday Invitation'