Thursday, July 23, 2020

Ways to connect during a crisis

The Pandemic Disconnect

The Pandemic has certainly changed how we live and interact.  For some people, the effects have been profound. At More Than Paper, we have co-workers who haven’t seen their families in 4 months – which is much longer than they’ve ever gone before! It’s hard.  It’s sad. It’s unfamiliar. But right now, staying away and keeping distance will help protect family members in the long run.  So we do the hard, sad, and unfamiliar things anyway. 

But what happens when your family has a milestone or deserves a celebration, and you can’t do things like you always have? We have a few ideas to help continue to celebrate and connect during the crisis. Sure, it’s not the same as it was before – but with these tips and tricks, you CAN find ways to connect and celebrate with the ones you love.

Driveaway Drive-bys

It’s your grandfather’s birthday but you can’t continue your tradition of Olive Garden followed by Baskin Robbins? Consider a driveway drive-by.  You’ve likely seen this on the news, or in your social media feed, but it’s a great way to plan a party – safely.  Grandpa sits outside on the driveway and then all the family members and friends drive by in their cars.  Consider ordering a Happy Birthday, Grandpa banner to make it extra special. More Than Paper has plenty of options from which to choose! 

Send A Care Package

Create a care package to send to loved ones, letting them know that you’re thinking of them. A handwritten note, their favorite chocolate, a box of their favorite tea or bag of their favorite coffee, a good book and/or some magazines are just a few ideas to include.  A thoughtful, handwritten note is something that they’ll cherish and really brighten their day.  When was the last time you got an actual letter in the mail?  We have plenty of stationery designs-check out your options! 

Maximize Digital Options

If there was ever a “good” time to have a pandemic, this arguably might be better than previous years. Definitely better than the Spanish Flu era! With the internet, there are dozens of ways to connect and stay in touch.  We have seemingly tried them all with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Blue Jean, Google Hangouts, and more.  Try them all on and see which you like best!  FaceTime helps, too.

Keep Some Normalcy

Were you planning on attending a wedding that got postponed this summer? You are not alone. Try to keep some normalcy and help the bride and groom celebrate.  Though their wedding might not have happened as they wish, they still deserve to be celebrated.  Send them a card with a thoughtful note, or send them a gift.  Be sure to check out our gift options on the site! And it’s not just weddings. Baby showers, births, bachelorette parties, bachelor parties, engagement parties, graduation parties – all of the big life events have been affected. Whenever possible, try to keep normalcy by finding ways to celebrate those people. Even if it is a quick note or small gift.   We think these cute pads are great to give to let your loved ones know you are thinking of them. 

Dittie Notepads by Donovan Designs (Be Well)

Surely this has been a challenge like we have never faced before, but if we are creative, we will come up with new and exciting ways to connect with those that we love, while keeping everyone safe.  What ideas have we missed?  Comment or share on Facebook what you are doing to stay connected right now!


Monday, July 13, 2020

DIY Summer Camp At Home

Alternative Camp Ideas for 2020

I think we can all can agree that 2020 has thrown us an incredible curve ball. Never before have plans and the future seemed so uncertain. People are thrown from their normal routines.  School was a challenge no matter which way you sliced it. Many vacations are completely cancelled.  You can’t fly to Europe. Some of us still can’t work inside the workplace (though some people aren’t complaining).  Everything is so….unknown.

One of the hardest pills to swallow (for us) is that summer camp has been cancelled.  At More Than Paper, we are huge advocates for sleep away summer camp! Our children have attended for many years, we attended when we were younger, and we even still have involvement in camp today.  All of this has not only hurt our hearts but also our business.  We provide camp stationery, post-cards, clothing labels, trunk tags, and seal and sends. Have you seen all that we have to offer for summer camp?

We generally see the glass half full and do our best to make lemonade with lemons. That’s why we’re here today with ideas on how to make an alternative to sleep away summer camp at your home this summer. Here are 5 tips for at-home camp!


5 Tips for DIY AT HOME Summer Camp

Tip 1: ESTABLISH THE RULES

The first key to success is establishing some rules and guidelines that feel like camp.  Choose the dates that you are running camp. During those dates, consider a household ban on electronics. That means no phones and no tv/movies, unless planned for movie night as your evening activity.  One of the things we love about sending our children to summer camp is that they get the chance to unplug all summer!

Tip 2: MAKE A SCHEDULE

Similarly, make a schedule. At camp, you have a designated wake-up time and bedtime. (We miss revile and taps already!)  Plan out your daily activities in blocks of time with the kids. Soccer, Lacrosse, Arts & Crafts are easy to do at home (and you can even try getting help with some virtual options like this one: www.craftswithamanda.weebly.com). You can even establish a play to work on and have drama. Have the children write their own play or search online for scripts that you can replicate. Depending on your age of your kids, you can participate in these activities too.

Tip 3: PLAN YOUR MEALS

Meal planning makes everything easier, especially if you are planning a camp.  What are your children’s favorite meals at camp?  Consider reaching out to their camp for the recipe. Whether it’s sloppy joes or oreo cream pie, they may be happy to give you the recipe or you can look it up at improvise.  Does your children’s camp have canteen in the evening? Can you replicate it at home? Get creative!

Tip 4: CREATE EVENING ACTIVITIES

As part of your scheduling and planning, get input from your children about their favorite evening activities and put them on the agenda. Whether it’s “Sing” or “Carnival”, they can get excited about recreating some of the magic at home.   Nothing has to be fancy. Your living room CAN be transformed into a stage for talent shows!  Use old Halloween costumes for dress-up and performances.

Tip 5: KEEP SOME TRADITIONS ALIVE

Anyone who has been to camp knows that traditions are what make camp --- well….. camp! How can you keep some of the traditions alive? Whether it’s ”giving out fuzzies” to announce a good deed of one of your “campers,” singing songs impromptu, or having a family color war – we’re confident you can bring some camp traditions into your home.  You could even consider getting an autograph pillow and having everyone sign at the end.  Be sure to take pictures throughout. These are memories that you are creating that you will want to remember forever. 

 Just Gifts by Robin - Autograph Camp Pillows (Birthday Camp)

Though 2020 has had its challenges, we know there are many people who are also finding ways to be grateful and see the silver lining. More time at home with our families is definitely on that list. While we all have major FOMO on summer camp this year, with a little creativity and planning – you can make memories at home, too.

Post any pics of your at-home camp to our Facebook @morethanpaper!