Fall Decorating Tips & Tricks

While 2020 has dragged on and on, for some reason we also find ourselves scratching our heads that it is suddenly September.  It’s almost as if time is standing still but flying by at the same time.  Do you agree?  Today we are here to share tips for decorating this fall.  While it’s uncertain what sports will be played or what festivals we will be able to attend, we can count on a few traditions to ensure we get all the cozy fall feels.  Decorating your home for fall with these simple and inexpensive tips will surely help evoke those comforting feelings for which you are longing. 

Design Tip 1 -- White Pumpkins

We’ve noticed a huge trend with white pumpkins!  They add a festive touch to your home without overtly screaming Halloween, and they don’t clash with your everyday décor like the orange ones sometimes can.  Snag inexpensive plastic ones in varying sizes from your local craft & hobby store.  For an added bonus, consider buying a stencil of the initial of your last name and spray painting it gold. Your DIY initial pumpkin will be something you can pull out for seasons to come.

Image Source: http://www.youandkids.com/pumpkin-table-decoration-ideas/ 

Design Tip 2 - Buffalo Plaid

Making a huge comeback and a bold statement this fall is Buffalo Plaid. You know – that black and white checkerboard? It looks great on your dining room table as a runner or as accent pillows on your couch.  Even as a rug, people are digging this design trend. You’ll find plenty of Buffalo-motif goodies at your usual shopping grounds.

Image Sources: https://www.trendyhomehacks.com/buffalo-check-black-white-year-round-home-decor-ideas/ 

Design Tip 3 - Baskets

Baskets are often a great way to bring order and organization but also a fantastic way to incorporate earthiness and warmth into the design of your home.  We like varying heights, sizes, shapes, and materials, hung as wall art in the den or above the mantel in the living room.  Use baskets differently to create a whole new look!

Image source: https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=168343 

Design Tip 4 – Wall Art

How often do you change the artwork on your wall?  It can be an instant refresh and add seasonal warmth to your home.  We love our State Pride Personalized Artwork here at More Than Paper. They add a chic, country cottage type of look.  We also like the Family Tree Personalized Artwork for fall. See them both here along with others!  

We like this coordinating pillow, too! 

Design Tip 5 - Replace Summery Blooms with Fall Ones

Do you have faux greenery and florals? Change out what is inside your vases with more seasonal greenery and blooms.  You’ll transform your space instantly with this small and inexpensive update.  Look for stalks of cotton, sunflowers, and anything with red, orange and yellow hues.

Image Source: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32945789315.html

Design Tip 6 – Update your Throw Blanket

Similar to your flowers, a simple update to the throw blanket on your couch can pack a huge punch. For less than $20, pick up a blanket that is soft and cozy and has the desired fall colors. We’ve noticed a trend with thick, chunky knits that we are loving! You can use this similar strategy in bedrooms, too, if you are interested in adding in Fall touches to other rooms.

Image Source: https://kemptonandco.com/products/copy-of-chunky-knit-throw 

Whatever you do this fall 2020 for decorating, make it yours. Afterall, we will be at home more than maybe we have ever before. You want to create a space that makes you happy and feels cozy while you binge watch the latest on Netflix.  Are we wrong? 

Share how you’re decorating for fall on our Facebook page! We’d love to hear from you.

 

Tips for Going Back to School in 2020

 It’s that time of year again! The summer is nearly behind us, and school aged children are getting ready to go back to school. (If you are in the south, there’s a good chance your schools already have!)  But like much of 2020, things look different than they have in years past.  Millions of children and their families are shifting gears and attending school virtually due to the pandemic.  Those that are attending in person face unforeseen challenges and a new way of learning.  We’re here today to explore tips and tricks to make the transition easier, in whichever way your school is going back.

Tips for Virtual School in 2020

1.      Set up a workspace/desk.  Ensure a consistent workspace and positive learning environment by setting up a workspace that your little one can use every single day for virtual school. You will want to make sure that the desk is sturdy, you have a comfortable chair, it is well-lit, and it is free from noises and distractions. (And far from the X-Box!) We recommend letting your kids decorate it so they feel ownership over their environment and have them take part in making it a special, happy place.

2.      Shop for supplies.  Just as you would for in-person school shopping, take your little one shopping or shop online together for necessary school supplies including binders, loose leaf paper, notebooks, a calculator, colored pencils, highlighters, pencils, pens, erasers & more.  Your school will likely provide a list!  We also think letting your children pick out a fun pencil box is an easy way to get the kids excited about supply shopping, without breaking the bank.  Try our embroidered cosmetic pouches, which double as a pencil/pen case! 

3.      Boost your internet.  No one likes a frozen screen with an ugly face captured during a zoom call. Consider calling your internet provider to upgrade your internet service or looking into a boosting device for your internet. These devices don’t tend to cost an arm and a leg and allow you to feel confident your internet connection isn’t going to drop spontaneously when you need it most.

4.      Dress for success.  Have your children wear their uniforms to school or get dressed as if they were going to school.  Dressing the part helps them psychologically prepare for the day and gets them into the mindset of interacting with people, just as they would at school. Avoid jammies and sweats!

5.      Keep routine and structure. Your school may have a set time that requires you to log in, or it might be more flexible.  If it’s flexible, we recommend setting a start time and end time daily and staying consistent whenever possible. This will help your children feel the routine that school normally provides.

6.      Pack a lunch.  For working parents especially, it’s difficult to stop your day in the middle and make lunch.  A cute idea would be to pack your child’s lunch for them, just as you would if they were headed off to school.  For older children, they can do this themselves!  Consider packing it in a cute new lunch bag for added excitement.  Hey, it’s the little things!  Isn’t it? 

 

Tips for In-Person Learning in 2020

1.      Keep health and safety top of mind.   Paramount to in-person learning and its success are healthy children and classrooms.  Continue to teach your kids to wash hands and to use sanitizer. Avoid touching, hugging, and even little things like sharing pencils/erasers.  Safety is #1.

2.      Wear a mask.  Whether it’s mandatory or not, we’re in the camp of wearing a mask! There are plenty of “cute” masks out there and child-sized ones available. Unfortunately, it does seem you have to try several options until you have found one that is sustainable for hours on end. But it’s worth it once you do. We’ve found that the disposable surgical masks are great for kids. They are light and breathable unlike some hand-made options which although they are cute, can be very stuffy and hot. Also, we suggest practicing wearing a mask for long periods of time before you go back to school. You may want to take a Saturday/Sunday before school starts and have them wear it for the day.  You want their teachers focused on their education, not reminding them to keep their masks on.

3.      Pack a lunch & snacks!  Many schools are doing away with the cafeteria to avoid large crowds of students, so packing a lunch is mandatory.  We think packing a lunch is more fun with cute water bottles, bags, and accessories.  Try some of these ideas to spruce things up! 

In whatever way you and your kids are going back to school this year, we think it also helps to splurge on some items to dress your desk.  Whether at home or at school, a stylish new personalized clipboard, or preppy personalized mousepad, will help get the job done but also lift spirits.  Little luxuries like these can make a big difference in your mood and your approach to getting work done.   We all need whatever we can get right now! So, choose things that bring you joy.   

We wish you luck as this unprecedented school year begins! Share your ideas, tips and tricks with us on our Facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

Holiday Cards Explained

A Very Holiday August

It may only be August here at More Than Paper, we can already hear Carol of the Bells playing sweetly in the  background, feel a warm fire by the Christmas tree, and imagine wrapping presents for our loved ones.  Keeping traditions alive, we’re also thinking about sending our holiday greeting cards.  We’re offering a big sale on select holiday cards that you might want to check out. It’s true that the early bird does get the worm, after all. If you are willing to order early, you can save quite a bit of money on adorable cards. And, you’ll get a jump on the holidays. One less thing to do come November and December.

Which holiday card is right for you?

There are several types of holiday cards available at More Than Paper and we’re here today to explain the differences between them.  Each type has its advantages and you’ll want to understand the nuances so you can get exactly what works best for you.

Digital Holiday Photo Greeting Cards.  When you select a holiday card with this option, we will digitally print your photo on to the card – no need to get prints and adhere your photos to the cardstock. Your photo will be cropped to fit the space dedicated to the photograph.  Some photo cards accommodate a full bleed photo, which means that your photo prints card edge to card edge.  Other cards will incorporate your photo into the design.  Your photo should be of the highest resolution possible, so make sure to set your camera accordingly. You’ll want to email your photo to us – please include your order number so we can easily match it up. These types of holiday cards work best for a quick solution! Your cards will come ready to mail – just insert the cards into your envelopes and seal shut. You can choose return address printing, labels, or snag a cute return address stamp, too.

Letterpress-printed Photo Mount Cards. Choosing a letterpress-printed card is a beautiful and luxurious option for your holiday greetings. The design along with your personalized information are letterpress printed on to 100% cotton paper available in different weights (110lb and 220lb).  The end product is a luxurious feeling card that has a debossed look (meaning the ink looks pressed into the paper) typically in 1 or 2 colors (each color requires a separate pass on the printing press thus there being a cost associated with each color added).  When ordering these as photo cards, they are only available as photo mount – you affix the proper size photo to the dedicated area. This option is suitable for those who have a bit more time and enjoy the project!  It makes a memorable statement.

Holiday Cards with Foil.  Foil is all the rage and adds a real sparkle to your holiday greeting and photo cards! For most designs, you can choose the color of the foil – from traditional gold and silver to other fun foil colors like rose gold, red, hot pink, green, blue, and white.  Foil stamped embellishments/text can be used in conjunction with a digitally printed photo as well as with the traditional photo mount option where you use adhesive strips provided with the holiday cards to affix your photo.

Holiday Greeting Cards. Prefer sending your holiday cards without photos? We have dozens of options with beautiful designs. From whimsical to formal and everything in between!  Our Holiday Greeting cards are offered in a variety of print methods from digital to thermography to foil stamping.  We also carry many Boxed Holiday products which are cards printed with a greeting only inside ready for you to hand write your signature. We have a huge selection of holiday greeting cards ensuring that there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.

Worth explaining are the differences between flat and folded.  Stating the obvious, a flat card is in fact, flat, and doesn’t open.  Sometimes there are printing options on both sides (back and front.) A folded greeting card opens up with your message on the inside. 

Additional options that add style and whimsy to your ensemble are things like envelope linings.  We love to highlight one of the colors in the card design again by choosing a coordinating lining.  Larger address labels – typically round or square in shape – add color and design to the back of your envelope and double as an envelope seal!

Whatever your style is this 2020 holiday season, More Than Paper has a wide variety of options. Check out the current sale with holiday cards from Boatman Geller, Dabney Lee and Chatsworth and take advantage of this incredible discount that doesn’t happen often and likely won’t be seen again in 2020.

Have questions? We pride ourselves on our customer service and attention to detail. We’re happy to speak with our customers to guide them through the process and to develop a card ensemble that is unique and well coordinated.  Contact us at info@morethanpaper.com or by phone at 516-466-1227.

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. 

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!

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. 

 

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!

Outdoor Entertaining Tips and Tricks for Summer 2020

A Backyard Event

After many of us have been isolated for months, we are slowly starting to re-emerge into society.  In many parts of our country, social distancing is still a thing.  But we are craving interaction with others and a great way to do that safely is by spending time together outdoors.  Summer days, especially those that end with a nice evening breeze, are perfect for outdoor dining. To help you prepare for your next fabulous backyard event, here are some tips and tricks for making entertaining easy!

 

A Theme & Décor Sets the Mood

Pick a theme that incorporates a unique color scheme and summer nostalgia. Establish your theme by planning each detail ahead of time. Having a playful theme will help you determine what you will use to set the table, what time of day is right for your outdoor dining experience, and, most importantly, what your guests will be eating and drinking.

Have fun when deciding your decorative colors, the event name for your invite text or invitation, and even the dinner playlist that will get everyone excited. Find music that will really set the scene for a memorable meal. You might choose oldies, French jazz tunes, summer hits, or an ambient chill playlist. 

For family gatherings, think bright colors. You can go with patriotic pastimes and get into the red, white, and blue. Plan a poolside dinner with pink flamingos and large monstera leaves lining your patio. You might prefer French country styles with blue and white everything. For a low-key party of adult friends, you may want to stick to neutral tones, like beige and creamy peach hues. You could even bring a splash of energy to a simple sophisticated set-up with some fresh lemons to provide a yellow accent.

Stock Up

Set up a well-stocked bar area. Throw plenty of extra drinks in the cooler to keep everyone hydrated. Fill the cooler with drinks for the kids, including bottled water, soda or flavored sparkling water. Mark a section for adult beverages only. Next to your cooler set-up, have koozies, bottle openers and an ice bucket on deck. Just wait until the last minute to add ice to your custom monogrammed ice bucket.

Incorporate fresh colors and your evening’s theme into the decor by selecting a matching tablecloth, linen napkins and choice dishware. Skip the glass to avoid items crashing onto the patio and breaking. Instead, opt for a lightweight set of dishes. Consider personalized melamine plates customized to complement the colors of your patio furniture.

Serving trays and cutting boards are great for transporting a group of items that need to go outside. You can use your lucite Dabney Lee trays to bring out items for setting the table, then later load up the trays with food at meal time!  These melamine platters not only add color to your table, they are great for serving food as well – especially side dishes!

 

Just Grill

Prepare the grill station for the family’s favorite BBQ chef. Have all of your grilling tools ready for business. Use a practical grilling set that includes all the necessities: tongs, fork and a spatula. Station aluminum foil, a roll of paper towels and some mesquite spices nearby. Really get into the BBQ mood by making sure your cook is outfitted with a perfectly cheesy “kiss the cook” style apron. Bonus points if the sassy apron has the grill-master’s name front and center.

 

Light It Up

Have a plan for lighting: Consider using decorative lanterns, twinkle lights, or tiki torches depending on your backyard aesthetic. Some small white candles can add romance to an ordinary patio table. There is nothing quite like the ambiance created from the soft light of candles. Citronella candles are a great added touch to keep the bugs off your guests.

Outdoor entertaining has all the festivity of a meal out but with the comforts of home. Start planning your theme and table setting for the next holiday or event on your calendar. Whether your invite list includes the family or your favorite friends, you are sure to have a wonderful night once your patio table is set to impress.

 

Meet Debbie

We are back to blogging and it feels so good! You may notice our last post was November 2017.  A lot has changed in three years, but plenty has stayed the same.  One of those things? More Than Paper is still online bringing you the best in stationery, paper, and personalized gifts–just like we have been since 2000.  We wanted to introduce you to the woman who has been the driving force behind More Than Paper and its success – meet our founder and owner, Debbie Volk!

How it all started

Debbie is a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Decision Sciences. Earlier in her career, she was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. 

When she and her husband of nearly 28 years, Judd, were starting their family, she left Morgan Stanley to focus on being a mom.  Three years later, she started looking for an entrepreneurial business that she could do from home while also caring for her young son. 

Her mother-in-law had been in the invitation business for over 30 years and suggested the possibility of retailing stationery to friends and family as an income source. Debbie went to her first National Stationery Show in NYC in 1999.  She realized then that owning a paper/gift store would allow her to marry her finance background and her love of being creative.  Being a mother of a toddler and with another baby on the way, opening a brick and mortar store wasn’t an option and even seeing clients in person was becoming challenging.  She had just learned to build a website for her husband’s business, so it was relatively easy to get a website up and running (remember it was 2000 and websites were a lot less sophisticated back then).  That is how More Than Paper became an ecommerce business! 

What it is today

Today, More Than Paper prides itself on having a huge selection (tens of thousands of products) of stationery and gifts found on an easy to navigate website, www.morethanpaper.com – all at great prices.  She typically lists merchandise 20% below manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing every single day.  No coupons or codes or flash sales – just everyday great prices.  

More than just selection and price, Debbie & team offer more service than many other online stores. It doesn’t matter if a customer is buying address labels for $16 or holiday cards for $500, Debbie and her team are willing to spend time and go the extra mile to make the customer happy.  It’s not unusual for her to pick up the phone and hear a customer say, “Oh, I am so glad that a human picked up!” With so many companies investing in overseas chats and burying customer service phone numbers on their websites, Debbie is more than happy to speak to customers. Curating the right purchase and ensuring customers get exactly what they want is what she’s all about.

What else it offers

You’ll notice that there are tens of thousands of products at More Than Paper, and she and her team are constantly adding new ones from their manufacturers.  New, trendy products are balanced out with timeless classics.  Trends are followed via industry publications, watching fashion trends, and of course via relationships with manufacturers.  Debbie has always placed a strong emphasis on keeping strong relationships with her manufacturers who introduce new products all the time.

Debbie has learned a lot since opening in 1999. To do it right takes a tremendous effort, an attention to detail, a willingness to take chances and great customer service. She says, “operating a retail website is really a 24/7, 365-day job since the internet is never closed, and you need to commit to that obligation to make it through the inevitable ups and downs of business cycles.”

Outside of her online business, Debbie is passionate about her family; she has three children–Ethan (23), Brian (20), Amanda (16). She also loves singing and performing in local musical theater.  It’s clear that this smart, dynamic woman has built a business that fits her lifestyle, education, and passion and she has been able to help thousands of people with their life occasions.

What’s ahead?

With years of expertise in the stationery industry, Debbie has amassed tips and tricks that she will be sharing.  Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to our email list for the latest.