Summer Entertaining

With summer approaching quickly, we are thinking about how to gather small groups of our friends and family and entertain them safely in style. Outdoor backyard dinner parties are our favorite, and we have learned a few tips and tricks to enjoy ourselves, spend quality time with our guests, and take things up a notch. With simple details and personalized touches, you can really wow your guests, too. 

 
Here are a few tips for entertaining this summer. 

1. Pair your favorite dishes with a few new summer-themed pieces of servingware. 
2. Create a bar cart for guests to have easy access to their favorite drinks. You can even create simple little glass cups in which to put straws, stir sticks, little umbrellas, and more! 
3. Add a festive summer tablecloth to make the dinner table stand out a little more and get guests excited to check out everything you have to offer.  
4. Instead of laying everything flat on the table, create various heights for the dishes being served. This could include a few platters, a cupcake holder, and a glass trifle filled with popular snacks. 
5. Make sure to have an eye-catching centerpiece to get people talking. One idea would be to put light-colored pebbles at the bottom of a glass vase and fill it with bright flowers and plants.

 
Check out a few of these items to get you started on the ultimate summer entertaining in style! 
 

1. This Tritan Outdoor Entertaining Set is the perfect summer essential to spice up your bar cart. This set includes four outdoor friendly highball glasses, an acrylic serving tray, a pitcher, and an insulated acrylic ice bucket. You can go even further by customizing the pieces by adding a monogram, initial, or name/phrase. 

Additional glasses can be purchased here (tip – these are amazing to use all year round – especially if you have kids. They look like glass but are a nice weight and unbreakable!)

Add an extra festive touch with these monogrammed and personalized paper coasters. Elevate your table and bar cart with these at More Than Paper! Everyone will be dying to know where you got these from. Each order comes with 100 coasters making it the perfect addition to multiple parties throughout the summer. 

1.     Every party needs napkins so why not make them stylish at the same time? These Anchor Linen-Like Beverage and Dinner Napkins are the perfect way to top off your unforgettable summer party. These luxurious custom napkins are linen-like making them the perfect party essential (and they last longer too reducing the number of napkins being used). 

1.     Stand out from the crowd as you’re grilling some burgers and hotdogs for your guests with this Custom Engraved Grilling BBQ Set. The tools are crafted with strong oak handles and heavy-duty steel making it a long-lasting essential for years to come. 

Truth be told: all the personalized products and touches do elevate the party but what matters most is spending quality time with your guests. Be sure to do just that.  As the hostess, you may be concerned with making sure your guests drinks are full and the food is on the table, but be sure to take a few moments to really listen to the conversation -- be in the moment and be present with the ones you love.  That’s what entertaining is really about! (And if you can make it cute -- more power to you!). 

 

What are your entertaining tips and tricks for summer? We’d love to hear them on our Facebook page or in the comments below. 

Father's Day Gift Ideas

As Father’s Day is soon approaching, it is time to start thinking ways to honor Dad. Since our fathers help build us into the people we are today, it is important to take the time to thank them for everything they have done!  You can do that in so many ways. Through small gifts but, most importantly, expressing heartfelt gratitude. 

Although fathers should be celebrated every day, make this Father’s Day one that they will cherish for many years to come. Show your dad how much you appreciate him for all that he does for you by making him feel extra special this Father’s Day. 

 

For fathers who frequently travel, this weekend navy travel bag is the perfect addition  his business trips. No matter where your dad goes, he will always have something that constantly reminds him of you. You can even customize it by monogramming.  

Give your dad the gift that will have all his friends talking at the next get together with this personalized glass sports mug. Every mug can be personalized with a name or initial. 

This custom engraved vegan leather photo frame is a great way to show your dad how much you care about him and admire all that he does. The frame is water resistant, durable, and easy to clean.  Add a great picture of you two for a sentimental gift that he will enjoy! 

If your dad loves to grill then look no further than this BBQ apron.  You can even choose the character head you think best suits your dad. 

Show your dad that he really is number one with this personalized ceramic mug. Bring a smile to your dad’s face every day as he enjoys his morning cup of coffee. The mug is even microwave and dishwasher safe making it easy for fathers constantly on the go. 

 

Whichever gift you decide is right for your dad, we also recommend writing him a letter on your own personalized stationery to actually put into words how much he truly means to you. Although this may seem like a small gesture, it will probably mean more than any gift ever will. 

 

Of course, the ultimate gift is quality time so hopefully you are able to spend time together. It can be as simple as going to get coffee, taking him to do his favorite activities, or even watching his favorite movie with him at home --- be sure to spend some time with Dad if you are lucky enough to do it. 

 

What are your favorite Father’s Day gifts?  Share them here or on our Facebook page. We love to hear from you! 

 

Graduation Gifts

It’s that time of year again! Whether your child is graduating high school or college, they still deserve to be celebrated. There is no better way to celebrate your child than with a graduation party! The final months of spring leading into summer are definitely one of the busiest times of the year. From Easter to Mother’s Day, there is hardly any time to plan a graduation party for your loved one. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the thought of planning an event, but good thing, More Than Paper has all of your graduation party needs covered. 
 
The first step in planning any event is creating a guest list. The most important thing to consider when making a guest list for any event is deciding how many people you are comfortable with hosting. Once you decide on this number, it’s time to start talking to your grad about who they want to be there on their special day. After making the guest list, it’s time to start mailing those invites! When mailing invitations to any event, you want to make sure you encapsulate the purpose of the event you’re hosting. What better way to showcase your child’s graduation celebration than with one of More Than Paper’s wide variety of trendy graduation invitations?
 
We suggest that picking one of our photo invitation options to showcase your child’s stunning senior pictures. We have a wide variety of options from which to choose when deciding which invitation works best for you! Each of these invitations allows you to customize the text to make sure all your loved ones get to the event at the right time and place. 
 
After sending out those invitations, the next step in planning a graduation party is decorating. More Than Paper has a variety of festive decorations and party favors to make your child’s graduation party one for the books! Here’s an insider look at our favorite graduation party decorations and gifts!
 
We suggest taking your party planning to the next level with our Graduation Hat banners! These banners are the perfect addition to your child’s graduation party get-up. The Graduation Hat banners come in two different fonts to choose from and allow you to showcase your child’s school colors! These banners come in three different size options ranging from Mini (12’ x 18”), Small (16” x 18”), and Large (30” x 55”). You can hang these banners inside or outside with either the included adhesive removable tape or the two upgradeable grommet options.

 
What’s a party without refreshments? No matter what you are serving, you have to keep those drinks cold. Try keeping your refreshments cold with our College Little Bin. These customizable tin bins are the perfect and practical decoration for your event. To customize these bins, just select the name and colors of your graduate’s school and their name. The rest is history!
 

Serve up hors d’ouevres and treats with these custom napkins. These napkins can be personalized with your graduates name and come in a wide variety of colors to choose from.

 
Once the decorating is done, it’s time for the party favors! One of the most attention-grabbing party favors is a reusable cup for your guests. Our Congrats Reusable Cups are the perfect take-home item for your guests. These cups can hold 16 oz. and are completely shatterproof, making them the perfect celebration item. These reusable cups are customizable and come in a wide assortment of colors to choose from! P.S. they’re dishwasher safe (which may be the best part). 

 
The last (and perhaps most important) step of throwing a graduation party is sending out thank you notes to your guests. What better way to say thank you than with our Gold Graduation Thank You Note Card Stationery? These thank you notes have a classic design and come in a set of 20 cards and envelopes. These cards allow you to send a personalized thank you message to all of your guests.

 
Graduation is one of the biggest milestones in your child’s life. We hope these suggestions help you make it even more special. You can click here for even more graduation items and gifts. More Than Paper wishes a huge congrats to all the 2021 grads!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Take a moment to think about everything that your mother has done for you over the years. A mother is someone who is always there for you providing unconditional love. She will always put her family’s needs before her own. Although mothers deserve to be celebrated every day, make this Mother’s Day one to remember. Show your mother how much you truly appreciate everything that she does for you with a beautiful Mother’s Day gift.

 

Honor her for all of her selfless actions and amazing qualities she portrays to the world. Your mother will be overwhelmed with happiness when she sees any of our 2021 Mother’s Day gift ideas you choose to get her. We guarantee your mom will be talking about this sweet Mother’s Day gift for years to come. Here are some ideas:

 

You will put a smile on her face every time she looks at this beautiful hand signed piece of artwork that she can hang in her home. If your mother is the sun(flower) in your life, then this is the perfect gift to show her. 

 

 

If your mother is always on the go, this notepad is just what she needs. Unique gifts for mom like these will keep her smiling and laughing every time she goes to write down her to-do list and notes. You can even personalize this notepad by adding her name to the bottom. 

 

 

People always say that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” What better gift for mom than a colorful picture frame with a picture of her children and a custom message. She won’t be able to contain her excitement when she sees this thoughtful gift specially made for her. 

 

 

Mothers are typically on the go trying to get everything their family needs done in time. For the busy moms out there, we recommend getting them a custom personalized coffee mug. She will be reminded about how special and appreciated she is every time she goes to sip her coffee.

 

Your mom will be the talk of the grocery store with this adorable custom canvas grocery tote bag. This environmentally friendly tote can fit about two large bags worth of groceries (sometimes even more)! You can choose the character head, hair color, and skin tone of the person on the bag to best match your mother. 

 

 

Moms are spending even more time at their desks these days. Why not get them this pretty AND practical sticky cube. Perfect for spring:

 

 

Remember that a gift for mom should be carefully thought out. Whichever one of our Mother’s Day gift ideas you decide to choose for your incredibly hardworking mother, we recommend also writing a note on your own personalized stationery to show Mom how much she truly means to you. This extra little step can make the biggest difference to your mother. After all, what would we do without our amazing mothers in our lives? 

Coaches Gifts

We can hardly believe it is April.  With spring break ahead of us, this month always seems to fly by.  Before we know it, it will be May and the end of the school year! We’re looking ahead to year-end gifts for coaches. Do you or your children acknowledge their sports coaches with a small token of your appreciation? 

Coaches can have a profound effect on a young person’s life. A good coach has the power to motivate, teach discipline, and shape how a child deals with losing and winning. We’ve seen some tremendous coaches in our children’s lives, and we’re grateful for those that volunteer their time and make an impact. 

 

Today we are sharing small gift ideas that you can buy for coaches.  The gesture doesn’t have to be grand.  Acknowledging your coaches can be done simply with a heartfelt, handwritten note.  (If you need some stationery, you know where to head to!) 

 

Beyond a note, here are some of our favorite gift ideas for coaches. 

Your child’s soccer coach will really see how much they are appreciated for all of their hard work with set of themed stationery. These notes are available in both green or blue and can be changed from our standard square corner to rounded corners if desired.

We are obsessed with all of the different sports options for our mugs including baseball, football, golf, and hockey. This unique gift for coaches is a great keepsake that they can use for many years to come. You can even personalize them by adding two lines of text with up to 15 characters per line. Fill with candy for added sweetness when gift giving!

Does your child play multiple sports? These Sports Cute Collection Notepads are the perfect gift idea for coaches. Personalize the notepads to best match your needs by adding names, location, etc. These cute collection notepads will be the perfect necessity for your coach’s next season to help plan out plays.  Available as both a multi-sport pack or for a single sport.

Cheers to the end of another successful cheerleading season! What greater way to celebrate your child’s amazing coach with personalized cheerleader thank you notes. Gift ideas like these pair best with a little gift as well to really show your appreciation. You can choose up to two ink colors and whether you want the thank you notes to have square or rounded corners. 

In whatever way you decide to celebrate your child’s coaches, we always recommend the children thanking them in person as well to truly show how much they mean to them. They can mention:

 

1)    Their favorite memory from the season with their coach

2)    One play that really made both the child and coach happy 

3)    How the coach has improved their skills over the past season 

4)    How their coach has made an impact in their life 

 

Grab your favorite thank you cards, year-end gifts, and have your child thank their coach in person for all the wonderful things they have done over the past season to help them grow. 

Teacher's Gift Ideas

We’ve never appreciated how valuable teachers are more than we do today.  The pandemic threw many of us into a home-schooling reality that we never thought we’d face.  We were stretched thin, our patience was tested, and the pressure was on.  Fortunately, for a majority of American students and their families, children are back in the classroom inperson.  As parents, we couldn’t be more relived and also grateful.  It’s clear that the debt of gratitude we owe these special people – our teachers – is a large one!  

We will always advocate for a heartfelt, thoughtful note to your child’s teacher. As a parent, take a moment to reflect on the year’s ups and downs.  Be specific about the growth that you have seen in your child, what he/she enjoyed, or how he/she overcame a challenge and has flourished. Teachers appreciate knowing what specifically they did to contribute to the growth of their students.  Sometimes a tangible example of how they affected change can be really powerful.  Take a few minutes to really think about the impact this teacher has had on your child’s life and be sure to write it down thoughtfully.   Of course, More Than Paper has plenty of stationery options from which to choose when you are ready to write your note! 

 

We also suggest that your children take a moment to write thank you notes to their teachers. (We have personalized stationery options for kids, too, of course!) This handwritten note from your child can mean the world to the teacher! The same advice applies --- have your child be specific about the school year and what he/she enjoyed in the class.  

 

Beyond a thank you note for teachers, consider small tokens of your appreciation. More Than Paper has a few gift ideas that teachers will find delightful and useful.  All of them are affordably priced, and we love that they are personalized.  Of course, many teachers love the slew of Starbucks cards they receive but these heartfelt, personalized gifts for teacher will really speak volumes.  Here’s a round-up of some of our favorite teacher gifts.  

 

1.     Make a statement with these teacher appreciation banners.  These indoor/outdoor vinyl banners are available in three sizes and are customizable with the teacher’s name and students’ names as well!  The banner is waterproof and comes with adhesive, removable tape for easy hanging.  We also have upgrades available with stakes and grommets for other ways to hang!  Imagine your teacher walking into school with this large, customized vinyl banner displayed for all to see.

 

2.     Teachers are constantly needing to jot down reminders, write notes home to parents, and take notes.  This notepad is an adorable way for your teacher to do all of that.  “From the desk of” personalized notepads make a great teacher’s gift. 

 

3.     If you are a teacher and you don’t have a mug with your name on it with an apple, are you even a teacher? Kidding, of course! If your teacher hasn’t been gifted a fabulous, personalized teacher mug yet – consider these ones by Pen and Hand.  They’ve been a top seller of ours for years! And in addition to personalizing the mug with the teacher’s name, you get to choose the hairstyle, hair color and skin tone to make the stick figure character in the teacher’s likeness. What fun! For added sweetness, fill the mug with candy, wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. 

4.     Consider a stylish and handy personalized clipboard when choosing a year-end teacher gift. We love all of our clipboard options but especially this design.  This is a fun and functional gift that we love. 

 

5.     Another great idea is a personalized bookmark for your teacher! From your English teacher to your librarian, these personalized bookmarks for teacher are a great gift for the end of the year. 

 

 

 

Hard to believe how fast this year is flying by.  We hope you’ll consider these unique ways to honor teachers. Teachers spend many waking hours with our children and have the power to shape their minds, their personalities, and the course of their life.  We appreciate and thank all the teachers! 

 

 

Bridesmaids Gifts

When you are getting married and you’ve asked your closest friends to stand by your side as your bridesmaids, it means something special! Friends help get you through tough times and are people with whom you make lasting memories.  On your big day, will you give them a gift to celebrate your friendship and thank them for all that they have done for you?   

Whether it’s a destination wedding or a local wedding, it’s likely that your bridesmaids have incurred some expenses throughout your engagement and wedding so we love the idea of a small thank you.  Thank your bridesmaids for their long-standing friendship with these bridesmaids’ gift ideas.  Your bridal party will appreciate any of these personalized gifts!  

1)   Your girls will always travel in style with these garment bags!  Available in several colors, these personalized garment bags are made of heavy-duty canvas and will protect your suits, dresses, or clothes you don’t want to fold!  There are two roomy inside zip pockets for smaller 
accessories. 

 

2)     We just love these clutches that we have recently added by Quilted Koala! Choose from over 50 icons and text phrases.  These are truly custom in that you can select from many color bag options and choose the color, location, and sizing of your imprint (including glitters, foils, and solids!)   At More Than Paper, we are happy to guide you through the process or design it for you! 

        

3)     Sip in-style with any of our custom tumblers.These personalized acrylic beverage tumblers with straw are perfect for on-the-go hydration!  Available in a bunch of patterns and designs, this is a small token of your appreciation and make a great bridal party gift. 

        

 

4)     Insulated personalized tumblers are all the rage right now! These premium-quality double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel travel tumblers will keep your cold drinks ice cold for up to 24 hours and your hot drinks hot for up to 6 hours!!  For a small fee, you can upgrade your lid to a sliding lid.  Choose from many tumbler colors and imprint colors, too.  You can customize these for your bridesmaids and bridal party with their name or even your wedding date and location.

         

 

5)     These super-cute, personalized straw tote bags are ideal for beach weddings or destination wedding bridal parties!!  They are handmade and hand painted with stripes and initials. Create your own color combinations and make it yours!  One of the best things? This is a Fair Trade Business and income generated helps women sustain their families. 

        

Whichever way you to choose to honor your bridesmaids, we also recommend that in addition to a small gift, you take the time to write a letter or note to your friends.  This will be perhaps the most meaningful of all the actions or gestures you take.  Here are some tips to help you write the best note to your bridesmaids:

1)     Recall when you met or how you became friends

2)     Recount a favorite memory or funny story 

3)     Be honest about how this person has helped shap your life and lead you to where you are today

4)     Be sure to thank them for their friendship and support during the wedding 

With those tips, you are sure to write something that they will treasure and will certainly feel appreciated.  Check out all of our bridesmaids gift options at More Than Paper by visiting here.