Helping your friends and family to celebrate a new home is like planting flowers and turning on the sun.

Are you going to a housewarming party? Candles and tea towels are traditional housewarming gifts. But we’ve got a better idea: personalized stationery.  It’s perfect for newlyweds, downsizers and upgraders. For those who have found their “forever home.” Or for those who have simply found a better place to rest and refresh after working all day.

Giving  stationery with a new return address acknowledges the specific home they’ve chosen. And with 50 pieces in a set, they’ll remember your gift every time they use it.

Plus, you can write a beautiful message on the first card. Something like: “I’m so excited that you found your new digs. May you have a comfortable, happy home filled with joy and beauty!”

Warm Their Home with Personalization

Here are our top three favorite housewarming party gifts. In the “Order and Preview” section, choose to have the optional return address printed on the included envelopes:

Anthony Family Pride Note. A beautiful gift for a young, close-knit family. Nothing beats the delicious feeling of family togetherness. The texture of the raised-ink names, bullets and border makes this note a delight to touch and hold. Choose an ink from among our 10 raised-ink options.

Double Thick Impression Note. Perfect for a couple embarking on their new life together. Our Impression Note features an oversized script typeface that gets attention. The raised ink lettering shines nicely against the smooth paper. Try it with sage lettering on ivory paper. Or, for a more formal look, use crisp black lettering on stark white paper. For even more luxury, add optional lined envelopes in your choice of pretty patterns and colors.

Bordered Classic Monogrammed Card. As appropriate for the city girl striking out on her own as it is for a mature singleton who is living life to the fullest. Fashions come and go, but this card is always in style. As with all our notes and cards, 50 matching envelopes are included. Optional lined envelopes make this stationery set even more yummy.

You may be years out of high school and don’t have a teacher grading your writing anymore, but do you know that work colleagues, business clients and even friends may be secretly judging you by your grammar? And while most friends won’t drop you because you make an occasional grammar slip, potential employers or clients just might toss your resume or sales letter.

One of the most common grammar mistakes is using “it’s” in place of “its.” Here is a quick run-down on how and when to use these commonly mixed-up words.

It’s a contraction

“It’s” is a contraction that means “it is.” The apostrophe replaces the space and the missing letter/s of the second word…just as the apostrophe replaces the missing letters in “can’t” (can not) and “don’t”  (do not).

Example: It is a fine day. It’s a fine day.

Its definition is easy to remember

On the other hand, “its” is the possessive form of the word “it.” We add an “s” to the ends of words to indicate that something belongs to someone or something else: hers, his, theirs, ours, etc.

Example: That shoe is hers. The cat licked its paws.

The confusion arises because we attach ” ‘s ” to names and nouns to make them possessive. “Deanne’s shoes are clean.” “The cat’s paws are dirty.”

It’s  (it is) so tempting to add an apostrophe to “Its paws are dirty.” But don’t!

So the next time you write the three little letters i-t-s, think before you add that apostrophe before the s.

If it’s a contraction, meaning “it is” or “it has,” include the apostrophe.

If its meaning is possessive, then leave it out.

Want more writing tips? Check out our other blogs on grammar, thank you note writing and more.

Looking for personalized stationery? Check out our best-selling personalized thank you notes.

Beat the winter blahs with new stationery.

When the skies are grey, temperatures plunge and daylight barely breaks ten hours, we all need a break from the drear. How about some happy stationery to perk you up and help you connect with friends?

With a good pen and a stamp, you can cheer yourself up by writing a friendly note to your old college roommate, favorite cousin or old next-door-neighbor. Won’t they be surprised to get your letter?

Three of our happiest cards and notes

Notable Note: One of our best selling notes! Your monogram appears in an ebullient, rounded script lettering style in one of ten luscious raised-ink colors. Choose fuchsia, red or purple for a pick-me-up vibe.

Blossom Note: Another exquisite design by America’s leader in social stationery! Our Blossom Note features superb embossed and creamy, triple-thick paper. Yo’u’ll enjoy writing a letter on this note. The Japanese-inspired motif features a spray of flowers deeply impressed into the paper. Below, your name appears in shiny raised ink. Choose from 6 pretty lettering styles and 10 ink colors.

Manhattan Card: This single panel card lights up an ordinary day with a ticker tape parade of polka dots, highlighted by your name in a curling script. For a real treat, choose lined envelopes in your choice of 5 patterns and 4 colors.

Sally Script typeface was developed by Embossed Graphics in the late 1980s.

Giftsin24’s parent company, Embossed Graphics, has designed many original lettering styles over the years. In a previous post, we profiled “Anthony.” Today, we highlight another original typeface: Sally Script.

Do you or someone you know have a distinctive handwriting style? That’s how Sally Script got its look and its name. Embossed Graphics CEO Richard Pauling helped develop this lettering style in the late 1980s.  He based it off the handwriting of a good friend.

Font Inspired by Handwriting

“At that time, we acquired new software that enabled us to branch into new looks with our own in-house designed typefaces,” explains Richard. “I had a friend named Sally Kopp Richardson who had an interesting handwriting style.  She provided us with all the letters in the alphabet, and all numerals, too.”

A smart college intern turned her paper and pen letters into digital files, using the new software. And a new lettering style was born.

“Sally Script has always been popular because of its folksy, slightly imperfect appearance,” says Richard.

Sally Script’s round O’s and other characters give it a generous, relaxed feel. Look for it on our Sally Script Embossed Card and other Giftsin24 products.

Our Early Spring Save the Date Card elegantly gives guests advance notice of your wedding.

Sending a wedding save-the-date card: when is it necessary and when is it not? These days, there are so many tasks associated with planning a wedding. It’s nice to know if they are all must-dos or might-be-nice-to-dos. Wedding save-the-date cards straddle both.

Yes, You Need a Save the Date Card

Sending a save-the-date card has become a necessity in certain situations. If you are planning a destination wedding, send one. Same goes for a three-day weekend extravaganza. They are also convenient for a holiday weekend wedding. Have a lot of out-of-town guests? Accommodate them by giving them advance notice.

In these situations, as a general rule, send a save-the-date card at least 6 months before the ceremony. For a destination wedding, send one 8 months ahead.

Giving your guests advance notice about your wedding date will give them adequate time to make travel arrangements. They may also need to rearrange work schedules and save for transportation or lodging.

No, You Don’t

If you are planning a simple wedding locally, you won’t need a save-the-date card. A typical two or three month notice is adequate. Plus, you can count of word of mouth helping to inform guests of your wedding date.

Assign a task to each day and you’ll get your new year’s resolution accomplished in no-time!

A new year. A fresh start. Turning over into a new year means turning a new leaf on old habits. And getting organized consistently ranks as one of the most popular new year’s resolutions.

Search “getting organized,” and you’ll find dozens of websites offering hundreds of tips. They cover such things as how to organize your home, your wardrobe, your kitchen cabinets or your day.

5 Tips

No matter what you’re organizing, here are five top ways to make good on your intention and keep the momentum going:

1. Write it down. Keep your goals up front with a good old-fashioned to-do list tacked to your bulletin board or taped to your bathroom mirror.

2. Break projects into steps. Is your goal to declutter your closets? Break it down by location (foyer, broom closet, hall, bath, pantry, etc.). And keep pen and paper nearby as you do them to write down any chores or projects that result from each of these, such as mending mittens, dropping off a box of outgrown clothes at your favorite charity or restocking toothpaste.

3. Assign dates. Schedule specific blocks of time into your calendar for each step. Be realistic. Break tasks into pieces and assign time frames to them, even down to the minutes.

4. Cut yourself some slack. There’s a psychological aspect to changing habits. If you begin to procrastinate or get off track, forgive yourself and start somewhere else. Maybe that first task is too large? Break it down into even smaller chunks, even if they are minuscule, like gathering boxes and trash bags near your closet. Small victories along the way help your momentum. Struggling? Call a super-organized family member or friend for help getting started.

5. Cross off your accomplishments. It feels great to watch your progress! Remember to celebrate your victories!

Looking for pretty and functional to-do lists? Giftsin24 offers a variety of personalized notepads, such as weekly slabs, daily slabs, and family slabs.

Your children have opened their carefully wrapped presents. The evidence is everywhere . . . ribbons and bows are strewn across the floor. Crumpled tissue paper explodes out of boxes.

The merriment of the holiday is winding down to everyday life again. Now comes a teachable moment that will last your children a lifetime: thanking the generous friends and family in their lives.

Teaching children from a young age that it’s important to express their gratitude helps lay the groundwork for thoughtfulness and appreciation. Not only will they learn the importance of courtesy, they will be developing their communication skills as well.

Holiday Thank You Note How-Tos

Here are a few helpful hints to make the “chore” of writing holiday thank you notes both fun and rewarding:

• Set aside a specific time to sit down with your children and help them with their thank you notes to Grandma and Grandpa. Find a comfortable, well-lit place to relax and settle in. This helps them focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions. It’s no fun to have to nag or rush!

• Have the writing paper and envelopes, pens, markers, stickers and stamps ready and available. Kids will especially love being able to write thank yous on their very own stationery.

• If your child is still very young, you may need to be the designated writer; however, even young children can print their name or draw a picture to accompany the words you supply. Children will enjoy embellishing the note with their own stickers and drawings.

Children will love writing holiday thank you notes on their very own stationery!

• Be sincere. You want your kids to be authentic. Even if the gift wasn’t something they love, encourage them to thank the giver in genuine appreciation: “It must have taken you a long time to knit the sweater for me. Thank you!”

• Do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the less enthusiastic your child will be and the easier it will be to let the good intentions evaporate.

• But do it later, too! Wouldn’t it be fun to make someone’s day by sending them a brief note, long after the holidays, reminding them of their gift and how it’s still being appreciated? “Remember that blue shirt you gave me for Christmas? Here’s a picture of me wearing it when we went to Disneyland.”

• Teach them how to fold the letter or card and tuck it into the envelope. Attach the stamp. Take a special trip to the post office to drop it into the slot. Children will enjoy personally sending their note off to its destination.

Finally, praise your child for their time and effort in writing a thank you. Explain to them how happy their note will make Grandpa or Aunt Ellen. In newspaper advice columns across the country, people are lamenting that they haven’t received thank you notes. But it doesn’t have to be a dying art. If you teach your children the joy of writing at an early age, they’ll continue it throughout their life . . . and it will help them maintain strong relationships that we all know are the key to happiness in life.

Looking for a luxurious gift? Our monogrammed cotton paper stationery fits the bill.

Looking for a gift that will impress this Christmas? Maybe you want to buy a gift for a close friend. Or perhaps you want to thank an important client. You may simply want to indulge yourself. Our cotton paper stationery, embossed with a name or monogram, fits the bill.

These high quality, classic papers can be used for any occasion and are always “in style.”

Furthermore, their simple elegance and smooth, sturdy construction yield tactile enjoyment for all your senses.

Remember, giftsin24 is the leading producer of embossed social stationery in the U.S.

Our cotton paper stationery is the same high quality paper you find at Crane’s, but at lower prices.

Plus, like all our stationery, our cotton paper …

• include color-matched envelopes
• arrive wrapped in tissue, affixed with a seal and nestled in a champagne gift box
• ship in 24 hours
• include FREE FedEx Ground Shipping
• are guaranteed to be perfect, or we will gladly replace it (though we have a 99.8 percent accuracy rate, so odds are, your order WILL be perfect.)

Here are five exquisite cotton paper stationery gifts:

Avenue Card  Command the attention of your colleagues, clients or business associates with the Avenue Card. These beautifully embossed, single-panel cards come with 50 color-matched envelopes. Try your name on the top left line and your title below. Be sure to choose the cotton option.

Banner Card  Impressive & classic! Its thick, creamy paper feels smooth and substantial in hand, and the name confidently announces itself. The personalization appears in upper-case, crisp, embossed lettering.Be sure to choose the cotton option.

Capital Note  Simply charming! Make a warm first impression with the Capital Note. Your beautifully embossed, flowing initial appears above your name. A crisp border frames the whole arrangement. The quality of the embossing and detailed design make this folded note special. Your choice of white or ivory paper. Be sure to choose the cotton option.

Firenze Monogram Note  European flair meets American ingenuity in this elegantly designed folded note. Not your average script style, the Firenze Monogram Note adds a new twist to a traditional look. Be sure to choose the cotton option.

Chesapeake Boulevard Card The oversized dimensions of our Chesapeake line meet the elegance and sophistication of our cotton paper! Enjoy a taste of luxury with these beautifully embossed single-panel cards. And don’t worry, our Chesapeake stationery takes just a first-class stamp. Be sure to choose the cotton option.

Adding sparkle to your holiday party table is as easy as adding metal, glass and even reflective fabric

How do you create a warm and memorable holiday party table? With an inviting table setting that includes some sparkle and shine! It doesn’t take long to add a little pizzazz. Keep it simple with a few light-reflecting pieces. Choose a few of these ideas, then mix and match with other textures, such as items from nature, and, of course, the aromas and tastes of lovingly prepared food.

Candlelight

Nothing beats the flicker of candlelight to create a warm glow. Gather a collection of candlesticks in the center of your table (ask your family and friends if you can borrow a few) and place matching white, scentless candles in them. Or use plain juice glasses to hold small votives.

Metal

Metal naturally reflects light. The simplest way to add metal accents is by using real utensils. Make sure they shine by giving them a quick swipe with a clean cloth and a dab of vinegar. Or, use a bowl made of silver, chrome or pewter as the base of your centerpiece.

Mirror

Mirrors work especially well when you have a beautiful chandelier above them. But they work beautifully with candles or metal too. Use a mirror like a tray and place candlesticks or metal centerpiece on it.

Fabric

Warm up a table with a tablecloth, runner or place mats that have metallic thread or a shiny jacquard pattern.

Napkins

Our foil-pressed napkins could beautifully complement your sparkling theme. Choose from a range of napkin and foil colors.

Yuletide Foil-Pressed Napkin

Delavan Monogram Napkin This foil-pressed napkin is a must for any party. Enjoy the rich texture and fine quality of the paper and monogramming.

Christmas Foil-Pressed Napkin Motifs include: candy canes, Christmas tree, stocking, ornaments, Santa’s hat and holiday wreath. High quality, three-ply construction.

Yuletide Foil-Pressed Napkin There are as many ways to customize this napkin as there are reasons to celebrate. Motifs include: snowman, Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, ho-ho-ho and snowflakes.

While you were going through this year’s photos to create your holiday greeting cards, did you find that one perfect shot that just makes you feel happy? The kids bundled up together. Or the sunset shot from your family vacation. Maybe your pet dressed up for Halloween. Or the quilt you are so proud of making. Whatever it was, consider using it to create holiday photo gifts for friends and family. Grandparents especially will love using your gift all year long when it includes a sweet picture!

Personalize holiday photo gifts, like this super slab, to create memorable gifts they’ll use all year long.

Personalize Giftsin24 memos, lists, agendas, tablets and slabs with your very own photo for a one-of-a-kind gift. In addition to the full-color photo, add a name or phrase of your choice to each memo item.

Easy Instructions for Creating Photo Gifts

It’s easy to do! Choose your item, upload your image to the Giftsin24 web site, do some minor photo cropping if needed, indicate the personalization in one of eight matte ink colors, and place your order. That’s all there is to it. We’ll use our state-of-the-art technology to reproduce your photo and print your order.

We produce each Family Photo item with careful attention to detail. We print and ship your gifts quickly – most within 24 hours. They’re the perfect holiday present for all the people on your list.

Browse our selection of matte ink photo items today on Giftsin24.