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Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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How to make an origami star for Christmas
A modular 5 point origami star tutorial Yesterday I was at the Ideal Home Show Christmas show at Olympia, running workshops and giving origami demos. It was great fun and SO Christmassy! If you couldn’t be there (or you want a reminder of how to make these pretty paper stars), I’ve made a video tutorial…
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Mothering the Mother
Mothering the Mother – honouring stillness with kindness A guest post by Charlotte Edun Birth Coach, The Good Birth Practice Life before motherhood Stillness is one of the hardest skills for many new mothers to acquire. We spend so much of our 20s & early 30s in a dash through life. Accruing new experiences, new…
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Fathers Day – thank you Dad
A Fathers Day Salute to my Dad Today’s post is a little different. I want to pay tribute to my dad in the run-up to fathers day, so I’m writing about why he is such a fantastic dad & grandad. My dad is always there My father is a quiet man. A man of…
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What mums REALLY want for Mothers Day
Mothers day (in the UK) is the 4th Sunday in Lent and a day that causes children (including grown-up children!) and husbands to wrack their brains wondering exactly what mums really want for mothers day… While flowers, chocolates and breakfast in bed are all lovely to receive (and a day at the spa is even…
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Sympathy Messages: What to write in a condolence card
The hardest card to write is a condolence card. What do you say when someone loses a loved one? Sympathy messages can be a real struggle to word correctly, but while you may find it difficult, it is still important to do. Of course, nothing you can say will take away the pain of loss…
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5 ways to display & organise your washi tape collection
How to display and organise your washi tape collection Washi tape is addictive. Fact. And as your collection starts to grow, it becomes harder to store and organise your washi tape collection. Luckily, washi tape is also seriously pretty, so you don’t have to try and hide it away. In fact, it can become part…
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Valentine Origami Cupid’s Arrow Tutorial
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s day or Galentine’s day, these cute DIY Valentine origami cupid’s arrows are perfect to send to your friends or your love. Follow along with the video below to make them. What you need to make a Valentine origami Cupid’s arrow a toothpick a square of 7.5cm square red or pink paper…
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Why everyone should celebrate Galentines day
Have you heard of Galentines day? I can’t believe I only just found out about it and it’s absolutely the best idea ever! So in case you’re as clueless as I was, here’s the low-down… What exactly is Galentines day? Galentines day was created by Leslie Knope. It takes place on February 13th (the day…
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5 reasons why women love stationery so much
I can’t deny I love stationery. That’s why I started The Paperdashery. For me (and I suspect for you too), stationery evokes an emotional response. It’s something we can’t control. Social psychologist Elle Boag agrees: “There is something about a new pen, notebook etc that makes many adults quite emotional. The smell and cleanness of…
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How to write a thank you note like a boss
I was brought up to always send thanks for gifts and kindnesses. I know it makes my day when I receive a proper thank you note through my letter box. Of course a text, or email of thanks is lovely to receive too, but nothing beats a handwritten note. So how do you write a…
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How to wrap an odd shaped gift: 4 easy solutions
One thing we’re often asked (especially at this time of year) is how to wrap an odd shaped gift. Well, the easy answer is to pop it in a gift bag with some tissue paper, but of course that’s not always the best solution… You may not have a gift bag to hand (and it’s…
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10 creative Christmas gift wrapping ideas to wow your friends!
It’s easy to get stuck in a gift-wrap rut, using the same papers and technique every time, making the job monotonous and dreary. However, we have 10 fantastic creative Christmas gift wrapping ideas to share with you today which will keep the task fresh and exciting! 10 creative Christmas gift wrapping ideas to wow your…
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Super simple washi tape DIY Christmas card
Do your kids love to make a different kind of DIY Christmas card each year? Do you struggle to come up with new ideas that will be simple enough for them to make without getting frustrated? Well, you needn’t worry, as this year we are joining lots of amazing bloggers in sharing their kid-made Christmas…
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Mini DIY pick up sticks game
This mini DIY pick up sticks game is so easy and quick to make using just toothpicks and washi tape. It’s great to take on holiday because it’s travel sized and would make a cute handmade stocking filler. What you need to make a mini DIY pick up sticks game A box of toothpicks Some…
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The cutest mini washi tape pumpkins
This week has been super busy, but we’ve still found time to make these easy peasy pretty washi tape pumpkins. What you need to make mini washi tape pumpkins: mini pumpkins (these are called munchkins) matt paint (we used a Farrow & Ball test pot, but chalk paint would also work brilliantly) a paintbrush assorted…
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Seven spooktacular washi tape Halloween ideas
Take a look at these 7 fantastic washi tape Halloween ideas! There are ideas for home decorations, cards, trick or treat and kids’ crafts. They all look gorgeous and are low-mess, because they use washi tape! Seven spooktacular washi tape Halloween ideas Washi tape pumpkins from Lil Luna Halloween treat bags from Rosyscription Masking tape…
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Washi tape spider web easy Halloween craft
Washi tape spider web Today we have an incredibly simple Halloween craft idea for you. The great thing about using washi tape for Halloween decorations is that you can completely transform your home without damaging anything. This is because washi tape is removable and can be repositioned multiple times. To make this washi tape spider…
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Origami samurai helmet tutorial
Origami samurai helmet tutorial Today’s origami samurai helmet tutorial was inspired by a film. Last week we saw Kubo and the Two Strings at the cinema. Kubo is a magical film with a great story. I particularly enjoyed the way the film included origami in the animation. Origami characters and figures are used beautifully to…
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Sending love in a little paper envelope
I’m so excited to introduce today’s guest-poster: Mary Badass Happy Life Coach from the Supercharged Club (an incredibly supportive network of amazing women). You can join Mary and the Supercharged Club at their next Sunday of Wonder event on the 18th September. Today Mary is sharing her genuine love of snail mail and the emotions…
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What to say to a new mum (and what not to)!
Today I’m thrilled to have blogger, crafter and mum Megan from Seek My Scribbles guest-posting at The Paperdashery today (take a look at her gorgeous baby scrapbook)! Megan has some super advice about what to say to a new mum and (more importantly), what NOT to say. If you’re struggling with what to write in…
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Paper cutting for absolute beginners
Paper cutting for absolute beginners by Paper Scissors Rock I’m delighted to have super-talented paper cutter, Sam from Paper Scissors Rock guest-posting at The Paperdashery about paper cutting. Just take a look at her amazing skills below… Wow! Trial & error… This is by no means a ‘how to’ guide. Paper cutting, like all other…
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Washi tape envelope art
One of my wonderful postcard penpals, Helga (@loveualatte on Instagram) totally inspired me with her easy washi tape envelope art. She very kindly gave me permission to share it with you here. Thanks Helga! Of course it looks great on happy mail, but would work equally well for scrapbooking or embellishments. Easy washi tape envelope…
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Get happy with happy mail!
Get happy with happy mail! There’s a reason why The Paperdashery’s tagline is “send happiness…” We truly believe that happy mail can uplift, encourage and motivate people. We love sending happy mail just as much as receiving it! It is wonderful to hear that our happy mail has been received and that it has made…
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Mail tag for kids with free printable
Mail tag for kids free printable We made a mail tag for kids! Simply click on the image below to download the free printable. This printable is A4 size, but resizes and prints best to A5. Have your kids caught the snail mail bug? Mail tag is a fun, easy way for kids to find…
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Fathers day cards at The Paperdashery
Fathers day is next month (HOW is this year almost halfway through already?)! We’ve hand picked the best cards for you to choose from for your dad, or to let your little ones pick for their daddy. Which of these best suits your dad..? Awesome Fathers day cards at The Paperdashery Clockwise from top left:…
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Monthly Happy Mail Box feedback
Happy mail box subscribers tell us what they think… Our happy mail subscription box has been available since February and of course we asked our subscribers for feedback to let us know what they think of the boxes they have received so far. Here is what they said… Monthly Happy Mail Box feedback from customers:…
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What our customers are saying about The Paperdashery…
What our customers think of The Paperdashery The Paperdashery customers are the best! When we asked you for customer feedback, you gave us the most fabulous responses. You can take a look at them here. Thank you! And if you have any feedback (good or bad!), please contact us – we love to hear from…
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How to make an origami hummingbird
Origami Hummingbird Tutorial Earlier this week I learnt how to make this gorgeous paper origami hummingbird by following a video tutorial by Trahu DIY. YouTube is great for learning how to make new origami models – I find it so much easier to follow along by watching a step-by-step video than trying to figure out…
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Four fantastic ways to use colourful tape!
Colourful tape: 4 fabulous ideas Do you love bright colourful tape, but wonder how to use it..? Don’t worry – the ideas are endless! We love discovering new ways to use our lovely washi tapes. Here are four more fantastic ideas to inspire you. Jazz up some clothes pegs with colourful tape and use them…
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NEW flamingo stationery!
Gorgeous NEW flamingo stationery! We are slightly obsessed with flamingo stationery (and flamingos in general actually)! These absurd, yet wonderful pink birds simply make us smile… Our flamingo notebook is great for to-do lists and flamingo washi tape makes happy mail even happier! Plus our ‘super mum’ flamingo card is perfect to send to a…
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How to be kind: simple ways to spread happiness…
How to be kind Don’t you just love small kindnesses? I love it when someone makes me a cup of tea, tells me they think my shoes are awesome, or offers me their magazine on the train. Those small things can turn a pretty mediocre day into a good one. And if you’re having a…
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Snail Mail Journal
Snail Mail Journal I am in love with this gorgeous snail mail journal idea from Naoko (Japan-based creative happy-mailer @writes_sends) on Instagram… She says: “My hobonichi [planner] is now the snailmail journal. I keep a record of the incoming mails and put some little bits from my penpals. Love it to fill the pages with…
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National Card and Letter Writing Month (USA)
April is national card and letter writing month in the USA and to celebrate, Amanda from @writingaletter is planning to send a letter every day for the whole month! Do follow her on Instagram if you don’t already. Join in with letter writing month If you’d like to be in with a chance of receiving…
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Mail Tag Free Printable
Mail tag free printable 3 Simply click on the image above to download the A4 printable (with 4x A6 mail tag sheets). Trim and slip one of these inside your next piece of happy mail. Or include two – one completed by you and a blank one for your penpal to complete and return… To…
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How to make Easter origami egg cups
These Easter origami egg cups are super simple and quick to make! To make Easter origami egg cups, you will need: A square piece of paper 15cm x 15cm (it looks best if the paper is a different colour on each side) How to make Easter origami egg cups: Simply follow along with the video…
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Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt
What is the Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt? I first heard about the Secret Penpal Scavenger Hunt when my snail mail and Facebook friend Ines from To The Lovely very kindly tagged me on this Instagram post by @snailmaillove, calling for participants in the next round-robin secret penpal swap organised by the wonderful Fab from Snail…
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Birthday greetings and quotes
What do you write in a birthday card? Birthday greetings can be difficult if it’s for someone you don’t know very well, so here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing… Quotes: “It takes a long time to become young.” Pablo Picasso “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is…
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Free printable mothers day gift coupons
Simply download, print, fold and staple these free mothers day gift coupons into a little booklet, then tuck it into one of our lovely mothers day cards – easy! You will need: This free (for personal use) printable document A printer A4 paper or thin card A paper trimmer (or good scissors and a steady…
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Pop up scrapbook waterfall tutorial
Today I’m delighted to welcome guest-poster Jenny Koovakada to show us how to make a paper scrapbook waterfall. This gives a fantastic pop up effect on happy mail and scrapbooks. Over to Jenny… To make a pop up scrapbook waterfall, you will need: a small rectangular piece of card measuring 1×4.5” (2.5×11.5cm) 4 square pieces…
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Awesome snail mail Instagram accounts to follow
Awesome snail mail Instagram accounts to follow Instagram is our favourite form of social media. We follow most gorgeous and inspirational snail mail accounts and the images they post make us want to send better, more beautiful, happy mail! We’ve put together a list of some of our best-loved Instagram accounts below, along with their…
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What is mail tag? (plus free printables)
What is mail tag? Mail tag is a fun game played between pen pals to learn more about each other. We first learned about it through Bianca Jagoe’s Mail Tag website (where she has some gorgeous illustrated mail tag printables, plus a random request generator – check it out!). This is her definition of ‘what…
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5 charming Valentine messages to write in a card
Inspiration for charming Valentine messages 1. Say what you mean and mean what you say Stuck for ideas for Valentine messages? Make sure you write something genuine. They don’t have to be your own words, but make sure the note or quote is relevant and sincere. If you’ve just started dating, keep it light, with…
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10 fabulous washi tape ideas
Today we’re featuring 10 of the most fabulous washi tape ideas from clever bloggers and creatives (check out the links in brackets after each idea to see the full post and tutorial for each one)… And if you’re not sure what washi tape is, you can find out here. 10 fabulous washi tape ideas Use…
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What is washi tape?
Here at The Paperdashery, we stock our favourite, quality brand of Masté washi tapes in all kinds of bright colours and beautiful patterns, but we are often asked… So, what is washi tape? Well, Wikipedia tells us that “The word “washi” comes from wa ‘Japanese’ and shi ‘paper’, and the term is used to describe…
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Ten tips for wrapping presents at Christmas
Do you enjoy wrapping presents at Christmas time? Here at The Paperdashery, it’s one of our favourite things to do and gets us feeling all festive and sparkly! BUT, we understand that not all of you feel the same way and we’re more than happy to do your gift wrapping for you. If you want…
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Christmas gift ideas for a stationery addict
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? It can seem a little overwhelming at times, can’t it..? That’s why we like to start early!
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20 awesome things to put into snail mail
Want to know the secret of fantastic snail mail..? ..it’s the little extras! Be they bought, drawn, folded or cut and pasted, everyone loves to open a letter and have something fall out of it. It is so exciting to receive some happy mail with a special something inside.
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How to write an awesome first letter to your penpal
Yay! We are lucky enough to have guest poster & happy-mailer extraordinaire, Ines Hristova from To The Lovely here to share her ideas, tips & inspiration for how to write an awesome first letter to your penpal…
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DIY Washi Tape Aperture Greeting Card
We just adore these mini aperture cards which can be personalised with washi tape – each pack contains three cards – choose from thank you, happy birthday or star…
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Mini Washi Tape Bunting
One of our favourite ideas is mini washi tape bunting (and it’s super easy to make)…
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Washi Tape Jam Jar Vases
Q: What the heck do I do with washi tape anyway?! A: Well, the possibilities are endless (truly!), but over the next few months I would like to share some of my favourite ideas with you, starting with a super simple washi tape jam jar vase. This is perfect for brightening up a windowsill or…
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