Why Keep a Journal?
Author: Wes | Filed under: FREE Stationery, Training Monday Jul 14,2008Why keep a journal or a diary? Here are just a few of the many advantages and benefits.
Whether you write a few lines or a couple of pages, only through journaling do you record and track both the events and the emotions you felt during your life. Let’s face it, you can only remember so much and you forget so much more. With your journal or diary, you can actually see what you were thinking at that moment in time because your thoughts and experiences are right there to jog your memory. When you commit to writing down the events and your emotional feelings, you have put your thoughts, emotions and experiences into a solid reference form… something that will tell your generations to come who you really were and how you felt.
Below are some more examples of the benefits of keeping a journal.
Journaling reduces stress – Journaling is a proven outlet for the thing in life that cause us stress. The true benefit of getting it all out of us and onto our stationery is that of reducing the stress. Once you’ve tried journaling life’s stressful events, you don’t carry as much with you on your shoulders or within you. It is on the paper stationery or in the digital computer stationeries. By journaling, you give yourself a very powerful form of self-expression, and you’ll find that it’s through that expression you find clarity, release, and your calm.
Journaling to set goals and problem resolutions – As humans, it is only as we put our words on stationery paper in physical form that we begin to finally see and to better understand what it is that we truly want. Then, and only then, do we see what is most important to us, and how we really feel about things in our lives. Journaling is one method to help us do that. Once you can get your thoughts, ideas and plans down on paper, it’s easy to create your goals and find the resolutions to your problems at hand. Then, it’s simple to support what you are thinking by writing about what you need to do.
Journaling to organize our messy lives – We talked above about journaling your goals and putting in writing what you want to accomplish for the day, the month, the year, or within your lifetime. This is also an excellent tool to help you get all those things done. Simply create a personal checklist on a clean page of “things to do.” Be sure and place deadlines next to them… it helps us accomplish more with less wasted time.
Journaling helps keep our focus – You’ll find that the act of writing in a journal creates more personal awareness of both our feelings and everything we have going on around us. This increased awareness is what keeps your focus on the issues and tasks that are most important to you.
Journaling as a time for just you – Spending time that you set aside for yourself to journal is quality ME TIME! Everyone needs a little time to themselves, especially busy moms and dads. Taking just a few minutes a day to add to your journal can make you feel better by gaining the benefit you feel from doing something specifically for yourself.
The simple journaling process:
You can start your journal on any day of the year, it doesn’t have to be the beginning of the week either. Journaling is something you can start today – the sooner you start, the fewer the memories and emotions you have to lose. You can always stop tomorrow and pick up again next week or next year. You can start and stop as often as you want. You can skip a day at any time… It is your journal. But, it takes 21 to 30 days to make a habit, so you may want to block off just 10 minutes each day, maybe just before bed, for the next month and commit to recording your daily thoughts and feelings.
Journal entries should record the day, date and year, tracking your life. When keeping your personal journal, you’ll want to record as many of your experiences, dreams, ideas, desires, thoughts and more each day as you can find the words for. You’ll find it’s a great tool for reflecting on now, as well as in the future. You are telling your life’s story to yourself. Don’t miss any of the good stuff 
You’ll soon find that your journal has become one of your most treasured keepsakes. Just add a few photos and you know have a written life’s story scrapbook. After all, your journal is a catalog of your memories and feelings. Over not too much time, your memories become an irreplaceable treasure trove that can be passed on years from now, if you wish, to your children or others you want to know who you truly are.
Don’t forget that Journals are also great gifts for friends, and especially for close family. So, if you’ve never journaled before, consider starting. If you have journaled, but gave it up, look back on what you used to accomplish and consider starting a journal again. Even if your handwriting is no longer legible, digital stationery journals are the next best thing… and the digital stationery pages can be printed on your printer in as many copies as you need.
About the author:
Wes Waddell is a father of two, grandfather of 5 and owns www.Free-Stationery.com and it’s parent site www.1-Computer-Stationery.com. Hundreds of FREE Stationery templates in multiple formats along with FREE Training on how to create your own custom digital stationeries usine FREE Software.
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Kids Entertainment Ideas For Summer
Author: kwaddell | Filed under: Training, Uncategorized Friday Jul 11,2008I loved this idea so much! I just had to spread the word.
Kids Build Their Own Websites!!!
I know that every summer it’s trouble keeping your kids entertained. Yea, they’re happy as can be for the first couple of weeks… then the complaining starts and soon, you’re at your wits end.
Well, here’s an idea that can keep them occupied for hours a day, all summer long.
Get the full details right where I found them on the BLOG:
Details on getting your kids their own website.
More tips as I find them…
Kathy and Wes
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Be Safe Online… Special Report!
Author: kwaddell | Filed under: Training Wednesday May 7,2008Dear Free Stationery User,
We get several inquiries a year asking if it’s really safe to purchase online…
It’s about time someone did this!
Allow me to explain, I’ll make it real quick.
My web-business is a new proud member of a company called HONESTe-Online.
The president of this company, Jim Sweeney, has just written and released a brand-new e-book titled, “Be Safe Online.”
It teaches consumers highly-unique tips, tricks and secrets to be safe, smart and secure while shopping on
the “Wild, Wild, Web.”
Kathy and I really are thrilled to be able to give you a “FREE” copy today!
This is a “quick read” written in step-by-step format containing some of the best tips you’ll ever discover.
And the graphics are REALLY cute too.
I promise you’ve NEVER seen anything like this before.
Give it a read. It’ll take you about 5 minutes and you’ll instantly feel safer, smarter and much more secure when you choose to do business on the ‘Internet.’
Grab your copy right here:
http://www.princesscrafts.com/be_safe/
Happy Scrappin’,
Kathy and Wes
PrincessCrafts
www.EZScrapbookGuide.com
www.MyPrincessCrafts.com
www.ComputerScrapbookTraining.com
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the new weekly FREE Stationery downloads at: www.Free-Stationery.com
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Kids Summer Camp Stationery Kit
Author: kwaddell | Filed under: Training Thursday Apr 10,2008Author: Wes Waddell
Here’s a great idea for your kids heading off to camp this summer. How about sending them on their way with their own colorful personalized digital stationery kit and a book of stamps? Now it’s easy for them to write you and all their friends.
How can digital stationery help? Easy… you create the designs or use one from any “Free Stationery” download website, you customize the design with their name and address and then simply print the blank pages on your printer. You can even create a supply of matching envelopes with matching designs.
How cool is that?
The best part is that it’s only pennies a page and no one there will have anything like it. You might even send along a few totally blank pages with no name or address so that they can share with their cabin or bunk mates.
Here’s the complete package. Before it’s time to head for summer camp, help each of your children choose a free stationery design from one of the computer stationery websites or if you are good with your computer… help them design their own. Either way, make sure to put their name and address on the stationery (kind of like a business letter does) so that if it gets missplaced it can find it’s way back home easily.
If you want, you can also custom design envelopes to match. No matter what, make sure you preaddress the envelopes with your home address and a couple with addresses from any freinds or family they want to write to while they are gone. That way, you know that they won’t forget an address or make a typo that sends it to the wrong address.
Now, simply pack it all away in a sturdy zip-lock bag with a couple of pens or pencils, and first-class postage stamps. If you followed the suggestions above to address the envelopes in advance, then there’s no need for an address book here that could get lost.
If you happen to drive your child to summer camp, find the camp store while you are there and let your children choose a few post cards of the camp to go with their digital stationery prints; that way they’ll be more likely to write a quick note to relatives and friends. Once the summer is over, any left over stationery can be given to new friends along with their eMail address, so they can keep in touch once they return home.
Encourage (not force) your kids to write to you at least a couple of times a week while at camp. Try and get them to fill you in on the weeks activities and new friends. DON”T throw those letters away after you read them! Save the letters in a bundle or even better yet, add them to a scrapbook with photos and brochure pieces. Then, you can give them to your children when they reach adulthood.
Digital cameras and memory cards are so cheap these days and can capture things that just can’t be put into words. Digital scrapbooks can also be made into real hardbound books that can be treasured for generations to come. The perfect combination to go with the digital stationery, digital camera and digital photos.
By making it easy for your kids to communicate with family and friends while away at summer camp, you also make the separation easier and the child less likely to get a case of the home sick blues. It also makes it easier on mom knowing that their child is safe, having a great time, but is thinking of her often.
About the author:
Wes Waddell is a father of two, grandfather of 5 and owns www.Free-Stationery.com and it’s parent site www.1-Computer-Stationery.com. Hundreds of FREE Stationery templates in multiple formats along with FREE Training on how to create your own custom digital stationeries usine FREE Software.
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FREE Printable Stationery
Author: Wes | Filed under: FREE Stationery, Training Sunday Mar 9,2008Title: FREE Printable Stationery
Author: Wes Waddell
Article:
FREE Printable and/or downloadable Stationery is nothing more than easy to use predesigned and formatted digital stationery that is readily available at no cost online. With just a little bit of how-to information and training, also provided on the best free-stationery sites, you are able to open or create your stationery right in your favorite word processor software. If you don’t happen to use eMail or word processing software, you can also simply use the downloadable designs (usually in PDF form) for printing through your home printer. That way, you can simply hand write your letters as if the stationery was the kind purchased at a retail or stationery store… it’s just a lot less expensive when you print it yourself.
FREE Digital Stationery is a quick simple solution to your custom stationery needs. All you need is a computer, eMail or wordprocessing software and a printer, preferably colored. The printer is optional if you will be sending your custom stationery letter by eMail or publishing it online.
A diverse range of free Printable Stationery is available with a quick search online. That includes photo calendars, letterheads, envelopes, greeting cards, wedding cards, stickers, bookmarks, labels, shopping list, recipe cards, computer scrapbook templates and even small gift-wrapping paper. There is even a special Printable Free-Stationery for children, which is based on themes like animals, birds, flower, nature, toys and cartoons. Best of all, there is no limit to the number of sheets you can download and print and you are never out of the custom stationery page you need since you are creating it yourself.
Custom Printable Stationery is really easy to create and print. Typically most any word processing, eMail and digital scrapbook software will work. Some of these programs are even available as a free downloads, so if you do not have the right software already on your computer, you can easily procure it without much hassle.
I do need to point out that some of the websites out there are for Printable Stationery only. This type of custom digital stationery is designed to be printed as a blank page on a specific paper size only. Sometimes you even must use their propriatary online software. This is fine if you are planning on hand writing your letter or card and always have online acccess to their website, but is of no use to those that wish to publish a newsletter or use the special fonts on your computer to write your letters and cards.
If you must, you can print it, then stick it back in your printer and use your word processor to print over top the page again, but that takes extra time and effort! My recommendation is to use the web sites that offer your custom stationery in multiple formats for download to your computer. That way you can use the free-stationery designs any way you choose. Again, the better sites will have clear instructions on how to use and print their products. The best ones will allow for these custom stationery files to be downloaded and will provide premade templates for the most common word processors as well.
By and large, there is a copyright and terms of use agreement posted on the website for you to comply with. Most will be for personal use only, but some will allow for commercial use with special permission. If you are not sure, just ask the owner.
To sum it all up…
There are a large number of sites on the Internet that are offering professional looking, beautifully designed, free custom downloadable and Printable digital stationery. On the other hand, some of the websites will charge you for using their stationery or for the add-on custom envelopes or address labels. In case you do not find the free stationery you like (doubtful that that will happen..) on the Internet, you can always go for paid designs. But, if you do need a totally custom design made for a special event or occasion, there are quite a number of designers and sites on the Internet who are more than happy to create the Printable Stationery of your dreams!
One last thought…
It’s not as hard as it sometimes looks to learn to use your own custom digital stationeries. The little bit of time that it takes to learn how to create your own one-of-a-kind letters, cards, scrapbook pages and even personal invitations will pay off in not only saved money, but in respect and lots of positive attention from family, friends and guests when they dote over your creativity and personal touches.
About the author:
Wes Waddell and FREE-Stationery.com provides 100s of FREE downloads along with detailed information on FREE Digital stationery, how-to training on creating your own personalized stationery, email stationery, free printable stationeries and more with free software. More FREE Stationery articles and information can also be found on our FREE-Stationery BLOG at: www.free-stationery.info
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Budget Wedding Invitations… and Stationery
Author: kwaddell | Filed under: Training Tuesday Feb 26,2008Budget Wedding Invitations… and Stationery
By: Wes Waddell
Ideally, wedding invitations should be mailed out 6-8 weeks before the big day to give guests time to make arrangements to attend and RSVP back to you.
The first step is to get organized. This is where a large tabbed file folder comes in especially handy! Begin by making a list of the people you just can’t stand to get married without them there. This will probably be mostly relatives and close friends. Ask your parents and the groom’s parents to provide you with a list of who they would like to invite. Make sure you have accurate addresses for all your invited guests.
One caution here: don’t think you HAVE to invite everyone you know. If you haven’t talked to your high school tennis partner since graduation, he or she probably doesn’t need to be invited. And don’t get all caught up in possibly offending someone by not inviting them to your wedding.
Often, people get sick of attending weddings for people they barely know or don’t keep in touch with. Unless you talk to them every week at least, chances are pretty good that they won’t give it a second thought when your invitation doesn’t arrive. Remember, you’re trying to save some money on your big day. Extra people means extra expense - cut corners here.
Once you have your guest list, you’ll have an idea of how many invitations you’ll need. Next, you’ll need to pick a design.
Wedding invitations shouldn’t be a big expense for you. Yes, when it’s delivered all pretty in its customized envelope and small tissue square inside, it can make an impression - for about a minute! Most people read it once, note the date, take out the RSVP card and throw the invite away. So why spend a lot on them? Remember, we’re trying to save money here!
The obvious thing to do with your invites is to create them yourself on your personal computer using FREE or inexpensive digital stationery. You can use Microsoft Word, OpenOffice or just about any desk top publisher (DTP) to create beautiful custom invitations that are ALL about you!
There are also inexpensive programs and websites out there specifically made for creating stationery, invitations and greeting cards. The best part about buying programs like this is being able to use it again after the wedding is over! I’ve used www.free-stationery.com and www.freescrapbooktraining.com/ (great selection of free photo greeting cards) time and again to save me when I need to print out a special occasion letter or card (Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation) at the last minute when I’ve lost track of the month or date!
You can easily buy heavy card stock at most any office supply or discount store. Consider some pre-designed FREE stationery which is also available at all over the Internet.
I don’t recommend pre-printed stationery if you are really trying to save money. There just aren’t as many to choose from and most of the really nice ones are almost as expensive as those you would have custom printed for your wedding. The digital stationery has taken over and have 1000s more designs to choose from for a real you kind of feeling.
Most inkjet printers today, especially the best ones with individual color ink tanks, can print on heavy card stock or card template paper at less than 5 cents a page.
Don’t have a good printer or just not really hyped up on using up all your printer’s ink on your wedding invitations? Not a problem… Take them to a specialized copy shop or office supply store. They can usually copy onto whatever paper you want (heavy card stock, pre-printed, etc.) and in color if you choose and your budget allows.
It’s still a lot less expensive than having custom wedding invitations made.
If you are really on a budget and one of the crafty and artistic types, you could also print out simple text of your invitation then use rubber stamps or embossing powder to decorate them. Keep in mind, though, the number of invitations you’ll need to embellish. If you’re looking at a few hundred, you could be up late nights just decorating all of them!
The traditional practice for wedding invitations is to put the invitation inside an envelope and then place that envelope inside another envelope. The budget conscious say: Why bother? One envelope is plenty and you’ll only need one stamp to mail if you use just the one.
If you’re doing your own invitations, check with some small local print or card shops for leftover envelopes they might have. You can buy these at hugely discounted prices. You may even get them free just to get them out of their store room. Don’t get freaked out if you have several different sizes or styles. How many people are going to compare wedding invitation envelope sizes before, during or even after the wedding? It will be our little secret 
If you need to have RSVP’s, consider putting it on a small postal size card. That way you eliminate an envelope and it adds to the convenience for your guests. All they have to do is fill it out and drop it in the mailbox. Of course, you’ll have to provide the stamp for this card.
Consider also printing reception information directly on the invitation itself. For an RSVP, provide a phone number and/or e-mail address for guests to respond to. Not only will this save you on postage, you’ll have all the information right there for your guests to refer to before the big day instead of them having to save a separate reception card.
You can use labels to print out addresses on your computer. We would suggest getting the clear labels as it just looks better. The most prominent label maker is Avery. Their website offers free templates to print out your labels, so you may want to check that out before struggling with a software program.
OpenOffice Suite (free from OpenOffice.org) and MS Word both come with most standard Avery templates built in. Just use the envelope page menus and you are all set.
If you don’t like the impersonal nature of address labels, by all means, address the envelopes personally by hand. You can get information about calligraphy online or just use your best handwriting!
Just remember, computers don’t have to be impersonal either. There are hundreds of calligraphy and hand writing fonts out there. A little searching on the web and you can even have your own handwriting made into a custom font.
Some brides don’t want the hassle of do-it-yourself invitations. We happened to have a friend who sold wedding invitations as a side business at an incredible cheap rate and she offered up a discounted rate as a wedding gift. We ended up with 300 invitations for just $60. Not everyone can be that lucky, however. Search for “home business online greeting cards” for the most savings and best service.
Finally, when it comes to wedding invitations, one of your largest expenses is going to be the postage. You really have no control over that unless you’re the Postmaster General and even then, I doubt it helps! You may want to hand deliver some invitations to save on postage. Especially to those that you see every day at work and in your neighborhood. I know I would prefer to have the bride or groom personally hand me their invitation.
It tells me I’m special to them and I know it’s saving them the cost of a stamp!
That’s it for now, hope we have given you some ideas that will save you some cash on your wedding invitations and stationery. There are lot’s more ideas coming, so check back often and be sure and subscribe to our RSS feed.
Happy Writtin’
Kathy and Wes
PrincessCrafts
www.MyPrincessCrafts.com
www.FREE-Stationery.com
www.FREE-Stationery.info
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