Spring is here… finally! It’s time to open the windows, let the fresh air breeze through your house and listen to the birds chirping outside. No longer will we be hibernating inside — it’s time for the backyard BBQ’s to start with neighbors and friends, for yard games to come out of the garage and it’s definitely time to get the family out for walks and bike rides again! With all the fun that goes along with spring, there is household cleaning to be done, but don’t worry we have some creative ideas to make it more fun.

Let’s start at the refrigerator, your kids were pent up in a house all winter, so I’m guessing if your house is anything like mine, your fridge is covered in their artwork. You don’t want to throw it away because you know how proud of it they are as well as you want to remember their artistic stages. It starts with the scribbles then the shapes then people start to form and soon enough the whole family, pets and grandparents show up in each drawing. And, the best part, they always have to tell you the story that goes along with each picture. Who could throw this memory away or store it in a closet? Share those stories and artwork on a personalized note card! You can scan your child’s artwork or take a picture of it and put it on a card. We have great photo thank you cards and you can include a caption under the artwork. Either the child (artist) can write to his grandma or grandpa or to his cousins or whoever he chooses. Or the thank you cards can be for the parents to send to friends and family. You can write about what your artist was creating or just as a new way to say hi. It’s a fun and creative way to share your child’s artwork and to reminisce about all the stories that went along with it.

Now that you can see your fridge again, let’s move along to the computer desk. Now we know you had every intention to send every last personalized note card, but we know life happens and there are some note cards in the desk drawer with mismatched envelopes and address labels. Some that are torn or have random pen markings. Since it is spring, we suggest cleaning out all the old ones and either keep them for next winter or if they are ruined or say 2010, this is probably a good time to throw them away or use as scratch paper. With the new season comes new stationery! Personalize ones that make you want to sit outside on the steps and write a note to a friend or colleague. We have refreshing designs that will do just that!