Reading Time: 3 minutes read

Looking to take your photo books to the next level? We’re thrilled to announce that Motif customers can now create layflat photo books in four different sizes. Each book begins with 20 pages and can expand up to 130 pages!

These specialized hardcover photo books lay flat when opened, which allows you to seamlessly flow your photos across a two-page spread. Experience your moments like never before with layflat photo books.

Optimal Viewing Experience

Picture this: You know that feeling when you can actually cradle your cherished memories, almost like a panoramic movie of your life right in your hands? Well, that’s the magic of a layflat photo book! It’s like stepping into a vivid journey, where your photos sprawl seamlessly across two pages, inviting you to relish every little detail of those beautiful moments.

Exceptional Paper Quality

Bring your memories to life in style! Our layflat photo books feature double-thick, pearl-textured paper that’s a delight to touch. It’s like giving your memories the VIP treatment. When you opt for a layflat photo book from Motif, you’re not just getting a book – you’re creating a precious family heirloom that will be cherished for years to come.

Durable Hardcover

Do you love our hardcover photo books? Well, our layflat photo books include the same durable, matte-finish image wrap cover that customers love in our best-selling hardcovers. Our layflat photo books are the epitome of sophistication that will endure the test of time.

Luxurious Presentation Box

Whether you’re giving or receiving, a layflat photo book from Motif is a guaranteed delight. Each layflat photo book comes packaged in a finely crafted presentation box, adding that extra “wow” factor. This chic white box is adorned with classy clear foil-stamping and includes a sophisticated black ribbon. 

A Timeless Treasure

Layflat photo books are ideal for celebrating all of life’s special moments. Craft one to remember your year, weave together heartwarming family memories, reminisce about your magical wedding day, or transport yourself back to that unforgettable trip of a lifetime. There’s no memory too grand or too small to fit into our layflat photo books.

Create Your Layflat Photo Book Now

Are you ready to get started creating your layflat photo book? Motif offers two ways to get started:

• Download Motif for Mac
• Download Motif for iPhone & iPad

The post Layflat Photo Books by Motif appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 6 minutes read

What are layflat photo books?

Layflat is a specialized technique that enables a book to lay flat when opened. The primary advantage of this binding style is its ability to facilitate a continuous flow of images across two pages, linked by a subtle crease in the middle. This configuration introduces novel creative possibilities, including the capacity to showcase broad panoramas or sizeable images that span across two pages. This type of hardcover photo book offers a seamless, immersive viewing experience. Ultimately, regardless of the type of photo, our layflat photo book is designed to perfectly accommodate and enhance your precious memories.

What is the difference between a photo book and a layflat photo book?

A layflat photo book sets itself apart from a standard photo book in a few key ways:

Binding: Unlike a traditional photo book where individual pages are glued into the binding, a layflat photo book utilizes one continuous sheet of paper folded at the center for each pair of facing pages. This unique process allows images to span across two pages seamlessly, providing an optimal platform for showcasing panoramic or landscape-oriented photos.

Page Quality: The pages in a layflat album are thicker compared to the flexible pages often found in standard photo books. This sturdier construction not only enhances the tactile experience, making browsing photos feel akin to exploring an art gallery, but also boosts the durability of the pages, making them less prone to tears.

Presentation: With the ability to lay flat when open, a layflat photo book provides a seamless, immersive viewing experience. This feature, combined with the continuity of images across the spread, amplifies the visual impact of your photos, adding a professional and artistic touch to your cherished memories.

What if I don’t have panoramic photos?

No worries! The term “panoramic” in reference to layflat photo books doesn’t mean you need specialized panoramic images taken with specific camera features. In this context, it simply suggests that any of your larger or landscape-oriented photos can be impressively displayed across two pages, thanks to the book’s seamless, flat-open design. You are not limited to using panoramic photos; any of your cherished images will be perfectly suitable for a layflat photo book.

Can your layflat photo books accommodate a large number of photos?

Absolutely! Despite the pages of our layflat photo books being thicker, they can actually accommodate up to 130 pages. This exceeds our standard hardcover photo book sizes by 10 pages, allowing ample room to showcase a significant number of your treasured photos.

Can you suggest the best use cases for layflat photo books?

Certainly! Layfalt photo books offer a wealth of possibilities for capturing and displaying your cherished memories:

Annual Recaps: Bring the story of your year into perspective with a layflat photo book. Chronicle everything from quiet days at home to far off adventures, from personal achievements to precious shared moments. The option to organize your photos chronologically with our Autofill feature, or to create thematic spreads, makes layflat photo books ideal for year-long journeys.

Family and Baby: Create timeless keepsakes by compiling your beloved family narratives into a layflat photo book. Celebrate everything from baby’s first steps to family reunions, with all the laughter, joy, and everyday moments in between. With its panoramic display and durable pages, a layflat photo book is the perfect medium for your family’s unique tapestry of memories.

Wedding and Engagement: Celebrate the joy and beauty of your wedding or engagement with a layflat photo book. From group shots and wide-angle ceremony captures, to intimate moments, our layflat photo books enhance the depth and feel of your photos. Relive your walk down the aisle, toasts to love, and festive dancing, page by page.

Vacation and Travel: Transport yourself back to the golden sunsets in Santorini, laughter-filled road trips, or the grandeur of the Grand Canyon with a layflat travel photo book. Our books beautifully display landscape and panoramic travel shots, and provide an excellent format to organize your photos by trip or location. Incorporate mementos, maps, or captions to fully recount the richness of your travel adventures.

Remember, these are merely suggestions. layflat photo books can enhance any photo story you wish to tell, and are an excellent way to make your memories tangible and shareable.

What cover type is included with a layflat photo book?

The layflat photo book features the same durable, matte-finish image wrap hardcover used for our standard hardcover photo books, ensuring it aligns with your existing collection. While a matching dust jacket or sleeve are not included, each layflat photo book is accompanied by a premium presentation box, providing an extra layer of protection and storage option for your layflat photo book. This continuity of design and attention to detail make our layflat photo books not only a perfect standalone piece but also a harmonious addition to your existing collection.

What type of paper is used for layflat photo books?

Layflat photo books are printed on double-thick, pearl-textured photographic paper, providing a luxurious feel and finish. This high-quality material ensures the vibrant, superior 4-color print reproduction of your photos. It also has impressive archival qualities and high aging resistance, ensuring your precious memories retain their luster for generations. The exceptional paper quality, combined with our 20+ years of craftsmanship and print expertise, promise a remarkable viewing experience that brings images to life.

Will the layflat photo books match the dimensions of my existing Motif books?

While our layflat photo books are slightly larger than our existing hardcover photo book sizes, the differences are minor and the layflat books will complement your existing collection beautifully. The sizes for the layflat photo books are designed to ensure optimal display and durability for your photos and will integrate nicely onto your bookshelf alongside your current Motif collection.

How durable is the binding of the layflat photo books?

The durability of our layflat photo books is one of our top priorities. We employ a binding technology that uses hotmelt glue, which guarantees a robust and long-lasting binding. This approach ensures:

Long shelf life: The book binding remains intact over extended periods.

Minimal waste: This technology allows for efficient use of materials, reducing waste.

No volatile organic compounds: Our binding process doesn’t emit harmful compounds into the environment.

Rapid drying and curing: The hotmelt glue dries and cures quickly, ensuring the binding is secure and ready for use in no time.

This gives your layflat photo book the resilience to withstand repeated use, preserving your precious memories for years to come.

Are layflat photo books more expensive than standard hardcover photo books?

While the cost of a layflat photo book is slightly higher than a standard hardcover photo book, it’s important to understand the additional value it offers. Layflat photo books are meticulously designed to showcase your images over a seamless spread, providing a panoramic view of your photos. The durability and elegance of our layflat books with their thicker pages and high-quality binding give them an artistic touch akin to gallery collections.

We also offer a range of book sizes and flexible page counts that allow you to manage the cost according to your budget. And even though the layflat books are a premium product, we assure you that our prices are competitive when compared to other offerings on the market.

What countries does Motif ship layflat photo books to?

Our layflat photo books are available for international shipping to 32 countries. For a full list of these countries click here.

The post Have Questions About Layflat? appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 2 minutes read

NEW YORK, NY – Motif, a leading provider of high-quality personalized photo books, is pleased to announce the extension of its photo book design options, now allowing users to create stunning 120-page hardcover books. This significant enhancement aims to provide customers with even more flexibility and creative freedom to showcase their cherished memories in beautiful print form.

Motif has been at the forefront of the photo book industry since its inception in 2018, empowering users to transform their digital photos into professionally designed albums. With the introduction of an additional 20 pages, customers can now further personalize their photo books, capturing and preserving even more moments in a single volume. The additional pages are exclusively available for 11 x 8.5” and 13 x 10” hardcover books, ensuring the utmost durability and elegance.

“Our mission at Motif is to enable our users to tell their unique stories through beautifully crafted photo books,” said Jim Simpson, General Manager of Mimeo Photos, which acquired Motif in the beginning of 2023. “Providing our customers with the opportunity to design even larger hardcover books allows them to create timeless reflections of their memories and experiences.”

To access the expanded photo book design options, users can download the user-friendly Motif app, available on the macOS and iOS App Stores. The Motif app offers a seamless and intuitive interface, guiding users through the design process with ease. With its recent expansion to 163 countries and standing as an Apple preferred partner for photo products, Motif has established itself as a global leader in personalized photo book creation.

Motif’s commitment to quality is evident throughout the production process. Each photo book is printed on premium paper and bound with the utmost care to ensure a finished product of exceptional craftsmanship. By providing a wide range of design options and customization features, Motif empowers users to create photo books that truly reflect their unique style and vision.

Motif’s expanded photo book design options, including the introduction of the 120-page hardcover books, reaffirm the company’s dedication to customer satisfaction and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of photo book creation. With this exciting enhancement, Motif continues to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for users worldwide, enabling them to transform their digital memories into tangible works of art.

To start designing your own personalized photo book with the expanded page options, download the Motif app from the macOS and iOS App Stores today.

The post Top Apple Photo Book Printer Motif Expands Page Limit on Large Format Books appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 1 minute read

All the photo books, calendars, and cards you love to make with Motif are now available to ship to almost every continent on the globe (Sorry, Antarctica)! 

After hearing from our users and friends all around the world, the Motif app is finally available for download in 163 countries. It is now easier than ever to share your memories with the people you love, no matter where they live. 

Plus, we now support 14 different currencies to make payment simple for everyone.

Send photo memories to your friends and family in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Brazil, and more directly from the Motif app you know and love. Let them know they can start making photo products now, too! 

Share this link to download Motif and start creating your next photo memories.

Here is the full list of countries where Motif is now available for download on the macOS and iOS app stores.

The post 130 More Countries Can Now Design and Ship Photo Products With Motif appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 1 minute read

If you’ve recently updated your macOS to version 3.7, you’ll notice a couple differences when you use the Motif app. 

As you may be aware, Motif was recently acquired by Mimeo Photos. That means Motif and Mimeo are working together to integrate our systems, and in doing so we’ve made some enhancements we think you’ll enjoy.

The first is that our checkout process is now even more streamlined than it previously was. Now, it takes far fewer clicks to go from project completion to order confirmation. 

The next improvement is that you can ship to many more countries than you could with the previous version of the Motif macOS app! It’s time to send that far-flung cousin the gorgeous family photo project you put so much love into.

That’s it for now, but if you have questions or comments, we welcome your feedback. Drop us a note by clicking here.

The post What’s New for Motif on macOS Version 3.7 appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 3 minutes read

Motif is officially a part of the Mimeo family of brands! 

Motif and Mimeo have been global strategic partners with Apple for over a decade, first as the photobook providers behind Apple’s iPhoto printing services and now as the top photobook product apps in the Apple Mac App Store. With this acquisition, we will continue the tradition of producing the highest quality photobooks and other photo products from the same facilities trusted by Apple.

We’ve separated ourselves from competitors and stood out as the top two photo printing apps in the app store for years. Our reputations as user-friendly apps, with powerful feature sets, premium product quality, and top-tier service distinguishes us as leaders in the space, making Motif a natural fit with Mimeo. 

Our values align in our dedication to the Apple customer base and ecosystem. With 90% of Mimeo users coming to us from Apple devices, and 100% of Motif’s, it’s a vital aspect of what we do in Mimeo Photos, and now, together with Motif.

What does this mean for Motif users?

You will continue to be able to design beautiful products on the Motif apps this year, yet every photobook, calendar, and card will be printed and shipped by Mimeo. 

Here are some of the changes you’ll see: as a part of Mimeo, you’ll see how our high quality materials will make a difference in each gift you make. And you’ll now be able to ship even more photo gifts across the globe with us, as one of the first global print on demand platforms.

In addition to the beautiful photobooks, calendars, and cards you’ve been designing, you’ll also be able to choose from Mimeo’s beautiful photo memory products, including wall and tabletop decor. As an added bonus, all of our photobooks come with a premium matte sleeve to ensure not just professional printing, but professional delivery. 

For those that utilize Motif’s image curation and AutoFlow technology, which automatically chooses and lays out the best photos for your photobooks, you will still be able to do so. But now you will also have the option to utilize Mimeo Photos’ advanced layout and design toolset. 

Mimeo quality products 

Mimeo has been in the printing industry for more than 20 years and our expertise is evident in the quality of our products. There’s a good reason why Apple chose Mimeo to produce their print products a decade ago. 

Anyone can say their products are “premium”, but we can prove it. For example, here is how we make our photo books:

• Book covers are produced with scuff proof Satin Laminate, which also deters marking 
• Matching dust jackets are printed on McCoy 80 Cover Gloss with a Satin UV coating to prevent image distortion. Plus, it offers a high degree of scuff resistance 
• Interior pages are made of Sappi McCot 65# Silk Cover, which has a silky smooth finish and feels luxurious 

Conclusion

Motif’s acquisition by Mimeo Photos will only make a positive impact on your photo product printing experience. You will now have even more options to design and ship stunning, professional-quality pieces to friends, family, clients, and yourself, no matter which device you use. Plus you’ll receive them quicker, no matter where in the world you are. 

We’re so excited to welcome you to Mimeo Photos and show you just how beautiful your memory gifts can be! See what else we have to offer at MimeoPhotos.com. 

The post What Motif’s Acquisition by Mimeo Means For You appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 6 minutes read

You might be thinking to yourself that it’s too late to be even thinking about making Christmas cards for this year. Well the good people at Motif would like to say you’ve still got time to create  custom holiday cards for friends, family, colleagues, your letter/parcel carrier, or anyone else you’d like to extend holiday wishes to. 

But what is the right Christmas greetings wording for your holiday card? Well, that depends on who you’re sending it to. In this story, you’ll find several suggestions for the various types of cards you could be sending. If one doesn’t quite work for your card you might be inspired by what we included to come up with your own.   

• Types of Christmas card messages
• Religious Christmas card messages
• Funny Christmas card messages
• Christmas greetings for family
• Romantic Christmas card messages
• Christmas wishes to your boss and colleagues
• Create custom Christmas cards with Motif

Types of Christmas card messages

The note you put in a Christmas card depends greatly on the type of card you’re making. The message you put in a holiday card to a friend from school will be completely different than one that’s addressed to a person who belongs to your place of worship. General Christmas card messages are ideal if you’re printing multiple copies of one photo card you’re making. Classic Christmas card messages like, “Happy Holidays from the Soandso family,” also work well for a mass appeal. If you’ve got a lot on your plate, Christmas card messages from 2021 will do in a pinch.

Here’s a few other types of Christmas card messages you might consider for this holiday season.    

Religious Christmas card messages

If your faith is important to you and your family, then sending a religious Christmas card is a great way to share a blessed message. Consider a favorite passage that captures the spirit of Christmas. Here’s a few options to use or modify for your card:     

• May God bless you and let this Christmas season bring comfort and happiness to you and your loved ones. 
• May God’s blessings be yours this Christmas.
• Hosanna and blessings to us all as we remember the birth of our Lord and savior. Happy Holidays.
• Rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior. May the blessings of Christ be upon you and your loved ones this season and into the New Year.

Funny Christmas card messages

Should you always look for the humor in every moment of your life, funny Christmas card messages are a perfect option to consider. 

• Knock, knock! Who’s there? Mary. Mary who? Mary Christmas!
• What goes “Oh, oh, oh”? Santa walking backwards
• Get out the stretchy pants! Christmas is here!
• “You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger.” – Robert Paul
• Christmas is a time for remembering family and trying to guess everyone’s sizes! Merry Christmas from our family to yours. 

Also, think about some favorite movie quotes from classics like Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story or Bad Santa. They might fit perfectly in your humorous holiday card. 

Christmas greetings for family

With the handy Motif photo app, making customizable holiday cards for just about everyone is easy. Sure, telling your family members how much you appreciate them during the holidays is easy enough, but taking the time to make a personalized card complete with your photos can really say so much more. It’s something they might even save as a memento or keepsake.  

• Thank you for sharing the holiday season with me and making it more special for me. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, my dear family.
• Merry Christmas to my sister! All the wonderful memories we’ve shared together still fill my heart with happiness.
• There is no greater gift this holiday season than spending time with family around the Christmas tree. 
• What can be better than opening presents, eating food and singing Christmas music? Doing all of them with family like you!

Romantic Christmas card messages

Again, Motif lets you easily create custom Christmas cards to that special someone in your life. The holidays can be stressful and a strategically worded Christmas card delivered right in the middle of it all can certainly bring calm to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Be sure to track down some mistletoe for the icing on that cake. Here’s a couple ideas to use or give you some inspiration for your own. 

• Merry Christmas my love. Sending all my love to you on this special occasion.
• Your love is the best Christmas gift for me. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.
• You’re still my favorite gift.
• You’re at the top of my Christmas wish list.
• I’m so lucky that I have you to meet under the mistletoe.
• Merry Christmas to the reason I feel merry and bright every day. I love you.
• You’re all the present I need.

Again, mistletoe. 

Christmas wishes to your boss and colleagues

It’s always a good idea to send a card to your boss and close work colleagues. They’re often the people you spend the most time with throughout the year. If you’re lucky enough to consider colleagues friends, there’s no better reason to wish them a happy holiday season. 

• Our team wouldn’t be the same without you. Merry Christmas!
• Happy holidays to a terrific mentor—looking forward to doing great work together in the New Year.
• I like seeing you at work– you add a bit of happiness to the place. Happy Holidays!
• Our team wouldn’t be the same without you. Merry Christmas!
• I definitely didn’t want this holiday season to pass by without me wishing you a Merry Christmas! P.S. I’m happy we’re on the same team!
• Merry Christmas to my co-worker. May your holiday season be as bright as you make our office.

Create custom Christmas cards with Motif

Now that you have a pretty good list of who you’re sending Christmas cards to, ideas of the messages you’d like to include, and the place you can make them, here’s how:

To create your custom thank you card, open Photos and then select the photo or memory you’d like to use in your card. Right click and choose Create, then Card, then Motif. Choose your card format, a fitting theme, then type your very own Christmas wishes to make it truly personal. Then sit back and reap the rewards of your holiday efforts. 

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post What to Write in Christmas Cards in 2022 appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 5 minutes read

Have you recently received a birthday, Christmas, graduation, wedding, or shower gift? Did you recently have a job interview? Were you a guest at someone’s house? Have your children’s teachers done an exceptional job this school year? Did someone do something really nice for you? Sending thank you cards to all of them would be a really nice thing to do. Sending someone a card doesn’t necessarily need a reason at all. Yet if there was a specific event, the proper timing of sending thank you notes isn’t always clear. This story will keep you in the know about sending thank you notes in a timely manner. 

• Are thank you cards necessary?
• How long is too long to wait to send a thank you note?
• Is it ever too late to send a thank you note?
• When to send wedding thank you cards
• When to send baby shower thank you cards
• Designing custom thank you cards with Motif

Are thank you cards necessary?

Will I get in trouble for not sending thank you cards? No. Will you find yourself getting fewer invitations to gatherings or events? Possibly. Will you see fewer gifts from other people? There’s a chance. But life isn’t always about getting presents and being invited to events. It’s important that we be thankful for what we get to experience and what we have. 

Saying thank you to someone in person, in a text or via a phone call is certainly sufficient, but it’s more personal to take the time to write and mail a note. Receiving something in the mail that isn’t a bill or a marketing piece is quite rare these days. Think about how you felt the last time you received a thank you card from someone.   

How long is too long to wait to send a thank you note?

There is no set rule for sending thank you cards generally speaking, but within a week or two is most expected. Beyond the two week window there’s a better chance of forgetting to send the card altogether. Beyond that point it becomes more of a feeling of guilt that you forgot and that it’s “too late” to send. 

Is it ever too late to send a thank you note?

As you ask yourself, “how long do I have to send thank you cards,” always remember that it’s never too late. We’re all human and forget or procrastinate. That can develop into a weight you may carry around with you. You might even find yourself avoiding those you owe a thank you card. Just know that it’s never too late. Thank you cards are a great way to come clean. Some might even find sending a card therapeutic. 

When to send wedding thank you cards

In regards to wedding gifts, some experts have said you have up to a year to send thank-you notes. However, that rule has been recently modified to one to three months of the wedding or receipt of the wedding gift. Should you receive wedding gifts before the ceremony, it’s good to send a thank you before. This lets the guest know their gift arrived and also lightens your card writing duties somewhat after your wedding. Think more enjoyment on the honeymoon. And if a guest did not bring a gift, send a thank you card anyway for attending. Especially if they had to travel to attend. 

When to send baby shower thank you cards

This guide depends greatly on whether or not the baby has been born yet. If the child is still in bump form, the parents-to-be might have more time to send thank you cards. In this case, send the cards out from a few days to a week after the shower. 

Once the baby has arrived, the new parents will obviously have quite a bit more on their plate. At that point sending thank you notes when you have a spare moment is acceptable. 

Designing custom thank you cards with Motif

So now that the “how long do I have to send thank you cards” question has been answered, we can answer the “where’s the best place to create custom thank you cards” question. Creating thank you notes or cards that say exactly what you want and are adorned with your own photos is super easy with Motif. Download the free Motif app to your Mac. Motif works within Apple Photos where all your photos already reside. 

To create your custom thank you card, open Photos and then select the photo or memory you’d like to use in your card. Right click and choose Create, then Card, then Motif. Choose your card format, a fitting theme, then type the thank you’s or well wishes in your own words to make it truly personal. 

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post When to Send Thank You Notes and Cards appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 5 minutes read

If you’ve ever had the privilege of changing the diaper of a baby boy, you might be confused by the subject of this post. To be clear, we’re not discussing those kinds of baby boy sprinkle mishaps.     

Actually, if this isn’t your first baby, you probably have a nice assortment of clothing and gear from your previous one or two. Maybe you’re picking out all your baby gear needs on your own. And maybe the idea of having a huge party when you’re really pregnant isn’t sitting well with you. If any of these apply, you might be thinking about a baby sprinkle shower instead of the usual baby shower. 

Quick Links

• What is a baby sprinkle?
• Baby sprinkle gift ideas
• Baby sprinkle games 
• Baby sprinkle ideas
• Capture memories with plenty of photographs
• Baby sprinkle invitations
• Creating personalized baby sprinkle invitations and baby shower invites with Motif

What is a baby sprinkle?

A baby sprinkle is basically an abbreviated baby shower. It still involves guests, gifts, food, and refreshments, but they’re in much smaller amounts than your typical shower. They’re gaining in popularity nationwide so don’t be surprised if you find a baby sprinkle party invitation in your mailbox soon. 

Baby sprinkle gift ideas

Baby sprinkle gifts tend to be smaller in value and often more practical. Items like wipes, diapers, bibs, and other popular toiletries make great gifts. Bringing a gift for the older sibling is a great way to make everyone feel appreciated. Diapers in general are never a bad idea to those with newborns. Parents will always be needing to eat between feedings, changings, and stealing moments of rest when possible, so a gift of some home cooked meals or food delivery service is also a great practical gift idea.  

Baby sprinkle games

With the first hour or so of your sprinkle going to chatting, eating, and opening a few gifts, games can easily fill the remaining time. Some popular games to try include guessing the celebrity baby from photographs, blindfolded diaper changing, playdoh baby making station, and pin the pacifier on the baby.

If you’re not a big game person but want something that can happen throughout the gathering, try games like “Don’t Say Baby.” Whoever goes the longest without saying “Baby” wins the prize. Have guests fill out cards that include parenting advice for the expecting parents. Even if they have one already, they might need advice on managing two or more. 

Baby sprinkle ideas

Choosing a theme for your baby sparkle shower might be as easy as a color. Baby girl sprinkle ideas in anything pink will do the trick. Baby boy sprinkle ideas in baby blue will certainly do. Whatever your color may be, baby sprinkle theme ideas can also be based on animals, or nursery rhymes, food, or even floral. One could even go with a cloud theme to match the “sprinkle” event. Decorations with rainbows and clouds are popular as are flowers and raindrops. 

Consider a hired venue if you’d rather not handle the cleanup or food and beverages. Outdoor events can be fun if the weather cooperates or a personal at home setting may all be considered.

Capture memories with plenty of photographs

Photographs, besides the sprinkle gifts and empty beverage containers, will be the one thing that lets you remember the fun event. So be sure there’s someone designated to take photos of your baby sprinkle. If not just one person, remind everyone to snap liberally and then create a shared folder for everyone to contribute to. Any one of them could be used to create a personalized thank you card. Companies like Motif make it easy. Putting them a good assortment together in a photo book makes a great piece to revisit the moment whenever you feel like it. 

Baby sprinkle invitations

Instead of buying invitations from a store, use any photo of your own like a pregnancy shot to create an invite for the event. You’d be surprised how easy it is. Your guests will be amazed at how customized you were able to make them. They might even save them. 

Creating personalized baby sprinkle invitations and baby shower invites with Motif

Using your very own photos of the family to be or even any of the baby bump photos you’ve taken, creating personalized invitations is easy. Download the free Motif app to your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Motif works within Apple Photos so there’s no real need to upload photos unless of course you’re getting them from a friend or family. You can try Motif for free. Make as many projects as you like to see how fun it can be. Buy what you like. 

On your Mac laptop or desktop, open Photos and select the photo or memory you’d like to create your sprinkle/shower invite with. Right-click or in the File menu select Create, then Card, and then Motif. 

On your iPhone/iPad, simply open the Motif app and then select New in the upper right corner, then choose the product Card.  

Motif then magically places your selected photo into your card format. Add whatever text you’d like including time and date of the event. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.  

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post Baby Sprinkle Shower Ideas appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Reading Time: 7 minutes read

If you or someone you know was asked and you or someone you know said yes, congratulations! Someone’s getting married! So at some point, there will be a wedding where friends, family and loved ones will gather to bear witness to this union. All those people are going to need to know where to be and when they should be there. Knowing what to write on a wedding invitation is the key to a proper wedding with real live guests in attendance.   

Quick Links

• What to include on wedding invitation
• When to send wedding invitations
• RSVPs on wedding invitations
• What should the wedding invitations look like
• How do you define the dress code for your wedding on the invitations 
• How soon should the wedding thank you card be sent out 
• What should not be included in a wedding invitation
• Do you need to give all guests a plus one
• Can you invite some guests to the reception only
• Create your wedding invitations with Motif

What to include on wedding invitation

The key to getting all those friends, family, and loved ones to your wedding is a properly worded wedding invitation. This is an invitation you check, double-check, and check again before printing. Because one wrong digit or direction could mean empty seats and a lot of leftover chicken and fish. 

In your invitation, be sure to include these basics:

• Bride and groom names 
• Wedding date and time 
• Location of ceremony and reception if held elsewhere.
• Attire requested

Should you want to add more info to your invite, do so with caution. We’ll cover more throughout this story.  

When to send wedding invitations

The answer to this question depends mostly on the location of the wedding. If it’s a local ceremony with a majority of the guests being local as well, invitations should be sent out 8 weeks before the wedding date. This gives your guests ample time to plan and rsvp for the event. 

However, if you’re planning a destination wedding, those invitations should be sent out 12 weeks before the wedding. A passport isn’t something that is created or renewed as quickly as we’d always like. 

Also, include a return address on the envelope. If their address is incorrect due to a move, you’ll get the invite back and you’ll know they didn’t receive it. Sure beats a, “I never heard about your wedding,” response.  

RSVPs on wedding invitations

What the heck does RSVP stand for anyway? Well, the abbreviation RSVP comes from the French phrase répondez s’il vous plaît, which means “please reply.” Typically, an RSVP is a separate card that’s mailed with the invitation that guests indicate their intent and then mail back. The invitation is something the guest retains as their reminder and for some a keepsake. 

Be sure to include an “RSVP by” date on your RSVP cards. When should RSVPs for the wedding be due? That “RSVP by” date should be at least two weeks before your wedding. Your caterer will need that much time to determine an accurate headcount. Include a pre-addressed envelope to mail the reply back. Some RSVPs can be done via email, a phone number, or online. Don’t forget to put a stamp on the return envelope. 

What should the wedding invitations look like

Since it’s your wedding, your wedding invitations should look like you want them to. However, whatever your design is, it’s important that whatever information you’re trying to convey is clearly visible. A really cool design that makes the date and time hard to read becomes very uncool to your potential guests. Companies like Motif let you print cards and include photos of your own like engagement photos. 

How do you define the dress code for your wedding on the invitations

Communicating the dress code for your wedding can be made by identifying the specific code or a range. For example, if it’s a casual attire ceremony, guests can look up casual wedding attire online and get a good idea of what that encompasses. If it’s black tie optional to semi-formal, your guests will know. Whatever the dress code, it should ultimately match the formalness of the bride and groom. 

How soon should wedding thank you cards be sent out

Ideally, wedding thank you cards should be sent within 3 months after getting home from your honeymoon for gifts received on your wedding day. If gifts were sent to you before your wedding, you have a two-week window. It’s just good manners to let them know you received your gift. 

What should not be included in a wedding invitation

Most experts agree putting registry info on your wedding invitation is a no-no. That can be included on an information insert or a wedding website. It also cannot be stressed enough that incorrect information should be avoided at all costs. So, proof those invites before printing.  

Do you need to give all guests a plus one

If cost is an issue you certainly don’t have to give every single guest a plus-one. The unmarried or not in a serious relationship are acceptable to extend a solo invite. Most people will understand that without “and guest” or another name on the invitation, they can’t bring a guest.

If you find that nearly everyone attending will be coupled up, you could extend a plus-one invitation to your few single friends and family members.

Can you invite some guests to the reception only

Intimate wedding ceremonies followed by a larger reception is becoming increasingly popular. That being said, keeping your ceremony guest list small and inviting additional guests to the reception only is acceptable. Your invitation wording should be clear so everyone knows what to expect.

Create your wedding invitations with Motif

With all this wedding invitation info, your personalized wedding invitations, save the date and thank you cards are only a click or tap away. Simply download the free Motif app to your Mac laptop/desktop, iPhone or iPad. You can start those cards without having to purchase anything. Buy your creation if you like. But by all means, please give this option a try.  

On your Mac laptop or desktop, open Photos and select the photo or memory you’d like to create your wedding invites with. Right-click or in the File menu select Create then the Card, and then Motif. 

On your iPhone/iPad, simply open the Motif app and then select New in the upper right corner, then choose the product Card.  

Motif then springs into motion and magically places all your photos into your selected card format. Then, customize it with text, color, themes, and patterns. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.  

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

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