Thank You Thursday - win Bic pens and an Nu Notebook *Now closed & the winner announced in the comments*

Hello!  Today is Thank You Thursday and I wanted to say thanks to you, to the people who read my posts, who leave me comments on them and who take a moment out of their day to visit my blog to see what's new.  I kind of thought no one would ever read this when I began so the fact I am still blogging about stationery, planners and planning three years later and that people are interested in it is pretty amazing to me!

Thank You Thursday

So to say thank you properly I am going to run another giveaway!  I like to be able to share the products I am sent with you instead of hoarding them, after all if you didn't read my posts I wouldn't be given anything to test and review in the first place! Today's prize is this A7 Nu: Elite jotter notebook and a selection of Bic Cristal Fun ballpoint pens.

Nu Notebook Elite and Bic Cristal Fun pens

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is tell me what you are thankful for!  Here are the rules:

• Tell me what you are thankful for.
• I will number the comments and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 7th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 8th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

World Stationery Day! Why writing matters to me...

Happy World Stationery Day!  I love the fact that there are people all over the world celebrating their love of stationery today, it is fantastic!    Are you doing anything special to mark the day?  I wrote a letter using my favourite pen and ink, decorated the envelope with washi tape and popped it into the postbox this morning and later on I will be testing some pens for reviews which is always fun.

World Stationery Day 2016

I wanted to spend some time today to tell you why I think writing matters, why it is important to me to encourage people to pick up a pen and use it, to make their mark.  When I was at school we learned how to write using a pencil, once that was mastered we moved onto cursive handwriting and then when our writing was neat enough we graduated onto a pen.  The day you got your pen was a big thing, it was an achievement and you felt proud.  I think the day I was given a pen at school was the day I fell in love with stationery a little and that love has grown over the years.  

Pen and paper

I think that one of the problems we have now is that more and more parts of our lives have become digital, work and play both involve computers, tablets and mobile phones.  There seems to be an app for everything and we don't even have to sign our names when we pay by card any more, it is all chip and pin or contactless payments.  I want people to pick up a pen and feel the joy of writing again!    

The right tools for the job

Nothing I can do on my iPad can compare with putting pen to paper when it comes to organising my life or recording memories.  Things just feel more permanent to me when they on paper instead of in an app or computer file. 

Finding a smooth writing pen, a pretty coloured ink or the perfect paper ignites a spark of creativity inside me that sitting in front of a computer never has, that is why I always plan my blog posts on paper before I start to write them on my laptop.  Holding a pen in my hand is the first step I take in many of my endeavours, the pen and paper inspire my imagination whether I am trying to create something or problem solving.  They are the tools I use, the foundation I start with and so far they have always gotten the job done!  

Why does writing matter to you?

My week #30

I love the quote "Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons" so when I saw these flamingo stamps in Lorabailora's summer 2015 collection along with the matching washi tape I was instantly drawn to them!  I ordered a few rolls of different washis from her including the selfie tape I used last week and a couple more you will be seeing soon.  They are really fun!   

My week #30

I hadn't really thought about colouring in my stamps before.  I joined a planner stamping group on Facebook a few weeks ago and saw other people doing it so I gave it a go this week and I like it.  It has given me a few ideas for my other stamps I haven't used in a while.  

Close up

Close up

I am such a big flamingo fan that this is one of my favourite necklaces from Jubly Umph, I like being able to match my jewellery to my planner pages and feeling coordinated.  It doesn't happen often!

Matching my jewellery to my pages

Products used this week:

Webster's Pages Colour Crush Planner in white

Webster's Pages week on two page inserts

Lorabailora washi tape - Flamingos

Lorabailora summer 2015 clear stamps

Annie's Paper Boutique Check It Off Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique At Home Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique School Days Planner Stamp Set

Annie's Paper Boutique Trendy Page Dots circle reinforcements

Memento Dew Drop Ink in rose bud

Kawaii Studios planner charm

Bic 2 Colours limited edition pen

Have a great week!