Storewide Sale

APEC Envelopes is having a Storewide Sale! 

Now through September 30th get 15% off your entire order at APEC

Offer cannot be combined with other coupons

Sale ends September 30th.

What are your Top 3 Pieces of Paper?

Imagine this. You have three minutes or less to pack. And there’s only one rule: Bring what you like, but only take 3 pieces of paper. In those few moments, what would you bring?

For some, the answer is clear. Pictures, homemade cards and autographs would fill the space. But for others, the practical essentials are a top priority. No matter your choice, the majority of Americans said these three pieces of paper were the most important.

What’s in the Bag?

Okay, so your bag might include a special photo, homemade card or art project. But what about other Americans, what three pieces of paper are they bringing, and how do you compare? A surveyed asked 1,000 U.S. adults about their favorite pieces of paper, and the results were interesting.

Responses ranged from medical records to important stock certificates. But there were a few common patterns.

Birth certificate
The majority of Americans wanted to bring their birth certificate. After all, this little piece of paper is required for the basics – like getting a driver’s license and securing a passport. The original purpose of birth certificates were tax related, and to determine the available military manpower. Rather than registering the certificates with the government, the documents were registered with churches until the 19^th century.

Marriage License
They also agreed that a marriage license is pretty important. Similar to the birth certificate, this document is sometimes needed for identification purposes, especially for females who elect to change their last name. The history of marriage licenses, however, wasn’t always so formal. For most of Western history, marriage was a private contract between two families. And until the 16^th century, many churches accepted a marriage based on two people saying they had exchanged vows – without any witnesses.

Do you know anyone getting married? APEC has great selections for your invitation needs!

Social security card
And finally, Americans said they aren’t leaving home without their social security card – which by the way didn’t even exist until 1936. The original purpose of the social security card was to track an individuals’ account within the Social Security program. But since its inception, social security numbers transitioned into a tax and identification role. Up until 1986, people didn’t even receive a social security number until age 14, since the numbers were used to track income.

What are your three most important pieces of paper? 
Are they official documents, like the ones listed above? Or would you take the less traveled road, and pack photos, diplomas or other keepsakes?
Please share by leaving a comment below. 

Also, have you signed up for our blog yet?
Simply click here! and you’ll receive fresh new ideas, conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Little Known Uses for Paper in Schools

The sun is still shining in most parts of the country. But for the 79 million U.S. students returning to school, those long summer days are quickly coming to an end. For parents, this means the lengthy and costly task of back to school shopping has arrived.

U.S. families spend nearly $7.4 billion on clothing and 2.2 billion on books during back to school shopping. In fact, a National Retail Federation report found that parents of K to 12 children shell out about $688.62 on back to school supplies, which is on the rise. Yet even with large technology advances in recent years, paper is still a staple on many back to school supply lists.

But how is this paper being used? And what are some paper items that you wouldn’t expect to find in the classroom? Read on to find out.

Writing abroad
Social studies classrooms across the nation are joining programs to connect students around the world. They develop friendships, learn about new cultures – and experience the daily life through the eyes of a child outside their everyday world, while using simple paper and envelopes.

Elementary mixology
 Water, glue and paper. These are the simple, yet powerful, ingredients that many children are experiencing for the very first time. Together, they allow children to create everything from dinosaur eggs, to hats – and even piggy banks.

Paper plate transformation
Paper plates have become a familiar canvas in many classrooms, carefully transforming a disposable household item into scary masks, animals and even holiday cards.

Paper cylinders, from the bathroom
 When purchasing toilet paper, the last thing you think about is that tiny cardboard roll ending up in the hands of students. But for many teachers, they’re a staple. These strong but basic items turn into butterflies, finger puppets and other unlikely crafts.

Are you prepared for back to school? 
What’s the strangest item on your shopping list this year? Please share by leaving a comment below.

 

Also, have you signed up for our blog yet? Simply click here and you’ll receive fresh new ideas, conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Stock up on APEC's Paper Sheet and Card Stock !