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Charity eCard Platform to offer Free Digital Greeting for Mother’s Day

Charity digital greeting card platform Hope Spring eCards today announced a special reminder, and special offer for people planning to send Mother’s Day greetings to their mothers digitally this year. 

In a recent blog post published on the organisation’s website, the platform highlighted that users can send Mother’s Day eCards free of charge by using a promotional code available for the occasion.

In the blog post, Hope Spring eCards explained: “Quite a number of the users of our platform are not aware that they can send eCards free of charge. Whether you are sending a birthday eCard or a Mother’s Day eCard, you can send it free of charge if you have a promo code. The promo code for this year’s Mother’s Day is mothersday2026.”

The reminder comes ahead of Mother’s Day celebrations, a period during which many people send greetings to mothers, grandmothers, and maternal figures. Digital greeting cards have grown in popularity in recent years as more people choose environmentally friendly and instant ways to send messages to loved ones.

Hope Spring eCards platform manager Mary Adeotan explained that while the platform encourages donations, the option to send cards without making a payment remains available through the promo code system. 

She told That's Christmas 365: “Our platform is actually free, but of course we would like users to make a donation because the funds support our charitable activities.

“Before we switched our system to one that made a donation mandatory, people could simply send an eCard without making any payment. After sending the eCard, they could then decide whether or not to make a donation.”

She further explained that the change to a mandatory payment system was introduced after the platform experienced significant issues with spams.

“Our system was swarmed with spam, and that was when our web developer advised us to introduce mandatory payment during the sending process,” Adeotan added. “At the same time, we created a promo code system so that people who genuinely wish to send eCards without making a donation can still do so.”

The developer’s recommendation also led to the creation of a dedicated free charity eCards page on the Hope Spring eCards website. The page lists promo codes that allow users to send eCards without making a donation, and these codes are available throughout the year.

The latest announcement about the Mother’s Day promo code is therefore intended to raise awareness among both existing users and new visitors that free options remain available.

Hope Spring eCards offers a wide variety of digital greeting cards for occasions including birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and seasonal celebrations. Users can personalise their eCards with messages and send them via email, Whatsapp, or through shareable links.

As Mother’s Day approaches, the organisation hopes the announcement will encourage more people to send messages of appreciation to their mothers while also raising awareness of the charity’s mission.

Hope Spring eCards is part of the broader activities of Hope Spring Water, a charity organisation focused on providing clean and safe water to communities in need in Africa. Donations made through the eCard platform contribute towards the charity’s water development projects.

https://www.hopespring.org.uk.

The Handmade Magic of Kathy Gagliardi’s Crochet Business

In a world of mass-produced decorations and factory-made gifts, there is something wonderfully special about handmade craftsmanship. 

Crochet artist Kathy Gagliardi has built a small but much-loved business creating handmade crochet items and patterns, proving that traditional skills still have a meaningful place in modern gifting and seasonal celebrations.

Kathy’s work centres around crochet, the timeless craft of creating textiles using yarn and a hook. Through her business, often associated with the name KJHDesigns, she creates a range of handmade pieces and crochet patterns admired by fellow crafters and customers alike. 

Her designs include elegant items such as shawls and blankets, along with other crocheted creations that showcase both creativity and technical skill.

Handcrafted businesses like Kathy’s are part of a wider revival of interest in traditional crafts. Crochet, knitting, quilting and sewing have seen a surge in popularity over the past decade as people rediscover the joy of making things by hand. For many customers, buying from a maker such as Kathy is about more than simply purchasing a product — it is about supporting an individual craftsperson and owning something unique.

From Yarn to Finished Gift

Crochet is a labour-intensive craft. Each item is made stitch by stitch, often taking many hours to complete depending on the complexity of the design. A single blanket or shawl may involve thousands of stitches and careful attention to pattern and tension.

Kathy’s designs demonstrate the artistic side of crochet. Patterns like shawls or decorative pieces highlight how yarn can be transformed into intricate textures and delicate shapes. These pieces often become heirloom gifts — something that can be treasured for years rather than used briefly and discarded.

For the Christmas season in particular, crochet items can play a beautiful role. Handmade blankets, shawls, ornaments and decorations all carry a warmth that factory-made items simply cannot replicate. They embody time, effort and care — qualities that align perfectly with the spirit of the festive season.

Why Handmade Matters at Christmas

The appeal of handcrafted gifts is especially strong at Christmas. Many people are actively looking for presents that feel thoughtful and personal rather than generic.

Crochet businesses like Kathy’s help meet that demand. A handmade piece might be given as:

A cosy winter shawl for a loved one

A soft crocheted blanket for a new baby

Decorative ornaments for the Christmas tree

Personalised handmade gifts for friends and family

Each item carries a story — not just of the person who receives it, but of the craftsperson who created it.

Supporting Small Craft Businesses

Small craft businesses are often run by individuals working from home studios, turning their passion for creativity into a livelihood. Purchasing from these makers helps sustain traditional skills and keeps handmade artistry alive.

For readers of That’s Christmas, businesses like Kathy Gagliardi’s are a reminder that Christmas doesn’t have to be about mass production. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones made slowly, carefully, and with genuine care.

In a season built around warmth, generosity and creativity, a handmade crochet gift captures the very essence of Christmas.

You can reach out to Kathy Gagliardi at https://www.facebook.com/gagliardi1957

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Ryman Has some lovely Easter Gifts, including these cute, exclusive pens

National stationery store Ryman (they also have a printing service and as an aside they printed my thesis several years ago!)  is stocking some really  cute, limited edition, Easter themed pens.

The Legami Lovely Friends Hoppy Easter Gel Pens, a fun, and adorable stationery product that is currently in high demand and available as a click & collect exclusive!

However please remember that these are a special limited edition Easter line so stocks are limited.

Legami Lovely Friends Hoppy Easter Gel Pens Pack of 2 – RRP = £6.99 (Limited Stock Click & Collect Exclusive)

To learn more about these and other Easter goodies and craft items (and printing services!) please visit https://www.ryman.co.uk to buy online and to find your nearest shop.

Fixing Before Replacing: How a New Tool Could Help Save Christmas

Everyone needs help sometimes

For many households, the festive season depends on a few hardworking appliances. 

The washing machine tackling piles of post-Christmas laundry, the oven roasting the turkey, or the dishwasher handling the aftermath of a big family meal. 

When one of those appliances fails, especially during the busy winter period, it can quickly turn festive plans into frustration.

A UK family-run retailer believes a new tool could help prevent that scenario by making it easier for people to repair appliances rather than replace them.

Spares2Repair, an appliance spare parts retailer based in Fareham, Hampshire, has launched a new AI-assisted chat tool called Fixit Fox Finder designed to help customers identify the exact spare part needed to repair household appliances.

The company says the biggest obstacle to successful repairs isn’t usually finding a replacement part — it’s correctly identifying the appliance model.

Why the Right Model Number Matters

Many appliances have very similar model numbers, often differing by just a single character or suffix. That small difference can indicate a different production run or internal configuration, meaning the wrong spare part may be ordered even when the appliance looks identical.

According to Spares2Repair, this confusion is one of the most common reasons DIY repairs fail.

Fixit Fox Finder aims to solve the problem by guiding users through the process of identifying their appliance model in simple language. If the model number plate is difficult to read, customers can upload a photograph of the rating plate or sticker. The tool then extracts key identifiers and checks them against the company’s internal model and parts catalogue.

Once the model variant has been confirmed, users can describe the fault, such as a washing machine that will not spin or a dishwasher that will not drain, and the tool highlights parts that are compatible with that specific appliance.

From Photo Search to AI Assistance

The new system builds on a previous tool launched by Spares2Repair in 2024 called Smart Search, which uses image-based optical character recognition (OCR) to identify appliance model numbers from photographs.

MD Thomas Broad said the company noticed a common pattern among customers trying to repair appliances outside normal business hours.

“People don’t plan for a washing machine to fail at 10pm,” Broad explained to Tat's Christmas 365.  “Customers often try to solve the problem with an incomplete model number and either order the wrong part or give up entirely.”

The new Fixit Fox Finder tool expands on that earlier technology by combining photo uploads, model verification and guided chat support to help customers move from identification to ordering the correct part.

Helping Households Keep Appliances Running

For households preparing for busy occasions like Christmas, when appliances often work their hardest — the ability to repair a machine quickly can make a big difference.

Spares2Repair says the tool is designed to be transparent about what it can and cannot do. While it can confirm whether a part is compatible with a specific appliance model, it does not guarantee a full diagnosis based solely on a description of the fault.

The tool is free to use and available without creating an account on the company’s website.

For families hoping to keep their kitchens and laundry rooms running smoothly, especially during the festive season, the ability to identify the right part quickly could help turn a potential holiday disaster into a straightforward repair.

You can find the app here spares2repair.co.uk

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New UK Energy App Launches as Wholesale Gas Prices Double - Helping Households Lock In Deals Before They Disappear

With many households even now already looking nervously toward next Christmas, with energy prices surging as ever, people are wondering how they'll be able to afford Christmas, let alone keeping the house warm and the family fed next winter.

However, there's good news on the horizon for UK households, because a new energy monitoring platform has launched to help UK households find and lock in better tariffs as wholesale gas prices surge and suppliers begin reviewing their fixed-rate deals.

EnergyScan (energyscan.co.uk) combines AI-powered bill analysis, whole-of-market tariff comparison, and smart meter data to track energy prices daily and alert users when a cheaper tariff becomes available.

The launch comes as wholesale gas prices briefly hit 151p per therm this week, following disruption to Qatari LNG production amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. 

Prices rose an eye-watering 93% in a week, reaching levels not seen since 2023. Analysts warn suppliers could begin withdrawing their cheapest fixed deals if wholesale volatility continues.

Households on standard variable tariffs are currently paying up to £1,758 per year under the Ofgem price cap. While the cap will fall to £1,568 from 1 April 2026, the calculation was made before the recent wholesale spike, meaning future caps could rise if prices remain elevated.

EnergyScan aims to simplify switching by analysing real household energy use rather than relying on estimated “typical consumption” figures often used by comparison sites.

Users upload or photograph their energy bill and the platform’s AI automatically extracts usage data, tariff details, unit rates, standing charges, exit fees and contract end dates. The system then compares the information with tariffs across the market in under a minute.

Subscribers receive alerts when a deal appears that would save them money after accounting for any exit fees. Those who connect their smart meter can also access an energy dashboard showing daily costs in pounds, bill forecasts, direct debit checks and tariff modelling based on real half-hourly usage data.

EnergyScan costs £29 per year, although a one-off bill comparison is available free of charge.

The company receives a flat commission of £20 per fuel (£40 for dual fuel) if a user switches supplier through the platform. The commission is disclosed during comparisons and does not vary between suppliers.

“Most comparison sites earn variable commissions that aren’t always transparent,” EnergyScan founder Steve Middleton told That's Christmas 365. 

“We charge a clear subscription and a fixed commission so our incentive is simply to keep finding customers better deals over time.”

EnergyScan is operated by SCM Digitech Limited. The platform uses tariff data from The Energy Shop and smart meter data from n3rgy Data Ltd through the UK’s national DCC network.

A free bill check is available at app.energyscan.co.uk/free-check.