You know what social calendars get like around Christmas - you can't move for office parties, school plays, carol concerts and family get-togethers.

It can be tough to organise a party but worth it in the end to see all of your lovely friends and family together at such a special time of year.

To make sure people are free when the time comes around, your best bet is to start planning now. The halfway point has passed and we're on the countdown to the festive season, so it's acceptable to begin planning your Christmas party, right?

Consider sending out save-the-date cards as you might for a wedding - it's a good way to get people to put it in their calendars, then you can send out party invitations a bit closer to the time to jog your invitees' memories. Think about whether you're up for hyped-up kids running around, or if you'd prefer a more refined and grown up affair, and invite as appropriate.

Christmas is in itself theme enough for a party, but if you really want to push the boat out, you could make your party a Great Gatsby themed Christmas soiree or implement a red and green dress code for your guests. Stay ahead of the game by stocking up on Christmas themed décor in the summer - you could find some real bargains while no-one else is looking for it. Check out eBay for big lots of Santa hats going cheap to add some festive cheer to your guests' outfits!

You can also start on creating décor if you have the time - think about options like paper chains (the more the better), fishbowls full of baubles, intricate paper cut snowflakes or bowls of green and red M&Ms, depending on your party's theme and guestlist.

At PuttyPrint, we offer a wide range of options for your Christmas Party Invitations, and you can customise our templates to create the Christmas party invitation you want. If you make it before 10am, it will even be dispatched the same day and we also offer free delivery - so you can crack on with organising straight away!