Cyber Monday Specials: Time to Order TODAY!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I stayed far, far away from the shops all weekend and enjoyed my shopping savings online instead.  Today, I am offering a few specials in honor of Cyber Monday…

Today Only, Receive 5 FREE holiday cards w/your holiday card order!  As long as you meet the minimum of 10 cards, no coupon code is needed, your 5 additional cards will be automatically added when you order before midnight tonight.

Also, save 15% today on all orders over $20!  Hurry and get your list together to place your holiday order today! To save, use the code: MONDAY

I have been receiving a lot of inquiries about timeframes for new orders.  This time of year is incredibly busy for me, so turnaround time is typically a little longer b/c I have more samples to work on, but I do log a lot of hours to ensure your holiday gifts get to you on time!

Photo card samples typically run close to schedule, with sample turnaround averaging 1-3 business days, and then you will need to allow several days for printing and shipping.

Stationery orders vary based upon what items you have ordered as well as large or small your orders are and the current volume of orders. As a general guideline, I advise you to allow a week for your order to be ready to ship—this could be much less, or a little more.

Happy Shopping—only 26 days left, yikes!!!

75 Days til Christmas…

I will be announcing a special soon for early bird shoppers. For now, here is a sneak peek of another holiday 2010 design soon to be added to the site!

Traditional Vs. Non-Traditional

CPCC offers a wide variety of holiday card designs to choose from, so you are sure to find something to suit your tastes.  I will begin adding designs from the holiday 2010 collection the first week of October.  Are you a traditional colors person or do you prefer non-traditional colors and designs?  (Personally, I like both!) Here is a look at a new design from the 2010 collection in both traditional and non-traditional colors:

Traditional Christmas Colors:

A Non-Traditional Twist:

Another Holiday Sneak Peek

Holiday Card Sneak Peek

90 days until Christmas!  Still preparing for the holiday 2010 card collection debut.  Here is a sneak peek of design I am loving—bright & fun, and an excellent choice to be printed on cardstock. (Also available on photo paper)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Showcasing my 3 handsome little men... ♥ these guys! Here are their 2010 valentines.

Hayden's valentines are photo bookmarks printing on linen cardstock with the rounded corner option. Such a fun, yet functional idea for valentines!



Cooper's valentines are doublesided flat cardstock, also in the linen cardstock and with the rounded corner option. Cardstock makes it simple to personalize as they can easily write names on these.


Parker's valentines are printed on traditional photo paper.

All 3 of the boys valentine's celebrations have been postponed due to snow days, so they will be passing theirs out this week.

Hope you have a super sweet Valentine's weekend! If you'd like to shop for some sweet items, use code FEB14 for 14% off any order until Monday morning.

More Valentines

We just battled another stomach bug here--we had a stomach bug come through in November, which was followed shortly after with bad colds (which for me meant a sinus infection of course!), and now we have spend the last 2 weeks cycling through another stomach bug, ugh! I hope this is not an indicator that 2010 is going to be one of those bad years at our house where we get sick a lot!

Now is the time to get your valentine orders in! (I had planned to have my done by now but this is yet another thing the sick-bug delayed, arghh!)

Last week, I shared photo bookmarks that make great valentines--I am planning to use them for my oldest son this year. I also offer traditional photo card valentines, which are available in cardstock or photo paper. Last year, I used cardstock for ours so that the boys could write on the cards. If you do not plan to write on them, you can also order the regular photo paper cards.




I also offer postcard valentines, which are printed on a thin white cardstock and you will find many designs to choose from.


And of course, I can create seals or labels to go with your valentines.

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours!

I finally got my own Christmas cards finished this week, and mailed the first batch out! I was really happy with how they came out. My card is a tri-fold panel card printed on linen cardstock. The photos just do not do it justice. This paper is gorgeous, and looks so beautiful with vintage type prints. Trifold cards have 6 panels, so they are perfect to showcase lots of photos--a nice choice for birth announcements or holiday cards. I will be offering trifold cards in 2010, and can adapt any design on the side to a trifold panel design.

This is the front of the card.

Inside panel

Full inside spread

Entire outside. (the middle here is the back of the card)

WINNER!!!

I just drew the winner for the 30 holiday cards, with the help of random.org.

Congrats to Peace, Love, & Applesauce, who was commenter #6 on my blog!

And... since we are getting close to holiday, rather than holding another giveaway BEFORE Christmas, I decided to choose an additional recipient! Since the first winner was a blog commenter, I drew from the Facebook entrants, and Shannon was the lucky number 2!

I have a busy week ahead--still lots of orders processing (and not too late to order!) as well as lots of baking and last minute details to attend to for the family here, so I probably won't have much to post. (I am FINALLY getting my Christmas cards this week though, so I will try to post a pic of those to share when they are done!)

Christmas Photo Card Giveaway!

You would think that I would have my Christmas cards done super early... not so much! Last year, I think was my record. Mainly because the "photo session" I did with my boys when surprisingly well & I got some great "card-worthy" shots on the first try. I tend to dread the annual Christmas card photo session, because I find that most of the time when I am trying to take pictures for a very specific purpose, I am inevitably disappointed, and the boys are...well, let's just say, less than cooperative! I have not even attempted photos yet... BUT, as a disclaimer, this is partly because I had picked out some custom shirts I wanted to have done for them to wear in the photos and there have been some unexpected delays with those. I prefer to have my photos first to serve as the inspiration for my card. Anyway-- I know there are plenty of others who are in the same boat, and if so, you are in luck! I am kicking off a Christmas card giveaway this week, so maybe this is just what you need to get your cards ready to mail! To enter, just leave a comment on my blog or on Facebook telling me which design you would choose if you win! *Just be sure I can contact you via your comment, or leave your email. Good luck!!!

Shop Cutie Pies Custom Creations for perfect teacher gifts!!

As many of you know, I used to be an elementary school teacher. I highly value the teachers in my childrens' lives...teachers have a huge impact on kids, and they spend a large part of the day with our bigger ones! Teaching takes a lot of patience, and a genuine love of kids, yet the job is still not often valued by the public. We have been blessed to have some wonderful teachers working with our boys.

Some of the first items I offered when I started this business were designed as ideal teacher gifts. The thought certainly always counts, but my line of teacher products provides gifts that will be put to great use!

Here are a few of my current favorite gift ideas for teachers...

I love the rainbow name pad collection. This one was designed especially for teachers/school staff with the red/green theme, but you can make yours in any color combination you'd like. The rainbow pastels & primaries work perfectly too!

These notecards make adorable gifts! Last year, my sons designed a different set for each teacher.


Stick kid stationery designs are always popular. I ♥ this design! Remember that these can be customized to suit. I like to make these cards with a quote at the bottom and name at the top. For our preschool teachers last year, for example, I personalized them with the quote "Preschool teachers love the little things in life."

Also keep in mind that you can customize other items that are not exclusively teacher products. This customer customized the Heart Message pads for her gifts, which came out so cute!



Monogrammed items are another popular teacher gift idea this year as are cute goodies like the owl stationery that work for anyone!

And, I also have cute notepads/cards for other teachers & staff too; everyone from secretaries to coaches to bus drivers!

Besides giving a gift that will be useful, these are also very affordable! Many more items available on the website. But, get your order in soon! It takes time to craft your personalized goodies and December is a very busy month here at Cutie Pies Custom Creations.

Custom Christmas Photo Card

This is a custom card I finished for a friend this week that came out so cute! I will be adding the design to the site when I have a minute.

Mini giveaway!

I *think* we are through the woods with that nasty virus we dealt with all last week. To celebrate being healthy again, and also to kick off some holiday cheer, I am doing a mini-giveaway on Facebook! Winner gets to choose their favorite holiday labels or gift tags--lots of new ones have been recently added, like the ones HERE. ALL Facebook fans are automatically entered, but you can also earn some very quick & easy extra entries...

1. Leave a comment on my Facebook page this week (Each comment is an additional entry!)
2. Refer a friend who becomes a fan of my page! (Each friend is an additional entry--just shoot me an email or message via FB to let me know the name of the friend you referred!)

Monogrammed Goodness!

These monogrammed circle cards make lovely gifts for anyone on your holiday list! Also available in other color combinations!



Also, if you missed the early bird discount deadline last night, just a little note that I have a very busy day & won't have time to expire the code until tonight....sooooo if you missed it, you still have a few hours left to take advantage! You must be a Facebook Fan or newsletter subscriber to take advantage--if you aren't, sign up today & send me an email to request the coupon code!

Happy Veteran's Day!

I hope all have taken a moment today to say thanks to these very special people. I read this quote online today & wanted to share because I thought it was beautiful:

A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for the amount "up to and including my life."

Also, a quick reminder that the 15% early bird discount for newsletter and Facebook followers ends tonight. If you are not already a fan or subscriber, you can still sign up & email me to let me know to get the code!

I am being featured!!

I am the featured business for November on Maryland Work At Home Mom website! Please take a minute to check out my feature HERE.

I have been adding lots of new holiday stationery (and some non-holiday goodies too) to the site. Don't forget if you are a fan on Facebook, you can get a 15% off code to use on holiday orders, but it expires on nov. 11th so you only have about a week to redeem!

Finally, my youngest son turns 3 on Saturday--I will be busy tomorrow and Saturday with his birthday preparations & festivities, so I may be a tad slower in responses these next few days.

Our November schedule is really filling up (family wise) so the sooner you can get your holiday order in, the better! By mid November I will be on a delayed holiday turnaround schedule

Letters From Santa...

I wanted to share a great little holiday idea, but I can't say too much, so I will just say that a friend of mine is like THIS with Santa, and she offers a cute holiday service for kids. It was a big hit at my house when we did it! You can check it out here:

More Holiday Chatter - Personalized Stationery & Photo Cards

I had some extra time over the rainy weekend to get more of the new designs for the holidays loaded to the website. Keep an eye on what's new as I finish getting everything added this month. If you are a newsletter subscriber, I will be sending out a holiday early bird discount soon. I am starting to feel a little panicked myself about Christmas already---as I mentioned before, I typically have all of my shopping done by now (for the most part) but I have just barely started, and at the rate that 2009 has been speeding by for me (I think EVERY month I find myself wondering where that month went!) it won't be long until Christmas is upon us! I will be out all day on Friday. I am attending a field trip with my oldest son and then we have a Halloween festivity that evening. There are so many holiday designs to choose from. I have not decided yet what I will be using for my own, though I have been working on pictures for them! I will be trying to showcase a card or two a week:

Holiday Designs Debut this week! Custom Photo Cards & Stationery

Most of my holiday photo cards will be added this week. I already added some of the new designs, but many more to go! Remember that you can change the wording on any card to make it your own.

I will be out most of the day on Thursday, so if you try to reach me, expect a delay in response time.

Holiday Card Preview

Sneak Peek of one of the new holiday card designs I have been working on...