Jackson's 4th Birthday: Firetruck Party Revealed

Invitation to the Event

Favor Table

Hershey Bar + Hampton Paper = Smiling Faces!

Dalmatian foot prints greeted the kids and led them to the party.

Close up of yummy candy at candy bar

Party Favors- personalized art- firetruck for boys

Party Favor -personalized art- Dalmatian for girls

Candy boxes full and ready for the ride home

Cookies with our images - so fun

Jackson and me

Jackson and Fireman Curtis

Hampton Paper cupcake toppers debut

Cake By Aunt Barbara - a perfect replica of the invitation

Wish time!

I bet he wished to be in kindergarten soon!

Pin the Tail on the Dalmatian Game

Jackson and friend try to increase their odds on placing the tail in the right spot!

Hot Potato with the Dalmatian dog. So fun!

Still trying to locate the box with my name

Candy Table

Note: make lollipops available immediately - some kids had a difficult time waiting till the end of the party!

Marshmallows hand dipped in white chocolate - so delicious!

Yes, thank you notes went out on the following Monday!

Thanks so much for your patience! I know you have been anxiously waiting for the photos from Jackson's 4th birthday. It was a HUGE success by all accounts - everyone enjoyed themselves and we felt fortunate to be surrounded by so many family and friends for Jackson's big celebration.

A special thanks to:

Kristy Patterson from Sweet Nothings for putting together the most amazing candy table. It was literally the talk of the neighborhood!

Krista Salmon from Kiki's list - Party Planner extraordinaire for her expert planning tips and advice. It really too the creativity to a whole new level!

James Woo from James Woo Photography - you captured every detail to perfection. Thank you.

Curtis Patterson - a REAL fireman who took time from his busy schedule to not only join the celebration but educate Jackson and his friends on fire safety and the importance of not being afraid of a fireman dressed in full uniform if he enters your house to help you.

To all our family and friends, it wouldn't have been the same without you. Thanks!

If you are interested in any of the paper products, all can by found at Hampton Paper Designs. We welcome the opportunity to help make your child's birthday party special and unique. Let us know how we can help!

Invitations: 10 for $40.00

Fold Over Note Cards: 24 for $60.00
Favors: Personalized Art in Mat 1 for $30.00 (volume discount available - contact us)
Stickers for Cupcake Toppers 24 for $18.00
Stickers for Candy Boxes 27 for $18.00 (Candy Boxes from The Container Store)
Stickers for Candy Jars 24 for $18.00
Candy Bar Wrappers (avail in May)

Wrapping Paper (available in May)
Pin the Tail on the Dalmatian - I had this made at Ritz for $30.00. We can use any image.

The Weight of Paper

I adore all things paper (remember I was a big investor in Paper by the Pound in the 80s) so its probably not much of a surprise to learn that I love a beautiful paper weight as well. We are just releasing this new option. So Hampton Paper --- any image is available and it can be personalized as well. HPD Paperweight $30.00

Hampton Paper's Blue Period

Framed Art $60.00

Personalized Notepad in Acrylic $40.00

Personalized Invitations 10 for $40.00

Gift Enclosures 8 for $10.00

Personalized Notepad in Acrylic $40.00

Fold Over Note Cards 8 for $18.00

Personalized Correspondence Cards 24 for $40.00

Personalized Return Address Labels 30 for $12.00

Cookies 24 for $96.00

Like Picasso before us, we too have had a blue period. It's hard to be feel down when you see the detail and vibrancy of these images. Which is your favorite?

Triple Play

Shipping these adorable elephant totes to one of our stores out west today. They have been so popular we only have a few left in stock.

Hampton Paper Totes: Personalized $38.00

Endless Possibilities...What is your Favorite?

There are so many possibilities with Hampton Paper Designs I think I might need to change the tag line to "Endless Possibilities"!

I am working on a birthday gift for a little girl at Jackson's school and had fun looking at 3 different mat options for her personalized print. Each one gives the fairy a totally different look.

Which is your favorite and your recommendation for the one I give to her tomorrow?

Hampton Paper Designs Personalized Framed Art $75.00

Another Sneak Peak! Fold Over Note Cards

HPD Fans here is another sneak peak of a new look for our best selling fold over note cards. I love the simplicity of the name on the bottom right. It enables the image to be the star while still providing the personalization. Sleek and simple. Love it! This design style will be will be available in May. Can't wait? No problem! Just put a request in under the "special notes" section with your order.

PS. As you know, some of the best product ideas and customizations come from our favorite clients, and this is no exception. Send us your ideas. We would love your input and will do our best to include it in our New Look Launch for May.

Happy Presidents Day!

US Presidents had many different animals as pets during their years at the White House.

I have been enjoyed every moment of Presidents Day today. I dream of having a 3 day weekend every week. I am thinking of starting a petition to have Vice Presidents Day celebrated as a national holiday too!

In an effort to bring my kids some insight on the holiday I took out President Adam's Alligator and Other White House Pets by Peter and Cheryl Barnes. Cheryl is as delightful as you would expect a children's' author to be and has done a remarkable job along with her husband in writing children's stories about our country's history, civics, and special places. President Adam's Alligator is a fun filled look at the animals that were kept as pets by US Presidents. She writes

" In 1825 , a man named General Lafayette brought an alligator to live with President John Quincy Adams for awhile. The president didn't know what to do with the alligator, so he put it in a bathtub in the East Room."

Other memorable mentions:

George Washington- Hunting Dogs named Madame Moose, Sweetlips and Tipsy

John Adams - Horse named Cleopatra

Abraham Lincoln - Turkey named Jack

Thomas Jefferson - 2 Grizzly Bears

Teddy Roosevelt- Brown and White Pony named Algonquin

Woodrow Wilson - Sheep named Old Ike

Calvin Coolidge - Raccoon named Rebecca

John F. Kennedy- Dog named Pushinka

How did you celebrate President's Day?

Who Ordered the Beluga Gimlet on the Rocks?

"Where do you get the inspiration for your images? This is, far and away the number one question I am asked. The answer is deceptively simple: life.

Some of our images are nostalgic- the Adirondack chair reminds me of growing up in the Adirondacks and our log windmill of summers in the Hamptons. Other images are inspired by family and friends. In an earlier blog I described the magnolias and how they enoke memories of my great-grandmother's house. My dad has an image customized just for him (actually there are serveral but thats for another day!) too.

Vodka Gimlet on the Rocks was was created because it has been his signature drink for as long as I can remember. Although he may have tweaked the Vodka brand through the years (he likes to be instyle - even when it comes to Vodka) "Absolute" in the 80s. "Kettle One" in the 90s which led way to "Sky" and now most recently "ZYR" and "Beluga"- the drink itself has been constant. I wonder how he choose the vodka gimlet and where was he served the best and worst over the years?

The images make a great conversation piece when someone reads a note or card from you- they make them wonder why you chose a particular image or perhaps they already know and think "that's so you"!

I gave him this notepad (shown above) for Christmas last year. Needeless to say they are a permanent fixture on the desk at his office, he uses them everyday. Take a look at the note my husband received recenty when my dad sent him the latest Bob Marley CD.

Stay tuned for the storyof the inspiration behind the cowboy hat and boot.

Personalized Notepads 2 for $32.00

Candy Bar Wrappers

You know I love working on new products and couldn't wait to show you what's coming out from Hampton Paper very soon. These candy bar wrappers were made for Jackson 4th birthday and they were a huge hit from those who attended his party from age 2-50. In true HPD fashion, you will be able to choose from any one of our 200 images and personalize for every occasion.

You know I cant wait to use these for Halloween next year!

Photo compliments of James Woo Photography

Please Let Us Know.....

Option 1: Classic and Preppy

Option 2: Modern and Simple

Option 3: Traditional with an Edge

My Dearest Hampton Paper Fans, I need your help! It's a new year and we want to update our look. We are just months away from our 4 year anniversary (yikes time has FLOWN!) and I am working on releasing some new options for our beautiful stationery line. Please let us know if you like these prototypes or if you have some suggestions of your own!

The Right Address

The Right Address is actually one of my fav books and now finally I can say I have the right address too! Of course its all relative but based on what I was looking for - mainly a great neighborhood full of kids, we have arrived. Now that the craziness of the holidays have passed and we actually own the house, I am finally working on sending out the change of address cards.

One of the benefits of owning my own stationery company and having a great relationship with the artist is the ability to see if she will paint a image of my house for the cards. Lucy was generous enough to agree to the project and upon receipt of the watercolor, I must quote my idol Rachel Zoe again "I Die". The original is breathtaking and such a great interpretation of our entry and really just says "welcome".

Some of Our Best Ideas

New Invitation Design Above

Some of our best and most creative ideas come from our clients and stores! Yes, here at Hampton Paper Designs we are always open to your suggestions and what we can do to make our items fit your vision.

Some ideas we have received are business cards, moving the image to the bottom of the notepad, writing lines on correspondence cards for children, recipe cards and changing the font size to be larger.

If you have an idea for an image, new product or an enhancement to an existing one send us an email and let us know. We just completed this invitation for a sip and see and added the circle of dots to enhance the bear image.

We are happy to do a proof for you at no charge and work with you until its... wait for it... perfect!

Jackson's Party - T-3

Sunflowers - perfect color for our theme

Crayons ready for art table

Prize for Pin the Tail on the Dalmatian Game

Carmel Corn Holder

Labels for Candy Jars

Stuffed Dalmatian for "Hot Potato" Game

Pin the Tail on the Dalmatian Game (Thank you Ritz Camera for this!)

Cupcake Toppers

3 days till Jackson's party and I am a complete wreck. How come my to do list is getting longer?

I still have a million things to do. It's going to be a late night. Looks like I also might to spend some time praying it doesn't snow here like it did last year! Wish me luck!