S.W.A.K!

S.W.A.K! Just because we want your Valentine's Day to be extra special this year, we will personalize your Kiss Stickers at no extra charge! Yep, 108 stickers, personalized for only $12.00. (each add'l sheet $6.00). And...we will send you a proof prior, also at no charge. Does that make your day or what? Stickers available on our site here or on Etsy. We can ship these same day so you will receive them well before February 14th!

We can also personalize with a name or your own message!

Which Is Your Favorite?

Which is your favorite? I am freaking out about how adorable these lollipop holders are for Jackson's party. They are from SimpleTastes and the owner custom made these to match our images and theme for the party. Which do you prefer? Let us know!

Option 1: Round
Option 2: Scallop

This is What Crazy Looks Like

This is what crazy looks like. Scary right? With less than a week till Jackson's Super Hero party I am "literally" turning into Rachel Zoe. Seriously, remember her stress level with Annie's Oscar dress? That's me yesterday and today. I have 3 orders of custom items from Etsy and I am in a full on panic about it all arriving on time. Of course I had to increase the quantities based on last minute RSVPs so I am scrambling big time. My fear is 1. they wont arrive and 2. I wont have enough and I all I can think about is some poor child's heartbreak that there isnt a personalized cape waiting for them at the party! Uggh the PRESSURE! Anyway - this is a peek at what it looks like a week before. I know what you are thinking how will it all get done! Seems no matter how early I begin the planning I am always stressed it wont get done. This is the last full weekend. We have balloons and cupcakes to order. Jackson wants a pin the lightening bolt on the cape game so I need to go to Ritz and go to Joanne's Fabric to get the table cloth for the dessert table. None of that includes any of the prep work on the candy bars, lollipops, cupcake stands etc.

I usually try to stage the table ahead of time to see where things will go and how I can display them. I will provide step by step "how to" once its done. BTW I think I finally cracked the code on how to make a great back drop. Will let you know my secret.

New Obsession: Cake Pops

My new obsession is cake pops. Shocking I know since 1. I dont bake and 2. I am not a foodie but for these babies, I can make an exception. I was first introduced to cake pops at a Girls Night Out hosted by The Dandelion Patch when the owner of Chantel's Bakery brought a huge platter. I tried one, and then another and then another! Love at first bite! I purchased the cake pops book below before Christmas in hopes to try to bake them. It's laughable to look back and think I would have time to do it. Alas, last weekend, given the cold and our cabin fever, I had some time (and believe me you need plenty of it to make these) to review the directions and give it a try. Success! It was a fun activity with the boys and the cake pops are so yummy. Want to know the secret? You bake the cake and then crumble it and mix with frosting. How can you miss with a winning combination like that? If you are looking for a fun activity for a cold winter day, give this a try!

Awesome ideas in this book Cake Pops.

I would like to try these for Eastser.

Love for Valentine's Day.

This is the level I am on - very simple.

This was what I was trying to achieve. See below, this was above beginner for us!

Here we are in the middle of baking. Thomas and Jackson had a heavy hand with the coating. We brought them to the bus stop for the kids and they were such a big hit! (yes those are hockey nets in my kitchen - who would have thought that would be my norm one day!!)

1st Hampton Paper GIVEAWAY: Correspondence Cards

The 1st of 12 monthly giveaways from Hampton Paper Designs begins today! It makes sense to start the year off with our best selling product, the correspondence cards. 24 personalized cards and envelopes with the design of your choice can yours! We have over 300 images in our portfolio. See below on how to participate.

Here are some samples of our correspondence cards to inspire you. I must say I had fun working on this blog as I just love when the images are pull out and personalization is added. A relatively new image that is challenging some of our existing best sellers!

Always classic a favorite for little girls.

Ohh love this one. Reminds me of a cocktail napkin I saw recently that said " I remember when social networking was called 'Happy Hour'!"

For the power shopper.

Beautiful for Valentine's Day Cards.

Custom image done for Jackson's 4th Birthday. Hard to believe its been a year. A great option for little boys.

Another classic and best selling image.

Fun for those who live in Maryland and love crabs.

Great option for boys and the font completes the western look.

Another best seller for girls.

Rules for Participation:

1. You must be a follower of Hampton Paper's Blog Pen & Pencil. If you are not sure how to follow click here

2. To enter, you must leave a comment on the blog telling us what image you would choose for your cards and why between today, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 and Friday, January 27, 2012. A winner will be selected at random Monday, January 30, 2012.

For additional Entries - Read on!

• Share a link of this post to your blog. Leave an additional comment to your blog letting us know that you have done so. (include the link)





• Share this link on Facebook for an additional entry. Leave an additional comment letting us know you have done so. (include the link)





• If you arent already a fan on Facebook "like" our Hampton Paper Designs site. Leave an additional comment letting us know that you have done so.





• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave additional comment letting me know you have done so. (include the link)

Good Luck!! We cant wait to see what you choose as your favorite image!

Can you tell the difference?

Can you tell the difference in the snapshots of the invitation for Jackson's party? The top one has a different font (and the pow, zap, wham are spaced further apart). Choosing the right font makes so much difference. I am lucky when it comes to selecting fonts in that 1. I know I am terrible at it and 2. I have a good friend, Krista who is amazing! The one she choose has that fun comic book feel that the cape needed. Mission Accomplished!

Will You Be Watching?

Will you be watching the final episode of the RHWBH tonight? I will be glued to the TV. This season has really been a roller coaster ride. I love this show - not just because Kyle Richards is a fan of Hampton Paper but truth be told, its just addictive!
My fav parts this season:
Watching the relationship struggles between Kyle and Kim (they seem real!)
Adrienne: Her cold and dismissive interaction with her husband is always surprising and cracks me up. (he's a surgeon for goodness sake - not some unemployed looser)
Camille: She has really grown on me this season, she seems to have such a much better sense of herself and worth that she seems to better connect and support the other women - plus she really knows how to dress - clothes and jewelry she wears the good stuff and I for one appreciate it!
Taylor: Her story is just plain heartbreaking.
Brandi: No comment .
Dana: I dismissed her after the 20k sunglasses comment - I mean who says stuff like that?
Lisa: The jury is still out for me on this one. She seems to be a class act but can be a little caddy. I guess that's why she is on the show. Cant wait to see Pandora's wedding.

Enjoy!

More Valentine's Card Ideas

More Valentine's Day card options - mix and match images for endless possibilities!
Use any image on this format or choose a few! Maybe all hearts, all sports, all seaside, you pick! Also you can use this one in conjunction with the ones below and choose a coordinating image.

Use template above and choose other outdoor or sports images like the other fishing rod.

This would be great paired with more animals or the mushroom.

Love this option and would recommend some with the horseshoe. "It's lucky we are friends, Valentine"

This would be great paired with the records or record player.

Use this format and include the ice cream cone, candy, lollipops.....anything sweet.

This one can be paired with the shoes or the handbag or nail polish "You are so stylish, Valentine"

Valentine's Day Cards - SO SWEET!!!!!!!!!

Love is in the air with our new Valentine's cards for kids classroom exchanges! Two more styles will be posted tomorrow. You can find them on Etsy or email us. 30 cards and white envelopes for $20.00Don't you just LOVE these.....

My fav. love our new lollipop image.

Love the gumball machine. Sweet!

So cute for a little girl.

This is what Jackson will be giving this year! Love it.

Another great option for boys that love trains!

Adorable for the girls.

Ohhh Jackson is obsessed with this truck!

So classic.

For the young artist.

Valentine's Day!

I have always been a big fan of this holiday - giving and receiving Valentine's at school was so much fun every year. From creating the bag to hang on the back of my chair (remember using the brown paper grocery bags and decorating them with construction paper?) to selecting and writing out each Valentine. I always started with my favorite Valentine in the box bought from either CVS or Schatz Stationery for my best friend.

Even when I outgrew the classroom exchange and graduated to high school and college it was still a favorite holiday. In my late teens my fondest memories of the holiday were the huge bouquets of fresh cut beautiful flowers sent by my dad (no carnations ever as he use to tell the florist so there was no misunderstanding) just in case!!

Luckily these days I have 3 great guys in my life that I can count on to be my Valentine. If I didn't, I know on Feb 14th there would be some flowers from the one that never let me down, just in case.....

Whomever is going to be your Valentine this year - here are a few ideas to help make sure they know how special they are!

If you are looking for Valentine's day cards for classroom exchanges, they will be on my blog and Etsy tomorrow. Can I just say, they are ever so cute!


Sq stickers and glassine bags 27 for $24.00

Sq Stickers and glassine bags 27 for $24.00

25 photo cards for $75.00

Medium Round Stickers 30 for $12.00

Medium Round Stickers 30 for $12.00

Medium Round Stickers 30 for $12.00

27 Chinese To Go Containers and 27 Sq Solid Stickers $38.00

27 sq solid stickers for $18.00

10 invitations for $40.00

108 Kiss Stickers for 12.00

108 Kiss Sticker for $12.00

108 Kiss Stickers for $12.00

108 Kiss Stickers for $12.00

This image has been the biggest seller so far this season. It's not hard to figure out why - so classic with the unexpected green for the arrow, sooo Hampton Paper!