SUMMER STYLE - SKIRTS

If you buy one skirt this summer, I think it should be this one. I adore this chevron stripe skirt from Old Navy. So much so that I stalked a woman wearing it at my daughter's dance recital all day on Sunday. We were always in a crowd so I never did get the chance to ask where she got it but imagine my surprise when I walked into Old Navy yesterday and there it was! (P.S. I never dreamed it was ON, definitely thought it was a much more expensive brand. It's that nice.) Super soft cotton, breezy and cool - add a tank and a jean jacket and you're good to go!

For other Summer Style finds, go here.

SUMMER STYLE

How sweet are these gorgeous earrings for summer?
Even better, they're on sale. LOVE!

SPEAKING OF OOH LA LA...

Check out this amazingly versatile collection
from Stella & Dot inspired by Coco Chanel. LOVE!

(sorry, that did not imbed the way I thought it would.
please click on La Coco to see the video.)

MY PAIN IS YOUR GAIN

Due to a freak circle cutter incident, I am late in debuting the Holiday 2009 line of photo cards. But never fear, because my pain is definitely your gain! I have extended the 50% off deadline to Wednesday, September 23rd. You now have an extra eight days to place your Early Bird Card order and receive 50% off! So start sorting through those photos or get your family outside and start snapping that camera! Remember, picture perfect doesn't always mean coordinating outfits in a scenic location. Just as often it means getting your family together in a place they enjoy and are having fun.

So, no excuses. Here's your chance to breathe easy and be oh so ahead of the game. Ready, set, go!

Holiday 2009 is now scheduled to debut this Friday, September 18th.

PETIT PRESENT

chara*coco via mary ruffle

Inspired by this lovely photo, my petit present to you? Ten percent off your entire order for today only. Simply enter code PETIT at checkout to redeem your discount, through midnight EST.

{Hint: This may be a good time to order your personalized water bottles.}

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY (for a huge discount!)

Are you busy enjoying the last bits of summer? Us too! While at the beach, be sure to bring your camera along because it's a great time to snap that Christmas card photo! Yes, I said Christmas, but I'm not trying to rush things - I promise. It's just that the beach is the perfect setting for a photo of your family. 

Think about it: the beautiful open sky, fresh happy faces from the salty ocean air, everyone is relaxed and content. 

Or, have you already taken your family vacation? Well you just may have the perfect shot to make a beautiful holiday card that will also let your family and friends know what you've been up to this year. Sort through all those vacation photos now and look at them with a critical eye. Remember that cropping and touch-ups can be a quick and easy way to turn a great family memory into a beautiful card. But don't worry about the touch ups yourself, we take care of all of that for you!

So start thinking about that holiday card photo now and you'll be able to kick back relaxed and satisfied that you've already got one holiday task crossed off that list. A major stress completely eliminated - Woot!

{one of my favorites from Holiday 2008}

And the best part? (other than avoiding at least a bit of the holiday insanity) If you order your cards on or before September 15th, you'll receive 50% off your entire holiday card order! (offer cannot be combined with quantity discounts, but never fear, the quantity discounts cannot compare to this offer!) We have never before offered a discount of this magnitude; you definitely do not want to miss it. Simply email me here before ordering and a custom order will be set up in the shop reflecting your discount.

To view a small sampling of our holiday card selection, go here. Tons of new designs will be added during the course of this promotion so if you don't see anything that suits your style, not to worry. I'll be happy to give you an advance preview of all designs. In fact, many cards will be custom designed around the photos submitted by early birds like yourself!

STATIONERY SET GIVEAWAY!

I am so thrilled to finally introduce the new Stationery Sets that have just been added to the shoppe today! Choose from any sport or hobby silhouette available in the shoppe, choose your color and provide a name and we will create a beautiful gift set sure to bring a smile to your face!

Each set includes 15 letter-sized sheets with 10 envelopes, 4 flat notecards with envelopes, 2 foldover notecards with envelopes, 6 bookplates, 20 dot stickers and 2 pencils beautifully packaged in a resealable cellophane bag. Phew! That's a lot of stuff.

Just in time for all those spring parties and events, the set is available for a great introductory price of $20. But what's even better than a great personalized gift at a great price? A giveaway!

Comment on this post which design you would like best on your Stationery Set and you will be entered to win. Want an extra chance to win? Post about this giveaway on your blog or website, link to it here, and you'll be entered twice! Giveaway will end Monday night (March 9th) at midnight EST and I will draw a lucky winner on Tuesday! 

SHOP REOPENING CELEBRATION AND GIVEAWAY!

Update: The Modern Hockey Silhouette has been added here. The Classic Reading Girl Silhouettes have been added here. There are two to choose from (I use them both for bookplates so I had them ready to go). Just click on the right arrow to see the second design. Still to come, football, soccer and quite possibly a cyclist.

Thanks so much for the ideas! I truly appreciate your input. ♥

So here's the big news! Well, big to me because I've been working my bu...let's just say I've been working hard. I am finally ready for a soft opening of the new Pumpkin Petunia website. So, I guess it's soft news -  umm, no I've had too many late nights for that. I'm still going to go with BIG. (I'm sleep deprived, don't judge). And what makes this news even more exciting is that I'm also introducing something new - Prints! While I have always done silhouettes for invites and party goods, these have almost always been custom silhouettes created for a very specific purpose (like this). Now I have put together oodles of stock designs ready and waiting to be personalized to suit every customers whim and fancy!

So about these prints. First the technical stuff: each design is printed on beautiful 100 lb. linen cardstock (ask me how long I spent in the paper warehouse choosing just the right weight and finish. nevermind, don't ask; the warehouse manager - hi Roger! - is already trying to have me committed. or at least banned. although I believe peanut is welcome any time.)  They are printed using archival inks, size 8X10 on 8.5 X 11 paper with the perfect border for framing. Frames will also be available in the shop for an additional charge.

There are two design categories: modern and traditional and I just can't decide which I love more! It totally depends on the recipient, of course. The more traditional designs are pictured above and the more modern designs are below. (note: i have uploaded these a gazillion times at different resolutions and they still look a little wonky. refer to the photos on my website for nice, crisp images).

Don't you just love the guitar hero? LOVE it! As you select a product in the shop and arrow through the pictures, you will see even more design and color options and I will be adding even more over the next couple of days. I have already had a request for football and soccer (boy and girl) so I'm working on those now. The prints are available for a limited time at the introductory price of $16, so shop now before the price goes up!

I will of course still be offering my custom silhouette service where you send a photo and I create a custom silhouette to be framed or printed on invites, notecards, etc. I absolutely love doing those and would never dream of stopping. Now, you just have more options to suit all of your needs.

Now for the fun part. It's GIVEAWAY time! All you have to do is check out the designs in my shop and let me know which you like best. Comment by Thursday at 10 PM eastern time and I will announce a winner on Friday. The winner will receive the print of their choice (it does not need to be the one chosen as your fave) personalized to their specifications of color, font, etc. So spread the word, because it's almost holiday time and this would make a great gift!

P.S. Holiday 2008 will debut on October 1st. There I said it, now it has to be true.