Polka Dot, Crabs, and Lollipops

My aunt, Janey, came up with the name "Cayenne Paper" since I was called "Cayenne Katie" as a child. I'm not sure why, but they say it's because I had a spicy hot temper! ;) Since then, I have had many compliments on my business name because it's one you're sure not to forget. But I do have people occasionally calling it Cayenne Pepper, so at least they're on the right track!

Ever notice the names of some of the Etsy and other online boutiques out there? I have found so many other small online boutiques out there and am happy to see these kind of opportunities for SAHM (stay-at-home-moms) and WAHM (work-at-home-moms). In fact, my web-hosting service is called Merchant Moms, a company for mommas with their own boutiques and companies. I've met many other mommas here and my business has really grown because of it.

I've also run into some really cute stores since I opened mine online in 2003. I've come to notice a trend in their business names. I tend to see lots of "polka dots", "crabs", "ladybugs", "preppy", and "lollipops". Have you noticed this, too? I wonder if they have a story behind their names or if they just sounded cute?

Latest Projects

Spring is almost here- hip, hip, hooray! Although we have had a mild winter this year in Virginia, it's always refreshing to see the first blooms of spring- daffodils, crocus, and forsythia to name a few. Usually winter is a slower time (except for Christmas) for Cayenne Paper, but not this year!

Here are some of my latest projects...

"Emily Periwinkle" by Whitney English - invitations, reception cards, reply cards, and note cards for Olivia's Bat Mitzvah. Although it looks light blue here, it is really a beautiful shade of periwinkle (hence the name). We did the text in the same periwinkle color, making it elegant yet still youthful for a young girl.

 

Pink toile invitations (and at a great price- on closeout) for a baby shower. We used the font "Cute Cursive" to make it sweet and perfect for a baby girl on the way!

An order of blue toile note cards for Gwen:

See the pattern here-- toile and damask! These are my 2 favorite designs, so it was a nice treat for me to work on these when cooped up in the winter months. My next project is to design and create my brother and his adorable fiancee's wedding invitations for September in New Orleans. Ooh, the possibilities!

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Buy One Get One FREE til Jan. 31st!

Now until January 31st- order one set of Embossed Graphics brand stationery and get one matching set FREE!!  Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Order any stationery from the Embossed Graphics brand and receive a matching set FREE! No special code necessary! Simply order the amount you want and we'll send you a matching one free! But hurry because this offer lasts only until Jan. 31st!   follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 Cayenne Paper, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are one of our customers or opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Cayenne Paper 43434 Oxen Lane South Riding, VA 20152 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

HUGE Invitation Sale! 50-80% OFF

We need to make room for hundreds of new products, so shop our Inventory Reduction Sale with 50-80% off select invitations until supplies last! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Copyright © 2012 Cayenne Paper, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are one of our customers or opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Cayenne Paper 43434 Oxen Lane South Riding, VA 20152 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

I Love Me a Good Yard Sale!

Doesn't everyone love a good yard sale? Well, maybe not EVERYONE since I think it takes a special person to want to get up at the crack of dawn with plenty of cash in hand and scour out the best deals on furniture, books, clothing, and whatever else! I do love a good yard sale, especially when our neighborhood hosts the community-wide sale twice a year. This reminds me that I need to call to book a space at the fall one which is coming up soon! I don't look forward to selling... so much work pricing, sorting, and then haggling with people who want to pay 10 cents for something rather than 25 cents. That part is not so fun.

Well, I found out about a cool site where you can sell things for free online! It's called Yardsellr and so far I'm loving it. They have "blocks" which are basically categories of items. Once you sign up for a free account, every time you log in to the site, you earn "photons" which end up being cash for you to use to purchase on the site. You can also earn these photons by making comments on items and referring friends. You set up your account to be linked to your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts as well. That way, you can share items you "love" and those you are trying to sell on your news feed/profile. It's a neat idea, so I've already listed a few things. No sales yet, but just by browsing, commenting, and logging in, I've earned enough to buy a used Vera Bradley bag. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Take a look at Yardsellr today and happy shopping/selling!

Here's one of my listing (click on the photo or link below):

Set/10 Custom Made Gatefold Paisley Invitations with Ribbon

I Found My Thrill...on Blueberry Hill

Yesterday Libby and Drew decided they wanted to make a "special treat". I was going for cupcakes from a cake mix since I wasn't all that in the mood for baking. But we discovered 1 major problem - we were out of eggs! And since it was blazing hot and there was no way I was venturing out to the store, I decided to get out a cookbook to find some sort of yummy treat that didn't require eggs.

This was no easy task, I tell you, because almost everything had eggs in it. Until I stumbled across this beauty listed in my cookbook from the Jr. League of Alexandria, VA (purchased at Goodwill a few weeks ago for $1). It's called Blueberry Batter Cake. Y'all, it was DELISH to say the least. I must admit that the directions had me skeptical b/c I was pouring boiling water on the batter and stuff. Ok, huh?? But can I tell you that it was part cake, part cobbler, and lots of yummy blueberries. YUM. I think it would be the perfect dinner party or potluck dish or even as a house-warming gift to a new neighbor. Not that I know this from experience or anything, but it's scrumptious served warm, but also yummy straight out the fridge the next morning day.!

Just take a look...

Thank you, Mrs. Stephen Schaffer, wherever you may be!

I know, I know-- yesterday was about lemons and today is about blueberries. I'm just trying to hold onto summer as it is fading away!

And now for some blueberry inspiration from Cayenne Paper:

P.S. DO NOT let your little ones eat blueberries in these 2 outfits (at least if you want them to stay white)! :)

Up-Cycling at its BEST

Today, I read a post from a cool DIY blogger, The Nester, about the amazing displays at Anthropologie stores. I have only been into 1 location - in Reston Town Center here in VA - and wondered if this amazing feature was unique to this location. But I found out that each location has these kind of designs. Take a look at Kara Paslay's (designer from the Tulsa store) design using post-it notes!"UH-MAZ-ING," said the paper nerd over here. "Um, hello, Office Depot? Yes, do you have about 200 cases of post-it notes in stock? What's that.. no, it doesn't matter what color because we're going to DYE THEM WITH RIT." Ok, so I thought I was pretty crafty, but to have the mind of a genius designer is really something special!

Just in case you forgot... those are POST IT'S y'all!

Want to see more? Take a look at Plenty of Colour to see other really neat designs. Here are some of my favorites:

All Dressed Up and No Place to Go

Are those business envelopes?

See Cork City!

Ooh-la-la

Are those MARSHMALLOWS? I wonder how many they ate while making this one!

Proof that you should encourage your kids to keep making paper chains!

Beautiful

Lemonade Stand Contest

My niece, Ella, and nephews, Joseph and Jude Patrick, live in Atlanta where it's nice and HOT in the summer. Actually, sort of like it has been here in Virginia which is basically Dante's inner circle! This year, their neighborhood, which is on the historical register and in a wonderful community, set up the 1st annual Lemonade Stand Contest. Kids on the street set up their own lemonade stands and then took orders. Patrons voted on each one under 3 criteria:
1. taste
2. creativity
3. overall experience

Then a winner was named. I'm not sure what prizes were given out, but I'm sure it wasn't just a bowl of lemons! But they made money from sales, too, so I guess that was good incentive.

Take a look at the photos they sent me. Ella, Joseph, and Jude Patrick are the ones wearing yellow t-shirts. Love how they decorated those, too! This is right up my alley!

Are you inspired to start your own lemonade stand? I AM! Take a look at some inspiration I found on Pinterest (my new addiction, BTW).

And, of course, some Cayenne Paper products to match: