Cayenne Paper - the Blog

Buy One Get One FREE til Jan. 31st!

2012-01-12T13:18:00.001-05:00

Now until January 31st- order one set of Embossed Graphics brand stationery and get one matching set FREE!!

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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!

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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
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HUGE Invitation Sale! 50-80% OFF

2012-01-02T07:04:00.000-05:00

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!

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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
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I Love Me a Good Yard Sale!

2011-08-16T01:48:00.001-04:00

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

2011-07-28T15:03:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-27T17:37:00.000-04:00

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

2011-07-26T08:50:00.002-04:00

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:

Summer Lovin'

2011-07-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Before we know it, summer will be over. Boooo hoooooo. I cringe every day that I check the mail or head to the store because everyone has their school supplies out and families are shopping for them now, too. In Virginia, we don't go back to school until after Labor Day, but it's creeping up on us. My nephews and niece live in Atlanta and they go back in mid August. Worse than that are my friends who teach in Louisiana (where I'm from originally) since the teachers go back to work on August 2nd! That's my birthday, so I wouldn't be too happy starting work again on that day.

To keep me in the spirit of the fun and sun at the pool or on the beach, I wanted to show you these invitations, stationery, and other gifts.

Plus, our monogrammed beach towels are big sellers.

I'm loving our new monogrammed aluminum water bottles from Tickle Bellies. So cute and in so many different styles. Definitely a big seller this summer!

Same goes with our monogrammed vinyl insulted tumblers. I gave these to the kids' preschool teachers at the end of last year and they LOVED them.

It made a great gift since I tucked them into one of our cute cooler bags and coordinated them with matching monograms. These coolers are perfect since you can use them as a lunch bag or carry them to the pool. Just enough room to hold your Ipod, sunscreen, and favorite book.

Love for Luckett's

2011-07-08T15:12:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had a couple hours to spare, so I decided to drive to the top of my county (about 30 miles) to Old Luckett's Store in Leesburg. Miss Mustard Seed is how I found out about this wonderful place since she sells some of her fabulous furniture there. The trip was easy - just a straight shot up Hwy. 15 til you hit the village of Lucketts. What a pretty drive through rolling hills of wineries, stables, and farms. I cannot believe all of this is just outside Washington D.C. and the northern Virginia ~~hassle~~ hussle of traffic and millions of people!

When I pulled into the parking lot, I knew I was in for the time of my life. There were great little finds EVERYWHERE- in the parking lot, on the porch, everywhere you looked there was STUFF. I didn't have nearly enough time to see everything. Plus there are a few other stores nearby that I want to check out. Just have to find another time when I have no children with me because every single nook and cranny is filled with breakables and other lovely things. Hmmm... Vacation Bible School IS next week, you know... now that's an idea!

Recognize this feed sack chair from Miss Mustard Seed?

Speaking of old feed sacks... they are SO popular right now. I saw them made into all kinds of things - chairs, pillows, curtains, and even footstools.

Another beauty from Mrs. Mustard Seed. I found out that even though her photos look great on her blog and on other blogs, they don't do them justice at all. The Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Clear Wax really does give the pieces such richness and depth. Too bad I only had my cell phone's camera with me, though, because I've destroyed this beauty with such a terrible photo!

I stood in this room just staring at the beautiful ceiling treatment. It was so pretty in person- just layers of fabric used like bunting - reminded me of a bustled wedding gown. So neat and the furniture in there was beautiful, too.

I had about 3 minutes to look in Beekeeper's Cottage, the shop next door to Luckett's, and thought this room was so pretty with its ivories, pinks, and blues. Look at the mosaic wall in the back, too.

Have you been lucky enough to visit Luckett's yet? Or is there another shop like this in your hometown? Please do tell!

Chalk Paint Buffet Makeover

2011-06-27T10:20:00.011-04:00

I did it! I finally finished painting, distressing, and waxing that boring brown buffet in my family room. I love how it turned out. It was a learning process but I really loved using Annie Sloan's Old White Chalk Paint and Soft Clear Wax.

Before:

AFTER:

Here's what I did:
1. cleaned it off with a very slightly wet rag
2. applied 1 coat of chalk paint in Old White and THEN took off hardware (yes, I'm lazy)
3. sanded a few drips I missed when it was dry
4. 2nd coat of Old White chalk paint
5. applied the Soft Clear Wax with an old brush (following the grain)
6. when dry, I sanded really well in areas to distress - used medium and coarse sandpaper by hand, then medium via my husband's Mouse Sander (awesome)
7. vacuumed off dust (not all that much since I did the wax 1st)
8. used an old brush to lightly dab on some Minwax Dark Paste Finishing Wax (more in sanded areas and crevices/edges) and immediately wiped off with a clean rag
9. added some more Old White chalk paint in places that I thought were too dark/brown
10. waxed again with clear wax
11. buffed when dry (1 day later)
12. spray painted pulls in Krylon Brushed Metallic in Oil Rubbed Bronze (2 light coats) and put back on when dry

Okay, when I type them out, it does seem like a tedious and long process. But I must admit that it was fun to do because it was great seeing the transformation each step of the way. The chalk paint goes on so smooth and even though I had to use more to cover up the dark brown wood, it really went far. I only used 1/2 quart for 2 coats of this entire thing (plus a little more for touch ups here and there). It is really worth the price of the paint ($34.95) because you can paint it on ANYTHING without sanding or priming. You can even apply it to varnished furniture or on top of the wax coat I applied (in case I want to paint it later). It's really a great product.

Now, I want to investigate some other colors, but which ones? They are all so scrumptious, but I want to try the Provence next. How about you? Have I inspired you for some furniture makeovers this summer? :)

Summer with Sarah

2011-06-24T01:08:00.001-04:00

Today I jumped for joy as I checked the mail and found the best present ever... the latest copies of both Southern Living and Country Living! If you're like me, you wait and wait until the kids are finally asleep, the dishes are done, and the house is getting quiet. That's the perfect time to curl up on the couch and have some "me time". Ahhhh...

The cover of Country Living got me in a summer kind of mood as it featured beautiful shades of red, white, and blue in a nautical theme. I wanted to live there and still do! Wouldn't you know after reading that this is the work of my favorite designer, Sarah Richardson. They featured her summer cottage and I don't think I would change one single thing in any of these rooms. Well, maybe I would just put me and my family in it!

Isn't it just scrumptious?

Master Bedroom

Living Room

Kids' Nook

Guest Room 1

Guest Room 2

Bathroom

The Lounge

Dining Room

Kitchen

Habitat ReStore

2011-06-17T14:54:00.000-04:00

I have hit the jackpot, my friends! I just saw the sign for the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore that opened in my area and nearly got in a wreck swerving to turn in time! I walked in and am just in awe of what they have and for such ~~CHEAP~~ good prices.

Just take a look:

I have been wanting to make some cafe curtains for my kitchen and was so close to making these cute napkins ones from Flower Patch Farmgirl, but then again- shutters for $5.00 each?

Yeah, and they have oops and leftover paints for $1/quart or $3/gallon. I wanted to buy this can just because of the vintage value. I have never seen a Duron paint can with this label, have you?

Feeding My Addiction

2011-06-14T00:34:00.001-04:00

I had such fun this weekend since I stopped by G Street Fabrics after work on Friday just for fun. I'm thinking of new window treatments for the kitchen and naturally I told the sales person to direct me straight to the toile books. Do you think it's odd that I find joy checking out wallpaper and fabric swatch books to look at them over and over while curled up on my couch? My 4-year-old Libby was having fun picking out ~~every single~~ her favorite fabric, too. She's definitely my daughter! I'm not sure what's better- doing that or reading my new Southern Living, Country Living, House Beautiful, or Garden & Gun magazines when they arrive in the mail. But I love my neighbor, Andi, because she surprises me by leaving her copies of "People" and "Us Weekly" in my mailbox after she's finished reading them.

You Can Do It, We Can Help

2011-06-12T17:54:00.000-04:00

I love listening to the prayers that Libby and Drew (my 4-year-old twins) come up for grace before dinner every night. Tonight, it was Drew's turn:

Thank you, God for this world and everything in it,
Thank you for the birds that fly and sing,
Thank you for the flowers, the trees, the grass,
Thank you for our house, the stores, Home Depot, and Miss Brenda's (their babysitter).
Amen.

SUMMER is Here!

2011-06-11T09:46:00.003-04:00

I only have a few more days of teaching left before it's summer time! This is the time when I get jealous of my family and friends in the deep south of Atlanta and New Orleans because they have been out since before Memorial Day. But, when we don't go back til the end of August while they are back in much earlier, then I don't feel too bad.

Do you love BBQ's or cookouts? I certainly do and can't think of a cuter way to celebrate summer than with these precious monogrammed coozies (can coolers), party tubs, and beach towels. Perfect for a trip to the pool or a trip to the beach! And as always, monogramming is FREE! You can't beat that!

Monogrammed Coozies, Beach Towels, Party Tubs

I'm at the linky party on Remodelaholic with this post!

I Feel That Itch Coming On AGAIN...

2011-06-10T21:50:00.001-04:00

For those that know me personally, you know that I am always up to some new "I saw it on a blog so I know I can do it, too" or "I have no idea how to do this at all, but will just wing it as I go" idea. This usually involves painting rooms or furniture or even reupholstering a chair!

School is almost out for the summer here which means that itch is coming on again. My new project involves a fabulous new find that is all over blogland... Chalk Paint! Have you heard of it? If not, you must check out Miss Mustard Seed, or Shauna at Perfectly Imperfect .

I've got a few pieces of big, dark brown furniture that need make-overs. Still trying to decide the color, though. Decisions, decisions...

New Love

2011-06-06T23:09:00.003-04:00

I love Sephora... for many reasons, including Philosophy and Bare Minerals. But one of my favorite things is the free samples you get with each order. I often pick things I've never heard of and probably forget to even try them. But I have run out of my usual perfume, Vera, and thought I'd order some perfume samples this time. I chose Stella by Stella McCartney and love it. I wear it all the time and it's not overpowering or "heavy" even though it's a floral scent. Perfect for me!

As I went to Sephora's site today to get a photo of Stella, I read the 1st page of customer reviews. I saw this one and wondered why I wasn't born with the same sense of smell. Then again, I can never taste all the flavors that are mentioned during wine tastings, either. I just describe them as "good" or "not good"!

arose in CT
Stella: A memory, a hazy dream, a song in the distance- 05.30.11
There is something so pure and honest about "Stella", it feels so different and unusual compared to any other fragrance I'm ever smelled. The dusky, inky berries and velvety rose, evokes a fascinating combination of dew and dryness, like water on paper (the last love letter). There's this timelessness and agelessness, even, of the rose; it rotates between a lemony-fresh rosebud covered in morning dew, to a dusky, vuluptuously over-ripe bloom at the end of a hot day, finally being cooled in the night air. The amber lends a subtle, retro quality that brings to mind jazz records playing the breeze, hot summer nights lingering over books and thoughts. But mostly, "Stella" is a story - a story about women. Young girls and older girls; mother and daughters; grandmothers and great-grandmothers, ancestors you never met. It's feminine, but not gender conscious (it could, even, be an androgynous, unisex scent, such is it's subtle modernity) and the kind of scent that ties generations together; I could see this on a jet-set urbanite in 2011 or imagine it wafting from a women's boudoir on the prairie, circa 1885. It's simply timeless and very distinctive and it will inspire you to remember, to linger and reflect on life. Again: Oily-rich, aged rose soaked in water, crunchy greens (with tiny hint of metallic dust) with a dash of soapy, creamy petals (peony?), a grape-berry hint of deep rose and a dusky, skin-scent amber, one that settles into something akin to solar musk. Overall, it smells very sheer but with a gravity to it, like clean, aged linens; refined but also very natural and laid-back. A great scent.

I love Stella... the perfume and the cuter-than-a-bug's-ear Stella that I hope to meet in person one day. I think she and my daughter would be best friends!

Stella Bella

Blog Love

2011-06-06T03:17:00.004-04:00

I was talking to someone recently about decorating on the cheap and thrifting and mentioned how I got ideas on the blogs I read daily. She looked at me puzzled and I wondered ~~what planet she was from~~ how she could not have been informed about the wonderful world of DIY blogs! I thought I'd share a few of them that I follow regularly to share some love and let others know about them, too...

Going to the Chapel

2011-06-05T18:20:00.001-04:00

I'm back and am so sorry that I've neglected my blog here for so long. I have no excuse except that life is just ~~crazy~~ busy being as my header says... a wife, mother of twins, teacher, and business owner. My dream is have enough hours in the day and energy to balance all of these things and still have enough left for a fun dinner party every once in a while!

I got a little burst of energy this week because I just found out that my little brother got engaged! I'm so happy for him and his bride-to-be and can't wait for all the activities to begin. All that has been set so far is the time of year - fall, 2012 and the color scheme - eggplant purple. We could do so much with that, but here are some things that come to mind...

You're Invited to My Linky Party!

2010-09-12T01:38:00.002-04:00

Hey, y'all! I'm getting excited about fall since our weather in Virginia has been gorgeous the past few days. So, I've decided to host a little par-tay here on the Cayenne blog. I'm sort of new to these sort of "linky parties" myself, but have seen them on other blogs and think they're a great way to share ideas. I'm sharing my Halloween mantel garland I made last year.

I want to know what cute fall crafts/projects you've been doing lately. Take a photo and post it here. Here's how it works...

Instructions:
~ Find the red link below and click where it says "Click Here to Enter"
~ Give your project/craft a name
~ Make sure you link to your specific Halloween project post - not to your blog home page
~ Choose a picture you want for your thumbnail and follow the steps. It's pretty easy!
~ It is always nice to link back to my party in your post so others can join in the fun!
~ Oh, and comments on others' projects are always a plus, too!

(Here's a button if you 'd like to use one):

Hannah Claire

2010-09-06T22:38:00.001-04:00

I cannot believe that sweet little Hannah Claire is turning TEN soon. When my close friend, Shannon, who also happens to be Hannah's mama, asked me to make her party invitations, I jumped at the chance. She told me it was a party at a cooking school and that they had bought spatulas to go with the invitations somehow. She was going to hand-deliver each invitation to the guests in gift bags. I was excited since I wasn't limited by envelope sizes!

I had a lot of fun with my Cricut machine to make the tags and scalloped circles. The stickers are from Jolee's collection. I came up with the recipe card wording and only wished I had some lined index cards to make them more authentic! But they still came out really cute. The cardstock is from Bazill and I love how the subtle texture in them really adds to the invitation. Plus the cute coordinating ribbon is so cute. I love how each one is different with varying spatula sizes, ribbons, and colors. It's like every one is truly unique!

Happy Birthday, Hannah! It seems like only yesterday that you peeked down from the top of the stairs to see what we adults were up to in your living room at night. You were only a toddler and now you're a decade old! May you always be as sweet as you are, even when you are a teenager someday! ;)

New Favorites

2010-07-23T22:56:00.001-04:00

Lucky for me, I needed new facial cleanser the week before last. While on vacation in Atlanta to see my sister and her family, I used some of hers since I forgot mine at home. It was a different kind than I use and I loved how it made my skin feel- so refreshed. It is the Tourmaline facial cleanser from Aveda.

When I got back home, I just had to venture out to the mall to buy some. With the kids in tow (via stroller, which is always the way to go), we headed there on perhaps the hottest day of the summer. I haven't been to an Aveda store since before I had children. I used tons of their hair and skin products. But then... I had kids and my budget greatly decreased. Now I use products available from Costco in bulk! ;)

The sales woman was really sweet and as always, offered me a cup of their delicious Comforting Tea when I arrived. I got my cleanser and she recommended some of their Green Tea moisturizer. One hundred bucks later, I was told that I could get either a candle or tea bags/loose tea for free because of their rewards program. Of course, I got the tea- 2 boxes! Needless to say, it's my new love. I've only made iced tea so far and let's just say thank goodness it's all organic and caffeine-free or else I'd be climbing the walls!

If you haven't tried it, you've got to stop by your local Aveda store and check it out for yourself!

One Kings Lane

2010-07-23T14:30:00.003-04:00

I came across a neat site today called One Kings Lane. It has really beautiful rugs, furniture, accessories, and even stationery from upscale designers at fantastic prices. You need to create a log-in to become a member to shop, but I couldn't believe the great deals I saw. I love all of the fabrics from Traditions Fabric. They have check, stripe, floral, and even some toile- ooh, how I LOVE toile! Too bad that design was sold out. Guess I'm not the only one who loves it!

Will You Forgive Me?

2010-07-22T21:08:00.005-04:00

I feel terrible because I read so many different blogs that I love on a daily basis. Yet, I never ever come back to this blog to update it! I have a family blog that is suffering as well, but it has been months since I've posted here. Will you forgive me even though I've done it over and over? I'll try to be better, I promise. I mean... no one likes a rude person, right?

So summer is in full swing and it is going to be up to almost 100 degrees in Virginia this weekend. YUCK! We just got back from the beach and had so much fun. It was the first time for my 3-year-old twins and they LOVED it. We ate out 2 meals a day, which can get quite old. Let's just say I was happy to be back in my own bed, with more regulated air conditioning than a hotel room. And eating a homemade meal would be nice, so maybe I'll get onto that task tomorrow. ;) Right now it's getting the kids back to potty training, nap/sleep schedules, and doing mounds of laundry.

One of the bad things about not working full time in the summer (teaching) is that I start perusing blogs, magazines, and online articles about crafts and home design. Suddenly, I get this great confidence that I can 1) suddenly know how to sew, 2)have the time to actually paint an entire room without interruption, and 3)have the extra cash laying around to do it! If I had endless amounts of money, I'd sell this house and move into a smaller one with more charm. I'd love to live in an older home with antiques strewn throughout in a combination of traditional, French country, and a few modern touches. Basically, I'd like to be Sarah Richardson and have a fabulous bathroom like this one:

Or any room in this cottage:

Well, I did start in the right direction by renewing my subscription to "Southern Living" magazine! But I am sad that "Cottage Living" is no longer. This blogger is sad, too. :(

Great Gifts for Grads

2010-04-24T12:10:00.005-04:00

Graduation time is near, so congratulations to the Class of 2010! That is a really cool year to graduate. Much cooler than 1991, 1996, or 1998 when I graduated from high school, college, and grad school!

Do you have one of those cool 2010 grads on your list? Well, I have some really cute gifts for them. The new monogrammed laptop sleeves are a big hit already. Great for the dorm, 1st job, or just on the home laptop. A cute and functional gift that gets noticed. Other good gifts for the dorm are our monogrammed shower caddies, bath towels and wraps, or slippers. Also functional and guaranteed never to be "borrowed and never returned" by roommates since they are personalized! To get your new college student to actually travel home for a visit every once in a while, give her one of our roomy monogrammed laundry bags!

Students on-the-go need their coffee and tea in the mornings to get them to work and class on time, so why not give them a personalized travel mug or steel bottle?

For the college grad with the brand new job on the horizon, help him make that great first impression with one of our monogrammed business card holders.

Have you seen our collegiate collection of stationery, stamps, calling cards, labels, and luggage tags? We have them for many schools and they are a great way for the grad to show school spirit whether a new student or an alum!

Don't forget those many thank-you notes that the new grad will have to write. Why not skip the generic ones at the discount store and give them stylish ones with their name actually printed on them? Traditional taste with modern style!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

2010-03-22T13:50:00.005-04:00

Yep, he's gonna be hoppin' down the bunny trail in just a few more days! Need some last minute basket-fillers?

Try the fun Doodlebugz Collection from Princess Linens:

Having a party for the big Easter Egg Hunt? Well, you'd better get moving!!! Don't worry, we can have these cute Easter invitations out in a jiffy for you. They're in stock and ready to move:

Getting More Inspired

2010-02-20T13:10:00.003-05:00

I've come across several different blogs of some really creative people lately. I was amazed to find that another MoM (mother of multiples) - actually with TWO sets of twins plus another singleton, has the time to write a blog about her family life, but also another blog about the adorable things she makes in her "spare time". From curtains to picture frames to redecorating her basement into a playroom, there is always something fun to read about. I am in awe of this and am basically jealous since I think coming up with these ideas, writing about them, and even sharing the instructions with others is such a fun way to spend your time. I was inspired and am now looking at things to do in my home. Problem is... my husband always gets nervous when he sees my wheels turning like this!

Take a look at Brown Paper Packages and get inspired yourself!

My favorite project to try out are these monogrammed (imagine that) art project holders made out of plywood, vinyl lettering, and clothespins. How adorable!

Happy Anniversary - 7 GREAT Years & Still Going Strong!

2010-01-25T00:01:00.004-05:00

I feel so terrible that I've pretty much abandoned my blog! I cannot believe my last post was almost 6 months ago. How awful. I've been busy, which is definitely a good thing. But I want to be able to tweet and use my blog more to give my customers and followers all the inside information. Oh, and by the way... I'm also on Facebook, so become a fan today!

The Christmas season was extremely busy - perhaps one of the biggest ones I've seen since I opened my shop in 2003. Actually, the day I opened was on Feb. 1st, so I'm about to celebrate my 7th year as a business. Time has flown! Let's hope that more orders means a better economy and only more orders to come. Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, and Easter are fast approaching. I've just uploaded some brand new items from PST Designs and am adding more daily. Take a look at these precious Valentine's outfits for boys and girls:

And for those Valentine's Day parties, don't forget the invitations, stationery, and partyware:

Monkey Toes

2009-08-15T00:52:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I took my 2-year-old twins shoe-shopping WITHOUT the stroller. BIG mistake. At first, they were pretty well-behaved and stayed close to me thanks to the kiddie leashes I had. But the A/C was out in the store, so it was hot. They looked at the really sparkly shoes and those with Dora. But for some reason, my little girl did not want to try on ANY shoes at all, even though she was so excited to go to the shoe store. All she has that fits her are 2 pairs of Crocs. So, she needs shoes! She had a full-blown tantrum and after I paid and wrangled them up to the car, I was exhausted. This morning when she woke up, she wanted to put on her new shoes. You never know what the day will be like for her. Can't wait til she's a teenager!

In my search for shoes for her, I came across this website called Monkey Toes with hand-painted shoes for kids. They are TOO CUTE. I'm impressed at their prices since they are each individually hand-painted like pieces of art! They are so cute that I'm not sure which ones to get. I'm thinking the Little Ladies or Flutterflies. Love those curly shoelaces! Decisions, decisions...

Back with a New Look!

2009-08-14T23:21:00.003-04:00

I've been a busy little bee this summer- taking care of my 2-year-old twins is hectic, but I've also given cayennepaper.com a COMPLETE makeover! Gone are the days of my homemade site that I made completely by myself without any training whatsoever. It was difficult to navigate as there really wasn't great navigation or organization to it. Plus I only accepted Paypal, which I know scared off a few customers or so. Well, I now have a new webhosting service (www.merchantmoms.com) which is fantastic and so far, things have been great with them. You can view things much easier, search the entire site more thoroughly and even use your credit card to pay! That's right- I now take Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover!

To celebrate my grand re-opening, I'm offering a 10% discount on all orders placed until August 31. Simply enter code blog10 to receive this special offer. Have fun shopping!

Bridesmaids' Luncheon

2009-07-11T11:33:00.005-04:00

My cousin, Erin, whom we refer to as "EJB", recently got married in our home town of New Orleans. It was such fun to go back home from Northern Virginia to visit family, friends, and EAT. We had so much fun all weekend long. I went without my husband, Darrell, and children, so it was strange waking up later in the morning and not to the sound of toddler chatter or cries. But I must admit that I started to really miss them after the 1st day and couldn't wait to get back home to be with them.

I had the honor of making the invitations for EJB's Bridesmaids' Luncheon as her mother, Janey, (my aunt and godmother) hosted it. I have been waiting for the opportunity to use this gorgeous patterned cardstock and figured this was the perfect chance. It is from my new "Custom Design-It-Yourself" line which literally gives you ultimate control of 100's of options with colors, textures, patterns, shapes and sizes. I like how they turned out, even though these photos don't give the pearlized cardstocks justice...

Congratulations Shania and Josh

2009-07-11T11:25:00.005-04:00

I recently worked with a precious bride, Shania, and made her save-the-dates, menu cards, programs, and favor tags/place cards for her wedding. Her family is originally from Sri Lanka and her now-husband Josh is Jewish, so they wanted to incorporate customs from each side into their ceremony. I thought it was such a great idea to explain many of these traditions and customs that would be taking place in their wedding program. Shania came to me with her vision, colors, and custom-designed logo and we took it from there. It was such a great experience working with her and I told her I hope to make her birth announcements once they begin expanding the family! ;)

HOT New Summer Line

2009-05-02T19:33:00.006-04:00

It's been waaay too long since I've posted here, so I want to try and make it up to you. I think you'll like this present, too... I am so excited to share some of the new monogrammed items from our summer line. I just love anything that's personalized, preppy, and functional, too! We've got something special for the beach or any BBQ, pool, or backyard party-- cute baseball caps, can coolers, ice buckets, beach towels, and new water-resistant totes. Can't take the heat? Then pamper yourself indoors with our cute new monogrammed bath wraps and slippers!

Happy Tuesday

2009-02-24T11:18:00.001-05:00

Today is a special day in my hometown, but to me here, it's just Tuesday, February 24th. Of course some of our family members just had to call last night or today to talk about where they are going and how much fun they will be having. :( I miss New Orleans so much sometimes, especially on Mardi Gras day. Many people only see the trashy Bourbon Street and shooting side of this wonderful holiday and not the fun that it can be for families, too. I remember getting up really early, getting our bucket of Popeye's chicken and heading out with a pillowcase to use as our bag for throws (or catches, actually). One year, my 4 siblings and mom all dressed as hobos for Mardi Gras. I still like to see pictures of children and families dressed up and ready for some beads! I looked at the website for The Times-Picayune and found some photos there.

I should blow this one up to look at whenever I think it's hard raising twins!!!

Seeing Double

2009-02-17T23:18:00.001-05:00

I have boy/girl twins and since joining Facebook, I found out that several of my high school classmates have twins, too. A very dear friend of mine just delivered 2 adorable baby boys before Christmas. Turns out her younger sister delivered her twins just a few weeks later-- both girls. So, needless to say, their families are over the moon with 2 sets of twins! I saw some photos of the little girls yesterday and they are beautiful, just like their cousins. But I loved their cute cribs. The wall letters are precious, but the monogrammed sheets... okay, where was I when that boat sailed in? I had the toile going all over the nursery, but no monogrammed sheets. I guess I wasn't too out of the loop since my children both have monogrammed boudoir pillows now. ;) My poor children don't know what they're in for...

I'm Getting Inspired

2009-02-16T14:48:00.002-05:00

Orders are picking up lately, which is always a good sign that the wedding season is near. Luckily I've had the opportunity to work with some really nice brides to make their programs and invitations. Many of you may not know that a large part of my business is custom-made orders. I get emails all the time asking if I could do this or that. I thought that the strangest thing I had done was making programs into fans for the summer heat. But apparently this is not that unusual! I actually found that program from way back when. Simple style, yet apparently functional for a hot summer day...
The good thing about brides is that they always know exactly what they want, from the paper down to the ribbon. Many of them apologize profusely when they ask me to make "just one more" revision. But I always tell them that it makes my life easier that they know exactly what they want. I am the same way... when I have a vision of something, I want it to be just like that. My husband doesn't have this same ability and often raises an eyebrow when I'm in a store and have that look in my eye. But I always tell him to trust me and he sweetly tells me he agrees with me since every time I've taken a leap like this, it comes out just right (at least in my book).

Welcome!

2009-02-15T22:16:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to be able to start a blog for Cayenne Paper! I already have a blog for my family and friends to catch up on the latest and greatest about my life with twins. But I never really thought about having one for my business as well. After seeing several other businesses adding blogs about their newest products, inside information, or just life in their studio, I thought it would be a great way for my customers to connect with Cayenne Paper and me. I hope you enjoy it and that you'll post comments, too!