{Get the Goods Giveaway} : Sticker You

A few weeks ago Erica contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing a giveaway for her company on my blog. She works for Sticker You, a company that allows you to create and purchase your own stickers. "High-quality, removable, vinyl stickers - the really good ones. Get started with our artwork, or upload your own – it’s easy. Your stickers will be printed, die-cut, and shipped to your door in about a week."

As I looked more into her product I was beyond interested. I told her I didn't want to promote any product I hadn't tried first, so I ordered some birdies for Tracie's shower. The process was VERY easy, even with my own custom art work. They came last week and adorable!

Ready to try your own?

WIN 10 FREE SHEETS!

Can I win my own giveaway? I can't remember. =)

Okay, but for reals...here's how to win:

There are several ways to enter...leave a comment for each to get multiple entries! Please leave all extra entries in the comments here on the blog, not on Facebook or Twitter so I can keep track of them!

1) Simply leave a comment telling me that you visited the "Sticker You-niverse" (stole that from Erica) and what you think.

2) Become a fan of Polkadots & Pirates on Facebook. Already a fan? Leave a comment!

3) Become a fan of Sticker You on Facebook. Leave a comment!

4) Follow pdotsandpirates on Twitter.

5) Blog, tweet, or facebook (or all three!) this giveaway!

U P D A T E D : Deadline to enter is Monday, May 3rd at 5:00. Winner will be randomly chosen and posted on Monday night. Good luck!

Feather her nest...

I am in full swing preparing for my high school BFF's baby shower next weekend. After discussions about many different themes, she ultimately decided she liked the little birdie motif the best. Tracie found out she was having a girl at her ultrasound, but wanted to keep it a secret until the invitations went out. Lord knows I LOVE being in on a secret! =) The theme worked perfectly for this..."a little birdie says Tracie's having a girl!!"

I have done a birdie theme for birthday parties before, but was excited to make the bird a little more adult and sophisticated for this party. I drew a new bird based on some fun paper that I found.

As for envelopes, I've been wanting to try wrap around labels ever since my friend Bridgett of Perideau Designs did it for her daughter Kendall. Remember this project?? I don't think I ever linked to Bridgett's pictures of that party, either...they really are adorable...you should check them out! Anyway, thanks Bridgett for the inspiration on the labels...

They are one long strip of label with the guest's address and your return address all in one (I added a pattern that matched my theme in between) and you just wrap the around the invitation. I found that they were actually super simple and had great design impact. Remember that the label is the first inkling to your guests about what you have up your party sleeve!

Lots more of this party in coming weeks!

Seaside Sand Dollars

If you've been following this blog a long time, you may remember these welcome cards I did for my sister's friend Darcy for her destination wedding to lay on everyone's bed for when they arrived. Another of my sister and Darcy's friends, Alyssa, wanted to get some for her best friend's wedding along with a banner and door sign for the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

Here is the inspiration that Alyssa sent me. Her friend Caitlyn chose "flame" (halfway between red and hot pink) and gold as her colors and sand dollars as her theme for her ocean wedding...

After being worried I wouldn't be able to find any paper that would be "flame" I found the perfect match...

Congrats, Caitlyn!

{Around the Web} Birthday Blowout from Parents Mag

I got my newest issue of Parents Magazine in the mail on Saturday...I have to admit I am more than a couple issues behind, but I couldn't put this one in the "to be read" pile. It was the "open me right now" kind of issue that I get once or twice a year when they feature all their favorite new birthday party ideas.

This year, they focused on animals, games, and school subjects that your kids may love as their themes. I think that a Bingo themed party is somewhere in the Newman family's future. I mean seriously cute!

You honestly could spend hours if you go on their website just looking at party ideas alone...lots of planning posts and theme ideas. A couple of other favorites are Birthday Traditions to Start Now and Easy Birthday Cakes. Thanks for the inspiration, Parents Magazine!

**All photos in this post are courtesy of www.parents.com**

it's a BOY!

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen these pics that my friend Rach from *golden* has posted over the past few days. First she posted another pic of her daugher Kylie in the tutu that I had made her for her birthday. She paired it with the new name shirts she has listed in her shop. How CUTE is she??

Rachel is pregnant with her second baby. She is very creative in the ways that she announces big news, usually in some uber adorable shirt she's made for Kylie. This time she wanted something different, so we made two mini mini banners (smaller even than my banner minis!) that would fit perfectly across her belly on the day that she got her ultrasound. After her ultrasound yesterday we got to see which one she'd use...

...hooray! Now...what to do with that "it's a GIRL!"?!