$25.00 Gift Certificate Giveawy on Etsy It Up Blog

We are hosting a giveaway on Etsy It Up! Blog. It is for a $25.00 gift certificate to use on our website or in our ETSY shop. Check out Celeste's great blog! Just click on the title above...

New Vinyl Decals coming the website!

Created right here in our MSB studio! New custom vinyl decals are coming to the website. Just in time for Christmas. Decorate our buckets with these instead of a vinyl monogram. Or purchase them individually and use them where you need them! They will come in many great designs...we are in the process of working on them now. You will be able to choose from removable or permanent backings. This is just a sneak peek. Enjoy!

Personalized Beverage Tubs for Your Holiday Cheer!

Here are pictures of two personalized beverage tubs recently ordered! Perfect to spread some Christmas cheer!

At Home Daycare Camo Backpacks

Another new Texas friend of mine, is an in home child care provider and also a military wife! She contacted me about making matching backpacks for the six children she currently takes care of {4 boys and 2 girls}. After weeks of discussion and searching...we finally came to the decision to do them all in camo. All of the kiddos have soldier daddy's...we just jazzed up the girls with pink ribbon pulls and a big pink bow!
Here they are packaged and ready to go.

Greek Gifts!

Here is a picture of the 300 coffee tumblers I just completed and shipped to a sorority in Texas. These sweet girls are going to put these in their homecoming gift bags this coming weekend.

They wanted a black damask fabric, so I found this fabulous black damask fabric from Michael Miller. It is laminated ~ because I never make a coffee tumbler or water bottle without protected fabric. For the vinyl monogram, they choose "eox" in lowercase lettering using our font option #16 in yellow. They said they have so many items with their greek letters, they opted to go this route for the tumblers.

PS: This picture only displays 144...not even half!

The Hip Hostess is having an E-Party!

Head on over to the Hip Hostess blog! They are hosting an e-party until mid-October. Get some of your holiday shopping complete and use a 10% off code or free shipping code {it is on the invite they have posted on the blog}.

Remember, if you purchase over $100.00 in gifts you will receive FREE SHIPPING automatically and then you can use the 10% off code to get additional savings!

Another plus...we will wrap your gifts for FREE! Just let us know when checking out that they are "holiday gifts" and we will wrap them in holiday wrapping. Our holiday wrapping includes a solid white or solid red wrap. We can pair any ribbon combo on the top and even personalize them with your gift recipiants name. We also have our chocolate brown wrapping paper and use a great bronze ribbon {if you decorate for the holiday in these colors}.

Remember, go to http://thehiphostess.blogspot.com/

New Chalkboard and Whiteboard Days of the Week Sets

I personally think these are great gifts for the teacher on your list this holiday season! Think about using these in a classroom! How perfect.

I use them in my studio to organize orders, shipments, and design projects. My next step, to put some in my kitchen for menu planning, because I am honestly ~ well not very good at that. This set is the perfect way to stay organized and on task. Of course, for the menu planning set in my house...I think I will stick to the 6 day set. This Mama does not like to cook on the weekends!!!

If you purchase a set for menu planning...get creative! Next to the days of the week ~ you can add Monday's Menu or Eat on Monday. Instead of To Do, personalize it with Pantry Needs or Grocery List.

New Christmas Stocking

Take a peek at the website. Lots of new products to include these cool new Christmas stockings! Best part...they come with monogramming. Personally, I am going to redo my stocking stash and maybe "wrap" a couple of gifts on my list in these adorable stockings.

They would make a great hostess gift to monogram the "family" name and throw in a bottle of wine!

New Market Totes

Slowly, I am adding the new fall colors for the market totes to the website. They come in some fabulously FUN new colors and prints for the fall. They will all be on the website in about two weeks as I find the time to get everything up while finishing orders. It's been busy around here which is a good thing...everyone is getting ready for the holiday season.

A new size in the market totes is the box bag! A great BIG tote perfect to carry beach towels to stadium blankets!

New Decorative Wastebasket

I had a customer contact me regarding the new wastebaskets we are featuring. I was almost done this one and she asked if I could add her granddaughters monogram at the top and hand-paint some wooden ball feet to place at the bottom. I wanted to share with ya'll because I thought it turned out too cute for words!

September Giveway...

So, I had to think about whether I wanted to post the giveaway today or not? As I sit here and remember exactly what I was doing on 9-11.

I was at work {working for an insurance company} going through my day. Of course I was working, but I was also thinking about a birthday celebration for my husband that evening {yes, his birthday is today on 9-11}.

Our radios were playing in the background and there was a TV on in one of the conference rooms. I remember everyone hearing the radio broadcast, then stopping. Most of us rushed to the nearest TV and watched in disbelief. No one said anything. I honestly do not think we knew what to say. I still do not know what to say or how to express my thoughts. My heart goes out to the families and the children who had their dad, mom, grandparent, aunt, or uncle taken from them before their time. On the other hand, I am angry at the terrorist. Such extreme emotions.

That evening we did not go out and celebrate my husband's birthday. Instead, we stayed home, went without dinner or birthday cake and presents. We sat in front of the TV, still quiet, still in shock.

I am going to post the giveaway today because I said that I would. Life still goes on, but I know we will ALWAYS remember those we lost and how they left us.

On a much brighter note...

The giveaway for September is a Personalized Bin. They are great for so many things:

* Use it for serving bread, popcorn, or something for a party. Simply line with a
decorative napkin or use the clear plastic liner it comes with.
* Store your mail, keys, sunglasses, and cell phones by the door.
* Store your ipods and gym ids.
* Organize your bathroom ~ put toiletries in it, roll hand towels in the guest
bathroom, or fill it with decorative soaps.
* Store your mail, hair accessories, stationary, school papers, holiday candy,
Christmas cards, and much more!

We just added three new fonts to choose from!!!


Here is how you can enter to win this giveaway:

Make a comment in the guestbook section of the website.

http://www.monkeyseeboutique.com/guestbook.htm

Let us know what you think?

Sign up for our blog, facebook page, or subscribe to our newsletter.

Twitter about our giveaway.

Send a Facebook message to your friends about our giveaway or website.

We'll keep track of your entries {you can enter more than once!} and on October 5 we will put all the names in a hat and draw the lucky winners name!

The Winner IS....PEGGY!

August Giveaway Winner ~ Peggy G.! With seven entries, Peggy had the odds her favor to win the Personalized Lap Desk. Peggy now gets to pick her favorite print, send over her monogram choice and we will ship the lap desk to her!

We will announce September's Giveaway on Friday. Stay tuned and get in your entries!

Gift Wrap!

We added a new gift wrapping area to the website to show you some samples of our gift wrapping {you know it is FREE!}.

We will add some fun holiday wrapping soon. Until then, if you are wanting a purchase wrapped for a particular holiday ~ just let us know the occasion and we will wrap it accordingly!

Now Accepting Visa/Mastercard

That's right! We have teamed up with Authorize Net and can now accept Visa/Mastercard transactions without using Paypal or Google. But, if you LOVE the ease of Paypal {like me} you will still have this option too!

Authorize Net is a fabulous company and is one of the best payment processing companies around. We searched high and low and loved their options and the security measures they take with such precious information!!!

Giveaway!

Check out a great blog by local Memphis mom's and business owners ~ the Hip Hostess! It is a great blog with giveaways, gifting, and hostess ideas. We are featured on the site and hosting a giveaway for one of our monogrammed bins.

http://thehiphostess.blogspot.com/2009/09/monkey-see-boutique-giveaway.html

Getting ready for fall and winter!

We have been busy here at Monkey See Boutique. Filling orders, getting ready for e-parties, and putting new products on the website for fall and winter! So exciting.

I wanted to share with ya'll the new hand knit personalized sweaters, hats, scarves, and mittens that just went on the website today! They are made in the USA which is always a plus! Made of 100% cotton and these little cuties can be washed and dried in the machine! Simply amazing. You get to choose from 21 fabulous colors to customize almost every element of the sweater or accessories.

The sweaters come in sizes ranging from infant - size 12. Hats come in sizes ranging from infant - adult. Matching scarves and mittens for infants - children.

Please allow at least 3 weeks for these to ship out to you. They are custom made to order.

New Products!

I have been super busy filling orders and working on new products...I am so excited about these decorative trash bins...this one I just put on the website. They are so much fun and make fabulous gifts.

New Personalized Bins coming to the website next week...

I worked on these bins this week and wanted to share them with all of you. I think these are great for so many things! You can never have too many bins or trays around the house to organize your things and group items together. It makes life much easier. They also make fabulous gifts ~ just add some stationary, hair accessories, baby items, you name it!

These will be on the website for sale next week.

New Personalized Compacts, Stationary Sets, & Clipboard/Notepad Sets make perfect gifts!!

We just love these new personalized compacts. They are perfect to throw in your purse and make fabulous gifts! Mirrors are on both sides and they are scratch proof, so they will stay pretty! Check them out along with new lunchbox stationary gift sets and clipboard notepad sets.

We are gearing up for the holiday gifting season ~ just for you!

It's a GIVEAWAY!

For back to school, I thought it would be fitting to have a giveaway this month that "fits" the theme. I choose the lap desk because they are great for kids, but also great for adults. You can use it for paying bills, typing on a laptop, writing a note, doing homework, taking on a long car ride, etc.

You will get to choose your favorite laptop design and of course your monogram. I will announce the winner on the blog, facebook page, and September newsletter.

**This weekend I am adding some new design choices!!**

How do you enter? There are a couple of ways to enter:

Make a comment about the website. Let us know what you think? Let us know something you would like us to carry? You can do this on the blog, facebook page, or website.

Sign up for our blog, facebook page, or subscribe to our newsletter.

We'll keep track of your entries {you can enter more than once!} and on September 5 we will put all the names in a hat and draw the lucky winners name!

A very popular item...

Our personalized wine glasses are so popular that we are going to add some new glass styles to our line up. They will arrive next month. So, stay tuned for updates. This grouping is apart of a set we did for a wedding party. Six jumbo sized wine glasses for the bridal party and one smaller glass for the flower girl.

Back to school time...

Well in Memphis we went back to school on Monday, August 10! It has been a wonderfully busy week, and knock on wood everything is going very well. We have eased into our new schedules pretty well.
I have noticed a trend with the orders lately! Back to school is in full swing and since many schools have yet to start until after Labor Day ~ there is still time to get your new goodies. Here are a couple of lunch bags we just shipped out this week.

Giving back and marketing...

When you have a small business or any business, you cater to your clients. You must find creative ways to get involved in the community and market yourself. Have you heard the saying, "if you build it, they will come?" Well, I think part of that is true, but you must set yourself apart from the others whether it's through your products, customer service, brand, and/or creative side when marketing yourself. I try to approach my small business with this model. I am constantly {ask my husband} trying to find or create products that I have not seen in every other store. Through this, I am trying to create a store brand that keeps my clients coming back for more because of the boutique style, quality, customer service, and partly curiosity because they want to see what is in the new items section!
Here is an example of creative marketing. I am constantly being approached for different things, but when an old friend {whom I happen to admire for her drive and business skills as well} approached me ~ I must say she sparked my interest. My old friend {we have known each other since high school} is a professional photographer who has grown her business and created new elements to her business as she saw the need. She is extremely creative and very inspiring to me. She is having a photographers workshop. Giving back to her community and also bringing in other businesses. Monkey See Boutique is donating an item {photo prop} and she also suggested doing a marketing piece to put in everyone's bag. Well, last night my little Riley did not sleep and instead of just sitting doing nothing ~ I worked on my marketing packet for the workshop. I thought it came out pretty good {for an amatuer} and very inexpensive to complete. Just a little time, effort, and love.
I honestly think marketing chances like this one {you don't have to pay hundreds & thousands of dollars for} are the most fun. You are putting your own stamp on your business {not a marketing firm} and reaching out to other small business owners. Giving a little bit back, one day at a time.
Each little packet includes a photo sheet of "Picture Perfect Props" they can find on MSB, a coupon, & my business card. Enjoy!

Christmas time is coming...

Coming to the website next week...some new Christmas goodies! Having a Christmas party or family gathering ~ our new beverage cooler tubs are oh so cute with apple green polka dot ribbon and a monogram. Choose from several cute sayings or monogram with your family name, initial, or three initial monogram.

Also, our selection of prissy plates are perfect for any holiday gathering and beyond. You can change out the ribbon for every holiday or to coordinate with your party or event. For Christmas, we are running a special on the round cake stand, which doubles as a chip & dip server when you flip it upside down. The Christmas round cake stand shown above comes with the red and white polka dot ribbon & is 20% off the regular price!

New Halloween Bags

Tonight we will add some new halloween bags to the website! Completely custom! Use one of our sayings, add a monogram, or use your own verse. Perfect for storing all those treats!

Giveaways coming next month!

Beginning in August, we will host one giveaway a month on our blog and facebook fan page. We will have certain things you need to do to enter for the giveaway {like tweet monkey see boutique, sign up for our blog, or sign up for our fan page, or simply make a comment about the giveaway or website}. More details to come, so stay tuned!

Host an e-party...

During the month of July and through August, we are adding an extra 10% off for your invitees to shop during your e-party! And, of course you still receive 15% of the total product sales towards Monkey See Boutique products. Now, is a great time to have an e-party and begin your holiday shopping. We are adding new products weekly.

Monogrammed Wine Glasses

These monogrammed wine glasses make great gifts and are perfect for weddings, bachelorette parties, girls night out...you name it! These were made for a wedding and I think she'll be thrilled!

Shown is the medium size {14 oz.} using pink & green color combo.

More bags ~ personalized and ready for giving...

I just love how these pink & white market bags turned out with dark navy monogramming. So preppy, so cute! I always recommend using a bold, contrasting monogram with these bags ~ the monogram then "POPS" off the design.

These were purchased as gifts ~ now all she needs to do is bring them to their new homes!