Favorite Fonts

To say that I'm a little bit of a font fanatic is an understatement. I have my favorites (and so do my clients) and here they are for you to select from!

No matter what the occasion or style you are going for... you are sure to find a font to fit!

New Cupcake Birthday Invite

A twist on the traditional stripes and polkadot design that is SO popular here at PDB! Introducing our new design "Icing"... perfect for any little one's birthday bash.

Early Bird Special

Be sure to order your custom holiday photo cards soon! You can take advantage of our great early bird special.

Order 50 photo cards - get 5 FREE. Order 100 or more and get 10 FREE!

We also have some fun freebies that we'll be including in orders... while supplies last!

Hurry ... they are going fast!

More New Holiday Designs

We feel like Santa's elves... always working on a fun new surprise for YOU! Some new designs that we just cranked out of our workshop...



We feel like Santa's elves... always working on a fun new surprise for YOU! Some new designs that we just cranked out of our workshop...

New Holiday Designs

You may think that it's early to start thinking about holiday designs - but it's the perfect time! Before your to do list gets any longer with holiday happenings - choose your design. We will even work with you on color and font changes. You can then add your pic at a later date!

We will be adding many new designs to the holiday gallery soon. Here is a sneak peek!

Congrats to our Recent Winners!

Maria, Carly, Cameron, Michele and Renee!

We look forward to working with you soon!

New Birth Announcement Designs

We are always designing new photo birth announcements for our customers. Here are a few of our latest new ones! So darling, sweet and simple and the perfect way to announce your little one to the world.

New Custom Shower Invites

Whether you are celebrating a new little bundle of joy or your happily ever after - we are happy to custom design your perfect invite! This is a small sample of our recent custom work! Two of our FAVES!!

New Birthday Designs

We've been busy cranking out the new designs! Here are a few of our favorites! They are quickly becoming best sellers!

Recent Custom Photo Card Designs

Congrats to our Recent Winners!

A big cogratulations to our recent winners in blog giveaways across the web:

Emily, Debbie, Michele, Laura, Meagan, Christina, Rainie, Diane & Nicole!

We look forward to working with you all soon!

Thanks for entering and check here for more giveaways soon...

Polka Dot Bumblebee custom photo cards and personalized stationery!

Graduation Custom Photo Cards

So many folks have been asking if we do Graduation custom photo cards, announcements and invites. Well, the answer is YES! Many of our designs can be tweaked for graduation purposes and we are happy to use our color matching technology to match your school colors! We also can do a cap with a color coordinating tassel and scroll.

Here is an example of one of our exclusive graduation custom photo card designs.

Spring Sale! Spring Sale!

I've been so busy with orders that I haven't been able to post about our Spring Sale!
Take advantage of it soon - it's a limited time offer!

Can't wait to work with you on your custom photo cards!

Happy Earth Day!

Photo: NASA

I thought that today would be a wonderful day to talk about ways that Polka Dot Bumblebee is a green business.
Polka Dot Bumblebee is proud to be a green website and works to make conscientious decisions when it comes to our vendors, products and packaging methods.

We use recycled office products and limit packaging materials. In addition, we work with a printer that uses wind powered electricity to generate power. We also participate in a monthly tree planting initiative.

We are proud to be a member of the Co2Stats Project that makes our website environmentally friendly. CO2Stats monitors how much electricity is being used to power this site and you as you browse it, and then it "offsets" the emissions by investing in renewable energy projects that help to counteract global warming.

We are continually reminded of our favorite Native American proverb, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

We are delighted to be featured by WAHM Business Opportunities Blog about being both earth-friendly and mom-owned!

Happy Earth DAY! Now go hug a tree... ;)

Blog Buddy: An Island Life

Need to get a taste of the Island Life? Hop on over to one of my new Blog Buddies, Kailani over at An Island Life

She also happens (*wink*) to be doing a review of Polka Dot Bumblebee custom photo cards & stationery(another *wink*)

If you stop by be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win. And if you subscribe to her blog or blog about it yourself - you will earn another entry!

Whenever I come back from reading her blog - I swear that I have sand in my shoes.... ahhhh... I wish!

I'm off to catch a moment of bliss in paradise! Mahalo!

P.S. Be sure to visit Kailani's beautiful Etsy shop for tropical inspired goodies for the babies in your life!

Toddler Activity: Change It Up

Today's toddler activity isn't about an activity really! It's about a series of activities - and changing up your day! Baby Bee and I did just that today and it was really fun!

Have breakfast in bed...or breakfast for dinner! Always go for an evening walk at the park? Try one first thing in the morning. Bedtime bathtime the ritual? Dive in when it's the middle of the day. You will both love the change of pace and you'll find yourself planning a "change it up day" much more often!

Little Love Notes

With our new line of Personalized Stationery we hope to bring back the art of note writing!

Here is a new favorite design! It is called Love Note!

Stumble Upon - Hope Revolution

One of my newest favorite finds is Stumble Upon. It's a neat little button to add to your toolbar and you can stumble upon some new sites. You rate them with a thumbs up or thumbs down and the handly little icon starts to recognize your likes and dislikes. You also set if for certain interests such as organic living or do it yourself crafts.

I recently stumbled upon a little project known as Hope Revolution. What started out as a random act of kindness has bloomed into a nationwide campaign to spread hope.

Maybe you feel funny about leaving random notes for strangers - then why not create a few hope notes for friends or family and send them to spread the message. The site even has printable pdf ones - but really it can be as simple as writing a favorite quote on your toddler's scribbly drawing or sticking a label with a message on the back of a photo of a flower.

The thing that I like best is that there are no rules and it's open to your interpretation.
So what are you waiting for? Go spread some HOPE. This heart pic was done by Baby Bee. What a masterpiece. I'm one proud mama!!

Hope Revolution

We're a Five Minutes For Mom Best Site

Polka Dot Bumblebee is so honored to be recognized as one of the best mom-owned business sites on the web by the much respected Five Minutes For Mom website.

Congrats Laura!!

Thanks to all of you that buzzed on over to Sweet Pea Cakes Etc. Blog and left a comment about their favorite design!

Congrats to Laura for winning the big prize! I look forward to working with you soon to create your Polka Dot Bumblebee custom photo cards!

Reintroducing our custom candy bar wrappers!

How sweet it is! Our custom candy bar wrappers have always been a huge hit! We mail you a high res digital file and you can print them at home or have them printed at a local printer. Trim, wrap and stick and you will have the perfect addition to your celebration.

Whether it's a birth announcement, first birthday favor or a memorable save the date - Polka Dot Bumblebee will be delighted to create your perfect custom candy bar wrapper!

Choose from our countless pattern and font choices or have us create a custom announcement to match your theme and colors.

Sweet Pea Cakes Etc. Reviews us

Hop on over to the adorable Sweet Pea Cakes Etc. site to check out our review!

Please stop by and be sure to leave a comment on your favorite design so that you will be elegible for the contest!

They expecially loved that we are a green business!

From using recycled office products to working with a printer that utilizes wind powered electricity we are happy to do our part in keeping this earth a better and greener place!

Stop back soon for a blog all about our monthly tree planting initiative!

Ice Cream Social Birthday Invitation

I've enjoyed working with this particular family for several of their custom photo card designs!

This particular one is now one of my all time favorites and I'll soon be adding it to my gallery! Her custom request was simple and I enjoyed creating this darling, whimsical invitation for a darling little girl's 3rd birthday!

Happy Birthday!

New promotion on custom photo cards

The free shipping promo is over! We hope that you enjoyed it and we wanted to extend a new promotion in honor of our anniversary which is coming up!

4 x 6 Custom photo cards are now just $.80 a piece with matching white envelopes.
5 x 7 Custom photo cards are now just $1.05 with matching white envelopes.

You do not need a promo code to take advantage of this offer - you simply use our add to cart buttons on our order page!

Click here to order!

Thanks too to all of the leap year families! We enjoyed working with each and every one of you and we ended up giving away close to 1000 custom photo cards instead of the original 500! Congrats again!

Check in often because we will be having lots of promos, sales, specials, giveaways and contests!

An Old Favorite - Pretty in Pink

This pretty in pink custom photo card announcement continues to be one of my favorites and it's become one of our most popular designs! We love the complimentary pink, green combo and the simple beauty where your photo takes center stage!

Play a Simple Game to Donate Mosquito Nets/Combat Malaria

Grammy Bee introduced me to a great site tonight that I knew I wanted to share with you all!

Please visit the site Nothing But Nets and play a quick game of "Deliver The Net" and a mosquito bed net will be delivered in your name. They usually sell for $10. You can play up until April 25th and you are not limited to how many times.

Be sure to send this link to friends and family too!

Here's a little more on the program from the site:

"In the poorest parts of the world, where effective window screens are lacking, insecticide-treated bed nets are arguably the most cost-effective way to prevent malaria transmission. One bed net costs just $10 to buy and deliver to individuals in need. One bed net can safely last a family for about four years, thanks to a long-lasting insecticide woven into the net fabric."

Studies show that use of insecticide-treated bed nets can reduce transmission as much as 90% in areas with high coverage rates.

Currently, nets are treated with pyrethroid insecticides. These insecticides have very low levels of toxicity to humans, but are highly toxic to insects. By repelling the mosquitoes, a bed net can protect other people in the room outside the net. When enough nets are used in an area, the insecticide used in the net fabric makes entire communities safer even for those individuals who don’t have nets.

Please leave me a comment on this campaign after you have played or email me and I will choose one winner at random to win 25 custom photo cards.

Interview at the WAHM Spot

Stop on over to The WAHM Spot for inspiration and resources for work at home moms. My favorite feature is the WAHM mom interviews!

We were delighted to be featured in their interview column last week.

Get to know the Queen Bee behind Polka Dot Bumblebee by clicking HERE!

Check out our review on This Full House

During the Ultimate Blog Party I met so many wonderful WAHMs and Liz from This Full House is one of them. I love, love, love her tagline, "Don't make me have to use UPPERCASE". How cute is that?

You'll love this busy mom's take on life and we are happy to call her one of our new blogging friends. Check in for recipes, photos, reviews and funny blog posts that will have you coming back for more!

One of her "freshed brewed reviews" was us! See what Liz had to say about Polka Dot Bumblebee

And leave a comment and tell her we sent ya!

Product Review: Fanci Free Diaper Bags

I consider myself to be somewhat of a diaper bag afficianado. I have small ones, big ones and in-between ones. I have a striped Mothership bag, a camo inspired Wendy Bellisimo one, an asian brocade one, one for short trips (handmade by a WAHM) an industrial-not-too-cutesy-one for daddy to carry and finally a Fanci Free All In Motion bag in the Circles In Motion pattern.

It is my new favorite and here is why:

2 side pockets for sippie cups or bottled water

one large pocket in center and two on either side

made of durable light weight water resistant nylon

included bag for wet/dirty items

protective metal feet

and my two favorite details:

secure cell phone holder that is attached to the top of the bag *brilliant*

long strap stay put strap and they include a stroller strap attachment too.

This gets my Polka Dot Bumblebee
stamp of approval!

Get yours here!

Could this be any cuter?

We had to share this adorable custom first birthday design that couldn't be any cuter! We love the color combo and fresh look! Tooooo adorable!

Beautiful Birth Announcement

This custom birth announcement design is becoming very popular!

We love the classic simplicity of it!

Font Options

Did we mention that we have hundreds of fonts? No Kidding! And you are welcome to change them and/or the patterns to create your perfect announcement! Check out our favorite fonts and patterns!

This family happened to substitute with one of my favorite fonts! It's the one that I used on my precious nephews announcements and has a special place in my heart.

A new friend

I wanted to share with you the adorable custom birth announcement that we did for a wonderful family! Welcome precious little one to the world! That is one adorable baby girl!

We love that the proud parents chose to go with a fresh spring green in place of the usual pink.

Another Leap Year Baby

I wanted to share this other adorable leap year baby custom photo card! We have had a tremendous response to our promotion of 500 free custom photo birth announcements. We've reached our fill of 10 families, but we have a great deal for other famillies interested. Simply email us for the details.

Congratulations ERICA! our UBP winner

A big ol' congrats to Erica of Butterfly Kisses winner of 50 custom photo cards from Polka Dot Bumblebee! We see that Erica welcomed a little one on Easter morning. Congratulations Erica!

We look forward to working with you to create a boy photo birth announcement sometime soon!

Stay tuned...we'll be choosing a winner from our comments by the end of this week that will 50 more custom photo cards!

Good luck!

Who is Expecting?

Of course you know about the big name celebs who are expecting - but did you know that Marissa Jaret Winkur (actress and current DWTS contestant) and Judah Miller (television writer) are expecting their first bundle of joy? Marissa is a seven year cervical cancer survivor and had her uterus removed as part of treatment. The couple is using a surrogate mommy (with their biological child) who is five months along.


And Matt Hoover and Suzy Preston of Biggest Loser 2 fame will be adding to their bunch! They are busy with 9 month old Rex and will be even busier with 2 under 2 in a matter of months!

Congratulations from Polka Dot Bumblebee to both couples!

Happy Spring! Toddler Activity #3 Coffee Filter Flowers

This is a super simple activity. You need 3 things in the way of supplies!

Coffee filters
markers
spray bottle full of water

You'll want to lay a box or a plastic sheet under the project area. Simply color in the center of the coffee filter with one color. Then let toddlers go to town coloring the outside with different vibrant colors. Spray with a water bottle and watch the magic! It's like instant tie dye!

You then let them dry. Once they are dry stack a few, gather them in the center and use a green pipe cleaner as a stem... or simply twist tightly as we did! These look darling gathered in a vase or pitcher and will last forever! Perfect for a Mother's Day or May Day gift.

A big thanks to Auntie L who gave us this idea!