The answers to all of your questions on:
• Ordering
• Customization options
• Turnaround time & shipping
• Water bottle labels
• Paper products
• Invitation photographs
• DIY printables & crafting
• Other inquiries

Ordering

Can I order a quantity other than what's shown in your shop?

There are no limits to the number of items we can print. Please use our product chart to request a reserved listing for any items that you need, in any quantities that you need.

How do I customize my items?

When you make a purchase, please include your customization information in the "notes to seller" at checkout. For many items, this will simply be a name and an age. For invitations and other items with more text, please specify the exact wording you wish to use.

Both printed items and DIY printables will be professionally typeset and fully personalized for you. We do not offer "type-it-yourself" printable files.

Where should I send the pictures for my photo invitation?

Please email your pictures to photos@chickabug.com.

Can I see a proof BEFORE I order?

No items will be customized until payment is received.

There are three sticker designs shown in the example. Can I just choose one design?

Of course! Just let us know which design(s) you want in the "notes to seller" at checkout.

Can I order DIY files instead of printed items such as invitations and water labels?

Yes! Refer to the product chart for your options.

Do you offer party packages?

If we've learned anything while running our shop, it's that no two parties are alike! So, all of our items are sold individually so that you can pick and choose only what you need.

How do I check out on Etsy?

Please see Etsy Help: "How do I purchase an item on Etsy?"

How do I pay using PayPal?

Please see PayPal's help guide, here: PayPal Help

Do I have to have a PayPal account to order?

You can place an order on Etsy using your credit card, but without logging into PayPal. (Payment is processed through PayPal, but you don't have to have an account.) Click here for more information.

[ top ]

Customization options

Can I change the wording?

Yes! There is no "standard" text for anything. Any item can be modified to suit any event — for example, a birthday invitation can be customized to suit a baby shower, bridal shower, housewarming party, etc. Just let us know the exact text you would like in the "notes to seller" at checkout.

Can I change the colors?

Yes! MINOR design changes are included at no extra charge, such as changing the color of a font. MAJOR design changes (updating complex illustrations, patterns, or other artwork) may require a $10 design fee, however.

Can this theme be changed to pink for a girl?

Many themes are available in "girly colors" even though the examples shown in the shop are "boy colors." (For example, the country-western and golf themes are both available in pink.) Please inquire if you're interested!

I have twins. Can I add two names?

Yes! We can customize any product to include two names instead of one at no extra charge, whether for twins or for joint birthday parties. (Triplets are good to go, too!)

My party theme isn't available yet. Can you design something for me?

Due to demand, Heather cannot take on custom design work at this time. But, be sure to check the theme list — several themes are always in development (not listed on Etsy) and your theme may be available by request.

We also offer several "design it yourself" items that are fully customizable based on colors, patterns, and fonts, and find that these items will coordinate with almost any party theme.

[ top ]

Shipping

What's your turnaround time?

PRINTED INVITATIONS & THANK YOUS
Heather will send you a free proof of your design within 24-48 hours. After you approve the proof, your cards will be printed off-site by a professional printer. Generally it takes 1-3 business days for cards to be printed. Your cards are packaged and shipped immediately after they are finished. Please note that timing is totally dependent on the printer's schedule and rush orders are not available for printed cards.

STICKERS & LABELS
Heather will send you a free proof of your design within 24-48 hours. After you approve the proof, she will print and ship your order within 2 business days. Please also allow an appropriate amount of time for delivery by first class mail.

DIY FILES
DIY files are personalized and emailed on a first-come, first-served basis and always ASAP! Turnaround time is almost always within 24-48 hours for digital files. Guaranteed delivery is within 4 business days.

Can you ship internationally?

We can ship internationally via International Priority Mail, but we are NOT set up to accept international orders on Etsy. The cost of shipping is calculated for each individual order based on package weight, so please contact us for a reserved listing if you need your package to be shipped outside of the United States.

Of course, DIY printable files are "shipped" worldwide! You can purchase DIY files on Etsy no matter where you live.

Has my order shipped yet?

You will receive a shipping confirmation email from PayPal and also a confirmation email via Etsy when your order has shipped.

What's the tracking number for my package?

Please refer to the shipping confirmation email from PayPal and/or Etsy — a link to tracking information is included.

What shipping carrier do you use?

All packages are shipped via USPS (United States Postal Service). Stickers and labels are shipped via USPS First Class mail. Orders that include invitations are shipped via USPS Priority Mail. All shipments include a tracking number.

Where do you ship from?

Packages are shipped from Maryland, so orders arrive on the East Coast slightly quicker than orders shipped to the West Coast.

Why is my package taking so long if you mailed it on Tuesday?

Please understand that the U.S. postal service does not guarantee delivery times no matter which shipping option is used, including Priority Mail and Express Mail. As everyone knows, every now and again you mail something and delivery just takes a tiny bit longer than normal. So, your patience is very much appreciated! Keep an eye on your tracking number for updates, and rest assured that if anything goes wrong with your order at any point, we will work with you to make things right.

[ top ]

Water bottle labels

Are your water bottle labels waterproof?

Yes — 100% waterproof. Throw them in a swimming pool and leave them for a week and they'll still look fabulous!

What brands do the water bottle labels fit?

Any brand that has a 2" tall label on it — or a label close to that size — will work beautifully. Your best bet is to simply take a ruler with you when you shop for your water (or use a business card for reference — the short side is 2" tall).

We also have a guide to several popular brands of water bottle brands here.

Should I take the manufacturer's labels off before putting the new ones on?

Yes. The new, personalized labels will look wrinkly if you stick them on over the manufacturer's labels.

[ top ]

Paper products

How are your cards printed?

Invitations and thank you cards are professionally printed by a local, eco-friendly print shop, then Heather packages and ships them from her studio. The cards are a very high quality, 130 pound cardstock with a silk finish. Each card measures 5"x7" and comes with a white envelope.

Are the cards nice and thick?

The cards are printed on the heaviest paper that the print press can handle. We get lots of compliments on the quality of our invitations (and so will you!). : )

Are stickers and address labels matte or shiny?

Matte.

Are water bottle labels matte or shiny?

Slightly shiny — they are made using a special vinyl label stock.

Can you make custom paper plates or napkins? Do you sell paper straws, favor boxes, table runners, etc.?

No — not yet, anyway!

[ top ]

Invitation photographs

I ordered a photo invitation. Where should I send my photo?

Please email it to photos@chickabug.com.

What size photo do you need?

The bigger the better! Images used for printing need to be 300 DPI at their printed size for optimum print quality. So for example, a photo that prints at 5 inches across needs to be 1,500 pixels wide.

If possible, send non-professional photos fresh off the camera - not cropped, retouched, or resized.

Can my photo be black and white? Can you crop it? Can it be retouched?

Yes! Heather is extremely proficient in Photoshop, so it is no problem at all for her to work with your photo. She always color-corrects photos when necessary to ensure the best possible finished product.

[ top ]

DIY printables & crafting

What kind of files do you send?

All of our printables come as PDFs, except for invitations that will be developed as photographs (for this, you need a JPEG file).

Please use Acrobat Reader to view and print PDF files. You can download Acrobat Reader for free here.

Can I type into the files? Can I add my own pictures or text?

No. All files come fully personalized and ready to print.

Can I print as many copies as I want?

Yes.

What kind of paper should I print on?

Let me take the pressure off: there's no wrong type of paper to use! Here are the most common types of paper. All of these types of paper can be purchased at Staples, Office Depot, or other office supply stores.

Card stock: A very heavy paper to use for invitations, favor tags, place cards, and other items that need to have a good weight and a matte finish. You can really print almost anything on card stock.

Cover stock: A medium-weight paper that you can use for banners, cupcake toppers and buffet cards if you happen to have it. (No need to go and buy it just for this purpose, though, when a pack of card stock is good for everything!)

Photo paper: You can find photo paper in matte or glossy finishes. If you like this style of paper, it's good for invitations that include pictures.

Uncut sticker stock: You can print circle designs onto sticker stock and then punch out each circle with a craft punch. Uncut sticker stock is sold as full-sheet (8.5"x11") shipping labels.

What size paper do I print to?

All DIY printables are set up to be printed onto 8.5"x11" sheets of paper, except for invitations that are going to be developed as photos.

What if my home printer isn't very good?

Affordable printing services are available at Staples, FedEx/Kinko's, Office Max, Office Depot, Minuteman Press, and a variety of other print shops. For most items, your best bet is to take the file in and say: "Please print this on the heaviest white card stock you have." They can even cut invitations and thank you cards out for you for a small fee.

If you like, you can also take in your own paper or sticker stock. It costs a tiny bit less at each store if you provide your own supplies.

We have a guide to printing costs at the most common print shops here.

How do I cut cards out?

For my own papercrafting, I use a ruler and an Xacto knife. You can also use a paper cutter, whether it's the old-school chopping type or a newer, fancy drag-and-cut style. If you need help finding cutting tools, go to your local hobby store or craft store (JoAnn's, Michaels, etc.) and ask for advice in the scrapbooking department.

How do I cut out circles?

Use a 2" craft punch. You can buy a craft punch at any craft store (JoAnn's, Michaels, etc.) in the scrapbooking department. There are lots of brands to choose from and all of them will work the same way, but I personally like the Fiskars Round'n'Round.

Can I print circles onto a pre-cut sticker sheet?

No. All printable circles, including return address circles, are set up to be printed onto uncut sticker stock and punched with a 2" craft punch. You can find uncut sticker stock at Staples and other office supply stores — look for 8.5"x11" shipping labels.

How do I make cupcake toppers?

Please see this step-by-step photo tutorial.

How do I make my water bottle labels waterproof?

Note: The water bottle labels that we sell (printed and mailed) are 100% waterproof. This question only applies to DIY printable labels.

If you are printing water bottle labels on your own from a DIY file, you can print onto regular paper and make your labels water resistant by using the method shown in this tutorial.

[ top ]

Other inquiries

Do you offer wholesale products?

A select few non-personalized items are available. Please email Heather with inquiries.

Do you sell your customized items through any third parties?

No.

Can you do a design project for my business?

Heather takes freelance design projects when time allows. Please feel free to contact her to discuss your particular project. Rates start at $60 per hour depending on the scope of your project.

[ top ]