CUSTOM KEEPSAKE FAQ
ORDERING PROCESS
HOW DO I CUSTOMIZE MY KEEPSAKE?
In the personalization gallery you will see all the keepsake styles available, and under each one, a list of the personalization options offered for it. After you view your choices, click on the corresponding button to start your order where you will be able to select these options for your keepsake. The video below shows the easy process:
The collection of keepsakes is growing, and I am always open to suggestions from you!
HOW DO I GIVE YOU MY PERSONALIZATION CHOICES?
The personalization gallery lists all the options that are available to customize your keepsake. Look them over and make your choices. After you have reviewed and decided on the options, go to the custom keepsake listing of your choice by clicking the button “click to order…”, make your selections, and add your item to the cart to complete your purchase!
HOW DO I SEND YOU THE OUTFIT I WOULD LIKE FOR MY KEEPSAKE?
If you are located in the US: Once you place your order through the website, I will email you a mailing label that you can print and use to send me your outfit/fabric in an envelope. Just make sure the weight doesn't exceed 1 lb. If you are ordering more than one keepsake, the weight limit will be higher.
If you are located outside the US: Once you place your order through the website, I will give you the studio address to which you can mail me your outfit/fabric in an envelope, using the shipping method of your choice.
HOW DO I ORDER A FASHION KEEPSAKE BUT WITH A CUSTOM GIRL ILLUSTRATION?
Here is the link to order a fashion keepsake with a custom girl illustration. This is our best seller! The face of the girl will be custom drawn, following photos you send me. If it is a keepsake for an adult or grown child, the drawing will be customized to be inspired by her (more details in the next paragraph below). If it is a keepsake for a younger girl or a baby, the drawing will be inspired by what I imagine her to look like as an adult! So far my clients have been pleased with my drawings :)
Further steps will be sent to you by email once your order has been placed.
Examples of custom girl illustrations can be viewed in the listing or on the Pokidots Instagram account.
A FEW MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CUSTOM ILLUSTRATION OF THE GIRLS:
All my illustrations are created in my signature fashion illustration style: all girls’ eyes are closed, they are "floating," and they are wearing ballerina-style flats. The face and hair of the custom illustrated girl will be inspired by a picture of the baby or girl you send me. I will draw what I imagine her to look like when she is grown up. Customization includes face traits, hair style and color, skin color, and any specific traits I find, such as freckles or special birth marks.
If you would like a keepsake with a custom girl illustration, follow this link to the "Custom fashion keepsake w/custom base illustration" in the shop. I will email you next steps once I receive your order.
If you have any questions or if you would like to personalize your keepsake differently, I am open to suggestions. Actually, I love suggestions and I often keep them as permanent services ;) Reach me at keepsakes@pokidots.com
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR ME TO RECEIVE MY KEEPSAKE AFTER I ORDER IT?
One keepsake: within 24 hours of your order, I will email you the shipping label that you need to use to send me the items of clothing to be used for your keepsake. During this time, I will be preparing the customized base illustration with the choices you made at the time of your order. After I receive the items of clothing, allow 2 to 4 weeks for your order to be completed and shipped. Once I mail it, I will send you a shipping notice email with the tracking number. Once they are mailed, the keepsakes typically arrive within 2 to 3 days with USPS Priority Mail in the US, 7 to 10 days in Canada, and 2 to 3 weeks everywhere else.
For Premium and multiple keepsakes, it takes longer. I will contact you if you order more than one piece to give you an accurate estimate.
I PURCHASED A KEEPSAKE AND MADE MY CHOICES. HOW LONG AFTER I RECEIVE THE MAILING LABEL DO I HAVE TO SEND YOU THE ITEMS OF CLOTHING TO BE USED IN THE KEEPSAKE?
Please send me your outfit or fabric within 1 week of receiving your shipping label. Since you placed your order, I would love to receive your items and start working on your keepsake right away, rather than keep your order pending :) If you aren't sure what to use for your keepsake yet, a better option would be to buy a voucher and redeem it when you're ready. This way all of your choices will surely be available.
KEEPSAKE DETAILS
HOW BIG IS THE FINAL PIECE?
The illustration area is 8x10 inches, and the frame is 12x16 inches. I'm 5'4", and this is me holding the frame :) A white window mat is included; a colored mat can be used on some styles.
WHAT IS THE FRAME MADE OF?
The frame is made of particleboard and has a laminate finish (your choice of color from the options available at the time you order). The glazing is made of a durable acrylic which has three benefits over a glass glazing: it makes the frame safer to use in a nursery, it reduces the glare so the art can be seen better, and it makes shipping safer and more secure.
WHAT IS THE ILLUSTRATION PRINTED ON?
The base illustration is printed on Canson archival fine art paper, using high-quality inks. The paper is acid-free.
The window mat included is also acid-free so it preserves the quality of the paper.
IS THE FINAL PIECE HAND-SIGNED?
Yes, the final piece will be hand-signed by me once completed, and there will be a personalized note on the back that includes care instructions for the keepsake and a little surprise for you :)
BEHIND THE SCENES
HOW DO YOU CUT THE CLOTHES AND WHICH PARTS DO YOU USE?
I like to seize the best parts of the outfit you send me. If there are graphics or embroideries, I definitely try to include most of them in the final artwork. As much as possible, I like to use closures, such as buttons, snaps, and zippers. Trims, piping, and special details are also used in the keepsakes if the design allows.
If the piece of clothing is stained, I often like to use the stained part. This shows that the piece was worn and loved and that it packs many precious memories.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE UNUSED FABRIC?
I typically discard the unused pieces when the finished keepsake has been delivered. The idea of the keepsakes is to transform the clothes you've kept in the drawer into works of art, not give you a work of art and something to still keep in your drawer :)
DO YOU USE OTHER MATERIALS?
If I see fit, I add material from my own collection to complete the pieces, such as tulle, ribbons, lace, rhinestones, and other accessories as accents. I also sew pieces together and sometimes paint over them to create a beautiful, clean finish.
PACKAGING AND SHIPPING
HOW IS THE FINAL PIECE SHIPPED?
The final piece is beautifully and carefully wrapped and shipped in a corrugated cardboard box with paper and/or air bag fillings. There will be "FRAGILE" labels on the box, because the final framed piece is fragile and should be treated as such!
Check out this cool video of the packaging process :) click on the picture below.
DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY?
You bet I do! Keepsakes have found homes on all the earth's continents! Please note that since COVID, some shipping methods might be unavailable, and if that's the case with your country, I will let you know in advance.
VOUCHERS AND CODES
HOW DO I APPLY THE SIBLING BUNDLE DISCOUNT IF I AM PURCHASING MULTIPLE KEEPSAKES?
If you are purchasing more than one keepsake, make your choices for each one separately, add them to the cart, and when you are ready to check out, you will find in the cart a field labeled “Discount code.” This is where you can type your sibling discount code: 2 keepsakes: $50 off with code 2SIBLINGS, 3 keepsakes: $85 off with code 3SIBLINGS, and 4 keepsakes: $110 off with code 4SIBLINGS. When you enter the code and you click "Apply," the discount will be reflected in the final amount and you are now ready to pay and send your order! Easy peasy :)
WHAT ARE THE KEEPSAKE VOUCHERS AND HOW CAN THEY BE USED?
When you purchase a keepsake voucher, you will receive a unique code that can be used one time to redeem one custom keepsake. If you choose the card voucher, a card will be mailed to you (or to a recipient of your choice) in an envelope with a ribbon. The unique code will be printed on the back of the card. If you choose the digital voucher, an email containing your unique code will be sent to you (or to a recipient of your choice).
One voucher code can be used to redeem any one baby keepsake from the shop. Voucher codes cannot be used for custom fashion illustrations. If you have a baby keepsake voucher and would like to have a fashion keepsake with custom illustration, please contact me.
Once the keepsake is ready to be redeemed with the code, go through the usual ordering process on the website, including making all your personalization choices. At checkout, enter the code number of your voucher in the "Discount code" field, and the price of the keepsake will be waived.
Continue checking out to pay for the shipping of your keepsake, and you are done! The rest of the process is the same as when you purchase a keepsake without a code (see questions 2 to 4).
PAYMENTS AND RETURNS
WHAT IS YOUR RETURN AND REFUND POLICY?
Unfortunately, no returns or refunds can be made on any of the custom keepsakes after a shipping label has been issued.
DO YOU HAVE PAYMENT OPTIONS/PLANS?
We have a couple of options:
Afterpay is available at checkout (allows you to pay in 4 interest-free payments),
A "Pay Later" option through PayPal is available as a method of payment as well,
If you have something else in mind, please contact me and I will give you payment plan options. All payment plans still require 50% of the payment up front, and the remainder of the payment before the keepsake is shipped to you.
You might also want to sign up for access to occasional private sales. The keepsake prices are reduced during these sale events.