We're almost there! Why not save 25%?

We're still busy putting the finishing touches on the new PunkyJane.com, making sure it's perfect, but we've made a lot of progress over the last couple of weeks.

Two more weeks to save!
To help celebrate the unveiling, we set up a special coupon code...and now it's good through August 15th! Use the code PardonOurDust and save 25% on your purchase.

Had your eye on something you don't see it on our site? 
Please don't hesitate to contact us!

What will you use your discount on?

• Have you seen our Write On Wipe Off Jewelry?

• We just added a new Ready to Ship Section

• How about a Mark Your Calendar Necklace?

Looking forward to hearing what you think! Happy Shopping!

Pardon Our Cyber Dust...

We've been a little quiet around here...not posting updates or sending emails...but we've been working like crazy behind the scenes to rebuild our online shop.

Drum Roll Please...
We are officially live at the
new and improved www.PunkyJane.com!

We are still adding products and working out the bugs, so feel free to contact us if you don't see your favorites or have any problems on the new site.

This redesign means we'll have some wonderful new whizzbang features and your shopping experience will be even easier.

Time to Save! 
To help celebrate the unveiling, we've set up a special coupon code. Please use the code PardonOurDust to save 25% on your purchase, now through July 31st.

Had your eye on something we haven't yet added to the new site?
Just let us know...we'll make that a priority and personally get back to you when it's available. And of course, your discount will be honored.

Looking forward to hearing what you think! Happy Shopping!

Flash Sale! Three Days Only!

FLASH SALE!

Use the code ‘FLASHFEB16’ (no quotes) 

and save 25% at www.PunkyJane.com 

[Valid now through Friday, 2/12/16]

Happy Shopping!

10 New Designs Stamps Now Available!

We're always excited when we add new stamps to our collection. Check out the 10 news designs we now have available.

Here are the new additions:

• a smiley face
• a hummingbird
• a leaf
• a leafy branch
• a 4-leaf clover
• a starfish
• an adorable tutu
• a spiral
• a camera
• Buddha

We've used the camera on our Stay Focused necklace, and the tutu on our Eat. Sleep. Dance. necklace.

Which is your favorite new stamp? What would you use it on and how would you personalize it?

Let us know and your idea may be created as a new design!

As always, you can see our design stamps, as well as fonts, borders, chains, etc. in our Planning Tools section at www.PunkyJane.com.

Enjoy!

Simple Charm Necklaces Make Layering Easy

Wow...it's been a while. How have you been?

I know...the Summer is speeding right by. I can't believe school starts in three weeks!

We are in for a heat wave...triple digits for the next several days. How's the weather where you are?

We've got something new we wanted to share...Simple Charms. Part of our Simply Charming Collection, these little beauties are perfect to layer with other necklaces or wear alone. You can also add them to any Build Your Own creation.

And soon, we'll offer adjustable chains so the layering is even easier!

We are in the process of adding more charms this week, so keep checking back.

Be sure to let us know what you think, or if there are other charms you'd like to see.

It's been nice catching up!

Hand Stamping in Action at Punky Jane

Are you curious about how your Punky Jane Jewelry is made? Have you ever wondered what the heck hand stamping means?

We put together a little video over on our shiny new YouTube channel that shows some hand stamping in action.

Check it out...

Gold Filled vs. Gold Plated (and other Punky Jane Jargon Explained)

At Punky Jane, we only use high-quality materials. We use supplies made in the good old USA whenever possible, and only buy from trusted sources.

In today's post about Punky Jane Jargon, we're exploring some of the MATERIALS we use.

Gold Filled vs. Gold Plated :: Our gold filled pieces are made from high quality 14k/20k double clad sheet with a gold layer on both sides, NOT gold plated sheet.

Also known as "rolled gold" or "rolled gold plate", gold filled is composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. Some high quality gold-filled pieces have the same appearance as 14 karat (58%) gold. In the USA the quality of gold filled is defined by the Federal Trade Commission. If the gold layer is 10 kt fineness the minimum layer of karat gold in an item stamped GF must equal at least 1/10 (10%) the weight of the total item. If the gold layer is 12 kt or higher the minimum layer of karat gold in an item stamped GF must equal at least 1/20 (5%) the weight of the total item.

Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often copper or silver (to make silver-gilt), by chemical or electrochemical plating.


Sterling Silver :: An alloy of fine silver that contains 92.5% fine silver mixed with other metals, usually copper. Mixing the other metal with the soft fine silver makes it stronger. You'll see many pieces marked with a ".925" to designate that it's sterling. Because of the additional metal mixed in, sterling will oxidize more quickly. Most of our designs are created with U.S.-sourced, reclaimed (recycled) or third-party certified to be ethically mined.


Fine Silver :: 99.9% pure silver. A much softer metal, fine silver isn't used for practical objects like silverware. You will often see fine silver pieces marked with a ".999" symbol. We use fine silver wire to create our Infinity and Gratitude Symbols.  


PMC aka Precious Metal Clay :: PMC is a recycled product. During photo processing, silver is recovered. That silver is mixed in with a binder making a clay-like material that can be worked, rolled, formed, stamped, etc. and then fired to create beautiful, fine silver pieces. Our Rustic Dragonfly necklace is an example.


Swarovski Crystals :: We carry three different types of Swarovski crystals: flatbacks, dangles, and channel sets. Our flatback Swarovski crystals are used to highlight your special date on our Mark Your Calendar Necklaces and Charms & Pins, as well as accents on other pieces. Our Swarovski crystal dangles hang on a sterling silver head pin and are added to necklaces as charms.   Our Swarovski channel set crystals are available in both silver and gold plated and are added to necklaces as charms.


All of our chains, clasps, and other components are U.S.A. made, with the exception of a couple of small components that are not available from U.S. suppliers 


Interested in learning more about some of the Techniques we use? Check out our previous post.

Stayed tuned...more to come!


  

Hand Stamped vs. Engraved (and other Punky Jane Jargon explained)

 

Mark Your Calendar® Cuff Links

We thought it would be nice to explain some of the jargon we use, not only around the studio, but also in our product descriptions.

Today, we are focusing on TECHNIQUES:

Hand stamped vs. engraved :: Our pieces are hand stamped by striking individual steel stamps with a hammer. This creates pieces that are totally unique. Engraving can be done with a computer-aided machine.

Gauge ::  The gauge of metal is simply a measurement of its thickness. In the United States (and jewelry making world), sheet metal is measured using the Brown and Sharpe Gauge. Oddly enough, the larger the gauge, the thinner the metal. For more information on gauge, see our blog post, here.  

Soldering :: Soldering joins two or more metal items by melting and flowing a filler metal (with a lower melting point) into the joint. Because soldering does not melt the two items being joined it is different from welding. All of our cuff links feature a sterling silver cuff link soldered to a sterling silver hand stamped piece.
 
Oxidization :: Most of our pieces are oxidized (or blackened), meaning the letters, numbers, and other impressions are filled in. Sterling silver will continue to oxidize over time. For tips on keeping your piece clean, see our blog post, here.

Brushed vs. polished finish :: Customers are given a choice of a brushed or polished finish on many of our pieces. Our brushed finish is a less shiny, almost matte finish while our polished finish is quite shiny. 


Stay tuned...we'll be posting more soon!

Jewelry Care: Tune-up Services from Punky Jane Jewelry

While it's normal for sterling silver jewelry to show gentle wear and oxidize over time, if your Punky Jane piece is dirty and heavily tarnished, we are more than happy to tune-up your piece.

Jewelry tune-up includes:
- Cleaning and removal of tarnish on all sterling silver components [stamped pieces, jump rings, chains]
- Polishing and refinishing
- Re-oxidizing/blackening stamped characters

To show what a tune-up can do for your Punky Jane piece, we found a couple of sample pieces that had just been sitting out in the open in the studio, and unworn, for quite some time. They were heavily tarnished and didn't look very nice, but most pieces won't be this severe (unless you have an allergy). After they went through the tune-up process they were bright, shiny, and ready to wear again!

After your clean and shiny piece is returned, we recommend following our sterling silver jewelry care tips in our FAQ section or this blog post on 'Caring for Your Punky Jane'.

Before and After a Punky Jane Jewelry Tune-up

In most cases, the only cost will be $6 in shipping, which covers USPS First Class shipping and handling of your piece both ways within the United States. After purchase, we will send a pre-paid and addressed return label to you via email for you to send your piece back.

Also, just because your piece isn't as shiny as the day you got it, doesn't mean it needs a tune-up. Pieces with fingerprints and light smudges can easily be cleaned using a Sunshine Polishing Cloth. For lightly tarnished pieces, we recommend starting with our white Polishing Pads and following with a Sunshine Polishing Cloth, both available here.

PLEASE NOTE...we can only tune up and repair Punky Jane Jewelry pieces.

Ready for a tune up?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Punky Jane Jewelry

Mother's Day is a little over a month away...have you thought about the special moms in your life? Punky Jane offers hand stamped personalized jewelry for any and every mom.

While we've put together a Mother's Day Gift Guide according to style, here are a few of our most popular designs....

Like our Mark Your Calendar Necklace with Fancy Border Name Charm...

Whether you need one calendar or three, our Mark Your Calendar Collection is highly customizable with additional discs and crystals. Be sure to check out the entire collection.

Our Domed Mother's Necklace with Crystals is another great option!

How about our Itty Bitty Mixed Metal Name Tag Necklace?

As always, you can create your own one-of-a-kind piece using our Build Your Own Itty Bitty or Build Your Own Simply Charming sections.

Be sure to order your gifts early! Orders placed by Friday, April 18th will ship no later than Monday, May 5th. Choose your shipping method accordingly.

Hey PJ! What's New?

Have you seen the latest designs from Punky Jane? Check out a few of our favs...

Mark Your Calendar® Keychain - Round

Personalized Sterling Silver Tag Necklace

Periodic Table Keychain

Be sure to check out all of our new arrivals here.

Last Minute Handmade Gifts

Infinity Toggle Bracelet

We are excited to announce that we've just posted an entire section of Last Minute Gifts. Everything in this section will be shipped within two business days of payment.

We're posting just a few samples here. Be sure to check out our entire selection.

You Are Braver Necklace

It's not too late to have unique handmade gifts under the tree!

Hand Stamped Compass Necklace

Happy Holidays!

12 Days of Savings!

We are so excited to announce our 12 DAYS of SAVINGS!

There's a new code for each day. Notice how the savings gets a little lower each day? Shop early and be rewarded!

It's starts today...use the code PJ12days25 and save 25%.

Codes good on the specified day only at www.PunkyJane.com and not valid on 14k gold.

Don't forget to check out our holiday ordering deadlines.

'Tis the Season of Savings!

How to Care for Your Punky Jane

Thought we'd take a minute to review some tips on how to care for your hand stamped and personalized Punky Jane Jewelry.

Here are a few guidelines to keep your piece made with sterling (.925) or fine silver (.999) looking its best:

• Don’t wear your jewelry in water, or allow it to be exposed to chemicals...they will damage the finish and oxidation. Even perfumes, lotions and sprays can damage the finish. 
• Don't hang your jewelry in or near the bathroom, or any other damp area. This will dramatically speed oxidation.
• Don’t use dip-style cleaners...they will remove the oxidation you want to keep (blackening of the letters). It’s best to use a soft cloth made especially for jewelry polishing (like a Sunshine Polishing Cloth), and polish very gently. 
• After your jewelry is clean, you can store it in a zip closure bag if you won't be wearing it for awhile. If you bag a dirty piece, the oxidation will move very quickly.
• If your piece has a brushed finish, the finish will lighten a bit with normal wear and the polishing cloth will speed that up.
• If the oxidation in the letters gets a little lighter, it will darken again over time through the natural oxidation process. 
• Remember, the best way to keep your jewelry from tarnishing is to wear it! Please note that it’s normal for silver jewelry to show gentle wear. Silver is a soft metal.

And remember, you can find this and other great info in our FAQs section.

If you ever have questions about how to care for your piece, don't hesitate to contact us.

Simply Charming – More Ways to Build Your Own Creation

Our Simply Charming Memorial Glass Locket

You may have checked out our Build Your Itty Bitty section or our Simply Charming Collection. Both allow you to order one of our popular combinations, or start with a chain and simply add charms and crystals, as well as hand stamped and personalized discs.

We are so excited to announce yet another way for you to build your own Punky Jane creation!

Start with this sterling locket made with antique glass and add to it.

Our new Simply Charming Glass Lockets section allows you to order one of our popular combinations, or start with the sterling locket and build your own by adding charms and crystals. You can even order additional message discs for inside the locket and switch them out. (We like options.)

Our Simply Charming Glass Lockets let you create a truly personalized keepsake with a vintage feel.

Add clusters of charms and crystals.

Order an extra message disc
and switch them out.

Handmade for the Holidays...Start Your Shopping Early

For many of us, it's tough to think about holiday shopping before Halloween. For others, most of your shopping is already done and you have your purchases hidden throughout the house.

I tend to fall somewhere in the middle. While I haven't started yet, I won't be waiting until the last minute either. My biggest struggle if I shop early is remembering where I stashed the gifts!!

When you're shopping handmade and personalized for the holidays, it's a must to get started early.

Here are our Holiday Ordering Guidelines to help you plan.

Normal production time is 2-3 weeks. 

• All orders placed by November 29, 2013 will ship no later than December 19th. 
• Orders placed after November 29 will be handled on a first come first served basis.
• Please choose your shipping method accordingly...it's easy to upgrade your shipping during checkout on our site, www.PunkyJane.com. We ship from Northern California.

The following information is from USPS and FedEx:

United States Postal Service

• First Class Mail: 2-8 day delivery to most U.S. locations 
• Priority Mail: 2-3 day delivery to most U.S. locations 
• Express Mail: 1-2 day delivery where available 

FedEx FedEx 

• Express Saver: delivered in three business days 
• FedEx 2day: delivered in two business days 
• FedEx Standard Overnight: delivered next business day by 3:00pm 
• FedEx Priority Overnight: delivered next business day by 10:30am

International orders can take 2-3 weeks via USPS Regular First Class Mail and 6-10 delivery days via USPS Priority Mail.

      

October Means Candy Corn

It's the first day of October. I think about that and I experience a small anxiety attack while simultaneously doing a little happy dance.

October means Halloween...fun for the kids, costume planning, fall weather, pumpkins and candy corn. It's also my mental start to the holidays (begin minor panic attack).

My solution? Have a sale. Let's celebrate the start of October!

Use the code CANDYCORN and save 15% off everything at www.PunkyJane.com now through October 5th.

That was easy. I feel better already.

Back to School Sale!

Time to save! With all the money you save you can buy more binder paper and pencils!

Use the code BTS2013 now through 8/21/13 and save 30% off everything at PunkyJane.com.

Ready? Set? SHOP!

Punky Jane hits all 50 states!

We are excited to announce that Punky Jane Jewelry has officially been shipped to all 50 states. A big thank you to that special customer in Cheyenne, Wyoming!