Happy New Year from Mariposa Miniatures!

FAQ & Policies

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are your Jewelry and Sculptures made of?

All of my pieces are hand sculpted with Polymer Clay. Unlike ceramics and earthenware clay, Polymer Clay is synthetic, cures at a lower temperature, and is non-toxic. What makes it really stand apart from earthenware clay is its flexibility and durability. All of my base clay sculptures are then hand painted with acrylic paint and pigment powders. Finally, they are given a few coats of strong glossy varnish to keep everything sealed and prevent damage. 

 

Is your Jewelry non-toxic and allergen free?

I use all non-toxic materials in my art, but I definitely wouldn't recommend ingesting any of my pieces. All of my jewelry uses nickel free and lead free metals to avoid common metal allergies. My earrings use 100% hypoallergenic titanium posts, and my charm bracelets have the option of aluminum chains. I also offer faux suede necklace cords as a non-metal alternative to my standard silver plated necklace chains. As someone who has dealt with nickel allergies her whole life, I strive to offer as many allergen free options as possible! 

 

Are your Jewelry and Sculptures suitable for children?

My miniatures are cute and tiny, but they are collectible pieces, not toys. My jewelry has just as many small parts that could be ingested by a young child. Polymer clay is lightweight and durable, but it is not indestructible. This is where I would ask for parents and relatives of young children to use their best judgement when purchasing. I would not recommend my jewelry and miniatures to anyone under the age of 12, for safety reasons. Sculptures make fun nursery decorations, but please keep them out of the reach of grabby baby hands!

Personally, I have been collecting miniatures and figurines since I was very young, but I also didn't get my ears pierced until I was eleven. Every child is different, so it is up to you whether you think your child is responsible enough for a wearable work of art.

 

Are your Jewelry and Sculptures suitable for adults?

Heck yeah! I'm an adult and I wear my own jewelry. 

A lot of my products are quirky, glittery, and colorful, but I also have a great range of down-to-earth designs. My grandmother's 90 year old friend still loves and wears the earrings she got from me, so there is definitely something for everyone here! If you ever need a recommendation, feel free to send me a message. I would be happy to help you find the perfect gift!

 

What are the care instructions for your Jewelry?

A slightly damp cloth and gentle scrubbing should take care of most dirt or dust buildup. If the metal chains on your necklaces or bracelets begin to tarnish, wipe them with a silver jewelry cleaning cloth and they should be sparkly in no time. 

Do not use harsh jewelry cleaners as they can strip away the varnish or even the paint on your jewelry. If earrings need some cleaning, use cleaners on the titanium posts NOT the sculpted fronts. Don't wear jewelry while swimming or in the shower. Take jewelry off before going to sleep. Be careful leaving jewelry in a hot car, or wearing while blow drying/heat styling your hair. Constant touching and playing with jewelry charms can dull the varnish over time due to the natural oils in our hands. 

 

One of your items is sold out. Will it be restocked?

The majority of my products are designed to be made again and again. If an item is taking a while to come back in stock, feel free to send me a message just to check in!

Some of my products are one of a kind, limited edition, or seasonal. Dragons and Art Dolls are all one of a kind, and designs won't be reproduced. If you like specific aspects of those one of a kind design, I can work with you to build your own unique version. Designs like my Pink Gold Series are only made once a year, and once they are all sold out, I wait until next year to make more. Certain commissions that you might see on my social media pages will also not be reproduced as many of these designs are very personal to the folks who commissioned them (wedding cake toppers, personal characters, etc).

For the most part, I don't keep products in my shop listed as "Sold Out" for long unless I plan on restocking them.

 

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Shipping Questions & Policies

 

I just placed an order! How long will it take for my order to arrive?

The majority of my products are stocked ready to ship! For ready to ship products it will take me 1-3 days to package up and mail out your order.

For made to order products, it will take me 1-2 weeks to make and mail out your order. 

Once shipped, your package can take anywhere from 2-5 days to arrive for US customers. I send out tracking numbers with all orders, so please be sure to keep an eye on that.

International orders can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks to arrive. 

**At this time we are no longer shipping to the UK and the EU due to new VAT import laws. It is very difficult for a small business outside of the EU to obtain the proper permits to collect and pay customs fees, so unfortunately we will no longer be shipping to those countries.**

Please note that these shipping and processing times may be extended during the holidays.

 

I need my order to arrive before a specific date. Can you do that?

If you need a package to arrive for a specific date, please be sure to contact me before placing an order! I will be able to give you an accurate time estimate, or recommend an expedited shipping option. 

If you place an order and do not notify me beforehand of a time constraint, I cannot guarantee that your order will arrive in time. 

 

My package never arrived. What can I do?

All of my packages sent within the US come with a tracking number. Keep an eye on that tracking number to see where your package is. Sometimes, there are unexpected delays. If the tracking says your package has been delivered, but you never received it, please contact your local post office. Sometimes they hold packages there and forget to notify the recipient. Your post office can sometimes check and see if your package was delivered to the wrong address. 

For international orders, I definitely recommend waiting the full 4 weeks for your package to show up. International Customs can really slow down the delivery process, and can hold packages for weeks. All international orders come with a Customs Form Number. If you are concerned that a package is taking too long to arrive, bring that Customs Form Number to your local post office. If your package is stuck in your country's Customs, your post office should be able to let you know. 

Once I hand off a package to the post office, there is not much I can do. Please reach out to me if you have concerns, but often the best thing that can be done is for you to reach out to your local post office. 

 

My order arrived broken. What can I do?

I make sure to package up all of my pieces are safe and secure as possible, but accidents can still happen during shipping. Please contact me within 14 days of delivery with photos of the broken product, and I would be happy to send you a replacement!

 

I gave the wrong shipping address at checkout. What can I do?

If your order hasn't shipped yet, this is an easy fix. Just message me as soon as possible and provide the correct mailing address.

If the order has shipped we will need to wait until the package is returned to me. Re-shipping the order to the correct address is at the buyer's expense. Please double check your address before ordering!

 

I got charged an extra fee at delivery (international). Why?

For international orders, please be aware that your country can charge you customs or import fees on packages. I am not responsible for VAT charges, or other customs fees on packages shipped outside of the United States. When ordering from another country, please familiarize yourself with your own country's policies on international orders and customs fees before placing an order.

 

Can I return or exchange an order?

If you can send back your order in it's original packaging, then I would be happy to exchange it for you, or provide a refund minus shipping expenses. Please note that return shipping is at the buyer's expense. 

I will only accept returns up to 14 days after your order is delivered. Please contact me during that window. If the returned products are damaged, I will not be able to provide you with a refund/exchange. Refunds will be processed once I receive the returned package. 

I cannot accept returns or exchanges on custom orders. 

 

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Custom Orders

 

Do you accept custom orders?

I love making custom pieces for my customers! I can make anything from custom charms to wedding cake toppers. Please be sure to message me if you have an idea for a custom piece, and I would be happy to discuss that with you. 

 

How expensive are custom orders?

The price of custom orders are judged on a case by case basis. A very complex design or a large sculpture will be more expensive than a small, simple design, for example. It is best to familiarize yourself with the price range of my work that is currently in stock to get an idea of pricing. I am always happy to provide a price quote for a custom design, so please feel free to message me!

Here is a starting point on pricing for my most common requests to give you an idea:

Custom charms: $10+
Custom necklaces/earrings: $22+
Custom chubby figurines: $25+
Custom standard figurines: $35+
Custom wedding cake toppers: $100+

 

Can you make me a character from my favorite book/game/TV show/etc?

Unfortunately I do not take custom orders for copyrighted or trademarked characters and content. I like to focus on my own original designs, and I don't want to get into any legal trouble. I also won't copy another artist's designs for the same reasons. 

 

Can you make one of my personal characters?

If you own the character or design, that is completely fair game! I love making sculptures and jewelry based on personal characters. If I have any suspicion that you do not own the character or design though, I will decline the custom order. 

 

Can you make a piece based on my pet?

Absolutely! I love making pet mementos and jewelry. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with my style before placing an order for a custom pet piece. My style is more minimalist, so I will not be able to make a hyper-realistic rendition of your animal friend.

 

What is your turnaround time for custom orders?

Most custom orders will take 1-2 weeks to make and ship out. Once they are shipped, please reference my shipping policies for standard delivery times. If there are any expected delays, or if my custom order time frame changes, I will be sure to let you know.

Wedding cake toppers are a different story. Please allow 2-4 weeks for custom cake toppers. These pieces are usually much larger, and take more meticulous attention and detail. There tends to be a lot of back and forth in the designing phase with cake toppers, so I like to account for that in my time frame. When ordering a custom cake topper, please let me know the wedding date or the date you need it delivered by too. 

 

Can I return a custom order?

I do not accept returns on custom orders. During the design process and before shipping out, I will be sending photos of your custom piece. If there are any issues with the design, please bring them up during this time.