THE Go-To Holiday Gift of the Season

Unless you have a) lots of time and b) lots of money, the looming prospect of holiday shopping isn't something you love to ponder. If you're like me and my friends, who don't have a lot of a) or b), you've discovered the secret to stress-free holiday gift giving is to find an item that will work for lots of people on your list and buy it in bulk.

Here is that item:

This is my set of fall coasters created entirely with Uppercase Living products. I can't tell you how nice these look in person. There is so much to love about this simple set of coasters. They look great, are affordable (a set of 4 with monograms are under $20, and embellishments such as the leaves shown here only bring the cost up slightly) and can be easily customized for each person on your gift list. Here are some ideas to help you get some names crossed off your list:

• Neighbors-monograms
• Card Group-embellish with the different suits of cards
• Church/Synagogue friends or staff-embellish with religious symbols
• Pet lovers-embellish with paw prints
• Young family-embellish with family member faces
• Skiers-embellish with snowflakes (perfect for the winter cabin)
• Military families-embellish with stars, flags, and yellow ribbons
• Fishermen-embellish with fish
• Beach bums-embellish with sea shells and flip flops
  
• Gardeners-embellish with plants and flowers
• Dancers-embellish with ballet shoes
• Divas-embellish with tiaras
• Music lovers-embellish with notes or their favorite instrument
• Athletes & sports nuts-embellish with a baseball, football, basketball, and soccer ball
• Mr. Fix-It-embellish with a hammer, pliers, nails and screws
• Race fans-embellish with race cars
• Golfers-embellish with golf clubs
  
• Cowboys-embellish with cowboy boots and spurs
• Coffee lovers-embellish with a steaming coffee cup
• Gourmet cook-embellish with various kitchen utensils

You're getting the idea, right. Can you think of some I've missed?

The fun part comes in when you decide how to further personalize each gift. Match the gourmet cook's coasters to her kitchen colors. Pick the card suits in red and black. Mix and match the family faces to reflect each family member's favorite colors. And choose race cars to match the color of the car your recipient follows. Before you know it, you'll have a ton of names crossed off your list. But don't stop there. Add a set with holiday embellishments as the perfect hostess gift. And add another for a perfect Secret Pal gift. Then add one for the office gift exchange. And finally add a couple of others for a last minute gift when you need something thoughtful, classy, inexpensive and QUICK!

Now, I know that there are others on your list that you would like to acknowledge but don't want to quite spend $20 or so on. These are great gifts for them, too! Think about splitting each set of coasters into 4 gifts! Now you can give one to your hair stylist (scissors embellishment), manicurist (monogram so it doesn't get mixed up with someone else's), favorite bank teller (same), all the day care teachers (baby faces, diaper pins, or monograms) and an entire schedule's worth of high school teachers (school mascot). Pair each coaster with a couple packets of flavored cocoa and you will have a thoughtful and appropriate gift and the recipients will have no more wet rings on their work stations. Besides, the teachers will be just so happy not to get another coffee mug!

A guest at a recent UL party I did ordered 5 sets of coasters and 5 sets of monograms. She was thrilled to have a huge jump start on her shopping and have such a unique and personalized gift.

I know you can come with tons more ideas. If you need help, let me brainstorm with you to choose the perfect embellishments for those on your gift list. Let's work together to make you the smartest gift giver you know!

Coaster Tip #1: Add a bottle of Mistick solution to your order to help you with the placement of the vinyl on the glass surface of your coasters. You will love having the extra wiggle room Mistick provides. And no worries about incorrectly placed vinyl.

Coaster Tip #2: Order your monograms and embellishments mirrored so you can place them on the bottom of the coasters. They will look just as good but won't get scratched by the bottom of the glass.

October 2009 Customer Newsletter - LOTS of Info

Hi Everyone!

Does it feel like fall where you are yet? We had a few days of cool weather and went right back to 90 degrees today! But we do have our share of leaves changing, winds blowing, and pumpkins adorning homes. I have so much to tell you about this month that it took a little longer than normal for me to get this newsletter ready. I hope you enjoy hearing about all the great things that are going on with Uppercase Living during this fun and busy time of year. And if you get to the very end, you'll find out about a fun Halloween giveaway on my blog.

Open House Recap
Thanks to everyone who came to my Open House at the end of September. It was great to share Uppercase Living with many of you for the first time. Your orders have arrived and I'll be delivering them to you this week. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need help with your installation.

Holiday Catalogs are a Big Hit!
Our first-ever Holiday mini-Catalog has been really popular. B y now you should have received your copy. If you haven't I can email you a copy or send you one in the mail. Of course, you can also browse all of the limited-time products on my web site. Don't forget that our fun new shimmer colors can be selected for all of our products, but only through December 7th.

Project Night Information
Those of you who've been asking for details about my Project Night this year, the details are finally available. It will be at my home on Dec. 4. I'm changing the format a little bit this year. Like before, you will get to choose from some projects that I've designed. But you can also pick from the project kits from our holiday mini-catalog or even your own projects that you design. I'll be here to help with supplies, assistance, and of course, snacks. Also, every purchase made that night will receive a 10% discount! All project kits must be purchased by Nov. 10 in order to make sure they'll be here in time. Project kits will also be available for those who can't attend the Project Night, but they must be preordered. Check out the this post for project photos and pricing. I'm also happy to help you design your own project kits. What's great about UL is that you can make your gifts a completely unique reflection of your own taste. Of course, friends are welcome to join you. If you prefer, contact me about having your own project party with the guests and projects of your choice.

The Tidiest Gingerbread House EVER!
I definitely think that Uppercase Living had moms like me in mind when they designed their latest holiday decorating promotion. Our first-ever Gingerbread House has all the characteristics of a traditional gingerbread house: it's adorable, festive and fun to decorate. But unlike the old fashioned kind, there's no mess, it's easy to store, you can keep changing your decorations, it's totally sugar free and you can use it year after year.

Available only until November 16, the new UL Gingerbread House kit includes over 80 REMOVABLE and REUSABLE vinyl pieces to decorate the charming house again and again. At the end of the season, just put it away to take out again next year! Not only is this a fun decoration for home and grandma's, but I see it in preschools, day-care centers and any business office where little ones are forced to wait: banks, pediatricians, hair salons, and more. They can be happily decorating while their parents are taking care of business. No more bored, unruly kids!

The best part of all? This entire kit, a $39.95 value, is only $19.95 with a $50 purchase. Don't miss the chance to order this fun kit which will be sure to be a family favorite over the years.

Fall Party Planning
October and November are shaping up to be really busy months for me. I am scheduling parties well into November. I do still have some open dates left, in fact, Sunday, November 8 just opened up. Keep in mind that the ordering deadline to receive products by Dec. 24 is Dec. 8th. Please contact me asap if you would like to get your fall Open House on my calendar. And if this time of year is simply too busy for you, consider scheduling in December or January to be among the first to see our new Spring/Summer catalog.

Fantastic Opportunity for New Demonstrators
Just in time for the busy fall selling season, Uppercase Living has announced a promotion that makes it even more affordable to become an Uppercase Living demonstrator. From now until November 30, our $99 Business Starter Kit will come with DOUBLE the product credits to bring the total of free product you receive to $50. Along with that comes everything you need to start taking orders and having parties to get this fun business off to a strong start. I'll be there every step to train, support and help you succeed. Give your friends a fantastic new resource for holiday shopping and decorating by becoming their UL demonstrator today. Contact me for more information or to get started.

Holiday Ordering Deadline
The deadline to place holiday orders for guaranteed delivery by December 24 is December 7th. Keep in mind that Hannukah is on December 11 this year, so those orders will have to be placed by mid-late November. Please plan ahead and let me know how I can help you get your holiday gifts and decorations in a timely manner. I'd love to help you save some money, too!

Finally!

If you've gotten this far, hats off to you! I don't usually have this much news to share. Please contact me if you have any questions about the items in this month's newsletter. Feel free to forward this to anyone else who might be interested in decorating and creating with Uppercase Living. If you'd no longer like to receive my updates, just let me know.

Happy Halloween!!

Follow Me On Facebook

I know you can't get enough of me and my awesome vinyl goodness. Just to satisfy your insatiable appetite, I've created a Facebook fan page for my Uppercase Living business. You're on Facebook anyway, so why not become a fan? Just scroll all the way down and click. Now, wasn't that easy?

The Tidiest Gingerbread House Ever

You know how every year you have to bake your gingerbread, then buy all the candy decorations, the make royal icing from scratch, then get the kids together to help assemble and decorate and invariably one of the sides breaks so you have to bake one piece all over again, then the kids eat too much candy and you run out and they're running around the kitchen totally pumped on sugar and you've got powdered sugar on your face and frosting in your hair and you're wondering what you were thinking?



No? Well, me neither. I know myself well enough to never ever attempt making a gingerbread house for the holidays.

This year, thanks to UL, I can give in to the Gingerbread House requests and still keep my sanity (and a clean kitchen!). You guys are gong to love this vinyl gingerbread house with over 80 pieces of candy that can be removed and reused to redecorate to your heart's content. Unlike our regular vinyl, this kit is removable and reusable, which means you can take it down and use it year after year. There are so many pieces of candy that you might have some leftover to decorate other parts of your home.

Now through Nov. 16th, you can get this cute kit for just $19.95 with any $50 purchase for a 50% savings. There's no limit to how many you can get, so think about getting one for Grandma's house, the kids' preschool or day care, or work. There are plenty of offices who can use something fun and festive like this to keep the kids happy and busy while Mom or Dad conduct business.

Don't pass up this cute kit. Call me to order yours. With the calories you save on the candy you would've used on a traditional gingerbread house, you can treat yourself to a glass of wine to toast what a smart shopper you are.

WINNER!!!!!

True Random Number Service

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

3 

Timestamp: 2009-10-23 15:52:27 UTC

That means our winner is the 3rd person to leave a comment: La Familia De La Torre, aka Nik. Nik, I'll have your prize on its way to you this weekend. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to all of you who participated and keep your eyes peeled for more.

Halloween Giveaway!

It's time for our first giveaway here on Please Use Your Words. The lucky winner will receive the expression Leave Your Brooms At the Door. It will arrive in your hot little hands just in time for Halloween decorating.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post by midnight Thursday, October 22 (actually, 11:59 p.m.). I'll pick a winner at random and post the name here. You can only enter once but if you get a friend to enter and she wins, maybe you can guilt her into giving you the prize.

The fine print: all those who enter will be added to my email list for monthly (give or take a little) email updates from me. If you prefer not to be added, just let me know in your post. You'll still be eligible to win.

Project Night Information

You've all been asking me when this year's project night was going to be and what the projects will be. The wait is over!

December 7
7:00 p.m.
My House

This year's format will be a little different. Not only will you get to choose from the projects I've designed, you can also pick the project kits from our holiday catalog or create your own Uppercase Living projects to work on. Either way, you'll have lots of help, snacks, prize drawings, a 10% discount on all purchases made that night and a chance to learn new techniques and go home with gifts and decor items in hand. If you can't make it that night but would still like the project kits, no problem. They can be ordered at any time. However, if you plan to work on your projects at my house on December 7th, your kits must be ordered (and paid for) no later than Nov. 10.

In case you haven't seen them yet, here are some photos of what's available from the Holiday Catalog. Keep in mind that each of these kits can be ordered with your choice of vinyl color(s) and you can choose whether you'd like the selected holiday or everyday expression.













Here you can see options
for each kit that aren't included in the holiday catalog. My favorite is the Family Photo Memories Board. I think it's the perfect gift for every grandparent and family on your list. You don't even have to paint the board! Details and pricing for the kits are available in the catalog or on my website.

In addition to these kits, I've designed some projects for you, too. I tried to include a range of prices and options. Money and time are in short supply all around. So, you can come to my project night, hang out for a little bit and have some fun creating projects to take home with you. Having snacks and drinks while you create one-of-a-kind handmade holiday gifts sure sounds a lot better than fighting 3 other cars for the last parking spot at the mall, doesn't it? The kits you see here are all completely customizable. You can change them however you like. Just contact me to discuss how you'd like your unique items.

Frames
Available in both 4x6 and 5x7, these acrylic frames are embellished with Shimmer Vinyl words and matching ribbon. Choice of words: Believe (silver), ho ho ho (cranberry), Joy (evergreen), PEACE (gold). Ribbon choices will vary.
4x6 $5 5x7 $8






2-sided Decorated Tin Tile
Our 8x8 crème tin tile decorated with “Santa’s Landing Zone” on one side and “Love” on the other. Both sides will be accentuated with glittery accents. Use one side for Christmas, the other for Valentine’s Day. You will love the snowy, shimmery, glittery detail on this one. Can be customized with your choice of color. Includes satin ribbon for hanging. One-sided also available. $41


2-sided Acrylic Block

This double-sided lightweight block will fit all your moods! The plain side simply says “bah humbug” while the decorated side features a wreath and the words “ho ho ho” in a scroll font with a decorative paper background. Ribbon and background choices may vary. $44








Set of 4 Decorated Glass Coasters
Embellish each coaster with a design or monogram to suit the recipients. Lots of customization options. Let me help you come up with the perfect project kit. Also available individually.

Monograms $20 Other designs $27


Also available, but not pictured are the following:

Hannukah Block
Our lightweight acrylic block embellished with your choice of menorah or dreidel on one side and the expression “Believe in Miracles” on the other. You can add glitter for extra sparkle. Fill with gelt or mini dreidels. Many customization options. $44

Ornaments
Filled clear balls embellished with shimmer vinyl words.
Choice of words: Believe (silver), ho ho ho (cranberry), Joy (evergreen), PEACE (gold)
$5/each $20/4

Votives
Clear candle holders decorated with shimmer vinyl words and a ribbon. Choice of words: Believe (silver), ho ho ho (cranberry), Joy (evergreen), PEACE (gold) $6/each, $15/3

If you need more options than the ones here, talk to me about creating a custom project that is just right for you. The great thing about UL is that there are infinite ways to make each item unique.

Here's the rest of the information you'll need to know:

• All orders must be pre-paid by November 10. Double Up Credits will not apply. Project kits are non-refundable.
• Project kits will be available for those not able to attend but must be pre-ordered.
• Selection of ribbons and background papers will vary.
• Private project parties can also be scheduled.
  
• Another session may be added if there is enough interest.

PLEASE CONTACT ME TO FINALIZE YOUR ORDER DETAILS.

I am so looking forward to this project night and hope you'll love all the kits as much as I do. Make your list, check it twice and let me know which projects to reserve for you!

Tips for Holiday Kits

So many of you are enjoying the kits in our first-ever Holiday mini-catalog. I wanted to pass along a few tips that will make assembly of your products go more smoothly. Don't forget you can always call me if you have a question.

• The Advent Calendar, Glass Charger, Silver Charger, and Clear Block kits all come with accessories that are non-porous. You will have much better luck with a wet application method (see the instructions that came with your order). Use Mistick if you have it. A light spray of water will also work in a pinch.

• The Advent Calendar comes with two little hooks on the back (see photos below), which you attach the crème ribbon to so you can hang it beautifully on your wall. Those hooks are positioned closer to one end of the charger which means you’ll want to make sure you designate that end as the “top” and apply your expression with that in mind, so when you attach the ribbon and hang it on your wall, it will hang properly.

Enjoy those kits and send me pictures of how you're displaying them in your homes.

Opportunity is Knocking. Are You Going to Answer?

There are details of our new Starter Kit promotion at the bottom of this post. If you'd rather not read my story, scroll down to the end. My feelings won't be hurt.

I was introduced to Uppercase Living about a year and a half ago when my friend Carolyn invited me to an Open House she was holding to support her friend, a new UL demonstrator. I knew I wanted words for the walls in our new house and had a vague idea that they were available for purchase online, but never knew what to get or how to go about it. I went to Carolyn's eagerly, looking for something to decorate my kitchen, never thinking that I'd be starting a new job soon.

During the presentation I was impressed with how easy the lettering was to apply and the massive variety of choices. I also loved the idea of designing my own expressions. But then I saw the expressions already on Carolyn's walls and my jaw dropped. That was pretty much when I decided that I needed to get in on this amazing opportunity.

This was absolutely the worst time in my life to begin a new business. I had a toddler at home as well as two kids in elementary school. I was just getting used to not being on call 24/7 with an infant and coming off a nasty bout of postpartum depression. But I kept thinking about all the times I'd wanted to take advantage of a new opportunity, ignored my instincts, then regretted it later. I decided that I was going to pursue Uppercase Living not only for the income it could provide for my family, but for the chance to do something for me after 8 years of being only "Mommy."

I'm happy to say that I've never regretted getting on board with this great company. In fact, this is the most fun job I've had since I scooped ice cream in high school (fewer calories, too). A year and a half later, I see more potential than I did at the beginning and am more eager to share this great opportunity. I'm so happy that I heard the knock and didn't ignore it this time.

If you think you might enjoy sharing UL's great products with friends, consider joining my sales team. I can go into the many many reasons to become an Uppercase Living demonstrator. The fact is, everyone does it for different reasons. I can promise you training, support, amazing products and a lot of fun. Let's face it, there are very few people who won't find something to love in our diverse product range.

Now is a great time to come on board; not only is it the start of the busy holiday shopping season (so much to love in our product line for holiday gifts and decorating) but you can take advantage of an awesome new promotion: each $99 starter kit will include DOUBLE the product credit for a total of $50 in free product of your choice. This effectively brings your kit price to just $49!!!!

I understand that this might not be a great idea for everyone, but if you think it just might be a possibility for you, let's talk about it. Are you going to ignore the knock?

United for A Cure

As some of you may know, finding a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a cause that is very dear to me. This disease, the number one genetic killer of children under 2 is caused by a gene carried by 1 in 40 adults. While SMA is a cruel and debilitating disease, there is a great deal of hope for those suffering from it. There are breakthroughs on the horizon both in terms of pharmaceuticals and stem cell therapy.

I've added a button to my sidebar where you can help fund the research that will lead to a cure. SMA is a tough, tough disease. But it appears to be beatable. I'm doing my part and hope you'll join me.

For more information on SMA, please visit www.curesma.org.

They Picked A!

Remember a week or so ago when I told you about baby Joshua and the possible designs for his nursery? Well, his parents made their decision and they chose the first design, with the block font and three cute turtles. I can't wait for them to get it; hopefully his Mommy won't be too exhausted to send me a couple of pictures.

A Happy Mom Shares A Big Girl Design in a Kid Girl's Room

I always love hearing how much people love their UL expressions once they have them in their homes. The fact is, I can tell you forever and ever how great our products are, but when you hear the same thing from a regular customer, it rings just a bit more true.

Stephanie is one of those UL customers who also happens to be a prolific blogger. She was introduced to UL through a reader who is a demonstrator and was nice enough to post about her experience on her fun blog, And Twins Make 5 (can you imagine?! how the heck does she find time to blog?). I love the design she chose for her daughter's room, not to mention that dreamy blue paint. Enjoy the following post from Stephanie (sorry if the links don't work and the formatting is wonky) and link on over for more. Tell her I sent you.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Uppercase Living Wall Embellishments

After a recent positive review of wall stencils by another company, one of our readers wrote to suggest we try Uppercase Living. She asked that her name be left out of this review, but I can tell you she loves Uppercase Living enough to have become one of their many demonstrators. In fact, this reader insisted on sending us an Uppercase Living sample to try because clearly she believes immensely in the quality of this product.

I was almost overwhelmed by the vast amount of choices Uppercase Living offers. Browsing their catalog stirred many ideas and possibilities for my home. However, we ultimately selected an embellishment for my daughter's room, a very chic looking peacock to be exact.

I was a tad nervous about this choice since it was one of their more complicated 2 layer designs, however my concerns were without merit. Application of both layers was easily explained in the online demo and equally easy to do.

The results were enough to make my daughter Cordelia ecstatic and Mommy quite pleased too. Uppercase Living Products are sold via Independent Demonstrators. If you haven't been invited to an at home party for these products yet, you might consider scheduling one at your own home.

Photo Prints...and a Confession

I have a confession to make. I'm a procrastinator. This is not big news to those of you who know me well. And I'm really truly working on it. But I've been procrastinating about telling you all about one of our coolest new products ever for about a month now. I wasn't sure that I'd be able to do it justice; didn't want to go on and on about technical details; couldn't figure out the best way to present it, etc. Procrastinators always have such good excuses. Well, I'm done with excuses. You have to know about Photo Prints. I've decided to jump right in and go for it. Here we go!

Photo Prints are the newest innovation from Uppercase Living. Imagine your favorite family picture, or vacation shot, or wedding photo, enlarged up to 8x4 FEET and printed onto removable, reusable adhesive vinyl. Totally cool, right?

When we were first told about Photo Prints at our convention this summer, the entire room went crazy. We finally realized what all the giant photos displayed on the walls were for. Our minds started racing with the possibilities. Then we found out how affordable this product is and we realized this is something that can be available to everyone for so many different occasions and applications.

Here are some basic details:

• Available in a range of sizes from 2x2 to 8x4 feet
• Can be purchased as a photo with straight sides or contour cut to include only the main subject
• Photos must be high resolution and you must own the copyright
• Order through the MyDesign suite on my website

There, that wasn't so hard.

Now that I have the technical side out of the way, how about some ideas for using this great product? In the future I'll have more posts and lots of photos, but here are a few just for now:

• Kids' sports pictures
• Baby photo for the grandparents
• Photos of deployed service members (my favorite idea is a photo of a military dad reading to the kids for them to enjoy while he's gone)
• Weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
• Corporate Logos
• Businesses - what better way to advertise your product than by putting a giant photo of it on your car, van or truck?
• Trade shows
• Anniversary celebrations
• Graduation parties
• Keep vacation memories alive by creating a Photo Print of a scenic photo from your trip

The possibilities are truly endless. Photo Prints can be sweet, funny, romantic, or poignant. But they will always be impactful and memorable. For more information on how to create your own unique Photo Prints, visit my website or contact me. And if you're a photographer who would like to offer this amazing product to your clients and earn more from each shoot, contact me to learn how we can work together. Which picture are you choosing to do first?

Decisions, Decisions

One of the most fun things about Uppercase Living is taking a blank wall and using custom lettering and embellishments to totally personalize it. Another fun thing is getting to work with lovely people to create something special for their environments. Yesterday I got to do both of these things.

I visited brand new parents and their beautiful 10 day old baby, Joshua. About 6 weeks ago, I had done an Uppercase Living baby shower for this mom-to-be. Last week she called me to help her design something unique for the nursery's wall. Being with them brought back all the memories of the first days home with a newborn: sleepless nights, breakfast at 11:00 a.m., and an overwhelming feeling of tiredness that is only overshadowed by raging hormones and endless love for the new baby that has just joined your family.

The new mom and dad asked me to create a design for the nursery's wall that incorporates Joshua's name as well as some turtles or frogs. We settled on the color scheme and I came home to get to work. I sent them four design choices this morning. I'm not sure which is my favorite; probably a combination of a couple of the designs. The great thing is that we can mix and match and change the design until it's exactly what my clients want. I love knowing that no one else will have exactly what baby Joshua will in his nursery.

Which design would you choose? Stay tuned to learn which one Joshua's parents picked. And if you think you might like to help people design one-of-a-kind expressions to personalize their homes, consider becoming an Uppercase Living demonstrator. I'd love to tell you how you can have a job you love too.

Thinking Pink For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As you probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Unfortunately, we all seem to be touched by this awful disease in some way, if not personally then through a loved one. Happily, through early detection and research, many breast cancer patients are also survivors.

As you commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month, here are a couple of ways to use Uppercase Living products to spread the message. First, you can apply a pink ribbon embellishment (item #44570 or #44571) to your car. You can also add the name of a loved one who has dealt with breast cancer to honor her (or him).

A fun way to raise money for research would be to use the UL Acrylic Block as a bank and encourage donations. Here's an example using the awareness ribbon with the heart and a custom expression. The block has an opening that can be used to insert money or checks. Place the block on your desk at work and at the end of the month, donate the contents to one of the many organizations who support, fund and conduct breast cancer research. Here are just a few:

• Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Finally, don't forget to do your monthly exams and schedule your mammogram.