Customer Celebration Day Oct. 28: A FREE Expression and Two New Kits!

Hooray for Customer Celebration Days! I always love giving my customers more than they expect and, in this case, that means they get a FREE Happy Holidays expression with every order placed this Thursday, October 28. Not only is this an exclusive expression, not to be found in our catalog, but it's yours in Shimmer Cranberry, one of our beautiful specialty colors, without the usual upgrade fee!

I love the idea of this expression right on the wall above a fireplace, as you see here, or above a doorway to welcome guests who visit during the holiday season. Of course, it is the perfect for adorning your front door to spread the holiday cheer outside. Other ideas for this versatile FREE expression include applying it on a platter to serve holiday treats, placing it on a mirror, or even on your back windshield to spread holiday cheer everywhere you drive! However, since most of you like using our seasonal expressions from year to year, our Foundations accessories are the perfect choice.

An obvious choice to display this expression is the Vintage Embossed Metal Board in Creme. This lightweight piece is great for your own home or office, or for gift-giving in the enclosed gift box.

You can kick your display up a notch by applying it to the Pre-Drilled MDF Board (seen here painted in Whipped Creme Toolbox Paint).  Our Bulldog Clips have been added to it with a little bit of seasonal ribbon. The clips can be used to hold special holiday cards, photos, or even letters to Santa. As a variation on this design, you can use our Vintage Knobs instead of the bulldog clips and hang ornaments from them to mirror the expression. Make sure to leave one knob for mistletoe!

When you purchase the materials for either of these projects, you'll receive the lettering for FREE, essentially creating your own kit!

For the Vintage Embossed Metal Board Kit, just order the Board (Item #300155)and your expression will automatically be included with your order.

For the Pre-Drilled MDF Board Kit, you'll need to order:
Pre-Drilled MDF Board (#300132)
Whipped Creme Toolbox Paint (#300144)
Set of 4 Bulldog Clips (#300134) OR Vintage Knobs (#300136)

Bonus Offer #1: If you purchase the Pre-Drilled MDF Board Kit, I will provide the ribbon to complete your project in style!

Bonus Offer #2: Local customers who order the Vintage Embossed Metal Board Kit can choose to have me assemble their project for them at no charge. You'll receive your metal board ready to hang or give as a gift! If you're not going to have me assemble your board, consider adding Mistick to your order to ease application.

I anticipate a very busy day at Uppercase Living on Thursday, so please get your orders to me no later than 4 PM on Thursday. I can't wait to share this shimmery expression with you all and seeing how you use it to begin your holiday decorating or gift-giving this year.

Late October Newsletter

Hi Friends,

Does it feel like fall where you are? Hopefully the Halloween costumes are ready to go, you've stocked up on candy for the trick or treaters, and you're looking ahead to a fun few weeks of fall festivities. As you can imagine, this is the start of my busy season so I wanted to give you a quick heads up on what I have going on for all of you.
Coaster Extravaganza Party November 19

Please note the new date for the Coaster Extravaganza party at my house. The time remains the same: 9:30-12:30.  All you need to do is pre-order your coasters and I'll have lots of words and embellishments here for you to create unique and useful gifts. Each set of 4 coasters costs only $15. I will have an assortment of seasonal and everyday words and designs to help you create a variety of designs. You can also order custom embellishments or lettering for your coasters or choose from the limited-time coaster kits in our holiday catalog. The hats in the photo are just one of the many embellishments you can order to dress up your coasters!There is no limit to the number of coaster sets you can make. Of course, there will be the usual drawings, giveaways and a 10% discount on all orders placed at the Coaster Extravaganza!

I must receive your pre-order by October 29 in order to have your supplies here on time. Please let me know how many sets of coasters you'd like to work on and if you'd like to add any custom words, monograms or embellishments by the 29th. If you'd like to participate but can't make it to the Coaster Extravaganza, just let me know and I'll keep your supplies on hand for you and help you assemble them when you come over to pick them up!

If you've purchased any projects that you need help assembling, feel free to come over on November 19th and I'll happily help you put them together. There is no product purchase necessary if you'd like to come over and assemble any items.

My next project party this season will be an Ornament Extravaganza. Stay tuned for details! Limited Dates and Times for Uppercase Living Parties Before The HolidaysMy calendar is quickly filling up as my hostesses schedule their parties before the Holidays. In fact, my weekends in November are already becoming full, although some spaces still remain. I do have several weekday mornings (Mondays and Fridays) and weeknights still available if you'd like to have your party before our holiday ordering deadline. Please don't hesitate because I'd hate to have you miss out on your preferred date. Don't forget, online and catalog parties might be the perfect solution if you're too busy to have a home show, or if your guests are just scattered too far and wide.
Uppercase Living Special Event Coming to Southern California!On November 13th, a very special Uppercase Living Road Trip will be coming to Rancho Cucamonga. With updates and presentations from our fantastic Home Office staff, make and take projects and a yummy lunch, it is sure to be a great day. There will even be a sign up special for anyone who joins Uppercase Living and becomes a new demonstrator on that day. Tickets ($15) are very limited, so please let me know if you'd like one. Customer Celebration DaysHave you been taking advantage of the Customer Celebration Days? So far we've had three days where ever single order placed on that day has received a FREE UL expression, just to say "Thanks for being such a great customer!" The items are seasonal and not available in the catalog. We get very little notice when they'll be coming up, so watch my blog or become my friend of Facebook for the most up to date info on when the next Customer Celebration Day will be.
Don't Let Your Double Up Rewards Languish!
If you've placed an order with me in the last 6 months, then you've earned Double Up Rewards that can help you earn extra FREE and half-price items when you host a qualifying party. Depending on the amount of your Reward, you can significantly increase your hostess benefits. All you have to do is schedule a fun and casual Uppercase Living party where your friends can shop all of our great ideas for home decor and holiday gifts and you earn bonus freebies! Contact me to check on the amount of your Double Up Reward and its expiration date.

 

I hope you all enjoy a safe and happy Halloween. Please wait until your kids are at school Monday to steal their candy!

 

Coaster Extravaganza - DATE CHANGE

If you've spent any time at all reading Please Use Your Words, you know that I'm a huge fan of our versatile, affordable, fantastic coasters. I think they are the perfect solution for gift giving, party favors, theme decor, and so much more. It's no wonder that they are among my best-selling products. Due to their popularity during the holiday season, I've decided to dedicate a whole project party just to making coasters. Here are the details:

Date: Friday, November 19 (NOTE DATE CHANGE)

Time: 9:30-12:30

Place: My Home

Refreshments: Of course! 

Each set of 4 coasters costs only $15. I will have an assortment of seasonal and everyday words and designs to help you create a variety of designs. You can also order custom embellishments or lettering for your coasters or choose from the limited-time coaster kits in our holiday catalog. There is no limit to the number of coaster sets you can make. Of course, there will be the usual drawings, giveaways and a 10% discount on all orders placed at the Coaster Extravaganza! 

As you think about your gift list, don't forget that coaster sets make terrific hostess gifts and are great to have on hand for a last-minute gift exchange or invitation. No more scrambling when you have the perfect thing ready to go! The sets can be broken up to create individual, inexpensive gifts as well. Here are lots more ideas of how you can customize them to make your gift giving both simple and personal.

If you'd like to take part, but can't attend, just let me know how many sets of coasters you'd like to make and what you'd like on them. I can deliver the kits to you (or have them shipped directly if you're out of town) or even assemble them for you. 

So, glance through my catalog, go through your gift list, and let me know how many sets of coasters you'd like to work on at the Coaster Extravaganza. I must receive your order by October 29 to guarantee on-time delivery of your items. I'm so looking forward to spending a morning with a great group of people and helping all of you create fantastic holiday gifts. I won't even tell if the gifts you make are for YOU! 

Customer Appreciation Day #3 - FREE Expression With Any Order Placed October 15

Hooray, it's time for yet another Customer Celebration Day!! This has been such a great program from Uppercase Living.  We never know when another Customer Celebration Day is coming or what the FREE gift will be, so it's fun to find out right along with our customers. This time it's a gorgeous expression that's perfect for the fall. "Gather Here" comes in Soft Copper. I've had this expression on my Willow House metal drink bucket and I always get compliments on it. Those of you who came to my recent Open House may have noticed it. Here are a few other ideas for this versatile FREE gift:

 

The size of this Customer Celebration special is similar to our Simply Words collection, perfect for the rectangular Frameworks. The top section of this Double Frame holds the Galvanized Metal insert covered with some seasonal scrapbook paper and a turkey embellishment. The FREE expression fits the bottom of the frame beautifully, while faux leaves glued to magnets turn this into a gorgeous, seasonal home accent that comes in handy as a memo board. Best of all, you can completely change the look with different inserts for any other holiday or season.

The Gather Here expression looks equally beautiful on our Glass Charger. With a coordinating Cornucopia Embellishment, it's a beautiful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table or the perfect hostess gift. You can even use the charger as a tray and pile it high with treats for that lucky hostess!

Finally, look at how lovely it is displayed simply in a Chocolate Rectangular Frameworks. The neutral colors in this combination make it perfect for almost any decor.

I'd love to hear how you plan to use your FREE Customer Celebration Day gift. To make sure you get one, just call or email me to place your order by Friday October 15. You can also shop on my website; your gift will be automatically added to your order.

I am so happy that Uppercase Living is helping me thank all of you wonderful customers with such a versatile gift, just in time for autumn. It feels great to know that our expressions will be part of so many of your holiday gatherings.

Getting Up and Around: JoAnne's Rotunda

 

JoAnne had a problem. Her gorgeous home has a rotunda! Most of us don't have a whole lot of extra space in our homes, much less a rotunda. As you can imagine, it's difficult to decorate a space with rounded walls. JoAnne was feeling a little stuck about how to proceed when we met at her friend's Uppercase Living party. 

During my demonstration, I mentioned that our expressions can fit rounded objects such as vases, wine glasses or candle holders. All of a sudden, JoAnne realized that she had found the solution for decorating her rotunda. It took her some time to choose the perfect expression for the space, and then a little more time to actually apply it after it arrived. A few accessories and narrow frames holding photos of her adorable boys fill the space below the expression, which unifies the space and fits the curved wall beautifully. Now not only do JoAnne and her family have a beautiful space to enjoy, but visitors to their home are greeted with a lovely foyer and a warm, welcoming expression that describes this sweet family perfectly.

If you have a space in your home that's a decorating challenge, don't give up on it! Let me help you brainstorm a solution that you may not have thought possible. Like my friend, JoAnne, you could end up with a unique result that's as enjoyable for you as it is welcoming to your guests.

October 2010 Customer Newsletter

Hostess Center Helps Maximize Your Hostess Rewards 
Ever since the new Hostess Center on my website was unveiled this summer, hostesses have loved using the tools it provides to help them maximize their free benefits for having a party. It's easy to send out invitations, keep an eye on RSVPs, send reminders, and best of all, watch your rewards add up as your guests place online orders! By far the most exciting part of the Hostess Center is that it allows you to invite friends and family from anywhere in the US or Canada to place orders associated with your party and earn hostess credit for those purchases. This not only gives hostesses maximum flexibility, but it also lets them have online-only parties no matter where they are located. I'd love to help you earn the most hostess benefits possible by using the fabulous Hostess Center. Contact me to schedule your fall party and I'll make sure to help you navigate this fun tool. 

Limited Time Left to Take Advantage of FREE Starter Kit Special for New Demonstrators 
Our FREE Starter Kit Special ends October 11 so if you've been thinking about joining this great company, don't miss out on the chance to get your Starter Kit for free. It's a great time of year to start with Uppercase Living, as your friends and family will love our products for holiday decorating and gifts. I'll be here to help every step of the way and help you earn all of the many rewards available as an Uppercase Living Demonstrator. No matter where you're located, I'd love to talk with you about joining my team (my goal is to have team members in all 50 states!). Call or email me today so we can set you up to take advantage of the FREE Starter Kit and more! 
 
Coaster Extravaganza Coming November 15
My first project party of the season will be a Coaster Extravaganza on Friday, November 5 from 9:30-12:30. Each 4-pack of coasters will be only $15 and you'll have dozens of choices for words and designs to decorate them with. You can even customize them by pre-ordering custom letters, monograms or designs. Don't forget, you can break up a set of coasters for individual gifts (think office gifts, teachers, hair stylists, manicurists, etc.). Email me with your order before Monday and you can also get the FREE Customer Celebration Sampler. Please RSVP as I won't have many extra coasters on hand. If you'd like to have your own project party with your friends, contact me to set it up. A fun time for everyone, completed projects to take home, and hostess rewards for you!

Popular Items In Our Current Catalogs 
Our two current catalogs have so many new ideas that it's difficult to know where to start. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, perhaps this list of our most popular items will help you narrow your focus:

• Dry-Erase or Chalk Wall Chore Chart
• Birthday Countdown
• Christmas Countdown
• Card Kits
• Snowman or Pumpkin Face Activity Kits
• Gratitude Tree with Dry Erase leaves
• Punched Metal Tile
• Chalk Markers - vibrant colors with no dust or mess

If your wish list is bigger than your budget, host a party and get that wish list for FREE. My hostesses have been earning anywhere from $70 to over $100 in FREE products plus half price items with their qualifying parties. Contact me to select a date before my fall calendar fills up.

Congratulations Raffle Winners!  
Thanks to everyone who attended my Open House last Sunday and Monday. It was great to see some friends I hadn't seen for a while and meet new ones too. It's always fun to tell people about all the ways Uppercase Living can help them in their decorating and gift giving, but it's also great to hear fresh ideas that I haven't thought of. As you know, I love to spoil my customers and hostesses, so I had lots of raffles and giveaways. Here are the lucky winners:

• Eiffel Tower Sampler - Rosalie Meyer
• 18 Word Assortment - Lisa Daley
• Coasters for Coaster Extravaganza - Susan Tannenbaum
• Home Sweet Home Expression - Cynthia Wennberg
• Bird On Branch Sampler - Mimi Crandall
• Warmest Welcome Expression - Liz Petridis
• Birds, Leaves and Flowers Sampler - Jo-Ann Capelaci
• 10" Monogram Door Prize - Micky Buono
• 10" Monogram Thanks For Bringing a Guest - Sophia Rohde & Laurie Hurley
• GRAND PRIZE 2x2 foot PHOTO PRINT - JoAnne Beatty

Congratulations to all the winners. Please contact me ASAP so I can arrange to get your prize to you! 

Happy Birthday!  
As you can see by the long list of raffle winners, I love to give presents, so I'm giving a 10% discount on one item to all of the ladies who are celebrating a birthday in October: Blanca D., Rosalie M., Janet S., Kathy S., Sarah F., Erika B., Karynn B., Lisa Z. and the truly fabulous Sadaf. I feel so fortunate to count you ladies among my friends. I hope you have a wonderful birthday.

I know I'll be talking to many of you between now and the holidays. Never hesitate to contact me if you're stuck for a gift or decor idea. I love brainstorming with you!

Customer Celebration Day #2 - FREE SAMPLER Monday October 4

Less than two weeks since our last Customer Celebration Day comes another one!! The next one is Monday October 4, and once again, everyone who places an order that day will receive a FREE vinyl sampler.

 

The sampler, a $14.95 value, comes in Soft Gold and has enough designs for several projects. This time of year, you can use it to create a number of gifts, or something special for yourself. Here are just a few suggestions:

 Applied to the black Punched Metal Tile and accented with pink Mini Blooms, it makes a sweet magnet board with a French flair.  It would also look lovely on any of the other color tiles.

The dandelion design in the sampler looks stunning on our new square Photo Frame.  Here it's been paired with a "Breathe" Simply Words expression, but I think it would look beautiful by itself, as well. Whether you keep it for yourself or give it as a gift, this elegant piece will be treasured.

 Of course, you know I was going to include a coaster suggestion in this post, didn't you? Yes, I love our coasters, and this sampler lends itself very well to a coaster project or two. I think the best thing to do when you get it home is put together a set of coasters with the snowflakes or small leaves, wrap it in holiday paper and put it away. In a couple of months, you will need a hostess gift or small item for a gift exchange and you'll be ready to go!

 Of course, you can mix the designs from the sampler with other Uppercase Living expressions, like on this Acrylic Block. The leaves have been added as a border to add extra interest and color to the Give Thanks expression.

All you have to do to receive your FREE Customer Celebration Sampler is to place an order on Monday Oct. 4. You can email me or order directly from my website. I'm so glad Uppercase Living is offering this great gift to thank all of you wonderful customers. I hope you'll email me photos of how you use it in your home.

Nate Berkus and Gossip Girl Michelle Trachtenberg Love Vinyl Wall Art!

On today's show, celebrity designer Nate Berkus and Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg discuss the versatility of vinyl wall art, especially for apartments! I love the designs she shows, and she also talks about how great vinyl is for families with small children. Chalk Wall, anyone?