Bailey's Room: Old Hollywood Glamour

Korina, one of my fabulous hostesses, is a busy mom of 4, wife, daughter, friend and elementary school teacher. This woman goes nonstop! She also has a love of words and a great eye for decor, which is great for her lucky daughter, Bailey.

While Korina was home for Winter Break, Bailey's room got a dramatic makeover! As Bailey heads into her teens, her room needs to reflect her more grown up taste. With dark furniture and photos of Marilyn Monroe already in the space, Korina knew exactly what she wanted to add.  She started with a custom Marilyn Monroe quote in one of our newer fonts, Satisfaction. Korina has become quite a pro at using the MyDesign Suite on my website to create custom expressions. The quote she chose is perfect for a teenager's room, I think, especially when insecurities creep in. She placed it on a narrower space above the closet, where Bailey will see it from her bed. The space doesn't lend itself to most decorating options, but UL lettering fits it beautifully.

The focal point of Bailey's room is her bed, featuring pale grays and pinks. Korina set it off by adding our Grande Chandelier in Matte Black. The color pops on the soft gray walls, but doesn't distract the eye from the color on the bed. Elegant and glamorous, it's a wonderful addition above Bailey's headboard. 

The finished room is a gorgeous space for Bailey to hang out. The decor Korina picked is sure to please for many years. I don't foresee Bailey outgrowing this room any time soon. In fact, I can think of several adults who would love a room like this. Oh, and did I mention the fabulous deal Korina got on all this vinyl (and much more) by hosting an Uppercase Living party just before the holidays? She got much of her order absolutely FREE.

I'd like to thank Korina for allowing me to share these photos of her beautiful work. I'm so pleased that I got to be involved in a small way in helping create Bailey's room. I can't wait to show you what else Korina has planned!

You can see more photos of Bedroom Decor in my public Facebook album.

Our Brand New Catalog Has Arrived!!!!

Last week, at our annual convention at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Uppercase Living finally revealed the brand new vinyl catalog that we've all been waiting impatiently for. It is now available for you to page through on my website. All the new expressions are also there for you to browse or search. There is just too much good stuff for me to detail individually here. But here are some of the highlights to whet your appetite. Hostesses always get free catalogs, so contact me to schedule your party and I'll get one out to you ASAP. And now, here's the scoop:

Brand new color: This year's new color is Mustard Seed. It's a deep yellow that is not only decor-friendly, but the perfect shade for softballs and water polo balls for all those sports teams. I think it will look particularly beautiful on darker walls and/or paired with Navy, Slate Gray (a very on-trend combination right now) or Vintage Bordeaux. 

Tons of new expressions: I love our new expressions. So many beautiful sentiments with more contemporary fonts and styling; sweet, fun, romantic, serious and playful; always with the most important undertone being home, family and the activities that bond us together. There are so many inspirational words for your walls. Here's one of my favorites:

Big Changes on Accessories: You'll notice that our Accessories section has been streamlined. The MDF Foundations boards all now come painted white!! There's a gorgeous new Vintage Embossed Metal Board in Berry, which previously had just been a seasonal item. Best news of all: lower prices on all Frameworks!!

New Grande Format Designs: These versatile designs continue to be popular.  Among the botanicals and other designs are my favorite: headboards! Over the years I've designed many headboard replacements for customers who just couldn't have the real thing. Now I can add two actual headboard designs to the options. Here is the wrought iron look:

12 New Fonts: The choices in creating your own vinyl lettering designs are greater than ever with the introduction of 12 new fun, contemporary, classy, versatile and gorgeous fonts. Which do you like best?

A Brand New Hostess Rewards Plan: Our new, simplified hostess rewards plan gives you more FREE and half price products than ever before when you host a fun Uppercase Living party. Every hostess with a qualifying party gets at least 2 half price items in addition to her FREE products. Plus, you'll earn FREE products based on every single dollar your guests spend at your party. More goodies for you! As my calendar fills with hostesses wanting to share the new catalog with their friends, party dates will be more difficult to fine. I'd love to schedule yours!

Fun New Additions to Erasables: We love our Chalk Walls because they come in handy in so many ways. Plus they are just so much fun! The new Value Pack is perfect for organizing any space, from a pantry to a craft room to a garage...and more! Our Chalk Markers are now available in red and blue. And guess what else:

I can't wait to share more ideas for this fun and versatile product with you. Look for my "Back to School With Chalk Wall" post soon.

Returning Favorites: To celebrate Uppercase Living's 5th anniversary, some customer favorites have been brought out of retirement and back to our new catalog. You'll be able to find them all with the special logo throughout the catalog. Here's one I love that is not only cute for a bathroom but perfect for a dental office:

Those are just some of the highlights of this fantastic new catalog. Others include leopard print, the Serenity Prayer, owls, lots of great clocks and so much more. Once again, the possibilities for lettering and design are virtually unlimited. I would love the opportunity to help you create a uniquely personalized space with our products. Design and consultation services are always FREE and you can even earn your products FREE when you host a party. Just let me know how I can help you. And if you love working with me, I would appreciate your referrals. I consider them the highest form of praise. I look forward to working with all of you and sharing the great new products in this catalog, and many many more new things with you.

All About Argyle

Ever since the Preppies were taking over the world in the early 80s, I've loved argyle patterns (preferably in dove gray and baby pink, but that's just me). I find them classic and timeless but also contemporary and fun when the scale or colors are updated. All these years later, argyle is still a popular pattern in fashion and decorating. Its neat, linear pattern makes it a good choice for borders, but hand painting an argyle border requires stencils, two different size brushes, numerous steps, mess, clean up, a steady hand and a LOT of patience.

Luckily, there's an easier way. Uppercase Living borders are among our best kept secrets. Available in various sizes and all of our colors, our borders also come with registration marks to make lining them up for a seamless look foolproof. As you can see in the following photos, our 2-part argyle border can look tailored, bold, or fun and easily fit into any decor.

 

In this photo, the border is used to cover the seam where the two paint colors meet. Its dark tone ties in with the bedding and makes this an ideal look for either a masculine or feminine space.

In the photo above, the argyle colors also tie in with the bedding, but the pattern is placed a bit higher on a solid color wall. Not only does this draw the eye up, but it also fills a space where a headboard would be. The vibrant color makes a traditional pattern look fresh and contemporary.

Here, the argyle is in a larger scale and has been placed above the chair rail. Adding some black to this room grounds the color scheme and ties in with the chair. The size makes it a good choice for a bold kids' space.
However you decide to use it, you'll love the ease and simplicity of applying your argyle border. Think of all the money you'll save on paint, wallpaper, or redoing your drywall because you got so frustrated trying to get your lines straight that you punched a hole through it. 

Decorative Tip: Argyles aren't just for walls. Add them to accessories in the space to tie the wall border together with the rest of the room. You can put them on lamp shades, windows, frames, closet doors, mirrors and furniture. If you want to take your argyle with you, you can even put it on your laptop.

Installation Tip: The following video will teach you how to apply your border precisely and easily. View more helpful videos on a variety of topics on my website. 

Inspired by Erin: Marital Milestones

My friend Erin has an uncanny ability to translate emotions into vinyl. A true UL pro, she has a way to turn the simplest words into the most meaningful designs (don't tell her I steal a bunch of them). A devoted wife and mom of 5 beautiful daughters, it's not surprising that most of her designs are inspired by her family.

As you know, one of the many reasons I love Uppercase Living is that our products allow you to express what's unique, personal and meaningful to you. There are no "cookie cutter" designs; you create what you love. With her latest design, Erin has taken this concept to the next level and created an actual history of the important dates in her marriage. The words in the above expression had been swirling in her mind for some time. She knew she wanted to use them in her bedroom but wasn't sure how. She finally hit on the idea of listing the milestone dates in her relationship with her husband - the day they met, got engaged, their anniversary and their daughters' birthdays, among others - and using them as a background for the design. It really doesn't get any more special than something so personal. The dates make me think of a secret code that only two can solve. This expression, measuring over 50 inches, will be a focal point in Erin's master bedroom and serve as a reminder of all that she and her husband have been through together.

As a record of a couple's relationship, this is an amazing anniversary gift. But the concept can be used in so many other ways. For example, as a wedding gift it can list the couple's engagement date and wedding date with room for more and the expression,"The best is yet to come." In a child's room, dates made up of small numbers can go up the wall vertically, creating a growth chart punctuated by the dates the child started walking, talking, etc. Imagine the dates as a border, encircling a room and evoking memories each time you glance at them. Or create a smaller version on our Vintage Embossed Metal Board using the kids' birthdays as a backdrop for a special Mother's Day gift.

Looking back on our relationships, there are those days that stay in our memories with crystal-clear clarity. Erin's design gives them their proper place: front and center, paired with a few simple words that convey a lifetime's worth of emotion.

Summer Splash: 5 Hours To Go And One Last Photo

Here it is: the last Photo A Day (although it's been more like 2 a day) of Summer Splash. It's the final day of the big promotion and we demonstrators are madly trying to enter those last minute orders and help all of our new team members get signed in before tonight's deadline. Although it's available for just a few more day, you can still get this expression and Buy One, Get One FREE if you act within the next few hours.

I love thinking of the everyday miracles that we are surrounded by. Looking at my kids running around is enough to remind me each day. Sometimes the miracle is the traffic light that stays green when you're running late for preschool pickup, and sometimes it's the doctor that catches unseen problems and acts quickly to prevent their devastating consequences. I've been on the receiving end of both of those types of miracles and many more.

This sweet, soothing photo is a stark contrast to all of the activity going on in with UL right now. Not only are we ending Summer Splash, but tomorrow is our annual convention where our latest catalog and all of the new products it contains will be announced. In 13 hours, I'll be flying off to St. Louis to meet up with friends and pretty much marinate in all things UL for four days. I will definitely need a miracle or two to get myself and all my stuff on that plane before it takes off. Instead of thinking of the 3 to-do lists standing before me and Convention, I'll just think calming thoughts of miracles. I believe.

Photo A Day #8...Counting Down to End of Summer Splash

And now, for something completely different...
Isn't this piece gorgeous?!
I love this combination of colors, textures and fonts. This two-part expression is pictured here on a square Foundations MDF board which has been dry brushed with some paint. As it is, it's a lovely table top item, especially since the board is 20% off right now. But wouldn't it be dramatic in a larger size for the wall of a master bedroom? Lucky you, you can get both because they're Buy One, Get One FREE! But sadly, this is also one of our retiring expressions and it won't be available much longer. You can get it until July 19, but this is the last weekend for Summer Splash and the Buy One, Get One FREE sale. The great deals will end Monday night, so don't miss out!

Photo A Day - Day 2

Here's a no-brainer gift (my favorite kind) for a wedding shower or housewarming party. This is another expression you won't find on my website, so I need to hear from you directly if you'd like to order it. When you do, make sure you pick up a little something for yourself. Can't let Buy One, Get One FREE go to waste now, can we?

A Little Summer Treat from Me!

As you know, the Uppercase Living retired list has been released and it contains some really popular expressions that my customers have loved. I would be really sad that these great items are going away, but I know that our designers have been hard at work to produce some beautiful new expressions that you'll all be able to see in a few short weeks.

I know how you all love photos of our expressions, so for the next 12 days, you can visit me and feast your eyes on a new one each day. Of course, the 12th day, i.e. July 12th, is the last day to get these expressions as part of our Buy One Get One FREE promotion, but you can still order them until the 19th. After that, they're gone for good!

Here's today's photo (actually yesterday's since I haven't been to bed yet and am pretending it's still the 1st):



I love the message this expression conveys. We can all use a little confidence when chasing our dreams. I particularly love this for a teenager or college student's room. This stealthy expression cannot be viewed on my website, so if you'd like to order it, just shoot me an email or leave a comment here. Don't forget to pick something else to fulfill your Buy One Get One Free benefit. And come back tomorrow (or even later today) to see what else is going away.

Inspired By Today's Creative Blog

So many of us visit Kim at Today's Creative Blog (that's her button on my sidebar) for our daily dose of awesome inspiration and her unique way of presenting it. Recently she posted a giveaway for a machine that cuts vinyl, among other stuff, and the bajillion comments she received inspired me to post some ideas for her readers. Plus, I'll take any chance to play with our MyDesign tool.

So, if you're here visiting from TCB, Welcome and thanks for the inspiration. I'm Torreh, an old online friend of Kim's and an Uppercase Living demonstrator. If you haven't yet heard of Uppercase Living, we're a direct sales vinyl decor company doing business in the US and Canada. All of our vinyl expressions are removable, customizable and very, very affordable. You can order directly from my website or contact me for help with a custom design or to host a local home party or catalog party.

Before you start looking around, you should know that all of our vinyl is currently Buy One, Get One FREE. That's right. No limits, no exclusions, no minimum. Now, here are some ideas for you crafty TCB readers:

Mom2twosd:
Here are some reusable full-color vinyl flowers for your daughter's room. These come in several color options. With so many in the set, you can layer them, scatter them, and spruce up some other accessories in the room, like the lamp in this picture.



Heather & Renee Richins:

This set of toy bin labels would work great for your classroom or any child's room or play room. They don't even need to be able to read to help put their toys away!

Jackson's Mommy:
How about this for your Pretty Girl?

Of course, I think this would look so much more amazing with a Photo Print of your daughter. Imagine her face up there with that beautiful saying.

Su:
What a cute idea to scatter birds throughout your home. They're so popular right now. Here are a couple of ours. Available in sizes from 2" to 18" you can use them to decorate just about any space. I think our own Kim needs one, don't you?





Nancy H.:
If it's Welcome signs you like, take a look here!

Alicia, Jamie W & MrsJoseph:
Here are some great reusable party items. The banner comes in 2 colorways and the Pin the Tail on the Giraffe is sure to be a hit year after year.


To start the excitement well before the party, look at this fun magnetic countdown kit:



Cassandra:
Do you think this would help your husband find the hamper?
Nicole, Lori, Artbrat and Forsythe liked this one too!

Tiffany:
Wedding ideas abound here and here!

Leardonsbelle:
I love your idea. Here's my interpretation of it, although you can design yours however you like:


Katie:
Check out one of these frames for the house numbers on your front door.

Kim, Tabitha & Rebecca:
Here are some labels for your kitchen canisters. Psst....they also come in Etched Glass.




RV and MH:
Here's some bamboo for your daughter's office:

Gail:
Here are a couple of ideas for all your windows. I love old windows!

Jen, Mary, JeanMS & LHadgis:
Check out so many cute ideas for the Laundry Room.

maryjt:
I love the idea of using vinyl instead of a headboard. I did a room using the following design instead of a headboard. All of our expressions come in 3 sizes, so a small one can be used above a headboard, or a large one could take the place of one. Of course, this is just one of the hundreds of options.


Diane:
You're right that custom expressions can be pricey from some places, but check out the design I created from your quote:
I designed it in two pieces so it can qualify for the Buy One, Get One FREE special, and so it comes to just under $30! You can bring the price down even more by choosing a smaller font.


Ninja Panda:
Don't forget you can incorporate your new monogram in all of your wedding decor, then put a giant one on the dance floor!

Kelly H, Katie, Scrapycandy, Becks, & Lynda:
We have at least 23 ideas for butterflies, including this favorite:
Those of you prefer birds, or flowers, are also going to have a difficult time deciding!

This design, inspired by Kim herself, is for all of you have a furry member of your families that you love as much as she loves Mabie:
Etched Glass
So many of you mentioned that you love the idea of etching glass. Guess what: ALL OFF OUR DESIGNS COME IN "ETCHED GLASS" VINYL. That's right, the look of etched glass without the mess. So you can create projects like this:



Now, I wouldn't recommend putting them on dishes you plan to put in the oven or dishwasher, but for everything else, vinyl is the way to go! The coasters are a particularly good deal right now because they are 20% off and the vinyl is Boy One, Get One Free. And I hate to be grim, but as cute as that fishbowl is, what are you going to do with it when your goldfish goes to the giant pond in the sky? At some point, you're going to get tired of giving all of your fish the same name. Erin Wood Photography, I think you know what I mean.

Before you all jump over and start browsing my website for more inspiration, here are a couple of housekeeping notes: all vinyl is Buy One, Get One FREE. Everything else is 20% off! If you place an order and send me an email letting me know that you came over from TCB, I'll send you a mini assortment of vinyl words perfect for decorating votives, wine glasses, picture frames, cell phones, etc. If your name was mentioned here and you place an order, I'll double the number of words you get. Many of our designs are slated to be retired Mid-July. You can download the full list of retiring items here. If there is no possible way you can afford to buy everything you fall in love with, consider having a catalog party. I'll send you some catalogs and order forms, you collect orders from your friends and cash in on FREE and half-price products. And if you decide you love Uppercase Living as much as I do and want to become a demonstrator too, I can give you all the info you need, including how to get your Starter Kit for FREE. Finally, if you'd like to be on my mailing list, just leave me a comment and let me know.

I don't have to tell all of you how versatile and fun vinyl decor is. Personally, I'm cheap and lazy and don't want to spend the effort and money on cutting my own vinyl. I wouldn't want to buy a whole roll of vinyl in one color just to cut out something small. There's no way I could swing buying a Cricut or Silhouette machine these days, and knowing me, it would just sit there on my desk collecting dust if I did. So, for me Uppercase Living is the way to go. I love the products and I love the company. If any of you TCB ladies would like me to design an expression for you, just let me know. Knowing you guys, though, you'll just jump right on over to my website and do it yourself. I love that about you!

Link to Retired Expressions List

You can view the entire list of retiring expressions and download your own copy here. The expression above is just one of the dozens going away soon. Luckily, you can still get it and Buy One Get One FREE too!

Take Your Expressions Up A Notch with MyDesign Suite

You’ve all seen the MyDesign Suite icon in the catalog, right? When it's next to an expression, it means that it has been created specifically for customization in the MyDesign Suite. But that doesn’t mean that expressions without this icon cannot be customized as well. We all love our UL Expressions. But we love them just a little bit more when we've had a hand in designing them and making them even more personal. Here are a few expressions that were not designed to be further customized but look so good with the addition of a MyDesign element.

This simple love expression is beautifully enhanced by adding the personalization. I would love to see this at a wedding reception or even on the dance floor!

Not only is this football expression great for a teenager's room, it would be fantastic in the locker room to personalize each player's locker. How's that for team spirit?

If you've been to my home lately, you've seen this ultra-popular Dandelion Dance expression. Here it is combined with a beautiful saying created in the MyDesign Suite. (Keep in mind that this is what this design would look like after you put it on the wall; not what it looks like in MyDesign Suite. Dandelion Dance is a theme pack, so you’ll place the seedlings in whatever pattern you want when you actually apply it).

My son has a friend who is crazy for pirates and this would be perfect for him. You can easily pull this expression into the MyDesign Suite, add a custom expression with your child’s name, match the colors of his room…and voila! So cute!

Finally, here is a little something for your own space, if your name is Karen. If it's something else than you'd probably not want this exact expression. I love the combination of colors and fonts in this design.

The sky is truly the limit with MyDesign Suite. Be as creative as you want to be, and don’t be afraid to try new and even weird or funky things. You'll have so many chances to change your design before you actually have to commit to one. Not only will you be surprised at what MyDesign Suite can help you create, but you'll love saving on truly custom expressions for your home with our Buy Two Get One FREE promotion going on now!!

Run for the Borders!

Long before I discovered Uppercase Living, I went through my fair share of decorating projects. Fifteen years, three houses, three kids and dozens of gallons of paint have seen me tackle everything from stenciling to installing moulding to removing a very stubborn wallpaper border while I muttered some descriptive suggestions for where the previous owners of our newly purchased home could insert their wallpaper glue.

There's no doubt that borders add so much to a room's decor. They can draw the eye up toward the ceiling or down to de-emphasize a too-tall space. They can pull together disparate elements to unify a room. Adding a sense of whimsy or formality, for example, a well-chosen border is the perfect touch to make a room look complete.

The new Uppercase Living catalog contains a whole section of borders that are easy to apply, come in all of our decor-friendly colors and can be put up end-to-end to fit any length. See how they complement the decor in the following rooms:

The border used in this formal dining room is the Urban Flourish. I love that rather than placing it predictably along the ceiling, the designer used it just above the wainscoting, where it doesn't compete with the elaborate crown moulding. Notice how the curves in the border mimic the curves of the light fixture.

In this monochromatic bathroom, the Loopy Line border is used just on one wall, between the bath tub and the window. In this otherwise traditional room, the border adds an unexpected whimsical touch. The main part of the two part design is white, which ties in to the tub, accessories and trim; while the second part is a darker shade of the blue used elsewhere in the bathroom.

The decor in this bedroom is structured and symmetrical, down to the perfectly centered pair of mirrors above the bed and matching lamps on the night stands. Enter the Curly Vine border to bring in organic shapes and curved lines to offset the straight slats of the prominently placed bed. The color matches the bedding perfectly and extends the soft shade up almost to the ceiling.

Applying our our borders is just as simple as applying any of our expressions. Registration marks included with the design help you match up each piece for a continuous effect with no gaps. Using the tips in the following short video will help you get the same custom look in minutes.



Seeing how easy these borders are to install and remove brings me back to all the time I spent peeling off that ugly old wallpaper border, piece by tiny piece. Knowing that these borders will never have anything to do with wallpaper glue and the future owners of my home cursing me behind my back makes me love them even more.