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.

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!

Sweet and Spooky Ideas for Halloween

With yesterday being the hottest day EVER (no really, it was the hottest day in recorded history in LA) it's difficult to get my mind around the fact that it's time to get the Fall and Halloween decorations out. We have flames shooting out of the hillsides, air conditioning running nonstop and are trying hard not to stick to our furniture. It definitely feels like summer but one look at the calendar tells me that cooler temperatures are not far away and neither is our (somewhat sad) version of fall. Knowing that Halloween is a big holiday for many of you, here are some ideas decor and gift ideas.

 Before I get to Halloween, I just want to point out that it's easy to get double duty from accessories and decorations this time of year by going with a fall theme instead of just Halloween. The pumpkin in the photo about is a great example. Using a big fall leaf embellishment and several small ones turns this plain craft pumpkin into an elegant accessory that can stay out until the Christmas decoration appear. If you'd like to make it more appropriate for Halloween, you can always add a Jack O' Lantern face on one side and leaves on the other. The faces come in a variety of designs in lots of sizes, so you can use them in many different ways.

 

I like using them on larger craft pumpkins so that I can use them year after year. It's definitely a good investment over the long run, plus I don't have to deal with slimy pumpkin guts! You can also apply a couple of these faces to a mirror in your home for a fun  Halloween "trick." 

A good idea for Halloween decor is to apply your vinyl expressions on boards, tiles or plaques so that you can reuse them each year. That's what I did on this punched metal tile to warn guests at my door:

I ordered this expression in Shimmer Orange to make it really pop against the Black Punched Metal Tile (love this new color addition!). I added a little of our black ribbon and have a great piece I'll use every year. My daughter thinks this refers to her brothers. Little does she know...

Another Halloween piece I love is this cute "Eat, Drink and Be Scary" in Green Tea and Concord Grape. It might be difficult to see in the photo but I applied some Shimmer Effects to the purple parts to make them shimmer and shine a little more. I love the look. This expression is shown on the Vintage Embossed Metal Board in Black. This is another great, versatile Foundations piece because it can be hung vertically or horizontally. With its not-too-scary faces, this expression is perfect for my family. Two of my kids are still too young to enjoy the scary aspects of Halloween, and the other one is too, but won't admit it.

The last idea I'd like to share with you today is this cute vase I found on clearance a while back. It was much too plain so I added a spider and some lettering to make it the perfect little Halloween accent. Some orange ribbon and a spooky branch finish off the look. This is great to use if you don't have a lot of wall space but would still like to decorate. As always, you can make it do double duty by adding some silver snowflakes to the other side and using it through the winter.

Whatever you decide to use for your Halloween decor, don't wait very long to order your pieces. The sooner you receive them, the sooner you can begin to enjoy your fun items.

Just in time for holiday planning, decorating and shopping, it's time for my annual fall Open House. Uppercase Living has outdone themselves with fantastic ideas for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hannukah and Christmas. And if that's not enough, our new catalog is full of year-round ideas for every room in your home and beyond!
As always, guests are welcome, so grab a friend or two, or ten! If you've been planning to have a party but haven't gotten around to it, bring your guests to my Open House and get all the hostess benefits without having to clean your house or make snacks!
To make it more convenient for you to attend, I'm hosting my Open House over two days:

Sunday Sept. 26  12-5
Monday Sept. 27 9:30-12:30

Please let me know in your RSVP when you plan to come so I can make sure to have enough snacks and supplies. No matter whicd day you choose, you'll love the new items, free sample craft, and lots of prizes and giveaways. I'll also have information about our FREE Starter Kits for new Demonstrators, my October Coaster Party and more project and craft nights coming up.

Former Hostesses will receive a bonus 10% discount on their entire order as my special holiday "Thank You."

Earn a raffle ticket before you get here just by submitting your RSVP! You'll get more for bringing a guest, placing an order, scheduling your party and more! The Grand Prize is a FREE Photo Print and there will be lots of other goodies as well.

To view our holiday catalog and new items before the Open House, visit my website If you'd like to place an order but won't be able to come, you can contact me directly or  order on my site. Just associate it with the Pre-Holiday Open House.

Looking forward to seeing all of you!

Update on Halloween Welcome Kit

Wow, if you blinked (like I did), you missed out on the super cute Halloween Welcome Kit with the black mini punched metal tile. But the super cool designers at Uppercase Living have come up with a great new option:

This features the spooky Welcome expression in Matte Black with an Artichoke tile and black ribbon. It is still priced at just $7.95 and still very limited in supply. I will be placing an order tomorrow morning for local customers, but if you know you want one, don't wait and order yours tonight on my website in case they sell out again. Congrats to those of you who snatched up the first ones!!

November Customer Newsletter

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. I really love Thanksgiving and the time leading up to it so I'm looking forward to the next several weeks. This is also the busiest month of the year for me. Between holiday specials, lots of parties, new demonstrator specials and at least one project night, there is a ton going on...all of it fun!

Project Night Dec. 4
There is still space available for my Dec. 4th Project Night. If you've never attended one, they are so much fun! You can choose from the projects here, choose a kit from our holiday catalog (let me know if you still need one), or create your own projects to work on (I'm happy to help you put some ideas together). It'll be a relaxed evening (we can all use that in December!) where you can work on your projects, chat with friends, enjoy some snacks and leave with your completed project. I will also be offering a discount on all orders placed that night.

You do need to pre-order so I can have your materials ready. If you can't attend but would still like to make some items, I can order the supplies and get you the kits with assembly instructions. In order to make sure I have everything here in time, please have your orders to me no later than Nov. 10th.

Party Planning - November Hostesses Earn Even More Rewards
Although my November calendar is fuller than ever, I still have some Open House dates available, particularly in the second half of the month. This is a perfect time to have some friends over, spend some time catching up before the busy holiday season, and get some shopping done. I'll have lots of holiday ideas on display, but you and your guests might just decide you'd rather decorate your own homes, especially if you're expecting holiday visitors. Some fun themes for this time of year include:

• Cookies and cocoa
• Wine and cheese
• Weekday brunch -moms shop while the kids are at school
• Chocolate lovers
• Cozy evening in - light the fireplace and make a big pot of soup
• Margarita fiesta

If you have a particular date in mind, please let me know as soon as possible so I can get it on my calendar. You'll be glad you did because hostesses with $400+ shows that close by Nov. 30 will get a 50% bump in their hostess rewards:

Many of you have Double Up Rewards of $100-$200 and they count toward the minimum you need to take advantage of this great promotion. Why not save on your own holiday shopping and get double the credit on purchases you've already made?

If you'd rather have your party in December, you'll love the hostess and guest specials. As long as your party closes by Dec. 7th, you and your guests will be guaranteed to receive your products by Dec. 24th.

Gingerbread House is Still Available
Our Gingerbread House kit is a huge hit and still available. I have to tell you that it is much cuter in person. My kids have already had so much fun decorating and re-decorating. We are going to love taking out this fun 80+ piece kit year after year. Many of you are ordering these as a gift for families with little ones. At only $19.95 with a $50 purchase, it is a GREAT value for gift-giving.



The Gingerbread House kit is only available until Nov. 15th so don't miss out on your opportunity to get it.

Crazy Low Price on Essentials Starter Kit
So many of us are searching for an extra source of income as we approach the holidays. If you're looking for a fun, flexible way to help your family's finances, consider joining my sales team now. Not only is it our busiest, most profitable time of year, but UL is offering a great deal on our $99 starter kit. You will receive DOUBLE the product credit to choose whatever you want up to $50. Whether you get items to display or for your own home, you'll essentially be starting your business for about $49. Enjoy helping clients beautify their homes, have fun at parties and get to share our great products with people you already know. Contact me to for more information on this fantastic opportunity and to begin earning now.

Holiday Ordering Deadline
For those of you who love the last minute stress of working against a deadline, you can look forward to a crazy scramble of putting together your order on December 7th. For the rest of you who have enough stress in your lives already, please plan on submitting your orders before then for guaranteed delivery by Dec. 24.

Find Me On Facebook!

I've created a Facebook page for my Uppercase Living business. Join now to hear about specials, ideas and events. My husband thinks this is just an excuse for me to spend time online "working." We know better, right?

A Family Holiday Project for All
Although I can't take credit for this idea, I love it enough to want to share it with all of you. This holiday season, create a Family Giving Box. Using our acrylic block and Give expression with present embellishment, create a bank that your family will fill with spare change throughout the season. At the end of December, your family can vote on where to donate the money. I love how this simple project helps make the holidays more meaningful. You might love the idea so much that you'll keep your box out year round.

Black Friday Sale
I hate to add to the frenzy but I have to admit I just love getting a good deal on Black Friday, the crazy shopping day after Thanksgiving. Ever since having small kids, I've used them as an excuse NOT to get up at the crack of dawn to go fight for parking, service and that trendy item everyone has to have for the holiday season. I figure there have to be others out there like me who'd rather sleep in AND get good deals. In honor of us smart shoppers, I'll be having my own Black Friday Sale after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned to my blog and a special edition of my newsletter for details. At different points in the day I'll be offering various specials such as discounts, additional FREE items and even FREE shipping. But in honor of my desire to sleep off my Thanksgiving feast, neither one of us will have to get up early to participate.

Here, There, and Everywhere

In the coming weeks I have plans to hold Open Houses from Ventura to Valencia (and even Van Nuys!). Some of my events will be open to the public so if you'd like to catch me in your town, check my calendar on my website and see if I'll be in your neighborhood.

Who Doesn't Love a Good Recipe?
Have you visited my Uppercase Living website recently? Next time you do you'll notice a new recipe section with materials lists and step-by-step instructions to recreate some of the most popular projects you see pictured in our catalog. You will love not having to guess at sizes, colors or techniques.

Birthday Greetings
My last couple of newsletters have been so lengthy that I've left out the birthday section. But that doesn't mean that the birthday discount has gone away. If you celebrate your birthday in October or November, you can enjoy 10% off any item as my gift. Happy fall birthday ladies.

Everything Else
I sincerely appreciate those of you who forward this newsletter to friends and family. Your referrals are the greatest compliment and truly help my business grow (and make my day).

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great November and end it surrounded by loved ones for a lovely Thanksgiving.

Torreh

Quick and Cute Halloween Project

Sometimes my customers worry about buying Uppercase Living expressions for holiday decor. They hesitate to put something seasonal on the wall, not wanting to invest in something only to dispose of it after a few weeks.

I can completely see their point. While there are some instances that an expression might be the perfect temporary accent for a space, most often, we fall in love with our projects and want to use them year after year. Here's a perfect example of a Halloween project you'll love to use in your decor for many years to come.

Ingredients:
*Square UL MDF Board
*UL Toolbox Paint in Terra Cotta and Lemon Chiffon
*Halloween Expression 16570 in Matte Black
*UL Vinyl Effects solution
*UL Easel (easel shown is not from UL)
Sandpaper

Instructions:
1. Paint top half of board in Lemon Chiffon, leaving a 1.5" border on top and sides and about 4-5" on bottom. This will vary based on where you position your expression on your board. It might be a good idea to check and mark your board without removing the backing paper from your expression.

2. Paint remainder of board in Terra Cotta. If desired, sand edges of board for a more distressed look.

3. After paint has dried, apply UL expression using enclosed instructions. Remove and discard transfer paper.

4. To achieve a glossy, dimensional look, carefully apply Vinyl Effects solution to letters or any other portion of the expression you'd like to highlight. Let dry completely and enjoy!

Would you like to recreate this project? Order the entire kit (board, expression, 2 tubes of paint, easel and Vinyl Effects) from me from now until September 29th and save $5 off your purchase. I'll even throw in the sandpaper. Discount is not available on website purchases so please place your order directly with me.

Don't forget my Open House this Saturday. Scroll down to the previous post for the details. Leave me a comment to RSVP.

September Customer Newsletter

I hope you're enjoying the last days of summer. We're slowly getting into the back to school schedule at my house. That includes my youngest starting preschool for the first time while my older son adjusts to the longer days of first grade. As much as I hate to rush the end of summer, there's no doubt that the fun and busy days of falls are not too far away.This year, fall promises to be a little more fun and festive because of so much news from Uppercase Living. But before I get to that, there are still some end-of-summer deals to take advantage of. Keep reading for all the info and a great sneak peek!

Last Days to Buy Two, Get One Free

This has been a great promotion for all you smart shoppers. Whether you're trying to decorate several rooms or planning ahead for some holiday gift-giving, this is a the time to save on everything in our catalog, including custom expressions. There is no limit on how many free items you can get. Simply put, of every 3 items you buy, the least expensive is FREE! The only downside to this great offer is that it ends this Thursday, so work on those final orders and get them to me directly or purchase on my website before the great deal goes away.

Please Visit "Please Use Your Words"

I'm so excited to invite you to visit my new blog, Please Use Your Words. Here you'll find updates, ideas and tips for using Uppercase Living expressions and other products. I'll make sure to post details of all of our promotions to help you save money. You'll also find pointers to help you make the most of a UL party you might be hosting. I'll add lots of photos to help you visualize how our products will look in your home. I'd love to include pictures of your Uppercase Living expressions too, so send them to me and you might find them posted for all my readers to admire. While you're there, leave a comment and let me know what else you'd like me to feature.

Go to www.pleaseyourwords.com and check back often.

Holiday Catalogs Are Here!!

For the first time this year Uppercase Living has issued a special holiday mini-catalog. In addition to new expressions you'll find several kits that can be customized for the holidays or year-round. The kits are great for yourself or for gift-giving. Also new to this catalog is our limited-time-only shimmer vinyl in 4 colors. You can order any of our expressions in any of these great colors. Everything in the catalog can be ordered starting September 15th. Look for a copy in your mailbox, your next UL order, or let me know if you'd like me to send you one right away!

Get Ready for Photo Prints

I've been keeping a secret since I got back from our convention at the end of July. While there, we learned about what I believe is the most exciting product from Uppercase Living yet and definitely the one that will truly personalize your space unlike anything else. Now, I can share my excitement with all of you as I tell you about Uppercase Living Photo Prints. You can now upload any high resolution photo to my website and get it enlarged and printed on removable, reusable, adhesive vinyl in sizes ranging from 2x2 to 8x4 FEET! There are so many possibilities for this great product: from weddings and anniversaries, to sports photos, family portraits, baby pictures, business logos or even a scenic shot from your favorite vacation; your photos can now become life-size artwork for your home. What better way to showcase products in a business? Or personalize an office or cubicle? We can even create photo prints from your business logo!

Click on the following link for more information on this amazing product: http://uppercaseliving.com/downloads/PhotoPrints_09.pdf. There is also some info in the holiday catalog. I'll post more details on my blog and there's sure to be some on my website too. Photo Prints will become available September 15th. I would love to hear how you will use them, so share your great ideas.

Annual Fall Open House

You're all invited to my annual Open House on Saturday September 26th. View the catalog and samples of our new products, see the project night samples, check out the new accessories and colors, and see a mini Photo Print for yourself. Of course, there will be prize drawings and snacks. Watch your email and my blog for more details to come.

My fall project night is tentatively scheduled for October 18th, so you'll have your projects to take home well before Halloween. I'll hold another one in early December for Christmas and Hannukah gifts and decor.

Parties and Project Nights

With so much going on from Uppercase Living, my schedule for the next several months looks to fill up quickly. In addition to the fall kick-off Open House at my home, I'll be holding two project nights and will also be busy with all of your parties. If you'd like to be a hostess and earn some FREE and HALF-PRICE products, I'd love to get your preferred date on your calendar and share all of our exciting products with your friends in time for the holiday gift-giving season. Let me know when you'd like to have your own home show.

Belated Birthday Wishes

Last month, I was so excited to share all the news about our new catalog, colors, MyDesign Suite, and everything else that I forgot to include birthday wishes for all of you with August birthdays. So this month, I'd like to say Happy Birthday to Marisa, Laurie, Erika, Leah, Lauren, Joyce, Jodi, Sarah, and both Wendy G.'s! My gift to each of you is 10% off any item.

The Boring Stuff

There is nothing more annoying than spam, so please let me know if you'd like me to remove your name from my email list. Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might also like to learn more about our innovative products.

Don't miss out on the last few days to Buy Two, Get One Free!!!

Ideas for September Hostesses

Each month, UL customers and hostesses earn free products with their qualifying orders. Many of my hostesses having a hard time choosing their free expressions(s). Hopefully the ideas here will help you visualize what those expressions really look like and help you have an easier time making your choice when it's your turn.

Just Treats

The "Just Treats" expression is pictured here in Sugared Plum on the Scalloped Charger. Use this to serve up your favorite Halloween goodies.

Live, Hope, Love

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, this expression is shown in Bright White and Fairytale Pink. However, by changing the color of the "hope" portion of the expression, you can choose a cause that is meaningful to you. View this page to learn what each color ribbon symbolizes.

To create this project, apply the expression to the insert of our new square Frameworks. I prefer to use Mistick when working with Frameworks. Apply 3 UL Blooms in White/Honey Wheat to the frame itself.

Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin on this charming expression reminds me of the one that turned into Cinderella's coach. This versatile expression can be used throughout October and November.

Here it is applied to our new square charger. Ribbon has been glued to the back of the charger and the whole thing hangs from a UL Medallion. The color is Terra Cotta but you can go a little bit brighter with Valencia Orange.

Spooktacular

The Spooktacular expression is available for both hostesses and customers. I love how it dresses up our new pre-drilled MDF board. I can just see some spooky spider webs or some gauze the Mummy left behind hanging from the hooks.

The board is first painted with our Toolbox Paint before the expression, shown here in Lemon Chiffon, is applied. The cool spider web effect is easily created with our new Vinyl Effects product. You will love using Vinyl Effects to add a new dimension to your vinyl projects. For more detailed instructions, just leave me a comment and let me know you'd like them.

These are just 4 of the 6 seasonal expressions available to our hostesses this month (all customers get to choose from 3). You can view them all on this page of my website by clicking on the September Hostess and Customer Gifts link. Hopefully the photos here have given you some ideas of how you'll use your free UL expressions in your home this fall.