Customer Photos: Ashlyn's Nursery

I have always loved babies. I love them even more now that my own babies are getting so big. So I get pretty excited when a mom brings her baby to one of my parties. That's how I met Miss Ashlyn. She and her sweet Mommy, Charissa, attended an Uppercase Living party late last year. Ashlyn was a perfectly behaved guest. She napped quietly during the presentation, then woke up for a snack before treating us all to smiles and a peek at her gorgeous blue eyes.

Charissa looked through my catalog for something to decorate Ashlyn's room. Inspired by this design, the Moxie Butterfly, she considered several color combinations before settling on a Green Tea butterfly with Concord Grape lettering. Her choice fit perfectly in Ashlyn's butterfly theme nursery, but the sophisticated color combination is one that will serve Ashlyn even when she's a big girl.

Last week, I got to help Charissa install her new design (and get another visit with Ashlyn). The custom expression went on with no problems. True to form, Ashlyn woke up from a catnap halfway through our installation and once again cooed and smiled and giggled and gave me serious baby envy. Before I could run away with Ashlyn, my own 4 year old (who was a trouper and let me work while he played quietly - I'm so lucky I can bring him to work withe me) informed me that it was time to leave. So I bid Ashlyn a sad farewell, hopeful that I would see her and her Mommy at another Uppercase Living party soon. Before I left, I was able to snap a picture of Ashlyn with her newly decorated wall. As gorgeous as the expression is, the picture is so much better with Ashlyn in it! Enjoy your butterfly sweet Ashlyn!

Tackling Kids' Chores With Chalk Wall

  

When is a kitchen cabinet more than just a kitchen cabinet? When it does double duty to help a family stay on top of homework, chores and kids' behavior. 

Let me back up a little. At the beginning of the summer I happened a upon a scheme to reward my kids with stars for playing nicely, doing their chores, making good choices, and all those things I was constantly nagging them to do. Each morning, I posted a handwritten list of tasks on the refrigerator and they crossed each task off as it was completed. For this they received a star or two on my scribbled "star chart," also stuck to the fridge. 

All of a sudden, my nagging stopped. If they wanted to do something and their chores weren't finished, I pointed to the "Jobs List" with a sad look. They knew what they needed to do. And if they decided to misbehave, or fight or hit, or do one of the other things that erodes my patience, they might find their hard-earned stars disappearing with a flick of my eraser. The kids know that when they fill up their stars, they'll get a new toy or a special outing, and they can also use stars to "buy" certain privileges. Things like a special treat, extra screen time and sleep overs with each other can all be purchased with stars. Of course, if they wait too long to start their homework, they might also have to purchase a "Finish Homework After Dinner" pass.

Over the next few months, the star chart became a regular part of our days. I made sure not to overwhelm them with too many tasks or ones that were too difficult or time-consuming, keeping in mind each one's age, ability and attention span. They enjoyed crossing things off their list and watching the stars accumulate, and I realized that I had stumbled into a good tool. So I decided to make the "Star Chart" and the "Job List" a more prominent fixture in the kitchen, and get the scribbled lists off my refrigerator at the same time.

I turned, of course, to Uppercase Living Chalk Walls. Because my kitchen doesn't have a lot of wall space, I decided to use the unused space inside a cabinet door. This particular cabinet is large, and low enough to be accessible to my kids. I used one of our plain Chalk Wall Rectangles (a fantastic value at just $14.95, it's also available in Dry Erase) and cut it in half to get two narrow rectangles. Then I took on the fun task of jazzing up the plain chalkboard with fun lettering and embellishments. Using our MyDesign Suite, I chose a playful font and bright colors for the kids' names and the words "Do this....Now Go Play!" With our Chalk Pens, I can keep track of each child's stars (and easily erase them when unfortunate choices are made) and change out my list of tasks as often as I like. The ugly list is off my refrigerator and has been replaced by a fun and attractive addition to our kitchen (that hides as soon as I close the cabinet). Best of all, I've been able to significantly decrease the amount of nagging I had to do to get my kids to help out with chores. They've realized how quickly these tasks get done and love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a fully crossed-off list. Of course, they're kids and no system can change that. All of us have good days and bad days. But I'm happy to report that the good seem to outnumber the bad in this instance. Chalk one up for Mom!

As Seen On Today's Jen's List

One of our brand new items, this adorable chore chart was featured today on Jen's List. Yes that's DRY ERASE vinyl, right on the wall, with no nails, pins, or damage to the surface underneath. You can choose the color of the lettering to match your decor and customize it in so many ways to fit your family's needs. For example, you can remove the days of the week and make it a daily chore chart. You could also remove the word "Chores" to make it a reward chart. Or remove all the lettering and use it for potty training! The chore chart, like all of our Erasables products, comes in a chalkboard finish as well as dry erase. How will you use it in your home?

For You Lovers of Pottery Barn: Everything Is Coming Up Roosters!

Earlier this year, when Uppercase Living introduced our brand new Decorative Prints, I kind of scratched my head and wondered about them including a rooster set among the first few designs. Of all the possible choices, I thought, why start with something as random as roosters? Imagine my surprise when I opened my latest Pottery Barn catalog and saw a number of different items using, you guessed it, roosters! Once again, it seems that the UL designers were ahead of a trend by including those and all the other roosters in our catalog.

As it turns out, roosters are a symbol of luck and good fortune, and who doesn't want some of that good fortune represented in their home decor? Tuscan legend has it that one rooster's crow once saved an entire village from danger.

The tremendous variety in Pottery Barn's roosters lends them to lots of different decorating uses. From bright and whimsical, to understated folk art; from small details to large pieces, there's a way for everyone to include this cheerful trend in their decorating.

Whether you're ahead of the trends, have always loved roosters, or you'd like to add a little French Country flair to your home for the first time, Uppercase Living also has a choice for everyone.  Of course, the most vivid are those original Rooster Decorative Prints. The artwork on these is beautiful and the feathers are so lifelike. The touches of red would tie in beautifully with any other red items in a room. You can use these guys as a set or scatter them throughout your kitchen, living room or entry. I think they would look really cute on a back splash or just hanging out right above the baseboard. They come in 3 sizes to give you lots of options.

The rooster motif is also available in our matte vinyl. This choice gives you almost unlimited versatility for not only are these two rooster styles available in all of our 40+ colors, but they also come in sizes ranging from 3 to 18 inches. The smaller sizes can be applied to individual tiles in a back splash, used to create a border or applied to our coasters to create a decorative accessory or gift for a rooster lover. 

The larger size can be applied alone or in a grouping right to the wall.  It can also go on a tile or board to create a decorative accent. Here, a rooster in Whipped Creme is shown on our new Punched Metal Tile in Berry. You can continue the French Country theme by looping a ribbon through the holes and hanging it from our new Fleur de Lis medallion.

A more subtle effect is achieved by applying the rooster embellishments in Etched Glass on a glass kitchen door or cabinet front. Another idea is to use the Welcome Rooster in the black square Frameworks, as shown here. This is another idea of a great piece for your own home or for a sweet gift. The red vinyl picks up the tones in the cabinetry without being a perfect match.

For something completely different, try our brand new Barnyard pack, part of the Erasables line. Also available in dry erase vinyl, this set lends true country charm and whimsy to a kitchen. But it's just as cute in a child's farm themed bedroom, playroom, or even a classroom.

I have to admit that even I've been surprised at the versatility of roosters in decorating. With a few accessories and a vinyl piece or two you can play with this fun trend without making any permanent changes or major investments. Sure, you could buy a $400 ceramic rooster, but you can spend much less on Uppercase Living roosters and have a lot left over to decorate the rest of your home too!

Well, here we are, the last day of Summer Splash. The Buy One, Get One FREE promotion, 20% off all accessories and FREE Starter Kit special will be gone tonight. If you still haven't taken advantage of all that Summer Splash offers, you may be tempted by this expression, the penultimate Photo of The Day this go round (I'm trying to improve my vocabulary. How is it working?). As a mommy to two boys, I can definitely relate to this photo. We spend a lot of days digging in dirt, playing with cars and always end with hugs for Mom. What a great gift for a household full of boys! This, too, will be retired soon so if you love it, snatch it up.

The deadline for all of the great Summer Splash deals is tonight at 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time. I'll be available by email and cell phone to help with orders today, so don't hesitate to call me if you have any questions.

Photo A Day - #4

I am just so sad that this beautiful growth chart is being retired. This show stopper has long been a favorite with my customers and party guests. Invariably I hear gasps and lots of exclamations when they see this photo in a catalog.

What you can't see in this photo is the word "bloom" hidden behind the adorable model. What a sweet sentiment on a growth chart. We moms love seeing our babies bloom into big kids and are always incredulous at how quickly it happens.

Now that this growth chart is on our Retired List, it's your last chance to get it before it's gone. Although it's already priced very reasonably, it's even a better deal now with Buy One, Get One FREE. So if you're picking one up for yourself, you can add one as a gift for free. Whether for you, or as a gift, this is one decorative piece that will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Axicom Computer Club

Christa is an old friend, fellow Cub Scout and school mom, and co-owner of AXICOM, a local computer support and service company. Knowing that it wouldn't be easy to keep her two active sons busy this summer, she came up with the brilliant idea of using her company's facilities and expertise and starting a kids' Computer Camp.

To dress up her white walls, Christa ordered custom Uppercase Living lettering in the fun Kid Print font using different bright colors. The look is perfect for the newly created classroom. When the space is needed for a different use, the lettering will easily come off, allowing AXICOM to revamp the classroom all over again.

You can visit AXICOM online or on Facebook. There may still be space available for this summer's Computer Camp sessions. Off to pick up my little camper from his first day now!

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!

Make a Mom's Day

It just dawned on me that Mother's Day is about 3 weeks away and I have to get my act together to make my mom's day special. Too bad my sister and I are all grown up, because I have the perfect Mother's Day gift for any mom with young kids or a mommy-to-be (think baby showers).As all we moms know, our babies grow up way too quickly. Therefore, I love anything that helps us preserve those precious moments and memories of their childhood. A hand print does just that. Now that my own children are getting older (sniffle, sniffle) they love looking at how small their own hands and feet were when they were little.
The Little Prints Keepsake Kit comes with everything you need to create a permanent keepsake of a time when your baby's hand were still small enough to fit in yours. Everything is included: from a pre-painted board to paint, a paint brush and even ribbon for hanging. While you're on my website, check out all of the other great ideas for spring celebrating and gift-giving. And if you are the one with small ones, don't think you have to wait around for someone to pick this up for you. It won't be around for long, and the other thing moms know is that if we want something done, we have to do it ourselves.

Get Organized on the Cheap with Chalk Walls

So, it's mid-March, which means that you're probably beating yourself up about not keeping your New Year's resolutions. Or is that just me? If you're one of the gazillion people who has promised themselves that this is the year you will get organized once and for all, you are definitely not alone. I struggle with this, too, along with many of my friends. And judging by just how popular our Chalk Walls are, so do many of my customers. One of my most popular products, Chalk Walls are most commonly ordered for kids' rooms and kitchens. Not surprisingly, these are two of the rooms in the home that are most in need of organization.

Let's start with the kitchen. This is most families' gathering place and a prime location for an organizational tool to make everyone's lives a little easier. Whether it's a master calendar for the week's activities, a perpetual shopping list (like the one in the kitchen on the Brady Bunch!) or a central place to write down phone messages (no more lost Post-It notes!), a Chalk Walk in the kitchen just makes sense. Many kitchens simply do not have the wall space for artwork. But Chalk Walls come in a variety of sizes that are even narrow enough to go on a refrigerator. They can even be cut down to fit cabinet doors. A small piece on a dishwasher will eliminate the eternal question, "Are these dishes clean or dirty?" And a Chalk Wall on a lower cabinet gives a little one the perfect safe spot to be creative while Mommy is in the kitchen.


Chalk Walls are also the coolest way to keep kids organized and on track, while giving them a blank canvas to express their own creativity at the same time. Changing their minds is as easy as wiping a Chalk Wall clean and starting again. Create a Homework Command Center where your kids can keep track of assignments. Assign weekly chores with the Calendar Kit. Whether you're working on Potty Training, chores or remembering to brush teeth, a Chalk Wall makes a perfect reward chart. My favorite use for Chalk Walls is to surprise kids with funny and encouraging notes; anything that helps us communicate with our children gets an A+ from this mom!

Not only are Chalk Walls a smart organizational tool, you can be a smart shopper and save now using our Buy 2 Get 1 FREE promotion. A friend of mine purchased 3 Chalk Wall Rectangle Panels today: 2 are for her sons' rooms to help them stay organized and the third is for her kitchen. It will either hold her to-do list or her grocery list. The best part of her purchase is that she got the third one FREE! Knowing this particular friend, it won't be long before she orders a Chalk Wall for her daughter's room, another for the playroom and one more for her home office.

How are Chalk Walls helping you to stay organized? Send me a photo and you might just find your home featured right here!

Chalk Wall Tip #1: Use chalk markers, found in craft stores, for a fun addition of color on your Chalk Wall. Clean with a damp cloth or baby wipe.

Chalk Wall Tip #2: On my web site and in my catalog, chalkboard vinyl is designated with black and gray stripes.

New Catalog Sneak Peek!!!!

You've been waiting patiently and here is your reward: the Spring/Summer 2010 Catalog Sneak Preview. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but there is so much new stuff to love inside. First and foremost, our newest product: decorative prints. These are full-color removable and reusable images in a variety of themes and designs. Like all of our other designs, they will help make your decor unique and one of a kind. I can't wait to see how you creative people will use these in your homes. Here's a look:
I love how one of the flowers was applied to the lamp shade to tie it in with the wall decor. Here's another:
What a great theme pack! I can see this used in so many different types of spaces! But these aren't the only designs. The ones available range from whimsical to elegant and will blow you away. Those of you with country kitchens will have a hard time choosing from a couple of different sets and might just get both. Who needs a muralist anymore?

Decorative Prints aren't all that's new in our upcoming catalog. You'll find our new Grande format: larger sizes of some of our favorite decorative designs. Shimmer Vinyl is also back in new colors perfect for spring decorating (and those little girls who can't get enough sparkly pink). And brand new accessories will be great for showcasing Off The Wall designs. Not to mention tons of new expressions to fit every style of decor. You will love this catalog!

Now, I'm sure you're wondering how you can get one yourself. That's easy. Just contact me to schedule your home show or catalog party. Our Inspirations Incentive is back with so many reasons to buy, host and join Uppercase Living in January. But you'll have to wait for a whole other post to find out about that. Just pick a date and call me, you'll be glad you did.