A Beautiful New Catalog

By far the highlight of our convention in Indianapolis was the introduction of our gorgeous new catalog. There is so much you'll love about this catalog: so many new expressions, three new decorative alphabets, brand new accessories and designs created just to fit them, three new colors and more! 

The cover shows you one of our new alphabets: the Split Monogram. Created from hand-drawn artwork, these are designed with space for your own custom lettering. I think these will be a big hit for holiday and wedding gifts. 

Another new alphabet is the Affirmation Alphabet. This is like nothing I've seen anywhere else and definitely fits with Uppercase Living's mission to help our customers live a life inspired. I can think of so many ways to use these. Our third new alphabet is one that will look familiar to Scrabble fans: the Alpha Numeric Alphabet. Our customers have been creating designs like this for years, so we're making it easy for everyone to order.  You can get these letters individually or in a set of the entire alphabet. Imagine how many words your could create with every letter. These letters are sized perfectly for our new 6" wood tiles. 

In addition to all those cool new expressions, we have new accessories. I'm so excited I'll say it again. In caps: WE HAVE NEW ACCESSORIES. Our white wood square tiles come ready to hang in either 6" or 12". And our unfinished DIY boards, also in two sizes, are double sided and ready for you to paint or Mod Podge paper to before adding your vinyl. But the coolest of all of our new accessories is the Puzzle Board! 

We have a whole new set of expressions created just for this board, but you can create anything you can imagine to go on them. These are great on their own, but the most fun thing about them is that they are true puzzle pieces that fit together. So you can create larger groupings right on the wall. There are so many creative ways to use these that they'll need a blog post all to themselves! 

Another surprise in this catalog was our pretty new font, Lavanderia. It's so fresh and versatile. I think I'll be using it in lots of custom designs! 

Finally, I'm thrilled that we have 3 new colors in our Premium Bond vinyl. This vinyl comes with a much stronger adhesive and is designed for outdoor installations - you don't want this on your painted walls! The addition of these new colors increases the options for those of you who want lettering for outdoor signs, storefronts, boats, and any other spot that needs to stand up to the elements. 

There's so much more in this new catalog than I'm unable to tell you about here: new project ideas, links to project videos, cool new techniques and so much gorgeous photography (including before and after shots, which we love!) to inspire you. I'm sure you can't wait to see the catalog for yourself, and you don't have to wait one more second! You can page through it right now on my website. As soon as you get your first look, you're going to want to call me and book a party so you can share all the new ideas with your friends, and get everything you want for free. When you do, I'll tell you all about our 4 different ways to party...but that's a whole other post, too. 

May Project of the Month: A Double Duty Graduation Gift

Maybe it's because I'm a little wistful at the thought of my daughter graduating 5th grade and my son graduating preschool, but this month's project kind of calls out to me. I can see it used in so many different ways. As shown, it's a perfect personal gift or centerpiece for a graduation party. The colors can match school colors and you can change the name or leave it off altogether. But what's great about this design is that it's been applied to our Vintage Round Embossed Metal Charger so that it  doubles as a magnetic photo board, too. It's a great, lightweight graduation gift that can go to college or a new apartment and hold memories from Senior year (or Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, in the case of my son).
This same expression (or any of our other graduation expressions) can also be used with our Square Charger. Not only would it give a different look, but party guests can sign it with a permanent marker, such as a Sharpie, as a lasting keepsake for the guest of honor. 

June holds not only graduations but also Father's Day, and this idea would be also be a perfect gift for Dad or Grandpa. Magnets make it easy to change out photos so there's always a fresh batch of family pictures on display.  Or, if you choose the Square Charger, the kids can each write a message on it.

Of course, either of these designs would be a perfect teacher's gift. They can also be modified for bridal showers and weddings, two more of spring's big celebrations. However you modify these designs for your needs, keep in mind that all orders receive FREE SHIPPING this month. I'd love to help you create the ideal design for each of your spring occasions. Enjoy this month's project and share your ideas here too!

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.

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! 

Photo A Day #10 - The Perfect Gift. and Getting Down To The Wire

Isn't it wonderful when you find the perfect gift? Something personal, reasonably priced and unique? And isn't it even more wonderful when you find a perfect gift that is perfect for so many people? I think this expression fits that description beautifully. Already inexpensive, it's even more so as part of our Buy One, Get One FREE Summer Splash promotion. It can be easily personalized for each recipient and is versatile enough for so many different people: from the newlyweds who are setting up their first home to the recent college graduate moving out for the first time to a couple celebrating an anniversary and more.

My suggestion is to buy several of these expressions in a few neutral colors: Chocolate Brown, Whipped Creme, Warm Stone, Matte Black, etc. Order in even numbers because they are Buy One, Get One FREE! Pick up some Foundations MDF Boards and Toolbox Paint or Punched Metal Tiles, because they are 20% OFF. In fact, get some coordinating Trimmings Ribbon, too. If you already know who you'd like to give them to, custom design the dates to add to each expression. But if you don't, just put them away and wait until you need a perfect gift. At that point, you can order the numbers to make your gift a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will be treasured.

The expression in this design isn't available on my website, so call or email me to order it. But don't wait too long because Buy One, Get One FREE ends tomorrow night and the expression itself will be retired July 19. You'll save so much money that you'll definitely want to pick one up for yourself too!

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!

Photo Prints: The Ultimate Party Decor

When I tell my customers about Uppercase Living's Photo Prints, I find I generally get two types of responses. One set of customers instantly understand the possibilities and their minds start racing with different ideas and ways to use these uniquely personal products. The others think Photo Prints are really cool, but don't fully see how they'd use them in their own lives. Here are some photos that will hopefully appeal to both groups. Those who already love Photo Prints will probably use these examples as a starting point and begin planning how to add a Photo Print or two to their next celebration. And those who need to see them in action will see 4 great ideas and realize just one of the unique ways that Photo Prints can be used.

In each of these examples, custom lettering has been added to enhance the Photo Print.

Because the Photo Prints are reusable, they can be taken home from the party venue and reapplied to another surface.


A class picture turned into a large Photo Print is the perfect decor for this summer's class reunions.


My favorite of this bunch is this final one.


As our brave military members come home from wherever they may be serving, this Photo Print is a touching way to welcome them home. Perhaps even more important, the Print can be a constant reminder of their service while they're away from home. The perfect accent for a military theme Photo Print? A yellow vinyl ribbon, of course.

Good, Better, Best....Saving Money with a New 20% off Promotion

GOOD: Uppercase Living expressions, custom designs, accessories and a whole ton of great ideas for gift giving and decorating. Not to mention, a brand new catalog full of kits for spring occasions from Mother's Day and Father's Day to Graduation, Baby Showers and awesome ideas for Weddings!

BETTER: 20% off all orders of $50 or more starting tomorrow through May 19th. Woo hoo! All the good stuff at a great deal! Now it just got more affordable to get gifts for Dad and Grandpa, that Graduate, a Baby Shower, those 2 weddings this summer, and something for the kids' teachers too. You'll save so much money that you might decide to treat yourself to something for your own house.

EVEN BETTER: Up to 3 FREE EXPRESSIONS with your qualifying order.

BEST: Sharing the savings with friends by hosting your own UL party. They'll be thrilled to learn how to use these great products to decorate their homes and give as gifts. They'll love you for helping them save money as they do. And you'll earn FREE products just for hosting.

It doesn't get better than that.

Late March Customer Newsletter

There's so much news to share with you that I just couldn't wait until next month to tell you about it. You will want to take advantage of some great deals before they expire and hear all about our new spring Celebrations catalog with tons of kits for all the upcoming events! There are also great opportunities for hostesses and new demonstrators as well as our brand new fund raising program. Here we go!

Final Weeks for Buy 2 Get 1 FREE
As always, our Buy 2 Get 1 Free promotion has been very popular. The special applies to ALL catalog items including accessories, Photo Prints and custom designs. This is a great time to stock up on things like party favors, wedding decor, or anything you'll need multiples of. We love anything that makes gift giving and decorating affordable. The deadline to take advantage of this fabulous promotion is Monday, April 5 at noon (MST). However, I will be celebrating my son's birthday on the 3rd and away on the 4th and 5th with very limited access to our ordering system. If you need my help placing an order, please don't wait until the last couple of days of this busy promotion period. Of course, you can place orders on my website through the morning of April 5th.

NEW! Spring Celebrations Mini Catalog

You are going to absolutely love Uppercase Living's brand new mini catalog. Filled with kits for all those big events in the spring from graduations to weddings to Mother's Day, Father's day and so much more. Brides will love the Grande Format monograms and expressions that are sized perfectly for dance floors. Moms will love the choice of kits for heartfelt teachers' gifts. Add a metal photo board for Father's Day, some reusable full color birthday party decorations with matching favor bags and a fantastic, personal graduation gift and you are pretty much set for the entire season. You will thank yourself for making your gift giving so simple this year.

You can begin placing orders from this new catalog starting April 6. I'll be mailing or dropping off copies to former hostesses this week. I do have a pdf file of the entire catalog which I'd be happy to send to anyone who'd like it. I didn't want to attach it here because it is quite a large file. I can also mail a physical copy to you if you'd like one. Just let me know!

Bump Up Rewards for Hostesses
For a short time in April, qualifying hostesses can bump up their rewards one level to earn even more free and half-price items. To take advantage of this bonus, your party needs to CLOSE between April 6 and April 23. With so many great products not just in our regular catalog but in the Celebrations mini, your friends will have lots to choose from to help you earn big rewards. Because this bonus period is so short, my available dates will fill up quickly. Please contact me ASAP with your preferred dates so we can get your party on the calendar.

Bonus Incentive for New Demonstrators
Through the end of March, I am offering a $25 sign up bonus to anyone who joins my sales team. Here's the simple math: your starter kit, which costs $99 (Essentials Plus kit is $199) comes with a $25 product credit and a $25 bonus from me. That means you're essentially spending $49 on your kit. You choose how you'd like your bonus: cash, products or supplies. UL has so much to offer this spring that your business is sure to get off to a quick start and you'll soon be enjoying working your business the way I do: on your time, around your family's schedule and however you like (in your pajamas, at Starbucks, with friends, ALL OF THE ABOVE)! To learn more about why now is a great time to join my team, read my blog post on this very subject. I'm pleased to tell you that so far this month 3 smart ladies have taken me up on my offer. If you'd like more information about this fun business, just let me know. And if you mention that you read my monthly newsletter, I'll add an extra bonus for you when you join my team.

NEW! Fund Raising Options
Calling all team moms, cheer moms, dance moms and anyone who has a cause you need to raise money for. UL has just announced a fantastic fund raising program for your team or group. Reasonably priced embellishments with custom lettering put money right back into your group. Customized flyers make this process easy to manage. Just contact me so we can discuss how our great products can benefit your group!

Project Night
I'm tentatively planning a Project Night in early May where everyone can work on any kit from the new Spring mini catalog. As always, there will be plenty of refreshments and good company. If you'd like to participate, please send me an email or leave me a comment here. Also, let me know if you have a preferred date, day of the week or time of day. We all had a good time at my winter Project Night/Ornament Party. This will be lots of fun too!

Texas Ladies
I'll be in the San Antonio area briefly during Spring Break. Although my time and transportation are very limited, I'm always up for talking UL. If you'd like to get together to discuss our products or fabulous business opportunity, please let me know. I will do my best to work it into my schedule.

April Birthdays
Happy early birthday to Sabra, Becki W., Barbara Z., Tammy W., and Debbie K. You can each choose one item for 10% off as my happy birthday gift! If your name isn't on my birthday list just send me an email and let me know when it is.

Everything Else
Thanks for reading this far. If you'd like this newsletter sent directly to your inbox, leave a comment and let me know.

I'm looking forward to all of your Springtime parties and can't wait to show you all that's new in our mini catalog.

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!!

Two New Looks for Frameworks

Our Frameworks frames are among the most popular accessories. Since you can change out the inserts, they provide endless versatility. The clear acrylic inserts can be painted, backed with decorative paper or left as is to reveal the surface beneath. Our new catalog includes two items that make this well-loved product even customizable.

Due to lots of input from our customers, both of our Frameworks now come in white! Here you see it with a cute Easter expression but I think it's also a natural fit for weddings, showers and nurseries. To recreate this look, apply "Easter Love and Bunny Hugs" (15868) two-part expression in Cotton Candy (9029) and Lilac Bouquet (9025) to the white square Frameworks. Add the Dress-Up Mini Blooms to the front of the insert to add dimension to your frame.

Another great new addition to the Frameworks family is the new galvanized metal insert, which comes with magnets. Adding the insert makes this item even more functional, as you can see below. The insert has rounded edges for safe handling and is available for both the square and rectangle Frameworks. You can use it as is, apply an Uppercase Living or custom expression to it, or completely cover it with decorative paper as you see below.

To create this cute magnet board, apply the Kisses expression (300137) to the black square Frameworks. Add the galvanized metal insert and cover with 12x12 decorative paper. Adhere the pink Mini Blooms to the magnets provided with the insert. Add a pink ribbon and you have a perfect Valentine's Day present.

These are just a couple of ideas for this great product. I'd love it if you'd share yours with me.