A Dog on My Chair

Place your vote...

2010-06-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Here are the new Make n Takes that Manly is considering.

Place your vote for the next two he should offer.

Manly will still offer the new shapes to Uppercase Living Demonstrators, 50 for $20.00, plus shipping. They will be painted and include the magnet so your guest can make them into refrigerator magnets.

So vote for your favorite, add a color if you like.

Christmas TreeButterfly

Pumpkin

Friendship Tag
Star

Comment to vote for your favorite.
And if you would like to order some, email us at

Graffiti-it@msn.com

Ted

2010-06-16T13:15:00.001-07:00

Break-in

2010-06-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Cinnabon Fairy breaks in and does this...

He knows I'm on a diet!

Tillie

2010-05-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is NOT Ruben. He has been gone for...not really sure, but for quite some time now. This is Tillie. She showed up here a couple weeks ago. I first spotted her in the woods along the edge of our lawn, sitting with the Trilliums. And with so many Trilliums out this time of year I was never sure if my spottings were if her or those pretty woodland flowers. Needless to say I think Tillie is a perfect name.

For my UL Girlfriends

2010-04-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute little heart Make N Take that Manly, my husband,
made for me to use at my Uppercase Living parties.

My Hostess and her guests just love them.
It's a cut out little wooden heart and he paints them different colors.
I add a sample word and a magnet to the make n take party packet.
When finished it's a cute little refrigerator magnet.
I put a label on the back with my information so my
customers have a handy way to contact me.

Manly is offering them to other UL demonstrators.
Cost is $20.00 for 50 of them in your choice of colors and they include the magnet.
Yellow, Green, Red, Light Blue, Blue, Cream, Pink
(These are not UL colors and sample words are not included)

TO order email me at Graffiti-it@msn.com

2010-04-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Oh spring time...sweet spring time!

My back yard.

Robins

2010-03-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

Oh how I wish for the robins return. I hear they are out there somewhere.I hope they like snow... because this is what is still in my front yard.

Chicken Fried Rice

2010-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

4 cups cooked jasmine rice

2 eggs

2 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces (you can use shrimp or pork or all three if you like)

2-4 chopped green onions

2 medium carrots, diced into small pieces

Olive oil

Braggs aminos or soy sauce (we like Braggs, it's better for you. Plus we use organic everything when possible)

Sugar, salt, pepper.

Scramble two eggs in a wok or large frying pan with olive oil. Remove from pan and set aside. In the same frying pan over med-high heat add more olive oil and fry chicken breast, chopped green onion, and carrots, salt and pepper to taste. Cook till chicken is done and carrots are tender. Add rice and sprinkle in 1/2 teaspoon sugar, continue to stir and fry (add a little more oil or a small amount of water if needed) Fry chicken and rice mixture for 4-5 minutes then add in your scrambled eggs and Braggs aminos to taste. Done!

Your Welcome!

Facebook Giveaway

2010-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

What "American Idol" reject became a pop sensation when he appeared in an early-season segment on the show? What song made him famous? Comment here with your answers.

I need both who and what song!

Bonus question for an additional Shimmer color word.

Who originally sang it?

Grande Format photos

2010-01-25T08:38:00.000-08:00

More fun ideas...

For the love of Granola

2010-01-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Easy Organic Granola

Mix together

3 Cups organic thick cut rolled oats

1 Cup organic oat flour (I make my own by putting 1 cup of the rolled oat in my Vita Mix with the dry blade and mixing)

1/4 - 1/2 Cup organic sunflower seeds

Mix together in another bowl

1/2 Cup expelled organic coconut oil

1/2 Cup raw honey

1/4 Cup hot tap water, hot water helps melt the honey because we don't want to destroy all that good honey with microwaves

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Pour oil, honey mixture over dry mixture, mix together.

Bake in 250 degree oven for one hour stiring every 15 minutes.

Add raisin or cranberries and seeds can be replaced by nuts if you like.

Total goodness.....

The Spring/Summer 2010 Idea Catalog has arrived!

2010-01-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

The brand new 2010 Spring/Summer Idea Catalog is now live, and we can't wait for you to see its many new products and features! Along with a huge collection of beautiful new expressions, the catalog introduces a variety of new product lines, exclusive colors, and fresh accessories that will provide you with even more ways to express your unique style.

Decorative Prints
We've taken removable and repositionable vinyl a step further and created Decorative Prints: a hot new, printed product that can be applied, removed, and reused in all your favorite spaces. Whether you are looking for whimsical designs for kids and teens, or elegant designs for a home or office, we have 14 designs to help you showcase your style.
Learn More

Grande Format
What if Uppercase Living classic designs were available at nearly double the size? Now it's a reality, with our new Grande Format product line! We're offering oversized versions of 6 brand new designs and 1 current design, and every design comes in our traditional solid-color vinyl so you can create a bold visual statement on any large surface.
View Application Video

New Accessories
To complement our selection of new expressions, we're pleased to offer 11 fresh accessories! From unique Foundations™ like our Vintage Embossed Metal Board, white Frameworks™ Frame, and galvanized steel insert to fun Dress-Ups like our new Mini Blooms, we've got the perfect item to enhance any project.

New Exclusive Colors. Bring a little springtime into your spaces with our brand new UL exclusive colors: Want to add shine to your favorite expression? Check out our new shimmer vinyl!

Order online at Graffitiit.uppercaseliving.net or call to schedule your open house and earn free Uppercase Living stuff!

Meal Plan...January 17, 2010

2009-12-29T17:17:00.000-08:00

1300 Calories or less each day.

Jan 17, 2010
Breakfast : Cereal: Toasted Oats & Cranberries
Snack #1 : Grapefruit Sections
Lunch : Turkey Sandwich
Snack #2 : Baby Carrots
Dinner : Honey-Lime Cilantro Chicken,Steamed Broccoli, Roasted Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
Snack #3 : Cherry Tomatoes

Jan 18, 2010
Breakfast : Bagel & Cream Cheese
Snack #1 : Vegetable Juice
Lunch : Chicken and Spinach Salad
Snack #2 : Cucumber Slices
Dinner : Baked Italian Chicken, Grilled Corn with Cilantro-Lime Spread, Tossed Salad
Snack #3 : Grapes

Jan 19, 2010
Breakfast : Oatmeal & Sweet Cranberries
Snack #1 : Celery and Cream Cheese
Lunch : Tuna Sandwich
Snack #2 : Cauliflower
Dinner : Herb Roasted Chicken & Vegetables
Snack #3 : Orange

Jan 20, 2010
Breakfast : Peanut Butter Toast
Snack #1 : Tangerine
Lunch : Chicken and Spinach Salad
Snack #2 : Baby Carrots
Dinner : Tuscan Garlic Chicken & Vegetables, Golden Parmesan Potatoes
Snack #3 : Carrots and Dip

Jan 21, 2010
Breakfast : Poached Egg
Snack #1 : Tangerine
Lunch : Tuna Sandwich
Snack #2 : Baby Carrots
Dinner : Garlic & Herb Chicken Fajitas, Tossed Salad
Snack #3 : Tangerine

Jan 22, 2010
Breakfast : Peanut Butter Toast
Snack #1 : Grapefruit Sections
Lunch : Tuna Sandwich
Snack #2 : Vegetable Juice
Dinner : Roasted Chicken and Vegetables Primavera,
Snack #3 : Mandarin Oranges

Jan 23, 2010
Breakfast : Oatmeal & Sweet Cranberries
Snack #1 : Cucumber Slices
Lunch : Turkey Sandwich
Snack #2 : Baby Carrots
Dinner : Chicken & Basil Rice Stir Fry, Steamed Broccoli
Snack #3 : Tossed Salad

Need the receipes? Comment here and I'll email them to you.

40%

2009-12-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here and I have

the perfect gift for you!

40% Off Select Expressions, plus Free Shipping on

Orders of $50 or More
From December 10, at noon (mt) until January 4 at 11:59 pm (midnight) mt, all expressions featured in our Fall/Winter Online Transition List are 40% off!* This list contains over 200 designs. I am also offering free shipping on orders** of $50 or more. Now you can get all the expressions on your wish list—including items from
the online list—and the shipping is on me!
DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE BIG THIS DECEMBER!
Place your order today. HERE
* Any specialty upgrade fees will be calculated based on the original retail price. The 40% discount does not apply to the upgrade fee.

Snow Day, YES!!!!

2009-12-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Opps...Don't eat yellow snow!

Ok, Maybe not, "YES!!!!" Just "yes"

Give away...HP TouchSmart 600

2009-12-09T12:21:00.000-08:00

Want to win a HP TouchSmart 600!!!!!!
Leave a comment and I'll hook you up with a link to enter!

Why do we quit?

2009-12-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

This is from Karen Phelps, a Direct Selling Expert.

108 years ago on December 5, 1901 Walt Disney was born and he was destined to change the course of animation and family entertainment forever! Do you realize if Walt Disney had given up when people told him he was crazy that hundreds of millions of people would never have had the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful theme parks he helped to create? You may be thinking BIG DEAL so families would have to go somewhere else and do something else to have fun. But, because I just spent a day at Magic Kingdom, I realize that every great accomplishment is the result of someone who didn't give up!

When faced with adversity it is often easier to give up than to pursue your dreams and goals but the feeling you have each time you overcome an obstacle on your path to success is well worth any temporary discomfort. This time of the year many people will quit their direct selling business. Many others won't quit but they will lower their goals. What about you? Have you found yourself wondering if this direct selling thing is worth it? Hey, you'd be crazy not to. Heck, over the years I often asked myself why I was still in direct selling when I obviously could have been doing something else.

But, every year I had a new opportunity to earn a contest or a trip. Every day I was faced with the challenge of getting more bookings, signing more recruits and building a larger team. It wasn't easy but it was always worth the effort. There will always be obstacles on the path to success. They may be disguised as well-meaning friends and family members who are quick to assure you that no one ever makes any money in direct selling. It may be a spouse who is tired of your business because you haven't made any money yet. They may be contests that have quotas that are incomprehensible to you based on the current state of your business. It may be the economy that is killing you and your dream of a successful direct selling business.

So, what are you going to do about it? You have one of two choices to make. You can become a whiner who complains about everything and how it's not their fault they didn't succeed or, you can become a WINNER who hasn't had it easy but hasn't given up! The opportunity for success awaits everyone who doesn't give up! I'm glad people like Walt Disney didn't listen to the people who told him to give up because we'd all be missing out on some good family fun! The next time you get ready to call it quits summon up the courage to ask yourself, "what would happen if I kept after it a little while longer?"

You might be pleasantly surprised at your results.

Tooshies

2009-12-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

Great Grandpa's love tooshies too...

More at I Heart Faces

Not My Bra! Monday...

2009-11-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

Tuesday I had my annual examine and right after that my mammogram was scheduled. After my examine I most certainly did not stuff my bra into my purse, walk through the clinic, take the elevator down stair, and wait in the waiting room 30 minutes for my mammogram without a bra just to avoid having to put it on and then take it off again!

Not Me! That would just be wrong...

Check out more Not Me! Mondays here

Be still my heart...

2009-11-28T17:34:00.001-08:00

The look only a mother could love?

2009-11-22T15:01:00.001-08:00

I think not!

NEW...

2009-11-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

Great new stuff on my Uppercase Living site!

Sweet sisters...

2009-11-11T19:19:00.000-08:00

These girls are so much fun...

Sisters, what a beatiful thing!

Beautiful horse...

2009-11-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

November Idea Spot...

2009-10-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

Can you feel it? The crisp chill in the air, the smell of pumpkin spice, and the change in colors all signal that fall has arrived. For me, that means it’s time to pull out the fall wardrobe, slip on toe-covered shoes (bye bye, cute pedicures!), and decorate, decorate, decorate! I love autumn, especially the jewel colors that nature presents—and you can bring these natural colors to your own home with Uppercase Living’s exclusive seasonal color palette. It’s like bringing the outside indoors!

For this month’s idea (if you haven’t noticed yet, we are using the same space and altering it for different occasions), we’ve created an autumnal setting using our expressions and embellishments from all 3 of our catalogs—the Idea Catalog, the Holiday Edition, AND the Embellishment Catalog! There are so many choices, so why limit yourself to just one catalog?
For the wall, we chose the “Fall” expression (#14260, Soft Copper) and cut it apart to display it horizontally instead of in its original square design. Remember, just as we often design expressions in different orientations, feel free to cut your own expressions apart and experiment. It’s surprising how different an expression will look when altered from the original placement.

Trying to think of a centerpiece for the holiday table? Why not create one that can be displayed throughout the season and then transferred to the Thanksgiving table? We created this centerpiece by applying “Gather at our table” (#16585, part 1: Soft Copper; part 2: Soft Gold) onto our Clear Acrylic Block ($11.95; #300130). Since we didn’t want the stems of the branches and berries to interfere with the beautiful expression, we created a sandblasted look by placing a sheet of vellum (cut to fit) on the inside of the block and adhering it with vellum tape. We only did this on one side, but you can definitely do it to both sides. And since we didn’t want our centerpiece to fall over from the weight of the branches, we weighted it down with some all-purpose gravel (sand will also work—just remember this is not water tight, so don’t try this with water if you plan on using flowers instead).

Our lamp was looking oh-so-plain, and since this is the season to decorate, we thought we’d spruce it up with some elegant embellishments. (You can spruce up your existing décor, too! It’s a great way to save money, and the end result is often just as classy as any $40 seasonal piece.) We dressed the lamp base up with maple leaf embellishments (#4479402, Soft Gold; 2”) in a single border pattern. Simplicity is the key to this project: keep the motif simple, and the right touches will make the décor cohesive.
If you haven’t noticed, the majority of our expressions and embellishments are in a single color—all the other colors are provided by nature! I love color, but I take my inspiration from what is around me, at the time it is around me. When it comes to expressions, pick a theme and explore the options. Enjoy!

Beautiful...

2009-10-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

My back yard. I am so blessed!

Cancer SUCKS...

2009-10-19T04:13:00.000-07:00

"Florance"

Its Pink Week at

Idea Spot...

2009-10-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Birthday parties, particularly those for adults, are a great opportunity to recognize (and embarrass) the ones we love. With this month’s Idea Spot, you can make an occasion memorable using one of our newest and most exciting products: UL Photo Prints!

Whether you’ve had a chance to explore the Photo Prints application yet or not, I bet you can find a good use for this great idea. Here’s what we came up with:

To begin our design, we first had to determine a suitable photo for our Photo Print. Our birthday party was for a soon-to-be-40-year-old family member, so we rifled through the family photos one afternoon and came up with Spencer in his leisure suit at age 6. Perfect! Once we had scanned our photo*, it only took a moment or two to place our order for a 4’x4’ contour-cut Photo Print.

With our Photo Print out of the way, it was time to spice up the space where our Photo Print would eventually end up. (You may recognize the table and lamp from previous posts. Are you convinced that one wall can provide fun for all kinds of occasions?) Using the Text & Graphics application within MyDesign Suite™, we designed a fun and simple message for our wall with two custom words: “40” (Souvenir, 13”, Caribbean Blue) and “Years” (Liorah 5”, Navy Blue). Then came our “Happy Birthday” message (#16697, Navy Blue), gallantly displayed on the new Uppercase Living Glass Charger ($14.95, #300159). We placed our charger on the table (using its complimentary easel) alongside a big stack of matching birthday gifts.
And that’s it! You can use this idea, or some variation of it, at your next birthday party. It’s sure to be a hit, and it might even encourage a few extra customer orders when the party comes to an end.

*Please note: Many photo shops and camera stores will digitize (scan) photos and, depending on the quality of the digitizing process, can give you a photo that will look great as a Photo Print. However, there are several ways of digitizing a printed photo, so digitizing does not guarantee that your photo will have the same quality as the one taken digitally.

Have fun,

Penny

WOW! Its Fix-it Friday already?

2009-10-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

Original...

And here is my fix~

See more at

Blue...

2009-09-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ture Blue.

Check out more Blue at http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/

Converse... sweet Converse

2009-09-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Spent the morning with a great friend at the flea market.

Look what we found!

Converse, a field of Converse.

I just love that!

Check this out...

2009-09-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

New Holiday Catalog and PHOTO PRINTS!!!

To order: http://graffitiit.uppercaseliving.net

Beauty...

2009-08-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

It is Fix it Friday again.

Orginal

And here is my editing fix. Literally!

I love this stuff...

Check out more at

This week’s photo challenge theme is: "Nostalgia"

2009-08-23T23:32:00.001-07:00

I call him Dad

Check out more at iheartfaces.

Its Fix it Friday

2009-08-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

Original

My Fix!

Check out more "Fix it Fridays"

Idea Spot!

2009-08-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

Summer is the hot season for family reunions and other gatherings—and a great opportunity to get creative and decorate! To help you get the ideas flowing, we’ve focused this month’s UL Idea Spot around a quick and easy “family tree” design and included a number of unique ideas that you can use for any occasion. All you need is a few minutes to create your own version of the design in the new MyDesign Suite™, and when your order arrives, you’ll have the perfect design for an eye-catching welcome as guests walk through the door.

To begin our design, we opened the MyDesign Suite and prepared our Blank Surface, matching the color and dimensions of our virtual wall to those of our actual wall. Then came the fun part—adding expressions! We formed the foundation of our design with a 22”x42” Majestic Tree ($49.95; item #16500; Part 1: Antique Bronze; Part 2: Shoreline Blue) from the UL Exclusive Expression list. The tree would be placed on the wall behind a small table, so we repositioned it a few feet above the “floor” in MyDesign so it would appear taller than it actually was.

Next, we added a personal touch with three short custom expressions. Our chosen family surname, “Parker” (Murray Hill, 5.5”, Antique Bronze), came first, followed by “Family Reunion” (Souvenir, 2”, Terra Cotta) and the event year (“2009,” Souvenir, 3.5”, Shoreline Blue).

Now for my favorite step of all—photos! To make our design special and memorable for every guest, we selected 7 high-quality family photos from our collection and used elegant Scalloped Frames (4496004, 4”, Terra Cotta) to frame each photo on our tree. We weren’t able to upload the photos into MyDesign Suite, but it was still easy to create the look we wanted with just the frames.

Wow, that was fast! After only a few minutes, our design looked just the way we hoped it would. After printing a reference page of the design, all we had left to do was apply it to our wall!

Every expression we created in MyDesign Suite had to be applied separately, so we started with the tree and then applied our custom expressions. Before applying our frames, we had to size our photos, making sure the photos’ edges only slightly overlapped the frames’ vinyl. Next, we peeled off the backing paper of each frame and placed each photo face down on the vinyl. The frames could then be applied to the wall with the photos in their proper place. With a few finishing touches—a classy lamp to balance out the height of the tree and a few decorative twig globes—our design was ready for any gathering.

There are many ways to use the ideas found in this Idea Spot. Turn your child’s room into a forest with a number of differently sized Majestic Trees. Use any UL Frame to display your favorite family photos or your child’s growing years—whether for a birthday party or for a permanent home design. The possibilities are endless, so take what we’ve provided here and make it your own!

*Make sure to use either duplicate photos or high-quality photo copies (not originals) that are of light-weight material (not cardstock) for this project.

Contest!!

2009-08-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

BIG @iheartfaces giveaway!! Win a Tamron 18-270mm 15X Zoom Lens! Valued at $629. http://tinyurl.com/m9zkeq ( via @StacieErrera )

Life is a Beach...

2009-07-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

My enter for iHeartFaces Photo Challenge..."At the Beach"

Did someone say Beach?

Check out the beach at

yummy...

2009-07-22T17:02:00.001-07:00

Have you ever seen blueberries this big? We live close to a berry farm. How cool is that?

get your motor running

2009-07-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've been riding motorcycle for about 12 years now and thought it was time to

share my bike with you.

More pictures to come...

It's time of popcorn and a movie with Manly.

Forgotten?

2009-07-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

Spotted this GREAT tree along the roadside.

When I stopped to photograph it I realized it was a cemetery and thought

I would take a walk through.

Being a small country cemetery I wondered have they been forgotten?

I wonder...?

The feet have it

2009-07-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

My First time with "I Heart Faces". I think I'm going to love this!

Check out more feet at...

Poop!! Again...

2009-07-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

I walk out onto our pourch this morning and see this! I can not believe it! Somebody did this again... remember this time. They had a pretty good excuse then, it was raining, but this time the sun was out the weather was beautiful. What do you think, two different culprits or the same? Very different poops. Not that I care to compare. I would hate to see a BAD habit starting. I need to keep watch and catch whoever is doing this in the act.

WOW!!!

2009-07-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some exciting news with you. Uppercase Living was recently selected as a western regional finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program and was featured at an awards banquet last Friday. We were named one of the three finalists in the “Emerging” category, a category which features young companies that have achieved impressive results in their early years. Some of our executives attended the awards evening and had an enjoyable time celebrating the accomplishments of our company as well as the accomplishments of entrepreneurs from all industries. For more information regarding the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program, please visit their website at http://www.ey.com/US/eoy.

If your interested in becoming part of this great company go to http://Graffitiit.UppercaseLiving.net for information on how to get started.

Beyond the "Sage" brush

2009-07-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

three weeks

2009-07-06T01:49:00.000-07:00

My Grandson has been visiting with us from GA. He is six years old and has the energy of five kids.

He started asking as soon as he got here "how long do I get to stay?" We would reply, 3 weeks! Being six he didn't quite get it how long that was so we started a calendar and put little smiley faces on it for him to keep track.

Tracking has been going great and I most certainly am not the one who has taken over the tracking. Putting up the little smiley faces, counting the day's till he goes home! Not Me! I most certainly can keep up with a six year old for three short weeks......

Come clean, Today is yours...

Being brutally honest and living to tell about it!

Lets do the hop...the MckLinky blog hop!!

2009-07-03T06:45:00.000-07:00

I'm new to blogs and I'm havin a ball.

OH! maybe I shouldn't have said that so loud, you know, ball.

You see, I have three dogs that love to play ball.

And I love to share about them in my blog.

So if you love dogs, especially Shih Tzu,

stop by my blog offen and we'll share some dog fun.

Looking for some more fun? Want your blog to get noticed?

Come hop around with us...

Join us with MckLinky

get sensational

2009-06-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

As you may or maynot know, I am an Independent Demonstrator for a company called Uppercase Living. Uppercase Living® was founded in 2006 with the vision of creating an inspiring decorative medium that would allow customers to transform their spaces into a reflection of themselves. This vision was delivered through beautiful decorative lettering and embellishments sold through in-home parties, called Open Houses. These expressions could be applied quickly and easily to walls, tiles, wood blocks, and other meaningful places, without enlisting the help of a professional decorator. Our decorative lettering and embellishments allow you to transform your rooms in minutes.

Words have the ability to change our attitudes, influence our behavior, and ultimately impact our lives. Uppercase Living™ embraces this bility by offering an unparalleled approach to home décor.

From wise and spiritual to witty and entertaining, surround yourself with expressions that make your space reflect the abundance life has to offer. Our decorative vinyl expressions are simple to apply yet look as if painted by a master artisan. Instantly, your home comes to life with motivation, inspiration, humor, or tenderness.Choose from our hundreds of professionally
designed expressions or create your own custom expression using any of our 50 fonts and 36 colors with the MyDesign™ Tool.

With all that said I would like to welcome you to the very first edition of the UL Idea Spot! In this regular series of blog posts, I will be showcasing how you can transform a simple space into a fabulous design focal point for any season or occasion. Everyone’s got that one little spot in their home they always want to refresh and the UL Idea Spot will help you do it! Each of these entries will include a photo and simple project recipe so you can follow along and recreate the same designs. Our Uppercase Living Creative Director, Christina Stark, will be my guest blogger, providing design tips and an insider’s view into how each concept came together. We have got some great ideas on baby showers for this first entry, so read on!

‘Tis the season for milestone events like babies and weddings, but who says you have to spend a fortune on run-of-the-mill shower decorations, party favors, and gifts? With a little bit of creativity, you can create personalized, inexpensive gifts and decor that your friend or loved one will cherish for years.

I’ll start you off! We recently held a baby shower for an Uppercase Living employee, and here’s what we came up with for an “It’s a Boy!” baby shower display:

As with any good design, we started our display with the very basics: color scheme, graphics, and text. We chose two coordinating colors (Sky Blue and Green Tea) and a neutral color (Bright White), then picked out our embellishments—Elephant (size 5” and 12”; item #4482105 and 4482112) and Face Card Heart (size 2”; item #4485002). MyDesign was the next step—and a huge help in creating an expression that was meaningful for our shower recipient. We created a 2” custom expression—Welcome Baby Boy Olsen—in a playful, perfect-for-a-baby-shower font called Jot.

At our wall, we created the ideal focal point—a mommy/ baby pair—using two differently sized Elephants (one mirrored, so they face each other), three hearts (grouping items into threes, or any odd number, is a popular technique), and our custom expression. Repetition is essential in design, so we also placed our 2” Elephant embellishment on our favor boxes.

To round out this darling display, we purchased a metal tin (you can find similar gift items for a steal at Walmart or Target!) and decked it out with a series of alphabet letters in a boyish font called Princetown (2” Sky Blue ACEGIK; 2” Green Tea custom BDFHJL; 5” Sky Blue B). We embellished the tin lid with a 9” Hollow Circle embellishment—once again, Sky Blue—and repeated our primary font, Jot, in a custom “is for baby” expression.

The last item on the list was the memory-keeping keepsake for mom. We found a white photo album and turned it into a pretty baby book with two embellishments: a Sky Blue B (2.5” B in Jot) overlaying a Green Tea Round Medallion (size 3”; item #4476803). A touch of ribbon, a plush teddy bear, some chocolate candies (of course!), and a few balloons were the perfect final accents needed to finish off the design with style.

That’s it! Custom décor for any shower. Now that you’ve got your next party idea in the bag, let the oohs and ahs begin!

Oh summer...

2009-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sprinkler...

fun...

fun..

fun...

and

swimming...

all summer long...

My Back Yard

2009-06-18T16:08:00.001-07:00

This is the view out my back door...

And this is the view off my front porch.

Name the kitty contest...

2009-06-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

I had this cute cat show up on my porch two summers ago. He decided that he liked it here and has been here ever since.

I don't believe his decision to stay had anything to do with food...

Was this a mistake?

Or a warm heat lamp placed over a goat feeding pan filled with a blanket in my garden shed/goat barn/chicken coop to sleep under during our subzero winters.

We discovered that Kitty couldn't hear shorty after his arrival here. The fact that barking dogs and clapping hand behind him did not frighten him off my porch was a big clue.

In the past two years Kitty has not allow me to get any closer then five feet from him, which is fine by me but I would like to have him checked out by my vet.

He has only been known as "Kitty", which seems a bit girly to me for a cat if his stature. With that being said I think it is time we gave him a proper name.

So I give you...

"Name the Kitty Contest"

Contest will be open for a day or two. One entry per person, please. Winner will receive a very pretty Uppercase Living vinyl flower, seen here

Good luck!

(You know, if I believed in luck. But I don't)

It's raining this morning and the dogs hate to go off the porch in the rain...

Now that is just WRONG!!

2009-06-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

I most certainly did not spend most of Sunday afternoon following my great niece around and taking over 70 photos of her.

See....there are only 7

Lunch is served!

2009-06-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

I just made the best guacamole ever.... I've been eating it with Sun Chips and can't stop. I just mixed avocado, red onion and cilantro together so I didn't actually make them. But hey not everyone can do that, right?

Almost a Wordless Wednesday...

2009-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Breakfast, lunch and Chipolte's?

This is Manly's breakfast. Organic steel cut oats with organic raw milk, organic dried cranberries, raw honey and pecans.

My breakfast. Natural Ovens Sunny Mullet Bread with peanut butter and coffee.

Lunch....

Organic eggs and....

Natural Ovens Sunny Millet Bread.

Snack...

Snow Pea Pods

Dinner/Chipolte's

YUM!!!

free vinyl giveaway?

2009-06-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Had some great attempts but not one Tweet. Task was incomplete. I'll have to do another contest, I'm itching to give something away. Next contest will be announced with a tweet so join Twitter and start following me to see what it will be. Click on "follow me on twitter" in the left hand column to join.

Free vinyl giveaway ending soon

2009-05-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

I will be ending the "Free vinyl giveaway" at 8:00 tonight so if your interested in winning you must hurry and complete the task at hand.

2:47 a.m. blog....

2009-05-31T00:46:00.000-07:00

So you ask why are you blogging at 2:47 in the morning? Most logical reason, can't sleep! So.... I have desided that this is as good a time as any to start my first blog contest.

Here is how it goes. First of all you will need to become a follower of my blog. You ask, how do I become a follower? Easy I say. Just click on the "follow" link on the left hand side. Next follow me on Twitter. You ask again, how do I follow you on Twitter and what in the world is Twitter in the first place? This too my friends is easy. You can get the whole scoop by clicking on the "follow me on twitter" link on the left hand side. Once you have done both tasks come back here and leave a comment (click comment at the end if this post) telling me you have completed the task put before you. The first one to do so wins!!

What will I win you ask. $25 in vinyl I say. Uppercase Living vinyl that is. I will email the winner all the details so be sure to tweet me or email me your address. To email me just click the little email letter next to the comment link at the end of this post.

I will also include a great little blurb about the winner on my blog.

Are you ready? Set! GO!!!

My Bedside Table, Revealed

2009-05-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

First of all my bedside table is one of Manly's creations (my loving Husband and for anyone reading this that knows him that is the blog name I have chosen for him) which I just adore. He is always trying to save money.

So now for my list of items, pink alarm clock, lamp, nail clippers, chap stick, pen, lotion, pink kleenex box with tissue of course, a stack of book which consist of several photography books, which you can see I am in need of, and Gary Thomas' book Sacred Marriage.

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-05-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

Zek. Where else? My Chair...

A day in the woods

2009-05-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday morning splitting wood with the family. What a great day we had. Dad (AKA Babe) was in charge if the splitter with Kerry, one of the outlaws, and Manly doing the lifting. The rest of us "girls" stacked the wood.

Praise the LORD we are done!

A chair all to myself

2009-05-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Sweet!! I have my chair all to myself this morning.

Look closely, this view is not offen seen...

it is normally this one

Oh, little Dolly (AKA, Missy)

2009-05-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

So here I am, blogging. Who would have ever thought? A small town girl. Well I'm still small town but in a big way. I have been married to Manly for 18 years we have three children, all grown, and one really special grandson. I also have three dogs. Zek, Dolly and Belle. Yes, three. They are small so it's really like having only one.

Not Me!

2009-05-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

It's time to 'fess up! Play along, tell us what you didn't do today!

This is my first "Not Me! Monday". How freeing!

I most certainly did not spend all day on the computer reading blogs and goofing off then run to the kitchen to throw leftovers in the microwave, race to the laundry room and turn the empty dryer on and toss whatever was on the floor onto the washer, race back to the kitchen set the table and proceed to fill the dishwasher the moment I saw my wonderful husband stop to get the mail at the end of the driveway after his long hard day at work. Besides, how could anyone find that much stuff to do on the computer that it would take a whole day?

There really is a dog on my chair, Always...

2009-05-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Since the name of my blog is "A Dog on my Chair" I thought I would just start out by introducing my dogs. Yes, I did say dogs. I have three of my own and my daughters dog as well.

Lets start with Zek, which is actually short for Ezekiel, for some reason is my favorite! Can you guess why?