Trading Phrases

Online Design Sessions

2011-06-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

Leave it to our designers. They have launched online live design sessions that customers can schedule. These 30 minute sessions are booked right from our website. During the session the customer gets to watch the designer’s screen while chatting with the designer on the phone. Designs that have historically taken days and a lot of back and forth emails can now be knocked out in 30 minutes. Don’t worry, we kept the traditional design process for those that don’t have the time for a dedicated session. Booking appointments are also available for 15 minute phone consults as well.

Got a custom quote you’d love to see as a wall decal? Book the appointment today!

Even Designers Get a Chance to Blog!

2011-06-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Trading Phrases Design Blog!

Our design juices are flowing more than ever in the past month... with our new site so easy to navigate and maneuver we are now thinking about the limitless categories and designs that we can now create. We have spun up our new mirror designs, are working on T-shirts, and now have moved to the kitchen with tumblers & KitchenAid designs! Facebook continues to be a fabulous venue for ideas and our fans have a lot of input on what gets put on our site. If you haven't seen it check it out www.facebook.com/tradingphrases and pop over to our "help our designers" photo album to choose which designs we add to our site- get involved!

Tumbling into Tumblers:

Tumblers have been a lot of fun this week, we spun out about 20 designs that are now in the "testing" process to ensure that we are able to produce them so small- once that is completed we will add them to the website for you to order. I was really inspired for these since I currently own about 3 (not via TP), and they are all boring clear plastic with a brown grip and straw- and they cost me $13! Tumblers are a necessity in my house since I have a toddler and animals who all seem to LOVE spilling or drinking my beverages... I'm so excited for the possibility of some personality! We will have tumblers with cute designs that you can choose your own colors for, monograms/initials, school designs, and fun art. Also, our tumblers come in an array of fun colors- so the possibilities are truly endless.

Out of the Fire and Into the Kitchen(Aid):

KitchenAid designs are turning out to be a bit more tricky- have you ever really looked at a KitchenAid? Probably not from a design aspect... I know that I hadn't! They are a very strange shape and size, especially accounting for the round curvature and long stem on them- which makes it a challenge to design for... but beautiful results! Where I tend to balance delicately on the more feminine, girly, designs- many of you (and my co-workers) prefer a bit of masculinity in their designs- like Alton Brown's flame design vs. my swirls (yet to be added). Thankfully Trading Phrases is a wonderful creative outlet and we can suit every one's needs... from the masculine to the feminine and everywhere in-between.

C is for... Custom Designs!

As always we are doing this for YOU so if you feel there is something that you would like to have on our website that is not represented, please don't hesitate to contact us- designer@tradingphrases.com and we'd be more than happy to help you out.

I can't wait to show you some more photos of our new categories in next week's blog!

~Samantha

Renter Decor Ideas & Our Top FAQ Questions

2011-06-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

It always comes around to that time of the year, as a renter, when you need to move to a new space. If you’re anything like me, I get bored with a space if I’m there for too long. So now I’m preparing to move to a new space at the beginning of September and I’m starting to make my list of designs that will fill my naked walls. As a renter, you’re typically not allowed to paint your walls, unless you have an amazingly laid back landlord. Unfortunately I don’t, so the wall decals are PERFECT for my space. I can add my personality to my home without the hassle of painting or banging nails crookedly into my wall for the one picture I have to hang.

There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on your designs.
Size: This is one of the most common questions I receive as a CSR, “How does the sizing work with your designs and how do I know what the right size would be?”. Let me tell you one thing, I wish I could tell every customer what design would look amazing over their queen sized, four post bed, but unfortunately I haven’t acquired that skill yet. I’m still trying to work on it though.
All of our designs are measured in overall size. So, we take the overall length of a design by the overall height of a design. All of our designs are measured in inches as to keep the confusion as minimal as possible. I know it is a difficult process to measure out your space and picture the right size. Here’s my little secret to perfect measurements as to avoid the boyfriend holding my measuring tape up, with tired arms, as I stand back and contemplate the sizing.
First, I acquire my measuring tape and a role of painters tape. You will still need an “assistant”, but I promise their task won’t take up too much time and won’t leave them with aching arms. Next, get the size of the design you’re thinking of purchasing. Measure out the size on the space where you’ll place the design and have your “assistant” mark its measurements with a pieces of painters tape. Now both you and your “assistant” can stand back and get an ideal of how large or small the design will be.

Texture: This is another common question that I hear daily, “I have a (insert texture here), will your decal stick to my wall?”. Currently I have the same issue. The walls in my new living room are covered in that lovely, I say this with deep sarcasm, wood paneling. Now don’t get me wrong, some people can work the wood paneling but I just can’t seem to do it with my taste. I love modern designs and can’t seem to figure out a way to make the wood paneling modern. I won’t let the paneling defeat me! I’ve contemplated this for several days and have decided to hang large canvases on the wall with a mixed media design. I’m going to place some of my favorite vinyl designs on the canvas and add a bit of paint around them as a background color. Before doing so, I need to know if our designs will adhere to that type of surface. Luckily, we offer working samples just for that reason. When on our website, you can order a working sample. Please allow a few days for these to be processed since unfortunately my worker gnomes are currently on strike and only I am processing them. All of our working samples will arrive via USPS in a white envelope. Once the sample arrives, you will apply it just like you would any of our designs. We offer this service free of charge to all of our customers since it would be so annoying to be excited for that perfect design and when it finally arrives, it won’t stick to your surface. If you ever, EVER have any doubt just pick up the phone and call me. I’ve tested many surfaces and I’ll be able to give you plenty of insight.

Color: This one is very simple, well if you order color samples it is. We offer one set of six color samples as a free service to our customers. These will arrive on a postcard via USPS. Again, please remember that the worker gnomes are still on strike. You can use these samples to decide on which color will look perfect with your Sherwin Williams (insert color HERE). That has to be one of my favorite questions of all time and is another skill that I’m working on. “What color would look good with my Sherwin Williams Grim Blue?” Now, keep in mind that I have no clue what that color looks like. When you call and ask me that question I will go online and look up the color to try and give you my best opinion, but the color online may look completely different then how it looks on your wall. The lighting in your house is also another factor, but I will NEVER turn you away. Plus, this always helps me shop for paint colors if I ever need them in the future. So what I’m trying to say here is, ordering the color samples is the best way to know for sure what color to choose. You can hold the card up to your Sherwin Williams Milky Cream and know exactly how the vinyl will look against the wall.

That’s all I have for our bloggers today. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss anything I talked about, my worker gnomes and I will be happy to answer your questions.

~Anastasia, Production Manager and Chief Customer Handler

Business Designs for the Do It Yourselfer

2011-06-20T04:11:00.001-07:00

We've recently beefed up our business category and added a lot of business-based designs that will work well in a restaurant, retail shop, salon... the list goes on and on. The idea is that small business owners (like us) don't have a lot of time and money to spend at the local sign shop. These pre-designed decals are easy to order and even easier to install. No installation charge necessary, just bring a ruler and a level (there are apps on smart phones for the level--how easy is that?). If you know a small business, you may want to do them a favor and introduce our business category to them. They may thank you for it!

New Website (Finally!)

2011-06-15T11:06:00.000-07:00

We finally launched the website. It took 2 years, and a lot of work, but it is finally up and working. Check it out and let us know what you think on our comment page or on Facebook.

Our wall mirrors have been really popular. They are fun little designs that are repositionable and reusable. Add a bit of vinyl design to a wall mirror pack and voila, instant decor!

Watch in the coming weeks for a few new fun products. We're looking at adding t-shirts, plastic tumblers, and more fun items.

Cheers!

Morgan

Waiting for the Dust to Settle

2011-01-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

We recently had the opportunity to double our shop by taking over an adjacent space in our building. We have the same trepidation as everyone else in this economy... scale back, do more with less, ride it out... But in the end, we decided to do it. The elbow room and additional storage space will be a huge bonus right now, and the extra space will give us the opportunity to start 'playing' with a few new concepts that have been on the back burner. The walls are coming down and we're scrambling to work in a construction zone.

2010 was a banner year for us. We grew from 8 to 14 employees, had sales in over 66 countries, and got to meet some great designers who are using our designs in a myriad of fun and exciting projects. We brought in a full time CSR to free up our design staff who work with customers on custom quotes and on new and fun designs with more of an artistic bent. We've grown this year to just over 17,000 fans on Facebook, which we frequently poll for design ideas and to pick a winner from a couple of competing designs. We love the medium and will continue our 'conversation' with our customers as long as they'll continue to give us feedback, opinions, and ideas.

Thanks to everyone that made 2010 a great year. Here's to 2011 and new goals and products. Onward and upward!

Cheers!

Morgan

Trading Phrases

PS. Check out our current Valentine promotion design for a little romantic whimsy!

Waiting For a Website

2010-11-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

Did you hear? We put our giant decals on sale--Save 20% through the end of November. Want even more fun discounts, find them on our Facebook page, but you have to become a fan to see the codes. Sneaky, aren't we?

Have you ever seen the commercial where someone talks about hiring someone to create a new website for them "5 months ago"... Well I definitely feel their pain. The new website project has been in the works for over a year. We are getting close, just at the time of the year that we said we would not be converting websites. I've never been good at timing, so add this to my less than stellar track record!

In the meantime, we're still working on making our current site a bit more user friendly. We've added a realtime chat feature, have extended our Customer Service Hours (now 10a-5p M-F) and added social plugins to all designs. Stop by for a chat when you are on our site!

We lost one of our favorite competitors recently. We will miss you, Wonderful Graffiti. You were a class act that exuded professionalism, and were head and shoulders above the fray with unique graphic designs that were beautiful and inspired. We hope you all are on to bigger and better things and will be back with a redesigned concept soon!

New Designs for Halloween

2010-08-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Time flies when you’re having fun, or in our case when you’re swamped. The kids haven’t even had a chance to break in their new backpacks, while Target is now displaying Halloween décor. We run on a perpetual seasonal and holiday clock, and ours is not pointing to fall and trending to winter.

We put together some fun designs for Halloween this year, including some fun packs with a bunch of whimsical art that can help with the overall effect. Consider adding decals to the realistic foam pumpkins for a display that can last for years. Add a touch of macabre to a mirror with a spider web, or invite a friendly ghost to take up residence for a spell. It is a great time of year to finally experiment with that funky shade of orange you’ve been threatening to try for the past 6 months!

Supersize Me!

2010-06-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

We finally got in the giant rolls of 48” material and are excited to be creating huge designs to go with the media. We’re also doing Henry Ford one better right now—you can have it in any color you want as long as it is black or chocolate! We’ll get more colors in over time, but for now we’re focusing on trees.

I hail from the Oregon coast, which has some of the most beautiful forests on earth. I love trees, and I love the way they look on the walls. We’re starting with adorable and fun trees, and will add the more forest-y looking trees along with other designs over time.

We’re still getting in more and more colors in the 30” material size as we change over from the 24” format. If you find a design that needs to be bigger, shoot us an email and we’ll see if we can work it in. We can order the 48” vinyl in any of our colors as well, so if you find you absolutely have to have something that big, we have you covered.

My personal favorite design today has to be the windy tree, because I love the effect of the curling leaves ‘blowing’ across a wall. Which one do you like best? We’d love to hear from you!

Morgan

Reclaim Your Space

2010-06-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

I look forward to the day that I can call myself an empty nester. I dream of coming home and finding the house the same as I left it, I snicker over having to load a dishwasher occasionally. I also dream of what I can do to convert those coveted bedrooms to more functional space. Now, granted, my empty nest days are a long way off, but I can dream. If you have a bedroom that you have been eyeing as your hobby room, exercise room, library, media room, or home office, we have several designs that can help you proclaim your space.

• Book designs for a library
• Motivation or business quotes for a home office
• Movie quotes for a theater room
• Sewing, scrapbooking, quilting, or other hobby designs
• Motivation and exercise quotes for an exercise room
• Welcoming messages for a guest room

If you can dream it, we can come up with a design for it

Grad Motivation

2010-05-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

Ah, grad season is upon us. Soon the studious will be fresh from school and will spend their days ‘recovering’ from their ordeal. We’ve got a few great designs that are perfect little motivation reminders. If you’ve ever felt you might as well be talking to the wall, then let those walls do the nagging for a while. Don’t see any that work, then we’ve got designers at the ready to help you create a custom design that will be absolutely perfect—just think of the possibilities!

Designers, Bloggers, and Room to Breathe

2010-05-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Debbie Travis, one of my favorite designers and television personalities recently reached out to us for some information and photos for an upcoming newspaper column. We’re tickled pink (or rather tickled carnation, bubble gum, or…). We can’t wait to see what Debbie says—especially since her forte is paint, plaster, and the covering of bland walls.

Debbie is not the only one talking about us, we’ve been on a whirlwind with bloggers recently, getting together give aways, sending out samples, and generally getting to know some of the social media press circuit. I definitely missed the social marketing chapter in my moldy oldy Marketing 301 class in college, but I’m learning as I go.

Our big news (at least to us) is that we moved our production facility this week and are really enjoying the elbow room. The blank walls are both refreshing and intimidating—the old space we put up any random thing that we had lying around. In this space I want it a little more thought out. For now it’s a little minimalist until I get a spark of creativity and a few minutes with my favorite cutting machines.

Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner

2010-04-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

We just wrapped up a photo contest, and we were thrilled at the response and the great photos. Our grand prize winner is Elaine S. who used the birch trees and bird cages to make a great headboard design for her bed. The chocolate color coordinates with her bedding, and the yellow bird is the perfect accent. We hope Elaine enjoys the $50 gift certificate and comes up with something just as fun and creative for the next contest.

Visit us on Facebook for even more fun customer photos such as the one below. And get those photos ready for the next contest. We had a blast!

Photo Contest Runner Up

2010-04-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

Jennifer J. took the $25 gift certificate where she used a custom monogram centered over her daughter’s crib. We think that the effect is absolutely adorable and we’re sure that it’s getting plenty of oohs and ahas from everyone that sees it in person. We just want to know how she managed to talk her hubby into the pink and green walls.

Visit us on Facebook for even more fun customer photos and get those photos ready for the next contest. And visit us often for the newest designs–we have over 1600 designs and more are added every day.

Photo Contest Honorable Mention

2010-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

We had to create an honorable mention category for Cathy R. who tugged our heartstrings. The design was presented to her friend who is battling cancer, and the message is just too perfect not to include in our list of favorites. She says “This isn’t in someone house, it’s in someone’s heart…” She too gets a $25 gift certificate for sharing the photo and story. We love the gift aspect of the designs, which is what the ‘Trading’ in Trading Phrases is all about.

Visit us on Facebook for even more fun customer photos (the canoe with the names of the rivers it has been on is really fun), and get those photos ready for the next contest.

Spring - Make it Bloom Where You Want it

2010-03-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

If you’re like us, spring cannot come fast enough. We are out of the snow, but still are looking at some gray days with the rain and the plants that are just beginning to shake their long slumber. We’ve got a great idea to help spring color along—add a few vibrant designs to your walls. Bring the blooms indoors, and add a colorful branch to your wall, or add some vibrant birds to make you smile.

The Vintage Frog blog recently featured a chalkboard heart design. We love her idea of using it to keep score during game night. We’ve also had people use them to ‘decorate’ old furniture to give it new life. Vinyl chalkboard is great for dresser fronts, for table tops, or anywhere that a little temporary creativity can be added in unexpected places.

Love is in the Air, and Maybe on the Wall

2010-01-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

February harkens thoughts of romance, roses, and chocolate. The romance should last throughout the year, but the roses and chocolate are short lived (unless you count those calories, and then it may be more permanent). For years we’ve done the Valentine’s dinner at a nice restaurant, but this year the sentiment is to cut back a bit. It can be fun to prepare a favorite meal at home together—especially if it’s a recipe that you’ve never tried before. If cooking is not your thing, then get a nice takeout meal break out the china—go for the candlelight and some soft music and you’ll have a dinner to remember. To make that dinner even more special, dress up your dining room wall with a few romantic words or a great quote. You may want to save the wildly romantic phrases for the bedroom, however.

Valentine wall quotes and phrases are creative and unexpected, are personal and classy, and are a great way to get your message across. Our favorite idea is to ‘write’ out a marriage proposal, but the possibilities are endless. Designs range from subtle to strong, from simple to sophisticated. Whatever design you choose, it will last longer than those roses and the box of chocolate—especially if it is good chocolate!

A Sign of the Times?

2010-01-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

A recent article from US News about “17 Ways Consumers Are Changing” got a discussion started among the staff about current spending habits. What we all agreed on is that we’re a bit more frugal, are less willing to impulse buy, and are focusing on spending money on things that make us happy well beyond the fleeting “shopping fix” feeling.

The trend has been emerging over the past few years. ETSY and DIY sites have grown exponentially, and that growth stems from the notion that shoppers want something special, something personal. You don’t get comments about a sweater from Target, but you do for a sweater from Anthropologie or a unique ‘find’ from ETSY. Of course your purchasing power is 3:1 for Target sweaters, but the Anthro sweater will be a closet staple long after the Target sweater has been forgotten.

Today’s consumers still want to shop (or at least the ones I’ve talked to), they just want to make sure that the purchase means more than it did a few years ago. They want to pay with cash/debit rather than credit. This may be part of why wall decals are really taking off as an alternative to standard artwork. Words, quotes, and phrases tend to move people. They reinforce a message; make people think, smile, or both. They reinforce what you want to be or want to do, and are a personal affirmation to yourself and to your family. They are affordable, removable, and are easy to install. They are a perfect compliment to how we’re beginning to live today as we shed excess clutter along with economy that is also doing a little housecleaning. Wall decals convey a more long term connection than any mass produced print found in a store, and that longer term commitment is what consumers seem to be looking for today.

Idea File: Updating Mirrored Closet Doors

2010-01-16T02:37:00.000-08:00

Mirrored closets were all the rage circa 1982. Mirrored doors can definitely serve a purpose by bouncing precious light around, let you check your look before heading out the door, and of course hiding a multitude of shopping sins within the closet. If you're facing a mirrored closet and wondering how to update it, vinyl is the perfect answer. New installations have updated the look a bit with frameless options, but a mirror is still a mirror, and it is the perfect medium for a bit of closet creativity.

We've all seen some basic block shape updates that provide a contemporary, clean look. Other options are to include a favorite quote or series of quotes that inspire you. Consider a satin gold, copper, or silver to compliment the shimmery mirror effect. The words help break up the mirror visually, while still letting the mirror serve it's purpose overall.

Add some fun graphic designs to add a touch of whimsy to your space, or add a monogram for a more classic traditional look. Frosted vinyl is the perfect medium to add a design without it overpowering the mirror. The effect is instant and absolutely removable, which is perfect for rentals or converting spaces as your needs change. Whatever your style, vinyl is an affordable solution to your mirrored door problems.

Early January Planning

2010-01-15T12:13:00.000-08:00

It is mid January and we’re pondering what we can do to keep the momentum going this year. We have several irons in the fire including redesigning the website, using more technology to help streamline customer interactions, and of course more fun and exciting designs. We’re planning some fun new nursery and wedding designs and of course working with customers to design more fun custom creations. For those of you who have purchased designs, send us some pics that we can share on our website and we’ll send you a discount code to use or to share for future purchases.

Look for us on Twitter and on Facebook as we try to keep up with the latest happenings in the social media world—and keep those great comments coming—we LOVE to hear from you! Our favorite feedback from December is from Karyl W in Champaign, IL who writes: “I used to think that great customer service was a thing of the past...until I worked with Samantha and Trading Phrases. Congratulations on a great product and customer service that is second to none!” Wow, thanks Karyl!

Downsizing Decor -- Keep It Personal

2010-01-06T05:51:00.000-08:00

I recently read about a decorating strategy from Sunset magazine. It talked about keeping décor minimal and choosing pieces that have meaning. I remember doing that back when we moved into our first apartment. It is good to know that we were actually strategizing about not filling our space with random tzchotkes—not that we could actually afford anything. I agree with the idea of making sure that you surround yourself with things that mean something to you. I think it’s easy to take it one further and add a personal and meaningful touch to a blank wall using vinyl wall decals. We have several artistic graphics that have random elements that can fill an entire wall, but we have even more quotes and sayings that make your walls say more than a piece of mass produced art ever will. Add a bit of humor, choose colors that match or elevate your décor, or have one of our designers create a personalized statement that reminds you of someone, someplace, or something that has meaning. Decorating is all about making you feel good in your own space, and wall graphics are the perfect touch.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

The holiday decorations are finally coming down, and the house is feeling a bit bare. While I love the holidays and the glitter and greenery, it’s always feels like we have more space when the decorations are finally put away. I’m taking the opportunity to remove a lot of test designs from the walls and get back to a blank slate. We continually test files and take photos of them for the website so our walls are a bit eclectic, to say the least. So here’s to a fresh start for twenty-ten, and here’s to a new round of fresh fun designs to take the humble wall from bland to grand.
Happy New Year!

Brrrr....

2009-12-16T03:48:00.001-08:00

Brrrrrr…. Winter has definitely set in around central Ohio. We don’t have the snow yet, but the air feels arctic. If it’s going to be this cold, we really should have snow on the ground. Here’s hoping for a white Christmas this year.

While our Christmas orders are wrapping up, we’re thinking ahead for the next promotion. I’m considering multiple options that could tie into a January/renewal theme, a green/conservation theme, or just jump ahead and do Valentine’s Day. Either way, watch for our new promo piece to be unveiled on Dec 20^th. Hint, we love suggestions!

Oh, How My Wish List Has Changed

2009-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time I dreamed of jewelry, a romantic vacation, or some personal and thoughtful little gift for Christmas (reality was more likely a kitchen appliance… I did mention this was a DREAM). After starting Trading Phrases, I’m now dreaming of more mundane things like a receipt scanner (ooh, organization!), or shinny new weeding tools. I’ll admit that the thought of the latest Photoshop or Illustrator are more thrilling than an iPod, and I’d be practically beside myself with a new wide format printer to branch out a bit with our product offerings. My stocking can be filled with new blades or cutting strips for the cutters, and I’d love a little elf to show up and update the colors on our designs on the website (the majority of our designs don’t have the latest colors—there are over 1000 to be updated, and I’m not going there right now). New vector art for more designs, a new font CD? Oh the possibilities are endless…

Of course the new kitchen appliance will also be lovely.

Burning the Midnight Oil

2009-12-10T07:01:00.001-08:00

We’re burning the midnight oil around here. Orders are coming in, and everyone wants their items by Christmas. We’re keeping up with the demand, but a few goofs have slipped in (which means more work in the end). It doesn’t help that we continue to tweak our processes in the middle of everything, which makes everyone agree up front, and then slowly grumble when they realize that they have to change a time honored way of doing something. I never really understood why everyone loves progress, but hates change… We’re appeasing the crew with tasty treats (and pie, must keep Cody supplied with pie) in order to keep them going. They can’t complain if they’re chewing.

Orders are going out on time, generally one or two days after the order is received. Some schedules cannot be accommodated, such as the customer that ordered a design on Thursday evening and then was disappointed that she didn’t have it in time for an event on Friday. We’re good, but are not miracle workers. Perhaps if we could borrow a certain sleigh and team of reindeer for a few minutes…

Making a Stock Design One of a Kind

2009-12-07T05:56:00.000-08:00

I love contrasts. I love shipping orders for snowmen designs in July, and for beach house designs in December.

Our designs give our customers a chance to create a design that is meaningful and unique. Color mixes that are edgy, an embellishment or two that add just the right touch, or mixing and matching a few words and artistic touches for a perfect one of a kind statement are all examples of how a stock design can be truly unique. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a few Valentine’s Day lipstick love notes to ship out…

Free Designs... If You're Lucky

2009-12-05T15:35:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard the expression "Too much of a good thing?" Well we've got too much of several good things, and they're taking over our production space! We've got extra designs and we just don't have the heart to toss them out. Good designs. Popular designs. Designs that were cut in the wrong size, cut in the wrong color, or just cut when they weren't really needed. We've decided to give them to good homes. From now through Christmas, one free popular design will be happily gifted to a customer that orders that day. They are our gift to our fantastic customers, and we don't care one bit about re-gifting these little babies. To see what's being given away today, or to see which lucky customer won a prior design, visit our promotion page. For more gift ideas and inspiration, stay around and browse the site. Our designs are growing by the day!

What We're Thankful For

2009-11-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

Our employees—Chris, Nick, Cody, Austin, Zach, Christine, Taylor, Katie, Samantha—we couldn’t do it without you! Our fantastic USPS carriers—you guys rock! iPhones—we couldn’t survive without the daily battle over the production room playlist Recycling centers that help us keep our carbon footprint more like a kitten heel than an Ugg boot Social networks—and my love/hate relationship with Twitter and Facebook Inspiration for our ‘coming soon’ line of new nursery designs—congrats Sami and Zak! The fall colors that were stunning but brief Mead, mulled wine, and egg nog—yum! The recent food and wine festival at Disney World—my feet are still sore! Hot bubble baths and soaking my troubles away after a long day The economy finally showing signs of life The growing Trading Phrases business that continues to keep us busy each and every day Our family, friends, and our fantastic customers—Thank you!

everyone!

That's Fontastic!

2009-11-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

A funny thing happens to people who start working for Trading Phrases. People start recognizing fonts, or at least start noticing if something would be easy to work with or would be (now how do they put that… oh yes, now I remember) pure swoopy font hell.

Those pretty scrolly, scripty fonts that I love working with make our production crew whisper mutinous oaths. Plain text (boring in my opinion) fonts make them practically giddy. And the cutting machines also have their own ‘issues’. Just try to cut Passions Conflict font without the machine skip a letter or two out of spite. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

I’m working on a compromise font for a lot of my designs lately. Poetica is a fairly plain font, with Roman alternative capitals that add a bit of flair. I still haven’t given up the swoopy scripts entirely; I’m just trying to mix things up. However, if you start seeing nothing but plain text designs in the coming months please send help—the crew will have probably will have me locked in the storeroom far from my precious scripty fonts!

New Holiday Designs for 2009

2009-11-20T03:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, Thanksgiving is not here yet. I couldn't help myself. This year is going to be different. This year I'll shop early and avoid the last-minute crowds. This year I'll get those cards out early. This year I'll bake cookies and take them to the neighbors. This year I'll... Nevermind, I know myself too well, and I won't be doing any of that. I will, however, put up a bunch of fun designs for our holiday collection to add some instant cheer.

I love vinyl decals for holiday and seasonal decorating. They are beautiful, look like a hand painted stencil, and are easily removable when the season is over. If you want to reuse the decals from year to year, then apply them to a plaque, to a large tile, or even to a mirror or a piece of plexiglass that can be stored and used again. If you're got a personal message that you would love to create for your space, then contact us and we'll get that personal masterpiece started for you.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go take down a few Halloween decorations...

Swooshes, Scrolls, and Swoops—whatever you call them, they’re here!

2009-10-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

I’m excited about our latest scroll designs. I love a fun, unexpected graphic impact on my walls. These scrolls are a nice change from the lettering designs that are so prevalent in our designs. These are great accents for over a door, accenting a window, a topper for a collage of frames, or just about anywhere. I’m planning on adding a few above the cabinets in my kitchen, and am going to dress up an old boring a cabinet with a few well placed scrolls. Now, what colors to choose?...

Halloween's a Coming

2009-09-21T03:42:00.001-07:00

I love fall, the leaves are festive, the air reminds me of a summer day at the beach (that's the beach on the Oregon north coast, where 80 degrees is a heat wave), and the kids are back in school. We're busy churning out new designs, both custom ones and others that go well with the Simply Words category. We've also got a new Boo! promotion that is sure to add a little fun and whimsy tucked in with each order (now until Oct 25th).

Our designs have been spotted on a new site, where site users can create a mashup of several images and create their own digital expressions. Check out one of the family designs and then give it a go. It's a quick and fun way to start designing at http://www.polyvore.com/.

Rethinking Our Website

2009-09-21T03:39:00.000-07:00

Where there’s a website, there’s a way to improve it. We’ve been thinking about our website a lot lately, and we’re slowly realizing that we need some significant overhaul. The designs are difficult to find, the shopping cart options aren’t standardized, and shipping options and discounts are cumbersome. On the other hand, it has a great look and feel to the design that really resonates with our customers.

We’re looking at updating the the custom quote options, which will let customers really get a chance to play with their design, font choices, and colors up front. We want that to be a seamless transition to either purchase directly without intervention. We also want to keep the ability to transfer the work in progress to the next step where one of our designers can make it truly special with a mix of fonts, colors, embellishments, layout options, and everything else they do to make the custom quotes a work of art.

Here’s hoping this redesign is a positive experience. Generally when you get creative types and technology types together they can’t seem to communicate. You end up with visually stimulating designs that don’t have the features or functionality that is actually something someone can use. Maybe that business degree in computer information systems will come in handy–not that I’m ever planning on admitting that it was worth it to suffer through statistics!

New Colors Are Coming!

2009-08-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

The nagging, whining, and constant cajoling has finally paid off! Hot off the presses (or cutters, in our case) are 14 new colors from our supplier, Oracal. We haven’t seen them yet, but we anticipate a sage green, an olive, a teal, persimmon, a few more flavors of pink/magenta and more. We’ll get them available just as soon as they arrive, so keep watch on the color sample page for the latest update. 62 colors–Whew!

So for those that really can’t find the perfect color in the mix of 62 choices, we have the ability to cut most of the designs in a ‘reverse weed’ order. What this means to the design perfectionist (and you know you are!) is that you can use the design as the perfect single use stencil for a precise color match. Of course the beauty of the vinyl medium is that it is quicker and easier than paint, but the reverse technique is prefect for that hand painted look.

Why yes, wall decals ARE removable!

2009-08-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

We often get questions about how easy vinyl wall decals are to remove. Our designs are made of a type of thin vinyl that is removable without leaving a residue behind. These peel and stick designs are easy to put up, and look great until you're ready to take them down. The removable designs are a great alternative to paint or stencils, which can only be covered rather than removed.

The decals work well in apartments, dorm rooms, as seasonal or holiday decor. They are also an elegant touch for weddings and events. Cover an ancient tile back-splash with some of our tile cover-ups for a fresh take on an old space. Our beautiful matte finish means that the design mimics the look of paint, and an entire design can be installed faster than stenciling on a single word--no mess, no fumes, and no brushes to clean. When you're ready to remove the design, a little heat from a hairdryer loosens the adhesive, and then it's a matter of gently picking at a corner until you get a solid piece to peel off. We can even provide a sample of the vinyl for a quick surface (or color) test.

Vinyl decals are inexpensive, easy to install, and make a fun personal statement. What do your walls have to say about you?

We'd Like to Thank...

2009-07-31T05:48:00.001-07:00

This has been one of those crazy months. We’re training a bunch of new people, getting even more administrivia handled, and are generally trying to remember what we used to do when we had free time. I thought that a little round of thank you’s were in order.

Clatsop Spit and Thundermuck coffee from Columbia River Coffee Roasters–you rock! :: USPS and your delightful pick up service :: Watching UPS trying to navigate the driveway with their trucks :: The Obama Beer Summit — thank goodness nothing else newsworthy is going on in the world :: RAIN, RAIN, and MORE RAIN proving once again that Columbus gets more rainfall than Seattle :: Pancake dinners :: Kitty mascots :: Wired Magazine — once a geek, always a geek! :: ADP Payroll Processing — keeping us out of IRS hell :: Michael Jackson :: The Apple Store and the shiny new toys that we’re only mildly afraid of :: The evil Roland vinyl cutter that is out to get Sami :: Armchair traveler books to Italy :: HD Radio :: Wood fired pizza, and the man that lights our fire :: Fireflies making us smile during late run nights :: The DYMO label printer — Is it wrong to love a machine? :: Harry Potter at midnight (and bring on more Snape, please!) :: IKEA and the Pottery Barn Outlet — two good reasons we’ll always need a truck :: Starting a new batch of wine with Mike and Tim :: Chalkboard vinyl — new medium to play with!

Top 10 reasons to work here

2009-07-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

10. You get all the miscut, mis-colored, returned, and otherwise unsellable vinyl your walls can hold.

9. Working space without a cubicle in sight.

8. Every time a design gets miscut or messed up, an angel gets their wings!

7. Flexible hours–work when there are orders, go home when they’re done

6. You get to make up your own title (i.e. Designer Extraordinaire, Production Master, Inventory Diva, the list goes on…)

5. The employee lounge doubles as a wine cellar with at least one batch of wine being made at any given time. Bottling may be part of the job description, we’re not sure yet.

4. The wood-fired pizza oven is a fun way to make your lunch. Smelling like a campfire for the rest of the afternoon is an added bonus.

3. You get to meet fun and interesting people, like the UPS, FedEx, and Mail Carriers

2. Twittering, Blogging, FaceBooking, MySpacing (are those even words?) are part of the daily duties.

And the number one reason we’re fun to work for:

1. Championship sword fighting with pointy little weeding tools!

Site Updates!

2009-06-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

We’ve recently changed hosting providers. While that doesn’t sound very exciting, it has given us a few features that we hope are a big hit with everybody. We’ve got a new Quote Request Form for customers to get started on a personal masterpiece. We’ve also got a fun Font Previewer for 25 of our more popular fonts.

We made requesting sample colors easier than ever with a Color Request Form, now updated with all 48 of the available Oracal 631 colors. Choices, choices, choices!

While we’re excited about the changes to the website, we’re also still running into a few hurdles in the change over, namely we’re having difficulty replying to email. Seriously, Outlook is not playing nice with our new hosting provider—any great IT techs out there with a knack for taming Outlook, let me know! I pay in vinyl!

Cheers!
Morgan

The Great Tile Coverup!

2009-06-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

The word of the day is: Substrate. Substrate is a surface which a vinyl graphic is adhered to. In the sign industry, this is generally some hard plastic or wood surface, or is a colorful banner.

In our little niche industry, a substrate ranges from a wall, to a piece of glass or mirror, to a tile, and the list goes on. A substrate simply means the background piece of material—and in home décor the background material can mean a lot. Tiles, for example can range from a decorative tile that is on a stand with a sentimental favorite placed on it—think “Welcome” or “Give Thanks” or even a monogram design. A more utilitarian use that goes along with tile as a substrate is to cover up some existing tile on a wall or backsplash.

Now in our house, we have a great master bathroom (celestory 2 story windows aren’t in the average bathroom—I’ll admit we’ve got it good here). What is not in my personal taste is the run of peachy, salmon-y, southwestern-esque tiles that run around the tub, around the shower, and all over the floor. I’ve seriously considered a sledgehammer, but that would mean breaking out my tile saw and fixing the problem. Unfortunately, I’m held back by powerful memories of doing a ton of tiling in an old rental that we fixed up. I’m also determined not to break out the trusty old loud tile saw until I’m ready to get rid of the mismatched laminate counter tops in the laundry room, the other bathrooms, and the ceramic steps on the front patio that have seen better days. As long as gorilla glue is holding those precious ceramic babies on the steps, I see no reason for major demolition.

So, what to do with the colorful tile that brings to mind a décor featuring a cow skull and a lariat (not that there’s anything wrong with that, I’ve just spent far too long in a high valley desert to ever want to incorporate that into my bathroom décor). Ah, fire up the vinyl cutter and cover the tile with some fun design—that’s what! We’ve got a range of tile tattoos that will cover, ahem, interesting tile choices. If you don’t have the time, money, or inclination (or abject ownership of said tile), then think about covering some or all of the tile with something fun to make the space a bit more modern and fun.

And while you’re at it, consider that decorative 12 x 12 tile for a welcoming greeting in an entryway. Better yet, have a few tiles ready to swap out with the seasons—they’re quick, easy, inexpensive, and look fantastic. Fear not the substrate!

Spring is finally coming to Central Ohio

2009-03-11T18:56:00.001-07:00

Live Laugh Love

Spring is finally coming to Central Ohio, and it’s not a moment too soon. I’ve been going stir crazy for a while. Fortunately my walls aren’t boring to stare at, since I seem to constantly add and remove new designs to test them out. Nobody knows what to expect when they walk in, so I guess part of the fun is the surprise.

We get a lot of questions about the vinyl designs, and whether they have a clear backing (they don’t). The designs are made from a very thin vinyl that are self adhesive. They are separate letters that are die cut from a large plotter/cutter and then have a huge masking tape layer applied on top. To install you peel the backing off, apply the vinyl, and then peel back the masking tape layer. Ok, so there are a few more principles to follow than that, but every order includes detailed instructions to answer those inevitable questions.

Removing the vinyl is nearly as easy, but an intricate or large design with many letters/embellishments may take a while since you’re removing each piece individually. The vinyl goes well on walls, including ones with normal orange peel texture, and works great on glass or mirrors. It’s a fun way to add a little color, impact, or personalization in your space, even if your space is relatively temporary.

Cheers!
~M

Obama Starting Today Speech

2009-03-08T18:15:00.001-07:00

Obama Starting Today...

To hear President Obama give a speech is to feel inspired by his energy, his ideas, and his ability to excite the masses. This is a snippet from his inauguration speech, a few words that capture the essence of energizing the American spirit.

Come visit www.TradingPhrases.com for more Obama quotes and graphical designs.

Snow day

2009-01-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

I'm watching fluffy flakes of snow fall from the sky, as the TV tells me that the county is under s snow emergency. We also have instances of thunder snow. I never heard of thunder snow until I moved to the Midwest, but it makes sense that you can have thunder and lightning in the rain, why not the snow?

Since we're going to be stuck in the house for a while, I'm beginning to go stir crazy. Even though I am constantly putting up new designs to test them out and get pictures of them, I have a lot of blank space that I just can't figure out what to put up. When I started this business, one of the things I planned on doing was to put up some designs and quotes that were near and dear to my heart. So far I haven't put up a single one that I planned on. Life is funny that way, you start down one path with a goal, and suddenly something else diverts your attention until you end up in an entirely new direction that you didn't even consider when starting out.

Here's my attempt at bringing a little spring into my life. It's a cute little kit that is easy to install and will make you smile every time you see it.

Cheers! Morgan

December, Whew What a Ride!

2009-01-02T04:53:00.000-08:00

December, whew what a ride! I feel like the whirlwind of activity can finally end and we can get back to a sense of normalcy. We handled a bunch of orders up to the holidays, and many of the custom orders have been set up as stock designs. On the home front, the Christmas stuff is still being put away, and I must admit that I get a little sad once everything is finally packed away. The room seems empty and the bleakness of the gray light in January doesn't help. I've been toying with several new designs lately that are perfect to chase away the January blahs, and to bolster those resolutions that are easy to forget over time.

My resolution is to post a blog more frequently as a way to promote Trading Phrases, but also as another way to 'talk' about some of the ideas and designs that float by us from time to time. The most frustrating part of the business is that the great ideas come in fast and furious, but there are only so many hours in the day, and running the business takes the lion's share of my time. I get less time to simply be creative, which is the fun part. Accounting, not so fun (apologies to all the CPA's out there).

Cheers!

Morgan

DIY Vinyl Ideas

2008-11-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

For everyone trying to stretch a dollar this giving season, homemade gifts using vinyl designs may be the perfect solution. A glass block, a simple tile plaque, a wooden board, a picture frame, or just about any smooth surface will work for most vinyl applications.

Simple tile plaques with a family name or seasonal blessing are quick and easy gifts. Add a decorative ribbon and display on a plate stand for a classic effect.

Glass blocks from the home center store can be turned into beautiful accent lights with the addition of a light string and a ribbon. Pre-drilled blocks can be picked up at your local craft store, or at some home center stores. For tips and tricks on how to create your own glass blocks, visit the glass block page on our website.

Wooden boards, picture frames, or plaques are inexpensive options that need a little paint and a touch of sanding to make them ready for a vinyl application. Pre-cut wooden blanks can be found at any hobby store.

We have dozens of designs that are inexpensive and are quick and easy to apply. Make holiday giving easy and inexpensive this year with a few gifts made with vinyl designs.

Cheers!

Morgan

Block Lights

2008-10-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

I love these lights!

The black design against the jumble of lights in a glass block is both fun and classy. I've seen these with hand painted designs, which are beautiful when unlit, but the lights tend to accentuate the heavier paint areas causing an uneven look. The perfect solution for that problem is using the vinyl design which is perfectly even and smooth. We can even add a frosted layer to mask the lights even further ~ also with a perfectly even surface.

This would make a great night light or as an accent light. The block light can even be used outdoors to mark a path, welcome guests, or add a subtle light when entertaining after dark.

The glass block is solid and heavy, and will survive years of use. The design in the picture is my personal favorite, but the light can be created using just about any design that will fit on an 8 x 8 block (4 x 4 and 4 x 8 are also available). For the DIY'ers who want to use their own glass block, we can cut and sell the vinyl design only. This light makes a great Christmas gift for friends and family, and will be a unique, classy, and beautiful addition to any personal space.

Cheers!
Morgan

2008-10-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

One of the things I really love about the vinyl designs is that they are temporary. I've decided I'm somewhat fickle when it comes to decor. I get a spark of creativity and start to lean to sophisticated, back to un-shabby chic (I just can't get used to junk covered with lace and wrinkled cotton, but I can get close!), to country/rustic, to Americana, to urban loft simplicity, and back again. What I have around my house is an ecclectic mix of things I've inherited, things I've purchased when I really shouldn't have, things I've purchased that make absolute sense, and things that we've compromised on because they served a purpose. Where I can get creative is what I put on the walls.

Vinyl designs are not the artwork that has a huge cost associated with framing and matting, and becomes something that I'm invested in for a number of years (try explaining to your significant other that after spending $200 on the perfect print that you've had framed, it just doesn't work anymore--believe me, you're stuck with it for years to come!). These designs are as permanent as you decide they should be. If you change your mind, go in a different direction, update a room's personality/theme, the design can be removed and a new one installed cheaply and with no mess. It's a decor trend that is fun, is affordable, and works with the ever-changing decor that comes along with a changing family dynamic.

Cheers!

Morgan

2008-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

Inspiration comes in many forms and often when you least expect it. If you have not read Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture" then you owe it to yourself to take a few moments and immerse yourself in his powerful message.

I've created a new website, a new eBay store, and am diving in headfirst to retail marketing. I've been safe and sound in corporate America, and I'm not sure how this will all pan out, but I'm not ready to jump ship just yet. I hold out hope that there are creative people out there that will be inspired to write out loud and to use the wall lettering medium to share their typographical verve. My husband thinks I'm crazy (but then he's been living with my vinyl obsession for a while now). My teenage sons are non-committal, but I think they secretly would vote with him. My daughter is, as usual, the one that puts a positive spin on my ideas.

Welcome to our site, and welcome to the ideas and inspirations that I hope to share in this blog--and please feel free to post a comment if you've got design ideas or have a photo to share.

Cheers!

Morgan