The document provides tips for installing Uppercase Living decorative expressions and embellishments on various surfaces. It discusses preparing surfaces like walls, canvases, beadboard, glass and metal. It also provides techniques for applying expressions to uneven, curved and textured surfaces. Specific tips are given for installing two-part expressions, growth charts and large expressions. The goal is to make the application process as effortless as possible.

1. ©2008 Uppercase Living®
, LLC. All rights reserved.Product Tips & Tricks_1108 1
product tips & tricks
installation tips
If you are having problems with an expression adhering
to a surface, try the following:
• Make sure you wall is free from any residue, dirt,
or film.
• Position the expression, tack in place with tape,
then remove the backing paper and burnish the
expression onto the surface. Before removing the
transfer tape, get a spray bottle or a wet cloth and
moisten the front of the tape. Apply more water if
it is not releasing. This will help the expression
release from the tape. Make sure your paint will not
be damaged by excess water before you dampen
your wall.
• As you remove the transfer tape, press the expression
on the wall with your thumb or a dry rag.
• Be sure not to touch the sticky side of the expression
with your fingers, which may prevent the adhesive
from adhering to the surface.
• When removing the backing paper, don’t pull the
tape towards you. Instead, roll it off at an angle
along the surface.
two-part expressions
• When applying a Two-Part Expression, use the
Hinge Method for each piece. (This method is
explained in the Installation Instructions.) Keep
in mind that the arrows on each expression are not
meant to match up with each other, but to help you
realign the expression with the marks that you
create on the wall.
• After you apply the first expression using the
Installation Instructions, use a yardstick to make
a second set of guide marks indicating where you
want the second expression positioned on the wall.
You can position the expression as displayed in the
catalog or use your own personal preference.
• Once you have determined where you want the
second part of the expression positioned, repeat
using the Hinge Method to ensure that the second
part is positioned correctly.
canvases
Uppercase Living decorative expressions do not
adhere to all canvases, so we recommend using a free
customer sample to test your canvas before applying
your expression. (Ask your Demonstrator for a free
sample.) Canvases with a fine texture and/or a primed
gesso surface work best.
• If the expression is not adhering to the canvas,
prep the canvas by painting the canvas or
applying a layer of decoupage glue to the entire
canvas before applying the expression (see
manufacturer’s instructions).
• Let the canvas dry completely.
• When burnishing the expression onto the canvas,
take special care to remove the transfer tape slowly.
Don’t pull the tape towards you. Instead, roll it off
at an angle along the surface and at an angle.
• You may need to use your fingers and press the
expression onto the canvas to help it adhere to the
surface. To help seal the expression onto the canvas
you can apply a few coats of decoupage glue after
the expression is applied (this is optional).
Uppercase Living’s expressions and embellishments are as easy to put up as they are to take down, but there
are still some valuable tips you can follow for an even more effortless application. Whether you’re working with
a large expression, or applying an embellishment to a textured wall, you will find just what you need for an
incredible product experience.
Margie Lewis
Independent Demonstrator
youcanexpressitinvinyl@yahoo.ca
(709) 639 1338
http://margielewis.uppercaseliving.ca

2. ©2008 Uppercase Living®
, LLC. All rights reserved.Product Tips Tricks_1108 2
uneven surfaces (e.g., beadboard)
• When applying expressions to a bead board surface,
make sure you burnish the expression starting at
one end and slowly moving to the other.
• You may need to lift up one end of the expression so
it does not adhere to the surface before you burnish
the expression into the grooves.
• Take special care to rub the expression into the
ridges of the door and/or paneling. When removing
the transfer tape, pull the tape off in the direction of
the grooves or lines. Pulling against these grooves
may pull up the expression.
smooth surfaces
(e.g., glass, metal, mirror)
When applying an expression to any glass or metal
surface, please note that expressions tend to adhere
to these types of surfaces quickly, and they cannot
be repositioned.
• Take special care not to let the expression touch
the surface until it is in the desired position. In
some cases, you may want to remove any excess
paper by cutting around the expression.
• Choose the desired angle for the expression, and
use the hinge method found in the installation
instructions to hold the expression in place.
• To reduce the amount of bubbles hold up one end
of the expression and pull it tight and burnish the
expression slowly as you apply it to the surface,
burnishing small portions at a time.
• Remove the transfer tape.
Mirrored Expression Note: Because the back
side of the expression will be visible, air pockets
may also be visible. To reduce the number of air
pockets, hold up one end of the expression and
pull it tight as you slowly burnish the expression
on to the surface.
curved surfaces
• When applying expressions to curved surfaces,
remove any excess paper by cutting around
the expression.
• With the backing paper still on, place the
expression on the curved surface and mark
the areas where the expression doesn’t touch
the surface.
• Make relief slits along the paper so the expression
easily wraps around and lies against the surface (be
sure not to cut the expression).
• Slowly apply the expression by starting at one
end and moving to the other making sure the
expression lies flat. If the surface is glass, metal,
porcelain, or any other smooth surface, take special
care not to let the adhesive side of the expression
touch the surface too soon, as these surfaces do not
allow repositioning.
• Burnish the expression onto the surface and then
remove the transfer tape.
textured walls
UL decorative expressions may not adhere well to
heavily textured walls. We strongly recommend that you
test the surface using a free customer sample before
applying your expression to a heavily textured wall.
(Ask your Demonstrator for a free sample.)
• Use the Hinge Method found in the Installation
Instructions to position your expression. As you
burnish your expression, you may want to use a
cloth or your thumb to press the expression into the
grooves of the textured wall.
• If your expression is not transferring from the tape
to the wall, before removing the transfer tape, get
a spray bottle or a wet cloth and wet the front of
the tape. Apply more water if it is not releasing.
This will help the expression release from the tape.
Make sure your paint will not be damaged by
excess water before you dampen your wall.
http://margielewis.uppercaseliving.ca

3. ©2008 Uppercase Living®
, LLC. All rights reserved.3
growth chart
• When applying an Uppercase living Growth Chart,
measure up one foot from the floor and make a
mark on the wall.
• When you apply the growth chart, make sure this
mark lines up with the one foot mark on the growth
chart to assure that the growth chart accurately
measures the height of an individual.
large expressions
Sometimes the traditional Hinge Method doesn’t work
for oversized expressions you are applying to a wall
surface. Instead, try the following steps:
• Ask two people to help you. Position the expression
where you want it on the wall, and have them hold
it in place.
• Using a pencil, lightly mark both top corners.
Then, draw a vertical line near the top center of the
expression. Draw the line half on the wall, and
half on the transfer tape. (You will use these marks
to reposition the expression after removing the
backing paper.)
• Remove the expression from the wall, and peel off
the backing paper.
• With each person holding one of the top corners
of the transfer tape, realign the expression with
the marks on the wall. Start with one corner, then
the center line, and then the opposite corner.
Carefully smooth the expression onto the wall
with your hands.
• Use the UL Transfer Tool to firmly burnish the
expression onto the wall from the center outward.
Remove the transfer tape from the expression, and
then erase the pencil marks from the wall.
Product Tips Tricks_1108
http://margielewis.uppercaseliving.ca