The Write Design

Win a free mural!

2010-02-12T13:22:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday all!

Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that HGTV is doing a giveaway for Trace Designs for Freebie Friday! Simply follow the attached link, or go to HGTV.com and follow the instructions.

www.hgtv.com

Good luck and enjoy your long weekend!
Amy

Groundhog Day!!!

2010-02-01T19:02:00.002-05:00

The plot is simple. A haughty weatherman finds himself stuck in a small town, re-living the same horrendous day over and over again. It is definitely a classic, and Bill Murray is certainly hilarious, but is there more to the tale? Forgive my obsession with hidden messages, but a favored English professor of mine turned it on and I have failed to find the “off” switch. Is Harold Ramis (the director) simply telling an ironic tale of a morose man stuck in his proverbial hell, a quaint town worlds away from the big city celebrity he believes himself to be? Or is this story more representative of the greater population during this time of year?
Okay, enough of the rhetorical questions-really, the purpose in
discussing this movie was not simply because tomorrow is groundhog’s
day, and this frigid country is desperately waiting to see if the
groundhog sees his shadow, but rather to address something the vast
majority of us are guilty of this time of year: succumbing to the winter
blahs…February tends to be, at least for me, the beginning of decreased
productivity, and if I am not careful, a time where I fall into the
dreaded rut. New Years resolutions have long since faded away, holiday
cheer is but a distant memory and Christmas gifts have lost their
novelty. The cold weather brings frustration instead of memories and
hot chocolate, and we are constantly looking for the first signs of
spring. Even this morning my boys, ages 4 and 5, were ready to wear
shorts because “it is February now and that means spring is coming!”
Not quite. And unlike Phil, (Murray’s character) we don’t have the
luxury of a “redo” until we get it right. So how do we keep ourselves
on task until spring brings her warmth and beauty?

1. Create a goal. I know; the obvious. But seriously, write it down. Tape it to your mirror, and force yourself to be accountable. If you have a tendency to let things fall through the cracks, start small. Read a chapter a day of a book or walk 2 days a week for a month. Slowly increase these goals.

2. Do something for someone else every day. Even if it is pouring a cup of coffee for your husband or your roommate, it will make them feel good and make you feel good in the process!

3. Eat cleaner. Limit refined carbs and fatty foods and try and eat as fresh and pesticide/additive free as possible. It helps energy levels immensely.

4. Refresh your surroundings. Spring cleaning is typically the time when we get changes in our homes, but you will be pleasantly surprised at the great discounts you can get this time of year. And clean out the clutter! Seriously, get an honest friend to question your stuff. It is hard to hear, and hard to do, but let me tell you-once have completed an overhaul, it is so much easier to keep house! (Clean house is a great inspiration for this too!)

5. Last but not least, find someone who will hold you
accountable! A KIND friend will help make this process fun, and more likely that you will be successful through spring.

Ok campers, Rise and Shine, and don’t forget your booties because its coooolllddd out there today!

(but remember, spring is just around the cornerJ)

Winter 2010 Product Line Debut!

2010-01-25T09:16:00.008-05:00

Happy New Year!

Alright, so I know it has been quite sometime since I updated this blog (a definite resolution for 2010)-but for good reason! Meg, Lorna and I have been working relentlessly trying to complete our new line for 2010 which, I must say, is my favorite so far! Our artist, Megan has done such a fabulous job creating murals that are not only unique, but exciting! With 30 new designs from our Dance Shadows and Fighter Plans to Poppies or World Map, there is something for everyone! I wanted to give you a taste of some of my favorites.

A special thanks to Jennifer Meinking our website guru for making our products look as fabulous as they are!

2010 is certainly shaping up to be an amazing year for Trace Designs. We have welcomed many new retailers in 2009 and are looking forward to many more in including Wallies in February!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping!

2009-11-18T10:55:00.002-05:00

Wow, hard to believe we are just over a week away from Thanksgiving! And with Thanksgiving comes the official kick off to Christmas shopping! And with continued slumping sales, it is a perfect opportunity for each of us to get some amazing deals! Whether you are a “midnight madness” shopper, an early morning riser, or perhaps a cyber Monday shopper, one thing is constant: finding the right gift, for the right price. Now, for many of you this might be old hat, years of retail and BF Shopping has taught me a few tricks along the way that I would like to share.

First of all, you have to plan. I know this sounds simple, but it is so easy to loose track of time (and potentially miss out on a deal) in the madness that is Black Friday.
Before you look at an ad or a catalog, make a detailed list of those items you want to try and find. This will limit your impulse buys and help keep you focused.
Do your research! While many ads will arrive in your Thanksgiving newspaper, much of this information is already out there. One of my favorite websites is http://bfads.net/ I have found them to be incredibly accurate in what they show will be on sale and quite easy to navigate. You can also compare different stores to see where their sales are.
Compare those ads to what is already on sale-you might just be able to find a great deal ahead of time without dealing with the crowds!
Be reasonable. Yes, Wal-mart will likely have a fantastic deal on a fabulous TV or laptop however there are usually only a handful of those deals per store. If your heart is set on a specific item, plan on camping out in front of the store to ensure you are first in line-and perhaps call the store you plan on going to in order to find out just how many of those deals they will have.
Double the time you plan on being in a certain store. Inevitably it takes longer to find the product than you think, and the lines are often slower and take longer to get through.
If you are going to a major chain store, like Target or Wal-mart, try going to one that is a little out of the way or smaller/older than the others. The sales are the same and the traffic is often lighter and they tend to not to sell out as quickly.
If you are going with friends, recognize that you likely are not going to get to all of the places you want to when you want to unless you plan together. Take separate cars and plan a meeting place if you need to split up for any reason

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!

Trace Designs is kicking off our Black Friday sale early! Check it out and enjoy the savings!!!
http://www.tracedesignsonline.com/

Race to Bed!

2009-09-15T10:27:00.002-04:00

I understand I am probably a little partial here, but I have got to
say, this was one of the easiest murals I have done to date. I was
a bit concerned when my son decided he wanted the racecar mural, not
only because of the black and white checks of the flags, but simply
because at 3, he is one of the most particular children I know!
Now, he is also a HUGE fan of the Disney movie Cars so I wasn't entirely
sure this would fly. To overcome my fear of the checkered flags, I
painted the white first, allowing myself to go over the lines.
Once that was dry, I outlined the black and then filled in those
squares. It really was quite easy! The sparkles you see are
because he wanted it to "shine." I was able to accomplish this
simply by adding a little acrylic paint that I had left over from last
Christmas that was clear with red glitter! And I have got to say, he
LOVES it! It took me less than three hours to complete, and
that was with all three of my kids home interrupting me regularly.
I hope you enjoy!

We would LOVE to see your shots too! Send them our way!

Amy

Green Pea Nursery

2009-09-15T09:55:00.007-04:00

Okay, I know I am a little late in sharing this, but I
absolutely LOVE how one of our retailers used our "Chalkboard Mural" in
their store. Green Pea Nursery, located in North Carolina as well
as virtually nation wide has added the "Chalkboard Mural" in the front
of their store to inform their customers of what is going on with Green
Pea Nursery. By painting the "frame" white, chalkboard classically
accents their earthy green walls! To get your very own
custom chalkboard, stop by Green Pea Nursery or check them out online!
Chalkboard paint can be picked up in your local hardware store or online
in various colors and select your own color for your "frame" to match
your decor perfectly! Thanks Kathy for the pictures!

Updated website!

2009-08-24T12:02:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to say a quick "THANK YOU!!!" to Jennifer Meinking for her WONDERFUL job on our website! Looks great and best wishes for your upcoming due date:)
http://www.affordable-website-optimization.com
http://www.fingerprintsboutique.com

Back to School!

2009-08-13T10:32:00.004-04:00

For most of us school is either underway or just around the corner. Whether your kids are homeschooled or in public or private school, or elementary to college, there is no doubt that the transition from summer to fall can be rough. Many professionals suggest not only to organize and plan for the upcoming school year, but to involve your kids in this organization. I have added a few shopping tips of my own as well as a link to get your kids involved at all ages.

My dining room table is currently filled with pencils and notebooks that my children can hardly keep their hands off of! Who’d have thought paper would be so exciting! But it can get expensive. Use the recession to work to your advantage. Because of the financial crunch, people are spending less on back to school supplies and stores have to compete for our business Scour ads both online and in your papers to find the best deals on back to school supplies. Combine them with coupons from your weekly newspaper or sites like couponmom.com and you can save a ton! Also-don’t overlook places you normally wouldn’t look for school supplies either-I actually saved the most and got the best prices at my local grocery store!

Seriously-when did kids clothes get so expensive?!? Maybe part of it is I am multiplying it by three, but wow-talk about sticker shock! Two things to keep in mind when back to school shopping: 1.Don’t forego quality for quantity. You can find great clothes at reasonable prices-if you buy too cheaply made clothing-it is not going to last. And buy the clothes a little big-you want to make sure that you account for shrinkage and growth! 2. Never pay full price-seriously. Nearly every store has incredible sales right now, and a little search of the internet will likely save you a significant amount! If you cannot find what you want at the price you want-look around, and wait. Even stores like Gymboree change their lines every 6-12 weeks putting the previous lines on sale!
Most importantly-get excited FOR them! The more excited you are for them to start the new school year, the more excited they will be!
http://school.familyeducation.com/back-to-school/school/34528.html
http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.retailmenot.com/
http://www.couponcabin.com/index.htm

Breakfast Under the Tree!

2009-07-24T09:10:00.009-04:00

Nothing is much more exciting than when we see a space transformed
with our murals! Clearly, a lot of our murals work well in nursery's and
children's rooms, but I received an e-mail this morning showing our
beautiful Living Tree mural in a breakfast nook!

Thanks for the photos Mr.Reber!

"...well pleased with the
result...Enjoy, I had fun." J. Reber

We would LOVE to see your shots too! Send them our way!

Amy

Design {for} Baby

2009-07-01T13:59:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Alexandra and Sherri of Design Baby we have been recognized on their excellent and informative blog. Check out our Product Review HERE.

Trace on First Coast News Tonight!

2009-06-24T16:03:00.004-04:00

Trace Designs will be featured on First Coast News tonight at 6pm!
Here is the link to watch us on the local news portion of their web site http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=140473&catid=3 .

We are excited to spread the word and offer money-saving moms an awesome, easy and affordable decor choice!
Thanks Amy for reaching out to FCN!

Summer DIY...but not what you think!

2009-06-23T21:26:00.003-04:00

When I think DIY I think about painting, repair, tiling and yard work. But what I didn't think about was Do It Yourself entertainment.
It's easy to rely on TV, movies, summer camps, and the back yard to entertain our kids all summer. But this summer I was going to spend as much time with my kids exploring the area we live but at low cost. So I researched and came up with an amazing amount of things to do where we live.
Here is just a little list of some of what are doing this summer:
Bowling
Storytimes
Blueberry Picking
Canning (yup- going to the local cannery to can our own recipes)
Chocolate Factory Tours
Flea Market
Free Movies at several theaters
Visiting nursing homes
Kids day at local museums
Hardware and Craft stores offering lessons for kids

DO SUMMER YOURSELF! You will love the time you invested with your kids and mighteven learn something!

Unique and Last Minute Gift Ideas for Dad!

2009-06-17T14:44:00.002-04:00

Father’s Day for me always poses an interesting dilemma. Since my husband’s birthday falls on June 19th, we are usually celebrating both within a few days. Now, if your husbands are anything like mine (and my father for that matter) they not only are picky about what they like, but tend to have everything they want. Add to that my desire to find the perfect gift has a tendency to leave me stressed out! So this year I have decided to pull together a couple of lower cost, last minute gift ideas that have been successful in the past! Now obviously you each know your father/husband best, and while not all of these will work for everyone, hopefully it will help to generate some ideas!

For the sports enthusiast:
Surprisingly enough, I did not realize until a few years ago that golf courses offered not only gift certificates, but often day long packages (including lunch etc.) Check out his favorite course and make sure you buy at least two (for he and a buddy unless this is something you two readily do together). Then, and most importantly, check his schedule and book him a tee time. The better tee times are early in the morning and book up fast so you will need to plan in advance. One rule though, once you have booked his day, this is his day-no “honey do” list is allowed!

If he loves to camp and hike, get him a national park pass-they offer annual passes and can be used at any national park! http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

For the Sports fan? How about a sports package either via your Dish company or cable network? MLB.com has some great deals for the baseball enthusiast! http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&partnerId=ed-2652322-86196042&source=ed-2652322-86196042

Would he rather play than watch? Active.com not only is the online resource for races and events, they have also put together a fantastic list of summer getaways! http://www.active.com/outdoors/Articles/10_Amazing_Family_Adventures.htm

Sure, gift certificates are easy, but can quickly become impersonal if you are not careful. His favorite book store, running store or place for sports equipment can be great, but keep in mind you are also giving him the gift of shopping-which may or may not be appreciated! Instead of picking up a gift certificate in the grocery store, try being a little more creative.

Maybe there is a new skill he is hoping to fine tune or acquire? Pair a Home Depot Gift Card with a schedule of their “Home Improver Workshops” and he is good to go! You can even sign up online at http://www.homeimproverclub.com/

Online Gift Certificates are also a great option. Amazon sells just about everything under the sun and you can purchase and print your gift right from your computer! http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-Gift-Card/dp/B00067L6TQ

Finally, if you want something for him to unwrap check out some sites that offer unique ideas!

Popular Mechanics has put together a list of the top 10 gadgets and gifts that men are looking for this year. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4268553.html

A very cute website called Someonespoilme.com has put together a couple of great last minute and super unique gifts along with when you need to order them by! Is your man a cigar man, beer man or perhaps a bacon man? Check it out and find a great gift! http://www.someonespoilme.com/tips/spoilers/last-minute-fathers-day-gift-ideas/

A great website with the gift for just about anyone is gifts.com. They have a complete section for Father’s day! http://www.gifts.com/occasions/fathers-day/o12hraicp

So whether you attempt to order that last minute gift or schedule a special day, remember the most important thing is that we make sure the dads in our lives and our kids lives know just how much they are appreciated!

Happy Shopping, and Happy Fathers Day!

Trace Designs on the front page of HGTV!

2009-06-08T22:19:00.000-04:00

This weekend, Trace Designs was featured on the front page of HGTV.com
in the "Product Ideas" section. Our Decorative Initials™
Accent Mural was our #1 seller during this time! We want to say a
BIG "Thank You" to HGTV for the kudos!

COUPONS CODES!

2009-06-05T13:45:00.000-04:00

Since we love to give out money-saving tips, here are some links to some great home-improvement coupons out there! Combine it with our 30% of Summer Kick Off coupon and save big!

Summer Kick Off Sale http://www.tracedesignsonline.com/ Enter Summer30 at checkout

Home Depot 10% off purchase ($200 off max) http://www.homedepotmoving.com/moving/web/registration?promocode=dtas_ Home Depot ONLINE ONLY Get $10 Off Orders $100 or More! Coupon Code:DEPOTDAD69
Expiration:2009-06-10

Sears $5 off off $50 purchase expires June 6 2009 http://f.chtah.com/i/5/1194872179/SC_EAQ_052409.pdf

Sherwin Willams $10 off $50 purchase Expires Dec 31 2009 http://www.baton.com/common/sherwin.html

Michaels 50% off regular item Expires June 15 2009 http://img.dealspl.us/images/coupon/1243957634_2026.jpg

Trace Designs Prize Winner on Money Pit Media

2009-03-30T17:07:00.000-04:00

Congrats to our winner on THE MONEY PIT Home Improvement Radio Show!Trace Designs was asked to take part in this exciting radio show heard on over 200 radio stations. We first met Leslie in NY at the Boom Boom Room. We were delighted when she took our product to try out and even more thrilled she loved it! Thanks Leslie and Tom!
Leslie Segrete: As designer and carpenter for TLC's hit series Trading Spaces and While You Were Out, Leslie designs, builds and creates amazing transformations to the delight of her homeowners and millions of fans.
Tom Kraeutler: Since 1994, Tom has given credible, candid advice, money-saving tips and hands-on how-to's to millions of Americans through his regular appearances on TV and radio, online, and in major print media. Tom appears regularly as a how-to guru on network and local television stations including CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, HGTV and the DIY Network.

Murals for Kids Contest

2009-03-01T17:14:00.000-05:00

MURALS for KIDS CONTEST!

Don't you love those make over shows...yea the ones when a hard working mom or "neat-o" kinds of kid gets a room make over. I love seeing their face when they see the big reveal. Now is YOUR chance to be a part of a make over.

Mom Trends and Trace Designs is partnering up to present the MURALS FOR KIDS Contest. Send an email telling us who and why and the winner will get a mural of their choice and a $50.00 gift card to The Home Depot.

Click on the Murals for Kids Contest logo to read the contest rules and How to Enter!

Trace Designs to Launch on HGTV.com!

2009-03-01T17:13:00.000-05:00

HGTV?!?!?!? Here we come!
Trace Designs products are coming to the following site next month!

HGTV.com
Amazon.com
DIYnetwork
Fineliving.com

Interested in adding Trace Designs to your product line? contact us at 877-75Trace or info@tracedesignsonline.com !

20 New Designs Available NOW!

2009-03-01T17:12:00.000-05:00

20 NEW Designs Available NOW!

Click on Paris to see our new Spring Line 2009!

From Chic to Retro to Rock Band??? Something for every kid!

Coming soon...
designs for teen and adult spaces!

Trace Designs Launches on The Home Depot.com!

2009-02-04T15:03:00.000-05:00

NEWS RELEASE
February 4th, 2009
For Immediate Release Contact:Megan Marasigan
877-75-TRACE orinfo@TraceDesigns.net
Local Small Business to Grow Big on HomeDepot.com
Trace Designs Traceable Mural First of It's KindAvailable to Home Depot Public
February 4, 2009 (St. Augustine, Florida) SaintAugustine based Trace Designs owner Megan Marasigan and The Home Depot present traceable wall mural kits now available through HomeDepot.com.Marasigan says,"Trace DesignsTraceable Murals are for everyone. We recognized a need for family-friendly DIYwall coverings and Home Depot recognized us as an answer. Trace Designs is easy to do and yetthe result is sophisticated. Tape it, Trace it, and Paint it. Trace Designsreally is that simple."Includedin each kit are recycled paper design panels, friction transfer papers,instructions and a Free Make a Mural Party guide. As an added bonus everythingin the Trace Designs kits are reusable and recyclable. Setting herself apart, Marasiganhas not only created safe and sophisticated traceable murals but these "Made inthe USA" products retail between $39-$59; an average of 30% less thancompetitors.
TAPE it, TRACE it, PAINT it!

PRESS RELEASE May 2008

2008-04-02T15:50:00.000-04:00

NEWS For Immediate Release

The Latest Trend in Happy Families – Kids Encouraged to Paint on Walls

April 2, 2008 (St. Johns, Florida) It turns out that our cave dwelling ancestors were on to something and a Florida entrepreneur is determined to bring it back to American life – cave paintings, or in our case, wall painting. Just when you thought that your kids had it all, and no trip to the store could ever earn you points as a cool parent again, Megan Marasigan has the answer. “You’d be surprised how much pleasure and passion can be unleashed through the restless creative spirits that dwell in our kids” says the Florida owner of Trace Designs. “Parents are going the wrong direction with all this electronic stuff – the best solution is at their fingertips – literally.” she adds.

Trace Designs is the brainchild of the St. Johns mother of who realized that the best bonding moments for the family seemed to come from within, when the family has a chance of creating things together, like drawing for example. What sets Marasigan apart however is that she has developed an ingenious “paint by numbers” concept for the most impressive canvas in the house – the walls! Now people of any age can choose from over a hundred designs (and growing) of various styles to suit any décor – and they are distinct improvements on cave paintings. The sophisticated kits include all the supplies and simple instructions that reduce the entire process to the 3 simple steps of tape, trace and paint.

In all seriousness, the new enterprise has been welcomed by wellness professionals who have come to the realization that our grandparents knew something all along – “the family that plays together, stays together”. Marasigan wraps it up this way – “It’s the first system of its kind that puts your wallscapes (and other household surfaces) to immediate use a place to express yourself while sharing time with friends and family doing something so positive”. There must be something to this new trend, as demand is popping up from all quarters from people who are just starting to hear about it. Well now that you know about it too, you can be at the leading edge of this happy home strategy in your neighbourhood too. You may never look at a wall the same way again!

Welcome to Trace Designs

2008-04-01T20:24:00.000-04:00

Why do a blog when it seems like everyone else is doing one. Well, with out adding a millions pages to my web site over time, it seems much more efficient to condense all of the WONDERFUL things happening with Trace Designs here.

So, let me take a moment to say welcome and thank you for stopping by!