After browsing online, they came across the My Wonderful Walls website and fell in love with the Splendid Garden Wall Sticker Kit. Although similar themes are available in the wall mural stencil kits, Athena chose the stickers, partly because she was pretty far along in her pregnancy and read about the ease of placing the wall stickers.

Aside from hand-painting the grass, Athena was able to place the stickers in approximately 2 hours. Completing Gia’s room was fun for Athena and she was thrilled with the idea of being able to reposition the stickers as she needed. Since our stickers are made form a revolutionary fabric that is resistant to tearing, self-sticking, and fading, they are the perfect option for families that – like Rod and Athena – want something that is movable, resilient, and long-lasting.

She does, however, recommend that those using the wall sticker kits measure the walls to avoid something not fitting where you want. She also suggests that you plan your design beforehand by placing the stickers on the floor and positioning them near where you want them, especially since there are so many stickers. In fact, the Splendid Garden Wall Sticker Kit includes over 60 stickers – trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, bees, frogs, snails, birdhouses, a cute little mouse, and much, much more.

Once the room was completed, Athena discovered that her favorite sticker was the tree, which she deemed absolutely gorgeous. As friends and family come to visit in anticipation of little Gia, they are astounded with the entire mural. Everyone, including Rod and Athena, think the colors are vibrant, giving the illusion that the stickers are painted on the wall in a layered, multi-dimensional way.

Throughout the project, Athena has some communications with the folks at My Wonderful Walls. She boasted that the customer service was great and raved about how the products are excellent and high quality too. This is very exciting for us, since our goal is that each and every customer interaction is a positive experience, just as it was for Rod and Athena.

In their own moments, Rod and Athena have visited the room several times, just to stare at the mural. They imagine how much their little princess will enjoy her room. Athena discovered that when decorating the nursery it was amazing how they started with an idea, then found My Wonderful Walls and a product that has truly made “a breathtaking nursery.”

My Wonderful Walls wants to say congratulations to Rod and Athena for the upcoming arrival of baby Gia. We are sure she will love the classy but fun nursery you have created for her… Welcome Baby Gia!

Breakfast in Bed
It’s an adored and lasting tradition for a reason. Many times, it’s mom’s hands that help put together breakfast, lunch and dinner for the little ones she loves. This Mother’s Day, rise and shine early to get a special breakfast in bed prepared for the woman of the house! A tray of all her yummy favorites is a simple way to ensure that her Mother’s Day starts out right.

Make time for a mini makeover
Your mom is beautiful inside and out, but today just might be the day to let mom indulge in some cosmetic fun! Malls, outlet stores and boutiques generally offer on-the-spot mini make-overs that give mom a chance to try new colors, shades and styles. It’s an easy way to remind mom that she’s still the most glamorous girl in the house. She might even walk away with some great new products that give her an esthetic edge this Mother’s Day.

Make it a Spa-tastic Mother’s Day
Telling mom you love her is important; however, sometimes the gift of silence can speak louder than anything else. Treat your mom to a spa day by presenting her with a coupon for a trip to her favorite locale. A day at the spa can be a rejuvenating and cleansing release for busy moms whose schedules are normally packed.

Take a garden walk
You know that the mom in your life has a lot on her mind. Moms are notorious multi-taskers and Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to provide a little time for reflection. Look into local botanical gardens or public parks and take your mom on a leisurely, stress-free walk. It’s a great way for mom to relax and the two of you to catch up on the details of life that get passed by on most busy days.

Give the gift of giving
We love our moms because they are selfless caregivers, so what better way to celebrate motherhood than by taking time to give a helping hand to other moms across the globe? Visit womenforwomen.org with your mother or a similar charitable organization, and send a small donation or mother’s day card. Each gift will help a mother who has survived war, conflict or trauma. It’s a great way to not only acknowledge your own mother’s gift of life, but reach out and help mothers everywhere who are standing up under enormous pressures and fighting for the love of their children.

Although it seems unlikely that dinosaurs are roaming the earth again, 16 month old Adam from Sterling, Virginia thinks differently. His mother, Huma, recently purchased the Dinosaur Days Wall Mural Stencil Kit from My Wonderful Walls to decorate Adam’s room.

After seeing a room created by a friend of hers using our Jungle Safari theme, Huma decided to check out My Wonderful Walls for herself. As Adam is a little too young to choose his own décor, she chose the dinosaur theme, as it was her favorite! She plans on getting Adam interested in dinosaurs when he gets a bit older, so this was a perfect fit!

As a self-described non-artistic person, Huma was a little apprehensive about beginning the painting process. She admits, however, that even though it took some getting used to, once she got started, it was smooth sailing from there. In fact, according to Huma, without sounding like a paid advertisement, she says, “It was easier than expected.”

When it came to completing the project, Huma states that it took her longer than most people, for more than one reason. Being the mother of two, working and having guests over, she was only able to work on the room about an hour or two each night. She began painting the blue sky portion of the room at the end of December and completed the last dinosaur at the end of March.

However, it may stand to reason that Huma enjoyed the entire experience so much as it was her “mom time.” Every night after the kids were in bed, it gave her some quiet time to sort of meditate about things that were on her mind while being creative. In fact, she was somewhat sad when the project was completed.

As with most our customers, Huma was excited about adding her own personal touch to her son’s room wall mural. On one wall, she created a lake complete with a lochness monster, which is naturally her favorite part of the mural. In her free time, Huma enjoys sewing and plans on making some curtains for Adam’s dino-rrific room, adding even more personalization.

Throughout the project, Huma found it helpful to cut the sides of the brushes included in the kit to help aid in clean painting of the small sections or dinos that were multiple colors. She does recommend, however, that you plan out your project before you begin. Although she didn’t think so at the time, she now thinks that she may have painted a few too many dinosaurs on some of the walls, losing part of the ‘scene’ effect she was looking for.

We are excited that Huma had such a great experience with our dinosaur stencil kit, and we are even more excited that she plans on using the Under the Sea Theme in her daughter’s room next!! Congratulations to a very busy mother of two – twins to be exact – on completing a roaring, dino-rrific room!

If you would like your MyWonderfulWalls wall mural to be featured, please send an email to Stephanie@MyWonderfulWalls.com .

It all starts with a great photo. Whether taken by a photographer in a studio or snapped at home in a split second of candid hilarity, the photos we want to display and call attention to are the ones that say something about us and about those we love. Many people have a slew of such photos just begging to be turned into art, but if you are looking for some photo inspiration, we have found a few things that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

First up is this collection of crazy-creative kid shots, courtesy of Jason Lee from Bored Panda. While most of the photos are clearly edited for dramatic effect, they still serve as a great reminder that allowing kids to have fun and be themselves is one of the surest ways to capture a genuine smile. If a more realistic photo is more your style, check out this fun family photo idea from photographybyalison. Placing children in the forefront with smiling parents cuddling behind them is a great way to feature the kids while keeping the family unit together in one photo.

Pinterest is a gold mine for both entertaining and breathtaking photo ideas; some of our personal favorites have been pinned by Kristin Spencer, including a photo of a family covered in paint and one of a family photographed from the knees down, all lined up with jeans rolled up and feet left bare. No matter how you shoot the photo, if it is true to your family chemistry and reflects your unique perspective on life, it will turn out wonderfully.

Once you have photos pulled together that you are excited to display, the time comes to decide how exactly you will be featuring them. In our digital world, we have many options that steer away from basic print-and-frame options, including canvas wall art, digital slide shows played via digital frames or large screens, pillow prints, and so much more. We love the idea of grouping photos together in clusters or of placing one large photo in an unexpected place throughout the home.

We make two fun family tree photo sticker kits that are perfect for any room of the home. There is one set with big frames and another that gives off a more natural, whimsical feel, either of which are a great way to show off family portraits in style. To refer again to Pinterest, there are many other ways that you can organize or stylize your photo displays, too. From straight-edged, monochromatic photo walls to photos that take you on a journey up the stairs and down the hall, to dramatic shapes against brightly painted backdrops, to a single dramatic photograph, the options are truly endless.

If you come up with a photo display you are dying to share, come on over to our Facebook page and share it with us! We would love to see what you come up with!

Of course, Sara chose the jungle safari theme of her dreams, and although Louise first tried to talk Sara into something else, she quickly changed her mind and they proceeded with the jungle theme. Louise set out on her own adventure – online – to find something a little more grown up than typical jungle themes.

While walking through the jungle that is the world-wide-web, Louise tripped upon My Wonderful Walls through Etsy. There, she found exactly what she was looking for – The Wild Jungle Safari Wall Sticker Kit. Louise chose the wall stickers over the jungle wall stencils because once Sara changes her mind, it will be easy to replace.

As an individual with a self-proclaimed level of zero artistic ability, it only took Louise approximately 30 minutes to complete Sara’s jungle-rrific escape. To make sure that she was able to thoughtfully place each sticker in order to completed one unified scene, Louise chose to leave the stickers in one room, and bring only one at a time into Sara’s room. In fact, aside from possibly needing a hand with the larger trees, although not required, Louise was able to quickly place all the stickers herself. She was thrilled

Because this project was completed in a separate location – the beach condo – Louise was able to keep it a surprise for Sara, except for a few ‘sneak- peek’ pictures she had taken of the room. Through it all, One part that Louise kept a complete secret was the personalized sign post with the little girl’s name on it. She felt that this added a unique individuality to the room that she wanted to save for the in-person reveal.

When Louise was done, she was delighted with the finished product. She decided to send an email to My Wonderful Walls to make sure that ensure that Sara’s name was spelled without an ‘h’ on the special sign post. She found that the staff was helpful and kind during her communication with them, which only added to her delight in how well the project came together in the end.

Once the jungle escape was completed, the little girl was brought to the condo. As she stepped into her jungle safari room, Sara was thrilled! Now she had a place just for her! Now everyone that comes to visit them at the condo thinks that Sara’s room is the best of all. Now the little girl can play all day in her special Jungle room, and live happily every after.

The end.

You might think that the tiny little entry way or itty-bitty kitchen nook in your home are spots just too small to decorate. It might seem impossible to do anything decorative with the little space in your home the realtor referred to as the ‘dining room’, even though it is way beyond too-small for your dining room table. Perhaps you are even looking to convert that large hall closet into a new tiny office.

Whatever the nook or cranny in your house, there are many unique and creative ways to decorate that will not only make them nicer to look at but seem bigger too.

• Use Furniture Wisely – When dealing with a tiny room it is important decorate in a way that helps the room to feel larger than it really is and with a small room this can be quite the challenge. The most important thing to remember is to not overwhelm the room with large and bulky furniture or have too many decorative items. For example, instead of having one large bookshelf, use a small two shelf option. Or better yet, try a credenza. A credenza will not only add a stylish flair to your nook or cranny, but it will also provide hidden storage; which can go a long way in a small space.
• Go for Bold Colors – If you have a tiny room, nook, or entry way use bold and bright accents that you wouldn’t normally use in a larger room. Let your decorative imagination go wild. Always wanted a neon green wall? In a small space you can totally get away with it.
• Everything Should Have a Purpose – Use the space that you have wisely. This means that everything in your small space should serve a purpose or be collapsible for storage when not in use. For example, if you are looking to convert that nook into an office space, consider a computer tray instead of a full sized desk. There are also many organizational systems that can be functional as well as good looking.
• Rugs – Getting a small area rug is a trick that many home designers use to make a space look larger than it actually is. With a simple accent rug you can totally change the way a room feels. Use bright colors to further enhance the feeling of spaciousness.
• Wall Space Storage – Use the wall space. There are many cool and functional wall shelves that can be easily installed on to practically any wall. These shelves come in all different sizes, colors, and materials. You can use them for books, decoration, or any other storage you might need.
• Decals for Decoration – Add a wall decal. A smaller space actually means going big. Find a wall mural or even just a single beautiful wall sticker that will perfectly compliment the look you are going for (check out our wide selection here). They go on quickly, are easily removable and re-positionable, and are just darned cute to boot!

A small nook or cranny in your home doesn’t have to be a boring void of decoration. With some simple decorating techniques, a creative eye (and, of course, a cute product from My Wonderful Walls), you can create a beautiful, wonderful small space.

While Aleksandra loves the color pink, she believes it is overused, so she went to Etsy.com – where she does most of her art shopping – to find something different. Although she was originally set on purchasing some wall décor, which Etsy has plenty to offer, she kept returning to My Wonderful Walls.

She found that their products, particularly the wall stickers, were quite different from other wall décor she found. As a lover of flowers and trees, the Splendid Garden Theme Wall Sticker Kit was the perfect fit. What made these wall stickers even more fitting was the walls were painted blue, which was the color of the room already. Although she did need to paint some green grass, it worked out nicely, as they could use the extra green paint to paint another room, which they were already planning on painting green!

Once the flower wall stickers arrived, which Aleksandra deemed ‘gorgeous,’ she began placing them, although it was not in her plans for the evening. In fact, it was her two boys that came up with the idea to get started, as according to Aleksandra, “kids have a bit less patience.”

Even though it was Luke and Matias’ idea to get started on the project, Aleksandra was worried about how long it would take, as it was getting close to bedtime. As a family, including her husband Milosz, who helped with the tree, they were able to complete the project that night. In fact, Aleksandra decided to let the boys help place some stickers, but other than that she felt this was definitely a project easily completed by one person.

Now, her daughter Milena, who is six months old, is drawn to the colors and shapes of the wall stickers. Maybe that is because she was actually born in the room, surrounded by nature. Her mother says, “I don’t think that there is a private room in any hospital that looks like that!” She says, “Thank you My Wonderful Walls for making my life easier.”

Although Aleksandra chose to use the wall stickers in a bedroom, they are a quick way to update any room in your home, offering many themes to choose from. In fact, if you are looking to easily update your son’s playroom, the Transportation Theme Wall Sticker Kit is the perfect solution. Or, if you have a daughter who dreams of becoming a Princess, and are looking for an easy way to build her a kingdom, consider the Princess Theme Wall Sticker Kit. Want to do a quick and simple bathroom update? Check out the Under the Sea Theme Wall Sticker Kit!

 Thank you Aleksandra, for sharing your room and story with us!

If you’d like to be featured on our blog, please send an email to Stephanie@MyWonderfulWalls.com

#1 – Always Use Primer
This is one step many individuals opt not to do – big mistake!  Primer provides a fresh clean surface for the paint to adhere to and allows the true color of the paint to come through!

#2 – Professional Supplies
Spend a little money to get some good quality supplies.  It is recommended that you use an edge pad for painting around straight surfaces, such as ceiling edges, corners and door frames. Painters tape also works well.

#3 – Clean Before You Paint
Many people think they don’t need to wipe the walls before they paint, as they’re going to cover up the marker lines from when the kids were drawing, but this is not true.  Paint sticks to the walls much better when they are clean, not shiny (use a light grade sandpaper to remove the shine of old glossy paint) and in good condition.

#4 – Be Prepared
Having all your supplies, include the amount of paint is essential.  This way, once you get started, you don’t have to stop and run to the store for something else.  Many professional painters recommend that you have approximately 1 gallon for every 400 square feet.  However, if you are painting over textured or rough surfaces, you may need more.

#5 – Paint On Dry Days
Painting on days where the weather is cooperating can be beneficial.  Not only will your paint dry quicker, but it will dry.  This is particularly true with water-based paints.

#6 – Scrape Away
If the paint on your walls is starting to flake off, it’s recommended that you scrape it off using a paint scraper.  You should then sand the surface smooth, prime – of course – and then paint!

#7 – Keep Going
As you are painting, if you see a spot you missed, don’t go back over it once it has started to dry.  This can create unwanted color streaks or paint brush or roller lines in the paint.

#8 – Prepare Your Painting Room
To keep the things in the room that don’t need painted from being painted, cover them up.  This includes the floor – put down a drop cloth.  Also, sandwich bags work great for covering up door handles, but remember to tape them and don’t forget to remove your outlet covers and light switch plates.

#9 – Out With The Brush – In With The Roller
Using a roller for wall surfaces will help you get the job done faster and it does a better job than a paintbrush in an amateur’s hands.  However, paintbrushes do work well for details – such as My Wonderful Walls Stencil Kits.

 #10 – Be Patient
If you want to add a second coat of paint, that’s fine.  Here’s the deal – wait until the first coat is dry, or else you could end up pulling off the paint you’ve already applied!

Hopefully these tips will have you on your way to a beautiful finished wall mural in no time! Happy painting!

Stephanie Goins (SG): How did you find My Wonderful Walls?

Leslie (L): [Through] a Google search.

SG: Which My Wonderful Walls product did you use to decorate Simon’s room?

L: The Transportation Fascination Mural Kit, because my son loves things that go – cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, and most of all, choo-choos.

SG: That theme is also available in wall stickers, why did you choose the mural kit instead?

L: My husband was afraid that the stickers would leave sticky goop on the walls. (But for the record, our wall stickers DO NOT! No sir, no way!)

SG: How long until the project was completed?

L: I am not artistic, so with lots of help [Michael, Maggie, Kimsan and Ramsey], the project was completed in 3 days!

SG: Was using our wall stencils what you expected?

L: It has been a long time since I did something like that, so it was lots of fun. It was fun to plan where to put things and decide on colors. Also, it was incredibly satisfying to pull off a sticker and see a beautiful, finished figure.

SG: Many My Wonderful Walls customers add personal touches to the rooms, did you?

L: I used different colors than those recommended for the grass and sky. I chose a much brighter green called Grass Green, actually, and then used the blue that we already had from painting the living room.

SG: What was Simon’s reaction when he first saw is new bedroom?

L: He pointed at the figures on the wall and named all of the ones that he could!

SG: Did you have a particularly favorite wall stencil?

L: My son loves trains, so I’m probably happiest with that. I put it right above his changing table, so if he’s restless during a diaper change, I can point to it to distract him.

SG: How would you describe your overall experience using the Transportation Fascination Wall Mural Kit?

L: I found the mural to be a great, fun and cost-effective way to decorate my son’s room in our first house, in a way that I never could have done otherwise. The result is fantastic – he loves it, and I get so many compliments from everyone who sees it!

After hearing from Leslie, Stephanie is once again proud of the products she and the My Wonderful Walls Team provide parents worldwide with as simple solutions for creating wonderful spaces for children to learn, imagine, grow and most importantly, play! If you are interested in any of our products, have a question, or if you have used a product from us, and would like your story heard, please feel free to contact Stephanie at Stephanie@MyWonderfulWalls.com – we would love to hear from you!

1. Plant Flowers
In almost every community across the world, there is one little spot, whether it be a park or just a little sitting area in the center of town, where people come to relax and reflect on their lives.  This is the perfect spot for you to donate your time and plant some flowers.  Not only will you be assisting Mother Nature in her springtime festivities, but you will be brightening up your town and spreading cheer throughout the community.  Ask your local florist or garden center for ideas on what will grow well in your community and have an eye-catching appeal, because it’s time to stop and ‘plant’ the roses.

Youth group paints mural in their church nursery

2. Paint A Mural In A Community Space
Not every town council is going to allow you to paint a mural on a wall somewhere, but think about talking to the director of your town’s hospital.  There is nothing more depressing than being in the hospital, except being a kid in the hospital.  As many parents have likely experienced what the inside of the children’s ward of a hospital looks like – white, sterile, sad – why not volunteer your time and a few buckets of paint to add some color and brighten up a sick child’s day.  My Wonderful Walls offers themed wall mural stencil kits, paint kits, paint brushes and color guides to help you complete the project with ease. Any of our wall murals are ideal for community centers, day cares, church nurseries and other public places where children come, encouraging imaginative learning and play!

3. Clean Up The Playground
Many communities across the world have a playground designed to give children a place to play and grow while interacting with their peers.  Unfortunately, many of these playgrounds have been built quite some time ago and are a little rundown, and in some cases, unsafe for the kids to play on.  Get together with some friends and volunteer to clean up the playground area, maybe add a fresh coat of paint to the swings, replace the ladder to the slide, or freshen up the mulch and mow the grass.  The kids will truly love a cleaner, safer place to play!

This young lady paints an ocean mural in her sister's school library

4. Redecorate The Library
Most libraries have an area that is a designated Children’s Section, which is often decorated with characters and colors. However, as with many playgrounds, these rooms are often outdated and rundown.  Consider freshening up the space with a wall sticker kit or painting with a wall mural stencil kit. Both are available in a wide variety of themes including: jungle safari, farm theme, flower garden theme, forest theme, ocean theme and more.

 5. Community Clean-Up
There is nothing more appropriate during the spring that simply cleaning up.  Gather together your close friends, or church group and go around your community gathering up trash – which you can recycle.  Together, all these tips can freshen up your community, bringing that springtime freshness and cheer everyone is looking for.

So… what will you do?