Since so many of us are at housebound these days, we wanted to bring you a coloring-centered giveaway with a prize package that will help relieve stress and inspire creativity. We have teamed up with our friends at Smiling Tree Toys and Valentina Harper and present to you.... The Color Me Happy Giveaway.
2 WINNERS will win the Ultimate Coloring Prize Package ($63 Value):
So many ways to enter! Enter to win by April 23rd!
Enter with our Rafflecopter widget below and make sure to tell a friend. Winner will be notified by email on or after 4/24/2020.
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This holiday season we are giving away money! Woot! Woot! Don't miss your chance to enter our 2nd gift card giveaway of the season. Because we are so thankful for you, this one ends at midnight on Thanksgiving Day! (gobble, gobble)
Enter now through Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, at 11:59 p.m. PST and you could be the lucky person to win a $100 gift card to My Wonderful Walls!
Enter with our Rafflecopter widget below and make sure to tell a friend. Winner will be notified by email on or after 11/29/2019.
a Rafflecopter giveaway]]>Want to win some holiday cash?
If you've started your holiday shopping or you'd like to get yourself something special, this giveaway is for you! Right now through Monday, November 18th at 11:59 p.m. PST, you can enter to win a $100 gift card from My Wonderful Walls. Will you be the lucky winner?!
Enter with our Rafflecopter widget below and make sure to tell a friend. Winner will be notified by email on or after 11/19/2019.
]]>We love it when folks go outside the box with our products. Recently Calvary Community Church in Los Angeles partnered with Habitat for Humanity for their annual Serve Day, an invitation to all church members to actively involve themselves in carrying the love of Christ outside the church walls and into the community. They used My Wonderful Walls stencils to decorate these colorful playhouses. Their challenge was that they only had 2 hours to paint and 2 hours to assemble. The results are stunning!
Just how were they able to pull this off? Habitat for Humanity has developed a kit for children’s playhouses. The kits include pre-cut plywood for the walls and roof, pre-cut doors, windows, trim, hardware and roofing shingles. Jim B., church member and project volunteer, tells us that, “Calvary Community Church mobilized two teams of 20 each for painting and assembly at 9:30 am on Saturday June 1. By 2:30 pm (allowing the paint to dry over a one-hour lunch), our two playhouses were complete.” Jim also tells us that the Habitat for Humanity support team on site was impressed with the effectiveness of the stencils and just how uniquely fun and colorful these playhouses turned out to be. Yay!
We thank Calvary Community Church and Habitat for Humanity for allowing us to share this fun project with you and congratulate them on a job very well done!
Going to the doctor just got a lot more fun for the young patients of South Texas Pediatric Gastroenterology in San Antonio, Texas. This newly renovated space features colorful waiting and exam rooms filled with beautiful flowers, giant safari trees and friendly jungle animals. Melissa, healthcare administrator (and decorating Queen Bee), chose this theme because she wanted to create a fun and whimsical environment for their young patients.
Feeling at ease during doctor appointments is so important. Melissa, who takes pride in setting up her practices, recognizes this and says that the new decor is a big hit with the little patients as it, “makes them feel like they are at the zoo or on an actual safari.”
Melissa chose stickers over stencils for the ease of application. She describes her artist comfort level as beginner but tells us that, “the ease of application made me feel like an expert”. The project took over a week to complete due to the large volume of stickers placed on the walls. She enjoyed getting creative with the scene and was pleasantly surprised to see it all come to life. TIPS: Melissa found it helpful to plan out each room prior to application and found the how-to videos very helpful.
“I had a wonderful experience with the folks at My Wonderful Walls. I received all products promptly and even received personal emails from the owner to ensure I was satisfied. They were even nice enough to help track an order that was attempted during the weekend when our business was closed. They were amazing and I will continue to order many more items from them.”
Geez, shucks, Melissa... we are always happy to help. It was a pleasure watching you make your vision come true. Congratulations for your new, beautiful space and a big thanks for sharing your journey with us.
STEP 2: PLAN THE LAYOUT
Even though the decals are easily repositionable, it’s a good idea to plan the layout of your design prior to putting up the decals. The Princess Room Virtual Mural Builder allows you to plan out where you will place each decal before you begin sticking them. Simply drag and drop the elements from the panel until you get the princess room to your liking. If you plan to decorate more than one wall, we suggest creating a different scene for each wall and then printing each out to use as a reference.
STEP 3: CREATE THE SKY & HILLS
The Perfectly Princess Sticker Set looks best on a background scene with sky and hills. You can either paint the sky and hills with latex paint or purchase a hill decal from us.
PAINT: If you choose to paint, you will need two colors of latex paint (eggshell or satin finish). Paint the sky and let dry. Then, use chalk to sketch out the top of the hills and you are ready to paint them in. An easy way to paint the hills is with a roller. For a full tutorial, check out the article How To Paint the Sky and Hills in the Background
STICKER: If you’d rather put up a hill sticker rather than paint the hill, no problem! With the hill wall decal, you get 10 feet of hill sticker making it super easy to create dimension in your princess scene.
Note: The decals will stick better to clean walls so your walls should be clean and free of oils and debris prior to putting up the stickers. Unless you have freshly painted the walls, wipe the walls down with a wet washcloth and let dry.
STEP 4: PUT UP THE DECALS
Now for the fun part! It’s time to put up the princess wall decals. Have your printouts handy from Step 2 and begin putting up the stickers. Simply peel each from the backing paper and stick it on the wall. For the larger pieces, like the castle, you might want to grab a friend for an extra set of helping hands. The stickers are repositionable so don’t fret if you need to move them. They will stick again and again.
We hope you feel empowered and excited to create a princess room your girl will remember forever. With the Perfectly Princess Decal Set and other tools and resources provided, we are confident that you’ll find the experience and easy an rewarding one. Happy decorating and please contact us if you have any questions. We are available 24/7 via email, through the chat feature or by phone (423-815-1703) from 10am to 6pm. We are happy to help and eager to help you get your little princess the princess room of her dreams!
Check out these beautiful rooms that have been transformed wiith the DIY Perfectly Princess Wall Decal Set. You can do it too!
1. Decide on the placement of your stencils. If using My Wonderful Walls Stencils, you will find they are self-adhesive, otherwise you’ll need tape or low-tack spray adhesive. Make sure your stencil is taut against the surface so no plaster or spackling seeps out underneath.
2. Stir your plaster well with a putty knife. You can choose to tint your plaster or spackle if you wish. Try a dye or toner like TransTint.
3. Keeping your knife at a 40-degree angle, run the plaster right over the stencil without going back and forth too many times. Doing this will ensure you aren’t accidentally causing bleeding.
4. When your design is fully covered, carefully lift away the stencil. If stenciling more than one area, move it to the next and repeat. If you see any imperfections in the plastered design, you can carefully fix by hand. If you just hate it or it’s not positioned right, you can wipe the plaster off quickly before it dries. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth, let it dry and try again.
5. You may need to clean the stencil off after a few uses as the plaster will stick more than paint. When entirely done stenciling, clean the stencil while plaster is still wet. This way you will be able to reuse it later (if it is a My Wonderful Walls stencil).
6. After your plaster or spackling dries, decide if you want to add any effects. You can paint over it with milk paint, for example or add a glaze. Distressing your design will give your piece of furniture an antique look. You can also sand down any high points and apply wax to highlight the stenciled design.
7. Another way to create an exciting look is to paint with the stencil first in a darker color, then adjusting the stencil a fraction of an inch, apply your plaster. This will create a drop shadow effect.
Using raised stenciling is a perfect way to create an interesting ceiling border, wall border, or update a plain piece of furniture. With these 7 simple steps you will be able to create a unique design in no time. Let us know in the comments what you would use raised stenciling for first.
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A note about bare wood floors: Chalk lines on a bare wood floor will not come off without sanding. For creating a registration grid in that case, you can use string held in place with adhesive putty. You will need to take extra care not to disturb the strings while you work and will need to move them temporarily while stenciling underneath.
When stenciling on bare wood floors, you also can’t easily correct a mistake. Applying a thin coat of a clear sealer first, will prevent the stenciled paint from soaking into the floor and can be easily wiped off if caught in time.
Now that you have an idea of how to stencil a floor, which room will you start with first?
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STEP 4: GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
In addition to the Wild Jungle Safari Stencil Kit, you’ll need just a few more items before you get started:
STEP 5: READ THE INSTRUCTIONS & PAINT YOUR SCENE
The stencil kit comes with a detailed painting guide jam-packed with tips and tricks for easy mural painting. Read it from beginning to end and you’ll feel ready and prepared to begin painting your child’s jungle room. Learn proper stenciling techniques, how to create depth in a scene, how to avoid bleeding, with which stencil you should start with and so much more. Check out the full Jungle Painting Instruction Guide that comes with the kit.
We hope you feel excited and ready to paint your jungle nursery or jungle themed room that your child remember forever. With the Wild Jungle Safari Stencil Kit and other tools and resources provided, we are confident that you’ll find the experience of painting your own jungle mural a fun and rewarding one. Happy painting and please contact us if you have any questions. We are available 24/7 via email, through the chat feature or by phone (423-815-1703) from 10am to 6pm. We are happy to help and eager to get you the jungle room of your dreams!
Check out these amazing spaces that have been transformed all around the world with the DIY Jungle Safari Stencil Kit! You can do it too!
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With summer almost upon us, it’s the time for weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and so many reasons to celebrate. If you’re looking for a unique way to show how much you care, you might want to make your own cards or wrapping paper for your loved one. Stencils are a perfect way to do this and there are a couple of ways to approach your project; painting or embossing. Either technique is a wonderful way to create something personal for anyone on your gift giving list or just to create something for you. Keep reading for some easy ideas on how to decorate paper.
Embossing
One easy way to add some fun to paper is to emboss it. You can do this with a stencil, an embossing tool and a lighted work surface. For this technique, you’ll want a simple stencil, ideally one piece. Metal or mylar stencils of 7-mil thickness or more do well. Laser cut stencils are best because they will produce clean edges. Don’t have an embossing tool? Try a knitting needle. Don’t have a light table? Use a lamp set under a glass table. You’ll want good quality cardstock or medium weight paper but not too thick or darkly colored so that you can see the stencil through the paper when working.
To emboss your paper, attach the stencil to the paper with low tack tape. Turn the paper over and place it on your lighted surface. The stencil should be backlit through the paper. Using the larger end of your embossing tool or knitting needle, trace the inside edge of the design. Make sure to press hard enough to make an impression but not tear the paper. Now use the smaller end of the tool to trace again, this time press a little harder but again be careful not to tear the paper.
Remove the stencil and turn the paper over to see the finished impression. This is great for the corner of a note card, personal stationary or a border around notepaper. You can also choose to stencil paint your embossed image by stenciling the paint first then embossing.
Painting
To create gorgeous cards or wrapping paper, try using a stencil brush and blank tissue paper or cardstock. The lighter the paper, the lighter touch you should use. Fabric paint can be an excellent choice for stenciling paper, as it will go on smoothly and blend well. Oil paint also works great on paper because it contains no water.
To paint your paper, use low tack tape to attach your stencil to the paper. With very flimsy paper, you’ll want to hold your stencil by hand. Any paper can be stencil painted but you’ll want to make sure excess paint is offloaded and a gentle touch is applied. With heavier paper, you don’t need to be as concerned with excess offloading. You can also layer more prints and add in free form stenciling if you wish.
To make a set of cards with less hassle, stencil some free form motifs on loose paper, then cut out and frame them into cards with small cutout windows. This way, you’re not wasting expensive cardstock while you figure out how best to design your card.
For larger motifs you can use a roller brush instead. This will even work for tissue or wrapping paper but with tissue paper, make sure to offload plenty of paint or it may pass through to your work surface.
For heavier paper and a roller, you may want to use spray adhesive to keep your stencil in place. If there is any residue left over, use an art eraser to remove it.
These are some quick and easy ways to decorate paper and cards with stencils. Who wouldn’t like a card made by hand on their special day? If you’ve ever tried stenciling paper, let us know how it worked out in the comments below.
]]>We talk a lot about stenciling walls here but our self-adhesive stencils are great for so much more! We’ve had customers use them on ceilings, floors, furniture, mirrors, crafts, etc. But if you’re going to use our stencils on something out of the ordinary, it’s best to know what makes a good stenciling surface and how best to get your surface ready. Keep reading below for some tips on different surfaces you can stencil.
What other surfaces can you think of that you might like to stencil? With our easy to use stencils, the sky is the limit! If you’ve created something unique using one of our stencils please send us a pic at info@mywonderfulwalls.com! We’d love to see your masterpiece.
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When stenciling walls, we generally recommend using acrylic craft paints and or latex paints. But what about for all of your other stenciling projects? Here is a short list of different types of paint and their features and benefits.
Acrylic Craft Paints: Great for many applications, acrylic craft paints are what we sell on our site. They blend well, have a large variety of colors and are easy to clean up. They’re also not very expensive.
Stencil Cremes: Stencil crèmes are oil-based paints in a wax medium which won’t drip or run. When working with stencil crèmes, you must first remove the thin wax layer from the surface of the paint before loading your brush with color. Stencil crèmes blend together beautifully and create a soft, hand-painted feel.
Chalk Paints: Chalk paint has become very popular in recent years. It allows the do-it-yourself enthusiast the opportunity to paint, distress, stencil and possibly distress the stenciling using only one paint while decorating a piece of furniture.
Fabric Paints: Most fabric paints are thick and work well for stenciled application. Because most fabrics are very absorbent, you will need to offload more paint then with other projects. For more information on painting fabrics check out our blog post How to Stencil Fabrics.
Spray Paints: For some surfaces like plastic, spray paints can be used. They do require very good ventilation and you will need to mask the area around the stencil cut outs to make sure you don’t spread the color outside of the desired area. Spray paints can be very messy so they aren’t necessarily the most desirable choice.
Solid Oil Paints: You can purchase solid oil paints that look like crayons or that come in little pots in a craft or art store. The upside is they won’t bleed or spill because they are solid. They also blend and shade easily because they dry slowly. The downside to using solid oil paints is that you need to use a stencil brush rather than a roller or an airbrush which can make the process very slow.
Latex Paints: Great for large wall designs and all-over stencils, latex paint can be an economical choice. Latex paints dry quickly to the touch but can be slow to cure. This can cause problems when removing a stencil or tape which can peel little bits of the paint off with it. This can slow a project down as curing time is very variable depending on temperature and humidity.
These are the basic types of paint you may run into as you start planning your stenciling project. There are a large variety of additives, finishes and glazes that you may want to investigate as well depending on what you are stenciling. Having the right type of paint for your project ensures your success! Stay tuned for our next blog post regarding types of surfaces you can stencil.
You can choose to use something like a large sea sponge to create a stone effect or use a fine grained, soft sponge like a make up sponge for painting on glass surfaces. When painting with a sponge, your print will have a somewhat primitive look. If that isn’t what you are going for, look to our blog posts on How to Stencil Using a Roller with Liquid Paint or How to Stencil with a Brush.
No matter what type of sponge you select for your stenciling project, use a clean, dry sponge for each color. You will want to prepare the sponge by misting it lightly with water. Knead the sponge in your hand until the dampness has permeated it and your sponge is no longer stiff. You don’t want the sponge to be wet, just damp.
Next, you will want to pour several spoonfuls of paint onto a plate or palette. If you can pour more than one color without mixing them, do so, otherwise start with one color at a time.
Apply your stencil to the surface you will be painting. My Wonderful Walls stencils are self-adhesive but other commercial stencils may need an application of low-tack spray adhesive or tape.
Now you will dab your sponge into the paint. On a fresh spot on the plate or palette, dab the sponge up and down to work the paint into the crevices. Now offload (remove) some of the paint by dabbing your sponge onto a stack of paper towels. Because sponges tend to retain more paint than a brush be careful when making your print. Using a light touch, you can continue to dab the sponge all over the cutouts until all the areas are filled in.
Just like with any other stenciling project, you can remove the stencil from the surface before the paint is fully dry. You will be able to continue the process as you like until you have achieved the desired effect.
Another great way to use a sponge with a stencil is to create a faux stone effect on a wall, floor or other surface. You can combine sets of three or four colors to imitate granite, weathered concrete, terra-cotta or sandstone. Acrylic house paints are perfect for a project like this. Using the same basic steps as above, start with a base coat of paint in the color you want to be most prominent. (You may need to do some research on what different stones look like to decide the colors to use.) Apply an uneven layer of your base coat over the stencil cutouts with a roller.
Now, using a sea sponge dab on the other two or three colors in no way attempting to blend them. Let the paint start to dry then roll over the entire thing with a hardened stencil roller or rubber brayer. Exert just enough pressure to blend the colors slightly. Then roll over the surface again, even harder. This will cause the colors to blend and lift patches of the sponged-on paint. If not, you can spritz the surface with water lightly, wait a few seconds and roll again. The dampened bits should lift onto the brayer. You can then remove your stencil from the surface and move on. While this might seem like a lot of work when you can easily buy paints that mimic different stone effects, this will be much easier to paint over if you decide you tire of it as the texture is an optical illusion.
Now that you know how to stencil with a sponge and create some special effects, you are ready to redecorate that boring wall in your home you’ve been staring at! Let us know in the comments if you have ever used a sponge for painting or stenciling.
Any time you want to keep two colors completely separate you will want to use an overlay. First you will paint the main element of the design, for example, the octopus body in our Under the Sea Stencil Kit. Then you will carefully remove that stencil and apply the second stencil or overlay, for example the octopus face, on top of the first print and paint that in. With water-based paints you don’t need to wait for the first element to completely dry before painting in your overlay. You could also add a third and fourth overlay to provide shading or details. Though those overlays are not provided with our kit, there are many ways to create your own. HINT: Because the paint layers will be thin, choose your colors wisely so they show up in each layer you add.
You can also use an overlay for outlining. Start by painting your first stencil by rolling a flat block of color over it. Then remove that stencil and apply your outline overlay. Using a roller outline with a bold color. If you use a stencil that gives just a suggestion of the outline of a shape, you can use that on its own or as an overlay to make an interesting print.
Masks are different from overlays in that they are the essential opposite of the stencil. Masks shield from color or paint while stencils expose the shape to paint or color. For a simple stencil with an outline mask, simply apply your stencil to your surface, remove the outline mask to expose the outline of your print. Then paint the outline with a roller brush. Now insert the outline mask and remove the center of your design and paint the center. This is a very basic example of a mask.
You can also create a variety of effects by layering masks and stencils in different orders. For example, in a nursery, perhaps you’d like to stencil the baby’s first initial plus a teddy bear. You would stencil the bear first, then cover it with its mask. Then place the letter stencil on top of the bear mask. Paint the letter. In this example, the teddy bear mask protects that area from the paint of the letter, so the teddy bear appears as if its in front of the letter. You can easily reverse the order to make the bear appear like it’s behind the letter.
With masks and overlays you can create a wide variety of detailed prints. If you have purchased a basic stencil and want to create color separation or add some details, you can cut your own overlays or masks as well as use many objects found in your home or nature as masks. A quick internet search can help you in your stenciling adventure. If you have any questions on using My Wonderful Walls stencils with overlays or masks, please feel free to contact us.
]]>Stenciling can be intimidating but once you get the hang of it, it really is one of the easiest ways to make a basic print on your walls, windows, furniture or fabrics. Here are the 5 basic steps to stenciling with a brush and a paint.
1. Use clean, dry stencil brushes, one for every color. You can find stencil brushes in a few different sizes with different types of bristles. Stiff bristles are required for stippling and softer ones for rubbing or swirling.
2. Use a piece of heavy paper or cardboard or scraps of your fabric for a practice surface before starting your project. Apply your My Wonderful Walls Stencil with our self-adhesive backing or use spray adhesive or tape for other stencils, depending on your surface type.
3. Place a dollop of paint onto a plate or palette tray. Pick up a very small amount of paint on the brush. On an empty portion of your plate or tray, work the paint thoroughly and evenly into the brush bristles by rubbing in firm circles
4. Now remove all excess paint by working the brush in circles on a stack of paper towels. Knowing when you have just the right amount of paint on your brush may take some trial and error.
5. Now you’re ready to stencil! You can use a stippling or pouncing technique in which you hold the brush straight up and down and pounce it over the cutouts in the stencil using short, firm taps. Or you can use a swirling technique and holding the brush straight up, rub it in small circles over the cutouts, pressing lightly at first in case you have too much paint on your brush. Gradually, press firmer. Work around the edges first before moving to the center, repeating the application of paint to the edge to build up the color slowly. Once you are feeling happy with the print, remove the stencil and let the paint dry. Move on to your next area or project!
HINT: Some stencilers find it helpful to keep a damp cloth or paper towel in a small jar for each brush so that when they are not using that particular brush, they can keep it from getting dried out but not get it soaked. You do not want to have a wet brush.
Now that you have the 5 steps to stenciling with a brush and paint, you are ready to start your next project. Be sure to check out our blog post on How to Stencil Using a Roller with Liquid Paint. Some projects may require you to use both techniques.
]]>A really fun way to add some color and life to a canvas bag, tee-shirt or tablecloth is to add a design with stencils. But knowing what fabrics and what paints work best as well as how to stencil the fabric effectively is key. Many of the techniques you use with stenciling walls also apply to painting a stenciled design onto fabric. However, in most cases you will want to use fabric paint. Not only does it work really well for textiles, it will last when you wash your tee-shirt or tablecloth. With a little practice, you can be stenciling fabrics for every room in your home or as gifts for the holidays!
First, you need to know what fabrics work best for stenciling with paint. Cotton is the most versatile and is easy to stencil. One type of cotton, canvas is heavy and absorbent so not prone to bleeds, making it ideal for stenciling. Most cellulose fibers like rayon or linen are similar to cotton and good for stenciling. Synthetic fabrics may be another story as not all fabric paints will work with them. It is a good idea to check the label and test the fabric and paint first. Silk is a little trickier and you may need to buy special paint made for use with silk in order to be successful. Very rustic cloths like burlap work great for stenciling especially using a roller brush. Unlike other fabrics, with burlap you can use a regular acrylic or house paint versus a fabric paint. This will save you some money.
Second, you will need to prepare your fabric for painting. You must pre-wash your fabric. Then practice your technique with some test strips and paint first. Many fabric paints will need some kind of heat treatment to lock in the design. The label should give you instructions for how best to do this. Usually, it simply involves putting the fabric into the dryer once the paint is dry or using an iron.
Third, you must prepare your work surface. A great work surface for stenciling fabric is a large piece of freezer paper. You can iron the freezer paper to the underside of the fabric (make sure the plastic side of the paper is facing away from the fabric). You can also use a firm piece of non-corrugated cardboard and use a little bit of low-tack spray adhesive to keep your fabric from moving around. Choosing a good surface for your stenciling project is important especially with things like tee-shirts where colors may seep through to the other side if not prevented. And unlike with a wall or hard surface where you can paint over a mistake or wipe it away, with fabric once you mess up, you need to start all over.
Fourth, you will secure the stencil to the fabric. You can use our self-adhesive stencils and depending on the type of fabric add tape if necessary. You can also use low-tack spray adhesive for other brand stencils, let it dry and after securing your fabric to the work surface, apply your stencil. You want the hold of the stencil to be lighter than the hold of the work surface so the stencil doesn’t pull the fabric up every time it is moved.
Now, it’s finally time to apply the paint! Because most fibers are pretty absorbent, you will see the paint soaks in without spreading out. But you do need to make sure the paint penetrates the fibers so make sure to work the paint in well. You can use a roller or a brush here and apply the same techniques we go over in our How To Stencil Using a Roller with Liquid Paint blog post. Carefully remove the stencil once done and allow the paint to dry. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for curing the paint.
To add interest, a broken color effect can be achieved by blending colors. If using a brush, try a stippling technique, by making little dots of color over and over again. Apply your first color to the selected areas then fill in the rest with one or more colors, using a separate brush for each. Let the colors overlap but keep in mind when colors are blended, your design can easily get muddy. If using a roller, make sure to have a separate roller for each color. No matter which technique you choose, avoid using complementary color pairs. Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel tend to blend really well.
You can also try streaking colors by using a stiff, flat artist’s brush loaded up with more paint than usual. Sweep your brush from the edge of the stencil towards the middle and be careful around the edges to avoid bleeding. Repeat with complementary colors, avoiding blending them and remember to use a new brush for each color. This can make for a very interesting effect.
Now that you have some basic techniques for stenciling fabric, we hope you will give it a try. Our home and hobby stencils work great for stenciling textiles of all types. If you aren’t sure about a project you are considering, give us a call and we are happy to chat about it.
]]>Border designs are an easy way to decorate the top of a wall or along an architectural feature like chair rail. You can also stencil borders on furniture, windows, and things like wrapping paper. Many My Wonderful Walls stencils make a great border! The hardest challenge with creating a border is keeping it on a straight line as you repeat your stenciled pattern. Using a guideline and registration marks will help you accomplish your goal and make a beautiful bordered design look like it was professionally created.
Begin by measuring from the edge of the ceiling, floor, or whatever architectural feature is closest to the placement of your wall border. You can use a carpenter’s level to help you in case of sloped walls, floors or ceilings. Mark your guideline with a chalk line on painters’ tape, then you don’t have to worry about removing the marks later. Measure the position you want in a couple of places and with the help of a second person if necessary, apply a length of painters’ tape in roughly the right position.
Now you’ll want to re-measure each end of your stencil and put your chalk line along the tape. To position the stencil, align the registration holes or stencil edge with the guideline you have chalked out on the tape and mark those holes right on the tape. Make sure to use the lowest tack painters’ tape available and when working with a freshly painted surface, give it time to completely cure before putting tape of any kind on it.
Most stencils will have a printed or cut out outline of the trailing cutouts for the adjacent repeat. Simply overlap and line up these outlines onto the corresponding parts that have just been painted. When the top edge of the stencil is lined up along the guideline and the registration outlines are lined up over the appropriate stenciled parts, then the stencil is in the right place for the next repeat. If registration outlines are cut out, not printed, be careful to not paint them a second time.
Another challenge with painting a border in an entire room is in most cases the length of the wall is probably not going to be an even multiple of the stencil length. There are a few ways you can address this. To make a continuous border, you can try folding the stencil into corners. Alternatively, you can truncate the design on both sides of the corner. You may also be able to use a corner piece (which may come with the border stencil you purchase or you could separately purchase a coordinating design) to mark the end of the border segment. There is no wrong answer, it is just what you feel most comfortable with and find most visually appealing.
Paint over your stencil with a roller brush as usual, making sure to use the steps in our How to Stencil Using a Roller with Liquid Paint article. Carefully remove the stencil and reapply to the next portion of your wall using your registration guidelines to line it up correctly and continue. Once you are done, remove your painters’ tape as soon as possible pulling it straight back on itself. Let your border design fully dry, using a hair dryer if necessary to speed up the process.
You will now have a gorgeous wall border to show off to friends and family. You can also easily translate these steps to painting a border on other items as well. If you’ve ever used our wall stencils to create a border, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!
]]>This is just a basic overview of painting with a roller brush. When you purchase My Wonderful Wall stencils you will receive a lot of helpful hints and project ideas with your stencils and you can always check out our photo reviews and blog for ideas. If you have any helpful hints for using a roller brush to stencil feel free to leave them in the comments!
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Colors play an important role in our mood. Therefore, it is important to surrounding yourself in colors that bring the best in you and those around you. Whether you are drawn to brighter and bolder colors or soft and subtle hues, there is sure to be a color for everyone in this year’s top trending colors. Here are the top trending colors for Spring 2018 and some ideas on how to incorporate them into your home décor.
PANTONE 13-0646 Meadowlark
If this bold and lively yellow color speaks to you, try adding a trio of daffodils on your walls with these lovely daffodil wall decals. Whether you put them on our kitchen, office, or bedroom walls, they will add joy to your space.
PANTONE 17-1563 Cherry Tomato
This orangey red hue exudes heat and energy and cannot be easily ignored. If you are drawn to this courageous color, consider using this cherry blossom stencil in your home decor. This cherry blossom flower stencil is available in 2 sizes and can be used for walls, furniture, accessories, crafts, projects and more! Whether you go big or go small, this color will add energy wherever you choose to paint it.
PANTONE 12-2103 Almost Mauve
Almost Mauve boasts a delicate pink hue and adds a sense of gentleness to the spring 2018 color palette. If you want to add one of this year's trending colors to your home or office, check out Voyage of a Harvest Moon. This gorgeous wall decal by Elise Mahan depicts a full moon in intricate details.
PANTONE 13-0550 Lime Punch
If you like this sharp and pungent limey color, consider making a bold statement by painting this trending color on an accent wall using the Tiki Curl Allover Pattern Stencil. This Polynesian inspired design will have you painting by day and dreaming of tribal drums as night.
PANTONE 16-5533 TCX Arcadia
Arcadia is both modern and retro and celebrates a green hue with a tinge of blue undertones. This trending color is featured in the Hamsa Wall Decal by Valentina Harper known as a symbol of protection. Stick this gorgeous decal to your wall and you’ll be in style and protected for the spring 2018 season.
PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet
Distinctive and almost magical! Ultra violet is a complex and fascinating shade of purple. If you love this color and want to add a bit of floral goodness to your home decor, consider applying these large hollyhock flower decals to your walls.
PANTONE 14-3207 Pink Lavender
Pink Lavender is a soft violet rose that charms with its soothing sense of calm. If this color speaks to your soul and you happen to be a dog-lover, you must check out Shepherd Love Wall Decal by Dean Russo. The dog design will add canine cuteness to your walls and the lavender color will keep your home décor up-to-date with the latest color trends.
PANTONE 16-4132 Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue is not just for little boys and can be added to your walls of your home and office as a promise for clear blue skies ahead. If you are not afraid to roll up your sleeves and paint, the modern herringbone pattern allover stencil might be right up your alley. Paint it with this year’s trending blue color or any color you like. Whatever color you choose, this pattern will turn any boring wall into a modern and colorful space admired by all.
PANTONE 17-3020 Spring Crocus
Tantalizing and charming! Spring Crocus features a bold purple-lavender-fuchsia blend that is undeniably striking. If you wish to add this vibrant color to your home wall decor, check out the Watercolor Lotus Wall Decal. It will bring a sense of serenity to your space while keeping you up to speed with this Spring’s popular colors.
PANTONE 15-1520 Blooming Dahlia
Blooming Dahlia has an understated appeal. Easily add this gorgeous pink hue to your walls with the Soul Mates Wall Decal by Cristina McAllister. Soul Mates brings together elements of life, love, friendship and happiness as two winged hearts interlock as roots of love grow all around, sprouting new life. This beautiful piece with its beautiful message can be easily applied, repositioned and removed with no sticky residue.
PANTONE 18-1440 Chili Oil
Chili Oil will inspire you to get cooking and/or to get decorating. If you find this earthy brownish red pleasing to your color palette, check out Good Morning Birds Wall Decal by Valentina Harper, featuring two lovebirds atop a stack of teacups adorned with floral goodness. It bursts with happiness and features one of this year’s trending colors.
PANTONE 18-1028 Emperador
Emperador with its rich chocolate color does not disappoint. If this strong and substantial brown color strikes your fancy, consider using the Craftsman Allover Pattern Wall Stencil to update an accent wall in your home.
Happy spring and happy decorating!
When you welcome a new addition to the family, you want to make sure everything is perfect before you bring them home. For most parents, this means creating a beautiful nursery to bring baby home from the hospital to an oasis of comfort. Here are a few tips for a cozy nursery to help baby get settled in.
One of the best tips for a cozy nursery is to pay attention the lighting plan. The lighting should be soothing and gentle enough for baby, yet still offer visibility and stimulation. A great way to do this is with natural light from windows. You want to avoid it being too bright, so adding drawable shades in layers so you can adjust the light pouring in as needed is a popular choice. Of course, natural lighting will not be the only type you use since nighttime lighting is still a priority. To keep artificial lighting cozy, choose a warmer color temperature in terms of color output. A more yellow-tinged bulb will create a cozier feel than a bright white bulb.
Another one of the best tips for a cozy nursery is to add something lively to the walls with either decals or stencils. A nursery with empty, boring walls isn’t as inviting and cozy as one with a beautiful full wall mural or even a few carefully placed wall elements. The color is also important. When looking to create a cozy nursery, choose colors that are more muted rather than more vibrant. For instance, a light pink or light green would be preferable compared to a bright pink or red tones.
Every nursery deserves an area that is designated for the joys of cuddling your new baby. Any parent will tell you that rocking a baby to sleep is a special privilege and a cherished memory. To make these moments easier, you need a designated area that is warm and welcoming for both the baby and the parent. A comfortable chair, whether a rocker or just a lounging chair to cuddle in, as well as a footstool or ottoman to help create more comfort, is ideal for this crucial area that will remain in your baby’s life through toddler years. You should also add soft blankets, a pillow for back support for the parent, and gentle lighting that is dimmable for added cozy appeal.
One of the easiest ways to create a cozy space is to choose the right flooring. For a nursery, stay away from tile, hardwood, or carpet that is firmer. It is better to choose a softer, fluffier carpet, or fluffy rugs placed over firmer carpet at the very least, because your baby deserves a soft place to explore as they grow and begin crawling and later walking. It is important to think of a nursery as a room to grow in rather than just for the little newborn you are bringing home.
]]>Certain types of businesses need to maintain a level of professionalism. However, there are plenty of businesses that can benefit from adding some lively color in the form of wall decals. Here are the top 5 businesses that need wall decals to bring some new life to their décor.
A daycare is a place where multiple important functions are put in place for young minds. Not only is daycare a place where children of various ages learn important social skills, it is also a place to encourage their imaginations. An easy way to do this is with bold visual depictions of friendly characters and mural scenes. From farm animals to outer space themes, there are a ton of options to add some extra stimulation for young minds to a daycare setting.
A yoga studio is a unique setting where you want to use wall decals to add to the ambiance of the setting. For instance, the use of zodiac signs, chakras, or other metaphysical influences in the form of wall decals can add an extra level of relaxation and focus. Whether you choose to use these decals in the actual studio area or simply in the reception area as a warm welcome to visitors, they will add a lot of character to the space with minimal effort on your part.
Taking a pet to the vet can be stressful for pets and their owners. From the worries of what will happen to your little furry family member to the stress of the car ride over with an anxious pet, there are a lot of factors that can add to the stress of the situation for all involved. When waiting in the waiting room for your pet’s turn, it is nice to have fun, pleasing imagery to take in to keep your mind off the stress. With colorful animal-themed decals, liven up the space while adding visually pleasing artwork to walls.
Whether your child is under the weather or just in for their annual checkup, a trip to the pediatrician’s office can be a long, tedious, and sometimes stressful, endeavor. This type of space should be inviting and engaging for young minds to keep them preoccupied. With a waiting room full of friendly animals or an exam room with lively birds singing from a tree, you can create a setting that is less intimidating for little ones and their parents.
A coffee shop is a place where people go to do more than enjoy a cup of coffee in today’s world. As a hub for the remote worker, college students, and social hotspot for meetups, a coffee shop has become a central part of life for many people. Wall decals can add a special element to this special space. There are many options in terms of themes to make the walls of this space come to life for everyone that visits the shop.
]]>Wall decals are a beautiful way to add some extra charm to any space. When looking for a way to make a space more organized, shelving placed directly on the wall can be a great help. How do you make your love of wall decals and your need for proper shelving combine perfectly without any issues? We have a few suggestions on this matter to help make it work in your favor.
Most decals are made to be reusable, so you want to avoid anything that leaves a permanent mark on the decal that would make it unusable later on without the shelving in place. For instance, most shelving units will require you to drill a hole in the wall to place the mount on the shelf. If you are adding shelving around wall decals, drilling into the decal itself will make it unusable later on, as well as create a bunching effect that is less than ideal.
Another thing to look at regarding adding shelving around wall decals is whether or not obstruction of the decal is an issue. For instance, if you have a patterned wall decal that covers the entire wall, adding a shelf to the wall won’t affect the overall look that much. However, adding a shelf to a wall with a more specific decal, such as an animal or a scene mural, would be harder to add shelving to because it would obstruct the viewing of the decal. If you are dealing with this type of decal, you would need to add shelving to the outside of the decal, but make sure you don’t damage the decal. If you have a decal that doesn’t take up the whole wall and you are looking to add shelving below it, be aware of how the items you intend to store on the shelf will affect the visibility of the decal. You want to be able to see the decal fully to enjoy it so make sure you don’t cover it up by accident with the shelf contents.
There are a few types of decals that are better suited to shelving needs. One of the most popular options is to opt for a tree decal and then add individual shelves on the branches so it looks like the tree is holding the shelf. This is an easy way to achieve both the desire for added storage space and beautiful wall art without looking out of place.
If you can’t make the shelving addition work with your decal, you can try removing the decal and stenciling in a similar design or a different one that is better suited. The reason for this is because with a stencil creation you can easily drill into the paint without affecting the entire piece of artwork.
]]>If you love the flavor of fresh herbs when added to your meal, but don’t have the outdoor space for a full-blown garden, we have good news for you! Creating a countertop herb garden is relatively easy and affordable. Best of all, you will have all the fresh herbs at your fingertips while cooking. Here are the top tips on creating a countertop DIY herb garden you need to know to get started on this endeavor.
There are certain herbs which are actually well suited to being grown in small containers indoors. The top contenders for this are cilantro, basil, rosemary, sage, and dill. These also happen to be a few of the most commonly called upon herbs for cooking so it works out perfectly!
When it comes to your herb garden, there are lots of cute ideas on Pinterest you may be tempted to try. Before you jump on the latest DIY bandwagon, there are special considerations to keep in mind regarding the containers you will grow your herbs in. For instance, the pot or container needs to be able to offer enough depth for the growth of the plant, have water ports to allow for water to drain and be sturdy enough to support the growth rate and the amount of dirt required.
There are certain plants which can be planted in the same container, depending on the size of the pot or container. However, there are others which need to be grown alone. These herbs might not grow when placed with competing plants in the same container. You should also be aware of how much sunlight and water your herbs will need to be viable.
Going along the lines of knowing what each plant needs to grow at a successful rate, you should keep in mind you may need to have more than one DIY herb garden area. For instance, sage likes cooler temperatures with less sunlight whereas basil prefers a sunnier location with more warmth. If you have to have two gardens in two spots, there is nothing wrong with that at all.
]]>If you're still finishing your holiday shopping or you'd like to get yourself something special, this giveaway is for you! Right now through December 17th at 11:59 p.m. PST, you can enter to win a $125 gift card from My Wonderful Walls and a $75 gift card from Smiling Tree Toys. These are both digital gift cards and one lucky winner is going to win them both!
My Wonderful Walls offers unique wall decals and wall stencils for everyone from ages 1-92! Their fabulous, eco-friendly products are designed and crafted right in Chattanooga, TN and ship all over the world.
Smiling Tree Toys is a family owned and operated handmade wooden toy company in Minnesota. For over seven years, they have crafted all natural toys, ornaments, baby gifts, and gifts for the home!
Want to win some holiday cash to spend with both of these shops? Enter with our Rafflecopter widget below and make sure to tell a friend. Winner will be notified by email on or after 12/18/2017.
a Rafflecopter giveaway]]>
One of the more obvious of the unique uses for wall stencils is to add a lovely pattern to a favorite piece of furniture. Whether looking to add some raised texture to a coffee table with a metallic paint and a perfectly patterned stencil, or add a touch of vintage charm to an old dresser with branches outstretched and birds on the limbs, there are tons of creative ways to use your favorite wall stencils to transform drab furniture into something a bit more stylish and to your liking.
Wall stencils aren’t just for walls! While a perfectly placed stencil on the wall is a great way to attract attention to any space, you can also place a pattern on the ceiling or floor for a different approach to this popular style choice. While you may be able to use the same paint for the ceiling as you would normally use for the wall, you may need to look into a paint made specifically for flooring to ensure durability and longevity of your new creation.
Another way to use wall stencils to create something unique is to add some art to pillows and bedding. Again, you will want to look into an appropriate paint option, such as fabric paint which won’t come off in the wash, to ensure you use the right solution for not only the surface of the material but also the care instructions over time. This allows you to transform boring designs into some that are truly one of a kind for your home.
Who says all the unique uses for wall stencils have to stay inside the home? Dress up your mailbox with some cute stencil work to add much-needed curb appeal. Whether you choose to do something whimsical like the outline of a pineapple for a vibrant choice perfect for tropical settings, an intricate pattern for a modern appeal, or a puppy paws outline to show your love of your four-legged family member, stenciling a mailbox is an easy way to add some charm.
Of course, there is nothing that says you can’t use wall stencils to make your very own artwork! From adding accent borders to an already existing canvas of work to a stencil of a butterfly colored in your favorite colors, stencils can be a useful tool in the creation of art. When you want to experiment with patterns and colors on a smaller surface without taking up the entire wall, working on canvas is a great alternative which still allows you to hang the art on the wall when completed.
]]>When people start looking for Halloween party ideas, they tend to go a little overboard and try to make an intense 8-foot-tall mummy, an intricate fog and light show, or some other over the top wow factor for their guests. However, when you focus on the smaller details, the overall effect of the party is just as impressive without going overboard. Here are some of our favorite party details.
This easy project can add a lot of spooky, creepy crawly vibes to your get together. You can even add a black sugar rim to the glass for added appeal. Find out more here, http://www.pinkpeppermintdesign.com/
Another easy way to add some spookiness, this quick craft project from Martha Stewart uses Styrofoam heads, cheesecloth, and other basic crafting supplies. Imagine your guests being greeted by these creepy heads hanging in the entryway! Whether you prop them in the corner by the food table for a creepy-being-watched-vibe or place them so the cloth hangs down while people walk beneath them, these are fun party details sure to bring some scares. Find out how here, https://www.marthastewart.com/858108/cheesecloth-spirits?center=0&gallery=858105&slide=852844
When looking to keep punch cool for your guests don’t go with plain, boring ice cubes. The floating hand is a classic move every party should have! Not only is it spooky, but it is also functional! See how to make this super easy party detail here, https://boulderlocavore.com/off-with-your-hand-halloween-punch-giveaway/
If you are sending guests home with goodies, don’t resort to basic store-bought goody bags. A fun way to show attention to every detail is to try something different with this part of party planning. A popular option is to dress the goodies up as a mummy with eyes peeking through for a spooky detail. See for yourself here, http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/halloween-party-favor-mummy-candy-cans
While you can just throw together a bunch of different elements and call it a hodgepodge effect, having a unified theme is a great way to impress your guests and create a spooky environment for guests of all ages. From classic horror figures to the hunt for brains, there are tons of ideas for a theme.
If you love the classic movie monsters of the 50’s and 60’s, this is a fun way to bring those old movies to life. Embracing spooks of the past is also family friendly so the whole family will love it! From the Bride of Frankenstein to the Wolfman, there are lots of fun ways to throw a retro monster mash. Here are a few tips, https://www.wholesalepartysupplies.com/blog/classic-monster-halloween-party/
There is no denying that Harry Potter is one of the most popular themes for a Halloween party. When you want to bring the Wizarding World to life in your own home, there are several easy ways to pull this feat off. With a little bit of magic and planning, you can easily bring your guests to Hogwarts for Halloween! Here are some great tips on throwing this theme, http://www.eatingbender.com/2013/11/07/order-of-the-phoenix-az-a-harry-potter-party-in-the-desert/
For a creepy way to embrace the gore and fright of the holiday, you simply can’t beat zombies. With this theme, you can go as gory as you want with fake blood galore, or you can tone it down to keep it scary yet family friendly for children. Here are a few ways to awaken the undead for your party, http://coolmompicks.com/blog/2015/10/18/fun-creative-zombie-party-ideas/
When you want something a little more on the happy side of ghoulish delight, a pumpkin party theme is perfect! Age appropriate and easy to pull off, a pumpkin party can easily include festive activities such as pumpkin carving contests, roasting seeds, and other fun games that are great for all ages. Here are a few ideas for this happy fall favorite, https://www.thespruce.com/pumpkin-themed-party-2104558
For those unafraid of the things that go bump in the night, a haunted mansion is the perfect way to bring some spookiness to the party. Best of all, cobwebs are encouraged for this theme so skip dusting in September! All kidding aside, a haunted mansion theme is the right mix of terror and delight. Here are a few ways to bring this theme to life for your ghoulish house guests, https://www.marthastewart.com/275522/haunted-house-party?slide=3425698
If you are throwing a DIY Halloween party, don’t neglect the importance of a well-planned menu! If you go through all the trouble of carefully decorating for a haunting get together, but throw together some run of the mill appetizers or treats, you are missing out on a chance to impress your guests.
One of the best Halloween party ideas is to create the menu as a whole and connect it to your theme. For example, if you are throwing a Harry Potter themed Halloween party, all of the food from the drinks and appetizers to the dessert should be connected to the items from that world. Throwing a witch’s bash? Consider menu items such as witches fingers, bubbling brew punch, wicked witch cupcakes, or other menu items keeping with the overall theme. Here are a few great menu plans from Martha Stewart to help you get started on this part of party planning, https://www.marthastewart.com/856534/halloween-party-menus
While you probably put a lot of effort into finding the perfect Halloween costume for your little goblins, you might just throw on a pumpkin t-shirt at the last minute with all the hustle and bustle. Remember what it was like when you were a little kid and put on your Halloween costume at the beginning of the big night? Remember looking forward to that moment all day long? Bring that feeling of excitement back to life this year!
The best way to choose a costume is to connect it to your theme. Throwing a zombie party? Consider dressing up as a new twist on zombies such as a mama bear zombie, redneck zombie, or vegetarian zombie for laughs. The key is to make sure your costume goes well with the overall theme of the party and then put your own unique stamp on it. Another great way to pick a costume is to do a family or group costume. Here are some examples of themed costumes for the entire gang, http://www.womansday.com/life/g1898/family-halloween-costumes/?
Planning any type of party is a lot of work. With Halloween, the possibilities are truly endless! Whether you choose a more adult theme or a family friendly one, these tips and resources can help you plan the perfectly haunted soirée for your gang of ghouls and goblins!
]]>Today we have a guest blogger, Ash from Just Measuring Up who along with his wife Eileen are a dynamic team of home improvement and DIY bloggers. Read on to see what he has to say about working with our Hearts Stencils.
Have you ever see a gorgeous accent wall and wished you were able to replicate it?
Well, I have some good news for you! With the right stencil and perfect paint color, it’s super easy to create a stunning accent wall in your home. No artistic ability necessary.
Eileen found a heart stencil pattern from My Wonderful Walls that she fell in love with, knowing it would be perfect in our nursery.
The current pattern on the wall (from the original homeowners) was begging for an update. There were two black zig-zags with colorful squares between them that Eileen and I wished we had painted over before moving in.
And, here’s a picture of the gorgeous after:
It’s like night and day!
We usually just paint walls a standard color, so we were looking forward to having a little more fun with this wall.
To begin, I had to first start with a blank slate. This meant removing the current pattern. I used a high-quality white paint from Benjamin Moore and applied two coats to cover the pattern. I was hoping one coat would do the trick, but the pattern was still visible, so two coats were needed.
I did have to use my orbital sander a few times though. Some areas on the original pattern were causing visible ridges. It was a hand-painted pattern and had a lot of paint build-up on the edges of the zig-zag. I thought the white paint would cover and hide it, but I was not that happy with the result. So I just used the sander to make a few areas more smooth, and re-applied the paint.
Soon the wall was a blank white canvas, begging for some pink hearts. I read the instructions for using the Wonderful Walls template and watched their video tutorials on their website. The process was very straight forward.
Here’s a picture showing my setup:
Yes, that was a hair dryer you saw on the list. I should have told Eileen I borrowed hers for this project. She was confused on why I had borrowed it. It came in handy to speed up the drying process for the templates.
So, the template was sticky on one side and adhered very well to the wall. I started on one corner of the wall with the template attached, and started painting on hearts. I did my research ahead of time to know that some of the best results come from using chalk paint/stencil brushes. Luckily Eileen had one lying around that she used in a recent chalk paint furniture redo project.
With these types of brushes, a stippling technique would work best to apply the paint (where you gently pat the wall with the brush repeatedly until the heart was filled in with paint, much like a woodpecker motion - pat pat pat pat).
The key to forming a sharp heart pattern with the template was to use a minimal amount of paint. Too much paint would bleed under the stencil and create wavy edges on the hearts. I had a few hearts like these until I perfected my stippling technique with the right amount of paint.
To prevent too much paint on the brush, I just tapped the brush against some paper towels after each dip. Then I was start stippling the hearts. On average, I filled in around 3 hearts at a time before having to re-dip the brush.
Once all eight hearts on the template were filled in with paint, I tapped the brush on the four registration mark holes on the corners of the template. These left small pink circles on the wall that helped me with placement of the template as I made progress along the wall.
The registration marks were critical in getting a consistent distribution of hearts. The marks were only temporary though. A quick dab of the original white paint would remove them once all the hearts were applied.
After I finished each section, I used the hair dryer on a low speed / high heat setting to speed up the drying of the paint. I needed the paint dry before I could remove the template and reposition for another section.
About 10 seconds per heart with the hair dryer seemed sufficient to remove the template cleanly.
Here’s a picture of the wall after I finished my first section (the template is on the bottom):
The hearts were looking really good. It was just a matter of time now before the whole wall was hearted.
Here’s a close-up of some of the hearts:
Here I am half way through, caught with Eileen’s blow dryer:
After about two hours, here is the completed wall:
Eileen and I loved the way it turned out. We loved the quality of the heart stencil, which didn’t surprise us because we also loved the wall stickers from My Wonderful Walls, which we used in our son’s room.
The heart stencils are simply perfect for a little girl’s nursery. They would also look awesome in a craft room.
Aside from priming the wall from the previous pattern, the stencil took just an afternoon of work.
Overall, the accent wall was completed in a weekend, and Eileen and I were kicking ourselves that it took us so long to rid the nursery of the previous pattern.
Of course, here’s our dog Zeus, making himself comfortable in our updated nursery.
Who doesn’t love those hearts?! What a difference from the zig-zags!
Ash is a DIY blogger who, along with his wife Eileen, inspires others to embark on their own do-it-yourself projects through sharing their tutorials, tips, and ideas. Subscribe to their newsletter for DIY inspiration.
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There’s only one princess in your house and she deserves a fairy tale perfect party. Give her the royal treatment with this DIY Lace Crown instead of buying a party store plastic and bead crown. She’ll look extra special and you’ll be her hero. You can even create extras for the party goers.
If your princess would rather throw a baseball than a royal ball, bake this Couture Princess Sneaker Cake and score a home run. This recipe provided from Parents.com is easily made with store-bought ingredients. Not only does it look adorable, it will be made with love.
When dinosaurs are your kiddo’s favorite thing, you throw them a dinosaur themed birthday party. Instead of spending a fortune on goodies and games, how about making your own like this Dinosaur Fossil Activity fun for girls and boys! Danielle at A Crafty Spoonful shows you how to get ready for a prehistoric good time.
Add a fun DIY Dino Tee for the birthday guest of honor and they’ll be roaring with delight. Check out this no sew idea from Melissa at Sippy Cup Mom. How fun would this be for Halloween too!
If your kiddo is a fan of weird science, check out this Elephant Toothpaste Experiment idea from Come Together Kids. You just can’t have a cool science themed party without the kids doing some experiments, right?
The other ingredient that is a must for any fun party is a cool cake. How about this beautiful (yet scientific!) Surprise Cake for your future Madame Curie? You could easily change the colors on this if your birthday child is not a fan of pink and purple.
When it’s all about the engines and caboose, you know your son or daughter wants a train themed birthday party. If you’re looking for something different to entertain your guests try our Train Track Decal Set and some play trains! Perfect for walls but even great on the floor so little engineers can play pretend for hours on end. (Thanks to customer Bill W for the pic.)
Don’t let the fun stop indoors! Head out to the back yard for an “InTraining” Obstacle Course like Kristen at Celebrate Every Day with me came up with for her five-year old’s birthday party. You don’t have to follow her ideas exactly but this should give your mind chugging along with inspiration.
If your child or tween is looking for less of a themed party and more of a fun slumber party, she may be asking for a craft to do with her friends. Try this DIY Dreamcatcher idea from Art Bar Blog and make sure each guest goes home with something they made themselves.
Teens may be “too cool” for crafts and party games but one thing most love is taking selfies with their friends. Give your teen girl a beautiful backdrop for her pics with these easy to make DIY Rosettes. These are also perfect for a bridal or baby shower!
Whatever type of party you are planning this year, you can make it extra special with a little creativity and time. Let us know in the comments below what you'll be whipping up for your next party.
]]>If you love nature and want to bring a rustic feel to your home, you can easily create some DIY Tree Branch Projects in any room. Upcycling tree branches that would otherwise end up as kindling or wood chips is not only earth friendly but stylish. Whether you are working on a kid's room or your own space, decorating with tree branches and logs can bring the outside in and make your guests ooh and ahh! Here are just a few ideas we love:
Tree Branch Chandelier
Don’t fret when a storm knocks down those big branches! Turn them into something beautiful like this illuminating chandelier from Magdelena at Mama is Dreaming!
Birch Tree Placemats
Have a birch tree that needs a little pruning? You can turn those cut branches into a unique place mat as shown by Lucy in this Ehow.com post.
DIY Log Vase
Create a rustic vase or candle holder with a few simple steps and logs from your back yard. Britt from Hello Honey shows you how easy it is to create this natural décor.
Branch Seed Stakes
Following the idea of waste not, want not you can create fun seed stakes from the multitudes of branches you’ve collected through the winter and spring storms. Susan at Home Road shows you how.
Toy Tree House
Get the kids in on all the fun with a fabulous toy tree house made from branches and wood cutting boards. You can get super creative with this idea from Alex at Northstory.
Looking for more ways to bring trees into your decorating? Whether it’s a nursery, child’s bedroom, living room or your own bedroom My Wonderful Walls has beautiful tree stencils and wall stickers to create everything from a garden mural to a family tree! Check out our newest Breezy Tree and Birds Wall Decal for a natural looking tree with white birds and leaves. Or go for our super popular, colorful Birds and Tree Branch Wall Decals. You can also paint trees on your home furnishings with our easy to use stencils for a fun forest inspired room. Let us know if we can help you find the perfect tree design for your space and if you try any of these tree branch projects, comment below!
We have several different elephant wall decal options to choose from as well as an amazing elephant in our Jungle Safari Wall Stencil Kit if you’re decorating a nursery or child’s room. Two of our newest elephant decals are the Colorful Elephant Wall Decal and Black and Grey Elephant. Both feature an intricate floral design and are available in 4 great sizes up to 39.5” w x 48.7”h for a big impact!
You can also add a fun DIY Elephant Key Hook to your wall with this easy to follow idea from Creative Soul Spectrum. Though cutting off the lower body of the elephant may not sit well with some, you’ll have a super cheery key rack when you’re done.
Create your own Elephant String Art with this tutorial from Erin Spain. You can easily add this to a nursery or use at a baby shower for some unique décor. And once you’ve got the elephant down, you can adapt this to any animal or design you want.
If you’re good with a paint brush and have some time, check out this video on painting a beautiful elephant on a rock. The video was intended for those wanting to make money with their rock painting, but you can just follow along and create your own for fun.
Prefer something a little softer than a painted rock? How about a sock elephant you can sew yourself with these instructions and free pattern from Craft Passion? These are great for kids and in nurseries but let’s face it, sometimes even us grown-ups want something cute to cuddle.
But if you can’t or won’t sew, here’s an easy No Sew Elephant Pillow you can make with the kids. You’ll be able to print PDFs to trace the elephant on to your fabric so there's very little artistic skill required.
Want to add an elephant to your yard or garden? Try making a Clay Pot Elephant (scroll down). There’s even ideas for other jungle animals you can create and have a full safari in your back yard!
Throwing an elephant themed baby shower or gifting a basket to a friend who’s expecting and loves elephants? Create these super cute elephants from baby washcloths and you’re sure to get a big thank you.
If that’s still not enough elephants for you, check out our throw pillows and blankets with elephant designs and add a few extra touches to any elephant themed room! However you choose to incorporate elephants into your decor, they are sure to add the promise of good fortune and wisdom.
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