Hope you all enjoyed the playroom photos yesterday! Today I’m posting a few more details about the artwork, and I plan to post a tutorial on turning the photos pink in Photoshop as I have received many questions about it. I’m sharing printable versions (check out the pink margin to the right of this post to download) of the smaller prints; they are all phrases I often repeat to Vivi, my favorite being “have a happy heart”. I think she really grasps it (well, as much as a 22 month old can!) and repeats it back to me. I really want her to learn that having a positive, optimistic attitude (or a happy heart!) regardless of circumstances will make a huge difference in her life, and the lives of others. The “Little Bitty Pretty One” piece I created by writing it out with a small paintbrush and black acrylic paint on some handmade wrapping paper I found at a local craft store. It was really easy, and I think the “less neat” it looks the better, so don’t be intimidated if your handwriting isn’t perfect. I have a hard time not making it neat, so it’s not quite as “natural” as I’d like, but it was fun, and super quick and easy. The cat prints are from one of my favorite children’s books I read as a child, “The Color Kittens.” The illustrations are divine, so I scanned them and reprinted them because I found them so very inspiring. I adore the “We Love Reading” print, and I asked DecoyLab to make the brown in the print black to go with the rest of the room.
As for how I got the prints made, I’ll give away one of my secrets. It’s a good one. I have a few digital printers I use in town, and it is actually much less expensive to have large scale prints done on wood than it is canvas. I go to Home Depot, or Lowe’s, and purchase a large sheet of 1/2″ birch plywood (1/4″ is too flimsy to lay flat, and 3/4″ is much too heavy). I have the store associates trim it to the size I would like, and then take it to my digital printer to print. It’s fantastic, and considerably less expensive than canvas prints. It’s not quite cheap – but it’s affordable. If you don’t know of a digital printer in your area, then google “digital printer Atlanta” or whatever your town is, and visit their website or call to see if they are able to do “direct to board” printing. Hope that helps some of you trying to do something similar! They really make an impressive statement, and you don’t have to frame it or anything. I don’t even finish the edges, but they would look extra nice with some edge painting in a contrasting or coordinating color. You can also ask if they do larger posters – a lot of them do, and that’s especially inexpensive and you can always go the adorable washi tape route to avoid purchasing a large, custom frame. Definitely check it out – you’ll be addicted in no time . . .
