Paint, Hang or Stick

Fingerprints, ketchup smudges, crayon scribbles and, later, first names and absent-minded doodles surreptitiously scrawled in pencil. All of them cute enough in their own way—but art, they are not.

When you’ve had your fill of gazing at junior’s misplaced experiments in graphic design, hose down the wall and bring in the experts. A new trend towards customized wall art is making nursery and kids’ room décor refreshingly fun. Gone are the days of plastering the place with tedious wallpaper prints and matching borders. Today’s choices range from creative stick-on (removable) art to custom wall murals—so get creative!

A Child’s Dream is an Ottawa business run by Chris Marion, a graphic artist who creates personalized wall murals, accessories, paintings, bedding and draperies, and more. Her motto is: “If you can imagine it, we can create it!” If your imagination typically has more potential than your wallet, fear not—consultations are free, and prices depend on scale and complexity.

Animal lovers should check out Melanie Bailey Creations. Melanie’s reasonably priced paintings of farm and safari animals make extraordinarily original shower gifts. Paintings are acrylic on canvas, come in three sizes, and range in price from $25 (for a set of four six-by-six paintings) to $78 (for a 16-by-20 canvas). You can choose from 12 different animal designs and infinite colour combinations.

For a personal touch, we like Names Framed by Ottawa’s own Marguerite Roberts. Tell her your child’s name, favourite colour and favourite thing (i.e. car, trains, flowers) and she will put together a beautiful handmade and framed piece (like the one pictured here) just for your little Jack or Jill.

If you’d rather just pick something off the shelf, consider “wallcandy”, sold by wallcandy® arts  and available at Red Chair Kids in Wellington Village—peel & stick decorations in an impressive variety of sizes, colors and styles, including giant stick-on chalkboards. This may be the perfect solution for the indecisive (or for those whose kids are insistent do-it-yourselfers). The artwork can be peeled off and reapplied in a blink—so rearrange at will.

Down a notch in price, Home Depot sells similar appliqués. Check out the vast array of Blik options and if you really must succumb to the Nemo theme you might find them there too.

With so many easy options, there’s no excuse for blank walls—so start decorating!

A Child’s Dream
(613) 850-6133

Melanie Bailey Creations
www.canvasedge.com

Names Framed
Pcooke4@cogeco.ca

Also available at:
Glebe Side Kids
793 Bank Street

Wallcandy® Arts
www.wallcandyarts.com

Red Chair Kids
www.redchairkids.com

Home Depot
www.homedepot.ca
(search for “appliqués”)

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