Name Signs

This year we added some new wooden name signs to our website. The first few have made their debut and there are many more on the way! Hoping to hit every price point and size option meaning you should find one that will be just perfect for you!

Large round wooden name signs hand painted in high quality Osmo stains and waxes. Find this sign here: Nixon Sign

Shabby Chic Devyn sign done in a hand distressed white wash stain and vintage inspired accents. Find this sign here: Devyn Sign

 

This large round wooden name sign contains the first and middle name along with a bird and flower accent. The round board is hand distressed with coordinating accent colours showing through. Find this sign here: Hana Sign

Win A $500 Gift Certificate!

 

As many of you may remember, last year I did a similar raffle because my husband and I were raising money for the Canadian Diabetes Association so we could go to Iceland in August of 2015. What you don't know is that we didn't make it on that trip last year. Almost a year this April my mom, who was going to watch our children for us while we were away, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. At that time we decided it would be best to postpone the trip for a number of obvious reasons. The "unknown" being a big one. We had been well on our way with the fundraising but luckily Team Diabetes allows you to save the money you've raised and transfer it to another race at a different time when the circumstances are as ours were.

I'm happy to say that my mom is still with us and continues to fight her battle every day. (Insert #cancersucks hashtag here.) Postponing the trip has allowed us to get all our ducks in a row so to speak and now we're gearing up to try again this August! My sister will be coming to watch our kids and Iceland bound we shall be! But we still have money to raise!

We have a few fundraising events planned but this raffle was so successful last year I thought I'd give it a go again. So what is it exactly? What can you win? Only $500 of the best handmade, custom items out there of course!

Here's how it works:
You click here and purchase your  raffle tickets: RAFFLE TICKETS!!  
(Tickets are $10 each or 5 for $40)

We will randomly draw for a winner on April 30th, 2016. We will contact the winner via email and send them a gift certificate. Winner shops our store online for whatever their little heart desires! Easy!

Of course, you can also make a direct donation as well. I won't turn you away! Here's the link to my very own personal page: Kristina's Page

HAPPY!

Here in Alberta we've had a very mild, not-typical winter and it's felt like spring for all of February. Blue skies, warmer weather and sunshine inspired these new signs I created today! Measuring 21" x 12" and done in a rustic, barnboard style they're the perfect addition to brighten any room! I currently have these two in stock in my Etsy shop (where I put all the in stock stuff by the way!) so hurry over and grab one up!
Custom orders are always welcome as well!
I hope you're having a HAPPY day too!
~Kristina

Barn Board Name Signs

The idea hit me on Saturday. I had the first one done on Wednesday! What can I say? When I get excited about a great idea I just have to DO IT! I think you'll love this one too.

They were added to the website today. Rustic barn board look wall signs. Although my first thought was for kids rooms with a child's name on them I had friends that quickly jumped all over the family name sign for their homes. In a matter of (literally) minutes they were waving hands in the air saying "Pick me! Pick me!" for samples. So with their influence for names and colours the first four samples were born this week. I'm really happy with the results and I can't wait to do more. So many options with this one.

The finer details? These barnboard look name signs are made from one solid piece of wood that is designed to look like rustic barnboard. The name is cut separately in the font of your choice and attached on top. There are three sizes to choose from depending on the name length, plenty of font options and whatever colours your little heart desires!
 

Small: 1 - 3 Letters - 22x13.5"
Medium: 4 - 8 Letters - 30x18.5"
Large: 9 - 13 Letters - 42x26"

So? What do you think? For pricing and details click here: Barn Board Name Signs

Why I Won't Paint Disney Princesses

"Can you do a Winnie The Pooh theme? "My son really likes Pokemon. Can you do Pokemon letters?"
These are questions I get asked A LOT. My answer is always no. No, I will not paint Winnie the Pooh, Pokemon, Superman or even your favorite NHL logo. Why? I'll give you  some great reasons why I won't paint these or any other COPYRIGHTED characters.

First and foremost is the big one that I already mentioned - If it's copyrighted by another person or company I will not paint it. Period. Aside from the fact that I value my business enough that I don't wish it to be shut down by the high and mighty powers that rule our children these days, all of these characters were created by another artist. Another artist! As an artist I don't want people to copy my work so why would I do it to someone else? This also includes exact matches of bedding. As pretty as bedding is - fabric is also created by an artist and copyrighted.

When I tell people that I don't do copyright artwork I often have them say, "but I see other people doing it." Yes, other people do. I am not them. I cannot speak for them to say why they do it. I will not tell them to stop and I will not report them to shut them down. I would rather focus my energy on bettering my own business and working hard at creating unique products that are not the same as what you can find everywhere.

Being creative is the fun part. I love the challenge of creating my own designs and just letting the paint and brush guide me. Often times I'm making up the picture or design as I go. It's how I work best. It's why my products are different than any others you see out there. To copy someone else's work is to crush my creative flow. Trust me. It shuts down the fun, creative side of my brain and makes me have to work the other part. The part that does math and all the other boring stuff that makes me stress. No thank you! If you want an original, unique piece of work that has my heart and soul in it then let me create! You're hiring an artist not just a letter painter.

Here's another big reason: If you're the mother of any kid over two you get this. Kids grow fast and they change their minds constantly! That character that rules their world today? Forgotten as soon as the next big movie or trend comes out. My artwork isn't cheap. It's meant to last and withstand room makeovers. If we paint today's character on there how happy will you be when tomorrow they pronounce someone different as their new fav? Choose something that will stand the test of time and the changing of bedding.

Bedding. We all did it. It's our first pregnancy and we're sucked in by all the SO CUTE bedding for babies out there. We have time. Lots of time. Time to shop, time to plan the room, time to create the perfect nursery for our new bundle of joy to come home to.

Fast forward a couple of years and baby number two is on the way. That time thing? Haha. Who has that anymore? Baby one has to change rooms so baby two can move into the nursery. Now baby one needs toddler bedding. But the letters! The letters match the baby bedding that will now be used for baby two.  Well that was a lot of money for letters that don't match anything now! 

So what to do? You have a theme picked out. Gorgeous bedding. You want the letters to match. I dislike the word match. Let's coordinate. Pull a colour out of the bedding and go with solid letters. Solid letters will last through any room change. They will always go. They will withstand the stages your child goes through as they grow. 

You REALLY love your bedding and you want the letters to match. I get that, but let's coordinate. I can use some of the colours in the bedding and we can create something that will coordinate and still work even if the bedding changes down the road.

Here's some great examples of letters I have created for people that coordinate with their room or theme WITHOUT copying. Hopefully this will inspire you, too.

If characters are your thing, well, I can coordinate with that too. See if you can guess what the room themes were that inspired these designs!

New! Initial Name Letters for Boys!

Since we debuted our Initial Name Letters a few months back they have been our new best seller. We are having so much fun coming up with new designs and colour combinations but one thing that I've been thinking about is that so far all the designs have been very feminine. Although beautiful, the damasks and rustic pinks have not been very appealing for a more masculine room. 

So, I'd like to introduce a new font that I think will be perfect for all those boy's rooms out there! Here's our first one, hot off the presses! Let me know what you think of it!

Order yours here: Bouncing Off The Walls

New! Monogram Wall Letter Sets

Finally! I've had enough requests for them and after realizing that they're  hard to come by here in Canada I decided it's probably high time to develop a line of Monogram Wooden letters. I carefully went through pages and pages of font styles and picked three that I thought were gorgeous, worked well for decor and were different from others out there.


Monogram Wooden Letters are all the rage! Big and bold they sure make a statement. Fantastic for weddings, family photo walls and nurseries they are classic and will give you the longevity you look for when shopping for home decor. These wooden monogram letters will be sure to last through the years and grow with your child regardless of room theme changes!

At this time we're offering them in four different finishes: Solid colours, Dazzling Metallics, Glitter and Unpainted for the Do-It-Yourselfers. Soon we will be adding rustic, shabby chic and two-colour monograms so stay tuned and make sure you follow our Facebook page for updates!

Each monogram has one large letter that is 28" high in a fancy font of your choice. The smaller letters are in the classic Times New Roman font and are 8" in height. Cut from 1/2" thick  Baltic Birch when you purchase our wooden letters you are getting top quality. No MDF here! Every letter is painstakingly hand sanded, hand painted and finished with a protective spray. 

As the Monograms are a larger item we found the best way to hang them is with two-sided tape. This gives a nice, flush mounting with the wall and provides a sturdy connection to assure nothing will fall off. If you wish to have hooks instead you can choose so in the options when purchasing your piece of art.

You can order yours here!

New! Dazzling Metallic Wall Letters

When my paint supplier sent me some samples last month I fell in love with the metallic paints. I had some basic silver and gold ones previously but hadn't really given all the colours a try. Well, I'm so glad I did! They are fabulous!

Finely ground metal flakes make Dazzling Metallics the brightest, best covering paint for shiny wall letters that will stand out in any room. Dazzling Metallics are available in a palette of bright, glittering colors from delicate translucent pastels to deep rich, shades.  Priced the same as our solid colour letters these metallic painted wall letters are affordable and have a faster turn around time than our artwork items.

I've also been using the metallic paints in some of my custom artwork. They just add so much depth! Whether you have modern decor or vintage inspired, with 19 colours to choose from you are sure to find the right one to compliment any room!

 Check them out on the website here: Metallic Wall Letters

Vrooom!

Alphabet Packages are a big seller for us and we're always getting requests for different idea for them. To try and stay on top of the demand we are slowly, but surely adding more and more new packages as we get the chance to roll them out. Our latest? A Transportation Alphabet! Perfect for a playroom or a boy's room with a transportation theme it includes plenty of vehicle, motor and road sign elements that work together as a wonderful centerpiece to any room!

In this alphabet we've added some 3D effects such as the stoplight "i", the wheel "O" and the railroad crossing "X". Buy this alphabet painted and ready to hang or unpainted to save money and paint in your own colour theme. 

 

We also recognize that a lot of you are building your own alphabets by collecting letters from various sources. We often get requests to purchase just the "button O" or the "lighthouse from the Nautical Alphabet Package." Well, we're proud to say that now you can purchase these Alphabet Elements right off of our website! Check them out! Most would make awesome wall decor, too if you don't want to put them in an alphabet!

Shopping Spree

I discovered Etsy about a year ago. Maybe I shouldn't share it because if you've never been there I may get you hooked and you'll be mad at me! Etsy is a marketplace for artists and crafters from all over the world to sell their wares. There is a wide range of items from artwork to clothing to jewelry to.....well, some really odd things, too! I wanted to share with you some of the cool things I've found that would go great in kids rooms or nurseries. If you are looking for those extra little, unique items to tie the room together then Etsy just might be your place to look!

These big and beautiful pom poms by PomLove are my latest discovery and will be a new addition in my daughter's room! Tissue paper pom poms in various sizes to hang from the ceiling add a punch of color and texture to any room. Sold individually or in sets the prices make decision making easy!

How about this mobile by Just Peachy By Georgia? This whimsical mobile of feathered friends can be custom designed to suit your color needs and is sure to be a focal point!

Ok, I've seen some pretty funky step stools over the years, but the ones I found in Artompotamus' shop take the cake! Hand crafted out of pine and hand painted they are completely unique! Better make sure to get more than one if you have multiple children as I'm sure they'll be fighting over this one!



Lastly, Maple Shade Kids has long since been a favorite shop of mine. This eco friendly store makes gorgeous wooden peg hooks and collage art. The hardest part is deciding what I like best!So if you have a minute, check Etsy out. You may be surprised by what you find! But don't blame me if you spend all of your paycheck!

2010 Sneak Peak

Not many days remaining in 2009! Can you believe it has been ten years since the whole Y2K thing?

As I push through orders in the hopes of being able to take a little break in January I thought I'd let you in on a few things to look forward to for next year!

Firstly, newsletter subscribers and Facebook fans are going to be the ONLY ONES eligible to take part in a pretty cool contest coming up with a pretty cool prize so if you aren't one or the other (or both!) then I suggest you take care of that now so you don't miss out! You can sign up for the Bouncing Off The Walls newsletter on the home page of our site or there is a sign up box here on the blog in the right hand column. You will find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bouncingoffthewalls

We also have new products and new designs that will be added in the New Year. Many of which come from your own ideas so stay tuned to see what's coming!

I will also be announcing where you will be able to find us! Everyone who's met me at trade show knows that there are always deals to be had by ordering in person. Soon I will be letting you all know where we will be and you can come down and see the products first-hand!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to a fantastic 2010 with you all!

Hair Bow Holders

One of the newest additions to Bouncing Off The Walls and now one of the more popular items is my custom hair bow holders. I have to admit that as a mother of a boy a hair bow holder was not something that had even entered my mind as a must-have item! Then along came a daughter in 2008 and things around here sure shifted! Said daughter was not only born with lots of hair, but CRAZY hair to boot! When you're born with hair like that everyone starts buying you hair accessories to try and tame the wildness!

But where to keep all these lovely bows and korkers? Clippies? (Ya, I had to learn a whole new language too!) I found some nice bow holders online, but of course the creative wheels started turning and I thought, "how great would it be to make bow holders that were COMPLETELY customizable?" Not just the colors or personalization, but what if I could make ANY type of bow holder requested?

And so I set out doing just that! I hand cut all my bow holders from 1/2" thick Baltic Birch plywood and I can pretty much do any design or shape imaginable as they're done entirely free-hand. That's what makes them so fabulous!

I do have to say that they've actually become one of my favorite items as I'm free to just draw the design and cut it as I see fit!

One of the biggest requests lately though is to make some that you can also hang hair bands on. I'm working on it! When I make one that I know will work and is of high-quality you'll be the first to know!

Until then, keep those ideas coming! I love them!

Toy Boxes Are Here!

Finally!! One of the most requested products has finally been added to the line up at Bouncing Off The Walls! Why did it take so long for me to sell toy boxes? Because I had a hard time finding quality ones that I wanted to paint! Who wants a toy box that is cracked, lopsided or just plain cheap and flimsy even if it is painted beautifully?

Our toy boxes are none of that! (Well, ok...they're painted beautifully, but there not any of those other things!) Serguei from Khorin Custom Woodworking builds my toy boxes for me and he builds the best toy boxes around! Out standard one is solid pine with reinforced corners, anti-slam hinges and an air space for in the event a child should end up inside it. It measures 34"x20"x20" so there's plenty of room for even larger toys.

Every toy box is built to order which allows for changes to the design of not only the artwork, but to the box itself. Serguei is a woodworking genius and can craft the toy boxes from different woods and change whatever you want! It's as easy as contacting me with your ideas and I will give you a quote!

It's All About The Extra Touches!

Recently I've had a large growth in the sales of my custom, hand painted drawer knobs. Customers are having them made up to match previous items they've ordered like letters or a growth chart, but a lot are just simply looking for that special little touch that can finish a room off and give it that extra little WOW!

All knobs are painted on a 1 1/2 inch round mushroom knob then sealed multiple times with a protective spray to protect them from daily use. Use them on dressers, night stands or even closet doors! They're funky, fun and definitely pleasing to look at! For more designs check out Bouncing Off The Walls!