Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Transportation Art Project: Completed!

Back in May, I got the idea to decorate Will's nursery in a transportation theme (this allows me to incorporate fire trucks in his room without it being overwhelmed by them). I was inspired by Pottery Barn Kids where I saw these pictures:

However, they cost a little over $80 per picture after tax. This got me thinking that I could make these myself - it just looked like canvases decorated with paint, scrapbook paper, and Mod Podge. I called my artistic friend, Marisa, to see if she could help me out since I'd never painted anything except for in my elementary school art class. I have done plenty of artsy projects in the past, and knew I would be able to at least draw the pictures & then learn/improvise from there.

This is how the canvases started:
Marisa showed me how to use acrylic paint & different kinds of paint brushes, and after our first day working together, this is what we ended up with. She took responsibility for the tractor, and I did the others:

We got together again about a month or so later and got this far:
We were then going to get together today to finish them, but Marisa was stuck without a car 2 hours away. I kept thinking I should just get them out and finish them myself, but I made the excuse that I didn't own any paintbrushes (plus I was intimidated to do the letters without Marisa). However, the nesting instinct really kicked in, and I wanted to finish the pictures today. So I went to the craft store and guessed at the paintbrushes I should buy, came home, fixed up some details on the canvases, braved painting the remaining letters, painted the borders, & added the finishing touches. So here are my completed Transportation pictures. I'm so proud of myself. I knew I would be able to do it, I'm just so happy with how well they turned out & that I made something so cute for Will's nursery (plus to make all four of these cost less than the price of buying one at PBKids).
Thanks for your help Marisa! I had so much fun hanging out with you & doing yet another crazy art project (not quite as crazy as our President t-shirts: Abe Lincoln (Marisa's) & George Washington (mine) drawn with sharpie on neon shirts & then accessorized w/ gold sequin eyes, puffy paint & cut out quilt fabric for clothes - good times).

19 comments:

  1. Hooray for you!!! They look amazing and I'm so glad I could help (although you didn't really need me). Let's do more!

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  2. *awesome*. good, good job, liz!

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  3. They are SO CUTE! I wish you'd made a duplicate set for Sam - you still can, you know.

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  4. I think that they are cuter than the ones from Pottery Barn! And made with the LOVE. Good Job.

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  5. Those look awesome!! William will love them:)

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  6. Very cute!! You did such a great job.

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  7. You did a great job Liz, they match almost exact. That is so cool. You should go in business. Although it looks like a lot of work!

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  8. This are so cute...they look amazing! You are very talented.

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  9. Liz that is SOOO CUTE! Good job-- we are so excited to meet lil Will. Our boys won't be too far apart, we'll have playdates for sure.

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  10. They look sooo good! They've got nothing on PB.

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  11. Wow, they look awesome, good job! They really look like you bought them.

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  12. I wish I could do something like that. Wow! You are amazing!

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  13. SO CUTE! You have inspired me! Good luck on the home stretch!

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  14. Just to add to everyone elses' comments!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Come to Ava's bedroom! Hope you're feeling well and we can't wait to meet your Wee One!

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  15. I think you are amazing. Soooo , what did you get at the shower? Sorry I had to leave early... my babysitter was only 10 yrs old and I told her I would only be an hour.

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  16. I just saw pictures of you on Emily C's blog from your baby shower. You've grown in the past month!!! You look so cute. Call me after your doctor appointment - I want to know your progress.

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  17. Liz you are amazing! I wish I could be as crafty as you. They turned out so good. I can't wait for baby William to be here!

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  18. Hey Liz! This is Stef (Fosson) Delorey. I saw your blog on Marisa's. How are you? I haven't seen you in forever. You're due i just a few weeks that is so exciting! You look great. My blog is markandstef.blogspot.com You can go check it out. I'm so glad I found you. It's always fun to keep updated on everyone!

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