Thursday, May 7, 2009

Interior Design Meets Art

In interior design circles it's becoming apparent that vinyl lettering is the new art of interior decor. Like stained glass was to the 60's and green shag carpet was to the 70's, wall words are to the 2000's. However, I wouldn't consider wall letters a fad as was the green shag carpet. I think that this wonderful new type of elegant home graffiti is here to stay.

Many businesses and home owners alike are seizing the opportunity to use vinyl letters to decorate and adorn their spaces. Businesses use it to plaster logo's on conference room and receptionist area walls, while home owners utilize the vinyl wall lettering for add a touch of personality to the rooms of their homes. Many designers, like Mary McPhail, who worked as a copywriter for 25 years, love the power that words can have on our environments. In fact, this is one of the reason that wall lettering has created such a stir in the interior design community - because it combines the power of words with the functions of good design and color to product truly stunning effects in both home and office decor.

Rob Reichart from Sales Corp International also found a way to put vinyl wall lettering to good use by plastering sales related motivational quotes on the walls of his sales floor. The vinyl lettering kits allow him to customize his quotes, and they're easy to apply and remove, which allows him to change them as frequently as he would like without the need for costly paint.

Get Inspired by Your Surroundings

The DVD "The Secret" has created quite a stir, especially in the motivational and inspirational industries such as personal coaching, business, etc. When I first watched the movie, I loved it. I'm not sure if I believe in the "meta-physical" aspects of the secret, but I love the quotes, and believe that mindset is key to accomplishing anything in life. I really loved a few different motivational quotes from the movie, and as such, I wanted a way to prominently display them in my home office using vinyl lettering. The wall words displayed on my office wall now inspire me to always act on my ideas, and bring them to life. Wall letters are a great way to accomplish this because they can be changed frequently as your goals and motivational needs change Vinyl wall lettering is a great way to add some inspiration to your home office, and it is always more attractive than a "sticky note" affixed to your wall.

There were a lot of great quotes from the movie. Much more than positive thinking, the Law of Attraction focuses on how we are feeling and how those feelings can change our lives. Have you ever started out having a bad day, and then the day just seems to get worse minute by minute? That is the law of attraction in action. Surrounding yoruself with positivity is one way to get the most out of life, and to accomplish your dreams. No matter what your surroundings are - office, home office, etc. - some wall lettering with an inspirational quote can do a lot to lift your spirits, and attract the positive energy that will impact your mindset for the better.

Good Vibes In Home Decoration

Many people believe in good omens, the law of attraction and the like. Maybe your beliefs are less meta-physical, but you truly believe that " you reap what you sow." Using some inexpensive vinyl lettering you can sow some good blessings for those who visit your home. When welcoming someone into your home, making them feel welcomed and loved is probably at the front of every homeowners desires.

Well, what better way to instill a message of gratitude and blessing than with a wall lettering kit from Wall Stamps. The kits are available for entry way, living room, and any other room in your house. You can select what ever theme you'd like, and there is a wide selection of wall words for any occassion, message, or decor.

A Nursery As Adorable As Your Baby

As the day of your baby's birth draws near, there is one thing that most mothers want for their nursery decor - that is something that is unique. One way to create unique decor for your child's room is to use vinyl lettering. Wall words offer the ability to customize your graphics and lettering to make it completely unique. You can choose the graphics, color, quote, and size of the wall letters. Another thing that makes vinyl wall lettering so attractive for a child's room is that you can change the decor simply, and inexpensively as your child grows.

When designing your baby's room, you will probably want to decorate your baby's room with a theme. Maybe you decide on a jungle theme or a princess theme or even a farm animal theme. After painting the walls the color of your theme, you will most likely find some great pictures to hang as well. Add in some figurines, toys, and bedding and you might think the room is complete.

There are some great ideas for nursery rooms using vinyl graphics. These include a variety of lovable animals that can be purchased in coordinating colors and multiple sizes. Some vinyl companies give you the option to choose to have these animals done facing the opposite direction. With this, you can have an assortment of vinyl wall animals jumping all around your new baby's room and it won't break your decor budget.

You may also choose to add a custom wall monogram above the head of your baby's crib. The great thing about using vinyl lettering is that you can get as extreme, or as simple as you'd like. Wall letters are easy, and inexpensive enough that you have a wide array of options to choose from, without taking too much time, or breaking the bank.

Cute Kids Deserve Cute Decor

Once in a while you hear a quote that you just love. I heard one that I just had to create in vinyl lettering for my daughters room. The wall letters I created have become such a hit, that we offer the quote on our website, in the child & teen room section of the website. The quote is "Cinderalla, proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life." I loved this quote, and my daughter loves Cinderella, shoes, and the whole nine yards. If you've got that special girl that loves Cinderalla, Princesses, or shoes...this wall words kit would be the perfect decor item for her bedroom. It's simple to apply, inexpensive, and will ad a personal touch to any girls room.

Kick Your Office Decor Up A Notch with a Golf Themed Room

Do you, your kids, or your spouse have a passion for Golf? Why not surprise them by creating a golf themed room. Whether it's a little boys room, or a home office, using some vinyl wall letters you can quickly, inexpensively, and easily create a golf themed room that you'll love spending time in. It's really quite easy to do and doesn't even have to be permanent. Below are some tips to help you on create your golf themed room using vinyl lettering and wall words to achieve your own little golf sanctuary.

After you select your room, Maybe it's a den, a bedroom, or an office, it needs to be a room you enjoy spending time in. After all, what would be the point in creating a golf themed haven in a room that rarely gets used? Also make sure other people who use it (such as your spouse) won't dislike the golf theme. You can also decide how permanent or temporary you want the theme to be. If you're considering moving in the next few years, maybe painting the room a dark green isn't the right choice. Or, if you're planning on staying for years to come, go ahead and paint. However, no matter how permanent or temporary your plans, one thing is certain. Vinyl letters can help you achieve your desired look, and can be either permanent or temporary. They're also very inexpensive, and can be custom ordered in a number of sizes and colors.

Value Your Values

There is a quote by a famous religious leader that I used to tell my daughter. I used to tell her to "be true to who you are and the family name you bear." So, I only found it fitting to put this saying on a wall next to a picture of her and I. No, I didn't paint it, but rather used vinyl lettering. Vinyl wall lettering is a great way to add a favorite quote or inspirational saying to any wall in your home. It makes a picture stand out, can uplift and inspire. Furthermore, it's simple to install, and inexpensive to boot! Give wall lettering a try, I'm sure you'll love it as much as we do.

Unique Gifts for Less

One of the things I love about vinyl lettering is that with a little creativity you can use it to make some very unique gifts that may look very expensive, but are in reality very affordable. Custom vinyl lettering offers so many choices in creating unique gifts that we couldn't possibly mention them all. However, here are some of our favorite gift ideas using vinyl letters:

Decorative Signs

It's amazing what a little bit of acryllic paint, and some cusotm vinyl lettering will do to a plain 6x24x1" wooden board. Paint the board with acryllic paint, distress the edges, and apply some vinyl lettering made specifically to fit the board (available at Wall Stamps), and you've got the makings of a beautiful wooden sign. One of the favorite gift ideas we give for weddings, or christmas is a decorative sign with a couple's name and est. date. Use your imagination to choose the fonts and colors that will truly make your sign stand out.

Etched Pyrex Baking Dishes


Just about everyone has glass baking dishes, whether their Pyrex, or another brand (my favorite is Ikea, only $7.99 for a large) you can turn an ordinary glass baking dish into a truly unique gift with a reverse lettering kit and some glass etching creme (available at almost any craft or hobby store). Use the reverse lettering kit as a stencil, brushing the etching creme onto the exposed glass, which will etch the lettering into the baking dish. We have often etched the phrase "Baked With Love from the Holdaway House" into the bottom of our pyrex dishes. This sure does beat using a sharpie or masking tape...and you usally get your dishes back after loaning them out, or cooking dinner for the neighbors.

Decorative Tiles


Decorative tiles are a great gift. They are great to display on a mantle, desk, dresser, or entry way table. With a little bit of customization, you can create a truly unique, one of a kind gift that will show that special someone just how much you care...and how much thought went into their gift. Decorative tiles make great gifts for young women, friends, teachers, and grandparents. A 6" tile is inexpensive to buy, and the lettering kits from Wall Stamps are also very reasonably priced.

While there are numerous ways to use vinyl lettering to create unique gifts, these are some of our favorites. We'd love to hear what your favorite vinyl lettering gifts are. You can either comment on our blog, or email me at anna@wallstamps.net

Show Your Teacher Some Love

If your kids have ever had a really rotten teacher (yes, there are plenty of them out there), then you know how wonderful it is when your kids have a really exceptional teacher. Someone who goes the extra mile, above and beyond their job duties to help children learn and prepare for life. The sad thing is that these exceptional teachers don't typically get any better compensation or recognition than the apathetic, lousy, and detached teacher does. That's why it's important to show appreciation for those exceptional teachers out there. A little recognition from parents of their students goes a long way to help a teacher feel that their extra efforts don't go unnoticed. Here's where we as parents come in, by showing them appreciation with small token that will be treasured for a lifetime. One such token that I've found to be exceptional is a decorative tile (6", 8" or 12") that can be created into a decor piece, or momento for the teachers desk. Something with a quote of gratitude, or teachers is usually appropriate.

In the sample tile in this photo, we took a 6" tile, and using some vinyl lettering from wall stamps, we transformed an ordinary tile into a beautiful work of art - something that almost any teacher would love. The vinyl letters are pre-spaced, easy to install, and come packaged with installation instructions if purchased from Wall Stamps. Also, if you can' t find a standard item you like, custom vinyl lettering is also always an option.