When I first started browsing art for Greta’s room, two prints became my springboard. This shiny, gold letterpress print from Sugar Paper (That whole site is…gorg. I’m crushing on everything they have.) that carries a message I wanted our girl to see and feel and know every day:
The second was this pink balloon photo print from the Max Wanger Print Shop. I loved the whimsey and the pink!! (This one was in the running, too.)
And then my sister, Andi, made this fun poster for Greta for Christmas (thanks And!)–and it had to go in her room.
And then I found Greta’s little blessing outfit and had to frame it (and, oops, sorry for not flipping that hanger yet, hanger peeps). Read more about that project here.
And finally, I wanted Greta to contribute as well. So I set her up to make her best painting yet. And she blew it out of the water. She worked on it every day, sometimes twice a day, for a whole week. I did give her colors to use and implemented these tips as well, but I never touched the brushes. She just painted and painted until yesterday, we both agreed it was done.
As you can see, it went through a lot of transformations and layers. Sometimes that’s how paintings go. You just keep painting until you find what your painting is in all of that pigment. Here’s how everything fits/looks on her wall:
I was going to stand on Greta’s bed to get a good frontal shot of the whole thing, but she was right there and I didn’t want to be a bad example. Ha! We went with black frames (and a black edge on the canvas) to tie in with the butterflies on the opposite wall and the black stitching in the curtains. Speaking of those curtains, they got some new swag I can’t wait to share with you tomorrow. As for this gallery wall, it’s done for now, but we’d love to keep collecting and adding to it as Greta grows. That’s the whole beauty of a gallery wall, don’t you know? Do you have a favorite piece? I could never pick–each one feels special to me.
A special thanks to Max Wanger and Sugar Paper for sending these prints to our girl.
28 COMMENTS
Ashley
6 years ago
I know this is an old post but I’m about to employ your tips with our three year old twins – it will be our first delve into real acrylics and I can’t wait!
cara
8 years ago
I LOVE this wall. Can I ask where you purchased your frames and what sizes they are. I love them!
Thanks!
cara
Chris Loves Julia
8 years ago
Oh yeah, they take up the whole wall! The two frames holding the horizontal prints are about 20″x28″. This one (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40243544/) and the big one in the middle is 28″x40″ this one (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30132527/). I cut the mats custom myself. The shadowbox is from Hobby Lobby and the canvas is 24″x24″ I believe.
cara
8 years ago
WOW thank you for the quick reply and information! :) Ikea here I come!
Tamsyn
8 years ago
This is such a gorgeous little gallery wall! I especially love the pink balloon art.
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action
8 years ago
This is beautiful. I love all the different aspects of it. :-)
Rachael
8 years ago
This looks sooo good! I love the colors together!
Andrea Peterson
8 years ago
Wow, what a gorgeous room it’s turning into… I want that art now, and I am far from a toddler. I can’t wait to see it finished!!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication
8 years ago
I love what you chose for her room! All of the art is gorgeous, but I think Greta’s painting is my favorite! :)
Jessie
8 years ago
LOVE it!!! It turned out so great. I can’t get over Greta’s painting that she did!!! Little kids can paint like that?? Not just talented children (with talented mom’s)?? :) I should let Max try that out, such a great idea! Also, that print by your sister is awesome!!!
We Grua House
8 years ago
Hey thanks Andrea for replying. What a great gift and talent to share! I bet Greta (the great) loves it! It looks like talent runs in the family!
Patty
8 years ago
I got chills and my heart skipped a beat. Dramatic. but true. It’s soooo Greta. Come do Joey’s room!
We Grua House
8 years ago
I love it all, especially the art from your sister. How did she make it? Not to be a copier I just know my boys would love something like that.
DoublClik
8 years ago
Hey, I’m Andrea, Julie’s little sister, and I was just about to leave a comment here after being thrilled to finally see the print on Greta’s wall. (I had Julie in the family Christmas grab bag this year)
Im a photographer and avid Photoshop enthusiast, and design lots of prints and posters in Photoshop. I used Julie’s mood board for Greta’s room to pick colors for the design and hoped for the best! Definitely risky to gift a DIYer something for the walls of their home!
(Looks great Jules, I wanted to gift you a frame with it even if I knew it might not be right for Greta’s room. You’re the queen of rearranging and reusing!)
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home
8 years ago
PERFECT.
Katja@ Shift Ctrl ART
8 years ago
Love that whole collection. It looks really great with the gold, pink and lots of white space.
Cassie A. @The-A-Days
8 years ago
This looks so fun and bright. It definately adds a playfullness to the mature look of the room. I think that all of the art meshes well together!! It’ll tie in to her pink closet! Can’t wait to see the curtains. (I mentioned you on my blog today!)
Chris Loves Julia
8 years ago
You are so sweet. Thanks for the shout out Cassie!
Meagan@Meagan Tells All
8 years ago
What kind of paints did you use for her painting? I want to do this with Brinley! She loves finger painting but this is a bit more sophisticated! I am in love with the gold lettering print. Amazing!!
Chris Loves Julia
8 years ago
I used my acrylics, and a few craft paints. She actually did better with the craft paints because they are a bit more liquidy.
Jennah Watters
8 years ago
DESPITE the hanger (lol), I love this! The painting is my favorite. My daughter is 1 and we are working on some art for our bedroom, so I gave her some crayons to scribble with to hopefully have her first scribbles (!) on our wall. She banged the crayons on the paper a few times, then tried to eat them. So I’m just reserving a space for future art :)
Chris Loves Julia
8 years ago
Hahaha. The Hanger!! After I started putting this post together, I thought Ohhhhh crappp!!! And by that time it was dark outside. My apologies. ;) And I am pretty sure Greta was eating crayons at 1 too. Lol!!!
Amy
8 years ago
Looks great! What is that little hexagon thingy near her painting?
Chris Loves Julia
8 years ago
It’s a wall door stopper. They are ALL OVER THIS HOUSE!!! We have started painting them the same color as the wall in an effort to blend them in, but man, they are eyesores.
Anonymous
8 years ago
Have you ever checked out http://www.lindsayletters.com? She’s a hand calligrapher and her artwork totally seems to fit in with your style! PS – I love this gallery wall… especially with how the black frames tie into the black butterflies! :)
Chris Loves Julia
8 years ago
Wow! Beautiful stuff. What a talent.
Kristi - SimplePrettyThings
8 years ago
Love it! I can’t pick a favorite they all work together beautifully and it’s so well thought out.
vicks27
8 years ago
Fresh and pretty. I like this a lot.