Posted by Walls Need Love on 11/16/2011

Our guest blogger (and satisfied WNL customer :) continues . . .

Brad the Dad's birthday is Christmas Eve. Can you believe it? So I decided to create my special wall calligraphy and designs (otherwise known as vinyl wall decals) for that special day. I told him I would need to close off the den for at least a week and work in absolute isolation -- and no peeking! I swore the whole family to stay out of the den and not open the door at all so I could work in total privacy.

Cynthia, Brad and Julie all agreed to my terms. Now to get busy! I asked Brad the Dad what his favorite quotes were so I could incorporate at least some of them into my designs. He thought about this for a while. Then he grabbed pen and paper and started writing. He filled a whole page! Much to my relief, he said I could pick just a couple of favorites to illustrate.

When I got home, I looked over the list and chose a couple of quotes. Then I fired up the old computer and went to the Walls Need Love site. I love their Custom Text Tool. It lets me design my own vinyl wall art in just a few minutes. I worked up my designs and ordered them. Then I chose a couple of abstract designs to go with the "calligraphy."

My vinyl wall decals arrived just a few days later. I was so thrilled with them and wanted to get to work right away. Instead, I enforced discipline on myself and tucked them away in a closet. I didn't even let Jonathan see them.

That Saturday I went to the discount store and bought some small art brushes and acrylic paints. I bought a palette too, and a little carrier for all of my art supplies. I wanted to look like a genuine artist. After all, I am a genuine artist, at least with vinyl wall quotes.

December 17th rolled around. I carried my art supplies over to the in-laws' house and sealed off the den. I brought the latest Ruth Rendell novel in my big purse to pass the couple of hours I spent there that evening with the door firmly shut. Then I made some paint splotches on my palette, opened the door just enough to squeeze through, and washed my brushes in the bathroom sink.

I came back every day for another work session. That novel sure was interesting. I love mysteries. Maybe that's why I always insist that gifts be surprises. I put up one of the vinyl wall decals the second night, in case somebody sneaked a peak. It looked great.

Every night before Christmas Eve, I put up a little more of the great vinyl wall art. It was exciting to watch my masterpiece take shape. Of course, I also dipped my brushes in the paint and washed them out in the bathroom sink after my artwork was done for the night.

The unveiling on Christmas Eve was a great success. Brad the Dad was so proud of my wonderful calligraphy and wall designs. He congratulated me on my great paintings. Then we all sat down to a family dinner. Later we attended midnight mass. Then we gathered around the tree in the living room and opened the rest of our presents.

The biggest haul went to our little Krista Noel, who will make her appearance in about a month. Mostly, she got art supplies. She'll have to wait a while to use those.