by Amber Bryant

If I try to picture a classroom, it always looks like the ones I grew up sitting in – rows of lift-top desks, a wall of cubbyholes for stashing backpacks and umbrellas, and the horrible analog clock hanging near the ceiling, just so we could all watch as those precious daylight hours ticked away.

The focal point was always the chalkboard, which stretched from one corner of the room to another and had to be sectioned so the teacher could stay organized between subjects. The capricious teachers would scribble words that ran into each other or suddenly went vertical due to a lack of space.

The systematic teachers drew neat boxes with chicken-scratched labels like “math homework” and “for next week,” but the board still ended up looking like a chalk game of Tetris by the end of the day. Kids who couldn’t handle too much visual stimulation would complain of headaches… or maybe I just wanted to visit the nurse and read her copy of the latest Vogue Living. I’ll never tell.

Now that I’m all grown up, I have the privilege of calling a few great teachers dear friends. When one of their birthdays rolls around, I usually have no problem finding the perfect gift. I like to think this particular skill of mine is sharp because I’ve spent so much of my life staring at one teacher or another, studying the moves and wondering what makes teaching such a one-of-a-kind job. The briefcases and corduroy jackets are just fabulous, but there’s more to it. Adults who are normally shy come to life behind a podium if given a chance to teach others something they feel passionate about. Young or old, seasoned or newly trained, teachers possess their own brand of style. Even Lilly, who will be a kindergartener this fall, appears to recognize teacher chic and has recently shown an interest in helping me browse for gifts to usher in the new school year for my academic pals.

Teachers can always use help staying organized. Some of my favorite teacher helpers to give are laptop sleeves made from recycled wetsuits, stamp-making kits for grading with personal flair, and funky bookends for holding up a collection of inspiring books. Chalkboard decals or whiteboard decals are also great for classroom decorating and eliminating the need to split the main chalkboard into more manageable sections. A space for homework or project deadlines is harder to miss if it’s separated from the regular jumble of instructions, field trip notices, and sentence diagrams. The school nurse’s regulars will just have to find another reason to visit.

It’s amazing how much moving costs even after you’ve forked out the security deposits, the utility setup fees, and the regrettable sojourn to Home Depot to buy boxes because it’s Sunday and your local liquor store is closed. A new home presents new decorating dilemmas, especially if you’re a renter. Even if you’re planning to stay for a while, the landlord might not want new shelves installed or framed photo galleries nailed to the too-blank wall above your couch. What’s a cash-poor, décor-savvy renter to do?

1. Think temporary, but not too temporary. If your landlord is okay with you painting the walls, remember that you can’t take it with you when you go. It might be better to spend your money on something you won’t have to throw away, such as reusable wall decals.

2. If you’re purchasing something you plan to keep, why not spend a bit more money and go for quality pieces? The better the quality and color, the bigger the impact on your living environment. Cheap items are great filler, but they can cost more in the long run if you find yourself still searching for that special, just-right detail.

3. Unique colors and patterns can be eye-catching enough to change the aura of an entire room. If finding the right ones cost extra, just remember that good style is timeless and bubble wrap is plentiful.

4. If you’re having trouble finding a painting that doesn’t look like someone swiped it from a hotel lobby, hit the art supply store and make your own. Blank canvas ranges in size from teensy to rather large, depending on the size of the space you’d like to accent. Find an image to “interpret” by painting your own unique version on the blank canvas. Recreate the back of your favorite cereal box, or that decoupage tray your grandmother kept in her china cabinet and tragically gave away before she moved to Florida. Change the colors, exaggerate or minimize details… you’ll be surprised at what comes out during a creative frenzy. The paint can get expensive, but the painting you make will last forever, especially if you spray it with finisher. On the day it no longer tickles your fancy, slap a bow on it and give it to your artsiest-fartsiest friend.

Remember that almost everything can be reinterpreted and reclaimed. If you’re sick of those glasses you bought at IKEA years ago, put them in a thick paper bag and smash them to bits with a hammer. Glue the pieces to a plain wooden picture frame, or use food coloring to dye mosaic tile cement and decorate a clear candleholder.

Your empty wallet and minimalist landlord aren’t enemies – they’re simply catalysts for coaxing out those special nesting skills only a champion renter can possess. While you’re saving for worthy pieces or decorating projects, fill up your social calendar with aesthetically inspiring activities. Perhaps other members of your coterie are feeling the pinch of a flailing economy. Plan to exchange homemade paintings instead of store-bought presents at the next holiday party. You might be surprised to find out which of your pals can channel the home and garden gods.

WallCandy’s removable chalkboard decals were just endorsed by Bon Appetit magazine. But not for the dust-free taste of our special chalk!

The influential foodie publication just offered readers its Top 50 tips for “Easy Kitchen Updates” that make a dramatic impact. And our peelable, stickable chalkboards came in at #31, surrounded by trendy appliances and eco-friendly decor.

Here’s what the Bon Appetit editors wrote:

“CHALK IT UP: For playfulness and practicality in one, hang a chalkboard. These are intended for kids’ rooms, but our features editor put them in his kitchen and his family uses them everyday for menu ideas, shopping lists, doodles and reminders.”

Well, there you go… another testimonial about the versatility of our chalkboard decal collection, which features traditional rectangles in addition to shapes of a Big Apple, Safari Animals (elephants, giraffes and rhinos), Circles, Royal Palace Crests (Rococo), and a School Bus (Vroom!).

The Rococo style chalkboard was recently featured on NBC’s Today Show, with host Ann Curry giving it her personal blessing.  “I’m groovin’ on that!” she said.

Sure, kids love these chalkboard decals, but they also make great conversation pieces and practical message boards in teacher’s lounges, offices and artists’ lofts.  Please let us know where you love to hang ‘em!

The latest issue of Parents Magazine (March 2010) praises the style and science behind Smarts Bees & Trees

Q: What’s Black and White and Red all over?
A: A sunburned penguin.

Q: What’s Black and White and Red all over?
A: A newspaper covered with spilled strawberry syrup.

If you are decorating your first baby’s room, you likely have been spared from the onslaught of mundane jokes and riddles you’ll find on Popsicle sticks, cheese stick wrappers and Dixie cups. But rest assured, your time is coming.

In the meantime, black and white patterns should be especially relevant to you when you think about how to adorn the walls for your precious bundle.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a newborn’s vision is most attracted to high-contrasted patterns such as checkerboards, bull’s eyes and stripes. And color recognition really doesn’t kick in until about four months.

With pediatrician and ophthalmologist guidelines in mind, we designed the adorable Smarts Bees & Trees collection ideal for both girl and boy babies.  Bees are especially appropriate since it was the birds and the bees that got you in this situation in the first place!

Our removable Smarts decal set includes more than 30 inches of checkerboard, seven small bees, two large bees and six wall sticker photo frames.

We’re flattered to have the Smarts Bees & Trees decorations be endorsed in the latest issue of Parents Magazine (March 2010).  And as the magazine notes, our Bees & Trees can be enhanced with a splash of color at age four months (when your baby will appreciate it the most) and with photos of your family in our snazzy removable frames.

We’d love to see pictures of how you’ve incorporated WallCandy Arts into your children’s world. Become part of our Customer Inspiration Gallery!

(But please don’t send us any riddles.  Right now, WallCandy Dad is already feeling a bit overwhelmed).

Fly Society is one of my very favorite designs. It’s sweet and whimsical with a touch of modern sophistication. I like it so much that every time I redo my daughter’s room, I always incorporate a few bird cages in whatever design I’m experimenting with.

I met the ladies at Kuku Nest Bedding a few years ago at a trade show in Vegas, fell in love with the lantern design and quickly placed an order. This design looks fantastic with Fly Society wall stickers and after about the 50th inquiry as to where we got that bedding in our installation, we decided to write a quick post about it and share with all our readers in case there’s anyone else out there who was wondering but didn’t feel like sending us an email to ask.

Here’s the link to buy your own set. Enjoy.

http://www.kukunest.com/bedding.php?theme=lantern

Let your dears know you love them by decorating with our irresistible deerly beloved wall decals. The soft-eyed pink and blue deers with hearts, flowers and mushroom decals are sure to melt all hearts this Valentine’s Day. And your wallet will love our $40 sale price.

Want to bring some luv home for Valentine’s Day? Surprise the ones you love with a message spelled out with our luv letters wall decals. If you really want to spice it up, stick the vinyl decals on the ceiling. The letters can be bought individually so that you can spell out whatever you want, And because they are removable wall decals, you can change the way you express your love any time you want. Get the letters in pink with birds or blue with stars – or mix things up and get a few of each!

Our chalkboard wall decals are the perfect place to write a love note. Surprise a a spouse, child or even a dear friend by writing a note on the chalkboard decal and then sealing the package back up again. And they will love you even more once they see how they can use the removable wall decal chalkboards every day to jot down notes, write plans for the day or just for doodling. For a child, roar of your love on one of our chalkboard animals.

- Allison

Take a bite out of the rest of the school year by giving our big apple chalkboard wall decal to your child’s teacher.

Let your teachers know they are appreciated with this variation on the classic “apple for a teacher.” Teachers can use it to write daily messages to students, class to-do lists or to write out class lessons or homework assignments.

Or pick up a bushel of the chalkboards to give to family and friends who like to cook. Pick one up for a housewarming gift.

The removable wall decal is the perfect accessory for a kitchen warmed by a home-baked pie. It is a great spot to jot down shopping lists, dinner menus, and quick recipe ideas. Or for a friendly greeting to guests. The removable wall decals are better than chalkboard paint because they can be moved around the room as you redecorate.

Pair the apple chalkboard with this homemade apple pie from Grandma Ople for a memorable and scrumptious gift. I’ve been making this pie for years and it is yummy!

- Allison

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.

• Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.

• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Grandma’s Apple Pie Recipe

When all the presents have been opened and played with, don’t wait around for your kids to complain that there is nothing to do. Grab a Wall Candy Arts decorating kit and turn redecorating into a fun family project.

Here are a few ideas to get you started..

Read a book about dinosaurs, our favorite is How Do Dinosaurs Love Their Dogs?, and let the dinos come to life on your walls with the Dyno-mite wall decals. Give your child free rein to move them around and create the scene. Maybe the T-Rex and the Stegosaurus are battling at first and then they turn around and march together to eat a parachuting man.

Enjoy the adventures of the adorable polka-dot loving puppy, Lily, in Little Lily’s Polka Dot World as she discovers polka dots everywhere – even on her tongue. The colorfully polka-dotted houses and clothes can give you ideas for decorating with the Dottilicious wall decals.

Don’t leave baby out. Sing Old MacDonald with your little one and point to each animal as you build a farm scene with the grazeland wall decals (now discontinued). Make the sounds for each and encourage your child to mimic you as you look at the nature wall stickers together.

Or hoot, hoot, who through the irresistible book In My Tree with baby and then create a cozy nest for your little one with the Nightly News wall decals.

- Allison

If your kids are wondering who all those people are that they saw over the holidays as you rushed between your aunts and uncles and in-laws, make a family tree with our season tree wall stickers to show them how you are all connected. It is a great way to decompress after the holiday excitement while cherishing the joyous memories of the time spent with family.

Take photos of all your relatives (and copy or photograph old photos of relatives who have passed, if you want to include them too) and get a photo sheet of thumbnail photos made. If your baby is too young to see them, use wallet-sized photos. Put them on the leaves of the trees to create a family tree and talk about all the branches of the family. During the year, your child will enjoy seeing the photos of relatives as you talk about what is going on in their lives. And it will be a comforting decoration for your children to look at as they fall asleep.

But even if you don’t turn the season tree into a project with your children, it is a fun wall decoration that fills your room with life, even when the trees outside are changing color and their leaves are falling to the ground.

- Allison