Meet Baby Duck. Also known as Baby Godzilla, benevolent ruler of a small colony of Playmobil people.
Or possibly just a set crasher at a recent photo shoot the firefighter and I set-up.
Ever since the boys moved into a shared room after Christmas we’ve been trying to figure out how to decorate their space. After a fresh coat of paint we hung photos from my ’365 Project: Brothers’ and then we hit a decorating wall (literally and figuratively). At 4 and 6 their interests are in some ways consistent (Lego, Playmobil, vehicles, Secret spies) but at the same time they’re always discovering new interests (military, Spiderman, jungle animals, space). How were we going to come up with a bedroom theme that they would both agree to AND would be relevant to their hobbies for more than 5 minutes
In the end I ditched the idea of a theme and instead created custom works of art representing a few of their favourite things:
The monkey loves his stuffies and the firefighter is a diehard Lego fan:
They both love matchbox cars and Playmobil:
We set-up their toys on the white backdrop in my studio and then photographed each collection of beloved items. I created custom canvases (14×14) through Canvas Pop, which arrived on our door step less than a week after I ordered them online.
The best part is that they bring a great punch of colour to their room and both boys love the photos. Plus as they get older we can just add additional canvases to the display as their interests expand.
With tax and shipping the order came to $240, which some might consider a steep price to decorate a kids room. But if you factor in the money we saved by not buying themed bedding, artwork, or other kid/movie-related merchandise on a yearly basis as their interests change, I think it’s a great deal. Plus it makes the photographer in smile every time I walk into their room. And given the number of times I walk into their room to (a) put away laundry (b) clean (c) break up fights, that has to count for something.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Very cute. I love the idea of taking objects they already have and love and making art out of them. And I’d been wondering about Canvas Pop’s pricing…now I know!
I have many many of their canvases and I love them! The firefighter is already plotting another canvas but I suggested he wait for Christmas or his birthday
Wow, that is cool! I am far too cheap to do that – all of our decorations come from yard sales or were given to us or purchased as momentos. But it looks really neat!
My question is how did you find all of the playmobil persons hair? Mine frequently lose theirs to one of their friends, and then you can see right into where their brain should be.
Their room is very much about them; photos of the boys together, their favourite stuffies, name decals on the wall, and four huge masterpieces that they made at 4Cats. It’ll never be a design show case but we love it
phenomenal idea!!! love it!
It was a lot of fun to do, which makes them even more special
That’s such a brilliant idea.
I am a little jealous of the (obviously) expansive Playmobile collection. I LOVED them as a child, and still do. Our collection pales in comparison. We have just one equestrian-themed set.
It’s all I played with growing up and Playmobil still rocks my world
I just wish we had a more more gender neutral or animal related sets – everything we own seems to have wheels!
Oh I love this so much! So creative and bright and cool and THEM!! Just wonderful!!
Thank you!! I could easily fill our walls with canvases
Love it! I once made my younger brother a jazzed up bulletin board by glueing LEGO pieces around the frame of a plain one. He loved it and your canvas art reminded me of it. I think the plain one in the Little Man’s room is begging for a similar renovation. And a canvas of a photo of him and his favourite uncle.
Yes!! I love the texture of canvas (and Canvas Pop’s products are even wipe-able). The firefighter would love a Lego bulletin board.