Shop Now!

Dresses from Shabby Apple

Blog Roll

Living SavvyPhotobucketPhotobucket beneath my heartMy Repurposed LifeWelcome to daily d !The Shabby Nest Decorchick! RedouxBecolorful crissy berry button180x150button

My Button!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Alabama Country

Hi ya'll and welcome! After checking out my last several posts I realized I have been talking more and doing less...oh well! Sometimes you have so many ideas flooding through your head that you just can't decide what to start next...or is that just me? I guess I have been taking a little break. Not by choice, but a break none the less. 
So I decided I would share an older project that I did 
before I even knew blogs existed. 
Our home church in Alabama, River of Life, needed an updated nursery, and since I love to paint in a BIG way, (another crafty thing I have done forever), I offered to give the nursery an "Out in the Country" feel. Since I didn't know I would blog this, I don't have any before pics, but the room started with plain blue walls. I started with the green...like this...
The start of some hills
I kept going with the green....all around the room...
Filling in the hills
Every field needs a tree, right?....Even though I do use stencils and a projector on some parts of the mural, this tree was done free hand...
A tree is born
Needs work
While I had the brown paint out, I free handed a fence...that went all the way around the room. Next I added leaves to my tree...more green paint...and depth to my hills...
More fence...more hills...more leaves


If I remember correctly...which is doubtful, I added the pond next...
This pond is the third try...frustrating!
I added a cow...and then another cow...For this step I used a projector and  a picture of a cow. This is kinda like coloring a picture out of a coloring book, but bigger. Sorry I didn't take a pic of this step. The great thing about using a projector...anyone can be a muralist...yes, I mean you!
Cow #1 with the beginnings of the grass
Cow #2 with grass sprouts...more grass later
I wanted to add some flowers to the field so I used a stencil and then filled in to make them look a little more "real". 
Stencil before filling...
Filled and shaded
I don't really remember the exact order of things, but I added a thicker fence, grass all over including the baseboard, and a bunny in a meadow...
Bunny in a meadow, more grass...more grass, and a thicker fence
Still needs an outlet cover
Of course, as a DIYer I just couldn't leave it alone, so I added a frog in the pond, dragonfly, butterfly and yes...more grass...
Don't ya just love frogs?


One of the butterflies
Dragonfly and more flowers
Unfortunately, I am not great at painting or drawing people...but to add a little "people" life, I decided on a farmhouse and barn...right down to the American flag...
Farmhouse, barn....
Closeup of my dream house
And now for the whole thing...Starting at the left of the door and going around the room you can get an idea of the final results...I hope....
Left of door into nursery....Wall #1 pond and cows
Right of door...Wall #2 hills (sink, not painted:)
Corner from wall #2 to wall 3
Farmhouse...wall #3
Entry gate...wall #3
Other side of gate
Wall #3
Bunny... Wall #3...Corner to Wall #4


Tree, flowers...Wall #4
Corner wall #4 back to Wall #1 pond


And back to wall #1 pond...
Sorry some of the pics are not so great, but like I said I just took these for me....and now you. All the kids seemed to really like the new nursery, and I loved doing it. The whole project took about a month, working 2-3 days a week...all day...well worth it! 
We moved right after this, so I didn't get to enjoy it long, but maybe I'll paint another room at the church when I get home. 


Linking up to these fabulous parties:


Sunday's Best Linky Party!you are talking too muchThree Mango Seedsyou are talking too muchBecolorfulCreations by KaraMondays @ All Things Fee!Sumo's Sweet StuffEverything Under the MoonBoogieboard CottageThe Southern InstituteDays of Chalk and Chocolatefingerprints on the fridgeDelectableHome Tip Junkie handmade projectsPhotobucketHOG RomanceOnADime.comI'm topsy turvy tuesdaysCraft & Tell shabby creek cottageIhookedupwithHoHlamespiceFine Craft GuildThe Shabby NestThe 36th AVENUE

21 comments:

Belinda said...

That is just amazing! I've painted murals before and they are a tremendous amount of work, so I know how much time and energy you put into this. It's fabulous!

Kammy's Korner said...

Oh that is so neat! I love the farmhouse/barn scene. Great job - very impressive!

cathy@my1929charmer said...

Wow, I can't believe you painted this. It is beautiful. I love all the special touches, frogs, butterfly, dragonfly etc. It really sets it off. I also love the farmhouse and that would be my dream house too. Really outstanding job. Thanks for sharing your inspiration at Sunday's Best and again for the reward. I'll be posting mine next week since I self inflicted myself with a 7 day pillow challenge!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, this mural is incredible! Its too bad you couldn't enjoy it for longer.

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Beautiful job Lori, such talent. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a message.

citicasita said...

Love your mural. I've painted murals before in places I lived and someone called it "Art for Arts sake". Now I decided whatever I paint will be portable, therefore the next mural I'm planning in my head will be painted on portable boards and hung on the wall. It;s a lot of work to be left behind. I "Distress Painted" two doors that can be taken down and moved. Love your work. Thanks for sharing and joining up.
Diddie

Diddie

Artsy VaVa said...

Very cute! I love that you even painted over the door!

Unknown said...

Such a pretty job you did! I bet the church and kids really appreciated it!

Debi said...

WONDERFUL JOB dear Lori!! I love it!! I paint on wood... anything wood!!! lol. That way they can be taken with whomever they are painted for... never painted a whole room mural! I have mural envy!! Love yours hon! Thanks for sharing!!! :D

Jill said...

Oh my goodness - that looks amazing! Great job! You have such a talent!


Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Kelly @ Here Comes the Sun said...

This is so amazing. You're very talented!

Erin said...

This is so cute, and creative! I love the gate/window. Well done!

Betsy @ Romance on a Dime said...

Wow - that's really impressive. That must have taken a lot of work. Well done!

jacky @ small home love said...

Wow amazing job what a fun room. I love how the window ia an entry.

Brooke said...

Ok, so Lori, I knew people didn't like to put in the password, but where do I go to turn that thing off? I cannot find anything that sounds like what I want. :) Please help!

Tisha Clapp said...

You are so awesome! This is incredible. I love the little cows. Thanks for linking up @ the Delectable Home!

Unknown said...

When I first clicked on this post is was because I LOVE the color of the door, but what a surprise when I saw the rest! Wow!! Really beautiful!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

Wow, that is simply amazing!

Unknown said...

Lori, what a great labor of love! I know the time involved, I use to build sets for our youth group and stage our VBS scenes each year! Great job! Thanks for sharing at the Rock 'N Share!

Unknown said...

Hi from Alabama! What a beautiful thing to do for your church, I know they miss servants like you! Blessings!

very merry vintage style said...

Wow it's gorgeous! Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday!
Mary