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Artist and Designer Aaron Christensen's Blog for Embellishments Studio.  Art, kids design, display, store design and pediatric office theme builder.
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DMCA Reporting Links

11/5/2019

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What is DMCA?  Simply, internet retailers and sites that host products, posts and distributes information gleaned from the internet must provide a way to have the information removed if it is infringed upon.  This process, if adhered to by the site keeps them safe from lawsuits for infringement.  In most cases reporting means filling out a form that asks you to identify the material infringing and provide verification you have a right to report it.  Again, as this buffers them from lawsuits, they are usually quick and efficient in removing the infringing material.  This not only applies to sites, it applies to hosting companies that "host" sites that infringe.  Meaning, if xyz retailer sells infringed goods, and you can not get them to stop, you may be able to file a DMCA takedown notice with their hosting company ie.. HostGator, GoDaddy, Ipage, Shopify etc.  You can also report any links that Google provides in search results, image results or imagery within Youtube and have that taken down.  Meaning, if xyz retailer shows up selling infringed goods in Google shopping and there's a photo on Google image of it, you can have those taken down too by reporting to Google.

Special note:  If you are dealing with a foreign company infringement, many countries do not comply with US copyright law but you can work fairly effectively in tamping down their US sales by reporting the http links of which your property appears on social media, search platforms or sites that are located in countries that do comply with US copyright.

I am not a lawyer and this information is being shared purely from my experiences as an artist that has been infringed upon often.

More on DMCA-

https://www.dmca.com/faq/What-is-DMCA


Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/legal/ip/report

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/report/infringement

Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/about/copyright/dmca-pin/

Google:
https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905?hl=en

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/634636770043106

Helpful Information

https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-submit-dmca-takedown-notice/

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SPORTS SCOREBOARD WALL ART NEW COLLECTIONS

9/20/2019

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I painted my first scoreboard back in 2004.  It was picked up by Pottery Barn Kids shortly there after, as the first they ever offered.  Since then, with the launch of Etsy in 2005 and Pinterest in 2010, the idea has been uh-hum copied, re-copied, butchered and even bettered.  So every once in awhile I like to bust out a new one, just to stir up the mix and see what comes about.  Instead of one, this year I decided to launch several.
Allstar Vintage Scoreboard Wall Art Decor by Aaron Christensen
The Allstar vintage look sports scoreboard. I simply features Home and Guest and scores so it can be used with any sport.
Sandlot Baseball Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
The Sandlot Baseball Scoreboard features a rustic style emulating an old board that one would see in a run down neighborhood sandlot.
Rough Game Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
The Rough Game Scoreboard features iconic imagery and text from a variety of boards and is portrayed in a "Rough" illustrative style.
If you would like to see all of my scoreboards you can see them HERE.
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Sports Wall Art decor launch - Rough Game series

4/2/2019

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You know how you can end up going down the Google rabbit hole?  Well, I was doing research for client and somehow ended up looking at old abandoned buildings.  One struck me, it was a Eastern European stadium.  It was an old Olympic training site.  Since its closure graffiti artists have taken up residence to cover the concrete with their art.  The loose illustrative style and the bold images in monochrome inspired me.   Announcing the Rough Game Series a collection of sports imagery layered upon chalky white, rendered in black, white and shades of gray.
Sports Art Gallery Wall featurings a scoreboard, acrylic name plaque and other art by Aaron Christensen
The 13 image collection offers baseball, basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey and golf as subjects as well as a multi sport scoreboard, a trophy piece and some motivational posters.  Presented in framed, poster and canvas options, they would make great statements in a gallery wall type presentation or showcased as individual nods to a sport.  To round out the collection, I've also included some studio made decor such as the personalized acrylic name plaque and the black canvas pillow.
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I'm honored to announce that I've teamed up with my artist friend Mari Robeson to dedicate 20% of the collection sales, during April to a cause dear to her heart.  Mari is the love and creative force behind the Louise Monforte Memorial Arts Scholarship.   Its mission is to financially aid achieving high school students in their pursuit of art and dance.  You can read more about Mari and her in memorandum scholarship born out of the love and loss of her sister Lou Lou on her website - LOUISE MONFORTE MEMORIAL ART SCHOLARSHIP
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Riffing off of the art collection, I've created a fabric series as well.  It is available from my Spoonflower.com fabric shop.  With their array of fabric choices, the patterns would be a great coordinate to the art as bedding and pillows.
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I hope you enjoy the collection.  Your interest in my art is appreciated and so are all the likes, shares, pins and comments!

Rough Game Sports CollectionTHe Rough Game Sports collection

$20.00 - $249.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$30.00 - $179.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$18.00
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$20.00 - $249.00
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$18.00
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Remaking dollar store ornaments into a vintage style

12/13/2018

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I love vintage ornaments and Christmas decor.  The patina of time just adds something special to them whether its a bit of fading, tinge of tarnish or the flattening of colors into a mellowed palette.  Sadly, the good stuff is expensive, fragile and gasp, you better not re-craft it into anything but its original purpose.  So, using some techniques I've developed over the years, during my stints as a department store visual designer, I cheat and make my own "vintage" using less than the best.  I'll use dollar store decorations.
The difference between today's ornaments and vintage ones is more than just time.  It's materials.  Many old fashioned ornaments were made from real metal, metal flake coated glass and cellulose lacquer.  Real metal tarnishes and cellulose breaks down, hence the ornaments become duller and loose their vibrancy.  Today's inexpensive ornaments are mostly blow molded plastics coated with mylar flake glitter and/or tinted with acrylic lacquer.  None of which will age, or dull naturally.
To recreate the vintage look we have to either create the illusion of age or deconstruct the finish somehow.  Here are some simple ways to do it. 

1) mimic age using pigmented paste wax

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I use Howards Premium Paste Wax in dark oak. The citrus fragrance is a bonus.
Age and distress cheap plastic ornaments to look like vintage treasures.  DIY by Aaron Christensen
Ornaments to the right are treated with the dark oak paste wax.
Using a soft lint free rag rub on a coat of pigmented paste wax.  The wax I use is Howard's in a dark oak color.  The wax dulls the mylar like finish and alters the colors to more of an antique hue.  Fake silver becomes more champagne and gold becomes more brassy.  The snow like mylar glitter starts to resemble glass and Mica glitter which was used in the early 1900's.  The paste wax can be buffed once it is dry and removed selectively with either steel wool or a scotch brite pad.  Notice on the mylar plastic tinsel tree and wreath how the paste wax makes the tinsel look like the old silver and tin used in days gone by.  I love it.
Paste wax is flammable and contains petroleum distillates.  Keep away from children, flame and heat sources until cured and always wear protective gloves and provide for fresh air ventilation.

2)  Distress the finishes using steel wool

A super easy way to age a plastic ornament is to rub it down with steel wool.  The finer the steel wool, the smoother the wear.  For rough scratches use coarse wool, for cloudy, milky effects use fine.  To preserve the original finish and turn it into a stripe or pattern, mask off areas using electrical tape. Due to its flexible nature electrical tape will bend and wrap with the shapes easily.  The steel wool will remove glitter, knock off the lacquer paint from raised details and uncover the original plastics silver tone.
Age cheap ornaments by rubbing down details, glitter and paint finishes on inexpensive plastic ornaments.  DIY by Aaron Christensen
Age cheap ornaments by rubbing down details, glitter and paint finishes on inexpensive plastic ornaments.

3) Use Rub-n-buff to mimic glass or metal

Using a rag, brush or just your glove covered finger, apply Rub-n-Buff to highlight raised areas, draw attention to details and mimic the wearing off of the ornaments lacquer, presenting a metallic or silvered glass like tone.  Rub-n-Buff is also a paste wax and is available in a huge array of colors and is stocked by most craft stores and woodworking suppliers.  I used silver for this demonstration. 
Paste wax is flammable and contains petroleum distillates.  Keep away from children, flame and heat sources until cured and always wear protective gloves and provide for fresh air ventilation.
Mimic vintage ornaments by using Rub-n-Buff paste wax to highlight and distress cheap ornaments by Aaron Christensen
Mimic vintage ornaments by using Rub-n-Buff paste wax to highlight cheap ornaments.

4)  distress using fingernail polish Remover

 Traditional fingernail polish remover will remove the ornaments lacquer finish.  It will also re-liquefy areas and allow the mylar metal flake to move around creating highs and lows in sheen.  With more pressure you can even remove the paint finish completely.  I used that technique in combination with masking areas using electrical tape.  The look it created is much like the old "shiny and brite" ornaments.  Think of the hazards involved in this technique, consider it the same as using wet fingernail polish.  If you get this on fabric, carpet or precious surfaces it may not come off.  Use caution.

Fingernail polish remover used in conjunction with electrical tape and paste wax creates a great
Fingernail polish remover used in conjunction with electrical tape and paste wax creates a great "shiny and brite" look ornament.
Fingernail polish remover is flammable and contains petroleum distillates.  Keep away from children, flame and heat sources until cured and always wear protective gloves and provide for fresh air ventilation.  It may also dissolve and soften some plastics.  Please test an inconspicuous area first if you are experimenting.
Using a combination of the steps above, I distressed a bunch of ornaments in a variety of sizes.  Most of them I bought from the Dollar Store, Target, Michaels and Wallyworld aka Walmart.   Keep an eye out for heavy discounting as the season moves on and start working on next years big wreath or faux vintage assemblage.   Using the ornaments from this post, here's what I created.  Share with me your newly vintage ornaments over on Facebook or Instagram or drop a comment or questions below.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from me to you!
Create vintage look ornaments using cheap plastic ones from the Dollar Store.  DIY instructions by Aaron Christensen
Other than the occasional seam, it's really hard to tell the difference between these ornaments and ones from days gone by.
Vintage look wreath created using altered inexpensive plastic ornaments by Aaron Christensen.
Vintage look wreath created using altered inexpensive plastic ornaments.
tree adorned with altered
Antiqued Dollar Store tinsel tree adorned with altered "vintage" plastic Christmas ornaments.
Distress and age cheap plastic ornaments to look like vintage collectibles by Aaron Christensen
Distress and age cheap plastic ornaments to look like vintage collectibles.
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propmaster Top picks for halloween

9/7/2018

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Halloween is probably my favorite holiday when it comes to decor.  As an experienced prop maker, I want to give kudos to some outstanding haunters of Halloween.  You can see these top 5 and all of my frightening picks in my Pinterest board "Embellished Halloween"

#1 Make up tutorials by madeyewlook

Seriously talented make-up FX artist Lex Fleming stuns with her library of tutorials.

#2 Deliciously deadly poison apples

Over on Wannabite Nate takes you through the steps to create these near black beauties.
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#3 ghosts by christopher mckenney

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Photographer turned Halloween illusionist Christopher McKenney captures the creepy.  Learn more about McKenney here or visit his Flickr to dig (get it) deeper.

#4 haunted hands

One of Martha Stewarts creative monsters offers up a DIY about casting hands.   Having created cast props, I do warn you it's messy but worth it's weight in ghouls.
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#5 creep the lights on for us

While the first photo is what captivated me, I couldn't find the source...broken link pinners, bad form!  But, I did find a similar look DIY from House of Dewberry, I guess Dewberry do good.
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For more haunted hits check out my Pinterest Board, it's to die for (get it)?
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Superhero Fabrics for boys, teens and baby  debut on spoonflower

7/21/2018

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Please visit my Spoonflower shop and explore the latest fabric designs I've added.  The latest are yardage that coordinates with my superhero line of wall art.  The fabrics are perfect for bedding, upholstery and crafts.  You can also buy finished good from Spoonflowers' sister site Roostery.  There you will find sheet goods, pillows, accessories and home decor all available in the fabrics I've designed.
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A Rooftop Garden fit for fairies

6/21/2018

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Faced with an awkward second story rooftop patio that had no practical purpose, my client hit me up with an idea.  "Can you build a fairy garden for my daughter?"  He asked.  Then the cementitious siding, synthetic decking clad box mulled through my mind.
An outdoor space devoid of purpose.
The patio oddly linked an upstairs bedroom to a stairwell over the garage.  While it overlooked the backyard, the 3.5 ft tall barrier half wall obscured the best view.   It was a tough space to find a purpose for.  Luckily for me, the stairwell it fed to was adjacent to the home school classroom I created for the client.  That gave us an opportunity.  Why not offer the space as a retreat for the kids during their school day and an opportunity to explore science lessons about flora and fauna.
It was a winning idea once it merged with their young daughters wish for a fairy garden and a new dog house for her puppy.
With this being a roof top garden of only 9' by 11', it needed to be petite yet mighty with content.  I turned to my themed prop illusions of faux rock and wood.  With some exaggeration in shape, color and texture, they will look like their straight out of a magical story book.  They became facades for the pressure treated raised planters.
Initial concepts reflect the "hobbit hole" doghouse, mushroom furniture and an arbor of faux branches.
Faux cement branch arbor
Rather than try to deal with real branches, faux cement theme park style ones offer limitless possibilities in shape for the arbor that will be home to trailing vines and magical lights.
Rooftop Fairy Garden for Kids designed with Mushroom furniture, hobbit-hole doghouse and plenty of fairy and fauna luring plants.
The rooftop garden ready for dancing fairies and gardening gnomes.
First and foremost, I covered the siding with a paper faced exterior plywood, so I could incorporate mural work to help with the illusion of a lush garden while we await the plants maturing.  Studio created pressure treated raised planter beds were clad with faux rocks and logs. Their daughters request for a dog house provided the opportunity to create a hobbit type home with a planted roof of irish moss, sedums and ornamental clover.  Flanking the four corners and meeting overhead was the ambitious idea of a faux cement branch arbor with a small Lexan roof to shield some of the NW rain from the mushroom table below.  The arbor will eventually become home to vines like standard and evergreen Clematis, Jasmine and Algerian Ivy.  In the meanwhile, wrapping it with grapevines and twinkle lights offer up some magic. 
Living roof fairygarden doghouse hobbit hole for a NW rooftop garden.
Living roof fairygarden Hobbit Hole Doghouse by Embellishments Studio featuring faux rocks and logs.
Being a bit of a plant geek, I had fun incorporating some of my favorites and offering lots of texture and color play.  For my fellow geeks you'll spot Aspidistra, Clerodendron, Echium, Persicaria Red Dragon, gigantic Ornamental Rhubarb and some annual Musque De Provence pumpkin.  Most of the plantings are perennial and winter hardy, although I did mix in some annuals for instant color gratification.
Custom rooftop fairy garden with magical ideas by Aaron Christensen's Embellishments Studio
While a picture is worth a thousand words, I imagine there are questions to be asked.  Here's what my friends have been asking.
1) Will birds use the birdhouse?  No, it's not properly designed to house babies, so the opening is just painted on.  Nested bird houses require annual cleaning and specific dimensions for the fledglings safety and survival.
2)  How is the garden being watered?   A drip system is installed throughout the garden and spans the space hidden inside the cement arbor.
3)  It looks crowded with plants, won't it become overgrown?  Yes, it is...(smile).  Given its somewhat harsh environment of reflected light, weather shielding overhangs and their life in a raised bed I'm planning on some fight or flight with even the most of reliable plants.  My idea is to let the garden evolve with some plants thriving as others may fail.  I'll revisit it next spring to see what there is to learn from the unique environment. 

Artist, Designer Aaron Christensen from Embellishments Studio romances the outdoor rooftop garden he's building.
Note on the reflected light- While the space is north facing, I personally learned how harsh the bounced light can be. This Danish pale freckled skin of mine quickly showed signs of my being roasted like a rotisserie chicken.

via GIPHY

4) Where did you get the little mushrooms?  We of course made them in the studio along with all the faux rock, logs and the cement mushroom furniture.  The little ones are made from a sculpted urethane foam, hard coated with UV resistant epoxy and painted with exterior grade paints.   The furniture set has a core of welded rebar wrapped in expanded galvanized cloth.  They were sculpt coated in cement and painted with an exterior grade cement friendly paint.  I used the same technique on some other furniture for use as store fixturing.
Kids fairy garden built on a rooftop patio by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentsstudio.com
The life size fairy garden is ready for a magical party.
Outdoor cement mushroom table and stools by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentsstudio.com
Made of cement, these fairy garden mushroom stools and table are perfect for impish parties.
Living roof, rooftop fairy garden dog house by theme and kids space designer Aaron Christensen of Embellishmentsstudio.com
There's room for a puppy or two in this living roof, hobbit hole dog house.
Adding to the garden's illusion is some artificial turf under foot.  No lawn mower required to be carried up to the second story.  It will be easy to keep up with the occasional sweeping.
I have yet to enjoy the space at night when I can see the full effect of the twinkle lights and the LED fireflies I hid.  I'll be curious to see if I can capture the garden by camera at night.  If I can, I'll post those pics too.

So, who's ready for a fairy, imp, gnome party?  Non-Twitter trolls are welcome too...ha! 

FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST FOR THESE AND MANY MORE FAIRY GARDEN IDEAS
Aaron Christensen's Fairy Garden Pinterest Board
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Tree thugging: Getting caught making counterfeit trees.

3/10/2018

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 People love to bring the outdoors in and I am asked to play Brutha Nature and create trees all the time.  Big ones, little ones, realistic and modern.  So here I am poised once again to create a one of a kind piece for a client, I had to go idea browsing.  We settled on the idea of a tree shaped bookshelf.  One that was modern and architecturally interesting.  So I gathered together a Pinterest board with a variety of tree ideas.
Children's tree shaped book case inspiration by Aaron Christensen
There are lots of ways to create a tree bookshelf system.  I found some that are modern, some folky, some rustic and some really to my liking by being unique.  The trick with most of the trees is considering the fact that they must hold the weight of books and of course the weight of an adventurous child deciding to climb them.  If I were to offer a hint to any DIY'er out there, be sure to add branches or branch tips that point in a downward direction to act like a bracket.  These will bear the weight.
Tree Shaped Tree Bookcase / Bookshelf Idea by Aaron Christensen, Kids space designer.
You can see in the tree that I built, there are angles and pieces that point downward.  These provide vertical strength, so the shelf can't be pulled down or tip down off the wall.
My client is a pediatric dental office.  The bookshelf is going to be used dozens of times a day so I made it very robust, the scale and size more suited for a service industry environment.   As you can see it's a series of branches attached to a trunk.  The trickiest part is cutting the angles to match branch and support.
Tree Shaped Book Case, Book Shelves shaped like branches for children by Aaron Christensen
I'm a bit obsessive with building things straight and true.  So this tree stands perfectly upright, the backing is all on the same plane.  Great you think...but no, I mean NO!  The wall I was to mount it to had been where a doorway was covered up, so it was really out of whack.  I had to loosen my branches to tip them back a bit.  This left gaps in my seams... oh hell no!  So I went through painstakingly and finessed bondo into every little gap, sanded it and primed it.    The final finish was to coordinate with a maple counter across the room so I faux painted the piece using a series of color washes and treatment with faux finishers graining tool.  A topcoat of shellac gave it that amber wood tone I needed as well as protect the piece as a non-toxic clear coat.  Shellac is safe for little nibblers that put their teeth and mouths on everything.  Remember this is a pediatric dental office.  I'm sure there's some little munchin munchkins giving it the beaver treatment as we speak....gnaw, gnaw, and gnaw.
Jump over to my Pinterest for these and other photographs of inspirational trees.  I've included the following tree bookcases we've made here in the studio.

Other  tree  shelving  ideas  by  Embellishments  studio

3D sculpted tree bookcase by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentskids.com
Tree Bookcase in a Science themed playroom by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentskids.com
3d sculpted Tree Bookcase by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentskids.com
Corner Tree Shelf
Corner Bookshelf out of Maple
Modern Tree Bookshelf
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Meteor cookies - A Space Party, Easy Essential

1/16/2018

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This week I'm celebrating the launch of my new collection of kids wall art entitled Cosmos. The series is about space, robots and loving someone to the moon and back.  Well, on that trip of love from here to the rock in the sky, you best take some provisions.  Forget the dried astronaut food, I'm talking cookies!  What if they were meteor cookies...ooooohhhh?

Here's a simple way to turn any cookie recipe into ones that look like meteors.  Think about it, a meteor shower of cookies, you can't get any more deliciously spaced out than that! 
Space Party Meteor Cookies
What you'll need:
Black Food Coloring
Chocolate Rocks
Confectioners Sugar
Your preferred cookie recipe and ingredients.

The secret is to incorporate chocolate rocks.  But, unlike chocolate chips, if you mix them in only a part of them will show and the effect won't be as obvious.
Chocolate Candy Rocks for Meteor Asteroid Cookies
You could alter any cookie recipe for this.  Keep in mind that the chocolate rocks are similar to M&M's so you'll want to expect that crunch.  For this post I am making the classic Tollhouse cookie recipe and have simply left out the chips.  I'd suggest choosing a cookie that's dark in color so you only have to use a minimal amount of food coloring. 
Tollhouse cookie recipe for Metor Cookies, for an astronaut party
First step is to make the cookie batter according to your recipe.  Once it's mixed, add in black food coloring to override the cookies color.  Fold it in thoroughly.  The second step is to load your cookie sheet with dollops of dough.   I separated the chocolate rocks into colors.
Now that your dollops are placed you'll need to pile on the chocolate rocks.  They will settle and spread out as the dough cooks.  Be sure to place some around the edge of the dough.  Then bake the cookies according to your recipe.
Chocolate Chip Meteor Cookie Recipes for a space party
Allow the cookies to cool.  In a bowl add hot water into the a cup of confectioners sugar.  Mix until it becomes smooth and free of sugar clumps.  You'll want to add enough water to make the mixture thin enough to enable brushing it on.  Holding the brush at a steep angle and simply dry brush across the surface in a couple directions to hit and highlight the texture and rocks.  Let the sugar mixture dry. 
Space Birthday Party Metoro Cookies
My favorite color ended up being the turquoise blue.  They gave the cookies that gem stone look. 
Candy Rock Chocolate Chip Cookies perfect for a space or astronuat party.
Outer space cookies, moon cookies, asteroid cookies, meteor cookies
The chocolate rocks look like well,.... like rocks.   I imagine you could try this technique matching the rock colors to colored cookie dough.  Yellow on yellow, red on red would be very space like.  If you try a variation let me know how it goes and send over a photo I'll add it to the post.  -Enjoy!
Chocolate Candy Rocks
Solar System Space Party recipe for Meteor Cookies
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Space art launches - The cosmos collection

1/11/2018

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I'm happy to reveal my latest collection entitled "Cosmos".  It's available now in my shop.
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By popular request, this collection is the first in a series of works designed for littler guys.   They're perfect for the nursery or that little rocket ship of a room your astronaut pilots.
I've also taken the opportunity to offer some new products for testing.
  • Wall banners with vintage porcelain knobs.
  • Peel and Stick wall decals
  • Growth Chart
  • Framed Prints
  • Pillow Cases
  • Fabric
I Love You To The Moon And Back Wall Art Decor - the inspirational kids art is available as a banner and wall decor
Available in both a canvas banner and a peel and stick wall decal - I love you to the moon and back.
Always Bring your Own Sunshine Pillow by Aaron Christensen
 Over the next week I'm going to announce some more news and surprises.  For now, know that I'm offering 20% off of the new collection.  Visit my shop today! Below you'll find some mood board I've designed to showcase some room decor design ideas and maybe inspire.  I hope you enjoy them and I would love to hear your comments, leave them below!
And I'm super excited to announce I have a Spoonflower shop.  Many of you have requested soft goods that coordinate with my wall art.  I'm introducing some, like my Always Bring Your Own Sunshine canvas pillow and more are to come.  In the meanwhile, use your crafty skills to create decor and bedding using my fabrics.  Spoonflower has a great selection of fabric types.  My favorite are the soft ones like their velveteen and their minky. 
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Are you hosting a birthday party, decorating your astronauts room or looking for some fun space themed activities?  Be sure to follow me and visit my Space Themed Pinterest Board.
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Outer space art for boys rooms
I love you to the moon and back framed wall art for kids by Aaron Christensen
Boy Growth Chart in a space robot theme by Aaron Christensen - artist and kids space designer
Space Traveler Wall Art Decor for Boys bedrooms and nursery.
Always bring your own Sunshine Inspirational Poster and Framed Wall Art
Planets and Stars wall art canvas decor by Aaron Christensen
Ideas for a boys nursery in a space, rocket and planet theme by kids designer Aaron Christensen.  The boys room mood board features his art.
Inspiration and Ideas for a Space themed boys room.  Featuring the I love you to the moon and back wall banner by Aaron Christensen
Space Themed Nursery Ideas Mood Board featuring art by Aaron Christensen, kids room designer.
Create a boys room filled with space and solar system inspired decor.  The mood board features Aaron Christensen wall art available in canvases and prints.
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fall fashion and autumn automobilia

11/3/2017

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My display building services were challenged with a contradiction.  Can you combine a masculine window and store trim theme with a female sentiment?
A fall clothing boutique display utilizing auto parts and car related goods.
The concept of a mechanic, automotive theme combined with some positive affirmations was the winning idea my boutique client chose.  Off and running, I had a great time rummaging, replicating and altering automotive parts and car related goods.....continued

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Can You Build a Mini Truck Bed For a Boys Room?  Why, Yes!

9/11/2017

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Digging through my old analog photos of kids room projects, I realized that I had photos of one project that had never been seen by the public.  So, in retrospect here's a project where we built a bed for a boys room that looks like a truck.  Circa 2005. 
Boys Room Twin Truck Bed Created By Embellishments Studio - Prop Maker and Kids Room Designer
The one of a kind custom bed was for a young man named Zac.  Both he and his sister had their Embellishments bedrooms featured in the 2005 Street of Dreams, Luxury home tour. 
Building a Boys Room Truck Bed
Despite looking like an actual vintage truck, the piece is completely hand made from scratch.  It had to be, in order to fit in his bedroom.  It measured 4.5 feet tall.
The Studio Was Asked, Can You Build A Truck Bed For A Boys Bedroom.
Each element was hand carved, primed and painted to mimic a old truck.  The faux chrome emblem on the hood says "Embellishments" for fun. 
No Ordinary DIY or Maker Project.  Embellishments Studio Creates A Boys Bedroom Truck Bed.
Beyond being a show stopper for the luxury home tour, the truck bed and photographs of it topped HGTV's Rate my Space for the number one boy's room for multiple years, beating out its closest competitor by thousands of votes.
Truck Bed Bedroom Decor Under Construction
The truck bed was under construction before the home was completed.  Despite blue prints and on site measurements along the way, the final door opening was 3/4's inch too small for the parts to be carried in.  Therefore, we had to take out the second story boys room window, lean two extension ladders and push/pull the piece through the window.  From a far, on lookers only saw two men pushing a truck up two ladders.  It must have been quite a site.
The Ultimate Boys Room Dream- A Twin Sized Truck Bed
The bed had enough room for Zac to play truck driver.  The studio's faux garage door panels were to give the impression that the truck was in a garage.
What an Idea!  A Custom Kids Room Truck Bed.
In subsequent years, the studio created custom beds and play structures like a train car, princess carriage, tree houses and a pirate ship. 
Custom Studio Faux Truck, Used As A Boys Bed
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New   Releases  -  Vintage  Sports  Scoreboards  For  Basketball,  Football  and  Lacrosse!    Fresh Art   For  The  Sports  Fan.

7/6/2017

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I'm excited to share new additions to my vintage sports wall art line.  These three new scoreboards round out my selection to include more color schemes and types of sports.
Vintage Sports Scoreboard Football Wall Art for boys, teens and home.
Vintage Football Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Sports Scoreboard Lacrosse wall art for boys, teens and home
Vintage Lacrosse Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Sports Scoreboard Basketball Wall Art for boys, teens and home.
Vintage Basketball Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
The images are available as archival paper prints and stretched canvases.  If you have a favorite sport that's not represented in my collection send me a message.  I'm always happy to receive feedback and inspiration!
Vintage Sports Basketball Nursery Inspirational Mood Board Ideas and Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Basketball Nursery Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Sports Lacrosse Bedroom Ideas and Art Mood Board by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Lacrosse Teen Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Sports Football Boys Bedroom Ideas and Art Mood Board by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Football Boys Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Sports Basketball Bedroom Inspiration and Art Mood Board by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Basketball Boys / Teen Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
$30.00 - $179.00
  • Football scoreboard sports wall art decor- great for the football or NFL enthusiast.
  • Handcrafted in the USA to portray the depth of color, texture and richness of Aaron's originals. 
  • Canvases are hand stretched onto 1.5" deep wooden stretcher bars.  The canvas sides are finished with a color or additional imagery, so framing is not necessary.
  • Paper prints have a .5" white border for ease in framing.
  • © Aaron Christensen
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$30.00 - $179.00
  • Basketball scoreboard sports wall art decor- great for the basketball enthusiast.
  • Handcrafted in the USA to portray the depth of color, texture and richness of Aaron's originals. 
  • Canvases are hand stretched onto 1.5" deep wooden stretcher bars.  The canvas sides are finished with a color or additional imagery, so framing is not necessary.
  • Paper prints have a .5" white border for ease in framing.
  • © Aaron Christensen
Shop
$30.00 - $179.00
  • LAX scoreboard sports wall art decor- great for the lacrosse enthusiast, fan, coach or player.
  • Handcrafted in the USA to portray the depth of color, texture and richness of Aaron's originals. 
  • Canvases are hand stretched onto 1.5" deep wooden stretcher bars.  The canvas sides are finished with a color or additional imagery, so framing is not necessary.
  • Paper prints have a .5" white border for ease in framing.
  • © Aaron Christensen
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Boys   Sports   Bedding   Guide  for  Summer  17

7/6/2017

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Boys Room and Teen Room Sports Bedding Ideas and Inspiration by designer Aaron Christsensen of EmbellishmentsKids.com.
Kids and Teen room designer Aaron Christensen offers his top bedding picks for sports enthusiasts.
I'm always on the hunt for new bedding styles and designs for my customers and I often get asked what bedding works with my sports wall art lines.  So here are my picks for new and tried and true pieces from my favorite haunts.  I rarely use themed bedding with sports graphics on it, for me it's usually too expected and often tacky.  In contrast I applaud my friends over at Land of Nod have done a great job of offering up some very simple understated pieces, I've included below.  The top picks include bedding from Restoration Hardware Teen, PBteen, Ralph Lauren via Nieman Marcus, Rejuvenation Hardware and Schoolhouse Electric. 
Having worked with several large retailers on the development and coordination

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DIY- Create   Colorful   Cactus   Plants   By Raiding   The   Swimming Pool!

6/27/2017

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Ideas are easy to come by, harder to realize.  I sold my clothing boutique client on the idea of a dimensional cactus themed summer window and store display.  I've been drawn to tissue art as of recently, and liked the concept of watercolor like tones of tissue combined with the harder cacti form.   Figuring out how to bring the concept to life became the mystery.  It was my mission to find a simple way to create cacti plants that are lightweight and life like in shape.
DIY - Create fun cactus decor.   Using kickboards and fun noodles for a summer window display
The fruition of my watercolor like cacti summer display trim concept.
After a stint of head scratching and store wandering, the idea came to me when I saw a display of foam fun noodles and little swimmer kick boards.  I quickly grabbed a shopping cart and loaded up 20 noodles and 20 kick boards.  In the checkout line I was asked by the cashier about my pool party.  Still excited by the idea, I blurted out that I was going to turn them into cactus.  Why I expected anything more than the half smirk and a random direction head nod from those around me, is beyond me.  Huff!  I guess my prickly pear making high was clearly a one man's journey.
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If you can decoupage and cut shapes with scissors you can have a cactus garden!  If you can climb over the fence and take your neighbors fun noodles and kick boards you can have a cactus garden for free, or the price of a misdemeanor.  Relax, there is no need to pilfer.  This time of year many big box and dollar stores have "polyethylene foam" swim noodles and boards for sale.  Plastic suppliers like Tap often carry it in large rolls.  It's used as a packing material and insulation, you will want 1/2 inch or thicker sheets.

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Shop top selling  wall art, paintings and prints for boys, boys rooms,  kids, teens, adults, tweens, nurseries and rooms by artist Aaron Christensen.  Vintage sports art, racing art, scoreboard art, rock and roll art can be found in our shop. View works by interior designer Aaron Christensen, whom specializes in children's spaces, theatrical and themed spaces, pediatric office and retail environments. Based in Portland, Oregon. All images, text, DIY's and art copyright Aaron Christensen. All rights reserved.

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