Betty Boop
Thieves steal Betty Boop statue
Thieves take a five-foot tall Betty Boop statue from outside a shop in Forest Hall, North Tyneside.

Origins of Betty Boop

Betty Boop first was first sketched around 1923 as a dog, a French poodle to be exact. This however was not particularly popular and she was brought to life in her now famous style on our screens in the 1930's, The first few appearances saw Betty maintain her floppy poodle ears. Her first appearance in Dizzy Dishes saw her basic outline but maintained those big floppy ears. A mixture of human and poodle! Her floppy ears were soon changed to hoop earrings in her first totally human appearance in the film 'Any Rags'. Her black poodle nose had changed to a girls button-like nose & her voice had been refined to a very girly tone with a distinctive Brooklyn accent. Betty as we know and love her today was born.

Popularity of First Releases

Betty Boop was known as the first and probably the most famous sex symbol of the animated screen. She wore short dresses, high heels and a garter belt. She was drawn with a rather girlish quality. Her head was bigger than normal for an adult but normal for a baby! The animators frequently added a gust of wind that saw Betty's skirt ride up. The audiences loved it. The first three years of her appearances were said to be her best mainly due to her Jazz Baby character and her innocent sexuality, her audience was mainly adults.

Changes For Betty

Things changed for Betty as time went on. Pressure was put on by moralists that insisted that Betty was too revealing and overtly sexy. The animators bowed to this pressure and Betty now began to appear in a fuller or longer skirt and was portrayed as a career girl or husband-less housewife. Betty teamed up with her faithful cute Poodle 'Pudgy' in the film 'Little Pal' (1934). The following year saw the introduction of 'Grampy' in the film 'Betty Boop and Grampy' (1935).

Betty Boop Cartoon - The Demise

The later cartoons were a lot tamer than the first releases and were targeted toward a more juvenile audience. This was to be the downfall of the Betty Boop cartoon. During the last few filming's, her character appeared less and less giving more screen time to her co-stars. The last cartoons were released in 1939 and whilst an attempt was made to revive her and bring her into the swing era, her final cartoon in 1939 - 'Yip Yip Yippy' was actually a 'Boop-Less' cartoon.

Appeal of Betty Boop Today

Nowadays, Betty Boop is going strong through merchandising products such as figurines, gifts, etc. Her timeless appeal has spawned collectors around the world with clubs and associations in virtually every country on the globe. Collectors of Betty Boop Figurines seek out their favourite figurine and some have huge collections. Her appeal is enduring and long may it last. Boop-oop-a-doop!

Written by Haitham Al-Ubaidi, the owner of Busy Bee Gifts. Busy Bee Gifts is an on-line and high street retailer of quality gifts. Visit http://www.busybeegifts.co.uk for a great selection of licensed hand painted Figurines. Visit http://www.busybeecandles.co.uk, the Author's main business for handmade scented soy wax candles and home fragrancing products.

Betty Boop

Vinyl Lettering Wall

Vinyl Lettering as a Growing Home Decor Trend

If you've been following interior design lately, or watched any of the home improvement shows on television, chances are you've seen vinyl lettering being used to decorate. Traditionally vinyl lettering was used only in sign making, such as banners, vehicle lettering, etc. However, with newly available, less tacky vinyl material available on the market, vinyl lettering for home decor is a fast growing trend. Even well known designer Candice Olsen used it in one of her recent episodes to add a little bit of charm to a room. So why vinyl lettering, why now, and how can you utilize this fast growing trend to add decor to any room in your home? Here are four reasons that vinyl lettering for home decor is a fast growing trend:

Vinyl Lettering is Inexpensive

When compared to hand-painted stencils to put words on walls, vinyl lettering is a lot less expensive for several reasons. First of all, time. You've heard the saying "time is money." Well, if that's truly the case, then vinyl lettering offers significant savings just in the time you save over having to hand paint your walls. If you were to paint your walls, you'd have to first create the stencils, or freehand it, which is very time consuming. With vinyl wall lettering most applications can be applied in less than 10 minutes, whereas painting the same saying on your walls could take you a day or more. Secondly, the cost of the materials is FAR less expensive when using vinyl lettering over paint. Think about this. You'll need paint, thinner, brushes, a drop cloth, along with more paint to correct mistakes you may make along the way. Total that all up and you're in it the very least $50, plus the hassle, time, etc. You can get a LOT of custom made vinyl letters for $50, and save your self some time to boot.

Vinyl Lettering Isn't Messy

Another reason that vinyl lettering is quickly replacing hand stenciling is that it's not messy....no cleanup involved. And best of all, you still acheive a hand painted look. I remember when a friend came to visit that I hadn't seen in a long time, I showed her my daughter's room. She loved the little poem I had going along the top of the wall in soft pink. She commented, "wow...that must have taken you forever...did you freehand that?" I should have told her "Yes, it was painstaking." She would have thought I was amazing. But, I simply told her the truth. It took me about 30 minutes using some pre-cut vinyl lettering.

Vinyl Lettering Isn't Permanent

Unlike paint, vinyl lettering can be removed anytime you'd like without damaging your painted walls. This offers the perfect solution for those who are in temporary living spaces such as apartments, rental homes, etc. You get the permanant hand-stenciled look, but with vinyl lettering, you have the option to remove it whenever you'd like. If you want to keep it forever, go ahead. If properly installed it won't come off until you remove it.

Vinyl Lettering Can Be Changed Frequently

Many people love to decorate their homes for the holidays. Whether it's Valentines Day, Halloween, Christmas, or otherwise, you can get vinyl letteirng inexpensively enough to allow you to change your decor often, allowing you to cusotmize your decor for any season. The time, mess, and expense involved with paint gives vinyl lettering an obvious upper hand when it comes to versatility.

About the Author

Anna is an interior designer who blogs about the many uses of vinyl lettering and vinyl letters as they pertain to home decor. She has used vinyl wall letters to build unique decor for both home and businesses who wish to create unique decor.

Vinyl Lettering Wall

Wall Decor

Can you hit electrical wiring or pipes when you hang wall decor?

I'm wondering how deep into the wall the electrical wiring and pipes are. Can you hit them with 2" screws when you putting up, for example, curtain rods?
Wire should be centered where?

Hanging curtain rods , the chances are slim. Any thing run thru a stud is supposed to be centered Shoukd be, but you never know. So 2 " screws won t hit a centered wire and pipes should never be thru the walls and on an out side wall anyway. If you miss the stud the wiring that may be stapled to the stud , you might hit it, but then again its supposed to be in the center. GL

Seven Great Tropical Wall Decors

The interior wall of a room, house, or office is practically a blank canvas. By putting some artwork on it, you can add character to any place in the house. That artwork can be a beautiful design painted over a part or the entirety of the wall; a sculpture, a painting, a picture, or a mosaic hung over it; or even an artful display of light projected on the wall.

One of the best themes of wall décor art is a tropical theme. This theme goes very well with houses, condominium units, studio rooms, and apartments on the beachfront.

There are many decorative wall décor items on sale that gives a wall a beautiful tropical theme. Here are some of them that you can order through the Internet.

1. Palm Grove Wall Art Set

This is a two-piece wall panel set from the Palm Grove Collection. The resin set features Sago palm shaded with warm, tropical colors of palm green, sage, and bisque. The frame is bordered square shapes made of faux coconut shell. A set costs around $129.

2. Finches in Tropical Foliage Metal Wall Sculpture

This beautiful sculpture features three Gouldian finches top of foliage of tropical plants. The foliage includes papaya colored orchids and fruitwood for added dimension. The tropical wall decor, which costs around $94, is handcrafted and hand-painted by Joanne Ferrara.

3. Tropica Three-Piece Wall Art

This framed sculpture consists of three panels with stunning works of art. Lush tropical leaves are formed from welded metal with shades of greens, browns and tans. The frame is made of bronze with an antiquated tone. A whole set includes one large 31-by-19-inch frame, and two smaller 31-by-11-inch frames. A set costs $56.

4. Beach Room Faux Window

Even if your home is not in the tropics or is not located on a beachfront, you can still incorporate a tropical theme to it. The beach room faux window frame constitutes a tropical beachfront view through an open window. In other words, it is like looking through a tropical ocean through a window! The artwork is original and features a pretty color palette.

5. Sea Shapes

This simple but handsome décor features a nautilus shell. The border is silver in tone while the background features a calm sea green color. It is covered in tough clear acrylic which is shatterproof.

6. Three Dimensional Tropical Fish

For a really unique tropical wall décor, try this new Outer Edges home décor. The set, which consists of sculpted wooden fish, is hand painted and three dimensional. The colorful tropical fish can be installed on any wall very easily. When placed on wallpaper with a marine theme, it would look like fish swimming on your walls. This is indeed a very unique décor.

7. Isle Tropical Mural

This large mural can cover an entire wall. That means, every time you wake up facing the wall, you will face a peaceful lush seashore with tall palm trees, blue waters, verdant hills, and cotton clouds. It can act as a wallpaper.

About the Author

Alyssa Davis is a prominent online author and the senior staff writer for Metal-Wall-Art - a distinctive wall art store specializing in
metal tropical wall art
and
metal decor
.

Wall Decor

Hand Painted

Whoartnow Proudly Launches Hand Painted Mural Service

With the growing popularity of wide format printing, WHoArtNow are proud to announce our new hand painted mural service. Teaming up with veteran commercial artists Steve and Nick who have over 60 years of combined experience in the commercial art world.

 

Checking the alignment of the mural

Working on many different projects over the years ranging from pub and restaurant signs all the way to tv and film sets and even building site shields! These guys will take on most projects from half a days work upto whatever size you want.

Their most recent large project is shown in the pictures in this article and as you can see for yourself, there not afraid of big projects! this monster measures a huge 80ft by 16ft! Its made up of 32 8ft by 4ft plywood bolted together on scaffolding. This project took an impressive 4 weeks and shortly after it was first used at Download Festival, the owner called Nick and asked for another with some slight artistic changes, this second sign has just been completed! This fast food stall was also used at Glastonbury and Silverstone for the 2008 British Grand Prix, and will be doing the festivals and racing events next season  and hopefully many more to come.

In Situation at the 2008 Download Festival measuring 80ft by 16ft

Prices for our hand painted murals is commission based and prices start from as little as £155 so give us a call for a quote.

About the Author

Working for WHoArtNow as a trend spotter and artist. Trained in Interior Design and Fine Art. Favorite artists include Swoon, Frazier Boyd
and Joshua Allen Harris

Tour offers visitors glimpse of Madison art scene
MADISON — With maps in hand, art supporters, aficionados and the generally curious wandered into the basement studio of urban-tribal painter Dan Fenelon, climbed three flights of stairs to the spacious Main Street studio of art therapist Maria Lupo and visited about 20 other stops on the Madison Artist Studio Tour.

Hand Painted

Kitchen Wall
Inside Tips on Getting Best Tables at London’s Top Restaurants
June 15 (Bloomberg) -- Telephone a restaurant requesting a good table and you may be told that all are excellent, only to be seated in an undesirable location known to insiders as Siberia. Call a hot venue and you’ll be lucky even to get in.

Decorating Kitchen Walls With Visual Allure

There is a room in every home that becomes the heart and center of one’s surroundings. For some this room might be the family room, library or home office. In the majority of households today the room that seems to have the most congestion and activities that take place is the kitchen. We seem to gather in the kitchen with laughter and tales of the day. This place does much more for the human sole than just provide a place to fill one’s stomach.

In most home designs the kitchen is the focal point. From most other rooms of the home you are able to see right into the kitchen. Because of this feature the kitchen becomes an important feature of your home decor.

Kitchen wall treatments are the key to decorating this busy room. Different wall treatments can be used to define a space by changing the texture, material or color. Kitchen wall treatments can create a space within a space.

It is best to decide which wall in the kitchen will be the focal point and then treat that space differently from those spaces around it. Experiment with different tones and shades and try varying the depth and texture for a truly unique concept.

A distinctive tile backsplash has the ability to create s focal point in the room. It is usually small and inexpensive. The visual impact you will achieve is hard to compare to other decorating techniques. This area gets so many splatters, so the backsplash is both decorative and functional. You can use ceramic, mosaic glass or stainless steel for easy clean up.

The colors you use in the kitchen can have a profound effect on the mood or ambience of the room. It is important to maintain balance with your own tastes in order to create perfect harmony. Using dark colors as accents gives a feeling of warmth and comfort. Colors such as red and orange can speed up your metabolism and make you hungry. Use these colors sparingly since they tend to also cause aggression.

Paint is the kitchen wall treatment that is the easiest to change, clean and least expensive of all. In most homes there are walls that are in less than perfect condition and it is hard to hide defects with paint alone. There are wall coverings that offer dimensions, warmth and eye appeal with surprisingly easy care.

There are many wallpaper options that run the gamut from contemporary to traditional. There are also tiles that were once strictly used for floors that are now being applied to walls for texture and visual allure.

Wallpaper can drastically change the look of your kitchen. There is self adhesive wallpaper available which is easy to install. Vinyl material is best suited for kitchens since it is easy to clean and very durable. It comes in a vast array of colors and patterns. Tiles can be more creative and will let you experiment with different tones. Tiles come in many different materials, shapes and styles.

Wallpaper borders can also be used to bring depth to your kitchen. If you do not like borders where the patterns keep repeating try a border that tells you a story. You can use wallpaper cut-outs and hand painted words that will make your family and friends feel comfortable. This will also be a conversation starter when neighbors arrive for a visit. Wallpaper borders are also not expensive and you do not need any special skills to apply wallpaper borders.

Another idea for the not so perfect wall is wood wall paneling. This decor gives your wall visual interest and one of its advantages is it is easy to maintain. Smudges and fingerprints do not show up easily, so you do not have to worry if somebody drops by unexpectedly.

For a bit of comfort and attractive appeal try wall plaques. This is a simple way to increase relaxation and beauty. If you have an unused wall or nook, make this space into a functional decorative storage space. Try hanging shelves for stylish organization. You might also try a fancy wrought iron hanger so that you can place your decorative plates along the wall. If your kitchen has a certain theme, you can purchase plates that match or compliment the theme. Framed family photos or cooking utensils placed just right can give you that pizzazz that you are looking for.

To give you that outdoor feeling indoors, a great idea is to hang metal wall planters. They are a versatile form of art that can transform you kitchen into a room with designer appeal. The metal wall planters can be modified with different flowers and foliage. They never look tired or outdated.

Now all you need to do is grab a pen and paper, make yourself a cup of coffee and sit at your kitchen table. Gaze out at your kitchen walls and let the creative side of you come alive. Let your imagination run wild and in no time you will create the kitchen of your dreams that will fit your personality and charm.
 

About the Author

Barbara Tobiasz is an expert in interior/exterior decorating. Along with her husband Joe, they own and operate Wall-Decor-Concepts.com. For more information on Decorating Kitchen Walls, go to: http://www.Wall-Decor-Concepts.com

Kitchen Wall

Wall Stickers Decals

Where can find wall stickers/decals that aren't that expensive?

I'm not looking for kid ones either! I want some modern designs or patterns to put on my walls. All of the ones I've seen on-line are kind of expensive. Or does anyone have an easy way of making my own? Please help!

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd99/jnmstore/wallpicture3.jpg?t=1188808198

i found this picture on ebay as an idea for what i am looking for

You can buy pages of labels at a Office Supply store and print your own if you have a color printer. When printing them, simply make sure the image slightly overlaps the label edges so you don't end up with a white border and you should be set. Also Microsoft Word has built in templates that visually show where the labels will be for most Avery labels.

New Year, A New Room – Wall Stickers And Other Makeover Ideas

Looking for an affordable, easy decorating solution for your kid's bedroom? With so much advice out there, it's sometimes difficult to know where to start. From wall stickers, painted murals, vinyl decals to painting, wallpapering or stenciling - you'll be able to find decorating ideas to accommodate most budgets - it really depends on what you're looking for.

Wall Stickers
If you want to theme a room for your child, then one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to makeover your child's room is with vinyl wall stickers or wall decals (as they're sometimes referred). Your 2 or 3 year old son may be interested in dinosaurs, but grow out of them by the time he's 5 or 6; he may now prefer a Pirate or Alien theme. Using dinosaur wall stickers is a fun way to theme a wall or jazz-up furniture. Look out for good quality wall stickers which state they're removable and re-stickable, this makes updating the look much easier. Many sticker themes will also complement bedding sets; a simple way to create a coordinated look. There are a wide range of licensed sticker products available on the market, for example, The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Barbie, In the Night Garden, Thomas the Tank Engine and many more. For those who prefer original, unlicensed designs there are wonderful alternatives for nurseries and children's rooms. We found FunToSee have quite an extensive range of wall stickers. There are also some great themes like cowboys, planes or flowers available from Cath Kidston.

Wallpaper or Wall Stickers?
If you prefer a more traditional approach, you'll find a lot of beautifully illustrated wallpaper now available. From cars, butterflies, stars and hearts, to clever repeat patterns. The chances are you'll find a theme that's suitable for your child's bedroom. With wallpaper you'll need to take into consideration the time and effort required; it's messier than wall stickers, as most need to be applied with wallpaper paste. Matching the wallpaper can be tricky too. There's no doubt that if done properly, the result can be dramatic. Unfortunately, wallpaper isn't that easy to remove. So, while this solution is good for the long term, it isn't recommended if you only want to theme a room for a short period of time, especially as children's tastes can change so quickly. Wallpaper Direct has a good choice of wallpaper designs, as well as all the tools you may need to get you started.

Painting or Wall Stickers?
If you're looking for a simple, natural effect, then paint may be your answer. It's very important to prepare walls carefully before applying your paint. Ensure you buy the best tools and equipment you can afford. With basic equipment you can achieve some fantastic paint effects – a wavy line with masking tape or a beautiful border with a themed stencil. There are many stencil choices available, including animals, butterflies, flowers and stars. If you opt for painted walls in a plain colour, you still have the option to add some fun to the walls with wall stickers – theme a whole room, add a splash of colour to a small space, create a border or decorate painted doors and furniture. Dulux have a fantastic range of colours to choose from.

Murals or Wall Stickers?
Painted murals are a beautiful way to transform a room. There are mural painting kits available, including paint by number solutions. For a fine art finish, hand painted murals are probably best left to the professionals unless you have an artistic flair. You'll be able to discuss the look and feel you want to achieve across one wall or around the entire room. Then leave them to it! The room may be out of action for several days or weeks, depending on the complexity of the design and allowing time for paint fumes to go. Hand painted murals can be a very effective but expensive option. Starlight Murals have a range of mural designs for kids' rooms.

Decorating a room for your new baby or young child should be fun; the possibilities are endless. The choice is yours.

Happy Decorating.

About the Author

Claudia Joseph writes about the fabulous themes of wall stickers and the outlook of their effective designs. FunToSee develops varieties of outstanding wall stickers to present fun in kids bed-rooms.

Wall Stickers Decals