When schools started shutting down, Tim and Shari Roe, owners of Outspoken Signs in Marietta, Ga., felt a calling to do something for their community. “A few weeks ago, we wondered how we could help using our capabilities at the shop,” Tim says. After some brainstorming, the Roes came up with a wall decal coloring project to keep kids occupied while sheltering in place.
Coloring Book Wall Art is a free program for families with kids looking for a creative outlet for their energy. The line drawings are designed in a Zentangle-like style, which is an art form that uses the drawing or coloring of structured images to aid in relaxation. “Before she died, Tim’s mom was really interested in that style of art and she always wanted to teach it to kids,” Shari says. “She was always the creative one, drawing and coloring with pencils and then hanging them on the wall,” says Tim.
When trying to decide choose an adhesive media, Tim reached out to Vincent Bejar, his LexJet sales specialist, to help determine which product would meet his criteria. He wanted a matte vinyl that could be colored with crayons and have a removable adhesive, so as not to damage the walls when the graphics were removed. Bejar knew he had a simple solution for Tim and Shari: LexJet Simple WallCal.
Once a graphic is selected, Tim prints the image on his HP Latex 330 and then die-cuts the animal and the child’s name, so they are ready to color. The two-piece decals are one-of-a-kind wall décor that the kids decorate themselves. “We wanted something bigger than a standard coloring book,” Tim says. “We love the idea that the kids can color them and then put them on the wall,” says Shari. “The kids are excited when they find out it’s an oversized sticker.”
So far, the project is a hit with kids and adults, alike. “These kids see the picture of their favorite animal and they always say ‘hey, it’s got my name on it!,’” says Tim. “We’ve had a lot of joy out of the kids’ responses.”
It seems the graphics are generating some good old-fashioned sibling rivalry. The Anderson family, one of the first families to get the graphics, has six kids — four sisters who are 8-year-old quads, a 15-year old sister, and a 6-year old brother. “Two of the quads left the shop with energy and excitement,” Tim says. “They said they would get them done faster than their siblings, and theirs would look the best.”
For Tim and Shari to offer this gift to the community, they needed some additional partners. LexJet donated the media for the prints and Ken O’Leary of Surepath Financial in Woodstock, Ga., donated 100 boxes of crayons for families who may not have crayons readily available.
The program is going so well, the Roes are thinking about other ways they can give back to the community. “We’ve thought about working with local fire stations so they can take these graphics to kids who have gone through something traumatic,” Shari says. “We are trying to think of other avenues to get them to the kids.”
Follow the Outspoken Signs Facebook page to see more images of the kids’ creations.
If you are looking for ideas you can help in your community, give us a call at 800-453-9538 or get inspired by LexJet brandUP projects.
