Castle Completion!

Well, it is finished.  We had the unveiling on time, Sunday April 1st with our master carpenter and other workers present.  At first the kids were overwhelmed, but I think it was because of the crowd invading their classroom.  After the congregation headed back to the sanctuary, I stayed to photograph a more normal reaction.  They were excited; touching everything, exploring, trying out the puppet theater, and just taking in the new environment.  I was so happy at all of the responses from the children, teachers, and the parents...very gratifying.  So, with no further ado, I will let the photos speak for themselves and get back to my real life!  After all, Tomas and Isabella are dying to get back into the garden with me!

A few Ikea finds really made the space more useable and fun!

Mike's Doors turned out beautifully!

Thank goodness Lauren came and helped out Saturday; otherwise we would have had to pull an all-nighter!

 

 

 

Castle Saga Continues...March 27

There may be two or three more posts on the progress of our castle.  However, I can guarantee that the saga ends on Saturday.  We officially have a deadline to be unveiled on Sunday, April 1st..no joke!  (a little April Fool's humor :)

I was going to add a color washing effect over the base gray color on the walls, but the sponging technique gave a better texture.  I believe the color wash would have been too subtle for castle walls.

Here is where I started adding the block stencil.

A close up of the stencil that creates the grout.

Mike's Doors step one

This pic from a camera phone doesn't do the outer wall justice.  I plan to finish the grout stencil tomorrow so I'll shoot some better photos.  I am constantly amazed at what the men created from my sketches!  This is coming out better than I could have ever imagined!  See you for the finale on Saturday...if not before!

The following pics are updates of the finished grout stencil. 

Castle Progress Continues...March 23, 2012

Today it felt like we really made some progress.  I took a break from the clouds to really lay some paint around the walls, stone borders - complete with dry brushed texture, and battlement edging.  We still have to color wash the walls and stencil in the grout to create the stone blocks of the castle walls.  Sometimes it feels like we are barely moving forward...until I check out the amazing transformation through pictures!

It's really starting to come together!

My clouds in progress

Wait until you see what cool things we have planned for the doors!  Stay tuned!

Castle Progress

Well folks, we've been busy at the castle!  I'm sharing some updated photos of our progress.  We truly had some creative carpenters among us.  Their latest genius idea was the "stone borders" around the doors and windows.  After three days, the carpentry was finished and the faux painting began.

 

 

I'm sketching in the cloud locations

Leftover cedar planks made perfect stone borders for our doorways and windows.  The cedar was so beautiful that I had to keep reminding myself that it had to appear as stone, not wood before I could convince myself to start priming them!

Creating Castles

One of my last duties to be fulfilled as I step down from Heading up our Children's Church Department, is the promise I made over a year ago to turn the inside of our Annex into a Castle.  Well, thanks to my husband and a few other wonderful helpers, this dream is in the process of becoming a reality.

It started with a couple of sketches doodled on our weekly church bulletin (yes, during the sermon!  I listen so much better with a pencil in my hand :P)  These wonderful men brought them to life.

As I explained to them, while sharing my vision and my sketches, I can come up with some great ideas, but I have no idea if they are build-able or not!  One particularly creative man made some welcome suggestions and then they were off!  Here is what they came up with after only a few hours.  I will add photos as the whole operation progresses.  Stay tuned...

Day one

Day one continued

This is our puppet theatre!

Day two the Battlements or Crenellations are added.  Yes, I had to Google what the words were for the block like projections at the top of the wall!  Don't you love the Gothic style entry and puppet theatre?