I’ll never forget my son’s first masterpiece. As a recent member of the preschool “Mommy & Me” circuit, I was thrilled when my son made his first art collage. I jumped for joy at the mostly mommy manufactured piece of art. Heck! I even had it framed to cherish this memory. But what I really won’t forget is the teacher saying  “Oh dear, this is just the beginning. You just wait!” Oh, and she wasn’t kidding!

So now what to do with all the art!?! We’ll, I’ve dedicated a wall near the kitchen table to display my child’s artistic talent (scribble to some). Each piece is hung on a taught wire and clipped with steel binder clips. Unfortunately, my kitchen is going under construction so no pics yet however, Tracy had the same idea a few months back and was featured on The Nesting Blog in this terrific “Kid Art Display” article full of ideas!

Looking for something a little more manicured? The kidsArtStor offers a neat little invention that frames art, allowing you to rotate it within seconds to accommodate original works as they walk through the door. They also offer a handful of bright frame colors to choose from.

The coolest and most ambitious gallery idea I dream of implementing comes from an article in the San Francisco Chronicle written a few years back by established writer, blogger and mom, Charlene Prince. Charlene features the work of SF designer M.F. Chapman. Don’t you just LOVE this wall? Be sure to visit this excellent article for it’s designer display tips.

Whether your little Picasso’s pieces go on display in the their room, hallway, playroom or like me: over cereal, make certain to have fun with the display for all to appreciate!

Tags: DIY, Framing, Wall Art

Just when I thought I would buy the super fun Step 2 kitchen with all the bells and whistle that I know my toddler will love, I continue to find even more fabulous looking kitchens that will beautifully compliment my own kitchen. After all, adding a play kitchen is big time playroom decor. I am not talking about the beloved $$$ PBK kitchen….We’ll, maybe I am. But there is so much more out there now that doesn’t cost $500 for a pretend sink!

Great blog and soon to be online store, Shawn and Frank, did a super post the other week on bright, unique, contemporary, play kitchens. I just dig all their trendy baby finds, i.e. This one below retails for only $79 - What a find! For more of their play kitchen picks, click here!

If you are the more adventurous type however, check out IKEA hacker for play kitchen inspiration or the work of this clever mom recently featured on Ohdeedoh…

And finally, since we are talking kitchens…Pam and I were recently swapping stories about how our boys (both under age two) can push a heavy chair across a room and muscle their way on to our kitchen islands. While impressed by their agility we are also freaked by their ability to get into such precarious situations (We swear we are good moms!). Here’s a fantastic solution for your little kitchen helper that will keep them safe and off the kitchen table!

Now this does look good in my kitchen!

Tags: DIY, Kitchen, Play Rooms, Pretend

Hey Gossip Girl…Get your friends talking with this awesome DIY project!

I know, I oodle over those cute, girly custom tufted headboards but sometimes they are just a little spendy for a kid-room-makeover-budget. Plus doing this yourself will allow you to splurge for that must have bedding you have been eyeing for you little chicky or dude! Here is a DIY tip to create a lot of panache for just pennies.

The Faux Tufted Headboard

Supplies: Paint, Basic Wood Trim (I prefer the pre-primed trim; its easier to paint) Miter Saw, Tape Measure

A full-sized bed and measures 54″ wide. Make certain the width is at lease as wide as the mattress if you are using a different size. The height is totally up to you based on the look you are going for. Factor in the height of the back pillows to make sure it still can be seen once the bed is put together. Also make sure the finished height does not line up with anything else on the wall. Here the headboard is slightly higher than the mirror over the dresser.

I chose a harlequin (diamond) pattern for this room. With this particular design, the wall color and a pearly white were alternated. Then circles were painted on where the diamonds meet to mimic buttons. You can use real buttons or any embellishments you like to add more dimension and texture. Little freehand lines were added around the buttons to create “tufts”. The design was framed with a painted wood molding to finish the look . Get as creative as you like or if you get stuck for an idea, e-mail me at rebecca@projectnursery.com for help. Ciao!

Tags: DIY, Hand-painted, Headboards, Toddler Rooms

Happy Halloween PN readers! I have to admit I didn’t do the best job of planning all my decorations, treats and costumes this year. It’s especially difficult when my daughter changes her mind on her costume every other minute. We have started a whale costume, a spider costume and a chef costume all to fall back on old faithful, Princess Belle. The mind of a three and a half year old. The good news on getting festive for those feisty trick or treaters is, its not too late! Check out these creative ways to spruce up those pumpkins you haven’t carved yet. Glitter, lollipops and a power drill, Ms. Stewart never fails us….

Have Fun and Be Safe….

Tags: DIY, Holidays

Here’s an idea. One-of-a-kind, personalized artwork that adds a subtle touch of modern to the nursery without going overboard and costing a fortune. Sound appealing? Let us introduce you to Mod Memento, personal heirlooms on paper. These prints are a unique and modern way to incorporate new baby’s name into the nursery or home. Wall letters and monogram decals can look nice but why not use the story of falling for your mate in the artwork too? Great keepsakes are all about the details!

Mod Memento’s digital prints can be ordered in any color combination to match your little one’s nursery and are totally custom made to reflect your style. You can even send owner and designer, Brianna, a swatch of fabric to tie in specific colors. She whips up these beautifully bold and colorful creations in her home studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Inspired by typography, digital art and photography, Brianna’s fun designs arrive ready to frame for instant gratification (love that). You can find Mod Memento’s entire collection at her Etsy Shop or become a fan on her Mod Memento Blog. One lucky Project Nursery reader will win a custom print of their choice. The winner is going to have a very tough decision on their hands.  Birth Story, Monogram, Baby Love and Family Tree are all amazing, you can’t go wrong. Good Luck!!

WIN IT NOW!

1. Comment on this post with your favorite Mod Memento Print

2. Extra entries are counted by 1) posting on our Project Nursery Forum (up to 5x) 2) subscribing or commenting that you are a subscriber and 3) blogging about our giveaway. Don’t worry, we track it all!

3. The winner will be selected at random by using random.org

4. Contest ends Friday, November 7th, 11:59pm pst

CONTEST CLOSED - Congrats to Sharon!

Tags: Gifts, Giveaways, Personalized, Wall Art

Thanks for a great week of Stampin’ Up!. We hope you came away feeling a little crafty as a result. Whether you dive into that long overdue scrapbook, spruce up a wall with decals, or create your own framed art, your kid will appreciate your personalized touch (even if that happens to be years away from now)!

WIN IT!

1. Win a box of Stampin’ Up! goodies (including the latest catalog, stamps, decor element decals and craft papers) by commenting on this post and sharing your thoughts about this weeks Stampin’ posts or a crafty project where you send us a link to your own blog post! Who knows? If it’s kid related, maybe we will feature it

2. Extra entries are counted by 1) posting on our chat room forum (up to 5) 2) subscribing or commenting that you are a subscriber and 3) blogging about our giveaway. Yes, we track all of it!

3. The winner will be selected at random by using random.org

4. Contest ends Friday, October 31th, 11:59pm pst

CONTEST CLOSED - Congrats to Kim!

Tags: Giveaways, Stampin'

Finding the right wall decor for a nursery is never easy. Wall art that is personal and coordinated with the entire the room make a nursery feel special. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Stampin’ Up! has many fabulous do-it-yourself (DIY) frame ideas that can allow any mom to create customized, professional looking artwork for children’s rooms.

I immediately fell in love with this adorable sailboat. This frame would be the perfect addition to any nursery.

Materials list includes: Very Vanilla textured card stock, Baja Breeze Patterns Designer Series paper, Small Chocolate Nursery Necessities Décor Elements, Kiwi Kiss 5/8” striped grosgrain ribbon, Linen thread, Button Bouquet, and Frame.

The Step-by-Step:
1. Adhere Baja Breeze Patterns Designer Series paper to Very Vanilla textured card stock, and insert into frame.
2. Apply Décor Elements vinyl to front of glass.
3. Tie linen thread through Kiwi Kiss button, and adhere to glass.
4. Tie Kiwi Kiss ribbon to frame, and hang from ribbon.

Some other fun DIY options with the materials available from Stampin’ Up! include creating personalized monograms using papers and colors to match bedding, wall color, and other accents:

The possibilities for themes are really endless: whimsical, modern, masculine, animals, trains, cars, alphabets, numbers, etc. With the numerous material selections available at Stampin’ Up!, any nursery can be enhanced with the addition of these beautiful, professional-looking DIY stamps and decor element wall decals!

Note: Not all product used in the Butterfly Baby room is available for purchase at this time.

Tags: DIY, Frames, Stampin', Wall Art, Wall Decals, Wall Letters

Months ago, I stumbled upon stamping sensation Jane Matsumoto’s blog Whoopsie Daisy! via My Asian Heritage. It quickly became apparent that scrap booking isn’t just for the books. I was drawn to Jane’s baby onesie invitation created for her sister-in-law’s baby shower and thought that our readers would also enjoy.

Coincidentally, I heard from the Stampin’ Up! corporate offices and was warmly welcomed into a whole new world, beyond the Michael’s scrap booking aisle. Stampin’ Up! is a real phenomenon founded by two sisters Levonne Crosby and Shelli Gardner. From filling orders in their living room to a 55-acre campus in Utah, Stampin’ Up! is an impressive business model to say the least.

Jane, a mother of two active little boys, preschool teacher, blogger and one of 50,000 Stampin’ Up! reps squeezed in some time to answer a few of our newbie Stampin’ questions…

1. How did you first learn about Stampin’ Up! and what made you start Stampin’?

A friend was a demonstrator and asked if I would like to host a workshop. I was hooked instantly! Keiji was a few months old and I was going through postpartum depression. This new hobby really helped me get focused on my passion for arts and crafts and get re-connected with friends.

2. Is there a favorite project that you’ve complete and can you share it with us?

Yes! My sister-in-law’s baby shower was the first time I ever hosted a baby shower and it was such a success! I really enjoyed every moment from the baby invitations to the baby favors to the diaper cake. I even made Strawberry Ginger ale Cupcakes! You can see the pictures on my blog here!

My second favorite that I get lots of comments (even after a year!) is my tutorial on this Waterfall Card.

(Project Nursery’s Fave? See below…)

"A Rocking Hello"

3. Any tips as to how Stampin’ Up! can be applied in the nursery, playroom or kids room?

Stampin’ Up! has an array of rubber stamps that can be used for the nursery, playroom or children’s room. Better yet, Stampin’ Up! recently came out with a new Definitely Decorative product line called “Décor Elements”. They are self-adhesive vinyl elements that are easy to apply and remove. Just as many of the stamp sets in the catalog are “Two-Step Stampin’” sets, you will find versatile Two-Step Décor Elements that will allow you to layer with different color vinyl elements or use them individually. I am a preschool teacher so my favorite is “Teacher’s Pet”.

4. What is the benefit of working with a Stampin’ Up! rep and how can I find one in my area? Do they need to be in my area?

You can easily locate a demonstrator near you by going to www.stampinup.com and clicking on “find a demonstrator” in the upper right hand corner. The benefit of working with a demonstrator directly is receiving personalized customer service and instruction. For example, many of my clients are Japanese. I offer card making workshops in both English and in Japanese and I trim the stamps and mount them for many of them (if I do not have them shipped directly to the customer’s home). I also have a Hostess Club that meets once a month and several other groups that meet every other week at my home to make cards.

Demonstrators do not need to be in your area. However, if you are looking for workshops or to become a demonstrator yourself, then you may want to contact someone near your home. That demonstrator will be able give you individualized attention in person.

Thanks Jane for sharing your love of Stampin’ Up! with us and for inviting crafty Project Nursery subscribers to contact you directly with any Stampin’ Up! questions via email at whoopsie.daisy{at}sbcglobal{dot}net.

Tags: Interview, Stampin', Stationary

A company that has sold over 6.5 million stamp sets certainly knows a thing or two about creativity. That is why we were excited to hear about new ways to easily spruce up the nursery on your own, without a ton of work. Melisa announced yesterday that we are dedicating this week to some of these crafty ideas from our friends at Stampin’ Up! Today we are featuring a stylish and fun circles wall border from Stampin’ Up’s! Decor Elements line. These self-adhesive vinyl art products can be used on walls, mirrors, windows and other smooth surfaces.

Now, I realize this DIY project looks like it would take hours and require absolute concentration. Un-interupted decorating time is hard to come by at my house so quick and easy are important. Really, these decals are not only easy to apply but leave a lot of room to create your own unique border using the luscious layers of circles. If you don’t believe me, check out the step-by-step instructions. And don’t fear, if you need to change the room down the road the decals come off the wall quickly. Simple to apply and a decor element that is non-committal!. The experts at Stampin’ Up! put it best when they said, “Whether you want to spice up the walls of your home or frame a home décor piece for display, Décor Elements is easy to apply, easy to love, and easy to remove. Tomorrow you will meet a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, in the meantime you can purchase these cool decals online.

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Stampin', Wall Decals

Stampin’ Up! is celebrating their 20th anniversary and we thought we would celebrate too by sharing how a little “Stampin’ ” can spruce up not just your scrapbook but your even room decor. Excited? So are we.

You see, we knew nothing about scrapbooking until recently. We may be late to the game (20 years) but oh, how we admire the craft and those dedicated. So join us as we explore Stampin’ for fun, crafty, creative ideas and inspiration for your child’s room. Here’s a sample of a Stampin’ Up! playroom and a hint of what’s in store for this week!

Some of you may be asking, What is Stampin’ Up!? While their core product offering is rubber stamps for scrapbooking and paper crafting, Stampin’ Up! has recently expanded their home décor line to include larger rubber stamps for stamping on walls and larger surfaces as well as Décor Elements, a vinyl wall décor product offering. The “Crew Classic” kids room shown here playfully highlights how to incorporate paper crafting and stamping tastefully and functionally into a kid’s play area.

Stay with us this week for a little Stampin’ Up! DIY, cool new products and interviews as we dedicate this week to all about Stampin’. And if you happen to be a talented Stamper, send us photos and details of your kid inspired Stampin’ ideas!

Tags: DIY, Play Rooms, Stampin', Wall Decals