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

I haven’t found the right playful picture of the kids to have blown up on canvas but I really love the idea. Now, I have even more reason to find that perfect picture to convert into a piece of artwork. Chic Canvas has teamed up with our friend and stationary guru Erin Condren to introduce a line of canvas keepsakes.  With details such as Erin’s trademark Stripes and Candy Lace designs, the canvas can be totally customized. Those holidays are just around the corner and these beautiful canvas works of art would brighten up the nursery, toddler room or play room. Sizing runs from 8 x 10 for $79 to the oversized 36 x 48 for $319.

Want your house to be extra jolly this Christmas? Erin has just introduced the darling “Oh Christmas Tree” canvas print for $112.  With the holidays around the corner this print is a bright and cheerful way to welcome your guests at this year’s holiday party. In fact, you can coordinate your invitations and gift labels to match the canvas. Now that’s getting in the spirit!

Tags: Gifts, Wall Art

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

Cassie is a seasoned blogger, Etsy shop owner, graphic designer and crafter who officially added the title of Mom last week as she and her family welcomed Perry Avery into the world! Cassie’s nesting time was well spent creating a soothing, bird inspired nursery. “For the baby’s room, we decided to keep it understated, clean and modern with a folksy twist. I wanted a room I could personally seek refuge in and not just a character-themed nursery he would outgrow in a couple years…I’d say the room currently reflects my own style and not necessarily that of a baby boy.

The color inspiration came from a quilt Cassie made a few years back and the crib/crib bedding comes from Walmart. Fearing that the notNeutral wall decals wouldn’t properly adhere due to the room’s textured walls, Cassie created her own version with a quart of paint, stencils made out of card stock, and a roll of masking tape. The green paint on the wall is Valspar 6003-3B Martinique Dawn in eggshell and the green used for the mural is Valspar MS245 Spiny Sea Urchin in semi-gloss. For more DIY details, visit Cassie’s sweet blog “Twittering Bird“. Oh, and we must boast that Project Nursery inspired the darling, complimentary handmade bird mobile!

Cassie believes that anyone can easily customize anything with a couple quarts of paint and a few yards of fabric! We wanted a dresser instead of a changing table, so the little guy could use it for years to come. We were on an ikea budget and weren’t quite satisfied with anything we saw until we spied this dresser. It’s solid wood but the colors were anything but exciting, so we figured a few quarts of paint would be the perfect solution. The exact colors of the dresser are: Valspar 5004-9C Beach Sparkle (blue) and Valspar 6010-4 Amazon Silt - both in semi-gloss.“

Just one simple curtain panel provided enough fabric to make two valances. And the best part - The fabric was found on sale at Target for only three dollars! The dresser and shelf are both from Ikea. Some of Cassie’s favorite finds include the Amy Ruppel print (their first purchase once pregnant), the inflatable “Rody“, and the Bla-Bla knit toys.

Best wishes to both Cassie and baby! Thank you for taking the time to share with us. We hope you enjoy many peaceful nights in your beautiful nursery!

Tags: Boy, Gender Neutral, Inspiration, Paint, Wall Art

We all enjoy decorative wall decals for their versatility, convenience and ease of removal. However, it wasn’t until recently that I actually applied one to my own walls. Here’s a little “how to” video from PNTV in case you are wondering how it works and is it really that easy?

Trouble viewing? Here’s the link…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgXhiv-SD3Q

Make certain you visit Curly Cue Wall Graphics to browse their fun selection of unique decals. Dreaming of a design you can’t find anywhere? Look no more! Curly Cue gladly takes requests. Just e-mail your requests to jordy_kirkman@hotmail.com to make that great idea a reality. Enter code “projectnursery” at check out to recieve $5 off any order.

Thanks for watching!

Tags: PNTV, Wall Decals

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

When my son was born, we were showered with sweet, soft, stuffed animals. I picked a few of my faves to add to his crib and decorated his room with the rest. I knew he would one day claim his own to love: aka “lovey”. I’ve read that more than half of toddlers own a lovey. You know, that transitional stuffed animal or blanket which soothes and provides a child with that extra sense of security. So what am I to do when “Go-Go” goes away?

Bay area artist Nicole Leigh Smith of A Bunny A Day, creates portraits of warm, cheerful stuffed animals and posts them on her daily blog for sale. Note cards, prints and canvas originals become even more appealing when her reasonably priced art for kids shares 20% of proceeds with various animal charities.

” I have been painting all things plush and fluffy since I can remember! The first thing my uncle taught me how to draw was a pillow!…Texture and color are huge for me, but I am also interested in capturing a “moment of simple joy and happiness” within the viewer of these portraits, I want to make these stuffed receivers of our childhood affections come Alive!!!”

Nicole’s work is special, one of a kind and Project Nursery couldn’t be more impressed as to how she brings these darling stuffed animals to life.

Back to my son’s lovey, loving named  “Go-Go” (translates to “dog” in Chinese): I have searched high and low to find a new Go-Go as he is desperately tattered and has survived one to many hot wash cycles. I fear the day when Go-Go completely falls apart. Lucky for me Go-Go looks identical to the puppy on the left. Yippee! Go-Go has been immortalized! Problem solved.

Tags: Stuffed Aminals, Wall Art

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

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

If this nursery hasn’t inspired you just yet, keep reading. It’s hard not to be impressed by the creativity, love and attention to detail Rebecca has put into creating her son Brandt’s designer digs for less than $1000!

When it comes to designing a blank canvas, Project Nursery often recommends a single jumping off point. Rebecca’s inspiration for baby’s first room was Land of Nod’s contemporary quilted crib bedding, Full Circle. Prints from Yuko Lau found at Allposters.com nicely compliment the bedding and provides a touch of whimsy.  Rebecca explains that her biggest challenge was finding a white crib that wasn’t too feminine or traditional. The discovery of Babi Italia’s Scandi Dropside Crib in chocolate and white from Babies R Us was the ideal find. We just love how Rebecca chose to carry the same look throughout the room with the other pieces.

At 7 months pregnant, Rebecca created the focal wall behind the crib with hip squares of color. “The blocks were created by using 1.75″ painters tape for the grid and are approx 24″x24″. The color palette came directly from the bedding and art. I used Behr paint from Home Depot (3 shades of blue - Euclayptus Leaf, Adriatic Mist, and a medium
shade between the two that was a custom color; 2 shades of green- Dried Palm and Corn Husk and 1 brown- Breakfast Blend”.

Now here’s where Rebecca’s the inner Martha Stewart really kicks in…

“The scalloped paint design above the changing table was created by tracing half of a paper plate and then painting the outline by hand. The dresser came from an old armoire base I had. I added a fresh coat of white paint and brushed nickel hardware. To turn it into a changing table, I purchased the chocolate wood changing top from Pottery Barn Kids. The window panels are made from aqua colored twin sheets; I added the 24″ strip of white fabric and then embellished them with coordinating ribbon. I would have to say that my favorite item would have to be my window panels….only because I made them. I was working as a designer and was surrounded by fabrics that were awesome and about $100/yard or more so to be able to make my own that coordinated so well for about $12.00 per panel, I was really excited!”

Finally, the chair, shelves, picture frames, and paper lanterns are from Ikea and the Star Shaggy Raggy Rugs came from Target!

Bravo Rebecca, you should be really very proud of the cool, contemporary and creative nursery you created. Thanks for giving us the scoop!

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Bedding, Boy, Drapes, Furniture, Inspiration, Paint, Window Treatments