LoveYourRoom: 7/1/13

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Recalling My Kids Farm Theme Nursery

I have been thinking a lot about how fast the years go by. The little girl I once rocked to sleep in my arms in the chair you see above, is doing so much on her own these days. I came across a photo I took of her nursery and thought I would share it. I wish I took better photos but this is all I have.

A lot of thought went into this bedroom (focusing on the baby's room kept my mind off of how much I began to resemble a weeble wobble during pregnancy).

I did not find out if I was having a boy or girl so the theme of the room was a take on 'Old McDonald's Farm'.

Turning the walls into farmland: I started out by painting the upper walls a light blue color, then added the green paint by simply running my paint brush recklessly horizontally around the room -NOT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. Very easy! This created hills.

I used stencils for the animals. Holding each stencil up the wall, I penciled them on lightly and with a fine paint brush, filled them in with paint. I made the stencils using clear acetate sheets I picked up at a craft store.

You can't really see it, but above the closet doors I stenciled

'On this farm there was a ......'

CLICK HERE for easy instructions on how to create your own stencils. Its a very nice tutorial. For the clouds I used the tip of finger. I placed a little bit of white paint on my finger and dabbed it on the wall. I kept doing it, until I had the shape I wanted. Do not use too much paint or the cloud won't feel kind of translucent and 'fluffy'. Take your time and have fun with it!

A farm themed room is pretty easy to put together because you can find loads of accessories at flea markets, stores like Marshalls, and country craft strores. You can use vintage looking shelves, animal sculptures, old signs; use anything red, plaid, gingham, tin.....I can go on and on.

For this room, I added a cute chandelier with roosters on it, and added plaid shades. Also an antique wall sconce with a picture of a farm on it, red linen drapes, and of course, farm animal bedding (again, wish I had a picture of it but you can see the blanket from the cute bedding set draped over the chair). I loved this room! We have since moved but the baby's room will always be one of my favorite spaces.

P.S. Jeremy, if you see this blog post I hope you recall the wall letters you sent me. I still have them hanging in my kids bedroom.

This is a photo of me as a kid in my bedroom. I have since shaved the mustache but the wallpaper lives on! :)

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Quick Change Cork Board With Duct Tape

I purchased this cork board at Target today for $8.99

The Board Dudes Framed Cork Board 23"x35"

It is the right size for my space but ULTRA BORING!

Here is a super easy way to give your 'ho hum' cork board a make over in 5 minutes!

This works for blackboards also!!

All you need is duct tape. Yes, I am on board with the super trendy fashion looks of good old fashioned duct tape! This project, I am sure, has been done, by many college folk as well as grade schoolers! This is just a quick reminder of how easy it is to update something you may have already at home!

INGREDIENTS:

1. Scissors

2. Duct tape (most craft stores, office supply store, and even home decor stores)

STEPS:

Simply tape it down one end, cut it with scissors, then another, and another, and another.

AFTER

DIY Home Office Desk Skirt Hides Clutter

Does your desk look like this underneath?

Looking for an instant way to hide your 'under desk' clutter?

I have a small work space that sits in an awkward area and accumulates a lot of clutter and wires underneath. After staring at my crap long enough I decided it was time to conceal the mess-in a pretty way.

This is great project for renters who have a work space they share with their living room or bedroom. Also works super well for inexpensive plain desks!!

With little cost and even less labor, I created a table apron out of a single ready made drape!

Now I no longer see the mess.

This desk apron can be removed any time and placed back on again because it is held on with Velcro!

MY INGREDIENTS:

1. A curtain from Target- Threshold™ Farrah Fretwork Window Panel

(or any piece of fabric a few inches bigger than the size of the length and height of your desk will do!)

2. A pack of 'sticky back Velcro Squares' - Most office supply, craft stores and home repair stores carry this. Choose black or white to blend in with your desk (I would have used white for this project, but wanted you to see the squares so chose black.

3. Stitch Witchery - Most craft stores carry this.

4. An iron and ironing board.

5. Scissors.

STEPS:

STEP 1.

Measure the length (width) you need from desk leg to desk leg and add on two inches on either side.

Fold the two inches over to the back side of the fabric on each side, and using the stitch witchery, iron a straight line.

STEP 2.

Attach one side of the Velcro squares along the desk as shown above. They should stick on quickly. Place the coordinating back side of each Velcro square on top of the matching square so the sticky side is facing you.

Stretch the newly ironed fabric along the Velcro squares pressing it firmly to the sticky squares as seen above. YOU HAVE NOT CUT THE LENGTH OF THE FABRIC YET.

STEP 3.

The fabric is now attached to the Velcro on the desk as shown above. Using push pins create a hem where the fabric hits the floor. Remove the fabric from the desk. The one side of the Velcro should come off with the fabric (if it does not, use a thread and needle to keep it attached.)

Now, like you did to the sides of the fabric, create a hem along the bottom with the stitch witchery, using the push pins as your guide.