DIY Nursery Wall Decor

I’ve been giving our guest room a bit of a makeover to include a little nursery space for my very first grand child who is scheduled to arrive next month. I can’t wait! You guys, a sweet baby boy will be here soon! I’m so excited, I can’t stand it! 

Materials: I found this old oval wall art at the thrift store for 3.99.

DIY nursery wall art  tutorial

I had the wrapping paper and felted deer head (used in our stairwell/landing makeover originally. I looked and it’s no longer for sale…sorry but I did see awesome paper mache deer heads at Michaels that would work well too…plus you can paint/decoupage to coordinate with your room.). So this is a thrifty treasure for me…just $3.99 for the dusty framed print + shopping the house since I had the spray paint on hand already too. 

What I did: Gave everything a good cleaning and removed the backing from the frame (set aside). 

I spray painted the frame gold and let it dry. 

DIY nursery wall art  tutorial

I traced the oval backing onto chevron wrapping paper. I did glue the wrapping paper over the print on the front. However, it’s not required if you’d like to preserve the print.  DIY nursery wall art  tutorial DIY nursery wall art  tutorialDIY nursery wall art  tutorial

Then just reattached the backing to the frame. 

DIY nursery wall art  tutorial

I hung it on the wall and hammered a nail in the center to hang the felted deer head and added a DIY banner…just card stock, Project Life cards (scrapbook section at Michaels) and twine. I added a string of mini LED fairy lights too. 

nursery wall decor tutorial @diyshowoffnursery wall decor tutorial @diyshowoff

See my guest room nursery space for more nursery ideas:

combined guest room nursery reveal @diyshowoffDIY nursery wall decor at diyshowoff.comeasy diagonal wall paint design tutorial @diyshowoffpainted craft box DIY at diyshowoffDIYShowOff Michaels Makers back to school book ends feature

*This post is sponsored by Happy Crafters. Tutorial, experience and opinion is my own.  Check out all the supplies at Happy Crafters for inspiration for your next project. 

And yes…it’s crazy here. From Halloween to baby shower to some Christmas decorating, a guest room/nursery makeover, an entire home before/after in progress (family members), always Young Living recipes, events and sharing my story, and another small apartment nursery nook. There’s a LOT going on and DIYShowOff is ALL over the place! You may want to subscribe to get reminders to check back often! 😉 

Have a great week!

DIY Book Ends

Back to school time! Time to restock the desk area for homework assignments and school projects. Add cute set of DIY book ends to perk things up. 

A to Z book ends tutorial @diyshowoff

As a part of the Michael’s Makers team, I have the opportunity to create a monthly themed project. This month’s challenge is “Back to School”. A bit of a ‘challenge’ when your nest is empty but these will work in grand-baby boy’s nursery too. 😉

What I used: 

  • 4  wood blocks 
  • wood glue and clamps
  • scrapbook paper and scrapbook cards
  • multi-surface acrylic craft paint and foam brush
  • gloss finish decoupage and foam brush
  • {thin} washi tape
  • letter A
  • letter Z
  • hot glue gun & glue

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial

What I did:

Start with applying a bead of wood glue to each block to create an “L” shape. Clamp, wipe away any excess glue and let dry. 

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Once glue was dry, I removed the clamps and applied a ‘white wash’ look using a foam brush and multi-surface acrylic craft paint. I only applied one coat so that the wood grain still showed through. Let dry. 

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Cut scrapbook paper to size for inside of the “L” shape and the outside of the vertical wood piece. I used scrapbook paper and cute patterned scrapbook cards. 

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Apply a coat of decoupage to one side at a time as a glue. Place scrapbook paper onto decoupaged surface. Smooth out air bubbles. Apply another coat of decoupage over the scrapbook paper, sealing it. I brushed on the decoupage in the same direction as the wood grain. Repeat decoupage + scrapbook paper to all sides. Decoupage will go on with a ‘milky’ look but dry transparent. 

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Add washi tape to sides, smooth out bubbles/make sure it’s adhered. Apply a coat of decoupage to seal. *There’s also the option to apply the decoupage before the washi tape to act as a ‘glue’. 

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Apply a second coat of decoupage to all surfaces. I let mine dry overnight. 

Attach wood “A” and “Z” using hot glue gun. Wouldn’t they be cute with succulent planters, plastic animals, vases, figurines instead too? 

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Once hot glue sets, you’re good to go!

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

Ready for keeping school books within easy reach and an organized desk top. Useful, functional book ends that coordinate with your home office, library, reading room, craft room, nursery or homework station…love it!

DIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakersDIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakersDIY Show Off back to school book ends tutorial #michaelsmakers

See MORE ‘back to school’ crafts from these blog friends:

Teachers – It’s time to start planning for the new school year and Michaels has all of the ideas and supplies you need to create a one-of-a-kind classroom, plus you get a 15 percent discount on all classroom purchases!

In addition to the products available for teachers, parents and students can find organizational tools to keep on track throughout the year as well as project ideas to personalize school supplies

Check out Michaels’ Back to School Pinterest Board to find fun and creative project ideas to kick the year off right! 

As a member of the Michael’s Makers team, I receive a gift card to complete and share fun craft challenges.

Michaels.com: Your 24-hour Arts & Crafts Store

 

 

 

Small Shared Room Nursery Inspiration

It’s unusual to see me thinking along the lines of nurseries since we have an empty nest and no, noooooo!, I’m not expecting! However, I do have a special announcement to make:

I will be a grandma later this year!

::excited hugs and happy tears all around::

It's a BOY! @diyshowoff

and…it’s a grandson!

It's a boy!

What?! You guys! Ready or not, it’s onto life’s next chapter for me. Gosh! Am I old enough? (Wait, don’t answer that!) Despite a few years of loving grand-kitties, a grand-doggy and even a grand-piggy, I feel so un-prepared! The proof is in my knitting…

knitting fail

first knitting attempt: epic fail!

Not to mention…I’m clueless when it comes to boys. My experience is limited to girls!

It’s finally just starting to sink in…me, a grandma?!

Yep! And despite my destructive knitting skills, I’m going to be one awesome grandmother! We will be the best grandparents. I just know it! My baby. Having a baby. ::please pass the tissues::

———

Okay, on to the topic of DIYs and nurseries…

For now, at least until next spring, Ali will be staying in her dinky apartment (which I still have yet to fully reveal…perhaps we’ll do that soon too), so we’ll be brainstorming some small space ideas for the new little one’s temporary nursery nook in the tiny one bedroom apartment for at least six months of tight space living. 

small nursery inspiration

Here is a collection of small nursery nooks for inspiration: 

small nursery space

Small doesn’t have to mean skimping on style. {via Apartment Therapy}

small nursery at Adventures of a British Housewife in New York

It does mean getting creative! {via Adventures of a British Housewife in New York}

changing station at Mandy Busby Creative

and making the best use of little space. {via Mandy Busby Creative}

even if it’s a tight squeeze… {via Apartment Therapy}

crib closet

A Bit of Sunshine nursery

{via A Bit of Sunshine}

small nursery inspiration

Love this fun space! Great colors, fun patterns! {via Apartment Therapy}

nursery corner at Bleubird Blog

{via Bleubird Blog}

Nobody puts baby in a corner unless it’s a cute nursery corner.

small nursery

{via Apartment Therapy}

Stay tuned: Tips for creating a small nursery space in a one bedroom apartment. Space may be tiny but love is BIG!

How about TWO nurseries? Why yes, I think so! Grandma needs to create a nursery space in one of our guest rooms for overnight stays, right? So lots of baby love, baby related DIY and decorating and preparing for a precious little one coming right up! I can’t wait!!!