Nursery Renovation

Our family took on a major nursery renovation at church recently. I actually finished the last touch up of paint this morning. I had a blast seeing the vision become reality.

My daughter and I were sitting in the nursery one Sunday morning, playing with the babies discussing what we would do to update the room. It had an awesome Noah's Ark mural theme, that had been painted about 9 years ago. It was getting pretty beat up and change sounded fun. We started taking notes...

A couple of weeks later, the children's ministry director mentioned to us that she was thinking of updating the nursery and wondered if we could come up with some ideas. I handed her the list. :)

After the week long project turning into three...here are the results. I think my favorite change is the odd little room as it became a cottage, especially the window box!

Before and after pictures at the end of the post.

Sunday School Song Theme

Chain on vinyl chandelier says "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."

New sink, counter and faucet with painted cabinets.

Buffalo check valance and acrylic mirror.

Painted the shelf and added French memo board.

We changed the fluorescent lights out for can lights. Added one on a dimmer in the cottage.

So fresh and clean looking!

New toy storage..."Tubtrugs"

Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world.

Paper Dolls from My Scrap Chick

This is a project inspired by House of Hepworth's sign.

I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart!

Acrylic mirror from home depot, framed and topped with "My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY, There's NOTHING my God can not do!

All things bright and beautiful, the Lord God made them all.

Found this frame 17 years ago and finally found a project for it.

Before and After

Before and After (before the mirror)

Before and After

Before and After

Before and After

Bubble Gum Pink

Bubblegum Machine Make Over

Another Pinterest inspired project...this time a gumball machine. I pinned this project last year sometime...and then was on the hunt for an old gumball machine at the garage sales last year to see if I could do something like it. During one of the last of the season sales, I found this!

Bubble Gum Machine Before

I took it all apart and cleaned it up.  (I worked on this as I was working on the chandelier...hopefully that explains some of the weird pieces.)

Tearing it all apart.

Then I spray painted the metal pieces. I chose not to paint the "works" of the machine because 1. I didn't refer back to the original pin to see that they had and 2.I wanted it to function and I was afraid the paint would jam the mechanism.

While waiting for the paint to dry, I worked...and worked...and worked on getting the Jelly Belly logo off the glass. THAT did NOT go well! I tried acetone, steel wool, turpentine, soaking it, scrubbing it, sanding it. I finally got most of the evidence off that the logo was ever there, but it left the glass scratched and foggy.

Final project.

I cut some coordinating vinyl to cover the scratched parts and labeled it treats. Had to take a couple of darts in the oval to get it to lay somewhat flat.

My sad attempt at the label.

Before and After

Gave this as a gift to my Sister in Law for her birthday. Thought it might be a good potty training tool filled with M&Ms for her toddler.

Chandelier Make Over

I've seen so many chandeliers on Pinterest, made over to be cute, fun, repurposed (cupcake holders, anyone?) and just plain cool. I've been itching to try my hand at revamping one. I added it to my garage sale finds wish list. Finally, I stumbled across one. I splurged and spent the dollar they were asking. Didn't even try to chew the seller down. I know, I know, could have saved a quarter.

I took it all apart, removed all wiring and scrubbed the fixture with a toothbrush. I tried really hard to keep the pieces together in order...I was mostly successful...glad I had a before picture to help with the reassembly, though.

Somehow I lost all the photos of the paint job...I'm pretty sure I took some. Imagine if you can...

• a wooden swing set, with the swings flipped over the top so they'd be out of the way
• a dull bronze chandelier hanging from the "eye" of one of the swings with a bungee cord
• a sheet that has seen other spray paint jobs spread neatly under the chandelier
• a sheet that was spread neatly, rumpled by the slight breeze
• a can of metal primer spray paint
• a chandelier sprayed white with primer
• another can of spray paint...with a pink cap
• a chandelier sprayed pink, but definitely needing another coat
• a more evenly covered paint job...boy getting the underside is tricky!
• a chandelier left to dry

Next came the actual spendy part...adding the bling. Went to the local craft store, hauling my project. I spent quite a bit of time sitting on the floor in front of the beads trying to figure out how many I needed and how best to cover all the spots for the bobbles. There were 55 in all! I'm really glad that J's was having a sale, because I donated an arm and a leg for those sparklies! I got out my daughter's beading supplies and went to work.

I really wanted to use tea cups for the tea lite holders, but wasn't having much luck finding the perfect set of them. I finally decided to use tea lite cups. I dipped the rim in matching paint and hung them upside down on small bottles to dry. I glued them to the chandy with E6000.

 Now my project needs a new home. I've listed it on Craig's List, but kinda high priced because of the beads. We'll see if I can sell it. Sure was fun to put together though!

Elias

Here's another baby gift..This one is for baby Elias. The turtle is a freebie from SVGCuts . The firefly is from Doug's Bugs at Lettering Delights.

Doggie Bag

My daughter made an adorable puppy hat for baby Jeremiah. I got to help with the wrapping by making the gift bag and tag. Here's the coordinating efforts...

I used Cricut Doodle Charm cartridge for puppies.

Lil' Tomina

I made this collage for a friend from church. Her little one arrived this past week. She is named after her very special Aunt. I wanted it to coordinate with the one I made for her brother, Kaelen, but wanted to girlify it a bit. I used the same Monkey (Cricut, New Arrival) and foliage (Cricut, Paper Doll Dress Up) as I used for Kaelen's but ventured out with My Scrap Chick's "Jungle Zoo Safari Too" to make the little girl explorer and hippo.

A Really Special Baby Gift

I am so excited to finally be able to post this baby collage. It's for my little nephew due in just a few weeks. The first baby (other than my own) for my side of the family. I really like how this turned out!

Verse reads: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

The name Ari means "Lion"

I used the lion from the cartridge, Everyday Paper Dolls. It's cut three times (2 in beige and one in brown.) trimmed and chalked around the edges. I then layered using mounting tape. The bushes and grass are from the same cartridge.

Froggie Frame

I hope you're not tired of baby frames...lots more babies expected this summer ;) Here is another of the latest that I've finished.

The verse is Psalm 28:7
"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
   and with my song I praise him."

Cricut Cartridges used: Frog from New Arrival and Lilly Pad from Kate's ABCs.

Child Training

Yet another baby frame...

Train is from Cricut Cartridge: New Arrival.

Little Lamb Baby Frame

Another baby plaque.  Really like how this turned out. When I asked about nursery theme, there really wasn't one, but the mom-to-be liked Irish stuff, (including the baby name)...so this is what I came up with.

The verse is Isaiah 40:11"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

 The sheep is from the Paper Dolls Dress Up cartridge and the tree is from Serenade. 

Sports Themed Baby Plaque

We have a bunch of babies coming in our family. I made this plaque for my cousins little one who is coming soon.

Here is the nursery set I was working to coordinate with. It's "Junior Varsity" from Pottery Barn Kids.

Sweet Little Birdie Photo Plaque

Here is one of the latest photo plaques for a new baby in the family.

First Try...something was missing!

Second Try...Ahhh, it was some flowers :) Much better!

This is the nursery set I was trying to coordinate with. It's "Penelope" from Pottery Barn.