DIY Heaven: Emerson's Room

 Welcome to the land of all things GIRL. If you have boys, then this post may or may not appeal to you. Let me encourage you to continue reading though because the tips I'm going to share are not necessarily gender specific; they just are pictured as 'girly' because, well, I have a little girl.

Today I'm focusing on Emerson's nursery, which really I feel shouldn't be called a 'nursery' anymore because even though she's MY baby, she's not A baby anymore. I'm going to refer to it as 'her room' from here on out. *tear* Emerson's room was SO fun for me to decorate for three reasons: 1} It's one of two rooms in our house {the other being her playroom} that incorporates lots of pops of fun color. As you've seen, the majority of our home is neutrals because they calm me. 2} She was my first baby and so I had time to do all the cutesy stuff that first time mamas get to do. I have a feeling any future babies won't be so fortunate {don't worry, they'll still have a cute little space too}. NO! I'm not pregnant. 3} I got to MAKE a ton of things for this space using very simple methods + cheap materials. Let's focus on the third reason today...all things DIY.

I haven't counted, but if I had to guess, I'd say there's about 8-10 DIY projects in her room alone. I told y'all I don't mess around. Ha. I think the easiest way to break it down for you is just by listing the projects below, each with a super quick tutorial. SUPER QUICK, I said, so that we aren't here all day. We all have children to chase, houses to look after, and errands to run.

DIY Sheet Curtains

Grab yourself one KING size flat sheet {you can grab an entire sheet set if you want to make pillow covers too!}, a roll of no-sew hem tape, and some black-out liner in the appropriate dimensions {optional}. Be sure you know the dimensions of your windows before you buy the liner + before cutting your sheet. I didn't have to cut any length off of the sheet because I hung them all the way at the ceiling. {P.S. This makes your windows appear taller + it lets less light in at the top}. I found this particular king size sheet set for like $10-15 @ Ross about 3 years ago.

Directions: Lay out the flat sheet + cut it straight down the center {vertically} to create your two curtain panels. Use your iron + hem tape to create a hem along the edges where you cut the sheet {the other edges should already be "hemmed" since it's a sheet}. Now, should you choose to add blackout liner {which I purchased at JoAnn's Fabrics on sale}, you can either use hem tape to attach it to each panel OR you can do what I did, and use drapery clips to hang the curtain + blackout panel together {that way if you ever want to remove the blackout liner, you can with no harm done}. That's literally all you do. SO EASY and way cheaper than buying 2 blackout curtains, which aren't ever really "blackout". The blackout liner that I used is like hotel blackout quality. NO LIGHT escapes! I swear this is part of the reason Emerson sleeps so well.

DIY Oversized Wooden Letter + Mobile

The wooden coral-colored "E" above her crib was made using cut plywood, a pencil, a miter saw {thanks to my dad}, and some paint. All I did was very carefully draw out an E on the plywood {I did measure prior + I did not use a stencil, though you definitely could}, then I cut along the lines using the saw. After that was completed, I sanded it down gently + painted it the coral color that is also on her closet door {remember, always use paint for multiple projects if you can}.

For the baby mobile, I bought a variety of scrapbook paper in different colors + designs, some clear fishing line, white twine, and a wooden knitting circle  with holes in it {I'm sorry, but I have no idea what it's actually called, but it's in the knitting section at Michael's and comes in a variety of sizes}.

Directions: Using a pre-cut stencil, I cut teardrop designs out of the scrapbook paper {probably about 30-40}. Then, I cut my fishing wire to desired varying lengths + I hot glued the teardrop scrapbook pieces to the wire. {Each one is double sided, so essentially you glue one piece on one side of the wire and then glue another piece to the back of it, so that the wire isn't seen if the mobile shifts around}. I hope that makes sense. Anyway, after attaching all of the teardrops, I tied each wire strand through a hole in the wooden knitting circle until there was one in each hole creating a circular mobile. After completing each one, I took white twine and looped it through the same holes, overlapping at times {see above}. It created a web-like effect. Then, I took the twine and gathered it up through the center, tying it into one knot + hanging it from a ceiling hook. This may be really confusing because it's really tough to explain + I don't have pictures to break it down step-by-step.

DIY Tent Canopy

This picture is really poor quality + it's almost a year old {pre-bookshelves}, but it's the best angle of the canopy that I have already saved on the computer. I actually have a whole tutorial for this already too. Click here to view. :) This was made using sheer curtains, a hula-hoop {or you can use an embroidery hoop}, and ribbon.

DIY RAIN GUTTER BOOKSHELVES

These bookshelves are one of my favorite DIY projects to date. Not only are they great for book storage, but they are cheap + SO easy to assemble. Plus, Emerson loves being able to access her books + see them from afar. She's obsessed with books {such a little bookworm already}.

Directions: Purchase a rain gutter with the end caps {4} from a home improvement store {they're not very expensive, I want to say like $10 maybe}, then saw it in half + add the end caps to each end. Use wall anchors + screws and put about 4-5 in each gutter to attach to the wall. Add books! :) THAT'S IT!

DIY Painted Closet Door, Cardboard Letters, + Fabric Lined Shelf

I'm hitting a bunch of minor DIY projects with this picture. Hang with me! The outside of her closet door is painted the same coral color that was seen on the wooden E above her crib. This is my FAVORITE part of her room. It adds such a pop + it actually really pulls the whole room together. The XO that you see on her gallery wall was made using a cereal box + some paint. I traced the letters onto the cardboard box, then cut them out + painted them. I attached them to the wall using 3M picture hanging strips. You could do an entire word if you had enough boxes {or just a big box}. Also, while on the gallery wall, the majority of the frames were thrifted + spray painted, including that little chalkboard {25 cents}, and the quotes inside each were free printables and/or from magazines. The little shelf on her "dresser" {which was actually a kitchen hutch before} holds more books + a basket full of diapers.  I covered the top portion of the shelf with fabric. All I did to adhere it to the shelf was add modge podge directly to the shelf, then I carefully laid the fabric over it {already cut to size}, then applied more modge podge over top of the fabric. I used a credit card to spread it evenly and to eliminate bubbles. I wanted to do the bottom shelf too, but I ran out of fabric. It's nothing major, but it does add a nice little flair to an otherwise plain jane shelf. :) It makes it feel like it actually fits the room. I love that hutch turned dresser/changing table because it has great storage behind those doors for things like diapers, wipes, medicine, and blankets. OH, and I added a strip of the same fabric to the bottom of the lamp shade using a little hot glue. I forgot about that little DIY. :)

I think I've covered most of the DIY projects in her room and I hope you've found some of them helpful. Do YOU have any helpful DIY's that you've used in your children's rooms that you think I would like? If so, shoot me a line and let me know what they are! I'd love to hear and/or see! XO!