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

My husband and I are always trying to come up with the right formula for putting the kids to bed. Just when we think we have a winning formula one of the kids gets sick, sprouts a tooth or just doesn’t want to cooperate and what is supposed to take 15 minutes takes hours. One constant that soothes at night and nap time is music. Although it is absolutely true that children really do enjoy their own parents singing no matter how bad it may sound, there are some days when another a cappella version of Twinkle Twinkle just isn’t happening. One of the best additions to the nursery has to be the MP3 player and docking station. Load it up with lullabies and happy dance music and whether you need some help at nighttime or are in the mood for an impromptu dance party during the day, you are prepared.

Now that the iPod Nano comes in 9 vibrant colors you can coordinate with the nursery or playroom. I’ve got the new Touch on my holiday gift list so that when I’m racing through Trader Joe’s with the kids to load up for the week I can whip it out at checkout for some instant babysitting (I call it a safety measure really). I love this petite docking station with speakers from JBL. The glossy white would be perfect for the nursery and is so compact would fit on a shelf or side table. If color is more your thing, check out the iLive Boombox docking station. The metallic hot pink and old school boombox shape make it a good choice for the play room.

Don’t forget the Music. Some Favorites:

1. Dan Zanes - Favorites Albums are: Catch That Train, House Party & Neuva York

2.  Go Rastafari! - “Rockabye Baby, Lullaby Renditions of Bob Marley”

3. Justin Roberts - Happy Go Lucky Sounds

4. Sippy Cups - Catch them live if you can

5. Disneys Lullaby - Sounds corny but is a full proof sleep inducer!

Tags: Gear, Music, Tech

Congrats to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law for bringing a big, healthy, beautiful baby boy into the world last night! His name is Braydon Matthew. I waited 9 months to find out if I needed to buy pink or blue gifts and then another 24 hours to learn if Braydon was to be spelled with an “en” or “on”. After “Googling” in anticipation, I learn that Braydon had 6 spellings and ranked #64 on the boys 2007 list. So it got me thinking about baby names and personalized gifts…

I own a few books with titles like “100,001 Baby Names”. Totally unnecessary considering that I can look up anything online these days. But I thought I would share my favorite “Little Book of Baby Names” that entertained me in the office (b/c it was small enough to hide in my purse) thanks to an old work colleague named Jenny!

Now onto the gifts now that baby’s name has been announced! Something Personalized = Something Special. Here are a few fun, personalized ideas that will also personalize baby’s room!

1. Forget the little blue box - that was wedding. Red Envelopes‘ red box is just as nice for baby. This personalized snow globe makes an elegant, inexpensive keepsake for baby.

2. The stool is a must for the toddler years but buy one early from The Cubby Hole. Playing with a wooden puzzle while learning his or her name starts a lot sooner than later.

3. The personalized baby blanket is given but mom should also throw one over the rocking chair not only for display but to prevent the back of the chair from getting dirty. We really enjoy our wonderful initialed two tinas blanket and we think you will too!

4. The growth chart is just fun and there are so many sweet designs to choose from at Land of Nod.

5. You’ll be surprised how quickly you will carry a lunch box for your little one when eating out or at the park. These personalized Warm Biscuit boxes double as great display and storage for cards and crayons.

6. Back to the rocking chair: Mommy’s back will also enjoy a beautiful, contemporary custom pillow from Mimi and Lola.

Tags: Books, Gifts, Names, Personalized

San Francisco can be a strange city. I’m not talking about the drum circles in Golden Gate Park. I’m referring to the weather. It was a gorgeous 88 degrees here this past weekend and our SF “summer” seemed to be chugging along. So, with this balmy weather in mind it just seemed odd that holiday music was playing in all the stores. Already? Is it that time of year? Really? I guess this means only one thing. The gift buying should begin!

To get us in the spirit, I present some classic gifts that will get your creative gift buying juices flowing. All can be found at world famous FAO Schwarz. Lincoln Logs created by John Lloyd Wright are the classic building set for the budding architect.  Have you got a young dancer or musician in your house. The Design Your Own Tutu Couture studio lets you create your own tutu for the little ballerina. The Baby Grand Piano by Schoenhut is so cute it doesn’t need to be hidden in the toy closet. And, if you have wall space to fill in your playroom, the giant USA Map is a terrific way to teach the kids about America. Added bonus, FAO is running a 20% off sale on orders over $120 through today.

Tags: Gifts, Play Rooms, Playroom, Toys

Just when I thought I would buy the super fun Step 2 kitchen with all the bells and whistle that I know my toddler will love, I continue to find even more fabulous looking kitchens that will beautifully compliment my own kitchen. After all, adding a play kitchen is big time playroom decor. I am not talking about the beloved $$$ PBK kitchen….We’ll, maybe I am. But there is so much more out there now that doesn’t cost $500 for a pretend sink!

Great blog and soon to be online store, Shawn and Frank, did a super post the other week on bright, unique, contemporary, play kitchens. I just dig all their trendy baby finds, i.e. This one below retails for only $79 - What a find! For more of their play kitchen picks, click here!

If you are the more adventurous type however, check out IKEA hacker for play kitchen inspiration or the work of this clever mom recently featured on Ohdeedoh…

And finally, since we are talking kitchens…Pam and I were recently swapping stories about how our boys (both under age two) can push a heavy chair across a room and muscle their way on to our kitchen islands. While impressed by their agility we are also freaked by their ability to get into such precarious situations (We swear we are good moms!). Here’s a fantastic solution for your little kitchen helper that will keep them safe and off the kitchen table!

Now this does look good in my kitchen!

Tags: DIY, Kitchen, Play Rooms, Pretend

The title of my post is a complete contradiction, yet after discovering this charming inspiration board that uses Ikea accessories, retro chairs and vintage elephant framed art, it makes perfect sense!

Jenny created this beautiful inspiration board to inspire her dear friend Anna. Anna recently moved into a new home and needed to come up with a design for her children’s shared (boy/girl) nursery. Jenny must be a super friend because she even spied cool chairs from Anna’s local craigslist - mind you Anna lives in a different city! You can learn more about the gender-neutral details (from fabric to ricrac) and Jenny by visiting her darling decor blog Little Green Notebook.

Tags: Baby Nurseries, Design Boards, Gender Neutral, Twins

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

Looking for fresh, innovative designs for your holiday cards this year? We found them at Minted! No really, while we say nice things about all that we post because we post what we like, we are super excited about “quality obsessed” Minted.

Because I love to cook with and for family & friends, I am partial to the cool Recipe card. I think this one is guaranteed to make everyone’s kitchen fridge!

Forgive me if I offend, but who really wants to read the old school two page brag letter for the family update. Minted’s clever, concise and contemporary take on family milestones by way of the ‘Yearline” card is simply brilliant.

How do we know they are unique? “Our luxe, customizable holiday photo cards were specially gathered through design competitions held on our site.  Hundreds of the best independent designers from around the world entered the competitions, and our site’s visitors voted for the best designs to be sold on Minted.  We’re offering more than 100 unique customizable photo card templates, including a variety of designs from favorite recipes to hand-illustrated toys.  All of the cards are beautifully printed on matte, heavyweight cardstock that is also 100% recycled.”

Here are some helpful tips from Minted for when selecting your holiday card this year….

1. Order complimentary address labels (they look great on the envelopes and stand out)
2. If possible, use professional (or high quality) photos
3. Choose close-up photos
4. Be different! Go with a limited edition card or a Yearline card that showcases highlights from the year.

WIN IT NOW! One lucky Project Nursery reader will win a set of Minted cards of their choice…

1. Comment on this post with your favorite Minted card. So many to choose from!

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 14th, 11:59pm pst

PS: Go beyond holiday if you have another present arriving in the near future. Minted lalso offers fantastic baby and kid designs!

Tags: Announcements, Giveaways, Holidays