Operation Nursery: Picture Frames

Here is a recent project that I finished for Landry's nursery and I have to say that I think it is my favorite...maybe it is just the hormones but I am a bit emotional just thinking about what this project is going to showcase in the years to come!
As I have been adding all of the finishing touches to Landry's room I have known that I wanted to get some picture frames that I could use to display photos of my little man as he grows. I remembered that I had a load of picture frames left over from our wedding. Here is one of them: Clearly the frame is black...one of my favorite colors...but I have made a pact with myself to avoid using black in Landry's room so...here comes the spray paint...about $3 at Lowes.

I took the backs and glass off of the frames, laid them out on some cardboard in the garage and started painting.

I decided that I wanted to matte my photos with fabric scraps from Landry's bedding. So, here is what I did. I took the back of the frame...you know, the part with the little stand-thingy on it...and ran a strip of hot glue around the edge. Then I covered it with the fabric scraps.

Not the best pictures but hopefully you can understand what I did..

After the fabric was glued on I trimmed up the edges.

The idea with my frames is that I can easily pull out the pictures and trade them for new ones as Landry grows. Obviously we do not have photos of him yet...and I didn't want to place empty frames in his room...so , I used his last ultra-sound photos. I simply used double-sided tape to place the photos on the fabric covered backs and then put the frames back together. Here are all three frames:

Here is Landry all curled up in mommy's tummy...

His adorable profile...not that I am biased or anything...

And one of our favorites...the "thumbs up" letting us know that everything is going great!

So, there you have it. Sweet, simple, easy to change photo frames! Instead of fabric you could always do the same idea with scrapbook paper, wallpaper, wrapping paper...the possibilities are endless!

Operation Nursery: Window Treatment and Pillows

I know that I am a bit late in posting these two projects...I think that is going to be a part of my "new life" as a parent! :o)
Here are two pillows that I made for the chair in Landry's room. For the larger pillow all I did was take an existing pillow I was no longer using and recovered it...basically made a new cover and sewed it right on over the old cover! As you can see I used the same fabrics that are on the the crib bumper. I decided to do all "rough" seams...meaning that the raw edge of the seams is on the outside...instead of the inside. I like the fact that it gives the pillow and chair a bit of a "rough and tumble feel"...something I am sure this room is going to experience a lot of!
With the smaller pillow I was able to pick up a pillow form at JoAnn's on sale...$4! Again, I used the fabric left over from his bedding. I cut-out the "L" and ironed on some thin, double-sided fusing, then ironed it onto the pillow cover. Since the fabric was left over from his bumper...the only thing I had to buy was one pillow form...two coordinating pillows...one monogram...$4...LOVE IT!!!! This next project is one that I have had done for about a month now...I know, I know...I am a blog slacker...sorry! You are going to die when I tell you that the window treatment is made from foam board...yes, that's right...foam board! I had seen this idea on one of my favorite blogs, Design Dazzle...you can find the link on the sidebar. The idea was that instead of using wood to make a cornice box...use good old foam board. So, being a thrifty girl...and more importantly...no experience with a saw...and of course being too impatient to wait for help from my husband...I decided to go for the foam.
I bought two pieces of foam board from Michael's...on sale for a total of $7. Sorry...I forgot to take pictures while I was working...so you'll have to bare with me...is that the right form of "bare"...hmmmm? Anyway, I cut both boards in half. Now here's the best part...and when I say best...I really mean hoakiest part...I busted out the clear packing tape and taped together two of the half cut pieces. Oh ya, taped them together...I can feel Martha Stewart cringing now! Then I cut to small pieces to tape to both ends that formed the "L" bracket to attach the cornice to the wall bracket.
Once it was all taped together, I covered it in batting and fabric, securing it with my trusty old staple gun on the back side of the cornice box. Here is my very sophisticated, professional, high quality, window treatment!

Notice the lamp shade? That is a plain, white lamp shade from Target that I covered with some fabric and trimmed with grosgrain ribbon. Now, I just need to a picture of my little man to put on the table!

Bump It...chapter 3

Well, look who's back on a roll! Yup, I am giving myself a bit of a pat on the back for getting back to my old, productive, self. Ahhh does it feel good!!!! Things are still going very smoothly here at the Lofgren household. I have shared with so many people that I feel so blessed to have had such a smooth and easy pregnancy. I know there are still three months to go, and I hate to jinx myself but so far, so good.

Here is the most recent "bump" picture. I am 28 weeks in this picture and as you can see...getting larger and larger!

So, I don't have a list of new "ahas" this month...but I think you will enjoy what I do have for you! Being a first grade teacher, I am blessed to spend my days surrounded by young minds that are always full of funny little tid-bits. One of the things that I love most about my job is being able to experience life through the eyes of a six or seven year old. It really is amazing to see how they view the world and to be reminded of all the simple joys in life that we so often take for granted. So, in honor of my first graders...here are some quotes they have shared with me during my pregnancy...enjoy!

1. When I showed my class the first ultrasound we had done one little girl said, "Oh, Mrs. Lofgren...that baby is so cute...like a little kitten...hopefully its not covered in fur though!"

2. One day after returning from lunch with a bottle of sparkling juice, "Mrs. Lofgren, are you drinking wine?" I of course responded, "No, actually this is a kind of juice...almost like an orange soda." The child then responded, "You do know that pregnant women are not allowed to drink caffeinated beverages...right?"

3. Once my belly started to show, I heard one child say to another one in my class, "I don't think Mrs. Lofgren can eat very many cookies now. Look at her stomach, there isn't enough room in there for them."

4. While celebrating my birthday in class one child shared, "Mrs. Lofgren...wouldn't it be so cool if your baby hatched today!?!"

And here is my favorite...

5. As he walked out of the classroom to go home, a little boy looked at my belly with big, wide, eyes and said, "Wow, Mrs. Lofgren...your stomach is getting HUGE!!!"