December 11, 2012

Nursery Update #2

 

Well, there are two things I know for sure…

1.  This whole baby thing is actually going to happen.  Hitting 30 weeks and only having 10 weeks left is crazy to me!

2.  I am in love with how the nursery is turning out.  I love to just go in there, turn on the light and sit.  It puts me in a relaxed mood…I’m hoping it will do the same for our little one, too!

 

Here are some of the updates/additions we’ve made since the last nursery post (found here):

 

1.  Crib, Artwork and Mobile:

 

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We purchased our crib (a gift from my dad) from IKEA.  I love the grayish-brown color and also how sturdy it feels.  It is simple, yet classic – my favorite combination.

Our crib mattress was a Black Friday purchase (along with our monitor) at Babies R Us for 50% off.  I can’t wait to get some sheets on it!

 

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As for the mobile…I made it!  After loving some that are sold on Etsy.com, I researched how to make them and decided to save a few (or a lot of) bucks and make it myself.  I will have a tutorial coming soon, but the gist of the project is that you take colored strips of scrapbooking paper and sew them together using a sewing machine, attach to dowels and hang.  SUPER SIMPLE and under $5 to make; versus spending anywhere from $25-$50 on Etsy.

As for the nod to Where’s Waldo in the corner, I found the striped “laundry basket” at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.  It could turn into toy storage, but either way, I love the pop of red!

 

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The prints above the crib came from on Etsy.com (see this post for more info) and I just painted the matting inside the frames (which we already had) for a bit more pizzazz.  I also added bit of yellow and white chevron duck cloth I found at Hobby Lobby (love) behind the larger print to add some visual interest and pattern.

 

Boppy and Boppy Covers:

 

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I am also the owner of a Boppy pillow and two ADORABLE covers made by my Nana.  I have heard great things about Boppys as well as My Brest Friend (which I am registered for) when it comes to nursing, but I wasn’t too impressed with the Boppy cover selection. 

With so many adorable fabrics on the market, I knew that Nana could whip out a few covers in no time if I provided the pattern and supplies.  Boy was I right – she is so stinking talented and had these puppies whipped out in about an hour total…maybe not even that long. 

The best news, I found the insert at Once Upon a Child for $10 (in great condition) and only needed 1 yard of fabric and a zipper for each Boppy cover.  The pattern I found on Etsy for $2.50.  So, instead of buying it all brand new; which would total around $40-$50, I got the pillow, pattern, supplies and TWO adorable covers for $25.  Score!  Thanks Nana!

 

The Nook:

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As for the rest of the nursery, we have created a nice little nursing/reading/relaxing nook with some mood lighting and fun details.

 

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Again, using frames we already and free digital prints I found online we created a small collage of kid friendly pictures.  Much like the ones above the crib, I used fabric as a mat (brown gingham) for one frame and also painted the matting and frame of another (all supplies I already had on hand – no purchase necessary!).

 

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Another cool wall art idea that my mom actually purchased for the nursery the weekend we told her we were expecting are these “wall saucers”.  I don’t know their actual name, but they are a cool 3D edition to the corner that adds a fun and whimsical element. 

They are made by a company called Umbra and can be found online or at Target (that’s where we found these!) for around $20.  They offer lots of different shapes and sizes and are SUPER easy to put up and can even be relocated if desired.

 

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Another personal touch we (I) added was this precious pillow.  Mike’s dad gave it to me a couple of Christmases ago and said that it was Mike’s from when he was younger.  The best part – Mike actually made it.  He’ll probably kill me for showing it, but I thing it’s so cute for the nursery!

 

Lighting:

 

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One problem that I was having with our repurposed changing table was the space.  I originally had a table lamp next to where the changing pad was going to go.  Then, in looking at lots of pictures of changing tables, I realized that I needed that space to have easy access to baskets of diapers and wipes. So… the table lamp had to go.

The solution?  A wall lamp!

 

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I found the wall lamp above from Ikea for around $20.  It was easy to install and takes up ZERO space on the changing table.  Perfect!

The only problem that that it is a bit bright from what will be the baby’s viewpoint on the changing pad.  Mike actually discovered this and makes a valid point.  I think we’re going to try to make some sort of diffuser to block some of the light…we’ll keep you posted on that idea!

 

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Now there is space for the diaper basket next to the changing area which I found at Burlington Coat Factory (who knew they had awesome stuff) for around $6 and eventually a wipe dispenser as well.  I love the rustic feel of the basket with the metal and burlap.

 

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Accessories:

We have just a few knick-knacks in there for now located on a small accent table.  One of which is an adorable lime green owl my mom found and some adorable books from my friend Leigh (these were her boys’ favorites) flanked by a wooden salamander and T-Rex that Mike and I plan to paint and personalize.

 

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Most of the accessories will transfer over to the bookshelves once they are completed, but are resting on the table for now.

 

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So cozy!

 

Diaper Bag and more…

 

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I was also so excited to receive my diaper bag!  I found it online right before Thanksgiving for 30% off and free shipping!  It is made by Babymel and got pretty good reviews on Amazon.  I love the red stripes (can you tell I’m into stripes) and the cross body wear-a-bility. 

I also ordered a travel changing pad and wipes case from Etsy.  These were not on sale, but rather a “to me, from me”.  It thought I deserved to look fashionable while changing diapers!

 

As for the rest of our nursery “to do” list we just have a few more DIY projects and we’ll be finished:

  • DIY tree bookshelf
  • DIY wall abacus
  • closet reconfiguration and shelf addition (more storage needed!)
  • DIY clothes size dividers
  • curtain treatment (a surprise that I’m so excited to reveal!)

 

Thanks to a handy husband, Pinterest and Etsy our nursery is taking shape and is (almost) ready to welcome our little boy…he’ll be here before you know it!

1 comment:

  1. It is a beautiful nursery! Just a tip on the lighting. Make sure you have a night light on the other side of the room for night changing/feeding. Highly suggest you don't turn the bright light on in the middle of the night. Bright light means bright eyed baby/child. Just a little mom tip. : )

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