How to Make Baby Wall Hangings

Decorating your baby's nursery with wall hangings is not only fun, it can really showcase your creativity. With this easy craft project, you can make charming wall hangings featuring your baby's footprints. And the best part is you won't have to spend the youngster's college fund to do it. You'll need a picture frame, but it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive because you're going to give it a complete makeover. Look to see if you have an old one packed away or snoop around thrift shops, yard sales and dollar stores. You'll also need some very simple craft supplies in colors to complement the room's decor.

Things You'll Need

• Picture frame
• Acrylic paints
• Paintbrushes
• Decorative rub-ons
• Scissors
• Popsicle or craft sticks
• Glitter (optional)
• Mod Podge
• Heavy white paper
• Dark eye shadow
• Aerosol hairspray
• 1 sheet of heavy colored or scrapbooking paper
• Glue
• Ribbon
• Stapler

Instructions

1. Spread several layers of newspapers on a flat working surface. Remove the backing and glass from the picture frame. Paint it with a solid acrylic color coordinated with your nursery theme. Allow the paint to dry for about an hour, then add a second coat. Let that dry for several hours.

2. Cut out the individual rub-on images from the sheet. Lay them on top of the frame and move them around until the arrangement pleases you. Work with one image at a time. Peel the backing from a rub-on and stick it on the picture frame. Smooth it firmly into place with a Popsicle or craft stick. After you have applied the rub-ons, you can add some glitter, if you like.

3. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the decorated frame according to the packaging instructions to seal and protect your masterpiece. Let it dry and apply a second coat. Allow it to dry thoroughly.

4. To make your baby's footprints, apply some dark eye shadow to the underside of one foot. Press it onto the heavy white paper, and apply light pressure for a few seconds. Do the same with the other foot. Don't worry about making mistakes--just redo any that don't turn out well. You only need one good image of each foot. Tap any loose powder from the sheet of footprints. Lightly coat the images with a gentle spritz of aerosol hairspray to seal them, but don't wet the paper. Allow the hairspray to dry completely, then repeat. Let the sheet dry thoroughly.

5. Cut out the best two footprints with scissors. Arrange them attractively in the center of a piece of white paper. Secure with glue or clear tape, and have a photocopy made.

6. Cut a sheet of heavy colored paper or decorative scrapbooking paper to fit your picture frame. Use a ruler to draw a rectangle around the photocopied image of your baby's footprints, and carefully cut the image out. Make sure the edges are smooth. Apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the image, and center it on the sheet of decorative paper. Use your fingers or a craft stick to smooth out any air bubbles. Give the whole page a light spritz of hairspray. Let it dry and frame it.

7. Cut 2 lengths of ribbon, each about 24 inches long. Staple the ends to the back of the frame. Tie them together with a bow, and display the hanging on the wall in the baby's room.

Tips & Warnings

• A very cute idea is to make a matching set of these wall hangings--one of the baby's footprints, another of handprints.