How to Make Custom Baby Room Decor
Make your own custom decor for your baby's room for a one-of-a-kind look. Your homemade decor items can grow with your child, or become a family heirloom when he grows up to start his own family. Creating your own nursery decor can help you pass the time before your little one arrives, and ensure the nursery looks exactly the way you want it to. Make all of the decor yourself, or simply add a few custom items to personalize and complement store-bought decor. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cardboard or thick cardstock
- Pen or marker
- Stencil or computer (optional)
- Utility knife
- Fabric or decorative paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Ribbon
- Small nails or thumbtacks
- Canvas
- Acrylic gresso (optional)
- Paints and supplies
- Pencil (optional)
- Frame (optional)
- Wrapping paper, picture, etc. ("art")
- Mat or thick cardstock
- Frame
Instructions
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Baby's Name
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1
Draw each of the letters from your child's name onto cardboard or thick cardstock with a pen or marker. Use a stencil or print each letter individually in the font you want to use (as a guide) if you're penmanship is less than desirable. The letters should be at least six-inches tall.
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2
Cut the letter out using a sharp utility knife.
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3
Lay your fabric or paper face down on your work surface. Place the letter on top of the fabric backwards.
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4
Cut the fabric around the letter (using scissors), leaving about 1/2-inch of extra fabric. Glue the fabric to the cardstock or cardboard.
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5
Cut two pieces of ribbon in a color that complements the fabric. Glue each ribbon to the back of the letter, then tie them together.
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6
Hang the letters by their bows using small nails or thumbtacks. Hang them in a straight line, diagonally or zigzag.
Paintings
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7
Paint over an old canvas with white or black acrylic gesso. This acts as a primer and base to cover up any paint on a canvas, allowing you to repurpose old canvas prints rather than purchase a blank canvas. Allow the gesso to dry.
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8
Paint a mural or image on the blank canvas. Paint free hand, or trace an image onto the canvas with a pencil. Allow the paint to dry. Use a large canvas to cover the bulk of an entire wall, or a series of smaller canvases. This is a good alternative to painting the mural directly onto the wall as you can take it with you if you move, and you can save it long after your baby becomes a teen. If you paint directly onto the wall, your baby probably won't appreciate the decor much when she's 13.
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9
Frame the canvas, if you desire, and hang it on the wall.
Framed Artwork
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10
Cut a piece of wallpaper, wrapping paper, fabric or other material that complements the theme and decor of the baby's nursery. Use pictures, such as images cut out of books or magazines.
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11
Mat the "art" with a pre-cut mat or create your own. To create your own, simply cut an opening in thick paper, such as cardstock, that's the same size as your frame.
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12
Insert the mat and art into the frame. Skip the mat if you want the art to fill the frame completely. Hang or display the frame in the baby's room.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Precut wood letters, in lieu of cardboard or cardstock, can sit on top of a dresser, shelf or hang from the wall if you prefer thicker letters. Decorate the wood letters with paint, buttons, craft foam shapes or any other embellishments.
Paint in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing in excessive toxic fumes.
References
- Photo Credit babys room image by guiney from Fotolia.com
