Mama Like: WUSLU

Thursday, September 29, 2011


What do you know? Another daily deal sight.....

WUSLU is a great place to find awesome daily deals on trendy home decor items. All of their products have great price points and they typically have $5 flat rate shipping costs as well.

If you do not already get daily deal emails, sign up and check them out HERE
Click To Zoom
daily deal and image from WUSLU


With whimsy~


Boo to You!!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Details:
size: 16x20
materials: acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, clear matte varnish
extra touches:  silver 3 dimensional paint(spider's web), 2 1/2" wire ribbon




Find this spooky canvas door hanging in my Etsy shop HERE!


With whimsy~



Crescent S'mores

Monday, September 26, 2011
Over the weekend the Cutie Patootie and I made this ooey gooey goodness of a treat.  The inspiration came from enticing photos via Pinterest.   I did put a  little spin on the recipe I found by adding graham cracker bits inside and cinnamon sugar on top.  These two ingredients helped reinforce that traditional s'mores flavor.

Ingredients:
  • Pillsbury crescent rolls
  • semi sweet chocolate chips
  • mini marshmallows
  • graham cracker
  • cinnamon sugar



Directions:
  • roll out your Pillsbury crescent rolls
  • Pile in chocolate morsels, graham cracker bits, and mini marshmallows (*tip: the more mini marshmallows you can stuff in there the better, the majority of them will melt away in the baking process.  Also, the graham cracker bits absorb a lot of moisture while baking and change into a more cake-like consistency, yum!)
  • Roll into traditional crescent shape
  • Pinch any openings in dough together to prevent gooey spillage.
  • Top with cinnamon sugar
  • Bake (Follow baking time and temp on the crescent roll container.)



Let me just tell you, my whole house smelled of delisciousness as they baked. C LOVED these special treats (as did I).  They were quite decadent and not to mention gigantic so the Cutie Patootie and I shared one.  We were two happy girls.

With whimsy~


Custom Birthday Canvas

Thursday, September 22, 2011
This week's custom order was created for a dear college friend of mine, J.  Her sweet little boy is turning  one soon, and to help celebrate she wanted a 16x20 happy birthday canvas.  J plans on hanging the canvas on her door every year on sweet Bennett's birthday.  Love that idea!






Happy 1st Birthday, Bennett!!!



With whimsy~



DIY Mobiles

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A great way to finish any nursery is with a mobile.  I love handmade touches in any space.  Here is a collection of creative (and easy) DIY nursery mobiles.

If you don't consider yourself the 'crafty' type, have no fear, there are a few ETSY shops that offer DIY mobile kits.  How awesome is that?  They supply all of the materials and instruction and all you have to do is put it together.  



1. Fabric circles + Ribbon + Embroidery Hoop + wood beads  = super fun pattern, color and texture for any babies little peeps. :)
Custom Polka Dot Mobile DIY Kit You Pick Colors
EASY TUTORIAL and image from Sew She Sews


2.  Scrapbook paper + Butterfly Die Cut  + Fishing Line + Embroidery Hoops = Delicate and whimsical touch for that sweet baby girl.

Love this mobile but dont want gather the materials yourself?
Purchase a DIY mobile kit from little dreamers inc. via ETSY
IMG_4390_1
EASY TUTORIAL and image from Carina Gardner


3. Scrapbook paper + string + dowel rods = charming unisex nursery accent

pinwheel mamax2
image from CohabiTOT



EASY TUTORIAL and image from Nursery Design + Inspiration


4. Paint chips + oragami = clever use of materials for a unique nautical room accent

image and tutorial from the b-line

5. Twigs + Amy butler fabric = bringing outdoor elements inside for a whimsical feel.

Love it?  Want to make one for your little one's nursery?
Purchase a DIY Mobile kit from Baby Bubbo Designs via Etsy.

image and DIY kit via Etsy Seller: Baby Bubbo

With whimsy~


Oh, What a Beautiful Morning

Friday, September 16, 2011
Here is a look at my latest custom order. My client is designing her nursery around the 'Oh, What a Beautiful Morning' crib bedding from Land of Nod and was in search artwork to perfectly coordinate with it.  She discovered Kimberly from Custom Nursery Art.  Kimberly is a fellow artisan than creates custom art for children's rooms.  She is currently not taking any new orders and has graciously added my website as a point of contact for any new order inquiries.  In the past, Kimberly created artwork inspired by the 'Oh what a Beautiful Morning' crib bedding.  With her permission I was able to "borrow" her  'little birdies' (set of 2) and 'you are my sunshine' designs and recreated them for my client.  
I did change the original design slightly by replicating the orange tree (seen on the land of nod quilt) instead of the sunrise.

Elizabeth Lauren


Elizabeth Lauren



naturecribbedding


I think these 3 paintings turned out really well.  They closely resembled the originals by Kimberly, while still maintaining my unique painting style.

With whimsy~


ColorSnap

Thursday, September 15, 2011
What will they think of next!?

Check out this app from Sherwin Williams, ColorSnap. It takes your own personal inspirational photos and matches a Sherwin Williams paint color(s) to it.  This is too much. LOVE.IT.

I am a complete color nut, I love all things color;  paint colors, textiles, color in nature, etc. I love them all!  So, when I discovered this app I was very excited.  Often times, friends and family will ask me design advice, in particular paint colors.  I can't tell you how many times I find myself describing colors to them in crazy ways. I typically will say things to them like: "Oh you know, a golden yellow more like honey, not quite butter, but not as light as popcorn" ...like I said, I am a nut.



image and app from Sherwin Williams


This app makes me super happy!  Check it out!


with whimsy~


ABC Wall

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Alphabet walls are a great way to add a whimsical and graphic punch to a bare wall in a nursery or playroom.  

A few inspirations:

ross3.jpg
image from here
Image Detail
image from here
Image Detail
image from here



image from here

image from here

with whimsy~


Mama Like: 101 Toddler-To-Dos

Friday, September 9, 2011
With the Cutie Patootie now at school all day, I am finding myself at home with my busy,energetic, and inquisitive toddler. 

I recently stumbled on this awesome to-do list for toddlers from Counting on Me.   I am planning on printing them out and adding them to a toddler to-do jar (similar to my summer fun jars. )  Some are as simple as blowing bubbles, but hey, I love a good list and for some reason things seem a little more special when picked from a jar.


  1. Color
  2. Blow Bubbles
  3. Play Hide-and-Seek
  4. Peek-a-Boo
  5. Play Chase
  6. Do Finger-plays
  7. Sing a song
  8. Collect rocks in a basket
  9. Make an obstacle course out of cushions and/or furniture
  10. Make a fort out of cushions and sheets
  11. Go for a Walk
  12. Make a Car out of a Box
  13. Read a book
  14. Go to the park
  15. Finger-paint
  16. Play with Play-Dough
  17. Toss Bean bags into a Bucket
  18. Play the shell and pea game
  19. Dance to music
  20. Download games for toddlers from the Internet
  21. Practice putting things in and taking things out of boxes and bags
  22. Make a temporary slide out of a table leaf and your couch
  23. Roll a ball back and forth on the floor
  24. Scoop dirt or sand into a child's bucket (or use a serving spoon and bowl)
  25. Practice climbing by stacking boxes on top of each other (only with adult supervision)
  26. Put on a puppet show
  27. Go fishing with a yard stick and yarn
  28. Make a Horseshoe game
  29. Make a Shape Puzzle
  30. Play paper basketball
  31. Run through a Sprinkler
  32. Play with a bucket of water and a sponge (PLEASE WATCH CHILD AT ALL TIMES!)
  33. Make a Drum out of an oatmeal box
  34. Play with a kazoo
  35. Wash windows together
  36. Bang on Pots and Pans with a spoon
  37. Brush each other's teeth
  38. Play dress-up with stuffed animals and your child's clothes
  39. Stack canned or boxed food on top of each other
  40. Let child stack mixing bowls inside each other
  41. Make a playhouse out of a large box
  42. Let child play with a sticker sheet (make sure your child doesn't eat them!)
  43. Put stickers on fingers for finger puppets
  44. Play a musical instrument together- i.e.recorder, piano, etc.
  45. Go on a Smelling Hunt
  46. Frost Cookies
  47. Plant a flower or vegetable plant together
  48. Roll a tennis ball into an empty trash can or bucket
  49. Draw on a mirror with dry-erase markers
  50. Play hide and seek together- trying to find a stuffed animal or other object
  51. Have a splash party together in the bathtub
  52. Put a leash on a stuffed animal and walk around the house
  53. Record each other on a tape recorder (great for scrapbooks or journals!)
  54. Make and try on paper hats
  55. Give a piggy-back ride
  56. Play "Horsey"
  57. Talk into an electric fan (it distorts your voice)
  58. Play tug-of-war with a blanket
  59. Collect flowers (felt, artificial, real...)
  60. Make a camera and go on a Safari
  61. Play games with frozen juice lids
  62. Disconnect your phone and pretend to make phone calls to relatives
  63. Leave your phone connected and really make phone calls to relatives- let your child talk too
  64. String large beads onto or along a shoelace
  65. Squirt each other with squirt bottles
  66. Glue shapes onto paper
  67. Make sock puppets
  68. Make paper puppets
  69. Fill an old purse with toys
  70. Use a paper towel tube as a megaphone
  71. Make binoculars and go "Bird Watching" or "Stuffed Animal Watching"
  72. Put snacks in different fun containers (paper sacks, empty canisters, etc.)
  73. Act out a story from a book
  74. Walk on a balance beam- use a 2x4 placed on the ground
  75. Draw with chalk on the sidewalk
  76. Sketch an outline of your child on the sidewalk or paper with chalk
  77. Paint child's palms with tempura paint and blot on paper. Makes a great card for loved ones!
  78. Put lipstick on child and kiss a mirror
  79. Make a puddle on cement and splash barefoot in it
  80. Let child decorate and eat an open peanut butter sandwich
  81. Make a toilet paper barricade for child to go under, over, or through
  82. Do the Hokey Pokey
  83. Make a super-hero costume out of household items
  84. Do Knee-Bouncing Rhymes
  85. Play "Red Light, Green Light" saying "Go" and "Stop"
  86. Make a shoe-box train for stuffed animals
  87. Make a pillow pile to jump on (keep it clear from any hard surfaces, including walls!)
  88. Make an easy puzzle with felt and Velcro
  89. Make bracelets or collars for stuffed animals out of pipe cleaners and jingle bells
  90. Learn numbers from a deck of cards
  91. Play the matching game with a deck of cards
  92. Make a domino chain
  93. Have a picnic in the park, backyard, or living room!
  94. Play dress up in Mommy or Daddy's clothes
  95. Make a tin cup telephone and talk to each other in it
  96. Make a nature collage
  97. Mirror each other
  98. Make a "Mummy Mommy" with toilet paper
  99. Make a tape recording of short music selections and instructions to move in different ways
  100. Make and walk along a toilet paper trail
  101. TAKE A NAP!


image and to-do list from Counting on Me



With whimsy~



Owl and Birdie

Thursday, September 8, 2011
Owl and Birdie, 12x12, set of 2, READY TO SHIP

Details:
Size: 12x12 (set of 2)
Materials:  Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas


Find this set READY TO SHIP in my Etsy Shop HERE!


Inspired by:  Pottery Barn Kids Catherine Nursery bedding
Catherine Nursery Bedding
image from here


With whimsy~


Whimsy Words: 17

Wednesday, September 7, 2011
image from here


Love this image?  Click HERE for this FREE printable from How Joyful, available in 6 trendy different colors!!

With whimsy~



hair bow organizer

Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Cutie Patootie has a TON of hair bows, so many that they have taken over her bathroom drawers, my bathroom drawers, her room, my purse, the list goes on....
Finally, they now have a place of their own!!!  Yesterday, I painted C this personalized canvas hair bow organizer.  I plan to hang it on the back of her bedroom door.
details:
size: 12x12 canvas
materials: acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas
 grosgrain ribbon




This item can be customized to coordinate with any color scheme or room design.

If you would like to order a custom canvas hair bow organizer contact me HERE.



With whimsy~




Custom La Ballerinas

Thursday, September 1, 2011
As you may already know, all Elizabeth Lauren paintings can be customized to your own unique design scheme.

I recently completed this CUSTOM ORDER inspired by my 'La Ballerinas' (set of 3) paintings.



The Inspiration:

Sources:
Paint colors: Sienna Dust & Sarsaparilla








Contact me HERE to get started on your custom order!!!


With whimsy~