Mama Like: WUSLU

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

daily deal and image from WUSLU

With whimsy~

Whimsy Words: 20

image from creative kristi

With whimsy~

Boo to You!!!

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

Pin It

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

With whimsy~

Crescent S'mores

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

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~

Whimsy Words: 19

image from Artsyville

With whimsy~

DIY Mobiles

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. :)

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

EASY TUTORIAL and image from Carina Gardner

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

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

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

Inspired by:  Land of Nod's: Oh, What a Beautiful Crib Bedding and Custom Nursery Art by Kimberly

Custom Nursery Art by Kimberly

Custom Nursery Art by Kimberly

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

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~

Whimsy Words: 18

image from here

With whimsy~

ABC Wall

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:

image from here

image from here

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image from here

with whimsy~

Mama Like: 101 Toddler-To-Dos

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

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

image from here

With whimsy~

Whimsy Words: 17

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

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

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:

Art: Original Elizabeth Lauren 'La Ballerinas' (set of 3) painings

Bedding: Cotton Tale Raspberry Dot Nursery Bedding

Paint colors: Sienna Dust & Sarsaparilla

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

With whimsy~

Whimsy Words: 16

image from here

With whimsy~

ABCs & 123s

I was so excited for my latest custom order. It was not for a nursery, children's room, or playroom, but rather, an office. Elizabeth Lauren has gone commercial, ha! Well, kind of.  A dear friend of mine is a director at a preschool and is in the process of giving her office a make-over.  She was looking for artwork that was appealing to both children and adults, youthful sophistication, if you will. ;)

Painting Details:

size: 24x30 (also available in a variety of sizes)

materials: acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, clear matte varnish

My client also knew that she needed 2 paintings in the new office. 

1.) She had her heart set on my Sunshine Chevron painting in a custom 24x36 size.

2.) She wanted to incorporate the alphabet.  I immediately thought of this Pottery Barn wall art.  It had that sophistication my client was looking for without being too 'kiddish'.

The color palette in my clients new office is a combination of charcoal gray, yellow, and a beautiful steely blue green.    The wall color that the art will hang on is the blue green tone.  I knew that the background of the painting(s) needed to pop from the wall.  We decided to keep it white. To soften the bright white I did a very light gray water wash on the white background, this gave the artwork more dimension and a slight aged appearance.  I also love the small yellow accents framing each individual letter/number.

This painting turned out great!

Remember, all Elizabeth Lauren artwork can be customized!  Love this painting, but need it in a different  color palette or size?  Contact me HERE to get started on your custom ABCs & 123s painting!

Love this painting just the way it is? Find it in my Etsy Shop HERE!!!

With whimsy~

DIY: framed fabric

One of my favorite ways to create wall art is by framing fabric.  It is a great way to add pattern and texture to any room with out a large commitment and without breaking the bank.

This recent framed fabric napkin project that I created for my brother and sister in law turned out to be one of my favorite accents in their newly designed living room.

Here are my $$$money saving$$$ tips and tricks to create this project:

1.

• Purchase pre matted and framed artwork from a discount store or craft store with a 40% off coupon.  
• I found these at Garden Ridge for $34.99 a piece.
• Buying artwork that is already in a beautiful frame with great matting will cut costs in custom matting which can be quite pricey.
• The artwork that was originally in them was pretty horrible, but remember you will be covering it with fabulous fabric.  
• From there, all you have to do is cover the unwanted print/painting/photograph with YOUR fabric of choice.  
• No need to fuss with hot glue or spray adhesives... I attached the napkin with glue dots.  Super easy to work with and again a less permanent option. (in case you get the hankering to change your fabric selection out seasonally)
• This option does take a little work.  Often times pre matted and framed art is back staples with heavy duty staples.... make sure you have a pair of needle nose pliers to remove these staples with ease. 
• When disassembling the frame, don't be afraid to mess up the back..... remember it wont be seen, EVER, while hanging on the wall.
• I then re-attached the backing with duck tape.  That's right people, I am keepin' it classy with the duct tape.  :)

2. 

• Try finding great fabric napkins or place mats to frame instead of fabric by the yard.
• I found these napkins at world market for $2.99 a piece.  
• Designer fabrics can be pricey.  A lot of fabric stores also have a minimum of yardage that they will let you buy.  Often times this amount is way more than you really need.

So, what was the cost for the project from start to finish?

2 napkins @ $2.99 a piece....................$6.00

2 pre matted frames @34.99 a piece....$70.00

glue dots.................................................$4.00

Total:  $80!!!!!

For under $100 we transformed this bare wall to a fabulous designer detail in their room.

I love DIY projects!

With whimsy~

yellow and gray

One of my favorite trends right now is the refreshing yellow and gray color combination.

Check out these great yellow and gray inspired nursery designs:

image from here



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Love the gray and yellow color scheme too?
Check out my "You make me happy when skies are grey" painting.



Find it in my Etsy shop HERE.


This yellow and grey painting has been featured in a couple great treasury collections via Etsy.
Check them out HERE and HERE.

With whimsy~