Crafting: Kingston's Nursery

I think it's finally time that I reveal all of Kingston's nursery to you lovely readers. Thankfully, I started working on this bad boy as soon as we found out that we were pregnant because I haven't wanted to do anything in there for a few weeks.

I knew our decor scheme was going to be similar whether we had a boy or girl: 
dark walls, white furniture with metallic and either mint or raspberry accents. 

Let me remind you of our nursery inspiration.

original details here

And here is how I tried to bring that inspiration to life! 

(Keep in mind our untraditional room setup)

Wall Color // Lowe's // Valspar - Muted Ebony

Accent Paint // Lowe's// Pantone Universe - Bay

Crib // Cherry Orchard Furniture  //  Angel Line Mary 3 in 1 Crib

Chair // Wayfair

3 piece dresser/changing table // Home Decorators

Curtains // Target 

Rug // Rugs USA 

Mirror // gift from my dad which he found antiquing
Cloud Mobile // handmade by me 

Lamp // TJMaxx
K Wall Hanging // Hobby Lobby

Puff Quilt // handmade by me

Bedding // handmade by me // crib sheet, crib skit & changing pad cover
Mint Throw // TJMaxx 

Apothecary Jar // Nebraska Furniture Mart

Little Tins // Target - dollar section

Nuts & Bolts Metallic Men // Hobby Lobby 

Basket // Target 

The World is Your Playground // handmade by me

Dream Quote & K // gift from baby shower #3

Car Bookends // Nebraska Furniture Mart

Moustache Closet Makeover // done by me

*The tutorials I used for the fabric goodies can be found on my Pinterest board. 
*Shopping at TJMaxx is always hit or miss and they stock each location differently. 
*Check out my Etsy shop if you would like me to create the perfect puff quilt/mobile for your little ones nursery. 


I'm in love with how it turned out. 

It's modern. 

It's elegant. 

It's eclectic. 

It's us! 

The World Is Your Playground : Tutorial

Way back at the beginning of this pregnancy I knew I wanted our nursery theme to be modern and monochromatic: black, white, metallic silver. And then eventually we would throw in an accent color depending on the sex of Baby K.

If you've been around a while you've probably noticed that our whole lives are black and white: everything from our 

wardrobe - to our cars - to our animals. It's just how we do things around here! 

Anyways, I saw a picture on Instagram one day of a huge world map with the words 'The World Is Your Playground' and I knew I had to make it a part of the nursery! After doing a little more research it brought me to a cute Etsy shop - The Rusted Arrow.

For $19.99 you can have it shipped right to your front door . . .  but what's the fun in that? 
I wanted to 'craft' and create a little mama-made artwork. 

Of course, I turned to non other than Pinterest to see if I could find a free print of a world map and try to recreate the wording on my own. 

Thankfully, I stumbled upon a blog (that I now read daily) of a wonderful mama who creates prints and shares freely with others! She even lets you put in new requests and edits on already created ones. 

Marci at If These Walls Could Speak already had a world map print but it was in color (and you know how I feel about color) and not exactly what I was looking for.  

After requesting some tweaks - she was able to create a few different options for me to pick from. 

Of course I went with the plain choice because it was most like the original inspiration and because I thought it would stand out more against our dark walls. 

I downloaded the print from Marci's online drop box folder and then sent it by email to my local office max store. They were able to blow it up into and engineer print (18x24) for $1.75. What a steal! I purchased a piece of foam board, attached the print with some spray adhesive, freehanded the words and then topped it off with a little glitter.

Of course I couldn't pass up the little figurines to help share the shelf. 

I really love how it turned out and for close to $7.00 - you can't beat that! 

I'm so thankful to to gracious people that create beauties and share with others. 
Thanks again Marci! 

PS - Check out the other fun projects we've done so far in our nursery:

Wrapping Paper Closet Makeover

Furniture & Paint

Crib Sized Puff Quilt

Linking up with: Lindsey

Week 31

How far along: 31 Weeks 

Food Comparison: 4 Naval Oranges

Gender: Boy!! 

Weight gain: +19 lbs 

Maternity clothes: A few pieces here and there. 

Stretch marks: I've counted 4 but none on the belly. =(

Belly button in or out: Out

Sleep: My night goes kinda of like this - sleep from 11a-245p, rest room break, toss turn toss turn toss turn until I wake up at 530 to go to the bathroom, then toss and turn until my alarm goes off 15-45 mins later. 

Best moment last week: The three day weekend! I wish we had those every weekend. 

Also - making Kingston an awesome mobile! 

Minky, felt, batting, and bakers twine!

 I love all my mama-made decorations. 

Like it too? Let me make you one! 

Worst moment last week: Backaches galore and he is definitely playing in my ribs these days. 

Miss anything: A few things but I wouldn't trade my little man for anything.   

Movement: This little man is active! Luckily I haven't really had any painful kicks or jabs but he is moving up a storm in there.

Cravings: Not really. I'm having to make myself eat these days. I'm not really hungry.   

Queasy or sick: No. 

Looking forward to: My birthday (on Friday)/ babymoon - we are taking a road trip to Dallas. Casino, IKEA, Dillard's clearance, Nordstrom rack, pool, food trucks, and diner drive-ins and dives. Then seeing Kingston next Monday. We have another ultrasound to see if he's officially turned into the right position.

Prayer Request: This week I pray for comfort. I'm so thankful I was able to make it to 31 weeks without being super uncomfortable - but the time has come where I'm really starting to feel pregnant. I pray that Kingston calms down on the tickling of the bladder and the kicking of the ribs. 

Week 21

How far along: 21 Weeks

Food Comparison: Banana

Gender: Boy!! 

Weight gain: +10 lbs 

Maternity clothes: I own a few pieces but haven't really worn any of them yet. 

I was able to wear jeans to church yesterday and I remember why I stopped wearing them 2 months ago - not comfy! 

Stretch marks: No - still slathering up with my belly butter!

Belly button in or out: In with belly button ring. The transition process has sure started though. It is slowly becoming an outie.

Sleep: Brutal but I was able to get in a 3 hour nap yesterday to make up for some of it. 

Best moment last week: Putting together Baby K's crib!! Things are really coming together in the nursery. Plus I've been stalking our tracking numbers and we have the remaining big items being delivered this week! 

 Angel Line Mary 3 in 1 Crib

(PS - check out Crafting A Fairytale on Etsy - I'd love to make a quilt for you)

all via 

Worst moment last week: Having to make 2 trips to Ace Hardware during out fix it projects. 

Miss anything: Margaritas and (non baby related) going down south for Spring Break trips with a banging body

Movement: Yes! They are getting stronger as the weeks go on. I love it! 

CT said yesterday 'there will come a day soon when you will want him not to move because it won't feel good.' That might be true but until then - I can't get enough.

Cravings: Ice cream sandwiches and bomb pops. 

I have a feeling I'll be enjoying many of these all summer long. 

Queasy or sick: Some movements make my stomach drop - like we've just driven over a steep hill. It's weird. 

Looking forward to: Getting all of our goodies in the mail this week. 

Prayer Request: Last week I read a blog post about raising a teen who doesn't date too young. It was extremely eye opening and something I hope CT and I can instill in our children. So this week I'm going to start praying for Baby K's future spouse.

Hopefully it's never to early to start.  

Operation Project Nursery: Closet Makeover

Yesterday evening I spent 30 minutes with a roll of wrapping paper, some scissors, and a can of spray adhesive and came out with my favorite nursery project yet - a wrapping papered closet! 

{You can check out what all i've accomplished in the nursery so far (here) and to learn a little background on the space we are working with.}

This closet originally housed all of my seasonal decor, our Christmas tree, luggage, and cleaning supplies. Because it housed so much junk, the walls were nasty and super scuffed. I knew I didn't want to spend time painting it so I had to come up with a different solution. 

Heather at Southern State of Mind used moustache wrapping paper to line a  dresser and I knew I could use the same concept to line the walls in our little man's closet. 

Before:

During:

After:

This project was totally meant to be when I headed to Hobby Lobby and was able to snag the last roll of this super cute black and white mustache wrapping paper. Plus with my 40% coupon it came out to only costing me about $2.99.

I started out by measuring the sections of the closet with a tape measure and then using the oh so handy grid on the back of the paper to cut straight lines.  

When it came to actually hanging the wrapping paper up - I started off thinking double sided sticky tape would do the trick. . . . not so much. Luckily, I had some left over Elmer's Spray Adhesive which is seriously the best invention ever and easily did the trick. We live in an apartment so I knew I didn't want something permanent. This was the perfect solution -  it's not permanent but it's definitely sticking! 

I love it so much that I want to leave the closet door open 24/7. 

You can't beat a project that turns out this well - especially when it only took 30 mins of my time and cost $2.99. 

What can you spruce up in your house with wrapping paper?

Linking up with Craftberry Bush and Artsy Fartsy Mama and Serenity Now and The Stitchin Mommy and Angels HomeStead and Word It Wednesday

Week 20 -- Half Way Baked!

How far along: 20 Weeks

Food Comparison: Small Cantaloupe

Gender: Boy!! We are so in love with him already. 

His little hand is always by his face and look at those lips - I can't wait to smooch all over them! 

Weight gain: +10 lbs 

Maternity clothes: I own a few pieces but haven't really worn any of them yet. 

Anytime out of work though I'm constantly in leggings. 

Stretch marks: No - still slathering up with my belly butter!

Belly button in or out: In with belly button ring. 

Sleep: Brutal. 

Best moment last week: Finishing another project for Baby K's nursery. 

A puff quilt. Mint white and gray! So difficult but so cute and comfy. 

(More to come on this grueling process)

Worst moment last week: I can't think of one - they must have all been good!

Miss anything: Not having a stuffy nose 24/7.   

Movement: Yes, it's my favorite parts of the day. 

Cravings: Dill pickle chips. Yumm!

Queasy or sick: Nope! 

Looking forward to: Getting so much done in the nursery since I have all this energy.

Prayer Request: Today during our anatomy scan - we were able to see how active Baby K already is. I pray that he will remain active - active in school, active in sports, active in his church, active in life. You only get one life so I hope he lives it! 

Operation Project Nursery

I was able to get SO much done this weekend in Baby K's nursery, and as I sit here sore all over writing this post - I am so glad I started this process when I am only 19 weeks. I can't imagine how limiting things are going to get in the next few weeks, but thankfully this weekend I was able to take full advantage of all the extra energy I have.

I'm so happy to say operation project nursery is in full swing! 

Last year as soon as we found out we were pregnant, my mind immediately began dreaming up the perfect nursery for our soon to be babe. 

Let me start out by giving you some details on our current living arrangement: 

Currently, we rent a 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom apartment from family. Our apartment is extremely unique and it has quite the unusual layout. When we moved in 4 years ago we transformed one of the bedrooms into our living room. In our bedroom there are two closets but they are small - so of course I claimed both of them. This made CT get the two larger closets (which are jam packed) located in our now living room. With our first tax return as a married couple we splurged on a nice oversized couch and love seat for our living room.

Needless to say we had lots of decisions to make when it came to where we were going to put our nursery. If ever, it was time to get creative!

Option 1: Move and no longer pay $350 a month for rent.

Option 2: Sell our nice living room furniture and transform the original second bedroom into a nursery. This means CT gets rid of one of his closets so the baby can have one. This would also mean he would have to go into the baby's room to get dressed. 

Option 3: Transform our current dining room, the room that you walk directly into from outside our apartment, into the nursery. That would mean having to move the dining room table and buffet into the craft/hobby room. That would also mean we would need to sell the desk, book cases, and oversized chair currently in the craft/hobby room. This would also mean that I would have to reorganize and store all of my craft stuff in the buffet. 

In the end - option 3 won out. 

CT didn't want to give up the couches or a closet, so we will make things work! 

Surprisingly, I am super happy with our decision and everything is coming together perfect. 

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Let's start with the small details: 

Paint the walls!

Paint // Lowe's // Valspar - Muted Ebony

 Paint the accessories to ensure everything is matching! 

Mirror // Gift from my dad which he found antiquing.

Lamp // TJMaxx 

Curtains // purchased for our wedding (CT thinks they are too girly so these probably won't stay)

Paint Color // Lowe's // Pantone Universe - Bay

More details:

Rug // Rugs Usa 

Mint Throw // TJMaxx 

Laundry Basket // TJMaxx 

Car Bookends // Nebraska Furniture Mart 

Add some furniture:

3 piece dresser/changing table // Home Decorators 

(it was a gift from my parents and I absolutely LOVE it! 

I am so happy with everything so far. 

It's modern. 

It's elegant. 

It's eclectic. 

It's us! 

I already walk by this room only 1/4th complete and get so excited for our little man to arrive! Soon and very soon!! 

Linking up with: Roots & Blossom and Artsy Fartsy Mama and Craftberry Bush and Serenity Now

Fabric Choices

If you have been around any type of social media of mine, you would know that with this pregnancy I have become the most indecisive version of myself. I use to never have problems making up my mind, but now it's a different story. I second guess everything!! The decision I'm having the toughest time with these days is my fabric choices for the crib skirt, sheets, changing pad cover, and curtains.

 (all of which I plan on DIY-ing) 

My thoughts:

Mint or mint/white for the crib sheets, curtain, and changing pad cover.

Black/white/grey for crib skirt and maybe changing pad cover. 

So far these are some of my options:

Black & White Wolves for the bed skirt 

(maiden name is wolf so I thought this would be cool)

These options are all from fabric.com and as you can see I've only been able to find a few options in black/white/grey. It makes me too nervous to pick a mint color out online. I plan on going to a few stores in town to hopefully find the perfect fabrics in mint! 

As much as I want all different types of patters, I don't want things to look sloppy or too busy. 

Who knows what I'm going to do. Hopefully after this weekend when we get paint on the walls, the rug in place, and our dresser built I will be able to visualize things a little better. 

 Have ya'll ordered fabric from online before? 

Week 18

How far along: 18 Weeks

Food Comparison: Sweet Potato

Gender: Boy!!  We are so excited for our little man and even more so after working a bow booth at the Women's Fair this past week. I just really noticed how girls are so dramatic, bossy, snotty, and diva-licious! 

Weight gain: +8 lbs . . . yikes. I don't know if this is on schedule of if I need to slow down.

Maternity clothes: A dress, a few shirts, and I'm living in leggings!

Stretch marks: No - still slathering up with my belly butter!

Belly button in or out: In with belly button ring. 

Sleep: Ehh . . . good sleep is hard to come by.  

Best moment last week: Really starting to feel his little bumps throughout the day. 

Worst moment last week: He starts to ball up (or something) and is sitting on or hitting some organ down low which is kind of painful and makes me super uncomfortable. I have to give him and little nudge and move him out of the way. I thinking there isn't much room in there yet.

Miss anything: My pants being able to button.   

Movement: Yes, not much but some. 

Cravings: Beef ramen noodles and caesar salads. 

Queasy or sick: Nope! 

Looking forward to: My prenatal massage on Wednesday, painting the 'nursery' this weekend, and putting together his dresser/changing table that came in today!  

Prayer Request: This week I just pray for the overall health of Baby K. With the anatomy scan a few weeks away -- I pray all of his organs are functioning properly, I pray that he has 10 fingers and 10 toes, I pray that he has eyes that can see and ears that can hear. I pray that he is perfectly healthy so that his challenges in life aren't physical ones.