My Creative Blog [Search results for Gallery Wall] 

It's no secret that I LOVE photos… I actually need to make a conscious effort to decorate with anything other than pictures of my family. Jess and I thought we'd share our gallery walls today and then some amazing ones we've found along the way.

These are OLD pictures from my very first gallery wall in our last house. I ran to Walmart, bought oodles of frames and just started nailing and measuring. This is not how I would recommend putting up a gallery wall. I was crazy lucky that this worked out and I didn't make one wrong nail hole. I'm still not quite sure how that happened!

Sorry, these weren't taken as"blog worthy" pics!
In the new house, I knew that a top priority was to create another gallery wall. I had it up on the wall within three weeks of moving in. Score! BUT… I've yet to switch out any of the pictures, so they're all facing the wrong directions! It's amazing how long you can live with some things without fixing them.

I added a few larger frames and still went with a fairly linear layout. What do you think of the one yellow frame? It's just a fun little play off of the little bird on the table and on the fabric on the chair. (Please ignore the crooked red frame… life with 4 kids!)

Please notice the sideways pictures, the mats that should be removed, and the crooked frames. I'm keeping it real and showing you what it really looks like most days. One day in the next few months very soon I'll get new pictures printed. For now, the kids just think it's funny.

Even though Jess is on vacation in Maine this week, I got her to share a little bit about her gallery wall…
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My gallery wall is in process, but here's what I have so far! Things to do: 1. Paint frames so they're all the same color, 2. Change out mat and picture in the large frame, 3. Put something in empty frame at top.

My favorite picture from the gallery wall- a recent gift from my husband! ~~~~~~
There are so many amazing gallery wall ideas out there in blogland… Here are a few that I really love.
House of Smith's awesome colorful wall

Source: thehouseofsmiths.com via Monica on Pinterest
This wall is SO ME! Grey walls, clean lines, black & white pictures (and man, that's one looong hallway)
Source: laurawinslowphotography.com via Monica on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Monica on Pinterest
I love the accent lighting and the combination of sizes in this arrangement (Jess would love the baskets and bench)

Source: theinspiredroom.net via Monica on Pinterest
We love The Lettered Cottage, and we love their gallery wall too!

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Monica on Pinterest
This isn't my style, but I like how they used frames in unique ways and incorporated other items.

Source: thenester.com via Monica on Pinterest
This is fun and whimsical. I love the use of paint to frame out the layout

Source: parlourhomeblog.com via Monica on Pinterest
So, do tell… do you have a gallery wall? do you want one?
I'm planning to add another gallery over our piano, so stay tuned for some DIY tips and a step-by-step post coming soon!

P.S. Don't forget that you can still enter to win a Blosoom Band! Check out yesterday's post for all the details! The winner will be announced Friday morning!

Believe it or not, my kids are pretty rough on our house… We're pretty laid back parents and our kids do a lot of ball playing, wrestling, and just being kids in our house. I love this pic that Salvatori Photography took for us- this is SO our life!

The one problem I was having was that they kept breaking everything on my family room gallery. Frames would fall and break, glass was cracked a few times from footballs- it was getting old! So, I decided to create a Kid-Friendly Gallery Wall!

Everything on the wall is either plastic, paper, or wood and there's NO glass on anything! I'm writing this post a while after completing this project, so I can tell you that we've made it over 3 months without one break!! Woohoo!
You might remember seeing a peek of this wall during Creating with the Stars- my knock-off round project was in the gallery… You can check out that tutorial here.

Here are a few more pics of the gallery and then I'll show you how I made the awesome vintage camera prints!

Now let's chat about the vintage camera prints- I love them SO much! I think they have just the right blend of vintage appeal and classy style. I got the FREE download here- gotta love an awesome, free printable! Thanks Design Editor!

I headed to staples and had them printed as 2"x3" engineer prints. They cost me about $5 bucks each. Since I knew I didn't want to frame them with a glass frame, I thought about just taping them right up on the wall… my hubs mentioned he thought it might look a tad cheapo, so I kept thinking… then it hit me- Washi Tape! I had ordered some from Consumer Crafts a while back (they have a great selection and super cheap prices).

I simply used one long piece for each side, stayed right at the edge, and folded the excess onto the back. It took me about 5 minutes max!

I think it was the perfect touch to give the paper is more finished look!

I used command strips to hang them on the wall- it was perhaps the easiest and cheapest DIY with an awesome impact on the family room!

Later this week I'm going to share how I go about creating a gallery wall- I think some people feel it can be a tad overwhelming if you let it, so I'll kind of show you how it all went down here at the Mangin pad!
What do you think of my huge, almost-free pics? And am I the only one whose kids rough up their home decor?

I am on a mission. A mission to make my house feel somewhat normal, organized and beautiful in the midst of our kitchen renovation. I am failing miserably, by the way, if you were curious about the state of my mission. But still, I'm plugging away. While my hubs has been working diligently on our kitchen in his very rare spare time, I have been busy trying to impart a bit of character into our entryway. Last time you saw it, it looked like this: 

I love the giant letter"J" that I found at Home Goods, but the whole vibe of the space was just feeling off and, I hate to say it, boring. As you know, I love neutrals and think they can be warm and welcoming and interesting all at the same time, but if they're not used well, they can be plain, old boring. I decided to add some interest to that wall with the"J", since it's the one staring you in the face when you walk in the front door. I tossed around a bunch of ideas like adding our names around the letter, making it a gallery wall, stenciling and so on, but I just kept coming back over and over again to stripes. So, stripes it is. Plus, last week I shared that I was starting a gallery wall of white frames on the wall leading into the kitchen. Obviously, I have lost my mind, and can't find my way out of the million projects that keep accumulating in my head. But that's another story for another time.

I started by gathering all the frames I had laying around the house (and ok, confession: there are several walls in my house that are naked now that I took the frames from them), and decided on a layout. There is no real trick to this, but if you need help getting started, check out these gallery wall layout templates.

Then grab the cutest guy you know, and get to work. I wanted to see my frames on the wall before I spray-painted them white. I actually lived with the arrangement for a few days before I did anything to make sure that it was exactly how I wanted it. Fixing a nail hole is super-easy, so I wasn't too concerned about the possibility of me not liking it and having to repair a bunch of holes. To each, his own, I always say. 

And just so you know: it's never too early to teach your kids how to DIY.

Time to spray-paint! (Between this gallery wall and our Nate Show projects, I think my nickname should now be Captain Spraypaints-Alot or Wonder-Painter, or Super-Sprayer. You get the idea.)

So do you want to see it? Here's my new, not-boring-in-my-humble-opinion entryway!

Ignore the wonky lighting and wierd shadows- I missed good sunlight hours today!

This is the view from the kitchen, and yes, you are getting a peek at my new stencil, which is currently my most favorite thing ever.

I got these cute, little prints for free at Sprik Space. They come in a bunch of great colors!
And I absolutely can't wait to show you what I have planned for that big space above the stairs (you know, the one that still houses my remaining Christmas decor. Just keepin' it real, folks.)

What's your opinion of neutrals? Love them or hate them?

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I hope you had the chance to check out Red Letter Word's gorgeous new Hymn Collection. If not, you really should! There's no better way to add meaningful art into your home.

I need this in my house ASAP. What a great reminder of what's really important.
Have an awesome day!

This project was featured in an episode of our DIY show Knock It Off. To watch this episode online, click HERE.

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We’re going to let you in on one of our favorite trade secrets: giant, engineer-sized prints! If you're one of our fabulous blog readers, you already know that this is kind of our go-to trick for dressing up a wall.

Choose and order the pictures you want to use. You could go with family shots, favorite sayings or even printable artwork found online. We've even shared some of our very own free printables here, here and here. The giant geometric-looking heart in this gallery wall came from one of our favorite places for downloadable art: The Caravan Shoppe. Make sure your images are high-resolution for the clearest picture possible and take them to any office supply store. Ask them to create engineer prints- our pics were 4 feet by 3 feet and only cost about $5 a piece! You can only get them printed in black and white, but for a gallery wall this size, that’s perfect and looks really classy.

Now we’re going to mount the pictures to the “canvas”. We chose to use foam insulation panels because they’re inexpensive and easy to cut. Trim to the appropriate size. (If you want something already pre-cut, go with foam core from the office supply store. You’ll pay more, but won’t have to make cuts!) Cut your sheet of insulation so that your photo is 2 inches bigger all the way around.
Lay the engineer print over the cut insulation panel and fold back halfway. Spray with adhesive, lay it back down, smoothing out the wrinkles as you go. Do the same thing to the other half. Now wrap the canvas like a present! Fold the corner of one side in towards the middle of the panel and staple into place. Continue pulling the print around the entire insulation board and staple into place as you go.

A wall of gallery-wrapped canvases can be super pricey, but not if you do it our way! Honestly, this is one of our favorite insider tips…but shhhhh…let's let this trick be our little secret.: ) And seriously, if I looked that good, I would have engineer prints of myself all over my house!

We've used engineer prints in our own homes lots of times. These projects are some of our absolute favorites, and make a huge statement!
Jess' Giant, Shaped Frame with Engineer Prints

Monica's Ginormous Industrial Art

Don't forget to check out the other projects in the room here.

You know how sometimes the littlest things make you the most excited? Well, that's exactly the situation here. I made a teeny-tiny change in our first floor hallway that has me doing a jig (go ahead, picture that for a minute). A while ago, I ordered some vinyl from House of Smiths Designs, and I just got around to using it. I originally saw it used in Shelley's amazing gallery wall and absolutely fell in love. Can you guess which one?

Yup, the"Party of 5" frames. And no, this is not a baby announcement (but wouldn't that be a great idea??!! Christmas card, anyone?) I, of course, ordered it as"a Party of 4" and found the perfect frame for the job hanging in the hallway. Let's face it, this is a nice picture, but it's nothing special. Plus, I really wasn't digging the black frame mixed in with my clean, white gallery wall.

I laid down the vinyl on top of the glass just to be sure it fit before I went all spray-painting crazy on it. The frame got several coats of glossy white, and after I turned the photo + mat over, I spray painted the back turquoise blue to match the other pops of blue in the entry.

Adhering the vinyl is super easy (just follow the directions that come with it), and I was left with this:

Adorable! I love it and it ties in so much better with the rest of the entry space. (Please excuse the nasty glare- I couldn't get away from it!)

It really connects my huge family picture in with the gallery wall and adds a bit of fun as you walk out of the kitchen

Yay for small (but happy!) changes. If you're looking for something to personalize your home, you should definitely look into House of Smiths Designs. Super cute and affordable.

Are you a tweaker like me? Do small changes make you do a jig too?

PS. Don't forget to enter our giveaway for a $50 Gift Card to Shabby Apple! The giveaway is live until Sunday, June 3rd!

Phew! Can you believe that 2012 is over already? We are gearing up for an unbelievably awesome 2013 filled with lots of fun and exciting things for this little blog (we'll share those with you tomorrow!), but we thought we'd take some time to round up our favorite projects from each month in 2012. Take a look, let us know what you think, and pin it if you like it!

January Monica's Fav: I loved going green in 2012! Not really in the earthy-crunchy way, but by adding a pop of color to my collection of ornate frames. These Green Granny Frames had a fun impact on my dining room!

Jess's Fav: I breathed some new life into our New and Improved Entryway by adding a striped accent wall and a big gallery wall.

February:
Jess' Fav: This project injected what can only be called Stencil Happiness into my kitchen renovation. Thanks to an awesome stencil from Royal Design Studio, my kitchen now has style for miles!

Monica's Fav: I took a bit of a risk and got personal with all of you by sharing my Game of Love Perfect Valentine's Gift. You ladies sure loved it, because it became our #1 post of 2012! Stay tuned for this year's version- it'll be on the blog on Monday!

Since 2012 was a leap year, I get to add another for February! This post went live on 2/29 and it's such a time saver in our house! Once a Month Sandwiches

March
Jess' Fav: This Giant Shaped Frame is by far my favorite project from 2012! I'm pretty sure there is no better way to dress up your wall for this crazy low price. This is a big impact project, people. *I also have to nominate this one too! Jess and I had no idea how successful this project was going to be when we created it- we sure love Staples Prints! -Mon*

Monica's Fav: I love the BIG impact my Chevron Wall made in my kitchen. It's packed with personality and was pretty easy to paint!

April
Jess' Fav: My hubs and I surprised my daughter with this Playhouse Loft Bed for her fourth birthday. It was totally worth it, because she and my son play in it all the time. I'm all for a DIY project that keeps the kids happy and occupied! *wink*

Monica's Fav: My Front Door got a major face lift with a super cool color and house numbers that are so my style!

May
Jess' Fav: We started our kitchen renovation in December and were finally ready to do the big Kitchen Reveal in May. Of course, I'm still tweaking it, but this room makes me super happy. It's filled with tons of DIYs like painting the cabinets, stenciling the wall, making a fabric shade pendant light, painting color-blocked curtains and adding a fab rug.

Monica's Fav: Warm weather meant it was time for some outdoor projects! I loved how simple and inexpensive these DIY Planters were. Even now, they have winter pansies and look great on my front porch!

June Jess's Fav: I love the ability to customize things and this Fabric Floorcloth let me create the perfect mat for my entryway!

Monica's Fav: Jess and I completed our Super-Fab Guest Room Makover. We loved everything from the shutter headboard, fun accessories, and of course the houndstooth stenciled wall! We also had a blogger's dream come true when Young House Love featured our makeover!

July
Jess: My son turned 2 this month so I showed you how I made his custom invitations using digital scrapbook paper and picmonkey. How to Make Custom Printables became one of our top posts- you guys obviously love free things!: )

Monica's Fav: While we were busy finishing up our patio project, I also worked on an Outdoor Furniture Upcycle

August
Jess' Fav: We took our house exterior from boring to awesome by painting the front door and shutters. Hello Curb Appeal!

Monica's Fav: August was when I pulled off a birthday surprise for my hubs with a Garage Mudroom Makover I'm still loving the organization and how it's actually functional for this family of 6!

September
Jess: It's a tie! I just can't decide between Stenciled Faux-Tile Fireplace & Planked Wall with Exposed"Stud' Shelves. Both of these guys transformed the room and I'm in love with them!

Monica's Fav: I went a little outside the box with my Shut the Front Door — Foyer Update. It's still one of my favorite things in my house.

October Jess: Our dining room has been slowly undergoing a transformation and my refinished dining table fits perfectly in the new space! Refinished Dining Room Table

Monica's Fav: In October, we had our DIY Patio Reveal! It was a HUGE DIY project, but we saved tons of money doing it ourselves and the end result was pretty awesome!

November
Jess's Fav: I love Mr. Berkus and didn't think he would mind me knocking off one of the items from his new line- the Rope-Wrapped Hurricane Vase. Want to know a secret? I like mine better.: )

Monica's Fav: During a road trip to visit one of my best gal pals, I whipped up a Fireplace Makeover in her new house. It's a super-simple way to get rid of that brass fast!

December
Jess: This project was honestly a surprise to me. It came out so much better than I ever thought it would! The Wood Slice Wreath is the perfect winter decoration.

Monica's Fav: Just in time for Christmas Jess and I made this Illuminated Silhouette Art. It looked great next to my Christmas tree, and now I'll be swapping out the silhouette for a lovey-dovey Valentine's quote!

One thing that stands out to us the most this year is how thankful we are for YOU! We so appreciate your comments, emails and faithful visits to our blog. Here's to another crazy, fun year!

When a close friend asks you to help re-do their bubble-gum pink, non-descript guest room, you can't say no. You almost feel like you need to stage a design intervention immediately. Everyone has a room like this one: a forgotten catch-all guest room/play room/ exercise room/ office. We decided that it was our duty to save the world (and Connie and Mark's parents!) from this room so we spruced the place up a bit. I mean, anything would have been better than that color pink, and we were game for the challenge. So.without further ado, here's our first official SuperFab Room Redesign!
Update: Welcome YHL Readers!
For the Stencilled Wall Tutorial and Paint colors click HERE
To see the room with and without accessories click HERE
For the Shutter Headboard Tutorial click HERE

Yay! Doesn't it look incredible? Over the next few days we'll be posting the tutorials on everything you see in the rooms, but for now, let's take a look at some beauty shots, huh? Obviously, the scene-stealer is the multi-colored houndstooth stenciled wall. This was a definite labor of love (we even called in some backup assistance), but it makes a huge impact in the room, don't you think? We love the mix of the classic houndstooth pattern with the modern color scheme. It definitely set the tone for the rest of the room: mixing old with new. We'll be posting a tutorial next week, but if you want to get a jump start on your own, you can visit Royal Design Studio to get this amazing stencil for yourself!

Just take it all in, people.: ) Another fav is the headboard we made out of old shutters (or are they doors? Not sure!) we found at our favorite salvage place, Architectural Antiques. We needed something that would stand out from the wall, command attention, and add some character and and this baby does that. Gorgeous!

Another fun part of the design for us was coming up with a unique way to showcase Connie's collection of old family photos. This gallery wall is super simple and allows the photos to be the main focus. We can't wait to tell you how we did it, so you can try it too. And now you know what the gears were for!: )

Connie & Mark had this dresser that we knew we could make fabulous with some paint and new hardware, so that saved us some big bucks! That blue may be one of our all-time favorite colors and changed this dresser from one that was ready to be kicked to the curb, to something that they'll never want to part with!

This little vignette makes us super happy, because not only is it adorable, but it's totally functional, as well. Since this is their guest room, we made sure to add some towels and an extra blanket to the cart to make their guests feel at home. An $8 industrial cart never looked so good! The metal cubby shelf was a great find from HomeGoods that completes this corner of the room.

And a room makeover is nothing without accessories. Pulling together all of these items was our idea of a good time, and they make a world of difference. We'll show you the proof this week, trust us.

We're already planning a sleepover at Connie and Mark's.; ) We hope you enjoyed our makeover! Be sure to stop back over to see all the juicy DIY details in the next few days. Oh yeah, one more thing: You can see a whole lot more of our DIY escapades on our projects page!

And don't forget that Monica is in the running to be the New Face of Proctor & Gamble Home! Please head over and vote for her. You can vote once a day, now through October 3rd. We know voting things can be a pain, but this one is simple and man, winning would Rock our World! So thanks so much!
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So far, I've already shown you my Planked Wall with Exposed Studs and the side table makeover in my dining room. This room is taking me forever to finish, but it already feels so different! Our buffet is getting refinished with chalk paint, as well, but I knew I wanted to hang photos or art above it. Luckily for me, I had four frames in the basement that needed a home. I love symmetry. Love love love it. Doing a symmetrical gallery wall seemed like the perfect option for the wall space above my buffet.

Hanging pictures in a grid is not fun. I mean, you actually have to use your brain and do some math, which I am so not a fan of. Can I get an amen?! However, if you use this method, you'll save yourself a major headache, and might not curse the day you ever thought of hanging frames in a grid. Step 1: Lay your frames front-side down on a flat surface to get an idea for the spacing you want. Because this was going over the buffet, I measured the width of that first, and then decided how far I wanted the frames to be apart, since I didn't want them hanging over the sides of the buffet.

2. Figure out the exact measurement using a tape measure and move the frames accordingly. I decided that just under 2.5 inches worked for me, because it left some room on either side of the frames to the edge of the buffet.

3. Make sure your frames are level. THIS IS IMPORTANT! You might think you don't need to worry about this until they're on the wall, but to ensure that they are evenly spaced and not totally out of wack, do this while they are laying down. 4. Once everything is level and even, take painter's tape and run it from the hanger of the top frame to the hanger of the bottom frame. Do the same between the frames next to each other. You only need two pieces of tape, because they should work in every direction.

5. Carefully remove your tape and determine the height of your top frames, and measure down from the ceiling. Adhere the tape to the spot you've marked and run it straight down. Use a level to keep it straight. 6. Use a drill to insert the screw right into the mark you made. Do this for all four frames at the intersection of the tape. 

Hang the frames, and you're done!  

Perfect spacing for your grid! 

Want to know something funny? After I did all that work, I decided I wanted a big piece of art. So, it's not down yet, but it's coming down soon. Ha! 

Are there any other symmetry-lovers out there, like me? Or are you more of a random gallery type of person? 

While my hubs finishes up the stuff I don't know how to do (ie: drywalling, adding corner bead etc) in our kitchen, I've been busy trying to make myself feel better about the disaster inside my house (see kitchen demo post here) by prettifying my entry way! My sweet mother-in-law gave me a gift card to Home Goods for Christmas, which is heaven on earth for a girl like me. No joke- I've been there three times in the last week and a half. Anyway, I was so torn about what I should get with that precious gift card- because you know there are at least a million things in that store that were calling my name- but kept coming back to tihs gigantic letter"J". Our last name begins with"J", in case you were wondering. So, finally, today I went ahead and bought it, thinking it would be perfect for the wall in my entry that housed my advent calendar in December.

This bad boy is made of some kind of metal substance but had a cherry, wood-grain finish that I did NOT like, but I knew I could spraypaint it and all would be well with the world. (What can't you improve with spray paint and hot glue, I ask you?)

See how large it is in comparison with my hand?

I picked up two metallic spraypaint finishes from Lowes (right before my son face-planted on the floor and received a nice, fat lip and bloody nose. Picture me trying to clean him up in the drywall isle full of construction-type men). I sprayed it first with the dark bronze paint, and then lightly sprayed it with the copper paint in concentrated areas. Then I went back over it with the dark bronze to make it a bit more authentic.I was trying to achieve a rusty, architectural letter look, and I think I achieved it!

I wish you could see it in person, because it's has a lot of depth that just isn't showing right in pictures, but you get the idea. Then, using the hardware provided, I hung it on the wall facing the front door. Don't worry- it actually is level, it just tricks the eye with that curved shape!

Right away, I felt like it was missing something, don't you?

I love the letter, but really think it needs something to make it pop. (Ugh, just ignore that mess of a kitchen back there) I'm thinking I could do stripes on just that wall like this:

Source: alittlelovelyblog.blogspot.com via Cassandra on Pinterest
or do a stencil on that wall like this:

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Stfn on Pinterest
Except a lot less bold, because you know, I'm the queen of neutral. This one is a lot more up my alley:

Source: isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest
I've also thought about doing a gallery wall of family pictures around it, stenciling our names in a very subtle color around the"J", framing it with chunky trim and the list goes on.
Help a girl out! Any ideas for me?

If you missed the Round 2 projects, you can see all of them right here. To see the bloggers you chose to move on to Round 3, click here. We're sure these girls are already working hard on their Paint challenge this week- ack! We're loving the suspense.: )

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is Sarah's second week in the Top 3. She has shown incredible talent and this plate wall is no exception. Isn't it amazing that she recreated this Anthropologie favorite with just a sharpie and plates from the Dollar Store? Genius!

Week 2! Time to get our knockoff on. After the crazy, hectic, eating-cereal-for-dinner kind of week last week was I was hoping for a"knockoff" project I could knockout quickly. Apparently, I don't know how to do that. I chose to knockoff Lost Arcadia By Molly Hatch sold by Anthropologie for $7,500! Since that's about $7,450 over my budget, I decided to see if it could be done on the cheap. Yup. Here's what you do.

Supplies

• 30 plates — I got mine at Dollar Tree for a buck! (you might want to buy a couple extras just in case… trust me)
• Something to hang the plates with — I used 30 medium Command Strips. You could use actual plate hangers but they were too expensive for me (around $3 each). I've also seen some people hot glue some sort of loop on the back to hang plates. Any method will do!
• A Sharpie — I only used one
• A projector — My husband was lucky enough to borrow one from work that hooked up to the computer, but I think you can rent/borrow them from libraries too. Also, there are lots of tutorials around the net on how to make a projector if you don't have access to one.

Step 2 Stick Command Strips to all of your plates just inside the rim on the back and label your plates. A1, A2, A3… B1, B2, B3… etc. This way, when they come down, you'll know how to put them back up
.

Step 3 Make a level line on your wall to align the first row of plates. I taped a scrap board to my wall to act as a ledge. I stuck the center plate up first and then stuck the next ones right beside almost touching.

Step 4 Continue sticking your plates. I put the center plate up first for each row and then worked my way out from there. Push hard. I just eyeballed to get it in the center of the plate below. Keep going until all of your plates are up.

Step 5 Take the plates down! I repeat. Take the plates down! (this is why you need to label them). The Command Strips clearly say to stick your item, then rip it off the wall leaving only the Command Strip on the wall to cure before hanging your piece permanently. I failed to do this, (my bad) and had a plate crash down like a giant game of Plinko… taking the plates below with it. I might also add that this happened at 2am. My husband thought we were being invaded. It was not a fun evening… not at all. Let's have a moment of silence for the 2 plates lost in the chaos. Step 6 After your strips cure and you stick the plates back up (this time it worked… they've been up over a week… no casualties), you're ready to trace. I chose to do a botanical print I found via Sarah's blog, Thrifty Decor Chick. It's from the NYC Digital Gallery and you can read Sarah's post about it here. Set up the projector so the image is fairly centered and go to town. The tracing part only took maybe an hour.

After I had it all traced, I went back over some parts to make them darker.

That's it, you're done! I think these would look really nice in color too but for the knockoff week, I wanted to stay as close to the inspiration as possible.

(PS… that dresser is from Goodwill! Who gives stuff like that away!?)

And did you notice how my wall is beige in some pics and blue in others? Yep, midway through I decided white plates on beige walls wasn't looking that great. So I hit up Home Depot and got a gallon of"oops paint" for $5! And then proceeded to paint a square around the Command Strips that were already on the wall. Yeahhh… landlord, if you're seeing this… don't worry! It will be beige again in no time!: |

Ha! Sarah is always keepin' it real and we love that! Plus, it's a serious competitor who will paint the wall just so the project looks good on it! You can check out the project that got Sarah in the top 3 in Round 1, right here. Check back later today to learn how Melissa made that fabulous Ikat console!
Happy Saturday!

While looking for fun, free art for my new gallery wall, I discovered a few great places to print beautiful art, typography and even maps! And I just couldn't keep all the goods from you, so get your pen and paper ready (oh, wait, does anybody do that anymore? Get your Pinterest pinner ready, then!), for some awesome, free stuff!
1. Sprik Space

I mentioned that I printed off these two adorable prints from Sprik Space for my gallery wall, but these aren't the only ones Aimee has! Be sure to go on over and take a look at her super cute printables- and tell her we sent you.
2. The Graphics Fairy

Ok, admittedly, you have to do some digging on this site to find the hidden gems like this vintage french label, or this gorgeous peacock print. But luckily, all the printables are categorized, so if you know what you're looking for, you're in luck!
3. Feed Your Soul: The Free Art Project

I think this site is my favorite yet for free printable art. Don't ask me why I put it third on my list- it's late and I'm tired, so leave me alone.; ) The art is quirky and clever and definitely a touch modern. They have a few prints that would be perfect for a nursery or children's room, but I would put a whole bunch of them up in my house. Listen to what Jane says her reason for starting this site is: "I love art and I know you do too. I also know that when people start to tighten up the purse strings they tend not spend money on things that aren’t necessary for survival, things like books, magazines and art. But, art is important for your soul. It helps rejuvenate, it’s thought-provoking, offers inspiration and can generally brighten an otherwise dreary day among other things." Well said, Jane, and we thank you from the bottom of our art-loving hearts.
4. New York City Public Library

ar

Did you know that the New York Public Library has a digital gallery of over 700,000 images taken from their vast collections? I found this old print of Pennsylvania from 1830 with just a simple search.Browse to your heart's content and I'm sure you'll find a inspiration for art.
5. Leanne's Printable Quotes

This is not a site that regularly features free printables (at least not to my knowledge), but in this post there are several simple designs that would make great cards (for Valentine's Day, maybe?), art prints, or anything else you can think of.
Where's your favorite place to get free printables? I shared mine with you- now it's your turn!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I can't stop looking at the Hymn & Folk Song collection by Red Letter Words! Today I'm smitten with this:

I sing this regularly to my kids and so it these prints make me happy. I love the set of three prints- something a bit different than the norm!

We loved Amanda's project this round because they did some things we're totally into… Everyone knows I have a thing for yellow (check out my yellow dining room buffet here). We also use our projector any chance we get (check out Jess' gigantic shaped frame), and we just love that they were willing to stage their garage to get the PERFECT look! Well, it paid off, Amanda! Now, tell us how you made it happen… ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have to admit, I was pretty stumped with the paint round at first. I'm not super creative when it comes to thinking up wall art or paintings, and I didn't have a lot of ideas in mind for what I could do. But then, I remembered this little guy sitting out in my garage:

Corey and I have had this Bjursta sideboard from Ikea in our garage for a few weeks now — my sister was getting rid of it and asked if I wanted it, and I rarely turn down free furniture, so I said yes even though I didn't really have a plan for it. Corey and I figured it could live in our garage when we convert it into a family room (which we fully plan to do ASAP!), but that was the end of the plans we had for it. So, after a brainstorming session one night, Corey and I landed on a plan — we'd give this guy a makeover and set it up in a high-contrast room. The goal was punchy, modern, and fun. After some debate, we landed on this color palette, with paint from Home Depot.

(The colors are Sunny Side Up by Behr, Cordite by Home Decorators Collection and Totally Black by Home Decorators Collection) We started off with a black wall…

We just painted one of the walls in our garage for this particular project — down the road once we convert it, we'll probably do the rest of the walls black as well (or 1-2 black and the rest white), but I didn't want to go there yet. So, if you back up from our shot a little bit, you'd see…

Just Keeping it real, y'all. For contrast, we picked out a super rich, mustard yellow for the sideboard.

(Obviously this is not the finished sideboard — just with one coat on it! Just a reminder that things look crazy before they start to look good!) On the walls, we originally planned on just hanging a gallery wall, but when I got the idea to paint a world map on it, we knew it was the way to go. We pulled up a good map online and used our projector to get it up on the wall.

I was surprised by how quick it was to get the map painted — we just used some small paintbrushes and I outlined while Corey filled in. It took about an hour and a half from start to finish, which is way better than I expected.

(Yes, we do DIY projects in our pajamas. Don't you?)

Once everything was all finished and dry, we decided the sideboard needed a little something extra. So we grabbed some paint in the same color but a different finish (the main part is high gloss, the details are flat), and used the projector again to add some numbers. It's a super subtle detail, but we love that about it — when you're looking from straight on, the map is totally the star. But if you shift yourself a little to either side, the numbers suddenly jump out at you.

After the numbers were finished, it was just time to style! We added an Ikea rug to hide the concrete floor (and to add some pattern)…

.added a lamp for some height…
.

.
…and then we finished it off with a few accessories and books. And it looks a little something like this:

I'm pretty head over heels with this little set-up, and I'll admit — I'm sad it's in our garage because I can't gaze at it every day! But, hopefully we'll be able to tackle the rest of this room pretty soon and I can go stare at it anytime I want to! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talk about dramatic! Amanda's garage is now the prettiest one we've ever seen! It has been so much fun to browse Amanda's blog. One thing that caught our eye is this China Cabinet makeover. The chalkboard paint is such a fun surprise at the back and we loooooove that hardware.

Plus, this little table-length succulent trough is too cute!

We have two more awesome tutorials from Melissa and Sarah tomorrow and Saturday, so be sure to come on back. Also, if you haven't linked up your favorite paint project, you can do that until tomorrow at 10 PM EST. We LOVE seeing all the incredible things you guys do in your homes! We'll pick our favorite and feature it here on EC2 on Sunday!

We usually share bits and pieces of our homes here on the blog, but we're going to try and do more full room tours as we get rooms"finished up" (are rooms ever finished?) First up for me… My foyer. Now, I should explain that no one ever comes in our front door. It's kind of sad since the front door is so cute now. (Take a peek at the door here.)

I think you've seen this part of the foyer before. Chair. Accent Table. Gallery Wall. Wallpaper.

I love this little vignette. The chair was thrifted, the table is IKEA, the bird is from Michael's and spray painted yellow, the red frame has the chair material in it, and the lamp's from Homegoods and is actually broken as of 3pm today. (Ugh) The chair needs a mini black pillow with a & symbol on it… Hopefully coming soon!

Darn that I didn't dust before taking these pictures. The poor bird is in a sea of dust!

Ready to see my NEW FAVORITE THING?? Introducing… My Big Foot Rug!

If you follow us on Facebook (which I definitely think you should) you got a little sneak peek of this rug. It's from Overstock.com and you can see it here. Now, I know the size is a wee bit weird, but honestly the space is weird. Square and Circle rugs are muy muy expensive! (Didn't know I was bilingual did ya?) I saw this big foot and laughed right out loud. I knew it was meant to be. Oh, and did you notice… the door is charcoal? The Ombre Door Disaster is fixed. Did you miss that catastrophe? You've gotta check it out here.

I need to buy a non-slip pad because it's sliding all over the place! Here's the view from the living room into the foyer

Here's the opposite view, from the stairs. The Moroccan-ish mirror is from Target.

I'm a dork, and was attempting to do a funny, Miss America wave, but you can't get the full effect in a picture, so I went to a peace sign, but I'm not that kinda girl, BUT I am the mom of a 7yr old, so I know that Bunny Ears are one of the funniest things to do in a picture, or so Kade insists. Are you laughing yet? See, Bunny Ears… they work like a charm.

One of the cool things in our house is the foyer ceiling and light. It's a double trey ceiling, which the builder loved, but to us just meant lots of wasted money on molding, although, truth be told, now I do love how it looks. (note to self: replace one bulb)

Now here's my true motive for showing you the foyer from all angles… I need help. Shocker Right? I want to do something above the door. I see it from the kitchen, I see it every time I go upstairs, I see it all the time. So tell me, what you would do?

Don't be swayed, but here's what I'm kind of fixated on. I can't even explain why, but when I look at the door it's actually what I always envision. I'm thinking of using my mini-projector and painting the word HELLO in really large, graphic letters. I have been trying to talk myself out of it, but I think I'm sold. If you have other ideas, please share em!

So that's my foyer. A tad quirky, really dusty, and 99% finished. Let me know what you think and then help a girl out with your ideas!

I love to strip for photos. No, no. That's partly true not what I meant to say at all. I love photo strips. There, that's a little better. Does anyone else LOVE those old black-and-white photo booth pictures you get at the beach? They're so simple, but I can't get enough of them. This past weekend, my fam was at the Jersey shore, and we managed to squeeze the four of us into an ancient photo booth for our not-so-yearly tradition, which I am determined to make into an annual thing. I'm starting with these:

I know I want to do something cute and fun to display these pictures, but was feeling uninspired. Cue the worldwide web. Believe it or not, there weren't many great ideas out there, but I did find a few that got my juices flowing.

Source: my-mania.eu via Jessica on Pinterest
This is soooo much fun. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to enlarge a picture of my face 70x. Trust me, too much pixelation is not a good thing for this girl.

Source: younghouselove.com via Jessica on Pinterest
John and Sherry at Young House Love put all their photobooth pics (which they take on the day of their anniversary) into a glass so guests can take a look through while hanging out.

Source: nyctaughtme.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
This is a super interesting detail on a regular door at the end of a hallway. Love that it immediately draws your eye to that door. Again, enlarged photo + me = not pretty.

Source: storageandglee.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
This is pure craziness. Who has that many photobooth pictures? Someone with waaaaaay too much time on their hands, if I may be rude enough to say. Still, it makes me happy to see those bad boys displayed so proudly.

Source: younghouselove.com via Jessica on Pinterest
This last one is definitely more my speed (again from Young House Love). So many things going on here that I adore: light walls and white frames, and organic gallery wall with photobooth strips included! I see a trip to Ikea for frames in my near future.

Ikea
So, here's what I've come up with so far. I'm not quite finished, and still haven't decided on a location for these frames, but I think they're coming along nicely. (WARNING: The next few pictures are very bad quality. This is what happens when one very tired blogger tries to blog way past her bedtime. Forgive me, please?!)

I started with two of these frames. I know, they're terrible. And yes, I did have them hanging in my home for at least 3 years. I have no clue why, especially because I hate coffee.

I disassembled the frames, spray-painted them, and then painted the mats a light blue-gray.

When they're done, they'll look something like this. Now, I just need to find approximately 32 more frames to complete my gallery wall. {Sigh}
What crazy memories do you have stored in your photobooth pics?

If you thought Round 1 was impressive, what do you think of these Round 2 Knockoffs? If you haven't already, stop everything and click here to vote for your favorite 3 knockoffs! We aren't exaggerating when we say we were blown away this round. And… lucky me, I get to share my knockoff today… no pressure right! Ha!

Before I share mine, let's enjoy a Blast from the Past and look at the Knockoff that won us Round 2 of Creating with the Stars in 2012. It appears that Anthro is DIYers favorite store to knockoff. Last year we tackled their Ordinal Dresser (you can see the full tutorial here)

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Now, onto my little ol' knockoff project…

I really wanted Anthro's Woodcut Print, but at ahem $1600… are you kidding me?? At that price, it had better grow into a money tree!! I'll take my $6.99 version thank you very much.

Here's how I made mine… it took about 5 minutes. I searched Google images for a woodcut picture I liked. It was black and white, but I wanted a red tone similar to the original. I brought it into PicMonkey (love that site) and used the tint effect to choose a new color. The options are endless as you can see from my screen shot below.

If I wanted a smaller size this project would have been FREE, but I needed a 12x12, so I printed it at Staples for $6.99. It's not an earth shattering knockoff, but I saved $1593.01- Woohoo! Jess and I love getting a high end look for less… Why pay full price, when you can just Knock-it-Off?
The woodcut art is part of my new Kid Friendly Gallery Wall! Every single item on this wall is plastic, wood, or just plain paper. With 4 kids, and after about 7 broken frames I knew I needed a plan B!

I'll be posting more about this wall after CWTS, but here are a few pics for you to enjoy…

And yes, those prints are just paper, framed in washi tape. Break proof!

That metal print is SO us! Eric and I might be a wee bit sarcastic… It says,"National Sarcasm Society… Like we need your support"

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Alright, enough about me, let's talk about you! Are you ready to link up your favorite Knockoff project?

The winner of Round 2's link up will receive an awesome prize package from Belmonili and Perfectly Imperfect Shop, and we promise you're going to love it!

This link party will be open until Friday, March 22nd at 10 PM EST. Jess and I are going to be choosing our absolute favorite knockoff project and revealing the tutorial for it on Sunday! If you win this week, we'll be contacting you sometime on Saturday for the tutorial, so be ready!
Please remember a few things before linking up: 1. Before linking, please LIKE us on Facebook (Thanks!)

2. Make sure you link back to us in your post. Only those linking back will be eligible for the prize! 3. Only one submission per person. 4. Choose a project that you've done in the last 12 months.
Want to see all the amazing Upcycle projects that were linked up last week? Click here! The Round 1 Link Up Winner was this awesome light fixture!

We're in the Big Apple today filming our last segments on The Nate Show (*Boo hoo. Sniff*.) We're crossing our fingers that all goes well, and that our room comes together like we envisioned. No matter what, we always LOVE being on the show and getting to see all the fun people who work there who have now become friends! Make sure you follow us on facebook for up-to-date info on the day's events! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ While we're away, we thought you might be interested in Lindsey's ah-mazing master bedroom makeover:

Source: livingwithlindsay.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Go Bold or Go home, right?; )
Head over to her blog to see this unbelieveable transformation.
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After our life settles down, (which it should at approximately 5:30 PM tonight when we finish taping) we will coming back at you with loads of great stuff. Monica will reveal the finished product of her granny frames, and I hope to make some fun progress (read: stencil!) in my kitchen over the weekend. Also, after posting about the oversize letter"J" I hung in my entryway, I was inspired to perk the whole space up with a mini-makeover. The wall leading into the kitchen will now be home to a big ol' gallery wall of white frames!

Plus, I made a little change to wall with the giant letter on it! Can't wait to show you it, so expect good things from us next week.: )
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What fun things are you guys working on these days?

P.S. Want to check out our past Nate Show episodes? You're in luck, because we've conveniently compiled them in one spot.: ) Just click here to see us in action!

Ever have a crazy week at work? Oh my word, last week I was beyond swamped… so swamped that I didn't DIY at all! {GASP} This weekend I needed to make up for some lost time and I have about 3 projects going on now. Phew, feeling more like myself!
You've seen my Granny Frames Gallery in progress, but today I'm going to show you the whole shabang! First, it's time for a little tutorial… Glazed Paper Tutorial

Did you know you can spray paint and glaze paper? Yup, tried it.
See the thin rectangle frame in the middle? It's lacking… it's not really all that ornate or"Granny-esque." I had picked up a big old letter M at some craft store (not sure which one) and I thought perhaps I could make it fit in with the style of the gallery.

I ran to JoAnn's for some scrapbook paper and totally struck out. Nothing would work. What's a girl to do? This gold and blue textured paper jumped out at me, no surprise right… it's sort of bright and tacky.

The DIYer deep within told me I could do something amazing with this paper. Here's all you need: Textured scrapbook paper Spraypaint (I'm sure regular paint would work too) Martha's Metallic Glaze (I used black coffee) Cheapo brush & a rag

Since it's winter and pretty darn cold in my garage I've started painting in our basement. The floor is covered in green and the fumes are intense let me tell ya!

I wasn't sure how the paper would take the spray paint, but it worked like a charm.

And my hands are still green today (3 days later) for some reason it won't come off!

Give the paper plenty of time to dry- about 4 hours. Then the fun begins! Using the same process I used on the frames, you simply slop it on and wipe it off. Don't forget to use the brush to get in all the crevices.

See the difference? Left side before and right side after.

Flip your paper over and trace your letter.

Did you know spray adhesive is my nemesis? It's so darn sticky! Give your letter a solid coating and slap on your new and improved paper.

Once it was on, and my edges were trimmed down, I brought out the big guns. Have you ever used liquid nails? It's a staple in our house and I use it quite a bit for DIY projects. Anytime I can't nail something I use it… we might even have used it quite a bit for our Nate Show projects last month. Be careful though, it is serious adhesive and is not forgiving.

There she is… M for Mangin, or monsters, or macaroni… whatever you want.

Here's the finished wall. I'm a big fan of the layered small frames within some of the larger ones. I'm still trying to convince the hubs that it's okay not to add pictures.

Now it's time to accessorize the room. It's not my strong suit, so I'm going to have Jess over to lend a hand. So, what do you think of my Granny Gallery?

*************************************** One final thing I had to share with you about Red Letter Words. Did you know Dee does custom work? You can get one of her amazing canvases designed just for you! Every family has some phrase or verse or words that are special to them. Why not make it into art? Start thinking of what you'll put on your custom art and then head over to Red Letter Words.

And in honor of Bucks County, check out this Philly canvas…

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chick

We all love Pinterest… there are so many ideas and cool people to be inspired by. I wish I took the time to do more of the projects I see, but honestly this lil' old blog takes a lot of time, so I don't do as many as I'd like to (sounds weird that a DIY blog would take time away from DIYing, but it's true!)

Today I'm excited to introduce you to two people I adore. Meet my adorable sister-in-law Kelly and my awesome brother-in-law Bryan. This cute couple lives in Ohio, so we miss them 24-7, but we have a blast when we're together.

I also have to introduce you to their little stud Jax. He's our one and only nephew and we think he's the best!

Okay, so why are we having this Mangin Family blog reunion?? Well, Kelly is not just a Pinterest addict, she actually does what she pins! {Gasp!}
On our recent visit to Ohio, I felt like I was walking through a Pinterest Museum. It was too awesome not to share. Kelly has some creative friends and family, and between them all they have done so many fun projects for her home. So without further ado… Welcome to Kelly's Pinteresting Home! State Artwork Kel is from OH and Bry is from PA.

Aqua Painted Pedestal Table Kel got her table and chairs at goodwill for $75 total. Add aqua and white paint and you have an awesome statement piece!

Funky Pendant Light This was one of the first changes Kelly made to her kitchen when she moved in!

Crossword Names Takes 2 seconds, but is so cute as an accessory. It's just a frame turned chalkboard.

Kitchen Office Space She removed the wall cabinets, added open shelving, and did some adorable accessorizing. Kelly claims she can't decorate, but I'm pretty sure you'd all beg to differ!

Spray Painted Faux Antlers Kel is super lucky to have a Hobby Lobby right around the corner. These beauties came from there and got a coral spraypaint treatment.

Simple Printables She doesn't just PIN free printables, she actually uses them… imagine that! A simple piece of twine, some clothespins, and voila!

Modern Painted Chandelier Bye Bye Brass, hello funky green. The circle bulbs are just right and add a cute modern flare.

Window Frame Kel found this awesome salvage shop in Springfield, OH. They have windows galore!

Family Rules and More Printables Kelly and Jess both have the Be Happy print. You can get it at Sprik Space.

Magazine Paper Frame & Vase These two were purchases, but I liked them too much not to include them. If you're patient enough you can make your own!

House Numbers and Hooks There are so many things you can do with frames, and digital paper. Our favorite site is Moo & Puppy!

Yarn Wreath You know I'm the"anti-wreath," but this one is really cute! I love the homemade pompoms

Paper Flowers Kelly's friend Amy made these for her and they match her aqua table so well. Jones Design Company has tons of paper flower tutorials!

Clip Hooks Are you seeing a clothes pin trend? They're affordable, easy to use, and cute!

Fabric Lined Shelves Kel took plain bookshelves from drab to fab with this blue fabric. Her shelves always look so cute! Her sister gave her the frame with the subway art and has it loaded up with a print for every season/holiday.

Unique Gallery Wall These cool rounded frames are from Ikea and the doorknob is from Hobby Lobby.

Growth Chart I love this growth chart that Kelly's sister made for her. It's exactly like this one from Miss Natalie. No time to make one? You can buy one on Etsy for $56.00.

Last but not least, check out this fabulous fabric choice for a DIY headboard!

What do you think? Are you inspired to go look at your pin boards and actually do a project? I know I have a list a mile long that I want to do now! I also have to tell you that Kel had no idea I was snooping around her house taking pictures, so none of this was staged or cleaned… this is real-deal, everyday life and I think it's great!
Have you turned a pin into a project? Share the link, we'd love to see!

Only following on the blog? You're missing out. Use the buttons below to join in on all the fun!

Since we have a little time off before our next episode (the last episode before baby arrives!), I've been spending some time getting the nursery ready. It's funny- this pregnancy has flown by and up until now, I haven't even begun to prepare for it! Of course, we always try to redecorate rooms on the cheap and one of my favorite ways to do this is by using free printables. And I wouldn't be a good blog friend if I didn't share my absolute fav finds with you! So, here are 12 of the most adorable, trendy and fun printables I could find.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let's get this party started!

1. Ooh Moon 2. Balancing Home
So, this first Noah's Ark print is so stinkin' cute! Ooh Moon is really cool because you can sign up for an alert when a new printable is available and you have 24 hours to print it out. The Love Shines Here print would fit equally as well in a kitchen or playroom as in a nursery!

3. Feed Your Soul 4. Balancing Home
Feed Your Soul is a free art program that has real artists contribute original prints that are downloadable and printable. There are tons of fun options, so make sure you browse around to find your favorite! This Blast Off print is simple and fun and perfect for a little boy's room.

5. The DIY Village 6. Feed Your Soul
Matt and Jacque from the DIY Village are gearing up for the arrival of their first child and created this simple printable that speaks volumes. I love that you can customize it by coloring it in to match your room decor! Number 6 is another Feed Your Soul masterpiece (Pretty sure you'll see this one in a gallery wall in my baby's room!)

7. Trendy Peas 8. I Rock So What
Ummm, I'm sorry, but isn't that fox the cutest little thing? I don't know if you remember, but I mentioned that I was really hoping to incorporate forest animals, namely sneaky little foxes, in our baby's nursery, so I was thrilled to find this printable! And you can't go wrong with this whale printable- it would look especially perfect in a nautical room of any kind.

9. Tried and True 10. Eighteen Twenty-Five
Watercolor prints are in so in right now, and this World Smiled print incorporates that trend a bit. I absolutely love the sentiment, because doesn't every parent feel that way about their baby?! Leave it to Eighteen Twenty-Five to come up with a graphic printable in about a million pretty colors. They have tons of subway art printables too, so snoop around a bit when you hop over there.

11. On To Baby I'm a big fan of any printable that you can customize and so this monogram print that comes in a bunch of colors is right up my alley. We're not revealing any baby names yet (not that we've settled on one or anything!), so you'll have to just wait until our nursery reveal to see what we chose.: )

12. I Rock So What

This.is.truth. The end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And for those of you who are willing to shell out a couple bucks, I found these too-sweet-to-pass-up printables on Etsy. While these aren't free, they're all less than $10 each, so you're still getting a pretty darn good bargain!

1. Bon Temps Beignet

2. Printable Wisdom

3. Prints and Printables

Again with the foxes! Love, love, love this set of 3.

4. Plum Street Prints

Plum Street Prints had so many fabulous printables that I had trouble choosing just one to showcase! For some reason, I am really drawn to the simple designs these days.

Well, that's about it. Now I just have the difficult job of choosing which ones to print and hang in the baby's room. Where are your go-to sources for free printables? Do share!!

New to the blog? This is Part 2 of a series on my discovery to creating a home that is comfortable and stylish. I find that thinking about the places I've been that have really impacted me and that I fell in love with, helps me discern what styles I want to incorporate in my home. Each place has a certain feel that I would love to capture at home. To read Part 1, click here.

Have you ever been to Nantucket? (Sigh) It's probably my favorite place on the planet, other than my bed, and I think about it often. It is an island off the coast of Massachusetts that has a distinct New England feel. It's a combination of classic/preppy and casual/coastal. The homes on the island don't go for sale very often because they are passed down through generations, but when they do, they cost a pretty penny. Worth every bit, I'm sure.

Source: superstock.com via Jessica on Pinterest
I remember riding my bike right past this little, rose-covered gem with a white picket fence. Dreamy.

Source: inspireddecorating.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
The towns (and there are only 2 on the island, I think) has great cobblestone walkways throughout.

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest
If I could wake up in this room every morning, I'd be a happy woman. Lots of neutral tones, but the wooden bed and brick step add warmth and depth. And oh, the gallery wall and french doors leave me breathless. I get like that sometimes over rooms. No big deal. {Ahem}

Source: etsy.com via Jessica on Pinterest
I love this painting. I'm already trying to figure out how to recreate one for cheap. More on that later.: )

Source: cottages-gardens.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest
Cedar shingles are so elegant and classic. They start out a light tan, and then as they weather, turn into that gorgeous, moody gray.

Source: inspiracionline.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest

Source: brightboldbeautiful.blogspot.com via Natasha on Pinterest
Of course, you have to enjoy a good, old-fashioned lobster bake when on the island, and who wouldn't want to do that in this adorable space? Aren't those red and orange stools fabulous? And the chandeliers are awesome too, and are totally an easy DIY project!

Source: canvas.landsend.com via Susie on Pinterest
Even this outfit screams"Nantucket" and, if I could, I would wear that every day of my life. Yes, even for my kid's weddings, in case you were wondering.

Source: traditionalhome.com via Natasha on Pinterest
So cozy. I adore the faded blues and tans, and the fabric on that pillow.

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest
So, hopefully, now you understand my love for all things Nantucket. Stay tuned for Part 3 later this week!

It's good to be back from vacation. Happy Monday, everyone!