Custom Light Switch Plates and Outlet Covers
Think bright colours and fun stickers for this project. You'll want the base colour to match or complement your child's primary colour scheme (such as red, apple green or blue plates to complement yellow walls). Choose stickers personalized for your child (or the décor), such as soccer balls, footballs, flowers, whimsical cats or butterflies.
Here's what you'll need:
  | Light switch plate and/or outlet cover |
| |
| Stickers |
| |
| Paintbrush |
| |
| Acrylic paint |
| |
| Water-based sealer |
Here's how to do it:
| Remove the plates from the wall, clean and allow to dry. |
| |
| Paint the plates and allow to dry (length of time varies by paint brand). |
| |
| Apply stickers and allow to set several hours. |
| |
| Coat with water-based sealer. |
| |
| Remount on wall. |
There's almost no such thing as too many throw pillows on a girl's bed, and these are simple and quick to do. Choose fabric that matches your child's bedding, curtains or both (or, again, opt for complementary colours and patterns — checks, awning stripes, florals, polka dots). For this project, you'll be creating a pillow by folding your fabric like an envelope.
Here's what you'll need:
| Fabric |
| |
| Scissors |
| |
| Fabric glue |
| |
| Velcro® tape |
| |
| Pillow stuffing |
Optional*
| Needle and thread |
| |
| Buttons |
| |
| Appliqué |
Here's what you'll need to do:
| Cut your fabric into a rectangle (preferably no smaller than 11" x 17"). |
| |
| Run a line of glue on both sides of the middle third of the rectangle. |
| |
| Fold the bottom third of the fabric onto the middle third and press to create the bottom of the envelope. |
| |
| Apply squares of Velcro tape to match up and adhere when you fold over the top third of the fabric. |
| |
| Weight the glued edges with heavy books and allow to dry. |
| |
| Stuff pillow with stuffing and fold over top third of fabric; seal with Velcro. |
* You also may want to customize your pillows by sewing on decorative or vintage buttons, or by gluing on appliqués.
Satin-Ribbon Bed Curtain
Most all little girls love the cozy space created by a flowing curtain over the bed. For this project, visit your local fabric or discount store for yards of satin ribbon, coordinating to match your child's décor. Choose contrasting colours for a festive feel, or create a soothing space with a monochromatic scheme. This project is designed for a bed with one side against the wall.
Here's what you'll need:
| Six rolls of satin (or other) ribbon |
| |
| Staple gun |
| |
| Scissors |
Optional:
Silk flowers**
Here's what you'll need to do:
| Standing on a stepladder, staple the end of the ribbon to the ceiling where the outer corner of the bed meets the wall. |
| |
| Cut the ribbon where it meets the floor. |
| |
| Repeat steps one and two, moving ribbons in a line and overlapping slightly. |
| |
| Repeat the process until the curtain is approximately 18 inches deep. |
| |
| Snip a small length of ribbon to create a tie-back, and staple to the wall. |
** Tucked into the tie-back, silk flowers such as daisies make a lovely finishing touch.
