Teacher Appreciation Week

"Teacher Appreciation Week, part 2" from 4 Crazy Kings.
Love this teacher gift. Kid draws picture of said teacher. Mom adds teacher's name, copies image on hundreds of sheets of paper, and creates personalized notepad. So cute!

Mysterio Predicts

"Mysterio Predicts" from Black*Eiffel.

A current blog hit for babies are these adorable onesies from Wry Baby that "predict" who your baby will be when he grows up. What an awesome idea for a baby shower: fortune telling! You could decorate with magic 8 balls and gypsy/carnival like decor. Invitations could exploit the age-old cootie catcher. And everyone could make predictions about who they think this baby will be.

Doorway Puppet Theater

"Doorway Puppet Theater" from Better Homes and Gardens.

Think my nephew would like this for Christmas?!?? We certainly had fun with the puppets at the Children's Museum last summer. You could pair this up with a puppet-making kit (brown paper bags and craft supplies, anybody?)--what an easy children's gift to give.

"Step 1: Start with a curtain that's at least half an inch wider than the doorframe, and cut out an opening for the "stage" (this one measures 18 by 16 inches).

Step 2: To make the stage's "curtains," select a contrasting fabric, and cut out a square that's slightly larger than the opening. Snip that square in half, then pin both pieces to the back of the opening at the top.

Step 3: For an extra (optional) fillip, cut triangles from a third fabric and pin them to the front of the opening at the top.

Step 4: Pin two 12-inch ribbon "tiebacks" to each side of the opening's front.

Step 5: Frame the stage — and sew the curtains, triangles, and tiebacks in place — by stitching ribbon around the opening.

Step 6: Sew a loop of ribbon onto the curtain's top corners, then hang from nails on the doorframe."

Weekend Warriors

"Weekend Warriors" from the[artful]abode.

Love love love this bike mural in the nursery. Lately we've been on a bike kick. I think my husband would love love love it too. Certainly something to keep in mind.

Might even look awesome in the garage, if all else fails!

Decoupaged London Map Table

Decoupaged London Map Table from Bombus's Etsy shop.

We just purchased IKEA Lack coffee tables and side tables for our upstairs loft. However, if and when we tire of them--my fortune-telling powers are informing me that it should be promptly covered in maps, like the table above. I think I can handle that premonition.

Modern Name Art

"Amber's Room for Elliott" from Ohdeedoh.

I love the idea of posting a child's name in their nursery or bedroom, but I have to say that I'm getting tired of the trend. Every nursery from here to the Pacific Ocean has "Madison" or "Aidan" hanging from their walls.

But then, can you buck this trend and not harm your child for life? I mean, this is just the beginning, the first of many times you say, "if they all jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?"

No worries, I've found the solution... a modern, totally rad solution. Mount photos of letters on painted blocks of wood (of differing heights). Might use "Spell with Flickr" to find images.