Make a DIY Toy Stove for Your Little Chef

Here's a great DIY gift idea for your favorite kid: a cute little toy stove. Your child will have hours of fun "cooking," then surprising you with his or her creations. Get your fork ready!

All you need is:

1. a small or medium size plastic tote and lid
2.    vinyl decals (the stove top set) from Wall Decor Plus More 
3. a little patience

Conveniently, this mini stove comes with its own storage (the tote) for all the kitchen "utensils" your child will need and want. You can get these at Walmart for less than $20, or go through your own surplus, or check out a garage sale or thrift store.
Let's begin.            

• First, the LID needs to be clean and free of dust or dirt. 

•   Next, position the decals like in the image here.

•    Voila! Your mini stove is ready for "cooking." It's really easy!

A kid-size apron will add to the fun. Are you crafty, or know someone who can run one up on the sewing machine? Child-size potholders or oven mitts will help your small cook with pretending – sew them, knit them, crochet them? Remember potholder looms? If your kid is old enough, help them make their own potholders!

Another plus is that this mini stove is portable so you can take it outside. Yep, mix in the extra fun of sand, water, pebbles, and sticks and who knows what else. Before you put the mini stove away make sure the "stove" stickers are clean and dry so it will be ready for the next cooking session. 

This mini stove will keep your little one busy "cooking" for hours, indoors or out! You can "cook" with your child or just "eat" whatever they whip up on their mini stove. 

~Sallianne

Affordable DIY Home Decor Ideas Using Decals

Not all of us can afford to toss everything out and start over! What are some affordable home decor options that won't fight with your budget?

Let's start with the basics of home decor and create from there, as your budget allows. But first, be sure to read through these tips so you don't start too many projects at once. (Been there!)

Giving a room a fresh paint color can make such a change, you might not need to overhaul the whole place after all. For best results, check out our DIY tips on painting like a pro.

Once those walls are sporting a new color, add a piece of art that you love, or select a wall sticker that ties in with the room's theme. Vinyl wall decals are simple to apply, no tools needed. Just measure the space, pick your color, and order! Wall Decor Plus More has an array of wall stickers, from kitchen quotes to children's room decor.

No wiggle room in the budget for new furniture this year? Try a slipcover! Surefit.com has some great ones at reasonable prices. Bed Bath & Beyond and Walmart are two other sources. Or brighten up that dull sofa with a colorful throw pillow. If you're handy, you can recover an old one yourself–an economical way to get a new, custom look. Get creative!

Look around on Pinterest for lots of budget-minded decorating ideas. It's full of inspirational projects, from DIY coffee tables to restyling curtains. Pinterest also features fun new ways to hang pictures, make your own kitchen shelves, or design a headboard. Check out Wall Decor Plus More on Pinterest as well!

Add a lush green plant or set out a colorful pot or bouquet of flowers to brighten up your space. And be sure you have some space to work with–clearing out clutter will give you the clean slate you need to begin creating a new look. In fact, decluttering might even add to your piggy bank–your budget will love that!

Happy decorating!
~Sallianne

Make Over Your Laundry Room

Is your Laundry Room crying out for a makeover? Has it become a catch-all you try to avoid? Time for a makeover! After all, the Laundry Room is where a lot of the "clean" happens for your family–let's make it attractive and functional. Tackle it as a Do it yourself project–it's fairly easy.

To start, figure out how you want the room to function: is it also a mudroom? a second bathroom? a sewing space? Decide exactly how you want it to look and where you want things to go. 

Next up: cleaning. Remove everything that will no longer live there. Sweep and mop the floor, wipe down shelves, scrub cabinets and appliances in and out, and clean your sink. (Don't forget to check lint traps, they can be a fire hazard.) Wash any windows and curtains. Now you're ready for decor–the fun part! 

Paint can be a big part of your Laundry Room makeover. Revamp with color! Choose a cheerful wall color that you find energizing.

Now let's reorganize! Get rid of the supplies you no longer use. Be sure there are handy shelves, rolling carts or cabinets for storage. You'll also need a place to fold clothes: a counter top (a drop-down one if space is tight) or a rolling cart with a counter on it. You'll need a sorting cart to separate colors and whites. Hooks or hanging bars and hangers can be used for drip-dry items and will save on ironing if you hang things up right out of the dryer. Use a fun patterned fabric to cover unsightly things like pipes under the sink. 

Laundry starts and ends in other rooms–mostly in bedrooms and kitchens. Choose different colored hampers, clothes baskets and hangers for each member of the family to make putting away clean laundry so much easier!

If your budget is big, bring in new machines! Or add a creative backsplash to brighten up the wall. Is your Laundry Room  tiny? Use curtains instead of doors with curtain rings that slide easily to improve function and color.  

At last–time to decorate! Check out the Wall stickers from Wall Decor Plus More, especially the Laundry Room sayings. There are lots of choices! Pick the one that makes you smile. Or add stripe or polka dot vinyl wall decals to create patterns that will liven up the space. Vinyl stickers are so easy to apply and remove–plus they won't harm your new paint. 

Whether you do laundry twice a day or every two weeks, a Laundry Room Makeover will make this chore a lot more pleasant. Get ready to smile!

~Sallianne

Tips to Help You Paint Like a Pro

You can easily change the look of a room in a single day with a fresh coat of pain in an existing or new color. Painting your walls is the single most dramatic way to refresh the interior of your home and make it warm and welcoming. Paint color is one of the base layers of home decor and is best done before updating furniture and accessories. Let's get started!

The keys to a successful paint job are planning and preparation. It doesn't have to be difficult. Let's assume you've chosen your color and, with the help of your local paint or hardware store, bought the correct paint finish for your project (flat, satin, eggshell, high gloss, enamel). Don't be afraid to ask those trained paint experts for help.

The tips below will help you paint like a pro, with amazing results.

Gather Tools and Supplies

These might vary from job to job, and will depend on what you have on hand, but the basics remain the same.

• Rollers, roller covers with the correct nap for your wall texture, and an extension pole
• 1"- 2" brush for cutting in and small spaces - angled brushes work best
• Paint tray and liners
• Drop cloths and rags
• Painter's tape (the blue tape)
• Spackle paste and a putty knife to fill holes

Prep the Room

This step will protect furniture and floors, plus the finished product will look better and last longer.

• Remove drapes, small furniture, wall hangings, etc.  
• Remove switch plates and hardware, if possible
• Use masking tape or plastic to cover anything you can't remove 
• Small items (like screws) can be covered with vaseline or chapstick (easy to wipe off later)
• Move larger furniture items to the center of the room and cover with a drop cloth 
• Tape off woodwork and make sure plastic dropcloths are taped down securely
• Clean surfaces as needed (wipe off dust and remove loose items or particles) 
• Spackle holes as needed and let dry per directions on container

Paint the Room  

Usually, painting starts with "cutting in" (painting the edges about 2" deep). Then do the ceiling next (if you are painting it), then the walls, and finally the woodwork.

• If you have a steady hand while using a stiff 2" brush, you can skip the tape for cutting in; but be sure to have a damp cloth available for quick wipe-ups
• Use short back-and-forth strokes to apply paint, but always finish with long, smooth strokes 
• Dip your brush about halfway into the paint to avoid glopping up the brush and ruining it
• When using a roller, work in 3 foot sections at a time, rolling a "W" on the wall, then filling in
• Almost any color looks better with a second coat, even if the can says one-coat coverage 
• Make sure the paint is dry before applying the second coat
• Here's a great video with more details on painting a room:
  
  
  
  Click on this link for more tips on painting:
• 47 Tips and Tricks for a Perfect Paint Job 

Clean-up 

This may be the least fun part, but once you've put everything back in the room, you can enjoy the results!

Do let a newly painted room dry or cure for at least 2 weeks before applying any Wall Stickers. Wall decals are great for adding "art" to any room, and they come in 30 different colors. When it's time to change them, wall stickers are easy to remove and won't ruin your wonderful new paint job!

~Sallianne

Update Her Nursery into a Big Girl's Room

She's growing fast and, unbelievably, it's time to update her nursery and make it into a room more suitable for a big girl. Here are a few ideas to inspire you (and her!) as you make the changes that will transform her space.

Use color for all it's worth–and it's worth a lot. It sets a whole different mood and gives you a lot of bang for your buck. What little girl wouldn't love a rainbow-like, color-filled room? But be sure to use a neutral tone (white, cream, tan) somewhere in the room to balance out the brightness.

Little girls and big girls love wall sayings and wall quotes. Let your daughter help you choose the wall decal that suits her perfectly–just click on our website! We have lots of wall stickers for baby girl nursery decor, plus amazing choices that will strike a non-baby mood as you update her space into a big girl bedroom. You might even want to pick more than one!

Is she ready for a little sophistication in her new girl's room? A pretty monogram wall sticker using her own initials is so easy to do–and the appeal is timeless. 

How about making a Chalkboard wall? These are a little more work, but worth it for the years of use it will get and the creative aspect it will add to your girl's room. When she's tiny, you can draw pictures or write on it for her. Then, as she grows, she'll have a ball making her own artistic creations, from a toddler's scribbles to a teen's drawings, poems, lists or goals, or even math equations. And, don't forget to include a bulletin board somewhere in your girl's room for all those special photos and keepsakes. 

Zebra Alphabet with Name

The perfect way to personalize your girl's room is a monogram sticker with her name. This is also a great idea if siblings share a room; it helps them each define their own space. You can even choose a zebra print monogram for some extra fun, or to go along with an animal theme.

Determined to use pink in your girl's room, but don't want it to be too sweet or too pastel-like? Try incorporating some richer tones like browns, charcoal grays, or even black to balance those sweet pink tones. That will add a welcome note of sophistication.

There are loads of ways to make your little girl's room into a big girl's dream come true! Let these ideas inspire you as you transform your baby girl's nursery into a big girl's room she is sure to enjoy for many years to come!

~ Sallianne

Give Your Kitchen a Spring Spruce-Up!

This year, welcome spring with a total kitchen spruce-up! Start with a good cleaning–clear and wipe out all the cupboards and drawers. You might want to work with a checklist so you don't forget any small appliance (or big ones!) or any of those nooks and crannies.

It's easy to add some fresh color to your kitchen with a new coat of paint. Choose a color to add to the warmth and energy, or try bold colors for a modern look.

Need to change that ho-hum backsplash? Turn it into something unusual–maybe even a focal point! Or, for something totally different, remove your cabinet doors, then paint the inside of your cupboards a striking new color! What a creative way to show off your favorite dishes.

Add organization and ease of use to your cupboards this spring with labels for jars and containers! We have some super cute labels made just for this! Chalkboard vinyl was just added to our website and makes for super cute container labels!

Area rug from Pier1

Welcome spring into your home with fresh flowers! Try a dramatic bouquet of flowers in all one color, or maybe all in white. Add a pretty vase and viola– instant spring!

Add to the appeal of flowers by choosing a new floral area rug! Ideal for those whose spring allergies keep them indoors. Choose a rug that complements your home's style at overstock.com, Pier1, and lots of other websites or stores!

Don't miss these 19 amazing ideas to spruce up your kitchen on-the-cheap! This can be a lot of fun, and you'll be amazed at how easy some of them are!

WD717

Remember to add some wall art or kitchen wall stickers to your kitchen's spring makeover! We have some nice dandelion designs that would work well in the kitchen, or try one of our floral tea pot or tea cup wall stickers! 

Let these kitchen decor ideas inspire you to create a fresh new look in your kitchen this spring. Have fun with your spruce-up and styling!
~ Sallianne