Rise and Shine

Yes, I'm still working on the kids room redo. I know, it's been two months since I started reworking the space, and a month since I unveiled phase one. Well, the problem is - aside from the fact that I have a full-time day job, two young kids and this lovely blog that I post to daily - that I've been getting distracted by all the fun projects for other rooms and events that have come along. Between Halloween costumes, updates to our bedroom, and decor changes in the living room, I haven't had the time to make those final updates.

So I finally buckled down last week and spent some time solely focused on the kids room. First, I found them a new bedside table, which I got for a steal at $15 at the thrift store (dovetail joinery, midcentury stamp and all.) Bad news is that it needs a fresh coat of love so it's not quite ready to move in:

So while I waited for color inspiration to strike, I came across these fun Urban Outfitters pillowcases that I thought would be a great addition to the kids' beds:

I was about to add them to my shopping cart when I had a familiar thought: was there a way to DIY these at home and avoid the wait time and shipping costs? I thought about embroidery, but my sewing machine isn't equipped. I thought about silk screening, but I don't know how (although I hope to teach myself soon.) Then I remembered the iron on transfer paper that I had used to make a t-shirt design once. That could work. I played around in Microsoft Word with some fonts and some shapes, and came up with something like this:

Not exactly the same, I know, but considering my lack of graphic design ability and the fact that I made it in MS Word, I don't think it's too bad. I decided that the transfer paper was my best course of action for a professional looking product, so I set off to Staples to pick up the paper, and then to Target for a new set of white pillowcases. Only $16 later I had both in my posession and was ready to go. While the pillowcases washed and dried I printed the letters out (be sure to create a mirror image of the letters first so they won't be backwards when you lay them facedown on the fabric and iron them on.)

Then I cut each letter out with a small pair of scissors - I won't lie, this part was time consuming, but listening to a familiar movie in the background (in my case yesterday, Tootsie) helps pass the time.

Then I ironed the pillowcases and got the letters ready for ironing. Be sure to follow the instructions included with the transfers for this part - extra hot iron, no steam, solid surface, etc. I slowly, carefully and completely ironed each letter down and then set the pillowcases aside to cool.

After about five minutes I started to peel the backing off and was so relieved to see the result - bright, clean-edged letters securely affixed to the fabric.

I popped the pillows into the cases and admired my handiwork. The kids love them too, and although they asked to sleep on them, I think it's best to use them more for decoration since I'm not sure how they'll hold up to preschool drool.

This was such a fun little project! I'm ready to do some more iron-ons - anyone have any good ideas? Oh, and I decided on a color for the bedside table and made some great progress on them. Check back soon for the after.