Chances are, if you’re anything like me, you probably have a collection of clothes you’re kids have outgrown that you don’t want to get rid of. My kids have t-shirts from kindergarten signed by all their classmates, t-shirts from camp, t-shirts they got as gifts from grandparents who travel, etc.  This week, the editor of the magazine that I work for shared a wonderful DIY project that immediately made me think of those shirts. This simple DIY project turns old t-shirts into throw pillows.

I love the idea of turning t-shirts into useable decor pillows. They could be used as accent pillows in the kids’ rooms, the play room or the family room so instead of taking up space in the closet where no one gets to see them, they become unique, one of a kind accent pieces that you showcase in your home.

As your children get older, the pillows can become a great keepsake of their own childhoods that they can take with them as they grow up and move out. Pillows made from your favorite baby clothes could become accent pillows in their own baby’s nursery for example.

T-shirt pillows are also a great way to display shirts of your own. For example – if you’re a music fan – you probably have a collection of concert memorabilia that includes concert tickets, concert posters, tour t-shirts and the like.  You can create a unique family room that shares your love of music without spending a fortune by displaying tickets and posters as artwork and turning tour t-shirts into throw pillows.  For sports fans, a collection of old team jerseys from your favorite team or your own game days will make your game room ready for the next big game day!  For the travel enthusiast, t-shirts collected from different places you have visited become pillows that tell the story of your adventures.

For complete project instructions to make your own t-shirt pillow click here.

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This year for Christmas, we are redoing our children’s bedrooms. One of the things we have planned are custom headboards. They are flat headboards that will be painted with blackboard paint and then we will stencil designs along the top to “pretty” it up. Once they are up, they will be able to color on them with chalk, decorate them as they wish. I am very excited about the headboards, I love the idea of putting interactive aspects into a children’s room so that they can fill the room with their own creativity. There are so many great ways to do this!

1. Black Board Paint! This paint creates a blackboard finish that children can color on with chalk. You can paint a piece of furniture like our headboard, an entire wall, the bottom half of a wall with a chair molding seperating it from the top, or use moldings to create a blocked of shape on different parts of the room. This works for younger children to because if they forget to stay on the blackboard area, chalk still wipes off fairly easily. There is also paint available that creates a white dry erase surface if you prefer.

2. Magnetic Primer – another great product, this primer is applied under your paint and it has tiny pieces of metal in it so magnets will stick to if after it is applied. This allows them to play with magnet sets all over their walls.

3. Color-on-me Wallpaper – like the Jon Burgerman wallpaper shown here, this lets your child color their own wall! Probably better for older children who color fairly well and would understand the different between coloring on the wallpaper and coloring on any wall.

4. Give Them Some Freedom! – If you have a teen or preteen with an artistic or creative interest, don’t bother with expensive new furnishing. Instead, invest in some used pieces, brushes and craft paint and let them at it. Let them personalize each piece with their own unique designs. Perhaps you might let them have go at their walls as well. Before you start, lay out some ground rules. If there are specific things that must be left untouched (only paint on a specific wall, no paint on the floor, etc) or other guidelines (no profanity, etc) set those out up front, and then allow your teen the freedom to take it from there. You don’t have to love it – they do:)

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I love meme’s and I thought it would be fun to build a meme or two into my section here on Moms In A Blog but I had a heck of a time finding ones that would work. That is, until I find BlogMomma’s Tuesday Tip Jar! Love it! So – here is my first crack at the Tuesday Tip Jar.

For today, I thought I would do a few simple tips for adding color to your decor. Color has been growing more and more popular over recent years, and if you have a more neutral color scheme in your home, here are a few simple and affordable ways that you can add a punch of color to your home.

1. Throw in the pillow. A few bright colors throw pillows on the bed, or on the couch, add a nice punch of color to any room!
2. Flames & Flowers! Silk bouquets and candles are both great ways to add color to your decor, and if you decide to change the color, they aren’t that hard to replace either. Picture frames and other decor accessories can also add a nice punch.
3. Paint a wall! Paint is cheap if you’re only doing one wall, and one colored wall makes a huge impact! Or – paint a door!
4. Get artistic. A bright art piece will also go a long way in any room

So there you have it – my first Tuesday Tip Jar:) If you have a Tip Jar post on our blog, please leave me a comment and let me know so I can come check it out!

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September is here, and it’s back to school, back to work, back to schedules and routines. As our children get back into perfecting their ABC’s I thought we would study the ABC’s of Decor! Over the next two months, I am going to talk about each letter of the alphabet and a related decor theme, product, idea or design.

For A, I choose antiques. The term “antique” is really a very broad range of items, ideas and styles. Antique decor could be a retro vintage design or a classic Victorian, depending on your personal style. Antiques have many appealing properties. They bring us memories of simpler times, transporting us into ages gone by. They may be heirlooms, carrying with them years of precious family memories. They are unique – giving your decor something you know your friends won’t have. They are also often a frugal choice, especially if you know how to fix them up yourself. Antiques are also environmentally friendly – reusing old furniture means less new production and less landfill trash!

Antique decor many include everything from an antique collection on display to a full scale decor scheme from a particular era. There are many great ways to find antiques to charm to your current decor.

1. Antique Shops
2. Flea Markets
3. Garage Sales
4. Estate Sales
5. Auctions
6. Thrift Shops
7. Classified ads & Specialty publications
8. Network with like-minded collectors online (chat, forums, message boards, etc)
9. e-Bay
10. Older relatives (their trash may be your next treasure)

Do you have any antique decor items in your home right now? Don’t say no to quickly. I was going to say that I don’t yet, but actually I do! Just last year, my mother gifted me her treasured paino, a upright grand piano from around 1890. It’s gorgeous, and has great sentimental value as well. It fits so well into my overall decor that I forget about it’s age!

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It’s Back To School season right now, with most children either just getting back into school or preparing to in the coming weeks. As part of our Back To School feature, I am working on a series called the Decorators ABC’s. Over the month of September, I plan on bringing 26 posts – one for each letter of the alphabet – related to home decor.

So – here is where I need your input. I have to find a theme, item or word that works for each letter of the alphabet! SO – leave me a comment with you suggestions! If I use one of your suggestions, I will include your name and link in that post for some linky love to say thank you:)

So – let’s brainstorm:

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

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When planning a functional bedroom for your teen, there are several things to consider. Their tastes and personal style, your budget, the intended use of the room, etc. There are four key functions that need to be addressed in the planning stages: sleeping, storage, studying and socializing. The 4 S’s:)

Sleeping: Obviously a primary function of any bedroom, this is probably the easiest of the four areas to plan for. If you have a limited space, space saving solutions like loft beds and futons are perfect for a teen. A loft bed opens the space below for other functions, while a futon doubles as part of the social area when they are awake.

Storage: A teen has a number of different storage needs that need to be considered. This may include clothes, keepsakes, cd’s and dvd’s, books, special collections, hobby and sports supplies, etc. This list will vary for each teen and their specific interests. There are many options for storage in a teen room including the standard dresses, storage cubes, closets, etc. If you have limited space, make ultimate use of your closet space. A good closet organization system will allow you to eliminate the need for a dresser, freeing up space in the bedroom for other functions. Under-the-bed storage and wall mounted shelves are also great ways to add storage without using up much space.

Studying: As much as they hate it, study is part of most teen lives and so that needs to be considered. When planning this function of the room, you need to first decide where they will study. On their bed? At a desk? In another room? If so, do you still need a desk space for hobbies, etc? What about equipment? Will they need a computer or other equipment or will that be provided elsewhere? How will this study area stay organized? And last but not least, lighting! Proper lighting in the area of the room intended for study is very important to be effective.

Socializing: Social interaction is a vital part of teen development and providing an inviting, safe place for that interaction to occur is an essential part of parenting your teen. Use and comfort are both important to consider. Do you want your teen and their friends to be able to play video games or watch tv in the room, or would you prefer to keep that to a family room? When they are in the room, visiting or playing games, where will they sit? What about sleepovers? Futons, pull out beds, bean bag chairs, and small sofa’s are just a few of the many great options for a teen room. I like things like futons that provide for both socializing during the day and extra sleeping space when needed.

Bedroom shown available from Target. Free Shipping on Select Furniture at Target.com

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