I did it. I finally completed Clara’s closet stamping project (you know, the one I started here)! And yes, if you couldn’t tell from the title, I made a potato stamp. It was actually really fun. Don’t roll your eyes. It was. And it was free. In fact this entire project cost me 99 cents since I used one tube of Folk Art Paint in Champagne (a soft and pretty metallic gold color) and two potatoes that we already had (never thought I’d list potatoes as existing DIY materials). As for landing on a pattern, last week I shared how my first idea, a $1 rubber stamper from Michael’s, didn’t work (the rubber stamp pattern was too fine, so it didn’t read at all in person (although in the photo it wasn’t as hard to see):
And then I moved on to a few freehand painted attempts like imperfect horizontal lines, x’s (aka: kisses), and random little rows of dots made by squishing a small craft paintbrush against the wall:
As for my potato stamps, I just tried a few shapes that I did my best to freehand (from a weird little quatrefoil-ish thing to a star and a bee-hive-ish hexagon). As for the bottom right stamp, I saw this on Pinterest (originally from here), and decided to give it a try. I just carved a circle first (using the top of a salad dressing bottle as a guide) and then made little pizza-slice slivers around it to leave the asterisk-like shape.
I also saw this celery stencil idea on Pinterest (originally from here) and gave that the ol’ college try too:
Then it was time to test all of my “stampers” out on paper with the Folk Art metallic paint (in champagne) just to see how they did:
Out of all the potential patterns, the little starburst circle one was our favorite. So off to the closet I went, just to see how it would look on the wall.
I learned that it worked a lot better if I brushed the paint onto the potato with a small craft store brush (so I could remove the excess and prevent globs) as opposed to stamping it into my plate of paint (like you would with a rubber stamper).
Here’s a good shot of how the paint looks really metallic from certain angles. So soft and pretty.
After about an hour I had done the wall with the door on it and about a fourth of the adjoining wall to the left as you face it. Then I had to pause for a Clara nap and the rest of the day got away from me. But she did love the part that I had done once she woke up from her nap:
No worries, I thought. I’ll just finish it tomorrow. But in the morning I realized something that sent me into a mild to moderate potato panic. My stamp had sort of withered overnight. Not too crazy like a raisin or anything, but the whole potato was substantially less firm than it was the day before. More like a sponge than a solid stamp. But I decided to give it a try just to see how it worked out (while holding my breath and crossing my fingers/toes/eyes). My method had to change slightly (since the edges weren’t as flat as they once were, I had to gently rock my wrist back and forth and up and down as I pressed it down to ensure that all of the starburst tips got applied to the wall). But miracle of all miracles it still worked.
So onward I pressed. Literally. I must have pressed that potato into the wall 500 times. But it was surprisingly soothing. I know you’re rolling your eyes again, but there are some projects that are extremely tedious that I’m not a fan of (heck, painting the closet was totally boring) but for some reason I got into a nice little rhythm with my potato and my paint brush so it was kind of nice. Brush paint on, press while gently rocking wrist back and forth, move over a few inches, repeat. Oh and as for my spacing, I just eyed everything, but each stamp is about 5″ away from the next one and I just applied staggered horizontal rows so if you connected the dots it would make a ton of zig-zag chevrons.
I decided as I was stamping to the oldies (yes, I had Pandora on) that it was as good a time as any to think back about the last almost-15 months with the bean. So I sat/crouched/stood in there stamping my heart out and thinking about hilarious blowouts and first words and lost socks and restaurant meltdowns and all the other good/bad/ugly/amazing parenting stuff that has come been flung our way since Clara joined the family. Not a bad way to spend two hours.
And guess what? Once it was dry and I granted Clara some closet clearance, she was so excited! She literally wanted to point to every last shiny stamp that was in there and squeal “stah!” (her version of star).
The total time spent on the project (including various rubber stamper/potato/celery experiments and two installments of stamping) came to around three and a half hours. So worth it for the magical little subtly metallic reading nook we’re on our way to creating.
Next, we added the white shelving systems back in (that we removed before painting):
And finally I loaded in all of her clothes, toys, and blankets. I even tossed down a fluffy faux sheepskin rug from Ikea and some pillows that we already had while adding some of her favorite board books to the little Clara-level corner shelves:
I still want to DIY a beanbag (I’ve pinned lots of tutorials and ideas) but it’s pretty darn sweet in there already. And Clara had some fun taking it for a test ride. I think she likes loves it.
As for John’s impression, this convo ensued:
Me: It’s cool, huh? What do you think?
John: Yeah, it’s really Sweet Sixteen in there.
Me: What does that mean? It’s cheesy? Over the top?
John: No you know… (long pause)… expensive. Like the Louis Vuitton cakes they get. It’s really cool.
Sherry: Huh? (equally long pause) This might be our strangest conversation to date.
I’m so glad we all love it (even if some of us don’t really know how to put that love into words coughJohncough). And even my cheap-o work-with-what-you-have self is kind of shocked at the difference that 99 cents and 3.5 hours made in there (well, more like 5 hours if you count the closet-painting phase too).
Ok, so who’s surprised that I got all old school and made a potato stamp? I totally had flash backs of middle school while doing it. Who out there has stamped a wall instead of just painting or stenciling it? I must say there’s a surprising freedom to it since you don’t have to carefully place the stencil and make sure that there’s no paint on the back of it and that nothing gets smeared or anything. You just eye it and go. And it kind of looks like handmade wallpaper (imperfect, but kind of perfect because of that). This might be one of my favorite solo projects that I’ve done in the new house. Just because it’s from me to the bean with love. And quite possibly because it inexplicably reminds John of an expensive Louis Vuitton cake. Sometimes it’s the little things…
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
I love the way the stamp turned out! It’s so sweet and perfect for a little girl. The reading nook is absolutely perfect. I think she’ll enjoy that space for a long time. :)
Wendy says
Great job Sherry!
I went the potato stamp route a few years back for our annual Halloween party invitation. I hand carved a pumpkin, and like you, with a craft store brush applied a burnt orange paint. We were thrilled with the results, and it’s “one of a kind” art too! :-)
Adriane Wacker says
What a great idea…and I love the stamp you chose. Isn’t it fun to see how kids react to things like that! My husband and I had a conversation the other day about how you should paint “odd” spaces, the closet being one of them!
jess says
I love it! Such a fun space for Clara. The potato stamp takes me back to the old days too… so beautiful and such a great idea!
Randa says
Beautiful! And your girl has the cutest eyebrows ever!
Alisa says
I’m totally taking my own suggestion and will be using a potato stamp on our nursery walls. I can’t believe how beautiful it turned out!
Crystal says
It looks so sweet and subtle. Love the added rug and pillows…perfect touch.
cw says
What a creative and eco-friendly idea. I’e often been tempted to do something similar. Did you find the “stamp” getting mushy or losing it’s shape over time?
YoungHouseLove says
Other than getting a bit less firm over night, it was all good. I would definitely recommend trying to do it all in one sitting after carving the stamp if you can!
xo,
s
Jess says
i love it, sherry! so fun and unexpected! :) i have a question non-decor related. what type of shoes do you like to get for clara? do you think they need to be quality, or do you think walmart/target shoes are ok?! i like the ones she has on! my daughter is about to start walking, so i was just wondering.
YoungHouseLove says
We actually have all hand-me-down shoes (most of them from Stride Right if that helps) since she has so many 2 year old cousins who pass things down.
xo,
s
Alyssa says
Jess, not that you asked for anyone else’s opinion but Sherry’s, but I wanted to comment:) I would HIGHLY reccomend Stride Right for shoes for your little one. I don’t work there or anything, but I feel very stronly about their quality and customer service! The employees (here in WI at both the outlet and the store in the mall) are very knowledgeable about the shoes and what is best for any age. It’s not just about finding the rght size, as they will tell you, the longer you can keep your little one in soft(er) soled shoes, the better. This is because their muscles are still growing and developing and you don’t want something confining for their feet. I will admit that the price tags were a bit hard to swallow at first, but then I realized the importance in making sure my son’s feet were comfortable since he couldn’t tell me that. And sometimes they have sales and BOGO 1/2 off sales, so that helps too. Ok, that’s my soapbox for the day:)
Jessica M. says
I have to agree-not that you asked but we recently got our 12 month old fitted for Stride Rite shoes & love them! The lady mentioned keeping socks on all times & make sure they get re-measured every so often (can’t remember how long) to ensure the shoes fit properly. I personally haven’t been a fan of the cheap-o shoes because I don’t want her precious feet to get messed up but that’s just me. Also, we keep her barefoot when in the house so she can use her monkey toes to grip the floor better than in shoes.
Jess says
awesome! thanks everyone for the great tips! i love this web site :) bringing people together!
Amanda@reno366 says
My favorite part of this post is Clara’s romper. Super cute!
YoungHouseLove says
Old Navy on sale! Love that thing!
xo,
s
Kim S says
Wow, I’ve got closet envy! Not ONE of the closets in our house is painted anything but the original builder beige, and our house is 17 years old!
annabelvita says
It looks so beautiful and I love that you thought about Clara all the way through doing it. Some slightly repetitive things do just put you in just the right medititve mood to have a good old ponder about something.
Your pictures of Clara have been particularly stunning lately, has anything changed in the way you take them? (I mean, she’s as cute as ever but the pictures seem more pro).
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh we got a new lens that we sometimes use for Clara now! It’s the Nikon D3000 version of the Nifty Fifty (it’s a 50 millimeter lens made for our version of camera since the normal Nifty Fifty doesn’t work with D3000s).
xo,
s
Lynn @ SafeBeauty says
It turned out so purdy! I audibly gasped when you said the potato kind of withered overnight. I’m so dramatic sometimes. Most times. ;o) Before school starts this year we are surprising our two wee ones with Extreme Bedroom Makeovers and sending them away to their Aunt and Uncles for a weekend. I was thinking of doing beanbag chairs, but they are getting kinda pricey I’m realizing. Still trying to figure out a way to make em on the cheap though. Any tips?
My best, Lynn
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I’ve seen some at places like HomeGoods or Target for around $15 and you might just be able to use them or use them for filler and use the fabric covering as a template to sew your own cover! I also pinned a bunch of tutorials on Pinterest. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
DebInNYC says
It came out a lot better than I thought it would. You lost me with the xxx pattern but this, I LOVE. It is a great little spot for the bean!
Melissa @ HOUSEography says
Soooo cute! Can’t wait to see your bean bag making tutorial. One suggestion would be a couple of hooks because that will also make a great dress-up closet. I have a low bar in the closet for my daughter’s dress-up dresses which she loves. But hanging them on hooks would be even easier. Believe it or not, you are probably less than 6 months from the beginning of the dress-up phase!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh that’s cute!
xo,
s
JoAnne says
Love the new little reading nook for Clara! My biggest question is how do you keep her closet so clutter-free?? My son is 13 months and his closet is very organized, but packed with stuff that we’re saving for (hopefully) #2: infant tub, bouncy seat, outgrown toys, blankets etc. Do you store things like that (I remember you don’t have a baby tub) elsewhere?
YoungHouseLove says
All of our number two stuff that’s not currently in use is in big tupperware bins that we keep sealed in the attic. We labeled them with things like “newborn stuff” and “6-12 months” so we hopefully can be organized about bringing it back down when the time comes.
xo,
s
Katie @ explanationrequired says
I love how it came out, and John’s right. It does look rather expensive. I totally get you finding painting relaxing. This past Friday (for the Pinterest Challenge) I painted over 1000 Xes on my wall. It took about 7 hours. And I enjoyed every minute.
http://explanationrequired.blogspot.com/2011/08/cross-stitch-wall-art-pinterest.html
YoungHouseLove says
Completely and utterly amaaaaazing! I’m in love.
xo,
s
Claire says
Your cross-stitch wall art is really wonderful! I wish I had flat walls to try it out myself!
Rachel H. says
WOW! Katie, that is so cool!!!
Eilene says
I love it. I got little goose bumps too! My grandmother started to make me an embroidered bed set when I was a baby. She never got to finish it, but the flowers are exactly like that. I still have the unfinished peice. If I ever have a little girl I want to do this!
Roshni says
truly truly amazing!!!! Whew! The amount of effort you must have put in but so worth it, I’m sure!!
Summer says
Whoa… that is AMAZING! I love it and can’t wait to try it ay my house.
Anna says
I’m in love with this! I love cross stitching so this really speaks to me. Adding it to my “things-to-do-when-I-buy-a-house-someday” list. Great job!
Nancy says
Looks really sweet! That looks like a comfy spot for her on the floor! Love it!
Megan says
It looks really good! I like the subtle look to it but still adds some shine – it makes me think of those walls you see that are painted in flat with a stencil or free hand design done in the shiny version of the same color. I wish my daughter had a closet that big! :) Clara looks so happy reading, not to mention adorable sitting there with the pillows and rug!
Diana says
I just want to know how you hand-carved that intricate starburst design. I think that might be beyond my knife skills!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no it wasn’t that hard! First I cut out a circle (using the cap of a salad dressing bottle as a guide) and then I made sort of an asterisk shape with my knife without pressing in too hard and then I cut little slivers around it (like thin pizza slices) and left the rest to make that starbust shape. I even used a big chunky knife (a smaller one would have probably been much easier). You can do it!
xo,
s
Diana says
Thanks, Sherry. That does make it sound somewhat easier. I was thinking of doing something similar behind some bookcases.
Katie Blais says
I love it! it has a sort of 50’s or 60′ retro feel … like it should be Doris Day’s room or something ;) and I might need to steal this potato stamp idea in the future.
Lori M. says
I love it! So beautiful! Oh, and I guess by “accident” the pillows and rug go perfectly!
Radhika Paruchuri says
So Pretty! Love the stamp and love how the closet looks!
Sarah says
What happened to the ribbon chandy? Or am I just missing it in these pics.
YoungHouseLove says
Grr, so mad at myself. When I loaded in the clothes/books/pillows/etc I forgot to hang it. So after I took all the pics I hung it up. I’m an airhead.
xo,
s
Sarah says
Haha I thought maybe you were ironing it!
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, haha – it’s still unironed!
xo,
s
Ann Marie says
So sweet! What a pretty place to sit on the floor with a book.
Lindsey @ A Pear to Remember says
The stamp itself is incredibly impressive, but Clara’s outfit + Clara reading in her nook is the very best. Surely her being at the stage of recognizing this special project makes it all the more worthwhile.
oh Sher, you’re sure a stah.
Allison Jag says
Love it! :) Also, have you ever noticed – Clara’s last outfit it very reminiscent of Sue the Napkin, just with gray instead of yellow! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Totally! When I bought it I thought “this is Sue’s little sister Sally” – haha.
xo,
s
my honest answer says
I loved it. Until John said Louis Vitton. Now that’s all I can see!
No really, it looks great in there.
Mila @ loftyappetite says
haha I totally know what John means, that’s a serious diva closet and I am totally jealous!! I don’t even have a closet that classy looking… maybe my bf won’t mind if I paint my half of the walk-in pink with gold stars…
Amy S says
I love it!! I’m trying to figure out a spot where I can use this idea. Great job!
Wom-mom Ethne says
Potato stamps definitely work. How many projects does it make that you’ve made from Pinterest pins now? I’m at about 3 (not that many, but we haven’t been pinning all that long either).
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I don’t know if this counts as a pinterest project since I just pinned fabric with a starburst pattern (and not a potato stamp project) but if you could this I think I’m up to five? Our of 390 or so. Haha. Oh well, won’t stop me from pinning even more! Haha.
xo,
s
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
Awesome! I need to find something to potato stamp…After I complete the million projects I want to do after the Pinterest challenge! :)
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
Ha! Sweet sixteen. Cracked me up. I think it looks fabulous. It’s equal amounts sweet sixteen and baby, without seeming over the top. And, it’s perfect that Clara loves it. What a great way to spend 3+ hours.
Julie says
Love it. What a creative idea.
Julie
ilikebeerandbabies.blogspot.com
Seriously Sassy Mama says
What a perfect little space for a sweet little girl. Pinterest is the best place for ideas.
PS, Is that a tension rod being used as a curtain rod for the curtain in the closet?
PSS, My girls saw your ribbon hanger, and we are making some next week for their rooms.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s actually a thin metal curtain rod (from Home Depot for like $4) but it screws in on each side for even more “hold” since I was afraid anything tension could get yanked down by Clara. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy @ this DIY life says
It looks sooo cute! When you posted the first time, I should have told you this when I read the first post about stamping, but I figured you were done with the stamping thing. I’ve already chastised myself :( Don’t worry, there’s a point. Stamping with paint is so easy! I’ve done it quite a few times and found that the easiest way to apply the paint is to create a stamp pad of sorts. Take a styro plate and put your paint on it. Then take a piece of muslin fabric, wet it and flatten it out over the top of the paint. That lets just enough paint to get through and onto the stamp. Plus you don’t have to stop and paint each time. I’ve tried it many ways and that one is the easiest. Sorry I didn’t share it sooner, but maybe it will help someone else.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s an awesome tip for next time!
xo,
s
Couple A Saving says
Beautiful. I cant get over the change it makes.
KC says
Wow. I want a closet like that for ME!! Did her closet come with the shelving, or was that something you guys installed? We just moved to a new house (in need of some DYI work)…especially more functional closet storage. Are shelves hard to install…or is there something easier you would suggest?
YoungHouseLove says
That shelving was actually all there already (her room was an office for the former owners so they used the shelving for files and paper and office supplies.
xo,
s
Dina says
KC, I’ve installed shelving like that in our mudroom closet (except with wire shelves, since they came as part of a whole “track shelving” system). It’s actually pretty easy, it only took me a few hours doing it all by myself (and my shelves were a lot bigger, in a much narrower space). You could probably do it even faster if you have someone to help. The most time-consuming part really was measuring/planning – ideally you want to screw the tracks into studs, so they can hold as much weight as possible, and simultaneously space them far enough apart that the brackets provide even support across the whole shelf). Good luck!
KC says
Thanks Dina!
Lauren says
Clara looks so tall in that picture! How cute she is and your family is beautiful :)
mandy madison says
OK this is adorable…but my favorite part of the post is sweet Clara! She is so beautiful!
Christin says
Wow! that closet/reading nook is fabulous. I always wanted something like that when I was a kid and made a few attempts, but nothing like this. Great vision. It’s beautiful and I hope Clara enjoys it for years to come!
Dianne says
OMG it’s totally cute. GREAT JOB!!!! So does this count towards your pinterest challenge. :)
Dianne
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- I don’t know. I think it’s a stretch since I just pinned a fabric shape on Pinterest and not a potato stamping project or anything like that.
xo,
s
Callie says
Yum I loooove it! I totally know what John means about it looking expensive – especially the 2nd to last photo with Clara enjoying her closet, looks like something right out of a magazine! =)
Carrie says
You have inspired me to paint my plain white always to cluttered and much to small closets. It they are pretty maybe it will distract me from them being tiny. :)
Pip says
What a great effect! And how lovely to have a bit of mummy meditation while you worked :) I wonder if mr potato stamp would have stayed fresh in a glass of water in the fridge overnight? Not that the point of spud stamps is longevity!
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah- I just left it out on the counter, so I wondered if I had refrigerated it if that would have been better.
xo,
s
Keish says
I wondered that too. Keeping potatoes in cold water usually keeps them crispy. It would have to be dried well afterwards though so you wouldn’t water down the paint. Love the potato walls!! :)
Catherine says
I love, love that big closet for baby girl! What a fun space for her to grow up in. I LOL’d at John’s comment, but really, she’ll probably still love it when she’s 16 :)
Courtney says
I am so jealous of Clara’s closet/reading nook! There was definitely a 5-year span during which I longed for exactly that, future bean bag chair included. Lucky girl! (for her closet and her thoughtful parents)
Dina says
I love this project! When I was a kid I loved finding little secret nooks and hiding places to read a book in… I bet this is going to be Clara’s favorite spot in the house as she gets older! We’re expecting our first child (a girl) in just under 12 weeks now, and I’m obsessed with building a reading nook/hideout like this in the big closet in her room. So I have a question about the shelving you have in Clara’s closet – I can find track shelving at Lowe’s and Home Depot, but it always comes with wire shelves, not solid wooden ones. Do you know where I can find ones like yours? Or do you think I just need to have some lumber cut? Also, I don’t know if you’ve seen this project, but I’m drooling over it: http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/2010/06/when-is-closet-not-closet-when-it-is.html. My DIY-challenged self has never built anything as complicated as that, but I am so inspired by your closet project and hers that I want to try building a little bench for our daughter too!
YoungHouseLove says
Woah- that link is amazing! Wow. As for the shelving we have, it just looks like cut lumber from Lowe’s or HD or something. The brackets are those metal ones with a track on the wall. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Alisa says
I’ve bought track shelving at Home Depot and I buy the tracks and shelves separately so I’m not stuck with those wire shelves. I want to say they’re made of MDF and I always buy the primed kind so I can just throw them up on the wall and not worry about painting them. I’m pretty sure the brand I’ve used is ClosetMaid.
Corinne says
Soooo cute! I like it a lot and Clara looks like she is loving it;)
Andrea says
Love it. I’ve been wanting to do something like this on the curtains in my daughter’s room. They’re a solid turquoise, and I love the color, but there’s just too much turquoise going on. Thanks for showing me how great a subtle stamp looks!