Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Framing Kid Clothing And Adding A Few Fun Wall Hooks

This adorable handmade poncho was actually brought back from Peru by my amazing sister-in-law a few years ago (thanks Ali!), and I was literally counting down the days until Clara was big enough to wear it. She has gotten a ton of use out of it over the last few years and it even made it onto the cover of a local mag (it was perfect for the holiday colors they were going for). But alas, Clara’s a growing bean, so it’s a little on the small size these days. Which would ordinarily make me want to cry, but I’ve been planning Phase 2 (aka: Operation Keep This Poncho Forever) for a while. $herdog had plans, yo.

Poncho 3 Close Up

We inherited this acrylic photo frame from John’s mom back when she and John’s dad were cleaning out their closets about a year and a half ago. Yup, this frame with some old art from John’s grade school days has just been hanging out in our crazy messy playroom for over 450 days (she says hanging her head in guilt). But from the moment John’s mom handed it over (and John proclaimed “never do I ever want to see that painting on the wall” I knew it would be a perfect place to memorialize Clara’s special Peruvian Poncho from her Aunt Ali.

Poncho 1 Before

So John and I took one last moment to ooh and ahh over his grade school art, and laugh at the details on the tag (John thinks the assignment was to paint something in nature – hence his 4th grade masterpiece entitled “The Sunrise Flower”).

Poncho 2 John Grade Four

Then I slipped off the acrylic top of the frame (I think places like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby still sell frames like this btw) and flipped the art over. The faded old charcoal colored construction paper actually looked really nice with the ponch – plus it tied into the navy curtains since it was another dark neutral layered in over the lighter and brighter tones going on in the rug and the bed. So I settled on that as the background (I’d planned to grab a large piece of decorative paper or even a yard of fabric to use as the background if the back of the art was a dud, but I ended up loving the understated effect of the paper because it doesn’t compete with the poncho at all).

Poncho 5 Ponch On Black

The back of the frame isn’t in the picture above, but it’s in the picture below (and also the one below this one) which might further explain how the frame fits together. It’s basically just a white cardboard box that slides into the acrylic box front and there are small holes on the back of the cardboard box that allow you to hang it on the wall. It’s nice and light which is a huge bonus. But the sides of this frame had seen better days (they were scuffed and scratched), so I grabbed some white duct tape and folded them around each side of the frame for a nice clean and finished look that wasn’t all banged up and smudged after decades of use and storage

Poncho 4 Duck Taping Edges

Then I laid the paper on top of the newly taped box and placed the ponch down right in the center.

Poncho 6 On Cardboard Backing

The last step was slowly sliding the acrylic front back on (it’s snug enough to hold on its own, so there was no need to tape down the poncho or tape the acrylic front into place). The reason that slowly is a key adjective in that last sentence is that I learned that quickly pushing the top down on the poncho made the fringe blow out and get all crazy looking so it didn’t lay normally (it looked like it was frozen in the middle of a cyclone, so I removed the front, brushed the fringe back down with my fingers, and went back and did it muuuch slower).

Success.

Poncho 8 After Close

For now it’s hanging above her play kitchen to the right of the wall with the postcard shelves but we’re not sure it’ll stay up there alone (sometimes it looks a little too small all by itself, and sometimes we like that it’s a simple singular piece of art to enjoy on that small wall). So we’ll keep you posted. Update: we added a little something else, which looks even more fun in cahoots with the poncho, so we’ll share the pics as soon as we can!

Poncho 7 After Full

Sorry for the lackluster pic, the reflections in the acrylic were killing me, so all the closer ones except for the super angled one above were el stinko. It’s a lot more vibrant in person (where you also don’t see the reflections like you do in a photo). If you scroll up to the first pic, the poncho still reads as that color in real life – and it plays off some of the green tones in the flash cards on the shelves nearby and even in the frame collage art and our new Katie Daisy print on the opposite side of the room.

So now that we’ve gotten to the bottom of the poncho part of this post’s title, what about playing hooky? Well… see those hooks hanging to the right of the closet door?

Animal Hooks 1 From Bed

Let’s get a little closer.

Animal Hooks 2 Closer Up

They’re Anthropologie hooks that were actually passed along to us during the book tour by Jesse and her sweet hubby Rick in Cincinnati (we house crashed them so we were old friends by the time we got to the signing where they were so generously thrusting them into our hands saying “we thought Clara would love them so much”). It was so thoughtful of them, and from the moment I saw the elephant and the giraffe I knew they were right. Clara would love them and they’d be awesome for her big girl room. And the moment she saw them? Let’s just say that the girl might surpass me in ceramic animal love. She’s obsessed with them. She even named them. Meet “Manna.”

Animal Hooks 3 Elephant Detail

And “Bamma.” Yes, those are their names. Manna is awesome about holding almost anything (stretchy necklaces, belts, and even a paint deck that Clara loves sharing with me). And Bamma is currently keeping Clara’s hair bows clipped on leftover ribbon from my gift-wrapping stash.

Animals Hooks 4 Girafe Detail

We hung the bottom one within her reach, so she can play with things on the hooks as well as clean them up/put them back when she’s done – but kept the top one slightly out of her current grasp (although I’m sure she’ll be able to reach it soon enough) in case we want to put something up there that we’d rather get down for her or keep her from tossing all over the room every day, like a bevvy of necklaces and bracelets. I’m sure what they’re holding will change a ton of times, but for now it’s a fun little mix of function and straight up fun (yes, I’m all chest-swelly and proud that my bean loves paint chips and ceramic animals just as much as I do). And see the space on top of the hooks on that sliver of wall? I still have plans for a little piece of homemade art to hang right there (so it balances more with the frame collage on the left of the closet door)…

Animal Hooks 5 From Behind Lamp

We still have some other items on the to-do list of course (getting new sheets for the bed, adding some crown molding, painting or refinishing the dresser, possibly painting the ceiling once the crown goes up, etc). We’ll get there someday I’m sure! And you know we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime are you hanging any hooks or ponchos or using acrylic display boxes that are almost as old as you? Stranger things have happened…

Comments

  4. Jeanna Sanchez says

    I have my son’s art work hanging on the wall that he did in the first grade that I as a momma just adore, but he is now in 4th grade and totally wants me to take it down. I tell him “ok honey I will one day” but I cant bring myself to do it, its a momma thing I guess..

    Reply

  5. AnnMarie says

    Love how this room is shaping up! A friend of mine has a little girl Clara’s age and a baby on the way. She wanted to do the same transition – keep the nursery as is and make a big girl’s room. After her daughter said “…so the baby’s going to take my room?” in a very sad voice, she just couldn’t go through with it! I was just wondering if Clara has questioned the move at all?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Right now she just loves sleeping in her crib but she loves playing in her big girl room and understands that it would be a tight squeeze to bring a bed into her nursery so she’d much rather sleep in the bed in her big girl room when she’s done with her crib! At least that’s what she says all the time. She says when she’s a big girl and wears undies and doesn’t sleep in a crib anymore she gets to sleep in her big girl bed (which she pretends to do all the time) and loves it in there. So we’re trying not to push her and just let her make the transition at her own speed :)

      xo
      s

  6. Louise says

    oh, I’d say you need to enlarge & laminate a pic of Clara’s head and stick it straight to the frame as if she’s wearing the poncho! you could even add movable arms & legs haha! OR (if you are acting like a responsible adult) you could add Clara’s birthday pictures that you post every month and let the collection grow around the poncho as she does? but just using the 12, 24, 36 etc…
    now i’ve gone and inspired myself – must be off now for a lie down in a darkened room lol!

    Reply

  7. GreenInOC says

    So cute – meaningful art is the best!

    Just an idea… change out the closet doors to non-vented and paint them with colored chalkboard paint! You could go traditional green instead of the traditional black but you could also tint or buy it in red, hot pink or navy blue!

    Save the vented doors down in the now beautifully organized basement for when she’s 15 and in the rolling eyes phase!

    Reply

  8. MK says

    Long time reader, first time commenter! Peru is close to my heart, lots of family there! That is my new favorite thing in the room!

    Reply

  9. Pam Jones says

    You might also check out Campus Quilts. They take baby clothes, old t-shirts, ties, etc. and make the cutest quilts. I had a quilt made from my husband’s band t-shirts when he retired after 31 years teaching band! It was really neat and he liked it alot!

    Reply

  10. Heidi S. says

    I love how Clara’s room is coming together, but I am totally jealous of you guys being able to work on her big girl room while she is still in her little girl room. I also really love the animal hooks. We used fox and squirrel metal hooks from Anthropologie a couple of months ago on our new coat rack (although none of them have names yet). I even did a round up of animal hooks (including your elephant).

    http://www.statelykitsch.com/hallway-coatrack-update/
    http://www.statelykitsch.com/animal-coat-hooks/

    Reply

  11. Shannon says

    Love how you mounted and framed the pretty poncho! It has inspired me to frame my husbands old hockey jersey from when he was a little hockey player. I’m also loving the colors in Clara’s room and how you put the old and new together in perfect harmony. Love! Love! Beautiful!

    Reply

  12. Martha says

    Love the poncho :-) Every time I see photos with shots of the orangey-floors I cringe for you! I’m sure it’s a big “down-the-road” project, but I can’t wait to see the floors refinished in the darker tone like your kitchen. The pink rug will look so great against the mocha!

    Reply

  13. Leslie says

    I have ceramic elephant hooks that are almost exactly the same (via Home Goods) in my dressing room… and I’m 27. You’re never too old for elephants.

    Reply

  14. Kate says

    Ive been a long time reader and certainly dont want to be a negative Nancy but I just dont get this room. Empty birdcages hanging from the ceiling? Surely these would have been better suited for the sunroom. and forgive me, but why hang the ledges with the cards over a dresser Clara cannot reach? I actually realy love the idea but maybe a little lower so she can reach/read/look at them? and the daybed?why isnt is against the wall? It looks like it is taking up space where Clara could be playing? Sorry, for all the questions and I dont want to seem so negative- really, but I have a daughter Claras age and was hoping to scoop so inspiration and sadly, this room falls flat for me. I know it is Claras room and you guys love that little doll so much so maybe Im just missing something? Thanks for taking the time to answer all questions tho- Know it cant be easy trying to defend your every move!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I wholeheartedly believe 20 parents would decorate their child’s room 20 different ways! Clara already has TONS of toys/books/flash cards at her disposal, so we didn’t put the ledges where Clara could reach ’em because we didn’t want to be picking up a million flash cards every night after she dumped them all off the shelves! Haha! We can also put things like family pics & Clara art up there without worrying they’ll get ruined or ripped. We also liked the playfulness the birdcages brought to her room more than the idea of them in the sunroom, and while the daybed is around 8″ from the wall (and centered in the room across from her dresser) there’s a ton of room for her to play in the middle of the space – nearly the entire rug is available. We’re so happy with how this room is shaping up – and thankfully so is Clara! :)

      xo
      s

    • ashlie says

      You’re not the only one, Kate. I just don’t get this room. Whatever happened to bringing in the purples and greens from those pillow cases from IKEA?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, I’m sure many people like this room and many don’t! After sharing 2,500 posts, we’ve learned it’s definitely how it goes! We just share what we love in our house, but we definitely recognize that everyone out there wouldn’t do exactly the same thing – and some folks would do everything differently. We’re just so glad that Clara loves this room. She’s the client and we’re so excited she’s happy. Haha! And as for the purples and greens, Clara very clearly stated that she wanted pink and red when we started (they’re her favorite colors) – and even picked out the curtains, selected which flash cards we’re displaying, and even painted some of the art. We’re letting this be her space and we love following her lead :)

      xo
      s

  15. Amanda J says

    Hello! I love the idea of framing the poncho. However, if you ever plan on having someone wear it again (like Clara’s future child) then you would want to make sure that the paper that is touching the poncho is acid free or else the fabric will deteriorate over time. Sorry, just my inner Textile Major coming out. :)

    Reply

  21. Claudia says

    Dang! If I’d known y’all were poncho fans I would have made one instead of that hat! But never fear, my mom is going to visit our relatives in Peru next month ;D

    Reply

  23. Ann says

    I love the framed poncho. It looks like a beautiful work of art. I love your concept of turning meaningful stuff into things you frame so their various memories become part of your daily life. In August my beloved mutt of 12 years was dying of cancer and we scheduled a date to ease him of his suffering. A few days before he died, I cut off a few clumps of his beautiful fur and tied sewing thread around the clumps of hair (each a different color) and framed them. … you guys gave me the idea for that project and I love that I’ll have that for the rest of my life.

    Reply

  24. Nicole Manna says

    Hi there, I’m one of the extremelly nervous/excited folks that you met at NYC’s Flor store earlier this year. I particulary enjoyed today’s post since my brandy new married name (since September)is Manna! My husband was also amused, especially when I called him to tell him and referred to you as simply Sherry and John -no last names, no mention of the site.

    Reply

  25. Carolyn says

    I really, really like the way that you have been walking through the process of designing this room. It helps people like me who are great at copying techniques, but not great about thinking them up in the first place. Your approach has helped me decorate my kitchen and my front room. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Good eye! This was actually shot before the birdcages, which means we hadn’t added the ribbon just yet. Sorry for the out of order-ness! We just thought the birdcages were so much fun we bumped them up to Monday and shared this the next day :)

      xo
      s

  28. Jobee says

    I thought you were going to make a pillow out of the poncho — sew up the neck and bottom and it could have been another pillow for the daybed. It looks great framed.

    Reply

  30. Maribel says

    You’ve mentioned the nursery will always be a nursery for any future bean. Just curious what will you do with the room in the mean time, will it be off limits like a nursery museum LOL In Clara’s new room will she have a reading nook? Her nursery closet is awesome for reading.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You know us- nothing is off limits! Haha! It’ll just be the playroom with some toys and books and stuff in there while she sleeps in the playroom. Basically the same deal as now except she’ll sleep in the bed instead of her crib :)

      xo
      s

  31. qs777 says

    What a cute idea!

    On another note, I was just in Target looking at all of the different colors/designs of duct tape. Thank you for giving me an idea of how I could use it. It is great for someone as paint-challenged as I am. I tend to not spiffy up stuff because I just don’t have a steady hand – or patience – for painting, but duct tape I can do! ;)

    Reply

  33. Louise says

    Clara’s room is coming together beautifully. I love the fact that you use things you already have. You both inspire me with what I want to do in my home. P.S I was so excited when I finally got your book. Thanks so much x

    Reply

  34. Jenn says

    I TRULY hope you have a boy for your next kiddo. All this cuteness in a little girl’s room is killing me because I have a little boy and I’d LOOOOOOOVE to see what you come up with for a boy. Yes, I know, I can try to make the leap but let me say that there are so many cuter things for girls!!!!!!!!!!

    Maybe you want to do a wall or two as a boy’s room for us boy mommies out here??? ;-)

    PS. Of course no matter what, I just wish for good health!

    Reply

  35. Abby says

    I love how her room is coming together! The layered bold prints are making me antsy to redo my boys room. Just curious, did you guys get an organic mattress for her new bed?
    -Abby

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We didn’t, we’re just going to use the mattress we have for that (since it’s around 6 years old it’s not off-gasing anymore) but I think I’ll get an organic mattress pad :)

      xo
      s

  36. Anne says

    Wow, you are really pouring your heart and soul into your little one’s room! So much thought that goes into all those personal touches. I am loving the way this room is coming together!

    Why don’t you take a close-up of John’s painting, shrink it to the size of a piece of paper or so and hang it. It might actually look quite nice when minimized! Oooor print it and have Clara adding “rain” on top. That might look messy, but could potentially end up being pretty cool.

    Reply

  37. Megan says

    I love it!! We bought our little girl something similar during our travels in Peru (we weren’t preggo yet when we went, and just crossed our fingers we’d have a girl at some point. It worked!). We bought it near the Lake Titicaca island which inspired her name (Isla Suasi, her name is Isla), so it has special significance. It’s getting too small for her now, so I might just steal this idea! Thanks!

    Reply

  38. Jenny @ Simcoe Street says

    We are in the midst of setting up kids’ rooms in our new house. We are totally in the early before stages — ugly! But it is so fun to imagine things coming together like this. This room is amazing. We are going to anthropologie to buy those little hooks pronto — my son’s room totally needs them.

    Clara is a lucky gal :)

    And if you feel like perusing some ugly before nursery shots come on over:

    http://simcoestreet.blogspot.ca/

    Jenny

    Reply

  40. essie says

    This is off topic but I was driving through our neighborhood today, while looking at the houses, and I noticed the same exact stool you have in your kitchen on someone’s porch! Just one though and it was totally random! What are the odds!

    Reply

  41. Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says

    How cute and sweet! I had to go back and check out the magazine cover of Clara wearing it. She totally rocks the poncho look. This post is really special to me because we are in the process of adopting a little girl from Peru. I may have to get her and her sister ponchos to remember her heritage and commemorate the trip.
    I don’t have a problem with the poncho hanging on the wall but I can’t help but wonder how a little faux window would look hanging above her kitchen. Possibly with a flower box or something? It’s Clara’s room not mine though.

    Reply

  42. Tania says

    Gosh, I can’t believe after years of reading this blog, I still get such great ideas from you guys! Living in an apartment with a toddler, I’ve been pretty strict about not hanging on too much stuff purely for sentimental reasons but I did keep an adorable pair of her first socks and was wondering what to do with them (other than store them). I think this would be a super sweet project.

    Reply

  43. Erin says

    My mom retired our family christening gown after more than 60 of my aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters, etc. were baptized in it and it was just too fragile to use anymore. She has it beautifully showcased and framed in a shadowbox in the dining room. Recently, my 4-year old niece asked whose dress it was so my mom told her that her dad and all of her aunts and uncles wore it on their christening day. She burst into giggles and now tells everyone that comes into the dining room – “My dad wore that dress!”

    Reply

  45. Tirsa says

    Thanks so much for this post! Just last week I was trying to figure out how to frame a sweet little sweater a coworker brought my son from…. you guessed it: Peru! :) Now I know what I need to look for. Thanks!

    p.s.
    Clara’s poncho looks adorable and it is a great personal touch to the room.

    Reply

  46. Evelyn says

    I am a big fan of your blog (and your book!) and really love all the design choices (especially the backs of the built-ins in the dining room, loooooove). Maybe I’m missing something, but did you intent for Clara’s room to feel so grown-up? I’m not suggesting cartoon themed sheets or anything, but (aside from the obvious toys like play kitchen)it looks like a room for a 13 year old, not a little girl. I am totally all about “growing into your space” and think it’s nice that she won’t age out too quickly, but contrasted with the nursery which was so sweet, this feels a bit sterile.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, I guess between the wall of colorful flash cards, the kid-painted art in her gallery of frames, the whale plates, and the ceramic animal hooks and moose lamp it all feels really “Clara” and not like a teen’s room at all to us! Even the birdcages feel imaginative and childlike to us (many nurseries and kids rooms have birds and trees so we saw the birdcages as an extension of that). The pink polka dot rug and the zigzag bedding and the daybed itself feel kid-ish to us too (maybe because a lot of her preschool friends have white daybeds with bright bedding and bold rugs too). We’re definitely not done though, so a fun color on the ceiling, which is still on the agenda, might help you see the playfulness if it’s hiding from you :)

      xo
      s

  47. Libby says

    Great idea, and I love how you reused John’s 4th grade picture for Clara’s poncho frame. Practical and nostalgic. Now I wish I’d never thrown away away a similar frame I had.

    Reply

  49. Nat says

    Although I love how you guys use sentimental pieces as decoration around the home, I’m eager to see Sherry tackle some Art with a capital A. I’ve seen her craft and tape off canvases to have a cool looking abstract color pieces, but knowing she has an art degree has me wanting to see maybe a legit painting from her. Maybe a landscape? A still life of a ceramic animal?

    Reply

  50. coco plum says

    i don’t know where else to share this so it is going here on the comments page. my home page is set to BBC news and as it appeared today…so did the three of you!! i was so excited!! it’s so great to see you guys achieve so much, i was so proud and i only know you from your blog! your mamas must be beaming. here is the link in case somehow you don’t already know.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21302969

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks! Yep, the BBC folks emails us the link when it went up. We’re so happy with how it turned out. They really made blogging look quite dynamic with all of their little animations and stuff!

      -John

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