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…
Jordan G @ The Happy Homebodies says
I love the way this came out! It looks like polka dots, and I love all things polka dots. It’s perfect for a sweet little girl’s closet/reading nook!
Amber says
The closet turned out so cute! I love the look of the gold starbursts against the soft pink. From a distance they look like golden polka dots which is just as cute. Well done with your potato stamp! And it looks like Clara loves her new reading nook so mission accomplished :)
Kacie says
What a cute, organic way to add some texture. I totally love that. I also love the curtain. Nice job.
Kacie
http://www.acollectionofpassions.blogspot.com/
heartartz says
oh..just had an idea!
If you sew … how about buying some champagne metallic fabric and (making a new same potato stamp) stamp it with pink sunburst/star/daisy stamp..kinda the reverse!
heartartz says
oops forgot …. stamp yardage before you sew!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a really cute idea!
xo,
s
ruthie says
This has nothing to do with stamps, but a friend and I are totally heading to the worlds longest yard sale this weekend! Wish us luck! Have you heard of it? http://www.127sale.com
It’s a DIY’ers paradise!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh! I’m so jealous! Have so much fun!
xo,
s
Hilary says
Been ‘stalking’ for a while now. I love it! So girly!! And what a cozy spot for a reading nook. Awesome.
Jenn says
I have to say; I wasn’t too sure about this, but I LOVE how it turned out. Great reminder that subtle changes can really add a lot to a space. Great job!
Kirsten says
So sweet! We’ve been experimenting with various kinds of sparkle for our daughter’s room – putting this on the “to try” list for sure!
Becky Jo says
In the house my family lived in when I was about 10 until I was 16, the entrance to the crawling-room-only attic was in my closet. Even though there were loose boards and nails poking out from the sides, I would love to bring a book and a flashlight in there to read. If it got too stuffy in there, I woud just sit in a corner of my regular little closet until the mood left. I was (maybe still am?) also a huge fan of blanket forts for reading in! I love that you’ve thought ahead and made the space precious and special for Clara!
Kristin says
I absolutely LOVE this closet idea and can’t wait to have our own little bean so that I can do her closet up like this. We have the perfect space for this too. Side note – I love your blog and check back non-stop to see the new stuff you guys post. Thanks for sharing! :o)
Maia says
I love what you made in Clara’s closet! It’s simple, pretty, cute and sweet….just like Clara!! I’m sure she’ll love spending time in there as she grows up.
Barb says
Simply magical for a little princess of a girl….another amazing project! So simple….so awesome!
B.
LARY says
Just adorable! Wish I had such a cute closet growing up. :)
Lauren says
love the turnout! so feminine and whimsical. and while i like the ikea rug, you’ve gotta get a that little bean a BEAN-bag! :)
Karen J says
Well, I was a little (OK, a lot) scared for Clara’s closet when I saw the potato stamp test prints (and the prior freehand tests). I thought this might be a “what not to do” post. Actually I was positive it was. But then I saw the completed closet pics. I have to say it looks nice and you really pulled it off. Kudos to $herdog.
Tash says
Perfection. Such a cute little nook for Clara-bear (did I just give your kid a nickname) to enjoy. I want one for myself.
Allison says
Any chance you got Clara’s reaction on video? Or could re-enact it after an upcoming nap?
I love the idea of a reading nook, and I’m dreaming of one beneath the stairs in our basement when we finish things down there… like some variation of this:
http://pinterest.com/pin/33754442/
YoungHouseLove says
Woah! That is amazing. Sadly we didn’t think to get Clara’s reaction on video, but were glad to snap those shots of her checking things out! Now she’s so interested in her books and toys in there that she doesn’t react as much to the stamps, but every once in a while she smiles and taps one with her pointer finger. So cute!
xo,
s
Maggie says
My mom taught art, was big on potato stamps. She kept them overnight wrapped in plastic wrap, in the fridge, so they were good for two sessions, though not usually more than that. My youngest son (now 19!) liked a closet nook, and had old blankets then a sleeping bag plus pillows to be comfy, plus a clip on light when he was reading. Candice Tells All just had an episode with similar subtle color stenciling on the wall of a toddler girl’s Victorian room, much more expensive I’m sure, but not prettier than yours!
YoungHouseLove says
So smart! Love the plastic wrap fridge trick.
xo,
s
Leah says
I recently pinned this tutorial on making Pottery Barn-inspired floor cushions, but I doubt my sewing skills are up to it.
http://www.livingwithpunks.com/2010/05/tutorial-land-of-nod-inspired-floor.html
Super cute and you wouldn’t have beads falling out if the bean bag chair tears.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!!
xo,
s
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
Beautiful!!! I love the combination of the soft, shimmery champagne starburst on the pink walls. This post has officially made me want to paint/stamp my closet now haha
Christine says
Your little girl is so lucky to have a mom who’ll create such a magical little nook for her! I love it… so simple and sweet.
Ashley says
It looks great – it really is sweet and swanky at once. I love the overall polka dot effect and the up-close sunburst/flower/star detail. Is it even more fun finishing projects now that Clara recognizes them and reacts? Love it.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, it’s the best! Especially when she’s not prompted (like sitting down and reading in there, or finding those new picture frames from Tuesday’s BabyCenter post). It’s just a blast to see her discover new things.
-John
Rachael says
I love, love, LOVE it! What a great idea! I’ve been trying to think of something to do in my son’s room and the potato stencil is a FAB idea! It reminds me of when we painted the nursery when my mom was pregnant with my little sister and the theme was Teddy Bears and they were all pastel, and we cut sponges into paw print shapes and dipped them in paint and did a border in the room that way. I think the potato stamp is a MUCH better idea! Quick question: I did not know that Ikea sold a fake sheepskin rug. I knew that they had the real ones. Do you remember what the name of the fake one is?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I don’t remember the name and I don’t think they’re on their website but they’re around $12.99 instead of $25-30 like the real ones. And the back is covered with grippy cotton fabric as opposed to the skin backing of the real ones. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sam says
Looks awesome! I love that her closet is big enough for a reading nook!
Marney says
Looks great! Just out of curiosity, are you able to keep her from pulling all the stuff off the lower shelves. I would love to do something fun like this in my 2.5 year old sons room, but I know he would trash the closet every chance he got! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
She loves taking things out of boxes and shelves and then shoving them back in, so they end up back in place, just not folded and pretty for the most part. Haha. So we just make sure it’s stuff like blankets and board books that we don’t mind getting man-handled. Haha.
xo,
s
ali says
Sherry, How About Orange has a link to DIY beanbags today – thought of you!
YoungHouseLove says
Yay! Love Jessica Jones and her blog- off to check it out!
xo,
s
shar y says
I love it. My friend and I put Venetian Plaster (I know, right) in her bathroom. While the product was still wet, we pressed little ferns from the garden into the plaster. It left a subtle little imprint of a fern. Really cool!
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds so fun!
xo,
s
Whit says
Awesome. I wish my closet was so beautiful.
Also, all I can think of in regards to potato stamps is Pee-Wee’s Christmas Special circa 1988. He makes Frankie and Annette do potato stamped Christmas cards. 1,000 of them. Mmm, potatoey.
Ashley says
I absolutely LOVE it. I wish my daughter’s closet was just a wee bit (ok a lot bit) bigger so we could do something similar. Good work as usual!
Aron says
Pretty! I love the way the metallic shines!
I totally get what John is saying… Sweet 16 show where rich 16 year olds get crazy expensive birthday parties and there parents buy them ponies and Louis Vuitton cakes. Lol. In other words, Clara is sooo lucky to have an fancy shmancy closet like those “spoiled” kids :)
Aron says
*Their not there. Hello grammer check.
Craftwell says
We absolutely love all your posts! That potato stamp was clever!
Melissa says
How did you get them spaced out so perfectly?
YoungHouseLove says
I just eyed it and did one horizontal row at a time. It’s pretty forgiving since they’re not a bold color (the tone-on-tone thing is nicely less obvious). It’s amazing how once you do a whole wall of stamps that the few that you know aren’t quite perfectly spaced just blend right in!
xo,
s
lara says
such a gorgeous closet! you must have a great storage area to hold all the kinds of junk that collects in our girls’ closets! bumbo, baby swing, bins of past/future clothes.
not to mention it’s about 30 degrees hotter in their closets than the rest of the room (their upstairs in our 1-1/2 story house). i don’t think a reading nook in the closet is in their future–
YoungHouseLove says
We have three huge tupperware bins in the attic marked with things like “pregnancy clothes” and “baby stuff 1-6 months” and “6-12 months” etc. It’s nice to try to keep those things grouped by stage so we only have to bring down one bin at a time during those phases.
xo,
s
Karen says
I just love those sweet pretty stamps and the subtle ‘bling’ it brings to the room. Clara is such a cutie! I sure enjoy reading about all your projects. Thanks for sharing your life with us :)
http://www.plainadventure.com
Stephanie B says
Question… I know potatoes are very liquid-y, did that have any effect whatsoever?
YoungHouseLove says
After cutting it in half the inside was a bit damp, but once I carved the shape it had “aired out” a bit. And I think since the paint is a liquid when I brushed that onto the stamp it was all good. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mary @ stylefyles says
wow I LOVE it. This turned out perfectly!
Sarah says
I love the old school potato stamp idea! It looks sparkly and fun – great job :) I love little reading nooks so I think Clara is very lucky!
Jen says
I totally love it! And the sweet sentiment behind it too. And I’m so glad Clara loves it as well!
Janie says
just happened upon this beanbag tutorial:
http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/1999/01/rollie-pollie_28/
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Already pinned it actually! Haha.
xo,
s
hi-d says
That closet is amazing! It’s definitely a great use of space too…love the rug and pillows. I think I could curl up there and take a nap myself. :)
jacquelyn | lark + linen says
How sweet and girly!! What a great use of space. I absolutely love it.
Rocky Mountain Mama says
I love her closet/reading nook! Adorable! Wish we could do this with our son’s closet, but its pretty small.
Trude says
Wow this is so perfectly little-girl cute, but still grown up! Really love it, and I’m glad Clara loves it too! :)
OwningSingle says
Very cute!
Hilda says
I love Clara’s romper! She’s always so stylish…
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks! Old Navy on clearance!
xo,
s
Jen O says
Okay, that romper Clara is wearing is possibly the CUTEST thing I’ve ever seen. Look at those sweet little legs!! Adorable.
Erika says
That came out great! When I was a teenager, I used a rubbery/corky coaster to cut out a 6-point star shape, and glued it to a block of wood. Then used bronze craft paint to do random stamping on one of my rust-colored walls. My favorite diy project ever! And it was really easy to cut the shape I wanted from the coaster using scissors. I even stamped some sheer-ish curtains, too! Of course then i never cleaned them after that lol.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that sounds like a smart method!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
The Bean is growing hair finally!! Yay Clara!! :)
We’ve caught our 17-month old sitting and quietly “reading” his books lately and it is just adorable – now if I had that type of amazing space for him to do it in, I would be climbing in there with him! :)