WFMW: Easy, cheap DIY decor for the kids' rooms

Since my kids are off at Camp Grandma for a few weeks, I'm taking the opportunity to clean, purge, rearrange, and redo their rooms. I've gotten a good start on K's and I wanted to show off the really cool decor idea I came up with.

K is getting a tropical theme in her room because Grandma has some stuff from VBS that she said we could have (I love my mom). Since the stuff is still in Texas and is currently decorating a tiki hut classroom, I can't show you the finished product yet, but I can show you what I've been doing to supplement the VBS stuff. And you'll love it because it's *cheap* and all it takes is a little time and a little creativity.

First we have this:

It's a plain cork bulletin board from The Wal-Marts and a yard of fabric - I got mine off the clearance shelf. Using your staple gun...

What? You don't have a staple gun? Go get one! It's cheap and very helpful around the house.

As I was saying, using your staple gun, fold the fabric edges under and tack it down all the way around the board. Don't forget to pull the fabric gently to smooth it and work from the center out along each side. In the picture, you can see the faint outline where the fabric is tucked under, but you can't see it just looking at the board on the wall.

So now we have a neat bulletin board with a swirly blue print that looks like water. After we get back next month, that will have these flower lights wrapped around the frame. For now, you'll just have to imagine it.

Second we have this:

Aren't these cool? I cut the shapes out of foam board and painted them with kid paint from Crayola. The shapes are basic and easy to make, then you get to be creative on the painting. I got the wood look on the board by painting it brown, then immediately painting it over with yellow, then adding some rust red color in spots immediately over that. The colors will blend and just be kinda sloppy and streaky with it. On the surf boards, you can be elaborate like the flowers or very basic like the stripes. Attach it to the wall with some tiny nails and voila! Even if you think it's sloppy or not as perfect as it ought to be, your kids will love it and think it looks cool, especially if it's personalized.

I'm still working on the surround sound system that will play Disney's "Tiki tiki tiki tiki room" song.

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