Spring Trends: Hello Playtime

February 5, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Each season we’re inspired by the trends we see in fashion, home décor and art to create product that is at once nostalgic and modern. Around here we call it Vintage Reimagined; items that have a reference to the past but are made modern through color, material or function.

I’m personally super psyched about our Hello Playtime trend for Spring 2016. It’s everything that was good, weird and over-the-top in the 1980s, reimagined in updated colors, prints, patterns and materials. It’s just plain fun, and the humor just screams childhood imagination.

Spring Trends: Hello Playtime

Alphabet Soup Entry Level Nod Chair / Black and White Indoor + Outdoor Rug / Banana Throw Pillow / Dusen Dusen Playhome / Roller Skate Throw Pillow / Abstract Throw Pillow / Pink Abstract Throw Pillow / White Cubic 12 Cube Bookcase / Scatter Print Cube Bins / Blue Zig Zag Wall Shelves / Wow, That’s A Big White Floor Lamp / Clear Space Acrylic Desk / Red Little Felix Chair

You can mix in bits of it to more traditional décor easily, especially the black and white pieces. Or, you can go all in, and create a space that’s just totally bananas. After all, in the 80s wasn’t more, more?

Spring Trends: Hello Playtime

Pink Roller Rink Rug / White Blake Dresser / Colored Kids Storage Containers / Square Away Acrylic Cube Collection / Natural Color Table Lamp Base & Orange Lamp Shade / Black & White Playhouse Canopy

Danielle is the Creative Director at Nod and an over-protective mother of two. She’s also completely obsessed with Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and her Kindle, but not necessarily in that order. Danielle loves to craft, sew and crochet. Her current craft of choice is weaving tiny wall tapestries.

DIY Snow Putty

February 4, 2016

Post by Rebecca of Not So SAHM

Have you received lots of snow this winter?! Just in case we didn’t, I’d planned a fun sensory science experiment for the kids that resembled the cold fluffy stuff. But, for better or worse, winter storm Jonas dumped plenty of the real deal on D.C. a few weeks ago. And we’ve just recovered sufficiently to get going on making this DIY Snow Putty! A little bit of science, a little bit of art, and a little bit of sensory mixed together for a great indoor winter project.

To make our DIY Snow Putty, you’ll need (per batch):

2 tsp Borax
3 cups of water
1 cup of white school glue
Some fun snowy accessories, such as sequins, pom poms, buttons, and confetti

First, mix 2 tsp Borax into 2 cups of water. Stir until dissolved. Next, mix 1 cup of white glue with 1 cup of water and stir until combined. Combine the two mixtures and stir with a spoon. You’ll start to see a polymer forming immediately, but keep stirring. When it gets too difficult to stir with the spoon, let your kiddos use their hands to squish the mixtures together, wringing out the water as they go. They love this part!!

When you’ve gotten rid of most of the water, lay the mixture onto a flat surface (we used our Acrylic Table Mat to protect our surface) and let the kids keep kneading it. Soon you’ll have a fabulous putty ready for accessories. Kane and Cam wanted a little bit of everything (shocking) and spent the good part of an afternoon mixing, decorating, and building with the putty. They made snowmen (that “melt” if you let them sit a bit!), snow pancakes, and snowscapes fit for a variety of snow creatures.

Store your putty in an airtight container and it will keep for a few weeks.

Thanks to The Land of Nod for the awesome Color Reference Drawers — they were the perfect fit for all our snowy accessories!

Rebecca is a mom to two young kiddos and, in her spare time (ha!), likes to pretend she’s a back-up dancer, craft cocktails, and run long distances. A relatively recent SAHM, she blogs family-friendly activities, DIYs and celebration fun at Not-So-SAHM.

Science-Inspired Kids Bedrooms

February 3, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved math and science. That may sound surprising coming from someone with the title, Creative Director. But, it’s true. I love the satisfaction of a single, correct answer and the explanation of why things are the way they are. I love it so much that my senior year of high school, I retook Freshman Honors Chemistry instead of taking a lunch hour, just for a “fun” refresher. And, the truth is I use the skills that both math and science taught me every single day in my personal and professional life.

So, you could say, I’m over the moon that my kiddos are equally taken with the subjects. My 5-year-old daughter Lottie just started learning about the Solar System, and she’s OBSESSED! Every inch of paper in our house is covered in drawings of the Milky Way.

In addition to being science obsessed, she’s also totally over-the-top about all things princess and fashion related. So, it got me thinking about how I could create a space that incorporated her love of the planets with her need for a royal touch. Here’s what I came up with.

The great thing about our All Solar Systems Go Quilt is that the dark blue background color coordinates back to so many color palettes. The trick is to pair it with a rug that has a bit of blue or aqua and also brings a whole bunch of other colors to the party. The Roller Rink Rug brought in that pink that Lottie loves, so I was able to add other touches of pink to the décor. And I love our metallic gold dot sheets with the quilt, they coordinate with the metallic threads used in the quilt’s embroidery, but also elevate the bed to royal status, something Lottie definitely requires! A couple of colorful throw pillows (here and here) and the gold rock lamp round out the look.

If the science lover in your house isn’t a fan of pink and gold, here are a few other alternative sheeting options that pair beautifully with the Solar System Quilt.

Mint Dot Go Lightly Sheet Set / Yellow Rocket Little Prints Sheet Set / Noir Stripe Sheet Set / Superstar Jersey Sheet Set

Still not sure where to begin, you should contact our Design Services team. They’d be happy to design a room just for you and your little one.

Spring Trends: Secret Garden

January 29, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Each season we’re inspired by the trends we see in fashion, home décor and art to create product that is at once nostalgic and modern. Around here we call it vintage reimagined – items that have a reference to the past but are made modern through color, material or function. Secret Garden Trend

Secret Garden is storybook destination; dreamy and magical, with just a bit of a dark side, like any good vintage fairy tale. Vintage details are balanced by clean Scandinavian designs. And, it all takes place in a world that only a child could dream up. There are no rules in this fantasyland where florals abound, and unicorns take up residence.

Secret Garden Trend

It’s the perfect look for a modern nursery that’s not too saccharine sweet. And can easily grow into a big kid room. I love the addition of astronomical motifs and a touch of sorcery to keep it feeling fresh. And it’s a great opportunity to layer in plenty of vintage texture in the form of granny quilts, plush shaggy rugs and textile wall décor.

Secret Garden Trend

Grown Up Living Room Featuring Children’s Decor

January 28, 2016

Post by Bryn of Her Own Wings

If you’re like me, you may have found yourself swooning over the beautiful kid’s room decor options at The Land of Nod and have wondered how you could incorporate them into other rooms of your house. Working at a home decor and remodeling website full-time really puts the pressure on to have a beautiful living space of my own. When I began planning a living room design for my family which include two young children (ages 2 and 3), I knew I wanted the space to feel grown up as well as a comfortable place for the kids so I immediately thought of The Land of Nod. After all, why should the kids have all the fun?

We started with a really durable and affordable 8 x 10′ Half Stripe Rug in aqua for the living room which really defined the whole space and lightened up the room which has dark wood floors in it. For the few weeks that we didn’t have a rug, you wouldn’t believe how loud it was in there! Toddlers can be so noisy without even trying. I found myself throwing blankets on the floor and requesting that they only build towers and race cars on the blankets just for noise control purposes. So, adding a rug to the space was not only a beautiful addition, it was a sanity saving solution as well.

Grown Up Living Room Featuring Children's Decor

Other kid-friendly and stylish pieces included these Shaggy Pouf seats which our kids absolutely adore and use all the time yet they are sturdy enough to serve as extra seating for adults when we have friends over too. Most of our friends have kids as well so it’s a nice option for adults to perch on a pouf close to the floor while their babies roll around by their feet.

Final touches to the room included this Sunburst Mirror which ended up being a focal point of the room above our electric fireplace, and these Gold Rock Finials which complemented the mirror nicely. We are absolutely in love with our new space and so many people have asked where we got some of these items and are so impressed to hear I thought of incorporating children’s decor pieces into all rooms of the house.

Bryn Huntpalmer is a mother of two young children living in Austin, Texas. She shares bits and pieces of her family’s story on her personal blog Her Own Wings. Bryn’s latest project is recording a birth story podcast called The Birth Hour.

photo credits: Chelsea Laine Francis

How to Use Rich Wall Colors in Kids Rooms

January 27, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

Deep, rich paint hues are popping up everywhere in interior design, so it was only a matter of time before they found their way into nurseries and kids rooms. While choosing just the right shade for your space may feel like an overwhelming task, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Here are some considerations we kept in mind when picking the perfect color to pair with our new Carousel Bedding.

First things first, pick out the major bedding components you want to use in your space (quilts, duvets, sheets, etc.). You may already have a particular style or color scheme in mind, so nail down your bedding first and figure out the wall color second.

Once you’ve found your bedding, pick out one color from the pattern to inspire your wall color. The Carousel quilt has a fun turquoise accent that carries through to the sham and sheets, so for the walls, we decided to use a turquoise hue that was a few shades darker (think Benjamin Moore’s Tropical Turquoise, or similar). This brings me to an important point on color schemes. Don’t worry about matching each color perfectly; instead play around in a family of shades so that everything feels cohesive, but not redundant.

Gypsy Pink / Black Horizon / Tropical Turquoise

For accent colors, refer back to your bedding and pick a secondary color for rugs, lighting, and wall art. Again, play with shade variations – you definitely don’t need to match everything perfectly. The pink accent in the Carousel bedding is actually a soft, cotton candy-esque hue, but that didn’t keep us from using the super-saturated pink Chevron Twist rug and hot pink decorative accents.

Lastly, using warm wood tones and neutral upholstery can help to offset a bold wall color and will keep the space feeling warm and inviting. If you have hardwood flooring, don’t feel as though your furniture and flooring have to be the exact tone throughout the space. The wood tones can be a few shades lighter or darker and will still look great. In fact, choosing wood pieces that are a lighter stain than your floors can give your pieces a nice pop of contrast.

So, whether you’re going for bold on an accent wall or throughout the space, always remember to have fun with the design and don’t hold back.

Happy Styling!

Post by Stephanie Geurkink, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team. Our Design Services team offers free one-on-one design advice, mood boards and space planning. You have a room to decorate? They’d love to hear from you. Visit The Land of Nod’s Design Services page to get started today.

Product Spotlight: Abridged Bunk Bed

January 26, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Our new Abridged bunk may be short on…well, height, but it’s long on function. When we designed this bunk we set out to address some very specific needs for our customers. First, we often heard from customers that they want a bunk bed, but they have a small room. And, while standard bunk beds do conserve floor space, they are still very large pieces of furniture that can overpower a room. Second, some customers have large bedrooms, but ceiling height is an issue. Many dormered ceilings tend to be too low to accommodate a traditionally sized bunk bed.

Abridged Bunk Bed / Prism Pattern Sheet Set / Arrow Iconic Sheet Set / Green Stitched Moving Blanket Quilt / Rainbow Half Moon Garland /Cinema Floor Lamp / Now You See It Acrylic Book Cart / Lion Colorful Wall Art / Zebra Colorful Wall Art / Niles Floor Basket

Enter our Abridged Bunk. This bunk was designed to be a full 15” shorter than our standard bunk beds. In order to do this, we lowered the bottom bunk to trundle height, and even put it on wheels in case you need to pull it out. Also, the guardrails, headboard and footboard are all the same height, keeping the top bunk just as safe as our others, but lowering the overall height.

AbridgedBunk_2 Abridged Bunk Bed / Not a Peep Kids Bedding /Superstar Jersey Sheet Set / Ahmaze Quilt / Grey Bean Bag Lounger / Blue Hold On Clip Light / Now You See It Acrylic Book Cart

Product Spotlight: Abridged Bunk Bed

Additionally, we incorporated the ladder right into the end of the bunk, so valuable floor space isn’t given up to a ladder. And, lastly, the bunk can be used without the optional bottom bunk, as a loft bed, creating the perfect space for creating a reading nook, fort building or to tuck a dresser.

Spring Trends: Fresh Bohemia

January 22, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Our Fresh Bohemia trend is just that, a fresh take on the boho vibe of America in the 1970s. With plenty of natural materials, and handcrafted items this look comes together to create a relaxed and layered space. The products were designed to work seamlessly with pieces you’ve collected through your own adventures, and items handed down through your family to create a space that is calming, simple and meaningful to you.

If you’re going for a full-on Fresh Bohemia vibe, don’t forget a houseplant or 6. Plants will literally add life to any space, and add to the organic natural feel. Not sure you’re ready for quite such a relaxed vibe? You can definitely mix these items back into more traditional or modern spaces. So, whether you suffer from wanderlust or are cool just staying put, this trend can absolutely be incorporated into your space.

DIY Vintage Hat Box Shelf

January 21, 2016

Post by MJ of Pars Caeli

Hi friends! This is MJ from the blog, Pars Caeli, and I have a fun project to freshen your walls this winter. With the chill of winter upon us and little hope of going outside, we naturally turn our focus indoors to work on home projects. We’ve been purging bags and bags of stuff I wondered why we still owned, and organizing all the spaces for a return to a more orderly new year.

In uncovering a corner of clutter, I rediscovered a wonderful collection of old hat boxes from my grandmother. She had a sharp fashion sense and a lovely selection of hats to top off every outfit. My grandmother died many years before my children were born so they were never able to get to know her. I love having little bits of her around like these beautiful boxes, that prompt me to tell stories about the woman that she was so I decided to repurpose them for our daughter’s room. My pal Audrey of This Little Street has designed fabulous new fabrics and removable wallpapers that have both a bold graphic sensibility matched with a cool vintage vibe. I knew they’d be the right choice for freshening up these boxes.

To modernize the boxes, I added a pop of color to the interior. I decided to use both the lid and the box for different projects (I couldn’t resist the hexagonal shape and these boxes are incredibly sturdy). With acrylics, I painted two coats to add dimension. To the lid, I layered on a coat of polyurethane to make it a water safe tray.

Removable wallpaper is the easiest medium to adapt to any project with its ease to stick and restick. For the hexagonal box, I measured the height of the box as well as the perimeter and carefully cut out one long rectangle from the roll of wallpaper.

Much like a large sticker, the wallpaper has a removable paper backing that is easily peeled back and placed on each surface. Applying the paper to the exterior of the box was quick and simple.

The bright lemon and flower print adds a spring touch to their room! We hung the box shelf on their evolving gallery wall, next to an original painting and Land of Nod magnificent metal letter. And though the new shelf can’t hold a ton of weight, it’s a nostalgic addition to showcase a few treasured objects and a remembrance of their great grandma.

xoxo, MJ

M.J. is a graphic and product designer, wife, and proud momma to three. She founded Pars Caeli (meaning a piece of heaven), a delightful blog and shop, to add more creative to the everyday. M.J. worked with our team to bring her lunchbox jokes to life in our product Lunchtime LOL Notes, now available at Land of Nod to bring on a case of the giggles!

DIY Secret Spy Math Game

January 20, 2016

Post by Rebecca Green of Not So SAHM

Now that our kids are getting older, I find myself constantly grateful for their teachers. For a multitude of reasons, really. But especially because I find it so hard to get them to focus sometimes. Kane is becoming increasingly interested in math, but it’s definitely not one of his most favorite subjects. And that means he often rushes through math problems. So I’ve been looking for a hands-on way to slow him down a bit and thought that a math code might do the trick. He’s always loved decoding (you might recall my attempts to use hieroglyphics to teach him the English alphabet) and he’s still a total building fiend. So I combined both in a fun and fairly basic math (for a first grader) game for him.

You can use any set of blocks you have, but we used this gorgeous It Makes a Village Block Set from Nod. Once you’ve gathered your blocks (you’ll need a set of 26)

Print the code sheet (click HERE)
Print the coded sentences and math problems (click HERE)

Cut out the labels from The Code sheet and adhere to your blocks — you can either print on sticker paper and attach them more permanently or use a light tape to temporarily stick them to your blocks (I did the latter because the Nod blocks are absurdly beautiful). Put one number sticker on the front and the coordinating coded alphabet label on the back of the block. Jumble them up!

Starting with the first code sheet, have your child (with as much adult help as appropriate) solve each math problem. Taking one word at a time, have your child locate the respectively numbered blocks and the corresponding letter on the back. Write in each letter in the color-coded spot to spell a word. Continue with each word until you’ve completed the sentence and cracked the code!***

It took Kane a few minutes to catch on, but by the end of the first word, he was hooked (and even caught a few of my math mistakes, which I fixed!). Once he cracked the codes, he took to spelling out words he knew using the blocks and requested that I make additional vowel and commonly-used letter blocks. I drew the line when he asked for an ampersand, though. Feel free to use the code to make up additional puzzles!

Thanks to The Land of Nod for the blocks we used in our game!

P.S. If you have younger children who aren’t adding and subtracting yet, you can still use the printables to make your own game by skipping the math problems and simply writing the numbers under each letter space for your kids. They can then practice identifying numbers and letters to fill in the code. You can also simply mark blocks with the alphabet and number labels and see if your kids can help put them in the correct alphabetical order or spell simple words.

*** Sentences are:
Code 1: Nice Work!
Code 2: What a Great Job!
Code 3: What is Your Spy Name?
Code 4: You Are a Super Sleuth!
Code 5: Top Secret Sneak!

A Campaign Changer System that Changes with Your Baby

January 19, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

There are some guarantees that come along with having a baby. First, your heart will nearly explode with undying love and affection. Second, you’ll be changing A LOT of diapers…hopefully of the non-exploding variety, but there will probably be a few of those. Third, your baby and, thus your storage needs, will change constantly.

Keeping in mind items two and three, we’ve created a changing system to make all that diaper changing as easy as possible. Not only that, the system will change right along with your little one.

When investing in a changing table, try to avoid what Alton Brown would refer to as a uni-tasker (I’m a big Good Eats fan, if you’ve never seen it, check it out!). Basically a uni-tasker is an item that has only one function. Your needs for a changing table will be fleeting, so don’t spend money on something that will be basically useless when you ditch the diapers, or your baby simply gets too big or too mobile to use it.

We designed our Campaign Furniture Collection to specifically address this issue; it’ll multi-task until the cows come home. It’s made up of 4 pieces: 2 bookcases, 1 dresser (choose the wide 6-drawer or the smaller 3-drawer) and 1 changer tray. Banked all together, the furniture provides tons of roomy drawers and shelves for storage of all the baby essentials, from lotions and diapers to clothes and swaddle blankets. Keeping all these items within arms reach is definitely key for quick and effective diaper changing.

When your baby no longer needs the changer top, you can keep it on the dresser as a storage tray, or remove it. The system can stay banked, or the bookcases can be relocated to flank her new big girl bed as two nightstands. Or, we think they’re chic enough to move to your living room or guest room. They make great storage for books, toys, board games and décor.

You’ll still need a dresser for your little one. And, we’ve designed this one to stand the test of time both physically and aesthetically. The Campaign style originated in the 19^th century, so we’re pretty sure it’ll continue to be fashionable right on out of your house and into your son or daughter’s first apartment. (Sorry, didn’t mean to freak you out there…kid’s growing up, moving out, that’s scary stuff for those exploding hearts!)

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

January 15, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

I’m thinking we might want to consider renaming our Go Lightly Bedding Collection to Capable of Anything Bedding Collection. Honestly, this collection can solve more design dilemmas than I can list, but I’m going to try. Any of these scenarios sounds familiar?

Traditional Girls Bedroom – Dress the whole bed in a single color of the bedding, pink or aqua will be the most traditional. Pair with white furniture to create a classic look. Mix other patterns, such as dots, stripes and trellis motifs, into the room. Our Magic Carpet Rug is a perfect companion to this look. Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Pink Go Lightly Bedding / Petite Marguerite Bed / Grey Magic Carpet Rug

Modern Girls Bedroom – I love the bedding in yellow or grey for a more modern look. Mix in some unexpected throw pillows. And, choose a metal bed paired with an acrylic nightstand. For the rug, opt for something with a range of colors, either muted or bold, it will allow you to bring more colors into the space.

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Grey Go Lightly Bedding / Mint Larkin Bed / Marbled Layers Rug

Eclectic Girls Bedroom – Anything goes on the bedding, mix up the colors to your heart’s content. The set was created to mix and match. Choose a vintage feeling bed, paired with a painted nightstand, our Jenny Lind Bed and Campaign Nightstand are a nice combo for an eclectic look. Our Casablanca Rug is handcrafted from vintage saris, and has many colors woven throughout; it would be a great choice for this space.

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Yellow Go Lightly Sheet Set / Pink Go Lightly Quilted Sham / Pink Go Lightly Floral Sham / Yellow Go Lightly Throw Pillow / Grey Go Lightly Floral Duvet / Mint Go Lightly Quilt / Black Jenny Lind Bed / Casablanca Rug

Twin Girls Bedroom –In your home, your kid’s bed just may be the only space that is truly their own. The beauty of this bedding is that it is designed to mix and match, so each of your girls can put their bed together however they’d like, but you’re guaranteed that the room will still look harmonious…even if it’s not always actually harmonious.

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Grey Go Lightly Bedding / Radiant Dresser / Pink Go Lightly Bedding / Grey Cool Beans Bean Bag / Knit Crowd Sarah Doll / Silver Lottie Dots Decal Set / Marbled Layers Rug

Baby & Big Girl Shared Bedroom – Since our Go Lightly Bedding comes in crib, toddler and kid size, it’s the perfect option for shared spaces. The motifs are sweet enough for baby, but not too childish to work for big sis.

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Yellow Go Lightly Kids Bedding / Mint Go Lightly Crib Bedding

Nursery/Guest Room – Having a baby often means giving up a guest room, but if you have family out of town that may not be an option. So, if you’re considering keeping a bed in the room to use when Grandma and Grandpa visit, this set will work perfectly. The bedding comes in Queen size. And, again, it’s sophisticated enough to work for your guests, while still being sweet enough to make a lovely nursery.

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Mint Go Lightly Kids Bedding / Mint Go Lightly Crib Skirt / Pink Go Lightly Baby Quilt / Grey Triangle Go Lightly Crib Fitted Sheet / White Carousel Crib

Nursery that becomes a Toddler Bedroom and, eventually, a Big Girl Bedroom – Kids grow up, that’s just a fact. And, maybe you enjoy redecorating. But, for many people, the thought of decorating and redecorating and redecorating their kid’s room is akin to going to the DMV. Since our Go Lightly Collection comes in crib, toddler and kid size, this is a non-issue. You can keep your wall color, your rug and even much of your décor as your baby transitions from crib to toddler bed to big kid bed. You may swap out some wall art as your child’s interests change. Or ditch the toy box in favor of a desk at some point. But, you can keep the basic bones of the room the same as they grow.

Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

Pink Go Lightly Crib and Toddler Bedding / Pink Go Lightly Kids Bedding

Okay, you get the point, it’s versatile. And, not only that I adore the illustrated patterns that artist Molly Meg created for the set. And, don’t even get me started on the coordinating Voile Blanket and Sham. They are literally made of clouds. Well, not literally, but could’ve fooled me; they’re softer than soft. Not only that, but for a limited time they’re part of our Nod Favorites Bedding Ship Free promo. Product Spotlight: Go Lightly Bedding

On second thought, I think we’ll keep the name Go Lightly since it does make decorating your kid’s room quite the happy go lucky experience.

DIY Geometric Artwork

January 13, 2016

Post by Bre of Brepurposed

Decorating our nursery has been one of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on. You’re setting the stage for this little human to come into the world and of course you want everything to be absolutely perfect. But chances are, you’re also feeling quite tired and would rather be snoozing on the couch than crafting away. At least for me, there were a lot of those days 🙂 But customizing your nursery doesn’t have to be hard. I’m here today to share this super easy DIY Geometric Art that you can make in no time that is perfect for any nursery or little child’s room.

Supplies:

Blank piece of wood
Scrapbook paper
Peel ’N Stick gold foil or vinyl like these Lottie Dotties
Scissors
Glue
Frame Hook

Directions:

Figure out the pattern you want to create first, so you know how many triangles you will need.
Cut out one triangle to use as your template. (Note: You can skip steps 2-4 if you purchase furniture decals or wall decals and cut to your preferred size.)
Trace that triangle onto the back of your scrapbook paper or gold foil paper.
Cut out your triangles.
Place your triangles on your piece of wood in the pattern you’ve decided on.
Glue or stick your triangles onto the wood
Add a frame hook to the back for easy hanging.

How easy is that? And you can totally customize it based on the colors or theme of your room. You could also use wall decals like these and these in place of the scrapbook paper.

And now you’ve got a pretty piece of art that took no time at all. Perfect for all those pregnant mommas out there!

Bre is the girl behind the blog Brepurposed; a place where she shares her adventures of stalking craigslist, thrift stores, and friend’s basements to find those hidden furniture gems and give them new life. Along with transforming the old into the new, she share DIY crafts and free printables, hoping to inspire others to follow their love of design.

Teaching Kids About The World Through Maps

January 12, 2016

Post by Rebecca Green of Not So SAHM

We are big fans of the beautifully illustrated Maps book by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski. It’s such a gorgeous way to teach kids about the world through maps. When I heard Kane was starting a maps unit at school, I jumped at the chance to check out the companion Maps Activity Book. Full of activities to teach facts and ideas from around the world, the book is a wonderful hands-on and creative way to help kids learn. Each page invites kids to think and draw different ideas illustrating geographical features, places of interest, iconic personalities, native animals and plants, local peoples, and cultural events. The perfect way to reinforce what he’s learning!

Thanks to The Land of Nod for the Maps Activity Book and the Wander Wonder World Banner, which is also hanging in Kane’s room along with the rainbow and cloud garlands!

Aden and Anais and Ashley Goldberg for Nod

January 11, 2016

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Not sure about you, but sometimes we like to play matchmaker. It’s no secret that we love the work of Ashley Goldberg. Her modern motifs, eye for color and imperfectly, perfect mark-making makes us weak in the knees. And don’t get us started on our obsession with Aden + Anais. I personally amassed an epic collection of their swaddle blankets when my little ones were much littler. I was definitely known to steal a blanket or two for myself to snuggle up on the sofa. The fabrics are softer than soft, they breathe, yet keep your little one cozy all at the same time…is it magic?

When we spoke with the lovely folks at Aden + Anais about creating a custom line for Nod, we immediately knew we had to work with Ashley to create it. We believe that parenting doesn’t have to mean abandoning your sense of style. Why drape yourself with a ducky blanket when nursing at the park? It can be comfortable, casual and beautiful. Ashley created bold, playful patterns that celebrate the simplicity of the muslin fabrics they’re printed on, but are also chic and sophisticated. The black and white palette let’s the beautiful fabric show through, and works equally well in a traditional or modern nursery.

As part of the collection, we created swaddle blankets, easy swaddles, bibs, burp cloths and even a cover for your favorite nursing pillow. They make the perfect baby shower gift.

Ashley G + Aden + Anais… we think it’s a match made in heaven.

Feelings Free Printable Coloring Page

January 8, 2016

Nod Fun Pages designed by Michelle Romo

If we’ve learned anything from emojis, there’s nothing more fun than brightly colored faces. So how do you feel today? We’re ready for the weekend. To color our new feelings free printable coloring page, download the full size printable HERE. Share the finished product on Instagram (use hashtag #landofnod) or our Facebook page and we may feature it!

Find more free printable coloring pages HERE!

Michelle Romo is our newest Nod illustrator, she’s a self-taught illustrator and designer fueled by cookies and naps. Her influences include Mid-Century, Japanese and Scandinavian design, along with pretty much anything cute. When she isn’t working she spends her time eating good food, hugging her friends, playing video games and crafting.

Introducing Our Etsy Open Call Partners

January 5, 2016

Written by Rachel, Nod’s PR & Social Media Lead

At Nod, we love collaborating with artists of all kinds. Many of the artists we partner with sell their goods on Etsy. So it made perfect sense for us to participate in the first Etsy Open Call in July. Thirty Etsy Wholesale designers showcased their lines to a number of retailers, including us. We met all the sellers, learned about their products and gave feedback. Ultimately, we picked a handful of retailers to sell their products in our stores and online.

Etsy Open Call - Land of Nod Winners

Photos via Etsy Wholesale

A few of the amazing independent designers we collaborated with for Etsy Open Call are showcased below. All of the Etsy items we sell can be found HERE.

Baby Jives Luxe Star Cloud Mobile

Jahje Ives is the creative mama behind Baby Jives Co. She started her company in 2010 after the birth of her first babe, who was affectionately nicknamed baby Jives. Working with natural materials and her sewing machine, she handcrafts each of her heirloom mobiles just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Earth Cadets Grey Hi One Piece

Krissy Callahan started Earth Cadets in December 2008 with a love for t-shirts. Since then, Earth Cadets has stayed dedicated to creating unique and hand printed home goods, accessories and clothing while also committing to maintain and respect our environment.

Lovelane Unicorn Cape, Unicorn Cuffs & Winged Hat

Lovelane’s Lane Huerta began dreaming big as a child. She imagined great adventures in the woods behind her house. During her adult years she discovered her imagination and skill of screen-printing gave her a penchant for a bright, blocky aesthetic. She set up shop as Lovelane Designs in Savannah, Georgia and began designing and screen-printing tea towels, pillows and other home décor.

Ever wonder who’s behind The Land of Nod social media accounts? That’s Rachel! When she’s not telling anyone who will listen that she’s not meant to live in cold, snowy Chicago, you will probably find Rachel binge-watching Netflix, reading blogs or in her kitchen making guacamole. Or starting crafting projects that never get finished.

New Year’s Day Breakfast

December 31, 2015

Post by Michelle of Avery and Augustine

It’s nice to have New Year’s Day breakfast ready to go when you’re feeling just a bit tired from ringing in the new year the night before. A bowl of nutritious steel-cut oats is the ideal breakfast to start off the new year. Making overnight oats is a game changer—you don’t have to stand over the stove for half an hour waiting for your oats to cook. The prep will only take you about ten minutes the night before and a few minutes to warm them up on the stove (or microwave) the next day. We followed this recipe on The Kitchn and it worked out perfectly.

Different toppings make things more interesting (especially for kids), and help vary the texture and liven up flavors. In this instance, we decided to put out the following to choose from: brown butter crumble (from a graham cracker crust recipe on Food52), cacao nibs, apple jam (recipe from Bon Appétit), blueberries, almonds, toasted coconut and coconut sugar.

Happy New Year to all, and hope your first breakfast of the year is a memorable one!

Thanks to The Land of Nod for sending the items for this post.

You can see Michelle’s work and read about her two young children and their first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.

New Year’s Eve Free Printable Coloring Page

December 30, 2015

Nod Fun Pages designed by Michelle Romo

Count down to 2016 with this free printable New Year’s Eve coloring page! Download the full size printable HERE. Share the finished product on Instagram (use hashtag #landofnod) or our Facebook page and we may feature it!

New Year's Eve Free Printable Coloring Page

Looking for other fun New Year’s Eve activities for the kiddos?

Celebrate New Year’s at Noon like we do at our stores! All you need is hats, balloons, and a countdown.
Watch movies and create a popcorn bar like SheKnows
Create your own party poppers with this tutorial from Craftaholics Anonymous
Start 2016 with a sparkle and make this glittery playdough recipe from Homegrown Friends

Find more free printable coloring pages HERE!

DIY New Year’s Eve Photo Booth Backdrop

December 29, 2015

Post by Jeran from Oleander+Palm

Hi friends, it’s Jeran from Oleander + Palm. How is 2016 just around the corner? If you are looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a little or big party, a photo booth is always a hit! This is the easiest little DIY New Year’s Eve photo booth backdrop made from our New Year’s Eve party decor. It literally took me 5 mins to set up.

Using a little double sided tape and 2 packages of the Gold Striped Plates and two packages of the Silver Striped Plates, I simply adhered the plates in a very random pattern to an empty wall. I made sure to rotate the plates so that the stripes were facing and direction then the plate right next to it. I decided to leave gaps in the pattern and keep the edges organic and uneven.

Provide your guests with a few props and capture the night’s activities with a fun festive New Years Eve photo booth backdrop.

A former elementary school teacher, Jeran has added her unique voice to the modern maker culture through her blog Oleander and Palm. She loves helping people find attainable beauty in the lives they live. Her creativity and industriousness were honed through years of living in third world countries, that challenged her to find novel solutions for creating livable spaces. Now a mother of three, settled in sunny California, her skills and styles are evolving in exciting new ways. Her focus is Simple California Living, designing and making livable spaces that incorporate vintage finds, handmade/DIY pieces and global inspiration.