Being crafty, as many of you know, is a gift in many ways. You love the fact that you’re considered “creative” by your family and friends but sometimes that can put a lot of pressure on a person. Unless you’re a crafter, most people don’t fully realize what goes into making a project come to life! The work itself can be exhausting or, at the least, time consuming. However it’s the preparation BEFORE the project that is often overlooked. Still we craft because we love what we do and usually do it for those we love. My two most recent projects highlight this point.
Back in early October my youngest son’s 10th birthday was approaching. As usual I asked him if there was anything special he’d like for his upcoming birthday. I’m thinking video games, sports jersey, etc. “I want a new room” he said. I immediately asked him what that meant exactly since we weren’t moving and I didn’t think his brother had any intention of swapping spaces. “D” then explained how he wanted a “basketball theme” for his bedroom – something cool and unique – something that was really HIM. Oh, and it all had to be a surprise! This was indeed an interesting gift request and I decided to take on the challenge – I mean project.
I removed his dresser from the room to make more space (he has California-style closets and didn’t actually need the dresser so that part was easy.) Then I went shopping. The local stores had some slim pickings. Thank goodness for the internet! I was able to find basketball shelves, hampers, pennants, banners, switch plates, knobs, mats, bedding etc. I picked up an extra table for his sports’ trophies. I ordered a Fat Head of LeBron James (famous hoops star) as a focal point for the wall as well. Everything was coming together. Still I needed something to make it really “unique and him.” Found it at the Home Depot! D loves to draw – he is definitely the one child with a love of art so I decided to give him a HUGE canvas. I painted his bi-fold door closets with white dry-erase paint. I bought him a complete set of dry erase markers and an eraser so he could really have a blast
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Well, after weeks of shopping and several days locked in his bedroom painting and assembling things, his birthday arrived and he got his surprise. He was blown away and my exhaustion was a fading memory. Well fading until his big brother said “Hey, his room is way cooler than mine now. I want a Football theme bedroom for my birthday in March!”
As you can guess, it was something I really couldn’t refuse. Of course it had to be equally cool but unique for HIM. No pressure at all. At least I had a few months to plan! Now, B’s room was a little more of a challenge. Like his brother, he had too much furniture in his room so I needed to donate another dresser! Also, he had been sleeping in a red Little Tykes race car Bed since he was 3 – now at the age of 12 he wanted something more “appropriate” for his tween/teen years.
Let the shopping begin! Is there such as thing as a football bed? I was about to find out. I spent the better part of January and early February shopping for everything football and I found it: a bed and bedding, lamps, hampers, pennants, shelves – even a mini locker table, and more. Of course a Fat Head of LaDainian Tomlinson was a must!
Now what about the closets? I couldn’t do the same thing as I did for his brother – that wouldn’t work! Well, inspiration came at the Home Depot. I found magnetic primer paint there. Hmmm . . . lockers are magnetic, right? I then purchased small eye-shaped screws, small pad-locks, and gray paint. I hand made a stencil from cardstock to look like locker vents. After two days of priming, painting, stenciling, drilling, and locking, the closets were finished! So, once again, after a month + of shopping and 72 hours of working in seclusion in my eldest son’s bedroom, he got his birthday surprise and was ecstatic!
Several friends have come over since the room makeovers and asked if this was a business for me. No, I answered, just a labor of love! Time for a nap! Let’s just hope my husband doesn’t want a baseball themed room somewhere in the house!