Aw yeah, we’re living on the ledge. We’ve been waiting to hang our postcard shelves from our first house’s office for over two years and we finally found the right spot for them. Ba-dow:
We detailed the whole how-we-made-them process here (you should click that just to see how tiny Clara was) so here’s how we adapted them for this space:
- we measured how wide the dresser that would sit under them was (we thought they’d look top-heavy and odd if they were a foot longer, which they were at first)
- we lopped off the extra length on a miter saw, so they were all 2″ narrower than the dresser that sits under them
- we hung the first one (the lowest one) 16″ above the dresser after holding it up in a few different heights and deciding it looked best there (using a level to be sure it wasn’t wonky)
- we used long-ish screws (2.5″ guys) in three places to hold them nice and securely (anchors would be necessary for shelves with heavy items on them, but for small light shelves that hold small items like postcards, screws can easily do the job). Oh but we already had predrilled holes in the shelves so the screws could go right through them and hold them in place. So for more info on that click here for the full postcard-ledge-hanging rundown.
- there were some high-fives along the way
- we taped a yardstick to the wall (we used a level to be sure it was perpendicular to the floor) so we could use that as a guide to hang the left edge of all of them
- we hung each shelf on the wall with 9″ of space between each one (there was more bean-help and a few more high fives).
- we stepped back and enjoyed the view…
Then I broke out two things I’ve been hoarding saving for a nice long time.
Clara loves both of these boxes of flash cards, so I’ve been waiting not-so-patiently to hang the postcard shelves and rename them as… flash card shelves!
It’s a crazy easy way to add inexpensive art/color/interest plus there are even letters and words on them, so it’s a subtle little learning zone for Clara. She already gets a kick out of counting the number of animals on each shelf, finding specific ones that John or I call out, and even learning the first letter in many of their names (she woke up the other day and said “F is for Flamingo!” loud and proud as I lifted her out of her crib).
One more picture. Because I’m a flash card ledge fiend.
What are you guys cutting/leveling/hanging these days? Do you like to hang things from your first house in a different way or put a new twist on old art/shelves/ledges in a new space? Not gonna lie, it’s pretty fun to tweak something you already have for a whole new room and function. And I’m also pretty proud of myself for not droning on and on for once. 493 words in this post. Wooot! $herdog’s keeping it klassy koncise.
Nice job! I’m trying to figure out how to hang a bulletin board, a magnetic board, a wall paper-filer thingy, and some teeny frames all around my desk. The hardest part is trying to make it look pretty but still be functional. How the HECK of you guys do it?!!
I would lay them on the floor and mess around with the layout until you like it and maybe even use fabric on the bulletin board or paint the frames to work together!
xo,
s
When I was little, I collected miniatures for my shadow box. Maybe Clara could start a “tiny things” collection in the same vein as her Mummy’s ceramic animals obsession!
So cute!
xo,
s
love love love those little shelves. and her flashcards look so adorable on them! i may have to copy this idea when our little guy gets his big boy room. love that it is also so easy to swap out the art when you want to.
Love those Eric Carle flash cards!! They are a class favorite in our pre-school room (18 – 23 month olds). It is so funny to hear the kids shout out “Narwhal!” and “Quetzel!” It’s very surprising for the parents and substitutes. :)
So cute!
xo,
s
We just got the Eric Carle flashcards (the counting ones–are these the counting ones?) for Greta and they are so beautiful!! And thick. Really gorgeous and I love this postcard ledge wall. Too bad we have run out of walls in Greta’s room. Great idea.
Love this! Adds so much color and looks so streamlined. Great idea to use the flashcards. I just got a copy of your book and I am enjoying taking snippets of time during the day to sit down and browse through the ideas. Love that you guys give such creative and accessible ideas! Thanks :-)
Aw thanks so much!
xo,
s
Looks great- it is nice you have such a handy little helper with your projects! Way to go Clara (and John!)
Oh you too Sherrie!
Genious. Minimalistic and affordable, I’d say that’s a win win!
We just gutted our master closet and built/hung some closet organization pieces. Tried to keep it as simple but efficient as possible!
Check it out here -> http://bit.ly/XZJco5
Really cool!
xo,
s
I LOVE the flash cards! Are you worried about the bowing?
Them*
Nah, they’re really thick (think hard cardboard ober poster board) so since the postcards, which were much thinner, did ok, we think these will be great!
xo,
s
Love love love this! Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve been waiting for the perfect idea to dress up the wall above my 2-year old’s dresser and I think I may have just found it!
Love it…we installed some one those types of shelves recently, although ours were from IKEA. That is the childish look I was waiting for…
Love this! So colorful and fun! I like that you didn’t feel obligated to place them in alphabetical order, like this (slightly too organized) gal would have done. :)
I LOVE these. I am a card hoarder – erm, saver – too. I have the most adorable set of cards that detail a friendship between an elephant named Olive and a little yellow bird named BoBo that I am dying to use in a fun way like you did with these flashcards on shelves. Hmmmm, is that the inspiration train I see pulling up outside my door???
Clara’s big girl room is gonna be great! I’ve also had a request from my own big girl for a room update – she turned 5 this year and informed me that her “Orange Sherbet” walls “make me sad and want to cry every day.” Sniff!
This is awesome! I never would have thought of that but it makes tons of sense for a kids room and it can grow with them! I’m seeing pictures of friends going up therein Clara’s tween years!
Such a great idea taping a yard stick! The ledges look great!
This looks so awesome! I love how fresh and clean it looks while still being so much fun.
Also, the pic of Clara and John? Adorable.
What a GREAT idea! I’m helping a friend paint a mural in her baby-to-be’s bedroom, and this sort of idea would be such a great addition. Thanks as always for the inspiration!
I’ve always loved this project and I’m so glad you were able to breathe some life back into it! I’ve been itching to make a photo ledge to display our travel photos and this just makes me want to get on it!
PS. Clara’s first Home Depot trip?!? How precious!
Do I like to hang things differently in this house vs the last house? …Confession, we have boxes and boxes of framed family photos that I have yet to hang (5 years later) in this house. ….I want to change all the frames, the hall needs fresh paint (why hang before painting), I’m terrified of hanging them all crooked on my own, hubs thinks all things hung on a wall need a stud…So, yes.
I think it definitely takes some time ti start hanging stuff! We probably waited nine months or so before we really just decided that hanging things made more sense than letting them sit around.
xo,
s
great idea! the shelves look great – and I bought some vintage alphabet cards for my daughter’s room (which remain in the tin they came in – talk about a “dude, get on that”!) and you just gave me a perfect idea of what to do with them :) but I think my biggest takeaway from this post is using the yardstick – genius!
Very cute! I love how Clara get’s to help and of course the high five. :-) Her room is really coming together. Is she excited to move from her crib to her big girl room?
She loves playing in there but still wants to sleep in her crib so we’re happy to wait until she’s more ready :)
xo,
s
I LOVE this idea!! I would have never thought of something like this but it’s so genius! Pinning!
Such a great idea and fun display! Clara is just.so.adorable!
These look so happy & colourful! After being inspired by them in your old house, I managed to find mini versions at the dollar store for $2 each! They’re a great option for people without tools, like us. Now, I just have to get on that and hang them up!
That’s awesome!
xo,
s
Great idea! And it will be so easy to change up the display with post cards and prints.
“bean-help”.
you’re killin me.
Love Charley Harper’s work. Where did you find flash cards? I have a book of his stuff but there is a bigger book (costs about $100) that I covet!
Clara got them for Christmas last year from her aunt. But maybe try Barnes & Noble or amazon.com?
xo,
s
I found the charley Harper flashcards a couple of weeks ago on sale at land of nod. Maybe they still have them. I think they were around $12.
That’s awesome!
xo,
s
Nice! Thanks, I will look for those flashcards.
Love this! We have some cards I’ve been hoarding/hanging onto for forever-they’re fairy alphabet cards, and bird number cards. I think my kids might be a smidge to old for them now, but I may be able to mix them in with some other fun stuff.
This looks great! Plus, this can really grow with her. I envision lots of photos of friends on there when she is a teen(not that I am rushing that for you. My step-son is 17 and I long for his adorable little baby faced 2 year old self). Anywho, I actually have something similar to this from Ikea, and I love them. It’s great being able to re-purpose these!
Just wondering what the paint color is on the wall? This little room is super precious!
Thanks! It’s Alaskan Skies by Benjamin Moore.
xo,
s
I love how colorful all those flashcards are! Not to mention the shelves will be something that will grow with her :)
I love these! What a great idea to reuse those postcard shelves! They look great in Clara’s big girl room!
Love the flashcards so much! They remind me of some that I made for an ABC party last year…
http://thisnestisbest.com/2012/02/26/abc-school-birthday-party/
Cute!
xo,
s
We have 2 boys, a 3 year old and an 8 month old. Since the baby has been born, I’ve been trying to take similar pictures that I made with the 3 year old. For example, my favorite set is my husband holding each boy with his back to the camera and the baby peeking over my husband’s shoulder at me. I’m starting to frame the sets together and need to find a good place to hang them. It’s been fun trying to recreate the same picture.
So cute!
xo,
s
Such an adorable idea JenB – I may have to steal it one day when I have kids!
This is adorable! One of our first building projects was to make some shelves like this and they’re still sitting in our basement never painted or finished! They are a good first project but then we never put them up (we did something else with that space).
Really, really love it!
Very cute…. and cute that Clara helped. :)
I cannot tell you how much I love this idea! I have vintage postcards, postcards from trips, from summers in CA from friends and this would be an awesome way to get them out of the bins in my closet! Now…to find an open wall. :)
That’s the perfect spot for the postcards. I love the way the playroom is coming along. Clara is a lucky girl!
Love the Charley Harper pictures. Nice article in the Metro Business section of the Richmond paper today on your Shades of Light designs.
No way! Thanks for the heads up!
xo,
s
This looks great! Thanks as always for putting your great ideas out there for the rest of us!
Aw you’re sweet! Of course! We love blogging the days away :)
xo,
s
I secretly adore Clara’s flamingo fascination. They have been my favorite animal since childhood. My fiance has forbidden any more flamingo items in our house! You could make a super cute (and easy!) DIY flamingo costume for Halloween this year :)
Oh my gosh. Some day she is totally going to treasure that photo of her standing on that dresser helping her dad with the drill. So adorable!
It looks great. I just made and hung some book slings for my daughter this weekend. I ordered some flash cards today actually. Clara is so advanced on her speech what games/toys do you use with her? My daughter is 14 months old and it is hard to get her to even sit still to listen to a book.
I think every kid is different (she’s so chatty but didn’t walk until she was 14-15 months!) so I’m not sure how much is nature and how much is nurture, but we read a lot to her as well as talking/explaining a lot to her (narrating what we’re doing, etc). She also loves songs so I think being in a music class since around a year old has been something she loves (and learns words/songs from).
xo,
s
Thanks. My little girl just started walking at 14.5 months old too.
So cute!
xo,
s
LOVE this idea!
A little off topic…. I had my first Young House Love AND Bower Power dream last night! We were all at Home Goods and in my dream y’all were pros at getting in the store, finding what you wanted and getting out. Well I wasn’t so fast and saw you truckin’ it to the registers with a basket full of tablescape items when y’all all shouted “Liz, HURRY! We’re ready to check out!” When I finally got to the registers, y’all were already in the car beeping the horn. It was still pretty awesome :)
Hahaha I love it!
xo,
s
We used those same Charley Harper cards for our little boy’s room! We hung them a little differently though, using burlap strips. Pics here – http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/my-room-soul-ryderlitchfield-n-152653
Love it with the ledges! :-)
Really cute!
xo,
s
I love seeing Clara helping! I had totally forgotten about the card wall from the old house, and this is a fantastic way to brighten up the room. I love the ease of being able to rotate what’s on display.
I love this look! I like how it can work for any age, kid or adult and transition with a kid since you can always change out what is on the ledge. My parents used to do this for my sister and I with books, hoping they could sleep just a little bit more when we woke up at 4am.
Taping a yardstick = brilliant.
That, friends, is why I spend hours on this site.
Haha thanks! John’s the brains behind that brilliant idea!
xo,
s