Drum-roll, please.... I know that both of you readers have been waiting with bated breath.  Wait no longer.  Here you go.

I wanted to start with this split screen shot so you can fully appreciate the change from baby girl to "I am a sophisticated 7 year old!"  My, oh my--was that birthday girl thrilled AND surprised.  My evil plot worked, and it was fun, albeit a bit frazzling, to work with the my boys over the 4 hours we had to put it all together while we had her out of the house.  Did I mention that I had to leave for an hour-and-a-half for my twice weekly physical therapy during that time?  Whew.  But those darling "bubbies" appropriately oohed, ahhed, hammered, and even made that bed--sheets and all.  

I wish I could show you the video of Caris running in the door, screaming and shrieking, "Oh, I love my new room, I love my new room, I love my new room!" while she jumped up and down.  But, I forgot that this new fangled iPhone that I got 4 months ago has a nifty new invention called VIDEO.  So, only a still shot was taken (funny--I didn't forget it took pictures).
And, now, for your viewing pleasure...more stills shots.   Take it all in, folks.  Because I have to say that I am rather proud of my $168 re-do.  I think we managed to kick it up a notch--and all on a budget.
This is neither the before nor the after--but rather the DURING.  Chaos ensued.

I would have loved a room like this when I was a girl.  Or now.  You know, either way. Oh, and allow me to point something out.  Wal-Mart did not have a matching dust ruffle.  So I bought an extra twin sheet set.  That "dust ruffle" is a twin flat sheet.  See below for what happened to the extra fitted sheet.


I re-purposed these old shadow boxes that have sat in my closet for 3 years.  A little black spray paint I found in the garage, a cut up fitted sheet for the background, and those darling baby outfits that once hung on a peg found a new home.

And this one, on a different wall, is the new home for some of the paper dolls that belonged to Caris' grandma.  (Notice the lovely light switch plate installed by biggest brother).

Bargain lamp, ribbon covered recipe box for the nightly Scripture note cards from mom, and little ribbon hot-glued to existing cream frames.  Voila!

My revised window treatment...out with the baby clothes, in with the personalization.  AND, a perfect solution for dust mite allergy girl, if I do say so myself.  No cloth to collect dust up there.

Thank you, Hobby Lobby, for this wall's decor!  I just painted the cork this hot pink to make the bulletin board really special. (p.s.  if you are all about symmetry like I am, don't worry!  I will be purchasing one more little cross to round out this collection).


I think this focal point is maybe my favorite part?  Cut on my Cricut, used up some black vinyl, and there you have it, folks.  No need to purchase such an item from some pricey store that rhymes with Ottery Arn.

That is one happy customer (along with her new American Girl doll, Josefina).  She just wanted to stop and sit a spell to soak it all in. 


There are still a couple of things to do--such as add a black boa behind those two green paintings so that they POP.  And, while I planned to sew a new slipcover for her great-grandmother's chair, Caris decided it was JUST fine like it is!  That works for me.  I love that she swears she sleeps better in her "new room."  


Stay tuned for future projects, bloggy friends.  I got the itch.  Ya know, having been in this house for 3 years, it's about time I do some updating.  Be watching on Frugal Fridays to see the trouble I get into!  And, feel free to craft-lift any of my ideas, any ole time.

No older brothers were injured or harmed during the making of this room re-do. And, yes this post is named Frugal Friday, yet it was published on a Thursday night.  At least I'm not a day late and a dollar short, as my Granny used to say.