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    Little Golden Storybook Art

    May 5, 2010 |

    Have an old book with lots of memories or a damaged book that you’d love to do something with?

    During my awesome trip to Goodwill that went down in the record books, I found this Little Golden Book, circa 1942, for 49 cents!

    image

    When I opened it, I fell in love with the artwork and colors and thought it would be perfect in Lily’s room!

    The walls have been bare since we moved in and I’ve kinda neglected Lily-fying it, so this was the perfect thing to get me in gear with decorating.

    image

    Here’s a look at her bedding (oh hi, Miss Purple Soothie!)

    image

     image

    After I found the book, I was on the hunt for simple, multiple, matching frames.

    I found these IKEA Ribba frames at a garage sale for $1 each, and had Doug spray paint them with two coats of flat, white Rustoleum spray paint.

    (Updated to add: IKEA no longer sells these in wood finish. I've tried painting the new finish and it didn't work out very well. I no longer recommend painting these frames unless you are using the older, wooden kind!) 

    I took the book, picked what pages I wanted to display, and ripped them carefully out of the book, and adhered them to the matte.

    Please don’t hurt me! I’m not a book hater! I was going to scan the pages and print them, but the book was already damaged.

    I put the pictures in the frames, used my picture hanging technique here to hang the pictures. and that’s it! I’m loving the vintage touch it adds to the room and now the walls aren’t so bare.

    bambi2

    bambi1

    bambi3

    Thanks for reading! What do you think?

    If you too have fallen in love with the book and artwork, I've found similar copies on Etsy.

    More kids' room

    • How to Keep Kids Clothes from Taking Over
    • Simple Shared Kids Room
    • Built-In Shelf and Bookrack from an Old Window Opening
    • Very Hungry Caterpillar Upcycled Wall Art

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Robin

      January 28, 2015 at 2:42 pm

      Where did you get your crib?

    2. Jennifer Saranow Schultz

      September 24, 2013 at 10:24 am

      I love the idea of turning children's books into wall art and I referenced your post as inspiration in a piece I wrote today on thrifty wall art for kids' rooms
      http://hintmama.com/2013/09/24/todays-hint-a-thrifty-trick-for-kids-room-wall-art/
      As I write, calendar images and images from art books also make great wall art. I transformed images from an old Winnie the Pooh calendar into wall art for my daughter's room. Thanks again for the inspiration!

    3. Amanda

      December 29, 2012 at 9:34 pm

      What size of frame did you use? I am putting together my daughter's nursery and I am using a vintage Cinderella Golden Book.

    4. Beckheartsphotography

      November 29, 2010 at 12:31 am

      Hi Ann,I stumbled across your blog this afternoon and I can't stop cruising through it! I absolutely love this idea!! Great job!Keep it up!

    5. CoopDeVilla

      May 15, 2010 at 10:11 pm

      I have a couple of books that I just look and look at, can't throw away because they are so darn cute. Now I know what to do. Thank You for showing us your pictures and darling nursery.

    6. Leigh and Greg

      May 15, 2010 at 3:35 pm

      That is adorable, what a good idea!

    7. Bec

      May 15, 2010 at 3:08 pm

      I've seen other people use a variation of this idea, but I like yours the best- has such a neat modern/vintage feel!

    8. Anne Maskell

      May 15, 2010 at 2:37 pm

      they turned out great! I found you at tatertots and jello, and now I'm a follower!

    9. Sunshine and Shadows

      May 11, 2010 at 10:38 pm

      I don't know if I could cut up a book, but dang - it looks so good as pictures.

    10. Lara Harris

      May 11, 2010 at 6:24 pm

      What a lovely idea!

    11. Kaysi

      May 10, 2010 at 8:03 pm

      What a great idea!!! I love the crib skirt too!!

    12. JHill

      May 10, 2010 at 11:54 pm

      Beautiful! I think vintage children's books made the most adorable nursery decorations!Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills Party!

    13. [email protected]

      May 10, 2010 at 10:53 pm

      I love, love, love old children's books. This is such a sweet addition to the room. Looks great in those frames!Kelly

    14. BLJ Graves Studio

      May 10, 2010 at 10:02 pm

      Such a fabulous idea. They look great!

    15. tracylynne

      May 10, 2010 at 9:12 pm

      I loved Bambi when I was little-these are sweet!

    16. Nike

      May 10, 2010 at 8:45 pm

      Love, love, love this idea! Have to try this in my girls' room.

    17. micah @ the yellow front door

      May 09, 2010 at 11:15 pm

      very cute idea!!

    18. Mom of 11

      May 09, 2010 at 7:14 pm

      MOGosh... It looks great! I never would have thought to use pictures from books as art on the wall! Great Find!

    19. Jessica

      May 09, 2010 at 4:07 am

      Love it! It reminds me of what I did in my daughter's room- I bought a package of vintage Dick and Jane flash cards at the Dollar Store and framed four of them in four small white frames. For another wall I bought a calendar of vintage Barbie images at Costco for ten bucks and framed three of them. I love your baby's room!

    20. Jennifer

      May 09, 2010 at 3:53 am

      What a great idea! My husband & I both have a bunch of little golden books from when we were small. I may have to do something like this with them. 🙂

    21. Mrs. Muffins

      May 08, 2010 at 6:39 pm

      I love that idea! I used to have a lot of those books when I was little!xx

    22. Bonnie @ House of Grace

      May 08, 2010 at 2:53 pm

      Looks great!!! It totally adds to her room, such a sweet idea! Keep up the good work! Happy 100th post, wow, that was quick.Bonnie

    23. Lindsay

      May 08, 2010 at 6:34 pm

      Very nice Anne Marie!! I did the same thing with Winnie the Pooh in Skyler's room!!

    24. Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking

      May 08, 2010 at 2:34 am

      What a sweet idea! My head is spinning with the possibilities with this project. Thanks for linkin' up at the POPP.

    25. Stephenie from Decorating Addiction

      May 07, 2010 at 12:51 pm

      They are darling. What a great idea!

    26. Becky Jean

      May 07, 2010 at 7:36 am

      I have tons of old books that work for my girls room, thanks for the idea!

    27. Allison @ House of Hepworths

      May 07, 2010 at 12:59 am

      These are adorable! I'd love for you to link them up at my party!! It's today only, so hurry on by! ;)http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2010/05/05/lets-hook-up/

    28. Mother Lode

      May 07, 2010 at 12:09 am

      love it!! i was recently conflicted over repurposing a children's book, but went for it, and love the puzzle blocks I made!http://www.camilledawn.com/2010/04/storybook-puzzle-blocks.html

    29. Leah

      May 06, 2010 at 6:20 pm

      I am in love! What a FABULOUS idea!

    30. Kendra Goodrich

      May 06, 2010 at 3:13 am

      What a great idea! I love it, don't worry, no one thinks your a book hater. It actually shows how much you DO love books!

    31. [email protected] with power tools

      May 05, 2010 at 8:48 pm

      I love it!I've wanted to do this with an old storybook I have but can't bear to tear... so I may scan in the pages and print them out! If I had an extra copy I'd be ripping them pages out!

    32. carissa @ lowercase letters

      May 05, 2010 at 8:44 pm

      you are so stinkin' crafty!!! i love love love this! they look adorable and perfect for lily's room. i must go on a hunt for a book so i can do this for sage. oh, and bring on the white rustoleum!!! i think we used it for every single thing in our lil' gal's nursery.

    33. kim

      May 05, 2010 at 3:31 pm

      What a cute cute idea. I believe I use to have that book. Either me or my kids. I may have to do something like that in my future grandchild's room. Thanks for coming by and following me. I will do the same.

    34. Sammy

      May 05, 2010 at 7:58 pm

      That's so cute! I love those Little Golden Books, I remember all of them from my childhood.

    35. Allison

      May 05, 2010 at 7:12 pm

      Adorable! We did the same thing in my daughter's nursery ... tore out images from an old Cinderella book and make a grouping over her crib! I love it! It's featured on my blog if you want to check it out:http://designlifeinc.blogspot.com/2010/04/bellas-nursery.html

    36. Jessica

      May 05, 2010 at 1:36 pm

      Love it! It works PERFECT in her room! <3

    37. Melissa

      May 05, 2010 at 6:19 pm

      Love it - I adore Little Golden Books...

    38. Debbie

      May 05, 2010 at 6:18 pm

      Now that was clever and so cute! I loved bambi books, had a few myself, and I recall reading them with such delight! Thanks for stopping by and following, gotta ya back:)

    39. Amanda

      May 05, 2010 at 4:51 pm

      That is a wonderful idea! Way to think outside the box!

    40. Suzanne

      May 05, 2010 at 4:16 pm

      Adorable. They look like vintage masterpieces!

    41. beckaboots

      May 05, 2010 at 3:15 pm

      Wow those look great! I love vintage pictures and illustrations! Sooo cute. You did a great job and now I can copy you 🙂 haha.-Bekah

    42. The Brick Cottage

      May 05, 2010 at 1:03 pm

      So stinkin' cute! I remember that book from when I was young (along with all of the other Little Golden Books). They were always my favorites. I love how they look in the frames.

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