Crib Easel

I snagged this crib from my sister's garage over Christmas.  It is a drop side crib, therefore not going to be used as a sleeping place for my new, adorable little nephew.  I was helping them out really, by clearing the space in the garage, doing a good deed as it were ;-)  Immediately I knew the ends would become an easel, but the details still had to be worked out.  A few trips to home depot and a few days of rummaging through my stash of stuff and it all came together.  I took a poll from our friends on Facebook and a few of them mentioned leaving the backside open which I really liked.  I did not want to do a chalkboard on one side and a white board on the other.  Ikea and Melissa & Doug have perfected those easels already.  I wanted it to be different.  So I considered cork, thinking it would be a great way to display children's art work, or if a store buys it, to display ads or specials.  The thought of push pins and littles did cross my mind as a bad idea.  A mom suggested mounting clothes pins.  Good idea, but I wasn't sure now sturdy, long term they would be.  So I opted for knobs with string (that can be replaced as need be with ease) and tiny clothes pins.  What do you think?  

Imagination Station

 The white board/paper creation side - note the metal strip down each side for magnets, the trays to contain your drawing utensils or paint, the cork and the paper roll.

One of the Gourmet Giggle team members was asked to help with two auction items for Plew Elementary's art auction.  The first item she came up with is this adorable art easel.  Don't you just love it?  I am always so amazed by her creativity.  Can you guess what it used to be?

a close up of the metal strip for magnetic numbers and letter storage

The chalkboard

We named her Imagination Station

Little miss P was mighty curious!

The ruler accents really make the chalk board "measure up"

Chalk and eraser holder