Car seat, diapers, changing table, crib, stroller, blankets, onesies: A new baby is a bundle of joy that also costs a bundle of cash.

Nursery decor is one area where new parents can save some money by creating their own design elements.

Opting for DIY doesn’t mean missing out on the fun of browsing stores and catalogs: Often a splurge item — such as a $400 Jonathan Adler giraffe lamp — can serve as inspiration for a cheaper, handmade version, says Pam Ginocchio, co-founder of baby design site Project Nursery.

Here, Ginocchio, her business partner, Melisa Fluhr, and a few other DIY design bloggers share their favorite projects for baby’s room. Whether you’re creating a cozy nest at home or seeking ideas for a shower gift, these crafts can add warmth and style to a little one’s space.

DECOUPAGE TREE

(from Pam Ginocchio and Melisa Fluhr, ProjectNursery.com)

Wall trees have become a popular trend in nursery dcor; try this project in lieu of a pricey vinyl decal.

Materials: scrapbook paper (any size); about 20 sheets for a 6-foot tree; Mod Podge matte finish; scissors; 2-inch-wide paintbrush or foam craft brush; paper bowl or plate; ladder or step stool

Step 1: Take fabric swatches from your baby’s bedding to a crafts or paper store, and grab a mix of printed, solid and glittered papers in the same color family.

Step 2: Start building the tree at the part of the trunk where the limbs begin to branch off. Cut or tear the paper (imperfect edges give a vintage feel), making each branch the thickness and length you want. Apply the Mod Podge to the back of each piece with the paintbrush or craft brush, and press the scrap against the wall. With this glue, the piece will be moveable at first if you don’t like your initial placement.

Step 3: Let it grow! As the limbs reach out and up, tear the paper thinner, just like on a real tree. Create the tree trunk with various-size scraps of paper using a collage technique. For a cute addition, hang the baby’s name off a low branch that reaches out across the crib.

Step 4: Stack some of the leftover paper and cut out simple leaves. Cluster them along the branches. You can adorn the tree with birds, butterflies or even rhinestones.

http://projectnursery.com/2012/06/diy-how-to-make-a-decoupage-tree/

FABRIC MIRROR

(From Carrie McBride, ApartmentTherapy.com)

Materials: fabric scraps; aluminum foil; fabric stiffener; craft store mirror; cardboard; string; super glue

Step 1: When you design a space for a little one, chances are you’ll end up with leftover fabric. This project is a great way to use up those scraps. Lay the fabric on pieces of aluminum foil. Brush fabric stiffener onto the material and smooth out bubbles or wrinkles. Let dry completely, then peel off the foil.

Step 2: Sketch a lion or other animal onto a piece of paper and cut it out. Trace the shapes onto the back of the stiffened fabric. Cut out fabric shapes. The fabric stiffener will prevent the edges from unraveling.

Step 3: Cut a small scrap of cardboard smaller than the mirror. Punch two holes and tie a string through them. Glue the cardboard onto the back of the mirror. This will allow you to hang the fabric mirror when it’s finished.

Step 4: Cut a large circle inside the lion’s mane (or the face of your animal). Line up the mirror in the hole and glue it to the back of the fabric so the edges are hidden. Let everything dry completely, then hang.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/diy-fabric-mirrorhow-to-128837

PICTURE FRAME MOBILE

(From McBride, ApartmentTherapy.com)

Materials: 8 mini frames (available at craft stores; check the bridal section); one larger frame; about 3 yards of ribbon, divided into four uneven sections; decorative paper; photos or art reduced to fit small frames; 4 screw eyes; fishing line or thin wire; glue stick; paint; polyurethane

Step 1: Paint the frames to make them colorful. Some may need a light sanding first. Add a coat of polyurethane after the paint is dry.

Step 2: If any of your frames has a support arm on the back to prop it up, pull it off. You want the back of the mini frame to be smooth.

Step 3: Put your photos or artwork in the small frames. (You could use abstract art, photos of vintage trucks or pictures of baby’s cousins, for instance.)

Step 4: To connect two small frames vertically, run the ribbon behind the artwork but inside the frame back. Cut a piece of decorative paper the same size as each frame back and, with a glue stick, paste it on.

Step 5: Remove the glass and backing from the large frame. Hang the four pairs of small frames from the large frame by twisting four screw eyes into the back of the large frame and then tying a ribbon to each screw eye.

Step 6: Tie a length of fishing line or thin wire to each screw eye, then tie all four pieces together so the mobile hangs evenly. Knot the end for attaching to a ceiling hook.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/pretty-as-a-picture-frame-mobi-144393