I've already mentioned before that we're not doing a crib this time, but the pack and play instead. This is the one we've picked out.
(we'll be using the bassinet portion for a while)
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/04/74/06/10/0004740610374_215X215.jpg

I'm wanting to do a full crib bedding type thing, though, as Bailey will be living in this room:
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll192/brians_southern_belle/104_1259.jpg
It was originally designed to be a dining room, but we later turned it into a play room. It will now be Bailey's room. Eventually, we'll be walling it in and making it it's own seperate room, but for now, it's open into the living room. I won't be painting or doing much decorating, so I want to do the whole crib bedding.

My question:
should I just do the curtains, a pillow for the rocker, and maybe a lamp and frame for night stand and then a blanket only or do you think the "skirt" type things that are on a bassinets, you know that go UNDER the mattress and skirt over the edges? Brian says that will "cover" the playpen and keep "kind minded" family from saying things like "oh, you have no crib" and stuff like that. We CHOSE not to have a crib and don't want to have to explain that one, LOL

So, what do you all think? just blanket or should I skirt it overall like a bassinet/cradle?

Depends on the amount of work you feel like doing. The skirt would be cute. How do you plan on attaching it? Besides...you know I'm of the school You Need To Do What's Best For YOUR Family and ignore all the nay sayers. ;) So if you like it. Brian likes it. ALL that matters then.

I'd make it easy....big plush throw rug for under the bassinet/playpen to coordinate the floor color better....coordinating sheer curtain panels or valence...maybe both. I would do browns to match the playpen, but coordinate easily with about any decor in the future to keep costs down. Toss in some teal/brown throw pillows and a lamp shade.

I like the skirt idea, maybe elastic all the way around the top for ease of removal...it would hide the playpen while you're not using it and give you storage since there won't be much storage area in the room you're in it looks like....

For storage, you could grab those cube storage sets (metal or wood) at Target and get brown and soft teal fabric storage bins they sell to match the set you make and give easy storage...laid on its side, it would set right under the counter over-hang easy....works for clothes/diapers/toys/etc! Pretty cheap too and can easily change the baskets to other colors later if you want for fairly good price! Have fun!

we're actually using cow print, red bandana, and denim, so I'll be covering the playpen colors. I definately won't be going overboard spending, Bree. Just not workable right now. We'll wait until he's older and can chose his own stuff for that, :-)

Keri, I was thinking taking a rectangle the size of the mattress, adding four sides to it, to go UP the inside of the pp, then starting the skirt part there. You'd take the mattress OUT and put the skirt on then put the mattress back in on top, so I could use a cheap natural muslin for that, and it would go with the country look.

As for the curtain, I'm leaning, now, toward a roman shade type look. I'm hoping to start working on this stuff in the next couple weeks. I think we're buying the pp either the end of this month, or the first of next. Not sure yet.

Good to meet another non crib mama, we did the same and never had a nursery either for any of our kids. Just wasn't our thing, money was tight, and well to us nurseries were silly (that was our opinion though, not to offend anyone)

We actually gave our crib to my brother a few kids ago, had it for the first 2 hardly used it and those cribs take up a lot of space! We went from a porta crib like you have right a bed each time. Worked out great for us.

Don't worry Kana about those asking about a crib, you are great with the comebacks I have seen in the past. Do only the amount of work you want to. If you want to do a cover over the sides that would be cute too. I love the idea of using that for an area for Bailey it will be so cute even if its not his own room yet no big deal. Me, I'm not one for traditional anything really when it comes to babies. (which I do get those strange looks when I explain our travel home and even home kids sleeping set up) But I don't care, really its what works for us and most importantly for the kids. Their bedrooms are just that their *bed* rooms, playing happens elsewhere.

With your theme of cowboy it can easily pour into other parts of the home. And I know material can be expensive at times as well. But I do know whatever you make it'll be the cutest thing ever. Have fun and just enjoy doing what you can. I'm just a less fuss kind of mom always have been.

thanks, renee. yeah, I'm looking at the fabrics now. Got my plan drew up, and I'm calling around to get the best prices. I'm going fabric shopping with my mom in a couple weeks, I'm decorating her bathroom for the holidays, and I think I may look at some stuff while we're out. With the amounts I need, I'll probably buy a print a week until I have it all, but Hey, that's fine.

I love your ideas, Kana!! [claploud] Can't wait to see pics as you begin putting it all together! [dance] Sounds like so much fun, girlfriend! [girlsmiley]

[loveyou]

Joy [welcomewave]

may be changing the theme, again. but still similar, LOL. found the crib sets we used when the little guys shared a room and we may be incorporating that into the denim/bandana/cow stuff, but it'll work, it's a barnyard thing, :-) Now off to plan more, LOL (gotta love the hubby and his decisions, no matter how many they may be, LOL)

wow! So i repurposed the old crib set (part of it, anyway) to go with the bassinet we already had BECAUSE.................

a friend of mine offered to sale us their mini-crib for $30. It's only like 1 1/2-2 years old, been through ONE child. They bought it b/c the baby was sick a lot and his fullsize crib wouldn't fit in their room. It'll fit perfect in the room Bailey is in, and get this....

it's nearly the same finish as my piano. It's a bit off, but it'll go fine.

Since we had TWO of the crib sets, I'll be using the one I didn't repurpose on the minicrib, so they'll match, LOL.

We decided the cow print won't go, and changed the bandana to a red gingham type plaid, but keeping the denim.

Woohooo! So cool about the new(ish) crib! [claploud] Your decor changes sound really cute, too! [lovesmile] I vote for pics as you go! [welcomehi]

[loveflag]

Joy [welcomewave]

thanks, Joy! I'll try to get pics soon, but I may wait until we have most of it done. :-)