We have all heard the expression; "It takes a village to raise a child." This assertion is true in all parameters, even financially. Gone are the days when expecting parents welcomed their new addition into the world, bartering the physician's services for an ample supply of produce.

Bringing a child into the world these days requires an ample supply of cash . . . bottom line. There are, however, ways to make those child rearing dollars stretch. Decorating the baby's nursery should only cost you a bit of time and some creativity. Those dollars would be better allocated to diapers and formula.

The baby market is booming (no pun intended), and parents shell out thousands of dollars customizing their old study for the new baby. New mommies and daddies want the best for their babies, but their focus tends to turn toward material possessions when their love, time and basic essentials is all the little tike requires.

A child will never remember the Laura Ashley bedding set, the $800.00 crib, the adorable little airplane mobile from Pottery Barn or the antique Radio Flyer wagon you spent way too much for on ebay. All they really need is to be loved, and parents can show some of that love by making their new room and possessions truly special.

Ask every member of your family if they have anything unique to gift your new arrival. Grandma may still have her silver comb, brush, mirror set she had as a little girl. Grandpa could still be hanging on to his stick horse on which he rode the wide-open range as a boy. Your child will treasure these mementos for years to come due to their familial history, as well as the stories they will have inspired. Use these inherited gifts as display only, as they may contain mercury or lead paint. If the baby mouths the items, these contaminants become ingested, causing some adverse health issues.

When decorating the nursery's walls, think like a child. Decide on a theme, and pencil in your artwork as if you were five years old, drawing a picture for Mom to proudly display on the fridge. Use your crayons (i.e., non-toxic paint) to color between the lines and bring life to your creations.

If you are not comfortable with freehand design, do a search for printable coloring books online, select the ones you want, and have clear transfers made at your local office supply store. Rent an overhead projector (available at most office supply or teacher stores), dim the lights and trace your design directly onto the wall. Moving the projector forward will make the image smaller, and moving it away from the wall will enlarge it.

Use a combination of coloring book pages to compile a scene suitable for your theme. After tracing the outlines onto the wall, you simply fill in the areas with paint, and your masterpiece is complete. Be sure to color outside the lines on a few things just for fun!

"The whole [wall] is your canvas." Make your scenes elaborate and detailed or plain and simple. You are the artist, and you are only five years old . . . remember? The uniqueness and child-like qualities of the art bring the aesthetic appeal enjoyed by young and old alike.