Wall decals are totally "IN" right now, and I totally LOVE them! The problem is I'm not willing to spend much money on them. My solution, I made my own for WAY less $$! I don't have a Cricut machine, and I didn't use vinyl, but it's the same idea. This post from The Craft Patch is what inspired me, and although it's completely different, it got me to thinkin'...I had a brown sheet that was perfect for this idea, a search on google, and some felt to finish it up would do the trick. Sorry I didn't take too many pictures again (didn't have this little blog), but you'll get the idea. If you have questions I'd be happy to answer them :) I'd still like to add more leaves, maybe add some more color to it, and I wish I would have made the trunk wider. Overall, I'm really happy with how this experiment turned out!
This is how I did it:
1. From queen size or full size sheet, cut out the shape. I'm no artist but I looked at a picture and did it free-hand (probably why the trunk turned out a little funny?)
2. Using push pins, I hung the now "decal" to the wall for placements. Then I used spray starch (like the kind you use for clothes) to adhere the decal on the wall (almost like wall paper). My decal is big, and I drenched the fabric, still had plenty of starch left over :) If you do this,make sure to re-pin the decal once the starch is on, until it dries. When it's completely dry, remove push pins.
3. From felt, I cut leaves/birds (or any other desired shapes). I didn't want to waste my time trying to starch-spray these to the wall...I put a little tape on the back, and stuck those little birdies up there! :)
I simply wiped any starch residue on the wall away with a wet cloth. This works great for me since we are guaranteed to move in the next 6-18 months! The decals will peel off the wall with ease, leaving no residue! Perfect for renters on a budget, and a 3 year old girl who doesn't care about the imperfections!!!*Brittney*
Thanks for sharing this great idea Brittney!!
I love this idea, I have been swapping a bedroom with a craft room in my home, to make the craft room the bigger of the two of course, and the bedroom walls are so boring... I will indeed be doing something like this! :) Love it!! TFS!
ReplyDeleteOkay, here is a dumb question.. Do you put the starch on the back or the front of the fabric? I'm assuming the back? For the felt you could also use poster putty - works great!
ReplyDeleteMissy - the starch goes on back & then you brush more on the front after you place it on the surface. Since it's liquid, the entire fabric will be wet. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI'm starting a new sew along, come check it out at TheTrainToCrazy.com!
I have done this for many years! I pour the liquid starch in a container and just lay the fabric in it so it is soaked...gently squeeze out and press onto wall without having to use push pins. I have had good success with this on concrete walls, even. You can cut out cute prints - which is how I decorated my sons nursery, just little barnyard animals from a print.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my daughter cut out black lettering from fabric and had them up in her apartment for a year - but when we took them down, it did leave a black residue on the wall...faint but still readable. Bleach water did not remove.....but Mr. Clean miracle erasers quickly took it all off!
Those are good tips Janice! I don't use pins either - with cotton (and as long as the shapes aren't crazy huge) it should stick up nicely on its own.
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog today while jumping from blog to blog and I must say, This is genius!!! We are renters and are moving into a house in the next couple of weeks and I'm so excited to try this in my boys room. I will definetly be following your blog from now on!!!
ReplyDeleteFound on pinterest...
ReplyDeleteThis is great- thanks for sharing. Plan to do a tree in our living room and write on then add "thankful leaves" with toddlers and hubby for the Thanksgiving season.
Great idea Kadra! Would love to see it when you do - just link it to the weekly Craftastic party:)
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