The steps below follow the order of the work for this methods project.
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Submitted By Burlap And Denim
There is nothing like a mural or accent wall to give life to a stale box bedroom. I am kind of obsessed with them, partly for their drama and partly because they can be so straightforward and low-cost! I currently, as of this post, have 4 murals in my humble abode. I have painted each one. Now, don’t get the wrong option. I am not some fabulously talented artist, painter or magician. What I have learned over time is how to make murals direct, funky, and dramatic. Anyone can do this, seriously, anyone. I am going to do a 4 post walkthrough, one post for each mural I have done. I will start with the easiest and they will progressively get more difficult. Ready for round 1? Here we go.
The Pottery Barn Kids World Map Outline Mural
I love opening my Pottery Barn Kids catalog and seeing what their set geniuses have come up with. A few years ago I came across this photo for an airplane themed room.
I knew when I saw the blue wall with white outlined map that I could do this mural. My son had an airplane room turned Indiana Jones, but this mural was so direct and in classic colors, I figured it would go with just about any accessories in a house with 4 boys!
Materials:
Blank Wall (painted the color of your choice) Printed Map Page Protector Fine Sharpie Overhead Projector Elmer’s Painters pen
I started by painting one wall in my son’s room blue. I continued by searching the internet for a clean and direct world map. HERE is a similar map to the one I used (I couldn’t find the original one I used).
Unless you are an memorable artist that can free hand that map on the wall, you are going to need an overhead projector. If you don’t have an overhead projector laying around (like I do!) check your local library, many check them out for free. The next step is to transfer the map to a transparency for use with an overhead projector. You can do this by purchasing an expensive box of overhead projector sheets at an office supply store or take your image to Kinko’s and have them run one off for you.
Being the low-cost and antsy person that I am, I found another way. I took a clear sheet protector and slipped a black and white print off of the map inside. Then, with a fine Sharpie, I outlined the map on the top layer of the sheet protector. After I took out the sheet, I laid it on the projector opposite the blue wall.
Turn the projector on and move it closer or farther away depending on the size of the mural you want. Now, the straightforward part! Purchase one Elmer’s Painters pen in the color of your choice. I chose white, obviously. I was nervous as to how many pens I would need, but for the entire 12-13 ft wall, one pen did the trick. The great thing about using a pen is NO mess! No need to make tiny brush strokes, just trace the projected map lines on the wall. This took just a couple of hours and I love the results.
(look at the Indiana Jones Adventure room
I painted this mural in HERE)
As you can see I moved everything away that was in front of the map for the photo. It actually makes a great backdrop for my son’s desk and other decorative accessories.
The Elmer’s Painters pen worked better than I could have imagined. It was just like the ones I remembered from the ’80′s, you know the ones that everyone used to write their name on EVERYTHING you own. They are available at Michael’s for around $3 each (use a coupon of course) and I chose the one with the calligraphy tip.
Well, there is my first course in making an straightforward mural. Stay tuned for Murals 101 part 2, 3, and 4. Let me know what murals you have done in your home, I’d love to see them!
