Learn to paint wallpaper borders
Painted wall borders can add personal decorative touches to almost any
room. Playful borders done in cookie cutter shapes give brightness and
color to children's rooms and play areas. Designs and shapes cut from
potatoes can give a uniform, comfortable feel to dens and living rooms.
Instead of reaching for expensive wallpaper border, try designing your
own.
MEASURE A BORDER
You can measure a room border using several different methods. The easiest
perhaps, is to use a yardstick or tape measure and mark off the desired
height of the border. Once this is done, use a yardstick and pencil (or
marking chalk and string) to mark the line uniformly on the walls to be
painted.
Free-form borders are those which are not entirely uniform. Free form
borders are perfect for play areas and children's rooms. Splash designs
in diagonal patterns, zig-zags, or any pattern you choose. You won't need
to measure free-form borders, though it's a good idea to at least chalk
a general pattern on the wall before you begin.
COOKIE CUTTER BORDERS
Common household cookie cutters can be used in more rooms than just the
kitchen! Use cookie cutters to add color and playfulness to children's
rooms, bathrooms, or play rooms.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Cookie cutters
Acrylic paints
Flat craft paintbrushes
Pencil
1. Measure and mark your border. Cookie cutter borders can be done free-form,
as well, adding to their playfulness.
2. Using a pencil or marking tool, trace around cookie cutter so that
it leaves a visible mark on the area you'll be painting. Continue tracing
until you've covered the entire border area to be painted.
3. Using your paintbrush, paint inside the shapes you've just traced on
to the wall.
4. If desired, outline each shape with a separate color or paint the color
in between cutter shapes.
TIPS, TRICKS, AND IDEAS
GLOW IN THE DARK paints can be used to paint stars, moons, suns and other
shapes on a child's bedroom ceiling.
USE different cookie cutter shapes to create a theme in a room. For example,
a combination of hearts, hands, and gingerbread men make a nice touch
in a nursery area.
POTATO PRINT BORDERS
Potatoes provide creative minds with an inexpensive way to add design
and flair to any room. With a little imagination, a few tools, and a couple
vegetables, you can quickly become a seasoned interior designer. Potato
printing is best done on flat surfaces, including walls, bookshelves,
frames, and similar surfaces.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Potatoes
Felt-tip or craft marking pen
Exacto or craft knife
Flat dish
1. Measure and mark your border.
2. Cut a potato in half and clean thoroughly with warm water. Dry with
paper towel.
3. Use a craft pen or felt-tip pen to draw a design, initials, or similar
item on to the flat edge of the potato. If you make a mistake, simply
trim away 1/2-inch of the potato with a sharp knife and begin again.
4. When you are satisfied with your design, use an exacto or craft knife
to cut your design into the potato.
5. Pour your paint into a flat bottomed dish, such as a glass pie pan
or paint lid.
6. Place the potato into the paint gently, so that the paint covers your
design.
7. Try stamping a few "samples" on to a piece of paper first
to make sure you're satisfied with your design. When you are, lightly
stamp your design on to the wall using firm, even pressure and equal amounts
of paint.
TIPS, TRICKS, AND IDEAS
YOU can also use pumpkin carving tools to design and scoop out your pattern
from the potato.
USE stencils to trace intricate designs on potatoes.
YOU can make your own stencil by creating it on paper first and then pinning
it to the potato. With a craft marking tool, trace and cut through your
outline.
DESIGNER SPONGE PAINT BORDERS
Household sponges can be used for more than just mopping up spills. The
unique texture of sponges make them an easy way to add a colorful border
to almost any room!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Sponges
Pen
Scissors
Flat dish
1. Mark and measure your border.
2. Add warm water to a clean sponge and wring out so that it is only slightly
damp.
3. Use a pen and make a design your sponge stamp. You can make a shape,
initials, or multi-level pattern.
4. Cut the design from your sponge using a craft knife or scissors.
5. Pour small amount of paint into a shallow dish, such as a pie plate
or paint cover.
6. Gently push your sponge into the paint. (You may want to practice applying
your design to a sheet of paper first. When you're satisfied with the
appearance and technique you'll use, continue.) Using a firm hand, gently
push the sponge on to the wall in an even manner. Repeat around the entire
border until you are satisfied with the appearance.
TIPS, TRICKS, AND IDEAS
USE a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes from sponges for children's rooms,
bathrooms, or play rooms.
STENCILS provide great outlines for shapes and letters.
CUT sponges into shapes for quick borders that add color and texture to
any room.
USES sponges with different textures to create a color balance in any
room.
STAMP-A-DESIGN
Rubber stamps and acrylic paint make for an easy-to-design border. This
border is best used on flat surfaces.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Rubber or foam stamps
Acrylic paint or stamping paints
Pencil
Shallow paint dish
1. Measure and mark your wall border.
2. Place small amount of acrylic paint into a shallow dish.
3. Gently push rubber stamp into paint.
4. Apply gentle pressure to the stamp as you place it against the wall.
Firm, even pressure and a small amount of paint will ensure a uniform
appearance.
TIPS, TRICKS, AND IDEAS
THE LARGER the stamp pattern, the easier it is to stamp your border.
PAINT the inside of the stamp to add even more color and design to your
border. Use acrylic paints and small craft brushes to detail stamp patterns.
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