Thursday, May 13, 2010

DIY Wall Decals

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!!!

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Monday @ Sew Can Do
Tip Me Tuesday @ Tip Junkie
Today's Creative Blog
You're So Crafty Mondays @ Miss Crafty Pants
We Did It Wednesdays @ Sew Much Ado
Whatever Goes Wednesdays @ Someday Crafts
Idea Sharin' Wednesdays @ Women Who Do It All
Hook'n up with HoH
Pumpkin Seed Productions
*Brittney*


26 comments:

  1. Um, you are totally amazing!! What a fantastic idea with the spray starch! Love it! Thanks for the shout out on the sidebar too!

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  2. Oh yah, seeing this, I'm following you.

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  3. I love this idea...so cute! Thanks for sharing!! :)

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  4. wow! amazing idea! I've made my own decals out of contact paper, but it only comes in so many colors! I will HAVE to try this!

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  5. this is great! thanks for sharing!

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  6. Love your blog. I just became a follower! Would love for you to check out my blog. Erin
    thenormanfive.blogspot.com

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  7. Brittany - what a great idea! Come plant your creative seeds at my blog party on Fridays: Plant a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Productions.

    Hope to see you there.

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

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  8. So cute! I've been looking for a way to do this on the cheap, especially since we are apartment dwellers and the walls are just plain bland!

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  9. What a great idea!!! I love it!

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  10. Super cute! I would love to feature this during the CraftShare week I'm going to do on projects with Fabric + Liquid Starch. Just email me if you'd like to participate. Thanks for linking up to Craftastic Monday!

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  11. I saw you on Tip Junkie, and I must say - this is BRILLIANT! Thanks for the great idea!! :)

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  12. Hey, just saw your site and loved it! I just started blogging too, in March actually. You have done a great job with your pictures and love the projects. I look forward to seeing more! Following!

    Vanessa from
    http://sewcakemake.blogspot.com

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  13. You know as I saw this, I thought...I love wall decals too, but I don't think I'd want to commit to having them on my walls forever...but you've solved that with the starch. Awesome I idea! I'll add this to my list of projects to try on my blog!
    (And the Craft Patch is one of my favorite blogs!)

    http://helpinglittlehands.blogspot.com

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  14. AMAZING!!! So cute! I love that anyone can do this. (no crazy machines involved.) I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogospot.com

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  15. What an awesome idea, great job and wonderful use of resources. I love that it offers more dimension and intrigue compared to the vinyl decals. Well done!

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  16. super cute idea!!! I just saw this, after posting on my (unread/unfollowed) blog about how I redid my daughters room with a tree. Funny how that works sometimes.

    Here is a link to that post, if you want to see how I did her tree! :)
    http://whimsandtrims.blogspot.com/2010/05/need-some-decorating-ideas.html

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  17. Wow that turned out so great! I'm going to feature this too :)

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  18. Loving this! Thanks so much for the idea! I am following you now!

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  19. This is a cute and clever idea and you are genius to think of it. I've often heard of using starch and fabric on the wall but never tried it, and your tree decal is great. I also do not own a Cricut and can't justify the expense, but projects like this shows me there is life without spendy equipment. Thanks!

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  20. You have inspired me! I have been looking this past week for little owl ideas for my daughter's room. I just LOVE the little retro owls! I didn't know that you could use spray starch to adhere fabric to walls until now! Thanks! I already have the tree up on the wall and some of the leaves...but ran out of spray starch (it wasn't a full bottle). No naptime tomorrow, I will finish it! I am going to use scrapbook paper owls and birds though. I have a tutorial for making your own peel and stick wall decals out of scrapbooking paper and contact paper on my blog, so I will use those!

    Brandy
    www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com

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  21. Oh, I wanted to add that I am a military wife too (Coast Guard) and this is just perfect for those of us who are on the move!

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  22. Super cute. I tried the starch and fabric, but couldn't ever get it right. I use contact paper and paint it. It sticks great and peels off with no residue. The trick is to use real Contact brand paper, NOT the dollar store stuff! I love how the fabric gives you texture and one continuous piece, maybe I will try it again.

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  23. This is an amazing idea. I think I will use this in my son's playroom.
    Ruth of Hammer & Thread

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  24. This is soo neat! This really inspires me to do something in my sons room. We just moved into a rental and his room is pink so it def needs some masculinity in it.!

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