dormdecorator

This is first sweet idea I wanna share.  Here is what you need: 

      1)      Buy some colorful fabrics.  They can have a print or not.  That is up to you and your creativity.  The key in picking out fabrics is to NOT buy any materials that stretch or change considerably in size when wet.  I found that using quilting cottons work really well.  They soak up the starch, are easily to smooth out on the wall, quick to cut out, and tend to have best variety of color and prints.  They are also some of the cheapest fabrics and often on sale.  Yeah for sales!

      2)      Buy a bottle of concentrated liquid starch ($2-$4).  I’ve tried spray starch and it works ok, but not nearly as well.

      3)      Buy a set of cheap paint supplies.  Mainly you need a roller, roller tray, and foam brushes.  This could be considered optional, but I highly recommend it.  Plus I found a way cheap set at Walmart for like $5-$7 dollars with way more stuff than I even needed.

      4)      A table top or other clean, smooth, open space to lay out the fabric and roll starch on.  This will cause starch to get on the surface.  It is very easy to wipe off with a wet rag when done, but I don’t recommend using a surface like carpet to roll out on.

      5)      A few other items like a pencil or pen to draw your design out with and scissors to cut the fabric.

The process is pretty simple from here.  I HIGHLY recommend you wash your fabrics first!  Some colors tend to bleed when they get first get wet.  So, wash your fabric separate from any other clothing before you proceed with starching.  Otherwise you run the risk of dying your wall some very lovely, but hard to remove colors.  Once your fabrics are dry, use the pencil or pen to sketch out your design out the material or freehand it if you feel confident.  Use the scissors to cut out your design.  *Remember that fabrics tend to have a right and wrong side.  One side will have a more vibrant color.  You want to cut your design so that it faces the correct direction when you look at the right side of the fabric. 

Lay the fabric out on your flat surface.  I have used both a table and a bathroom floor.  Pour some starch into your paint tray and get your roller nice and wet in it.  Then roll the starch onto the fabric.  You are trying to saturate the fabric with out having it sit a gigantic puddle of starch.  Wet is good however.  Then sit your roller in your tray and stick your fabric to the wall.  Smooth it out with your hands and/or a foam brush.  Work out all air bubbles behind the fabric and make sure that the corners are well stuck to the wall.  Put some extra starch on the foam brush and use it to tack the corner and edges if necessary. 

That is pretty much all there is to it.  Let is dry and it will be stuck to your wall.  When you want to take it down, just wet with water and sponge and peal off.  Wash the wall to remove any remaining starch and it will be like you were never there.  Lol.  Happy starching!

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