ORC Week 2: Blue and White Paisley Wall

Last week, I told you I was going to redecorate our guest room.  This is for the One Room in Six Weeks Challenge 
involving twenty bloggers.
In the past week, I bought two 
100% linen European shams from Pottery Barn.
They have a nice feel and are on sale!
The blue and white ticking bed 
(that I already had) is a starting point.
hand blocked wallpaper from India.
Source: Schumacher
But to install it just on the bed head wall 
would cost over $550.
Which got me thinking…why not hand block 
it myself with a paisley stencil?
I researched stencils online and found this one
Let me just say that I am not a DIYer, and I mean NOT.  
So, this little project had me terrified.
As soon as the $29 stencil and stencil brush arrived, I went to Michaels to buy the $.89 acrylic paint in a denim blue.
I did a practice run on some cardboard.
Not bad…now to tackle the WHOLE wall.
I drew a grid on graph paper and then
translated it to the wall with painter’s tape.
This was NOT fun at all. 
 I made a couple copies of the print so I could get a feel for the scale.
I messed up one stencil (smudges–but I can fix it with the wall paint and a little brush).  It was nerve racking each time I pulled the stencil off.  The trick is to not get too much paint on the brush and to blot the paint brush on paper towels frequently.
Also, I wanted it to look hand blocked so I varied the concentration of paint a bit.  
You’ll see the finished product next Wednesday.
And guess what?  
I spent less than $45 for the whole wall!
It only took one little tube of paint.  We are going to use the stencil next in a friend’s bathroom…it’s reusable.
I’m going to be doing something with this next.
Check out what these other fellow challengers have 
accomplished in a week…

65 Comments

  1. Great work, Mary Ann. Your room is already looking very pretty now, can't wait to see the final results, I know it will be even more amazing!

    Love your beautiful ticking bed, by the way!

    Jessie
    http://www.mixandchic.com

  2. How did I miss this??? You are a genius…wanna come here and work your stencil magic on one of my walls:) I soo cannot wait to see this finished room, its already looking amazing!

  3. Oh my goodness!! This is fabulous!! Can't wait to see the finished product!! I know it will look awesome! And so much for not being a DIY'er, right!??

  4. I am honestly in awe.. you are truly amazing…. absolutely, positively BRILLIANT!!

  5. Love the room Mary Ann ! It looks great so far and I can't wait to see the finished product! I'm really loving the stencil, I've thought about trying that on some white ikea curtains. Maybe I'll give it a try now that I have seen how great your wall has turned out. Have a great weekend!
    Debbi @ the beach

  6. So cool, Mary Ann! Can't wait to see the finished room! Love ALL of your ideas- crafty or not!

    Jennifer 🙂

  7. Well, you weren't a DIY'er, but now you are a pro. That wall looks great! Love this so far Mary Ann!

  8. Mary Ann….you did a GREAT job. I don't consider myself a DIY-er but I have tackled many DIY projects. Your room is going to be great!

  9. Mary Ann, I am just like you, I am not a DIYer, I use to be, but not anymore so I know exactly what you are saying about nerve racking. I would have been too!! It looks great and the cost factor makes it a real winner!! Kudos to your for plunging in and doing it. Happy VDAY! ♥

  10. So far it looks beautiful. You did an amazing job with the stenciling I cant wait to see the final project.

  11. I am SO impressed! I'm terrified of trying something like that but it looks amazing! Congrats on saving tons of money too!
    -Shelley

  12. What can I say…. You rocked it!!!
    Love the headboard too!!!!
    Happy Valenines
    xo

  13. Mary Ann,

    You are so clever…the wall came out so pretty. Looks like you are off to a great start on your project!

    Linda in S.D.

  14. The wall is looking fabulous, Mary Ann. You can't say you are not a DIYer ever again. The completed project is bound to be a winner. Where did you get that lovely matelasse coverlet with the picot edge? Love it.
    Best…Victoria

  15. Wow. You are a brave woman. Like Bethany said, I thought I was over stencils. This is just gorgeous, even better than the $550 option! You have me reconsidering wallpaper in the kitchen for a stencil. Bravo.

  16. I love it – it is the perfect compliment to the ticking stripes. Now I want you to head on over here and stencil a wall for me since you are now the pro. By the way, you can no longer say that you are not a dIYer! You have joined the club.

  17. manually stenciling the walls? that is really awesome!

  18. I love what you created here! So fresh, and I would have been TOTALLY paralyzed with terror!!! Can't wait to see what else you have in store for us! xo

  19. WOO HOO!! You are totally a diyer, it looks fabulous, and the second time will be so much easier! You'll be sewing your own pillows and window treatments next! 🙂

  20. Mary Ann, I'm planning something SO similar!! Yours turned out great. I just love hand-blocking. It's good that its not perfect, and it looks so pretty.

  21. Mary Ann, you have out done yourself! It turned out amazing! The spacing is perfect. So, so impressed. You must be thrilled!

  22. What the …..you just out did your self!!! I am completely impressed with how this turned out and I might need to give this a try!!!

  23. Excuse me, you are so a DIYer! It looks fantastic. I love Indian designs, we use them in our house (husband is from India) I just used a similar stencil on a little tray table that I chalk painted with Annie Sloan but used gold leaf. It looks so pretty, Mary Ann. I know you are thrilled with the results. Completely worth the effort!

  24. Oh my gosh… I love it!!! I want to stencil a powder room, and now I'm motivated to get going. It looks awesome 🙂

  25. I cant wait to see the final product, but I can already tell by what you have done that it will look GREAT. Good job saving some $$$. -Tonya

  26. Shut Up!! This is perfect. I think everyone is a DIY-er at heart, and now you are officially bitten by the bug…I can tell. I love this room, already. Like Julia mentioned, I think we will be copying you on this one.

  27. I love your translation of the wallpaper. My husband stenciled ikat all over my dining room wall, so I understand the frustration you feel. Though not with the wall, we have had to graph things out to get it right and it's not fun.

  28. Gosh, you're brave!! I can't wait to see the wall. Do we have to wait till next week??? I might have to copy this project 🙂

  29. Oh Mary Ann, here you go making yet another room that I am going to be drooling over. I am so not a DIYer either so I really applaud your courage taking on such a difficult task. And WOW you did a fantastic job! So impressed!! Super excited to see what's next. Loving it so far!

    xo
    Karen

  30. Mary Ann, Wow….you did a fabulous job! I give you an A+++. And being a DIYer myself, I KNOW that was a difficult job to take on. Just the grid on the wall would be a nightmare to do! Great job! I've always loved that wallpaper, but I love what you did even more. You've given me an idea for my downstairs powder room!! Can't wait to see the room finished. I know it will be a showpiece!

  31. I love this! I might think about doing something like this in my oldest's next room. And to think at a fraction of the cost of the wallpaper. Nice job!

  32. That stencil is a GREAT alternative to the cost of that wallpaper. You deserve a big pat on the back not only for saving a lot of money but doing such a great job. Very impressive!

  33. AMAZING! I think $45 is a MUCH better use of makeover funds then having to shell out for the wallpaper. This came out so fab, I cant wait to see more now!

  34. first of all, what a gorgeous room! i love seeing it come together. (and why is gorgeous wallpaper so darn expensive??)second—-i am pulling a plan together for my younger daughter, and i plan on using the exact same stencil from RDS. (it will be more tone on tone effect. hopefully)
    i think the wall turned out BEAUTIFULLY. pretty darn amazing for a "non diy'er"!!

  35. Mary Ann! What a DIY coup- it looks fantastic and Im so proud of you for trying..and succeeding! You are inspiring. I love that design and look how much you saved. It is going to be great, already is. Love the ticking stripe bed. I want to be your house guest!
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

  36. I am SO Impressed! Awesome idea and great execution. You ARE a DIY'er after all! Loved this update…can't wait to see what else you're doing!

  37. I can't wait to see this – I would have been terrified. I know it is fabulous!

  38. You really made this DIY project your own! I love it!

  39. Your wall looks gorgeous, Mary Ann! I'm very impressed! I'm not a DIYer either and completely understand what I big deal this would be! Your room is going to be BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait to see it completed!

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