So, people have been pretty sneaky with masking tape lately. I’ve seen masking tape wallpaper, and wall art (the last picture in the sneak peek. I’m not sure if this is masking tape, but it looks like it to me. It could be wall decal).
So the other day my daughter and I checked out The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats from the library (how I love the book. The art is completely beautiful).
I was admiring the beautiful wallpaper, his rockin’ PJ’s, and that BED! How I love that bed!! *Sigh* I sure wish we had a bed just like that….
And then it hit me. The BEST idea I’ve ever had!!
So here’s the BEFORE:
And the AFTER!! I’m not gonna lie. I REALLY love the way it turned out, and I’ve totally been giving myself high-fives in my head. Top three reasons why I dig my new masking tape headboard: A) So cheap! I didn’t even use one roll of tape! 2) So fast! I did this in an afternoon (thanks to my neighbor’s laser level). And mostly C) It adds SO much to my room! Every time I walk in I’m like “Hey! I like this place!” Allan knew I was planning this project, but he came home yesterday and walked into our bedroom he totally thought I had bought a bed at first glance. Heh heh… And actually, I’m gonna throw in another point. Point 4 or D or whatever: masking tape wallpaper, or wall art, or awesome HEADBOARDS are perfect for all you renters out there who don’t have a real headboard like us, maybe someday I can even put them in some of our investment property. And PS I didn’t put any pillows on so you could see the full dealio. Don’t judge.
Look for lots more room updates! Besides my dresser dress-up, I’ve got a quilt almost finished (FINALLY), and a new lamp shade, and new curtains, and lots of decorative pillows to make up for my years of pillow famine. Man, I’m ROLLING in projects! I feel like scrooge (the duck) swimming in his vault of gold (I always wondered how that was possible…?)
19 Comments
Wow!!! SOOO cool! Love it. But I don’t understand at all how you did it! isn’t masking tape thin? How did you make the round circles?
Super cool, can’t wait to see the other updates, especially the quilt!! Woo hoo!
oh wait, I stared for a long time and i think I kinda get it. Btw, is it black masking tape, or mechanical tape? Genius, whatever it is.
Masking tape. And yeah, for the circles I just layered strips of tape, to create bigger pieces and then I cut the circles out with an exacto knife.
So did you really get that idea from reading The Snowy Day??? How cute is that! It is adorable! And so…. affordable!
So, I am still trying to figure out the logistics as well. Did you color the masking tape or use already black tape? Did you lay out the tape and cut it, etc and then place it up on the wall where you wanted it?
Am I dumb for not knowing automatically how you did it?
LOVE IT!! I totally want to do it.
So first I measured out a basic grid of what i wanted, and marked the wall. All the straight lines I just put the tape directly on the wall using the laser level. The circles were made by layering tape strips to make a sheet of tape, and then I drew out my circles, and cut them with an exacto knife, and slapped them up there.
The tape I used was black masking tape. I got it from an art supply store, and it’s used for painting I think. It was called Black Crepe Tape. But the Japanese masking tape that I’ve seen used for wallpaper art (like happytape.com) would work great too. I think it’s pretty much the same stuff. Let me know how it goes!!
this is such a good idea!
and it turned out amazing.
i might be copying you sometime.
im glad you got that skirt pattern, its real fun.
julie
Here’s why this is genius: Headboards, no matter how nice they start out, eventually become rickety dust and junk collectors. Period. You just saved yourself from getting tired of looking at a headboard, dusting it, clearing off the junk (not once but again, and again, and again, and again and again and again . . . ).
Plus, see how it sets off that Beautiful quilt!!!
A possible caveat to other renters: Having painted, and left masking tape on a little too long after the job was done, I know that masking take that is left on the wall (even the Blue kind that’s NOT supposed to), eventually sticks to the wall like fat to your hips, and has to literally be chiseled off. Is there a product that will help remove this without ruining the wall, when you decide to move or change your room around, etc? Would wallpaper remover work? Just wondering . . .
Oh, and what is a laser level? Can you post a pic?
Getting those shapes right, spacing the “bars,” getting the lines straight . . .Something tells me this still takes more talent than you’re making it sound like . . .
No, really no talent required. I promise. A laser level is like a tripod level that you set up, point where you want it, and it throws a laser line across the wall. it can be a vertical or horizontal line, or both at the same time. So All i had to do was measure and mark out evenly my design, and then throw the laser line to match my mark. As far as the masking tape staying on the wall, I’ll check this. I’m going to check it periodically to make sure this doesn’t happen, and if it gets too sticky then i’ll take it off before that happens. I think that wallpaper remover would probably work though.
oh and ps, MY MOM MADE THIS BEAUTIFUL QUILT FOR OUR WEDDING. It IS beautiful, Mom. Love it, and always will.
I just loved this Mim! My mind is blowing up with ideas for masking tape now! It looks even better in person! I’m really shocked that it didn’t even take a whole roll!
HOLY SH(oo)T. Seriously, this is so awesome. I LOVE IT! And we have that book rented right now too and agree that the headboard looks GREAT on your wall! Be sure to take lots of before & after photos while re-doing your whole room!!
–sorry for the curse–
(You can just explain to people that I’m a down-and-out inactive, reaching out for help)
Hey guys, Rachel is a down-and-out inactive, reaching out for help:)
Heh heh….love ya Rach!
umm so i LOVE your projects/blog. I just bought some masking tape to put up some stripes in my living room. I’m just hoping that when we move/i want to pull it off it doesn’t ruin my apartment walls. your headboard is FANTASTIC though. great work!
hey mim… i love looking at all your fun stuff- this is Andy by the way
Hey Andy! Wow thanks for stopping by!
What a creative idea and it came out fantastic! I love the inspiration for the design, great book.
FYI – removing tape from walls – using a blow dryer to warm the adhesive on the tape makes it come off easily when removing from delicate painted walls. The only time I have encountered difficulty with removing tape this way as a professional painter and remodeler was in my OWN house ’cause I was too busy with everybody else’s stuff to get the clean up done properly on my own, and left it too long on a metal light fixture over the kitchen sink! That was a little more difficult, but I have often used the blow dryer to ease tape off a fragile decorative paint job when the paint is new and prone to come up easily with tape. Cool look, by the way!!
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