How to Do Art for Walls: DIY Wall Art Without Vinyl

Guest post from Jennifer Ross

Vinyl wall art: gracefully-written scripture, phrases or poems to display on the walls of our homes are downright stunning.  I’ve long admired such beauty.  Knowing that it wasn’t exactly in the budget, I finally realized, that with a bit of effort, and perhaps some trial and error that I just may be able to do something similar myself!

So I did!  And I am more than pleased with the finished results.  It took very little time, and because I already had all the supplies I needed on hand, it literally didn’t cost me a dime!

Do you have something you would like to see on your walls?  You can do this!  It was so incredibly easy. I truly couldn’t believe how simple this project was.  I want to inspire you to try this easy and rewarding DIY project!

Okay, here is what you will need:

• Paint (try to choose a color that blends with your home)
• Small paint brush
• Tape (masking tape is suitable for your walls, but any tape will do)
• Pencil
• A level (if you don’t have one you can still do this, although it will take a bit more time)
• Paper
• Scissors (Umm, adult scissors.  Kid scissors will hurt your hand after a while, believe me, I know)
• Access to a computer with a word processing program and a printer

First, you’ll need to select what you’d like written on your wall.  Is there enough room?  Do be sure to think of font size, if it is too small it will be difficult to read.  If it is too large, it may be overpowering.

Write out your verse, poem, phrase, etc in a Word type program.  Spend some time experimenting with different fonts.  When you have the desired font selected, apply it to your wording.  Also, set your paper layout to “landscape.”

Next step is to enlarge the font.  You may have to do this several times to get it just right.  It took me, ahem, well it took me more than a few tries, so be sure to have extra paper on hand!  Start with about a 300 size.

Lighten the font color.  This ensures you don’t use an excessive amount of ink.  When you have the size you want, print one sheet. You most likely won’t find the first size acceptable.

Cut out each letter.  Note: you’re not trying to make a stencil to paint inside of.  You’re going to trace around the letters you cut out.  It is so much easier this way!

When you’ve got a few finished, take them to the chosen wall and use your tape to hold them in place.  Step back a few feet and see what you think.  Ask your husband and children for their opinions, as well.  If the font is too small, enlarge it a bit.  Too big?  You know what to do.

Once you’ve got the desired size, it’s time to print!  Now there are 2 ways to go about this.  You can print the entire phrase, or just one of each letter you need.  If it is just a few words long, you may not need each and every letter.  However, if it is longer than, say, 4 words, you will be happy you printed each letter.

For example, I painted, “Walk in the Spirit” over our front doors.  I only needed to print the “i” one time.  Even though there are 3 in that verse.  But when I did another lettered painting with 9 words, it was better having all the lettering available for correct spacing.

Now you have your letters printed out in the perfect size, you’ll need to cut out each one.  I recommend using a sandwich bag to store them in, when you need to stop for a bit.  You won’t want those letters getting lost or stuck to the counter with jelly.

Here is where being married to a custom-home builder has its perks.  A 5 foot level proved to be a life saver for this project!  It didn’t even cross my mind to use it, but when my sweet husband saw me perched at the top of his ladder tracing letters willy-nilly he shoed me aside and snapped a perfectly level chock line for me to follow.  Thanks honey!

If you don’t have access to a level, a yard stick will work well. You will need someone to stand back to “eye it” for you.  You’re ready to tape the letters into place!  Be sure to space each letter evenly.  When they are all taped up, and you’ve stood back and are satisfied, go ahead and carefully trace around each one with your pencil.

Take a step back again and see if it looks how you imagined.  If it’s not quite right, the pencil is easy to erase.  Once you’re content with it all, it will be time to fill in with paint!  I used paint that was left over from our bedroom.  Carefully paint inside each letter.  Keep a damp cloth available.  Wet paint wipes off easily of semi-gloss painted walls.

If you put it on thick enough, (not so thick it drips) you won’t need to do a second coat.  You can be so creative with this!  I didn’t outline mine, but that’s certainly an option.  I can’t tell you the number of compliments I’ve received on our wall paintings!

This is a fun and immensely, fulfilling project!   I hope you’re inspired to give it a try.  And if so, I’d love for you to leave a comment and share what it is you’re thinking of writing on your walls!