Now that the sunshine is back, I am super motivated to work on home and garden projects again. You would think that winter is the perfect time for that sort of thing, but the dreariness really affects my mood and energy level, and I feel way more creative when it is sunny and warm. What can I say? I am a tropical island girl!
Today I was able to quickly work on an idea I've had for Kieran's room: a sort of gallery wall. He really loves to stick his art, and other bits and pieces up (hmm, where does he get that from?). He also has a mad passion for washi tape (that sounds familiar too), but we have these weird walls that aren't very smooth, and the washi doesn't stick for long.

Those two pieces of art are actually secured with clear scotch tape over the washi.
Since we rent I needed to find a temporary non0destructive solution, and one day while looking at the drawing paper I used in my office for my goal keeping I had an aha moment. So I decided to "wall paper" a portion of his wall, so he could stick things easily to it.
Here's what I used

Mala drawing paper from Ikea
gummed paper tape
- this is used for bookbinding and has a dried gummed side that becomes sticky when wet.
Temporary/low-tack adhesive
Cutting mat
Craft cutter
Metal ruler
Measuring Tape
Water & Acrylic letters (not pictured)
Tip: before attempting this project, it's a good idea to test your gummed paper tape
and adhesive in an unobtrusive spot to see if it will be easy to remove, and also not totally destroy your wall finish. I have found that the gummed tape comes off quite well by just spraying it thoroughly with water. I love that the same thing that makes it sticky, is what gets it off the wall!
Steps
Measure your space and cut enough lengths of the drawing paper using the craft knife and metal ruler.
The drawing paper is 18&1/2 inches wide (47 cm). I needed two 5 foot lengths to cover that spot
Cut four strips of the gummed paper tape to fit around the gallery space.
Apply some low tack adhesive to the top and bottom of each length of paper and stick them to the wall. I used the edge of the baseboards as a guide to place the paper as straight as possible

Now use the water to activate the adhesive on the kraft tape. I just use my fingers, but I guess a foam brush would work too. For really long strips I found it was better to wet as I went along the edge as the adhesive dries really fast. Use the strips to frame the paper like so, making sure it sticks to a bit of the paper edge as well as the wall, since it is the main thing keeping the paper up.

(Whoa! That's blurry! Sorry.)
While you're quickly wetting and sticking, make sure that you don't place your cup of water on your son's t-shirt shelf, then knock it over and get his clothes wet. And a huge puddle on the floor. Nah, that didn't happen to me, I'm just saying be careful okay?
And there she is!

You can stop here, or go a step further with acrylic letters

Trucs is French for things, stuff, crap...... Hey! If you have one of those fancy Silhouette machines, you can even cut your own letters! I'm totally annoyed that the R and U in mine have the same colour background. It's the little things....
If you were paying attention to the clock in the photos, you'll have noticed that I did this in less than 30 minutes. I love quick and easy DIYS!
Now the boy can go crazy sticking things up. I think I will have to get him his own supply of washi tape though, he keeps using up my stash.
I really love how useful that gummed paper tape
is. A scrapbooking friend of mine turned me on to it several years back to use for making mini books, but it comes in really handy for other things like this

Just a simple "frame" on the wall. I used it to make this mini-album

Instructions here
Here it is in my current office as a frame again

Yeah, I think I know now why Kieran likes sticking things up!
I'm working on another idea for art for his wall, and will post that once it's done. 'Tis the season to create!
