Add a Fabulous Faux Finish to Your Walls
Most faux finishing projects involve paint, but with PaperIllusion wallpaper you can achieve beautiful, one-of-a-kind designer looks without the mess, fumes, and endless hours of tedious work. Faux finish wallpaper is also more durable and long-lasting than paint. Are your walls cracked or uneven? No problem. PaperIllusion covers everything right up. It's also completely washable, but if a section becomes stained or torn, just patch over it with another piece. The paper is printed with a variety of faux finish effects, like marbleized stone, florentine marble and terra cotta. PaperIllusion wallpaper is addicting. Once you get a successful project under your belt, you'll want to try several more!
Creating Simple Elegance in Your Decor

Travertine Illusion Terra Cotta
Step One: Tear
Start by tearing the paper into random, irregular shapes. I like to tear up a roll while watching television or sitting around with friends. I put torn pieces into two piles: one for those that have a straight edge, and one for those that don't. If you want your walls to have a veined look, let the underside of the paper show once in awhile. I do a little of both, depending on the color I'm using. For example, the Tuscan Red script paper has a gray underside, which looks really pretty with the red colors. Some of the lighter colors have a white underside, which looks like grout when layered. I've done walls with and without the underside showing, but you need to decide before you start tearing. It looks great either way, but you're the designer! Do a few sample pieces before you tear up an entire roll. That way you can decide what looks best for your project. Step Two: Dip
When you're ready to begin, just dip a piece of the paper into warm water for a few seconds. Some of the PaperIllusion kits include a tray like the one pictured here, but a bowl of water works just as well. I change the water every half hour or so. You can start anywhere, but I typically begin at the top of a wall and work my way down and out. If you start at the top, begin with the pieces that have a straight edge. Step Three: Apply
Now for the fun part. Apply the torn wet paper in an overlapping manner to any clean, dry surface. You can even use PaperIllusion wallpaper over paneling as long as the grooves are 1/4" or less in width. Once you've overlapped and positioned your piece of wet paper, just use a smoothing tool to press it into place and a damp sponge to remove excess water. That's all there is to it. Just keep applying the paper until your surface is completely covered. I usually work for an hour or so at a time, take a break, then go back to it. Script Illusion in Tuscan Red
One of my favorite PaperIllusion styles is Script Illusion. Our hallway was covered with dreary, yellowed wallpaper that dated back several decades. My least favorite home improvement project is removing old wallpaper. On top of being messy, it wastes hours that could be spent doing something more creative and constructive. In this case, I was able to simply peel off the wallpaper and leave the liner. Then I papered over the liner with Tuscan Red Script Illusion. Regular wallpaper would have been problematic since I needed to accommodate six doors and a built-in cabinet in the hallway. I used the same paper in a bedroom closet that had decaying, boldly striped wallpaper from the 1920s. I decided not to strip this paper, since I wasn't sure what was underneath, but the PaperIllusion wallpaper adhered beautifully. Also, because Tuscan Red is such a rich color, the striped paper was completely camouflaged. I was sure we'd have to panel the closet in wood, so PaperIllusion definitely saved the day. 
Script Illusion Tuscan Red
Purchase Script Illusion
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $36.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $36.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $36.95 (as of 10/07/2008)

Hearthstone Illusion Cream and Bone
Purchase PaperIllusion Wallpaper
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)

Script Illusion Cobalt Blue
Purchase PaperIllusion Wallpaper
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paper Illusion Wallpaper
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 10/07/2008)

Script Illusion Burnished Gold
My Latest Project
Kitchen Remodel
Later this year we'll be doing a major remodel of our kitchen (circa 1926). In the meantime, a quick, inexpensive fix was needed to update the walls, which were covered with tacky, pink-flowered wallpaper. To prepare the walls, I tore down the paper and left the liner. I've been applying PaperIllusion over the liner with no problems. The cracked ceiling was an eyesore, and also included a badly beat up vent. The ceiling is now covered in PaperIllusion, and looks like new. I'll almost be sad to see the walls and ceiling torn down! The paper I chose is Travertine Illusion Terra Cotta. Check out my progress below. Transforming a Kitchen with PaperIllusion
Work in Progress ~ Travertine Illusion Terra Cotta
Purchase PaperIllusion Wallpaper on eBay
The Wallpaper and Border Store
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Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byDo You Have a PaperIllusion Project?
Flickr.com

Share your photos here. It's easy. Just create a free Flickr account, upload your photos, and mention PaperIllusion in your tags. I'll add them to a special photo gallery on this lens. Even better... write a Squidoo lens about your latest PaperIllusion project and I'll feature it here! Looking for More Home Decorating Ideas?
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Welcome DIYers!
Please Sign the Guestbook
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bernd49
Hi Posted July 23, 2008 |
|
marypeters
Great job! Posted May 05, 2008 |
| clouda9
This is such an easy way to spiff up your home. Appreciate the share. Posted March 31, 2008 |
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SemperFidelis
Nicely done. My husband spent many years as a painting contractor and did many types of faux finishing. He was impressed with this lens. Keep up the great work Kim. 5* :o) Posted December 02, 2007 |
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Articles Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals
Painted Wall Mural Courtesy of Galen Crader
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