Paint a Mural in a Child's Nursery

My wife and I are expecting a girl. She found a giraffe mural in a magazine that we decided to try. It turned out pretty good. This instructable documents how we did it. It requires what some might call basic art skills like tracing and painting in the lines. Supplies:

Picture of image to be painted on wall
Overhead transparency
Marker
Lamp
Carboard box
Tape
Colored chalk
Paint
Paint brush 1.5 or 2 inches wide
Small paint brushes - the artsy kind
Wall (duh)

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Step 1: Choose Image

My wife found this picture in a catalog. The photo is a picture of the catalog.

mmelville3 (author) in reply to dana leighApr 7, 2013. 10:26 AM

There have been many questions about the projector. Some are having trouble with it. The projector is shown in step three with the image projected on the wall. I just tried this again using a transparency and a single LED flashlight with the lense/head removed so the small bulb was exposed. The image was very crisp from across the room.

dana leigh says: Apr 6, 2013. 6:27 PM

AM I MISSING SOMETHING? I DON'T SEE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING THE PROJECTOR. CAN YOU GIVE MORE DETAILS. ALSO, DOES THE MAKE SHIFT PROJECTOR ENLARGE THE IMAGE LIKE A REAL PROJECTOR?

amg101080 says: Mar 5, 2013. 8:59 PM

I've tried and failed. I used a sheet protector to trace the image on, made my box, and used a halogen desk lamp. The only time the image appears is when the posterboard I'm drawing on is 2 inches from the front of the box. Tracing paper didn't work at all. Has anyone else figured out any troubleshooting pointers?

Kbm123 says: Feb 12, 2013. 4:24 PM

I am trying this right now and cannot get the image to show on the wall

amiii101 says: Oct 10, 2012. 2:02 PM

How do you make a makeshift projector?

sleeder says: Nov 13, 2011. 10:49 PM

Any good tips to make transparencies???

salbers1 in reply to sleederAug 20, 2012. 7:22 AM

You can take any image to one of the office supply chain stores or a copy shop and they will make one for you. Its fairly inexpensive.. If you want just outlines, then as far as I know, you'll have to make that yourself as suggested.

cherokee_dreamer3 in reply to salbers1Aug 20, 2012. 7:59 AM

TIP: Depending on what you are looking for, GOOGLE your image, look for "cutouts" or "color pages" print them out, you can copy/paste multiple images on one sheet of paper to make your transparencies. Nine times out of ten, you can find just the outlined images.... :)

cherokee_dreamer3 says: Aug 20, 2012. 7:44 AM

When I would prepare the nursery at church for VBS or "just because" I would always make my transparencies. I would copy my images to regular copy paper, then I would take my blank transparencies, run them through my copier like I would the paper....PERFECT transparencies every time, no need to trace or strive for perfection. One year the theme was about "Underwater" and being that I had 4-5 year olds, I needed to bring it down to their level which ended up with "Nemo" I have to say, the kids and I were thrilled with the finished product and I had many many compliments.... :)
** I would like to stress using the thicker transparencies rather than the thin ones. The thinner ones will come out somewhat "melted" making the image blurred. Its worth investing extra pennies....! Also make sure you use the right side, but if you don't, they still work....!

cligmercurio says: Mar 14, 2012. 12:15 PM

I realize this is an old post but if anyone could please help me my projector is not working I have no idea how to make this thing i put the box on the lamp and the picture in front and its not projecting at all the only time it shows up is when I put the picture really close to the wall please help I want it nice and big on my kids wall thanks so much!!!!

mmelville3 (author) in reply to cligmercurioMar 15, 2012. 6:08 AM

I think I had that problem at first using a soft light bulb. I found a bare bulb helped make a clearer picture. Then I lined up the filament in the bulb so it was perpendicular with the plane of the transparency. I would guess the closest thing to a single point of light would be best. Maybe a flashlight with the lens removed would work better?

Elaina74 says: Feb 1, 2012. 1:53 PM

Hmmm looks like my baby might get some palm trees and monkeys on his wall after all, thank you!!! The projector is brilliant!!!

Fader4D8 says: Jan 24, 2012. 4:54 PM

NICe! This is just what I was looking for. Well done. Especially the DIY projector because I was saying to myself "really do I have to find an overhead projector?"

THANKs!

jscott31 says: Dec 11, 2011. 6:55 AM

I used a page protector from a binder and drew the image on with permanent marker. Now I just need to find a box....

jbrecken says: Nov 17, 2011. 12:48 PM

Looks like Mama Giraffe had twin babies. Isn't it tempting fate to paint that on the nursery wall when you think you're only expecting one?

tmoose says: Nov 14, 2011. 8:07 AM

For transparencies I would suggest using permanent marker on laminating paper or maybe wax paper? I'm not sure how wax paper would work but I know laminating paper would work well.

zeechan says: May 27, 2010. 7:47 AM

I would have never thought of making a projector like that! Thanks for the idea. Makes it so much easier to trace on the walls to paint now. ;)

Tamdort says: May 9, 2010. 9:41 AM

I like your projector idea,I was thinking to buy on.
thank's

porcupinemamma says: Aug 7, 2009. 4:08 AM

really groovy-no "cookie cutter" looking mural...sweet!

PeckLauros says: Apr 1, 2009. 11:39 PM

I just like that!!!!

Chico says: Jan 23, 2009. 6:13 AM

Yes! Kudos on the projector! For my instructable I found an old-fashioned overhead projector at the MIT flea-market for $25 and then sold it on craigslist when I was done. But yours is quick-and-dirty, cheap, and perfectly adequate for the job! Congratulations!

mmelville3 (author) says: Jan 22, 2009. 2:19 PM

I had no idea the projector would steal the show! Thanks for your comments.

misemono says: Jan 22, 2009. 11:23 AM

The Makeshift projector is really what makes this a great instructable. With little,to no, technical knowledge, this is an incredibly easy, yet professional looking decoration idea. I think it should be given an award due to it's simplicity.

jeff-o says: Jan 22, 2009. 8:00 AM

Nice work with the projection box! A halogen spotlight would also produce a nice, crisp image. The most useful place to find one is in a halogen desk lamp.

Swishercutter says: Jan 21, 2009. 9:50 AM

Instead of tracing the pic you can have it printed onto the transparency if you wanted, of course it's the lazy method.

Swishercutter says: Jan 21, 2009. 9:48 AM

The projector is great....I was going to do this with a digital projector with some pics from my computer but I didn't get around to buying the digital projector so.......

Weissensteinburg says: Jan 20, 2009. 6:45 PM

I like that a lot =]

sgsidekick says: Jan 20, 2009. 1:42 PM

I LOVE the makeshift projector! Who needs to spend $35-$55 for one when a pizza box and bare bulb will work! That is also a nice job on the mural. Baby Girl is sure to love it!