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)

Step 1 Choose Image

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

Comments

[cligmercurio]

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]

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]

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

[Fader4D8]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[sleeder]

Any good tips to make transparencies???

[zeechan]

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]

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

[porcupinemamma]

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

[PeckLauros]

I just like that!!!!

[Chico]

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]

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

[misemono]

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]

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]

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

[Swishercutter]

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]

I like that a lot =]

[sgsidekick]

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!

[canida]

Looks great! And the projector hack is awesome - who has a real overhead projector anymore?

[mg0930mg]

Very cool. I would do a peter pan one, myself. I don't know what I would do, though. I don't have an overhead.