$100 Half-Day Designs: Treetop Wall Mural

Materials:

overhead projector
transparency with image of tree
3 quarts of paint (Behr: Powder Sand, Rain Song and Black Bean)
pencil
level
painter's tape
tape measure
paint
rollers
fine-tipped brushes

Steps:

1. Printing off the image you want to use as your mural on a transparency. If you don't have the ability to do this at home, your local copy shop can help. The simpler the image the easier it'll be to paint.

2. Tape off any edges you do not want to paint. Then run a strip of tape across your wall two and half feet off the floor and one foot down from the ceiling. (Dimensions can be changed based on the size of your wall.) Make sure both lines are level with your level, adjusting as necessary.

3. Use the roller to paint the middle space one color and the top and bottom another. Allow to dry and apply a second coat as necessary.

4. Set up the overhead projector with the transparency on a flat surface opposite your wall. Move it closer or further away depending on the size you want your mural. After the paint has dried, trace around the projected image with a pencil.

5. Use the third color and the fine tipped brush to fill in the outlined mural. Tip: To get smooth brush strokes and straight lines, make sure you have plenty of paint on your brush. After paint has dried remove tape.