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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Secret to Stripe Sanity

I promised you a how-to post on my striped entryway here. To those of you who made the pinky promise to come back and hear my secrets, thanks for being patient!

Here are the two secrets to my sanity:

Yes, a credit card.

and

Who knew this product had so many functions?!


Ready for the nitty gritty details? First things first...the math, oh the math. I'm not going to lie, I stink at math! If I can have someone do the calculations for me, I will. When I decided to paint my stripes, I saw this project as a mind over matter thing. I was out to prove something and I didn't want to ask for help (this time, at least). You see, I was in a horrible mood and I knew if I brought my husband in to help, I'd probably bite his head off. Poor soul, he totally wouldn't have deserved it either. Does he ever? Anyway, I digress. 


Back to the stripes. I measured the walls then divided the space by the number of stripes I was hoping to end up with. I knew I wanted the top stripe and the bottom stripe to both be the same color, so I made sure the dividing number was an odd number. I like the uniform look. This might or might not matter to you, it's a personal preference. Once I cried and growled figured out the size my stripes needed to be, I locked the tape measurer into that position. Then I painstakingly placed it on the wall and made a tiny pencil mark, over and over and over again in a horizontal manner. Time to break out the painter's tape. I used each of these tiny marks to line up the tape and keep my stripe from being all womperjawed. Now move up the wall and repeat this step. Continue until you have all your stripes marked. This is what it will look like at this point.


Did you notice the white strips of paper on every other stripe? This is how I reminded myself which stripes were going to be the lighter color. Also, to make that math thing even more confusing, I realized that the width of the painter's tape needs to be taken into account and be placed in the darker of the stripes. This probably doesn't make much sense until you start taping off your project. This next step is where the credit card comes into play. Take the edge of your card and press with all your might along the edge of the tape. Go back and forth and really get the tape into the crevices of the texture on the wall. This is time-consuming but totally worth it. The paint will have less of a chance of seeping through if the tape is pressed to wall as tight at possible. 


Next step...Modge Podge. Use a foam brush to paint over the edge of the tape, like so...



It'll go on white but dry clear. Genius I tell ya! It can do all the bleeding it wants and you won't be able to see it. This will create the sealant that will prevent your paint color from leaving those ugly, unsightly jagged edges. I gave the Modge Podge a little time to dry then proceeded with the paint. I worked on one stripe at a time. As soon as I finished a stripe, I removed the tape. If you let the paint dry completely, the chances of bleeding are increased.

So, that's pretty much it. It was HARD, but totally worth it! Let's enjoy some before and after shots, shall we?

BEFORE:

              


AFTER:


So friends, are you ready to paint your own? Go forth and be brave, and make sure you leave me a comment or two to let me know if you used these handy little tricks!

Linking to the following sites:
DIY by Design                      The Shabby Creek Cottage
Someday Crafts                     At The Picket Fence
Trendy Treehouse                 The Shabby Nest
Blue Cricket Design              504 Main
House of Hepworths             Fingerprints on the Fridge
Project Queen

34 comments:

[klev-er] said...

Ah you used Modge Podge on the paint. Interesting. I'm thinking of doing this in our dining room but scared. :)

Dana Frieling said...

Don't be scared! You can do it!

Ange said...

I chickened out of doing this in my powder room and instead did the zebra stencil. I think stripes would have been easier. HA! Now that you shared the secret, I'm thinking stripes for my sons's bedroom. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!!! :)

Mandy said...

You are soo clever! Thank you so much for sharing this tip! Your stripes are beautiful! I'm new to your blog and a definite follower. I'd love to invite you to link up this project at www.projectqueen.org link party.
Can't wait to see what project you share next!

Shannah @ Just Us Four said...

What a great tip! Thanks. I've been planning to do some stripes but am having trouble actually implementing.

Tisha @ Delectable Home said...

Beautiful foyer! I've done lots of vertical stripes, but horizontal seems like quite a chore. Thanks for making it look do-able!

Jamie said...

LOVE the mod podge tip! Fantastic job - you go girl! :)

New follower from shabby creek.

Jamie
day-and-age-design.com

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...

Those stripes look BOMB. The huge impact on that little space is just mind boggling! Admit it, you feel super cool that you completely transformed that space in to something incredible! (c: As you should!!!

Meredith Resnick said...

Thanks... never thought of this mod podge use. So clever! Thank you!!!!
~ Meredith From A Mother Seeking Come find me on my blog, A Mother Seeking...

Angie Holden said...

This looks amazing!! Thanks for the tips!!

Rachel said...

Will the list of things that Mod Podge is good for never end! :-) Hope to put this tutorial to good use in my next house!

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

Wow Dana!! What a great tutorial! Thanks for the tips - I'll definitely use them next time.
I LOVE how it turned out!! Those stripes make the space look amazing!

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Absolutely gorgeous!! I love how the stripes look- your entry is wonderful! Stopping by from Shabby Nest - would love for you to come share at Feathered Nest Friday sometime!

At The Picket Fence said...

This is seriously incredible and sooooo gorgeous! Your after picture looks like it is out of a magazine. You should be so proud of the job you did and we are thrilled you shared it with us at Inspiration Friday!
Vanessa

Kassie said...

I love the stripes! It's beautiful!

Mandy said...

Hi Dana, 1st I have to tell you your foyer is beautiful and the stripes and your method of making them so perfect is FABULOUS!
I have featured your link up from "I turned the daunting into the do-able" that you shared at Project Queen.

I hope you come by tomorrow and link something up again. Love your blog.

Kayleen@TheJohnsonHome said...

So beautiful! Thanks for sharing your secrets.

Allison @ House of Hepworths said...

I love this so much I featured it this week at my Hookin Up with HoH Party!


Feel free to stop by and grab a button if you'd like!!

xoxo

Allison @ House of Hepworths

Erin @ How to Nest for Less said...

LOVE this!!!

Unknown said...

Seriously this is amazing! The transformation is so dramatic! I'm in love I tell ya...great job! :)

Found you via HOH and I'm following!

threemangoseeds.blogspot.com

Anna said...

It's gorgeous! I have the same stripes in my entryway but I used a dark brown, love them.

I have a link party on Mondays and I'd LOVE it if you shared this next week! http://www.askannamoseley.com/search/label/Weekend%20Warrior%20Link%20Party

Anna
www.askannamoseley.com

P.S. Great tip with the Mod Podge!

Anna said...

P.P.S. Where did you get that blk/wht rug? I've been looking all over for one like that!

Unknown said...

That is pretty stinkin' amazing! I wish I'd known the Modge Podge trick many moons, and many rooms ago! :)
Going to feature you tomorrow on my Favorite Things Friday. :)

Chessa @ Antsi-Pants said...

Thanks for the great tip about the Modge Podge! I've been painting with blue tape for years, I wish I would have known about this all along. TFS!

Chessa @ Antsi-Pants said...

Thanks for the great tip about the Modge Podge! I've been painting with blue tape for years, I wish I would have known about this all along. TFS!

Krista-Artista said...

This is just gorgeous. I can't decide what I love more, the stripes or the round room! You definitely played up the cool feature by doing the stripes and the modge podge tip rocks. Thanks for sharing.
Krista
krista-artista.blogspot.com

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

What a beautiful foyer to begin with. You created some lovely interest there. Love the tutorial and the great tip. I just found you!
I am your newest follower....many thanks.....Linda

pam {simple details} said...

Beautiful entry! I'm totally inspired, thanks for sharing your tips!

I just found your new blog, what a wonderful job you've done!

ViNtaGe SouL TX said...

GREAT job!!! Thanks for the tip on the Mod Podge! Will TOTALLY try that next time I paint stripes!

ViNtaGe SouL TX said...

GREAT job!!! Thanks for the tip on the Mod Podge! Will TOTALLY try that next time I paint stripes!

ALR said...

Completely in love! Thank you so much for posting the instructions.

Unknown said...

Stunning! This is amazing and Mod Podge? Would have never guessed to use Mod Podge!

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