Budget Design: Paper Cut-Out Decor

Kansas City 'Spaces' writer Patricia Shackelford gave me the loveliest idea this week: papercut wallpaper. It's no secret that I love newsprint on my walls, but these days I'm having a hard time committing. What could be more lovely than creating my own wallpaper with a few well-designed patterns?

Consider this your guide to DIY Decal: Newspaper Edition...

STEP 1:
Choose your pattern wisely. Anything too detailed will be lost against the tiny newsprint. Try something big, bold and instantly recognizable, like a child's silhouette in a nursery or a family monogram in the entryway.

STEP 2:
Project it. Follow similar steps as if you were projecting your image directly onto a wall with this easy tutorial. Outline your image directly onto the newsprint and cut carefully.

STEP 3:
Protect it. Cover your newsprint stencil with polyvine varnish from your local hardware store. This will prevent yellowing and discoloration.

STEP 4:
Hang it. Instead of adhering your newsprint directly to the wall, try adhering it onto a thin canvas first, then hanging the canvas. If you want something more subtle and don't mind holes in your wall, I'd pin the stencils.

For inspiration, search for decals online until you find a pattern you like, or create your own! Go get 'em, bookworms!