If you haven't seen any of my posts about my daughter's room, I did every wall in a different pattern.  This was a (deliberately) crazy colorful room.  I began thinking about making a room for her and wondered if she had a preference, so I asked what colors she wanted her room to be decorated in, her answer "RAINBOW!" (in the sweet, vibrant voice of a four year old).  Well, okay, then, and a room like that would match her personality for sure.

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I'd never used scrapbook paper before, but it seemed like a great option to make a colorful quilt like pattern on a wall.  It also comes in 12 inch squares.  Since doing this, I've seen other walls in scrapbook paper; It looks fantastic and has held up very well. Having done wall paper before, helped me have a handle on what I was doing also.  I used wallpaper paste, bought 2 packs of scrapbook paper (from Hobby Lobby, the thicker paper ended up being much easier to use and more color fast when wet), and used a foam roller to spread the paste onto the paper.  

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I first drew a line center of the wall horizontally and then vertically (this is sort of how you begin to lay tile).  I also laid out the paper on the floor to get an idea of how I wanted the paper positioned.  I wanted it to look random but didn't want to have too similar patterns or colors side by side.  I began by rolling paste onto the backs of the paper I'd want to place along the X I'd drawn center of the wall.  I then quickly placed the piece of paper snugly against the lines, in the corner of the X.  I had to be careful not to get the fronts of the paper wet with paste and also not over rub the pieces as I was placing them (that was the hardest part of doing this).  With a completely dry cloth or hand, I pressed and smoothed any bubbles out (by pushing them towards an edge of the paper to escape) while also making sure the paper had good contact with the wall.  It is important to leave no gaps between squares as you work because any flaws will increase as you place more paper.  When I reached the ceiling, corners and openings, I dry fitted the pieces and cut them to to fit, then pasted them up.

 

Once it was all up and dried, I rolled a clear coat of varathane onto the wall to protect it and make it more durable and wipe-able.  The pictures really don't do the wall justice.  In person, the patterns and glitter stand out more too.