Ever Tried This?

Have you ever heard of paper-bagging walls?  It's supposed to be an easy (!) and cheap (!) way to achieve a leather-like finish on your walls.  The general idea is that you tear up random-sized bits of brown wrapping paper, wad them up, apply wallpaper glue, and slap them on the wall.  Voila!  Leather walls. 

Except, I've been working on doing this in my master bathroom all afternoon, and mine just looks like bits of brown wrapping paper glued to a wall.

Has anyone successfully done this?  Help!

Comments

[keltybug]

Maybe if you put a tinted glaze on top it would look more weathered and have a leathery look.

Show us picures! It sounds like a great idea!

[Shannon @ Rocks in my Dryer]

If I can get it to work, you can bet it will be a Works-For-Me Wednesday soon!

[Kelli]

Oh my goodness!! I have walls like that --

I did NOT do them myself ... let's get that straight right here and now. The house came this way and so I'm a lucky girl.

But it's soooo cool.

Since I will messup what she told me she did, and she said she got it off DIY, here is the web link ...

http://tinyurl.com/gnf7o

Hope it helps! Its a great effect :)

[Shannon @ Rocks in my Dryer]

Kelli, thanks for that. I think that's actually a different method than the one I was trying--the kind I'm doing uses thick brown paper like the kind you'd put on a package to mail it. But if this doesn't work, I may be checking your method out!

[chilihead]

Trust me. It looks a lot better than you think. I thought it already looked like leather.

[Chase]

Ditto on what Chili said - it looks awesome already!!

It was so great to meet you today! *still dancin*

[Jules @ Everyday Mommy]

Oh, Sweetie...don't you know that stuff only works on TV?

[Mama Darlin]

Funny you should mention this! I didn't do it on a wall, but for underneath a puzzle picture that I wanted frame. Keep going! The first couple stages look just like you said...torn paper bag on the wall. :) I also used a tinted modge podge with antiquing gel in it. Another way is to let it all dry, and then apply the anitquing gel in small areas, let it rest only a few seconds, then wipe off. Hope this helps...and please post pictures!!

[Stephanie]

Years and years ago my mom did this to the wall next to our stairs (it was vogue 20 years ago too). It never looked the way that they said it should. She cursed it every day until she ripped it down FOUR years after I moved out of the house.

I hope your walls fare MUCH better. Let us see the finished project!!!

[stacey]

After you wad them up yousmooth them out and then put them on the wall. The crinkles left will look like leather after you put a clear glaze on it maybe?

[Melanie]

Sounds like you have been watching too much Trading Spaces!LOL I have seen it done on tv, but never tried myself. Maybe you can do a search on the HGTV site for some help. Show us how it turns out!

[On Fire For Him]

Tinted glaze will definetly help! Please post a picture, if you wouldn't mind. I have seen this done and wanted to do it as well, but can't now!

[Antique Mommy]

I've done it a number of times. It will look better after the glue dries, so be patient. And even better after that once it is glazed. I've done it to several pieces of furniture as well as walls My only advice is keep the pieces consistenly large. If you get too small it doesn't look good for soemthing as big as a wall, plus it will be an overwhelming amount of work!

[Barb Szyszkiewicz, sfo]

I'm guessing that Rule No. 1 here is NOT to use the side of the bag with the big Shop Rite logo on it...

[Lisa]

I saw something like that on Trading Spaces, except they used something like rice paper, thinner than regular paper but sturdier than tissue paper. Sorry. The best I do is regular old painting, and even that isn't the greatest ;).

[crystal]

I tried this and it didn't work very well. I found it took off too much paint. Then I tried to add more paint. Still not right. Then I did the method that is in the Ralph Lauren directions at Home Depot. I used a bristle brush to make a pattern. This turned out great in my son's cowboy room.

[crystal]

I guess I should have read your WHOLE post before commenting. What I did was a faux finish.

[Dirty Butter]

I've seen a house that had this done, and it looked fabulous, but I have no idea how she did it. So, at least you know it is possible! Good Luck!!

I've read through quite a few of your posts, from poop in the dryer to no time for scrapping any more, and I find your writing wonderfully humorous and human!

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[Jenn]

I did this in my bathroom and have had more compliments on it than any other room in my house. Keep with it. It will end up looking great. Right now you are just seeing what you are doing whereas others will see the finished product (not torn bags). Keep with it! I promise it looks amazing when you are finished. (And I actually had fun doing it!)

[Shalee]

SOOO glad I didn't listen to you when you tried to convince me to do this when we mirled. I thought it sounded too good to be true!

This would make a perfect WFMW... Why not to listen to Shannon. Catchy.