Moroccan Inspired Headboard

Hello Internet! I have and currently am working on some Moroccan inspired projects and I wanted to share my step by step process to inspire and help all those who find it difficult to take something they love and make it their own.

Moroccan Headboard

This past July my Aunt and I worked on a fun project where we painted a headboard above my mother's bed. As we looked through Maryam Montague's Marrakesh by Design, we were immediately inspired by this beautiful Moroccan fountain. We felt like the tree would fit perfectly.

And so, the project began.

Step one, take design into Photoshop and print it off at the correct size.

My next step was to figure out how to get this damn tree onto the wall. I wasn't confident enough to draw it so I scanned the image, brought it into Photoshop, and made the magic happen.  

We measured the wall and figured out the dimensions we needed the tree to be. In Photoshop, I made a template in the actual dimensions needed, dragged the scanned image into the file, adjusted it to the correct size, and made necessary changes to the design. Viola! The design was ready to be printed.

The design printed out and ready to be traced and transferred.

Step two,  decide on paint colors and paint the background.

We decided we wanted a tiled effect behind the tree, just like the original. After choosing the colors we wanted, we painted a base color.

Base Color 

Then we started on the tile effect. This process made me happy because I was able to put my handy dandy printmaking skills to good use. First, we used a piece of linoleum, carved out thin lines to make squares (tiles). Then we painted multiple colors of paint onto the individual tiles and pressed the linoleum onto the wall (like a stamp).

Step three, trace the design and transfer onto the wall. 

There are probably a lot more easier ways to transfer images onto surfaces but I tend to do things that take the longest amount of time. I used a large sheet of tracing paper, a soft leaded pencil, and some tape. Unfortunately, I don't have any photographs to document what i did but here is a video I found on YouTube explaining how to transfer images. 

    

Step four, paint your design!

So there ya go! Not too shabby for our first time at this style of work. 

I was even able to set up my Ipad while we worked to capture a nifty little stop motion of our process. 

Here it is. Enjoy!

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