Did you know that painting a mural in your toddler's room really isn't that difficult?  All it takes is some inexpensive materials, time, effort, and a little self-confidence.  Yes, you can do it!

  I think I can!  I think I can!

Probably the most important thing to realize about painting a mural is this: the best murals come from your own imagination and contain characters that AREN'T licensed.  In other words, you could borrow an overhead projector and then trace and paint a popular character such as Elmo or Winnie the Pooh, but you risk making a few mistakes or color selections that might not look "quite" right.  By choosing something that's more original, you are setting yourself up for greater success.

My son's room and playroom have a children's book character theme.  Although I could have painted Miss Spider or Clifford or even the Cat in the Hat, I decided instead to paint The Little Engine that Could.  Since people tend not to have a set image of that character in their minds, it was much easier for me to take my own liberties with color and design.  So I chose a train image, drew it with a pencil(although you could trace one) and then filled it in with color. 

Here are a few hints for painting in your design once it's drawn.

1.  First of all, acrylic craft paint is your best choice.  It's cheap, there's a lot of it available on eBay, and it is easy to clean up.  Just use soap and water. 

 acrylic craft paint and paint markers

2.  Second, craft paint markers such as Elmer's painters are your best friend for "fudging" lines.  If you're worried about how much control (or lack of) you have with a paint brush, you can use paint markers to make your lines more crisp.  Take a look at the lettering below.  I used paint markers to achieve clarity.  No, the letters aren't perfect, but they do take on a child-like appearance that looks cute rather than sloppy (at least I think so!)

  lettering completed with a marker

3.  Third, Q-tips and kids' paint brushes are inexpensive painting tools that can help you fill in patches of color.

4.  Collage materials such as wood pieces, fabric, and ribbon can add dimension to a mural.  For adding fabric, I used decoupage materials such as Mod Podge for adding fabric and cloth ribbons to the wall.  The materials add variety and also make the mural more unique.  A hot glue gun or Tacky Glue can also be used to attach materials to the wall.

  fabric and ribbons added to the wall

 fabric and wood "tracks" added to the mural

5.  If you're intimidated by painting an entire wall, remember that simple brush strokes can cover the remainder of the wall after you've completed the design.  Look at the picture below--you'll notice that the brush strokes at the bottom (in white) were added to fill in the wall.

Yes, you can paint a mural by following a few simple techinques.  Don't forget to pick a design that's not too challenging, and use paint markers to help fill in where your artistic abilities leave off.  Best of all, your child will love it--even if it isn't perfect. Just tell yourself, "I think I can!  I think I can!"