DIY Network

Story Block Wall Let your walls tell a story. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-149

These walls can talk – and they've got a story to tell.

One way to develop a theme in a room is just to come out and say it—or, better yet, write it on the wall. Michele Beschen uses faux storybook pages to give her walls a voice; the B. Original host sprinkles these visual treats randomly to inspire and entertain.

All it takes to create your own story block is some paint, masking tape, a china marker and a steady hand. It's a simple way to bring words to life throughout the house, showcasing beloved tales in the nursery, favorite recipes in the kitchen or a special greeting in the entryway.

Scroll down for Michele Beschen's easy how-to, and get your walls talking.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Story Block Wall

• Decide where to place your story block.

• Tape off a rectangular area of your wall to be the story "page." Michele Beschen recommends you use a large carpenter's square to make sure your edges are true. Use a wide painter's tape to define the area; press the tape down firmly so you have a crisp line.

• Paint inside the taped rectangle with a white or cream-colored paint to resemble the pages of a storybook
  (figure A).

• Decide what you want to write in your story block. Do you want to tell a story about yourself? Do you want to quote a favorite storybook? Do you just want to make it up as you go along?

• Once the paint is dry, write your story in the story block (figure B). Good tools for this are a charcoal pencil, a black china marker or a regular #2 pencil with a soft, dark lead. If you make a mistake, even with pencil, don't try to erase it—you'll just make it look worse. Try to work mistakes into the design or fix them with paint; you always can repaint the entire block and start over if you need to.

  Tip: Michele Beschen likes to have her stories carry off past the edge of the page, so she always start writing on the tape just outside the painted story block and continue past the edge at the other side of the page.

• Seal your finished storybook block with a matte spray sealer, the same type used to seal an art canvas. Just spray it over the entire block.

• Remove the tape (figure C).