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Before You Begin...
Plan out your design ahead of time by laying it on a bed or floor. If you are doing an entire wall mural, take the time to measure out the center of the space so your mural will look as planned.
After you are finished with your mural, decide whether or not you need to seal it. We recommend a clear acrylic spray for wall and tile décor, and clear polyurethane if you are applying to a wood or laminate surface. Polyurethane will yellow your wall/painted surface. If your paint is glossy, choose a gloss spray. If your paint
is matte, use a matte spray. This will preserve your Tatouage for many years to come. Sealing your design is also recommended if you intend to clean it frequently (in a child’s room or main walk way).
Joining Vines and Creating Borders...
You will notice that each sheet of vines is identical. By placing them together so that one begins where the other ends, you'll see how they connect and flow together. You can use this technique to join the sheets together and quickly create an entire border around a door or entry way.
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Cutting Vines...
The vine sheets will have several areas marked where you may want to cut the sheet into smaller pieces. Using these markers will help you cut the design to make it fit the space you are decorating. We recommend that you cut up an entire sheet so you'll have several smaller pieces to work with to create that really customized look.
For now you will want to make your cuts at the places indicated on the sheets. Later when you feel more comfortable about working with the vines, you'll want to cut up smaller pieces, in random places.
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Remember to never cut straight across the stem, but rather, make your cuts on the bias or diagonally, as you would cut a plant stem in your own garden. This makes it much easier to join them together in a smooth joint. Be sure to take your time and cut slowly, and carefully work your way around the tendrils.
When all pieces are cut, take another moment to be sure they are taped or stapled to their backing so the transfer sheets are protected while you are positioning the individual pieces and sheets prior to doing
the actual transfer.
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Training the Vines...
With your cut vines, you are now ready to work them in and let them meander as a vine would naturally grow. It is best to play around with your design on a flat surface, like a table or hardwood floor, before you actually position them on your wall. You will quickly see how you can lengthen your vines, add offshoots, and work them around corners or objects on your wall. Normally, joints are made stem to stem, but sometimes it looks good to have a vine coming out of the back of a leaf. Just be sure while you are experimenting with laying them out that you always make sure each joint makes sense. |
Birds, Butterflies and Flowers...
Just as you cut a sheet of vines, you'll also want to cut out your flowers, butterflies and caterpillars. Always remember to keep the backing taped or stapled on each of your pieces until you are ready to actually rub them down.
On the flat surface where you are experimenting with your layout, work in a few flowers and insects. For the flowers, be sure to carefully join their stem with the stem of the vine. To give a sense of depth, we like to actually see the flowers overlay the vine leaves. Play with this and see what looks best to you.
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Making Your Mural...
After you feel comfortable with the way things fit and what you'd like your design to look like, you are now ready to put up your mural. Doorways are a great place to begin. Always start at the bottom with a full sheet of vines. Carefully untape and/or unstaple the backing and position the sheet against your wall next to your door molding. (Be sure to place the actual transfers against the wall so when you rub, you are rubbing on the outside surface of the sheet.) You can now hold the sheet in place against your wall with another small piece of transparent tape. When ready, take a rub stick and begin the process of applying the design to your surface. |
Beginning at the top of the sheet, rub carefully over the vine applying even pressure. Be sure to hold the stick as flat as possible, so you get as much of the surface area of the stick, against the wall.
Work your way over the leaves, stems, and take extra care over the tendrils and leaf tips to be sure they are completely rubbed down. The entire surface of the transfer should be evenly rubbed against your wall. You'll be able to tell when each part is transfered as they change color against the sheet. When applying to textured walls, be sure to rub into every nook and cranny.
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When you are ready, slowly peel the transfer sheet back revealing your work against the wall. You can now immediately go over the vines with your fingers to smooth them out, or to work them into the texture of the wall.
Working Your Way Up a Wall...
As you work your way up the wall, you can now begin to use your cut out pieces of vine. They can easily be used as you move upward, in combination with full sheets, to give a varied look. Let them meander to suit your tastes, or to give a wider or narrower design. Always remember to place the pieces where they make the most sense, just as you did while experimenting with the design. |
Adding Flowers...
When you have made good progress with your vines, begin to add in the blossoms. They really look best when placed over an area where the leaves come together. When placing them, remember to make sure you always work the stem of the flower into the vine as naturally as you can. To position them, use a small piece of clear tape to place them on the wall before you rub them down. It's sometimes best when you are doing this for the first time to position your flowers, and then step back to see how your overall design looks. Remember, in nature, flowers normally grow upward. The blue, lavender and jasmine flowers work best in a location without leaves.
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The Final Touches...
When your basic design is complete, you can go back and add a few details. Have fun with the insects and flowers, and don't be afraid to cut up smaller pieces of vines to place them as off-shoots or additional foliage. A vine coming out of a piece of molding or light switch cover provides a nice natural touch. |
When you're finished, don't be afraid to rub on artist's signature for that exclusive, hand painted touch!
Maintenance...
To protect your design, a light application of acrylic spray works very well to form a protective coat. Especially on hard surfaces such as wood furniture or flooring, it may help your design last forever. This can help keep dirt and children's fingerprints from working into the design. Avoid spraying on glass or mirrors.
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Tatouage designs work wonderfully on wood furniture and result in a European-like, or old-world look. After you have finished rubbing on the vines and flowers and are happy with your work, apply a coat of clear polyurethane to the furniture. This will form a hard surface and keep the design from being harmed during normal use.
After you have applied a coat of protectant, or sprayed an acrylic on your design to seal it, cleaning will be very easy. If you need to remove dirt, lightly wipe clean with a slightly damp sponge. We don't recommend wiping down untreated designs on walls. If you do, just use caution. |
Preparing Your Walls/Surfaces...
Make sure your wall/surface is clean and dry. If you are applying Tatouage to a surface that is painted with any kind of gloss, we recommend you wash down your walls with a vinegar and water mix (70% water/30% vinegar). This will not take off your paint; it will help the Tatouage adhere more easily.
Another option when applying Tatouage to a glossy wall/surface is to use a fine grain sandpaper and lightly sand the area. Make sure to wipe down the surface again, with water or rubbing alcohol, to completely remove any residue from sanding the surface.
Before You Begin...
Make sure you keep the protective sheet on the back of your transfer until you are ready to apply it to your wall or surface.
The transfer is very sticky and will stick to everything it touches.
Questions?
If you have a particular question about Tatouage that has not yet been addressed here, be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions section of our site. Chances are you'll find your answer there. If not, please feel free to e-mail questions to: designs@tatmania.com.
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