Hanging Wainscotting

If installing bead board paneling seems like a huge job, don't despair. It's relatively easy.

1. Decide how high you want the bead board to come up the wall so you can figure out how much paneling you'll need. If you don't have a table saw have the sheets cut to the right size at the home center.

2. Let the panels sit in the room for a couple of days before you install them so they don't expand or contract once they're up!

3. Mark a level horizontal line on the wall where you want the top of the molding to sit. Don't depend on your floor to be level, most aren't. So leave a little space between the bottom of the bead board and the floor so if the flooring shifts the panels won't.

4. Mark the location of wall studs above the level line so you know where to install your finishing nails.

5. If you need to cut holes for electrical boxes, do it before you hang the panels. Remember measure twice, cut once.

6. Apply a paneling adhesive to the back of your sheets in a zigzag. Square the sheet up with your level line and push firmly into place on the wall. Secure it to the studs with nails.

7. To finish the top edge of the bead board, use a piece of cap molding. It has a notch at the edge to rest on the top of the panel. Finish the bottom with baseboard. I also like to install a small piece of cove molding corners to give it a clean, professional look!

8. For more information on installing moldings, check our website!

Crafty Stains

Craft projects are fun and fulfilling but they can be messy, I have some tips for dealing with crafty messes at your house.

1. Acrylic paints yield great results unless you get them on your clothes: the key, act quickly! For acrylics on clothes, lay an old towel under the item and then dab the stain with a white cloth and cool water until no more color comes off. Treat any remaining stain with rubbing alcohol. Then launder in warm water. Remember don't toss it in the dryer until the stain is gone.

2. Glue guns are notorious for dripping. To prevent messes on your work surface, rest your gun on a metal tray or old cookie sheet when you're not using it. If you did get some glue on your work surface, use a hairdryer to reheat it and then peel it away, don't try to chip hardened glue off of a surface it will take the finish with it!

3. Like glitter, hate the mess? Apply adhesive to the item and then place it in a shallow cardboard box, like the ones that canned goods come in. Then apply your glitter in the box, this way excess will stay in the box and not on your work surface where it can be spilled and tracked all over. If you get glitter on a carpet or your clothing use a sticky lint roller to clean it up quick!