Tips and Techniques

Designs and expression by The Writings On Your Wall are easy to apply and remove, but like anything, there are some tips that can make your experience even better. Here you will find tips for working with large expressions, textured walls, and more.

Installation Tips
ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU START WITH A CLEAN WALL OR SURFACE.
Do not touch the sticky side of the expression with your fingers as the natural oils from your skin may prevent the adhesive from properly adhering.

If you are having problems with an expression adhering to a surface, try the following:

Make sure your wall is free from any residue, dirt, or film, etc.
Once you have the expression in position, remove the backing paper and burnish the expression onto the surface and before removing the transfer tape, get a spray bottle or a wet cloth and wet the back of the tape. Start by slightly dampening the tape, and if it is not releasing, apply more moisture . This will help the expression release from the tape. Make sure your paint will not be damaged by excess water before you begin this process.
As you remove the transfer tape, press the expression on the wall with your fingers or a dry rag.
When removing the backing paper, don’t pull the tape towards you. Instead, roll it off at an angle along the surface.

Canvases
Our expressions do not adhere to all canvases and we recommend using a sample word to test your canvas before applying your expression. (Ask your Demonstrator for a free sample.) Fine textured canvases and/or a primed gesso surface work best.

If the expression is not adhering to the canvas, prep the canvas by painting the canvas or applying a layer of decoupage glue to the entire canvas before applying the expression (see manufacturers instructions).
Let the canvas dry completely.
When burnishing the expression onto the canvas, take special care to remove the transfer tape slowly. Don’t pull the tape towards you. Instead, roll it off at an angle along the surface and at an angle.
You may need to use your fingers and press the expression onto the canvas to help it adhere to the surface. To help seal the expression onto the canvas you can apply a few coats of decoupage glue after the expression is applied (this is optional).

Uneven Surfaces (e.g., Beadboard)
Always prep your wall and expression as directed in standard application.

When applying an expression to a bead board surface, make sure you burnish the expression starting at one end and slowly moving to the other — working horizontally instead of vertically.
You may need to lift up one end of the expression so it does not adhere to the surface before you burnish the expression into the grooves.
Take special care to rub the expression into the ridges of the door and/or paneling. When removing the transfer tape, pull the tape off in the direction of the grooves or lines. Pulling against these grooves may pull up the expression.

Smooth Surfaces (e.g., glass, metal, mirror)
Please note that expressions applied to glass and other very smooth surfaces tend to adhere quickly, making it
impossible to reposition.

Do not let the expression touch the surface until it is in the desired position. It can help to remove any excess paper by cutting around the expression.
Choose the desired angle for the expression, and use the hinge method found in the installation instructions to hold the expression in place.
To reduce the amount of bubbles hold up one end of the expression and pull it tight and burnish the expression slowly as you apply it to the surface, burnishing small portions at a time.
Remove the transfer tape.

Mirrored Expression Note: Since the back side of the expression will be visible, so might air pockets. To reduce
the number of air pockets, holding one end of the expression, pull it tight as you slowly burnish the expression to the surface.

Curved Surfaces
Always prep your wall and expression as directed in standard application.

Start by removing any excess paper by cutting around the expression.
Position the expression on the curved surface and secure it on one end (not the top or bottom) of the expression using your painter’s tape. You may also make relief slits along the paper so the expression easily wraps around the surface (be sure not to cut the expression).
You may choose to leave part of the backing on as you slowly burnish the expression by starting at one end and moving to the other. If the surface is glass, metal, porcelain, etc., try not to let the expression touch the surface too soon, as these surfaces do not allow repositioning.
Finish by burnishing the expression onto the surface and then remove the transfer tape by pulling it at an angle — not straight up as this may cause the lettering to come up too.

Textured Walls/Wallpaper
Expressions may not adhere well to heavily textured walls or textured wallpaper, as the expression may not have
enough good surface space to properly adhere. Please test the surface using a free customer sample before applying your expression to a heavily textured wall. (Ask your Demonstrator for a free sample.) Always prep your wall and expression as directed in standard application.

During the burnishing step, use your fingers or your thumb to press the expression into the grooves of the textured wall.
If your expression is not transferring from the tape to the wall, before removing the transfer tape, get a spray bottle a slightly wet cloth and wet the back (non-sticky side) of the tape, using more moisture if needed if it is not releasing. Make sure your paint or wallpaper will not be damaged by excess water before you use this technique.

Growth Charts
When applying a Growth Chart, measure up one foot from the floor and make a mark on the wall.
When you apply the growth chart, make sure this mark lines up with the bottom horizontal reference line on the growth chart to assure the chart accurately measures height.

Large Expressions
Since large expressions can be difficult to handle, we recommend using an alternate application method rather than the standard hinge method. Always prep your wall and expression as directed in standard application.

THE SECTION METHOD; For a more horizontal expression (over 36” w, less than 8” h):

Before positioning expression on clean wall, decide on several places between words where you could cut the expression (but DO NOT cut it yet). Pencil vertical lines in these spots for reference.
Position expression on wall and once it is correctly positioned, go ahead a make a hinge across the top, leaving spaces without tape at the spots where you have penciled in the vertical reference lines.
With the expression firmly taped in place, take your scissors and carefully cut on the reference lines so your expression is actually in several pieces, though still in the same position as you placed it.
Using the standard hinge method, work on one section at a time until you are done. This makes it much more manageable to apply and greatly reduces the risk of the ruining the expression during application.

THE HALF-AT-A-TIME METHOD: For a large expression (also see separate pdf file with pictures)

Position expression on wall for placement and use small pieces of painters tape to temporarily hold it in place.
Once in place, run tape down center of expression vertically so it securely holds expression in place.
Slowly peel backing paper from one side of expression, taking care not to touch the adhesive on the back of the expression itself.
Using a small piece of tape, place it on the peeled back upper corner of the expression to temporarily hold it back to allow you to remove the backing (do not let tape touch the back of the lettering). At this point, the backing portion of the expression is hanging.
Using scissors, cut backing off as close the vertical piece of tape as possible.
Remove small piece of tape from corner and working from the center, carefully lay expression on the wall using your burnishing tool to rub it onto the wall as you go.
At this point you can remove the center piece of tape from the expression.
Now slowly remove backing from other half of expression, slowly removing it as you work from the center out, using your application tool to rub expression to the wall as you go.
After all backing has been removed and you have rubbed over the top of the transfer tape, you can remove transfer tape, removing it at an angle.