Martha, this is not a good thing.

Dear Martha,

You are worth nearly a billion dollars. Can't you help a sister out with a little paste? Seriously! I was already a little peaved when I had to order more beadboard wallpaper from Home Depot to finish the living room and found that the same paper was going to cost me 2 dollars more per roll, just because you had so kindly let them use your name on the label. Not surprised, but annoyed.

The wallpaper arrives, I'm all eager to get it on the wall, and dang it Martha, you are too cheap for some paste? I mean really?? It looks the same, the pattern is exactly the same as the  prepasted roll I paid 22 bucks for just a couple of months ago.  Only, no paste on the back. I'm going to have to drive 30 minutes away into the big city to buy wallpaper paste. Thanks to you, Martha, I've already spent four dollars more, now it's going to cost me the gas to drive the hour long round trip plus the cost of the paste.

We are no longer friends Martha.

Yours truly,

Me

Martha may have gotten me down, but  I was not completely out. Nosiree. I googled how to make your own wallpaper paste and by golly, I did it. Made a whole gallon with two ingredients, cornstarch and water.  I have extra if you need any. 

So let this be as warning. If you have purchased beadboard wallpaper from Home Depot in the past and wish to purchase more, be prepared to pay more and be prepared to paste it yourself. 

I have now wallpapered the entire living room. Well up 3/4 of the wall anyway. I still need to figure out how I'm going to trim the top. I'm thinking something chunky enough to act as a picture ledge. I need to do some measuring and visit Lowes.  Photos to follow. My living room is really coming around and in some very exciting news, the sofa I need to complete my sectional is finally in stock at IKEA.  I'll be traveling to Charlotte tomorrow. I'm very, very excited.

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

Comments

[Wendy]

Ha! I cracked up just from the title alone! That is hilarious!

Yeah, I quit getting her magazine, she's grown far too pretentious and pricey. I also hate how she talks over her guests on her show! The only reason I watch is b/c she supports Etsy and I sell on it. It's a love/hate relationship with that one too.

Can't wait to see pictures!

[Melissa]

Too funny! Although, in your shoes, I wouldn't have thought so... ; ) I absolutely love room makeovers. Unfortunately, we don't have an IKEA anywhere close... I just have to look at blogs like yours and drool. I hit estate sales, Goodwill, and flea markets. Can't wait to see the end result! : ) Melissa

[cindy]

I had heard this about the wallpaper. Someone had mentioned the newer unpasted kind also shrank, but I think she was using it on the back of a laminate bookcase. I'm hoping to use it in my son's room soon, so I'll be needing that homemade paste recipe :)

[Autum]

Hi Melissa,
 
Were actually pretty rural also. The closest Goodwill is 30 minutes away. Ill have to drive 3 hours to IKEA, but the shipping is way to expensive to do it any other way. I bought part of a sectional off craigslist. The seller wanted to keep the sofa and what I bought was a corner secion and love seat that fit t together but are missing the arm and legs from one end- since she kept them for the sofa. Anyway, it was a good deal so I went for it thinking i could just go to IKEA and get the sofa and save more than $200 on the sectional. After more than a month, the sofa is finally back in stock.

Have a wonderful weekend!
xo Autum

[Autum]

Hi Cindy,

To make the paste, I just sifted one cup of cornstarch in a large pot. Then slowly add one gallon of warm water, stir to remove any lumps and bring to a boil. Stirring constantly.  Let cool, and thats it. I was in a hurry so I cooled some in the freezer and it worked but was a little runny. What was left in the pot the next day was a much better consistency. Go ahead and make it a day before you plan to use it.
I read some other recipes that required sugar be added. That just seemed wrong to me. I didnt want to apply anything to my walls, here in the hot, antsy south with sugar. The cornstarch and water seemed to have worked fine. Time will tell how durable it is I guess.

Have a great weekend!

xo Autum

[lisa]

I love Martha craft tools, and use to love Living magazine. I bought it religiously for years. I finally just decided to let it laps, because there were very little crafts in it anymore. I was excited when I heard that she was selling cleaning products at Home Depot, but then heard that Consumer Reports gave them a really bad review. Then I noticed they were all marked on clearance. I never even tried them. I did just buy Martha paint thought to use in my kitchen. So sometimes Martha and I are in, and sometimes we are out.

That is pretty stupid of Home Depot though. Maybe you should complain. They might give you a free roll, or a coupon or something.

[Jessica Dougherty]

On top of all that, I met Martha & she was NOT friendly. Sadness.

[Autum]

Im not at all surprised, she never came across as very warn or genuine when Ive seen her on TV. Ive never been a huge fan. I feel like there are tons of folks behind the scenes doing all the work and getting none of the credit. I guess she signs lots of paychecks though, so at least that is a good thing ; )

I hope you are doing well!

xo Autum

[Sarah]

Really? Modern wallpaper that is not prepasted is a freaking travesty. Gah.

I am kind of mad at IKEA. I bought these two lampshades when we were ALL THE WAY IN CHICAGO. I paid $10 each for tiny lampshades (not that cheap really). I get them home and you need to buy an extra part to make them work. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT IKEA??!?! I live 6 hours away.

Gah.

[Autum]

Since Im only mad at Martha and not IKEA, I am going there tomorrow. Its 3 hours away for us. Do you want me to pick up the part you need and mail it to you? Id be happy to. If so, just email me the info.

[jackie]

I really like your letter to Martha. I was afraid when I got my roll of beadboard paper at Home Depot for 1 cent!!!!!! that it would be an online item only, and I wondered if it would look the same because I am going to need some for some bookshelves. Then I saw Martha's name and knew things would be different. Glad you came up with a solution. Jackie

[Jenny Limb]

Martha can go suck on her big toe!

[Michelle]

I'm so glad you posted that the wall paper comes unpasted. I've been thinking of doing a corner in my bathroom with the bead board paper especially after seeing how good yours looks. Thank you for the heads up. You'll have to post how the Ikea couch pans out. I've been looking at their Extorp sofa for a while but Ikea is about 4 hours from me. I'll be interested to hear how you like yours - if you think the quality is worth the money.

[Autum]

Hi Michelle,

I have the Karlstad sectional. It is a sofa, corner section and love seat. So far I love it. I hope it will hold up well, it does have a 10 year warantee. We got the sofa on Sunday and I put it together yesterday. The only thing I dont like is the legs that come with it. They are very pale wood, just a block style. It looks like I have an unfinished 2x2 supporting my couch. I ordered more off ebay, I hope they fit.
I wanted the Ektorp sectional, but after a trip to ikea and sitting on both, I liked the Karlstad better. Its not as cushy, but I had a sofa with down cushions once and it drove me crazy. It always looked squashed and sloppy. I was constantly straightening the cushions and fluffing flattened places. This sectional leans a little more to the  contemporary than my usual style, but I think with the different legs and some pretty throw pillows it will fit in nicely.

As far as the wallpaper goes, youll love it. Just buy plan to make or buy some paste : )

xo Autum

[cindy]

Hey, thought I'd pop back over to tell you I found beadboard wallpaper at my local Menards...prepasted and $15 for a double roll. Do you have those round your parts? They're like Home Depot or Lowes.

Thanks for the recipe...I stashed it in case Menards goes all stupid like Home Depot :)

[Bridgette]

Let's face it, Martha didn't get where she is today by helping anyone but herself:o

[Autum]

Hey Cindy,
No we dont have a Menards, but we do have Lowes. Lowes has the prepasted for 15.00 but its a different pattern than what  had. I needed to get the same since I was halfway through a project. My niece bought the Lowes paper to put in her little girls room.

Have a lovely evening!

xo Autum

[Autum]

Amen!

[Michelle]

I'm surprised you didn't refinish the legs yourself. : )
Michelle

[tammy]

Martha is the devil I say. Anything she touches goes to pot. I mean really why did Home Depot bring her on board and get rid of dear old Ralph? He does not cause the problems she does nor has he been to prison.
thanks for stopping by my blog and by all means stop by Lumberton and check out my booth- or even stop by Cameron, NC on October 2nd and see my booth there.
tammy

[Autum]

Hi Tammy! I have a friend who goes to Cameron every spring for the big antique festival, Ill have to get her to go with me to visit you in October.

[Heather]

I have mixed feelings about Martha. Sometimes I love her, but I usually hate her. I was debating on whether or not to buy some of that beadboard wallpaper from Home Depot, and was really bummed that my local (and by local, I mean the HD in a town 45 minutes away) didn't carry it, and that I would have to spend even more on shipping. Then, I went to my even more local (only 15 minutes away!) Menard's, and found a 55 sq. ft. roll of paintable, pre-pasted, beadboard wallpaper for only $13!

[UGG Classic Upside]

yes.ave mixed feelings about Martha. Sometimes I love her, but I usually hate her. I was debating on whether or not to buy some of that beadboard wallpaper from Home Depot, and was really bummed that my local (and by local, I mean the HD in a town 45 minutes away) didn't carry it,