Faux Crocodile Headboard
For this craft, you will need:
– Enough faux crocodile or lizard skin material to cover your headboard plus foam
– Plywood
– A hot glue gun
– 1 Ã?½” upholstery foam
– Staple gun and staples
– White linen fabric
– Heavy screws and a screw gun
– Butcher paper or poster board
– A jigsaw
Start by measuring your mattress to determine how big the headboard should be. Generally, your headboard will be the same size or slightly larger than the mattress and should stick up high enough to show over pillows. Copy this measurement onto a sheet of butcher paper or poster board, as it will be your template for the headboard.
Trace the measurement onto the plywood. Using a jigsaw, cut the wood to size in a square or rectangle shape depending on the height desired for your headboard. Cut two “legs” for the headboard as tall as the bed sits off the ground. Set all wood pieces aside.
Use the paper headboard template to cut out the upholstery foam to the same size as the wood headboard. With a hot glue gun, securely affix the foam to the board. Allow the glue to dry. (Do not do this step for the wooden legs.)
Fold the faux crocodile or lizard skin material over the wood and foam, with one inch wrapping around to the back of the board on each side. Make sure the material is taught, that there are no wrinkles, and the edges look neat and tidy. (This step may require a helper.) Staple the fabric directly onto to backside of the board.
Cut enough linen fabric to cover the back of the board. Using the hot glue gun, carefully adhere to the backside of the board, covering the plywood, and fabric folds. Lay the entire headboard flat on a table or the floor.
Using carpentry screws, affix the legs to the main headboard. Screw the legs to the wall where you want the bed to be, and push the mattress and frame up against the headboard and legs.
TIP: Do not feel limited to just neutral colors with this headboard. Faux crocodile or lizard print comes in a variety of colors, such as bright pinks, purples, greens, and reds. For example, a girl’s bedroom for a fashionista might include bright pink. While a jungle themed room could incorporate an Army green. Be creative!
