Who would meticulously place hundreds of stamps one at a time to create a massive wall of stamps?
Kristie Corr, that’s who! I came across her stunning wall and initially thought it was wallpaper. However, as I learned more, I discovered that she spent days, hours, and an incredible amount of energy placing each stamp individually on a massive wall.
The result is breathtaking, and it’s easy to spend hours admiring the intricate details of each tiny stamp artwork. Stamps are collected for their beauty, interest, and uniqueness, but using them as wallpaper is a whole new level of creativity.
What draws you to Maximalism?
I love colour and these stamps were very sentimental, they need to be on display, rather than in books, albums or boxes. I collected stamps with my late grandfather when I was younger. I spent hours and hours soaking them off envelopes.
What inspired you to start creating a space that is so unique?
During Covid lockdown, we needed something fun to do to pass the time. The city of Melbourne, Australia, and certain cities in Peru and Chile spent the most cumulative days in lockdown over separate periods, although measures varied between these countries. Some days I was sticking 7-8 hours a day, whilst my children homeschooled.
The wall is a mixture of new and used stamps, with a total of 10,734 all stuck one-by-one on a false wall using all water based products.
The oldest stamp I have is from 1865, but I didn’t stick that to the wall. I think the oldest on the wall is from about 1940. It took just over 6 weeks to complete.
If someone was going to try to do a stamp wall, what advice would you give them.
Collect stamps from all over the world. Using different sizes and shapes to create a mosaic. We put a false wall over the top of the plaster using a thin ply, that we painted.
Some of the stamps because of their shapes have slight gaps between, but because it is painted white, you can’t notice.Tiny little stamps are life savers in filling gaps. Look at op shops, flea markets, eBay or advertise locally that you are looking for stamps to get a collection. We also drew lines on the wall to try and keep the stamps straight whilst we were sticking.
Those little crab stamps were great to fill spots.
How long have you been creating maximalist spaces? When did you first get inspired?
We have many other features around our home like an old door fence, fake turf (grass) on our son’s bedroom wall with a large soccer ball bookshelf made by my husband and I, a Rio (concrete reinforcement mesh) pot feature and a floor to ceiling hand burnt peacock (completed by my daughter) on our timber dining room wall.
This is our first home and we love being able to decorate spaces we love.
What is your favorite room that you have decorated and why? What about it makes it your favorite?
The front lounge where our postage stamp wall is. It is the first wall you see are you enter our home. As the sun filters through in the morning, some of the embellished stamps shine. The stamps are very sentimental, after collecting a large majority with my late grandfather.
Do you have a maximalist dream project or dream place to visit you would like to share with our readers?
I would love to cover my laundry wall with all different shape and sizes buttons one day. I have a large jar where I have been collecting them for some time. I think it would take ages to do, but it would be so colourful and fun!
We have also made laminated ‘game cards’, so the kids can look for different stamps – there are 3 circles, 5 triangles, 1 pineapple, one upside down, one sideways and there are full series from all over the world. They can also play pairs games, and make them off the cards with a whiteboard marker as they find them.
Would you like to this project? Here’s how!
Creating your own stamp wall can be a fun and rewarding project! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create your own stamp wall out of real stamps:
Materials Needed:
Real postage stamps
Wall-safe adhesive (such as Mod Podge, double-sided tape, or wallpaper paste)
A brush or sponge for adhesive
A ruler and pencil for marking the wall
Protective sealant (optional)
Tweezers (optional, for precise placement)
1. Plan Your Design:
Decide on the overall look and pattern of your stamp wall. You can arrange the stamps in a random pattern, create a specific design, or follow a grid pattern.
Measure the wall area where you plan to create the stamp display. Use a ruler and pencil to lightly mark the dimensions on the wall.
2. Prepare the Stamps:
Sort your stamps by size, color, or theme, depending on your design plan.
If needed, clean any old adhesive or residue from the back of the stamps.
3. Apply the Adhesive:
If you’re using Mod Podge or wallpaper paste, use a brush or sponge to apply a thin, even layer of adhesive to a small section of the wall.
If you’re using double-sided tape, cut small pieces and stick them to the back of each stamp.
4. Start Placing the Stamps:
Begin placing the stamps on the wall according to your design plan. Use tweezers for precise placement if needed.
Press each stamp firmly to ensure it adheres well to the wall.
Work in small sections to keep the adhesive from drying out before you can place the stamps.
6. Continue the Process:
Continue applying adhesive and placing stamps until the entire area is covered.
Take your time to ensure the stamps are evenly spaced and aligned according to your design.
6. Seal the Wall (Optional):
Once all the stamps are in place and the adhesive is dry, you can apply a protective sealant over the stamps to protect them from damage and make them easier to clean.
Use a brush to apply a thin, even layer of sealant over the entire stamp wall. Allow it to dry completely before touching the wall
We hope you enjoyed this interview and project!
Creating a stamp wall is a unique and rewarding project that transforms a simple collection into a stunning piece of art. With patience and creativity, you can turn your space into a captivating display that showcases the beauty and diversity of stamps.
Kristie Corr’s incredible stamp wall shows the dedication and vision required to bring such a project to life. This project allows you to repurpose and appreciate your stamp collection while transforming your space into an artistic statement.
Enjoy the process, take pride in the intricate beauty of your new stamp wall, and draw inspiration from Kristie’s creativity and perseverance.
