Getting Crafty

[SGWhiskers]

We are about to decorate the baby's room. What building and art/craft supplies do I need to avoid for gluten. I know what to avoid for chemical fumes. We are thinking of putting a tree up in her room and toying with the idea of canvas wallpaper pasted to the wall. Another idea was to use a joint compound or mastic to make 1/4 inch 3D effect. I'm also thinking of painting some wall hangings. Is the white gesso on artist canvases gluten free.

Really, I could use an overall list of usually safe/usually unsafe building products and art/craft products that adults would use. There are several other areas of the house we purchased I would like to do something with.

Thanks folks for all your knowledge and help.

[ravenwoodglass]

Wallpaper paste and drywall (joint paste) compound are often not safe. If the gesso is acrylic based that may be okay but I would still wear gloves when applying. You also need to be careful of white glues. I use acrylic paints for painting on canvas and wear gloves or use care. Don't know if that is for sure safe or not.

[SGWhiskers]

I was thinking I had heard about those products, but I couldn't remember. What other crafty/building stuff should I avoid? Other adhesives? And there is left over grout caked on my bathtub trim tiles where my head rests. I doubt I'll ever get to enjoy a bath after baby is born, but is all grout a problem?

[ravenwoodglass]

I was thinking I had heard about those products, but I couldn't remember. What other crafty/building stuff should I avoid? Other adhesives? And there is left over grout caked on my bathtub trim tiles where my head rests. I doubt I'll ever get to enjoy a bath after baby is born, but is all grout a problem?

Usually the grout or caulk used in areas like bathroom tubs and kitchens is latex or acrylic based. The grout you would need to worry about is a cement type grout that is a powder you mix with water. I do use that with my stained glass mosiacs but I wear a OSHA approved filter mask (looks like a bugs face with special filters that screw into it) and gloves and do it outside when I do.

I should have noted that wallpaper once it is on the wall is not going to be an issue. Just have someone else put it up and if you have it removed let someone else do that also.

When I do a painting for which I want a great deal of texture I use a thick acrylic tube paint and layer it on really heavy with a palette knife. I wouldn't advise doing this directly on a wall as it will make the house hard to sell later on as it will be impossible to remove or paint over.

[SGWhiskers]

Usually the grout or caulk used in areas like bathroom tubs and kitchens is latex or acrylic based. The grout you would need to worry about is a cement type grout that is a powder you mix with water. I do use that with my stained glass mosiacs but I wear a OSHA approved filter mask (looks like a bugs face with special filters that screw into it) and gloves and do it outside when I do.

I should have noted that wallpaper once it is on the wall is not going to be an issue. Just have someone else put it up and if you have it removed let someone else do that also.

When I do a painting for which I want a great deal of texture I use a thick acrylic tube paint and layer it on really heavy with a palette knife. I wouldn't advise doing this directly on a wall as it will make the house hard to sell later on as it will be impossible to remove or paint over.

Thank you Raven. You always have such good information.

[GFinDC]

They used to use wheat paste glue to put up wall paper. I am not sure if that is still used though.

Some craft glues used wheat paste also, but some are acrylics now also. So you need to check labels.

Children's play dough used to be made of wheat but I don't know if that is still done commercially.

Most acrylic paints are liquid water solvent plastics, so not much problem with them that I know about anyway.