It’s a wall of sound. Photo by Author / North by Northwestern.

Last week Punxsutawney Phil predicted we’ll be stuck studying inside for many more winter weeks, but that doesn’t mean you have to live and work in a gloomy space until springtime. With some colorful markers in hand and some favorite songs in mind, you can brighten up your dorm room and create a great conversation starter with this interactive wall art project.

Cost: $8

Materials:

• Wrapping paper, any color
• Markers
• Masking or poster tape

Instructions:

1. Buy a roll of wrapping paper, (Target will have cheap rolls of leftover Valentine’s Day paper in about a week), tape and a pack of markers. Do not use permanent markers because they can bleed through the paper.
2. Pick a big, empty wall in your dorm room or apartment. Decide how lyrically ambitious you feel and cut a long length of wrapping paper. I would recommend at least four feet long to really make a bold statement.
3. Put tape on the sides and corners of the patterned side of the wrapping paper. Attach it to the wall.
4. Start decorating with song lyrics. Write the words in a variety of colors, sizes, fonts and directions. Have friends add lyrics too!