When it comes to aluminum foil, I believe the possibilities are endless. 
I was sitting in my huge triple room in Abel Hall on a day in August 
1996. I wanted to find a way to spice things up. A roll of Reynolds Wrap 
was staring me in the face. At that time, I had been to a few dances that 
played exclusively techno music, and I was a computer science major. 
These two influences helped me to give my room that futuristic, yet 
versitale look. 


I began applying it to the wall with rubber cement. This
adhesive is easily removable by rubbing with a brush. My library
experience taught me this. If you get a quality rubber cement, it
will also dry clear, just in case you don't feel like scrubbing after the
foil removal. Little paint damage, if any results from the application
of rubber cement.



The walls in my room take approxametly 250 sq. ft. of aluminum foil. The 
ceiling took an additonal 250 sq. ft. In 1997, I decided not do do my 
ceiling again. Instead, I carefully foiled my bookshelves and closets. 
I had to take extra care not to damage the finish on the wood cabinets. 
A minimal amount of rubber cement was applied and affixed to an 
unfinished or hidden portion of the woodwork. At the end of the year 
removal was quick and easy despite the painstaking application at the 
beginning of the year. The woodwork required an additional 250 sq. ft 
of aluminum foil. 



In Lincoln, Nebraska, a 250 sq. ft. roll of aluminum foil costs about 
five dollars. A quart of rubber cement also costs about five dollars. 
My total expenses in this project have been under $20 per year. 


Since I first used aluminum foil as a decorating tool, I have found 
many other uses. My favorite is gift wrapping. One Christmas, my parents 
decided to give my brother a papasan chair. I had to make the purchace 
for them, and I couldn't just bring it home without being wrapped up. 
The result was an interesting combination of art and functionality