I could kick myself!

[Bijou]

I'm trying to think of ways to preserve it, like hanging fabric over it or something.  Suggestions very welcome.  Begged for, in fact!

This would work, too. You could frame the fabric or print pattern of wall paper or even a poster of family photos -- something to match your decor with a decorative wood trim then attach it to the wall with Velcro or small pieces of magnet tape.

I could have the pictures of the kids who are measured there.  This is beginning to sound like a fun project.  Gosh, I'm so glad that I didn't just paint over it!  I don't know what to do yet, but these ideas are great. 

[Bijou]

I would second getting a builder to have a look at it. You may be surprised at what they can do.

Two of my sons are carpenters.  I should get some feedback from them. 

[Bijou]

If it's drywall, they might be able to cut it out and re-patch the arch.  Plaster might be a problem.  Have your favorite handyman look at it.

I'm going to talk to my boys and see what they come up with.  It may be so simple but to me it's overwhelming.

[Bijou]

Drywall can be carefully cut out and replaced.  We had to do that when we had a water leak - just cut out a 4-inch wide by 4-foot tall section, cut out a matching piece (using the original as template) from a fresh sheet, then taped/mudded it into place and painted over it.  Can't even tell where the spot was now.  You might even be able to find someone who has a small section of drywall so you don't have to buy LOTS of supplies - a DIY friend might have everything you need.  Then you can mount that section of drywall to a piece of plywood and make it movable.  Prop it up in the same place once it's painted over, or preserve it with clear spray and put it in a safe place.

We just had to do that with a small of wall because it had to be removed and then replaced.  (Which is why we finally got around to painting that hall/pantry, which was also that horrible green color.  Now that strip that is left with all the stuff on it sticks out like a sore thumb!)

[Bijou]

Drywall can be carefully cut out and replaced.  We had to do that when we had a water leak - just cut out a 4-inch wide by 4-foot tall section, cut out a matching piece (using the original as template) from a fresh sheet, then taped/mudded it into place and painted over it.  Can't even tell where the spot was now.  You might even be able to find someone who has a small section of drywall so you don't have to buy LOTS of supplies - a DIY friend might have everything you need.  Then you can mount that section of drywall to a piece of plywood and make it movable.  Prop it up in the same place once it's painted over, or preserve it with clear spray and put it in a safe place.

I tend to have strange things around. like the silk screening framed screen my husband did in art class.  I love it.  It's one of my favorite pieces of art.  Of course, we don't have a screening of the picture he did.  Just the hinged screen with the image (one of my paper cut images on it.) 

Oh!  I like this idea.  You could even frame the cut out piece and hang it on display in some vertical little hard to decorate section of wall!  It would be an awesome and very unique decor piece!

[Bijou]

Is the area surrounding it large enough to paint around the marked section?  You could frame it in and paint the rest of the area a more tasteful color.  Could a purchased or handmade wall hanging go there?

My mother used to do her own wallpapering, paneling, and painting.  After she prepared the walls, she would let me color or draw on them, then she would cover it up with paint, paper, paneling.  40+ years later, when we sold the place and the workmen came out to strip the walls, my "artwork" was perfectly preserved under the paper and paneling.

That is so neat!  I had no idea art could survive wall stripping.  My mom loved to do wall stuff, too.  She worked right alongside my dad remodeling the house.  She should have been a carpenter. 
The space around the strip has no leeway for anything. 

This whole thing will give me plenty to think about when I'm in bed and can't sleep (like every night!)  I won't have to recite the alphabet backwards, or try to think of a fruit or animal or flower that begins with each letter of the alphabet.   

[Harriet]

Okay here's an insane notion...

http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Full-Page-Portable-Document-Scanner/200195

There are some scanners out there that you hold the unit and move it slowly over the thing you want to scan (see link for one example; hp made one at one point also.) This would be one (geeky! But cool!) way to get the image seamlessly onto your computer.

The camera / tripod combo with a stitched-together panorama photo would probably get you a better resolution in the end, though.

You could always take the photo(s) before trying any of the other options (like cutting out the drywall section) so at least you have some version of it in case something goes horribly wrong.

[Bijou]

Okay here's an insane notion...

http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Full-Page-Portable-Document-Scanner/200195

There are some scanners out there that you hold the unit and move it slowly over the thing you want to scan (see link for one example; hp made one at one point also.) This would be one (geeky! But cool!) way to get the image seamlessly onto your computer.

The camera / tripod combo with a stitched-together panorama photo would probably get you a better resolution in the end, though.

You could always take the photo(s) before trying any of the other options (like cutting out the drywall section) so at least you have some version of it in case something goes horribly wrong.

What a coincidence!  I was thinking earlier today "Too bad there isn't something to scan with like those wands they use to check people for contraband." (or whatever they check for). and lo and behold, there it is!  And not terribly expensive.
I'm actually looking for a scanner and wonder if that would work and so portable!  Love it!

I was talking to my sister this evening and told her about the measuring wall dilemma and she said she has one in her kitchen.  She also said that some of the names on her's are not familiar to her (Who is veronica, for heaven's sake!).  Must be friends of the kids or something.  She suggested I frame it in gold.   

[Harriet]

Oh, framing it in gold is a must!

[secretrebel]

Take a high resolution photo of it or a series of such photos. Use photoshop to splice them together (or ask a graphic artist todo this for you). Print out the result as a poster and have it framed.

[TootsNYC]

Can you put a frame around it, using molding, as if it's artwork, and paint everything else?

[RegionMom]

Great ideas!

I grew up moving all around, as did my DH, so when the kids wanted to mark heights in early grade school, we got a piece of 6 foot plus more bit of wood and used that, kind of a double heighted and thick extra wide yard stick.  Not so wide to have silly pictures drawn on it, but easily portable from house to house!  funny though, we are still in the same house...

There was a movie/tv show that had an opening scene of the family door where all the heights were marked, and then they moved, but the door was delivered later to the new house? 

I am totally going to let my grandkids draw on the walls!!!

[Bijou]

Oh, framing it in gold is a must!

With rhinestones embedded!

[Bijou]

Can you put a frame around it, using molding, as if it's artwork, and paint everything else?

That's a good idea.  I just looked online for miniature molding for dollhouses and that may be something I could do.   They didn't leave much space on the edges but there are some pretty narrow moldings available on that site. 

[Bijou]

Great ideas!

I grew up moving all around, as did my DH, so when the kids wanted to mark heights in early grade school, we got a piece of 6 foot plus more bit of wood and used that, kind of a double heighted and thick extra wide yard stick.  Not so wide to have silly pictures drawn on it, but easily portable from house to house!  funny though, we are still in the same house...

There was a movie/tv show that had an opening scene of the family door where all the heights were marked, and then they moved, but the door was delivered later to the new house? 

I am totally going to let my grandkids draw on the walls!!!

I like the idea of the portable stick.  You can get balsa or bass wood that is about 1.8th or less thick and in various widths.  They they could draw on that!
BarensMom's mother let her draw on the walls.  Did you see that post on page 1?  I thought that was pretty neat.