Faux Limestone Block Wall

I love faux work and I luv stone work. I had a large wall with very dated wallpaper and it was during shut down, so what better time to give something new a try.

Spackle/joint compound
drop cloth
spackle knives
painters tape
house paints, including primer
various size paint brushes and rollers
rags, foam, things to create texture like dollar store squeegee
grout
yardstick or straight edge
containers for mixing

Prep the wall. I was lucky that the wall only needed light sanding and TSP wash down before painting with primer.
Use straight edge to draw your plan directly onto wall with pencil. If you have narrow painters tape, use to tape over lines ( this will determine faux grout lines later). I had to cut my tape lengthwise to get the look I was going for.
Next, will be creating the faux stone blocks. Only do a few at a time.

Apply the joint compound to only a couple blocks. Thickness does not need to be uniform. Experiment with different items to create texture, like dabbing with a rag, pieces of stiff foam, stiff brush, …. If my texture came out too 3D, lightly skimming over with large spackle knife or a stiff squeegee created a nice affect. Have fun and get artistic. Continue a few blocks at a time.
Peel off painters tape before the spackle completely dries is easier.

Dilute some darker color paint. Using a cheap short stubby brush, dab this along faux grout line, allowing some to smudge onto some of the edges of blocks and some corners to create a depth illusion.
To paint the blocks- some get primer, some get primer on areas. Stand back occasionally to apply similar colors scattered across the wall. Mix a few colors together to create another shade and apply to several more blocks. Repeat process to get all blocks.
Occasionally blot some random colors on a few blocks in slight random patterns, especially in indentations, to look like real stone in nature. You may need to touch up some of the 3D affect.

If you wish to look very realistic, mix some watery grout. Use soft small brush to dab this into the faux grout lines.
Admire your creativity, clean up and enjoy.