OK, I think that I will take all your advice and try to make some "sample" products ... yes the enamel is very thick paint, and I am going to try the lime - to see if it will work to get the texture I want ... with a trowel - no doubt it will thicken it up - but will it dry right - and stick to the old wall paper? vinyl - (I'm thinking vinyl because it washes easily - but it may have been put up before they had the self adhering backside ... and if it is paper it wouldn't be much different than the surface of the dry wall ...

at least that is my theory ... thanks for all your great advice ... I may end up getting the mud/joint compound - I've worked with that before and found it easy to apply and mix even when it came dry.