The only way to do this is to do it right. You know what that means. Remove the mud and remove the wallpaper.

ditto

What is under the wallpaper? I'm wondering if you could just strip it (of mud and paper) and then make that section of wall a recessed feature - put panel framing around it, paint a contrasting colour, hang a picture...?

Karin L

The only way to do this is to do it right. You know what that means. Remove the mud and remove the wallpaper.

you got it

you have to remove the wall paper in order to take effect of mud...

I'd be calling a drywaller back and letting him remove the wallpaper he said could be mudded over. Mudding won't even stick to the tiniest shred of wallpaper you miss when preparing a wall to be skimmed. Water loosens adhesive behind the paper and when it's lose, well it doesn't hold mud well, does it? I'm sorry this happened to you.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/oldhouse/msg0322280021357.html

See my old thread on this. Sorry you are stuck with a nasty job.

I agree, the job needs to be done right. Offer the original guy a choice--either he comes back and fixes it no charge, or you'll hire someone else, and expect him to pay the difference between his job and what it costs you to have it redone (and you can take him to small claims court if he balks). Just be sure, if you hire someone else, you get a statement from him stating what was wrong with the original job.

Any moisture always pulls wallpaper away from the wall--the guy you hired certainly knows that if he's any kind of professional.