After a month or two of psyching myself up for hanging, the headboard has finally been hung in the master bedroom.  Credits:

Valley Forge – pleather
Stupid Amazon store – nailheads that ended up in three bandaged fingers
OOK – hanging cleats (remains to be seen how we feel about these)
Home Depot – wood, screws, brackets etc (in total 75 lbs on the wall)
Joanne Fabrics – batting, foam etc
Davis parents – lovely paint job that contrasts nicely with the white headboard

Lesson Learned: you can probaby purchase a similar headboard or have one made for just a tad more and save your fingers, time, weight, and end up with something a little more professional looking. And if you do decide to do it yourself, use a straightedge!