Not every project always turns out the way you hope it will! So just ignore my end result and instead, learn how you can make your own stencil.
Here’s a natural coloured wicker basket I got from a thrift store. It’s a nice sturdy box and the perfect size for holding library DVD’s and remotes. I spray painted it Almond and it looked great, but I wanted to add a little more. I really like stars so I decided to paint a little star on one side.
I didn’t have any star stencils that I liked, so I decided to make my own. The first step was to google star clip-art and find the star shape and size that I wanted.You need Con-Tact paper for this job. I like to get the clear stuff, but any kind would work (this is the type of paper that you would line a drawer with – it’s sticky on one side).
Cut off a small piece so it’s easier to work with.
Put your con-tact paper over your star (or whatever) and trace it on the paper side.
Cutting it out would be the next logical step.
Now, when you peel the paper off the sticky side, you’re left with something that resembles this – a stencil!!!
I stuck my stencil to my basket and then wrapped the blanket all around so I wouldn’t get my dark spray paint on the wicker.
And then I sprayed it Oil Rubbed Bronze – a couple of light coats.
When I peeled away the blanket and the stencil, I wasn’t too thrilled with the results.
The lines weren’t as crisp as I had hoped, and somehow I got dark paint near the top of the basket (didn’t I put a blanket there?).So then I thought of a new plan . . .
. . . using the inside piece of my stencil.
I put it over the dark spray painted star, and proceeded to spray paint the basket again – using the almond colour! Pretty brilliant I must admit.
. . . using the inside piece of my stencil.
I put it over the dark spray painted star, and proceeded to spray paint the basket again – using the almond colour! Pretty brilliant I must admit.
And how’d that turn out?
Can you find it?Let’s zoom in a little . . .
. . . and there it is, not looking too too bad. I could always turn it around, or I was thinking I just might attach a rusty metal star to it.
. . . and there it is, not looking too too bad. I could always turn it around, or I was thinking I just might attach a rusty metal star to it.In our last house we built a beautiful wall unit – cupboards below, TV spot, and bookshelves on each side. Alas, it was attached to the house and had to stay there. But we have something similar in mind for this wall. In the meantime we make do with our $10 dresser that was sturdy enough for the TV and DVD’s. But it will be years before we tackle that wall unit – I think even just some new knobs would make a big difference! Those fancy brass things just aren’t making me happy.
So the star project turned out okay – not great. But now you know a simple way to make a stencil to paint anything on anything!!! Just remember, if you’re doing words or letters, figure it out so nothing is backwards. And obviously, spray paint can get under blankets! I think my problem was simply that the basket weave was too loose so the spray paint could easily get under the stencil because I couldn’t press it down firmly.
