Wall Stenciling

Spring is in the air and I always get the itch to redecorate when the days get longer and warmer. Nothing brightens up a space better than a new paint job - and what a paint job this is! Stenciling is a wonderful way to update your space and unlike wallpaper, when you get sick of the pattern, you can just paint over it. It's the perfect project for a rainy, March afternoon and a wonderful little item to check off your "Sring Cleaning To Do" list.

What You'll Need:

Acetate (.005 or .010 thickness)

Permanent Marker

Razor

Masking Tape

Small Paint Roller

Paint color of your choice

Paper Plate(s)

Rag towel or paper towels

1. Go online and find a pattern you would like to use. Try searching for wall stencils or damask patterns. You can do a repeating pattern, or you can do a single image. Once you've found your pattern, print it out as large as you would like onto a piece of paper.
2. Layer your acetate on top of the pattern and using your marker, trace the pattern onto the acetate.
3. With the acetate layered over cardboard to prevent scratching the surface below, use the razor to cut out your pattern from the acetate. You now have a wall stencil! On to the actual painting of the wall.
4. Next, lay the tape along each edge of your pattern. Place the pattern on the wall where you would like your stencil.
5. Pour some of the paint onto the plate. Coat your roller in the paint. Once your roller is coated, drag the roller across the towels a few times. Your roller should look almost dry.
6. Carefully begin to paint over your stencil onto the wall. Do not press too hard, otherwise the paint will seep under the edges of the stencil resulting in a sloppy image.
7. Now comes the most rewarding part - carefully remove the stencil starting from the bottom up.
8. If you have a repeating pattern, replace the stencil in the next location and repeat. And there you have it - a cheap and easy way to update any space for the Spring. See below for stenciling tips.

Stenciling Tips:

• Start simple! If you're new to this, do not pick a pattern that is too ornate with a lot of curls or leaves. The simpler the better.
• If you are doing a repeating pattern, start your stenciling in the most visible corner and work from there. That way, if your stencil does not line up properly in the end, it will be in an unnoticeable area of your wall.
• As I mentioned above, make sure there is not too much paint on your roller. Your roller should look almost dry before rolling it over the stencil.
• At the end of your stenciling, use a paint brush to touch up areas that were hard to get to or need a sharper edge.