Stencils
I’ve decided what I’m going to do with the pink bookshelves, once I’ve painted them white.
Stencils.
Many years ago, when I was experimenting with all kinds of paint effects, I decided to paint a small fold-down (or fold-up) table. The top was plain brown masonite — practical but not terribly interesting. I used the table as a serving centre for things like Christmas dinner or for barbecues etc. People could serve themselves and then bring their loaded plates to the table to sit and eat. It saved the main table from being too crowded with dishes.
At first I just put a table cloth over it, but that wasn’t practical when I had it outside for barbecues, especially if there was a breeze. So I decided to paint it. I chose a soft yellow and then thought a stencil design might be fun.
I have a bit of a passion for gum trees (eucalyptus trees) — native Australian trees that are absolutely ubiquitous. You’ll find them in every corner of this country, hundreds of varieties, and tough, so tough that they’ve been imported to all sorts of countries. I even saw them on Corfu, in Greece. And their leaves are very graceful. So, not being much of an artist, I decided to draw a simple design of gum leaves and gum nuts and flowers.
I worked out a design on ordinary paper and then transferred it to stiff, clear plastic from the “lid” that used to come on boxes of mens’ shirts. I cut the design out with a Stanley knife, and then stippled on the paint with a brush designed for stencilling, using the leftover green paint I’d used on the dresser. Close up, it looks a bit rough, but that’s what stencilling is (and I’m sticking to that excuse.<g>) Then when it was dry I painted the gum blossoms gold, but as with the other projects where I used the same gold paint, it eventually went brown. This is the table now, sitting on my computer chair next to the bookshelves.
I was really pleased with the result. I could flip the stencil over to make mirror images, and the design also worked well for the corners of the table. That table has lasted a good 30 years, and has been frequently used. It’s a bit battered now, but I’m keeping it as is. I don’t know if I still have the gum leaf stencil I used, but it won’t be hard to make another one — I’m thinking gum-leaves and blossoms weeping down the sides of the bookcase, a bit like those leaves in the top photo, which are from my silver princess gun tree in the front garden. And this time I’ll paint the blossoms crimson.
What do you think? Have you tried stencilling before?
I like the stencil and I have tried it before, only on paper for cardmaking. First efforts were not “pretty” but practice makes perfect. Best Wishes. Just finishing up the Devil Riders series, again, great series.
Thank you June. I’m sure those cards were lovely. I’m just finishing up Marcus’s story from the Devil Riders, which I was contractually unable to write. But since I left Berkley, I’ve been able to write it. So many people have written to me over the years asking for his story, so I’ll be very pleased to finally have it done and out!
I have not done any stencil work. The table is very pretty and the design is perfect.
Thanks, Jean. Yes, I was happy with it at the time, and I still like the idea now.
I love stencilling, though it’s been years since I did any. I think the last time was when my boys were young so around thirty years ago. I only ever did it on school book covers (brown paper covers, which I used, is boring). It was about showing them how to decorate their books and we also used cut-out pictures of things that interested them – trucks and planes and the like
Thanks, Shelagh. It’s probably that long since I did my little table. It was probably a bit of a fashion at the time.
Your table looks lovely, Anne – and I quite like the idea of those leaves weeping down the sides of a bookcase – can’t wait to see your finished project! Years ago, I wanted a small chest or drawers for our porch, to store napkins and such. My husband came home with a small, 3-drawer piece that was the perfect size, but the most awful screaming orange color! It had been left on the street with a “free” sign. I stripped it and painted it white, and then decided it just needed something. Wandering around a crafts store, I found… Read more »
Thank you, Constance. Sounds like you turned that little chest of drawers into something very pretty. I love Morning Glories too — that intense purple-blue! — but they’re a weed here. :( I did chuckle at that project killing your desire to keep stencilling — maybe that’s why I’ve only come back to it several decades later.
Like Shelagh, I did most of my stenciling when the kids were younger as a stencil allowed them (and me) to draw something recognizable. Sometimes we used cookie cutters, sometimes blackline images from the computer, but mostly purchased from Dover Publications. I had some old or damaged mylar subdivision plans from a survey office that worked well for the ones we made, but have even used copy paper for one time uses. (Temporary house numbers). Have fun!
That’s interesting, Marianne. I’m a big fan of using what’s available in craft projects and sounds like you had some good sources. I used to love Dover books — I wonder, are they still going? Must check.