My second week of this weird on-and-off fever is starting to get to me :( but at least I have a fun project to share with you guys:
About a week ago I posted this large wall art post, where the photo was on top of a desk. That desk was a work in progress at that time, since I realized the table top was too short for the legs/trestles that are really wide. I just wanted it to be as wide as our stairs so my little "office" could be under there, and didn't think much about the feet having room... Anyways, the board I had built to be the table top happened to be exactly the width of our guest mattress, so it got turned into a headboard.
Since the headboard was going to be for the guest room, we wanted it to work as art when the mattress is tucked away. We wanted to incorporate California somehow, and a couple of weeks after building it I came up with the surfboard stencils, and could finally finish the project.
How to:
At Lowes, we picked out 2 whitewood boards that where 8 inches wide and 8 feet tall, and had them cut into 38 inches long pieces. After two 38 inch pieces per board, the two pieces that were left over worked perfectly as the boards to attach the main pieces to (about 20 inches). I sanded the ends to even them out (grain 60). After the boards were attached, I flipped the whole thing and went over it with a orbit sander to make sure there weren't any splinters (first grain 60, then 200).
My favorite phase: Staining! I, once again, used Minwax Wood Finish in the color Special Walnut.
I cut out a surfboard shaped piece from parchment paper and used it as a model when drawing the stencils. I drew the stencils directly onto some plastic contact paper.
Then I started to draw the pattern I wanted on them, and finally "carved" them out.
Make sure you have both ends as cut-out areas, since everything you cut out is the part that gets painted aka shows the form of the surfboard (or whatever shape you wish to make). Notice how my stencil's pieces all are connected to the outer rim. If you want separate areas of the stenciled picture to stay the wood's own color, you will have to make separate pieces that you attach on, and remove once painted. For example, if you want a completely white board with some flowers in the middle that expose the wood, you carve out the whole board and then make separate flowers out of the plastic, and attach on the board.
I first placed the stencils out to see how they would work together, and in which order I wanted them. Then I removed the protective film and attached the plastic stencil on top (note: you may want help with this!)
I used a foam brush to dab the crafts paint onto the board. To make sure the color doesn't leak, I recommend you dab out the color onto some cardboard so that you get it evenly on the brush.
Dab the whole thing, and then remove the plastic. When dry, finish with something to protect the wood. I rubbed on Minwax Finishing Paste with a cloth.
I like how the small imperfections in the wood show through: I made sure I wouldn't cover those completely with paint.
In one week we'll have our first Finnish visitors, yay!
PS: Notice how our pink room is no longer pink? We've been hard at work :)
love this!
ReplyDeletehttp://glamourgirl-bg.blogspot.com/
Thank you sweetie :)
DeleteThis is so cool, I can see using this technique on other pieces of furniture also. I have been waiting for a good idea to come along to help me solve my much needed headboard problem in my guest room. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGlad to know my project was of use :) have fun with it!
DeleteI have been waiting for the right idea to come along to solve my missing headboard problem. Thanks for the inspiration and the great instructions. I can see other pieces of furniture finding a whole new groove too.
ReplyDeleteYay I'm so glad!
DeleteJ
Just did this for a bunk room! A great project! Where did you find such vibrant pillow cases?
ReplyDeleteHey Sheridan! They're from IKEA :)
DeleteJ