How Do You Do It?How To Accomplish Just About Anything

Borders have been used in decorating for many reasons, usually to define a pattern on your wall, to delineate the top from the bottom part of the wall, or in some cases to bring out a color that is being used to highlight your room.

Stenciling and freehand painting was very important to the early decorators because often it was the only decorating they could afford.

Wall covering as a design element did not make an appearance in decorators’ palettes until the late 1700’s–and even then its cost limited its use to only the wealthiest households. For this reason, stenciling and freehand painting was often the only real decorating that took place.

Early stenciling was done using metal or paper stencils that were made by the artist. After the initial design was transferred, the stencils were further enhanced to include the more intricate details of the pattern.

Modern stencils are made of plastic or vellum and are easily washed and saved for later use, thus creating a uniform design that carries throughout the time frame of their project. Today’s stencils can also be highly individualized, with some patterns allowing the user to mark and cut stencils to suit their specific design needs.

Stencils are available in home improvement and craft stores both locally and on-line. If you can not find one you like, you can easily create your own from a plain sheet of plastic. This is done by drawing your design on the plastic and carefully cutting it out with an X-acto knife.

To stencil your room you will need:

• Flat latex or primer
• The stencil of your choice, or make one
• Delta Ceramcoat or similar stencil paints
• Natural bristle Stencil brushes
• Masking tape, paper towels and a palette knife to mix with

Stenciling Steps

• Be sure the wall is completely painted and dry prior to applying any stencils.
• Select your paint colors co-ordinate with the other colors used on the wall.
• If you are mixing the paint yourself, make certain to mix enough stencil paint to accomplish all that you want to do. Matching it yourself later is difficult.
• Find the placement and mark the wall around the room. This is done by placing the stencil on the wall and marking the top and bottom. Then slowly move it around the room repeating the process. It is very important to be sure your stencil is level so check it often.
• If you will be stenciling a border that is continuous around the room, start at the corner that is most dominant.
• Tape the stencil to the wall and dab the brush in the paint. Lightly blot it on paper towels until only a light brush mark is observed on the towel.
• Stencil by dabbing the brush on the stencil. Tap the brush lightly, using a bouncing motion.
• Move the stencil along using the registration marks you made with the pencil. After you have done about two thirds of the wall take your stencil and measure the remainder of the wall.If you run into a situation where the stencil will not run to the end of the wall, you can stretch the stencil or make it shorter by moving it or squeezing it,. For example, you can run the pattern a couple of inches longer or skip a pattern in the stencil until it will fit the surface you are stenciling.
• If you run into a situation where the stencil will not run to the end of the wall, you can stretch the stencil or make it shorter by moving it or squeezing it,. For example, you can run the pattern a couple of inches longer or skip a pattern in the stencil until it will fit the surface you are stenciling.
• Once you have completed one wall, don’t go around, but instead, go back to the corner where you began and move across the other wall in the opposite direction so that the two walls align perfectly.
• Move to the opposite corner and stencil across then come back to that corner to move the other way to do the last wall.
• After the paint has dried, if you like, you may lightly brush over the stenciled area with a water based sealer.
• Cleaning up today’s stencil paints is largely done with soap and water, but be sure to read any special directions on the paint container.