Last month I shared a large framed panel decorated with scrapbook paper and painted stencils. Here’s another similar, smaller project:
This is one of those projects where the final result looks like much more than the steps it took to make it.
Tag Archives: stencils
DIY “Art Square” with Patterned Paper and Stencil
Posted in DIY & Crafts, Pattern Play
Tagged Mod Podge, paint, scrapbook paper, stencils, wall art
Out of My Mind: India pied-à-terre Room Designs Part 1
The conversation always goes like this:
He: So do you know what you want to do?
Me: What? I’ve been blogging about it for years. Haven’t you looked at the blog?
He: So what do you want to do? (notice he avoids answering the question)
Me: It’s on the blog. It’s in my head. You know, like stencils on the walls, old-looking walls, older style furniture, a global mix, you know …
He: Um, it’s kind of hard to see …
Me: I know but it’s all in my head. Trust me. Remember when we re-did the master bath? It’s beautiful! That was all in my head too. I even had all the measurements perfect! Then it all kind of tumbles out.
He: Well, can you tumble this all out on paper for me?
We’ve been through this before. I speak in pictures. I’m much more visual than verbal. How do you describe what it’s going to be? But I know exactly how it will be. I work these things out before going to sleep when it’s dark and quiet and there are no distractions. I map every corner and detail out in my mind.
But because no one else can see what I see, I’m putting it together on Olioboard to show my husband. This is the year to turn this mythical apartment into reality. It’s about time, I’ve only been blogging about it for 2 1/2 years! Sometimes life gets in the way. I think “India pied-à-terre” is now more a frame of mind than a place.
Here’s a few mock-ups so far …
ALCOVE BETWEEN THE BEDROOMS
A little alcove sits between the bedroom doors and it’s visible to the entire public area of the apartment. Cabinets hide the clothes washer and dryer. I blogged previously about the inspiration for this little space, the Buddha hands that will be cabinet door handles, and the paprika color. And oh, the Buddha that I wish were mine. He is not, but he appears here because one can wish.
Sorry this mock-up is a bit crude, but you get the idea.
MASTER BEDROOM
Previous posts have talked about plans for the master bedroom. I’ve always envisioned a low bed with Indian block print bedding, with round Moroccan tray tables at the sides. I already have stencils for the wall design behind the bed. There are no closets, which is customary in India, so we’ll install wardrobes along one wall. There’s a hook for a baby bassinet but we’ll hang a chair there. Best to keep things off the floor for easier cleaning. It’s dusty in India’s cities!
SECOND BEDROOM
A few years ago, I got colorful things in pinks and oranges for this room: a shocking pink silk pillow, a kantha quilt, a big ceramic elephant, and very tall pink candle lanterns. I’ll make suspended lighting with pink and blue sequined laces, and twinkling beads and silken tassels will hang from them. It will be the one room in the apartment with brighter colors, but still a bit subdued. This apartment is supposed to be an oasis of calm and quiet amid the city’s chaos. Too many energetic colors would fight with that idea.
One thing I love about the guest room is the placement of a window. It’s perfect for building storage around it to create a window seat.
Now that I look back through the blog, the vision for this room has changed a lot. My first idea was antique and rustic looking. I still love that look but don’t want to get too attached to special things in an apartment I’ll rarely ever see. I’d rather bring them home to Chicago. The second idea was more cute. This final vision, I love, I wish I could jump into this moodboard!
Although the photo includes Madeline Weinrib rug and Shumacher fabric – which I think helps make the look there — but I wouldn’t put such pricey things in this apartment unless they were easily washable. We’ll need inexpensive substitutes.
I’m not looking for much stuff. We don’t live in India full-time. The apartment is for short visits by us or others, so not much is needed, and the rooms may lack some conveniences you’d want in a place where you live 24/7. Such as, instead of a big upholstered cushy chair in the master bedroom, there may be a hanging chair.
Individual elements in the moodboards above are linked at Olioboard:
Coming soon, the result of more things pulled out of my head and put onto moodboards …
Posted in Bedroom, India pied-à-terre Decorating
Tagged bed, bedroom, block prints, daybed, decorative painting, India, master bedroom, paint, rug, stencils
DIY: Scrapbook Paper + Bronze Stencil = Cool Wall Art
After furniture got juggled around in the living room, we were left with a woeful-looking blank* space on a wall:
But after combining scrapbook paper with a stencil pattern, magic happens, and this is now on the wall:
About a year ago, I shared a scrapbook paper wall art DIY project where I mounted papers on a grid of nine 12″ x 12″ wood pieces. It’s hanging in my office:
It’s an easy way to fill a bigger space with color and pattern. So I decided to do a similar scrapbook paper DIY craft project for our living room’s blank wall.
Here are supplies to do this project:
- Bigger frame with a smooth firm surface inside it, or a large piece of wood
- Scrapbook papers
- Cutter/scissors to trim papers to size
- Mod Podge and brush
- Brayer
- Stencil
- Stencil brush
- Paint
- Bowl or lid for paint
- Paper towel
Continue reading for the full how-to-do-it directions, plus photos showing you each step of the way …
Posted in DIY & Crafts
Tagged bronze, HomeGoods, paint, picture frame, Royal Design Studio, scrapbook paper, stencils, wall frames
Stenciled Thai Temple Bells
Oh the rows of bells at Thai temples! Ringing them is supposed to bring you good luck. Some people will walk along the rows, so hopeful, ringing every bell along the way. I’ve rung a few, but didn’t want to be too greedy.
Here are bells via 123RF stock photography, by Arnon Pipobpronchai:
So here’s how I made some stenciled bells …
I drew an outline from a Thai temple bell photo. Then I cut bells from grunge paper and spray painted the bells antique gold.
Choose a smaller stencil pattern for a project this size. I chose the Tulip Tiles stencil from Royal Design Studio.
Dab the stencil with a small Perfect Medium pad. You might need to use some pressure to get the medium onto the bell. I could see the gold paint color darkening, and that’s how I knew the medium was getting onto the bell.
Remove the stencil, and sprinkle embossing powder or Perfect Pearl powder. I sprinkle powder liberally because you can put the extra back in the container and use it again.
I like the effect of the embossing powder when the extra is blown off the bell.
But unfortunately, the powder can rub off so it must be heated to set it permanently. Heat the powder with an embossing heat gun. Yes, I did this over an air return register in the floor — this way I knew the heat wouldn’t damage anything. And, well, the register was right behind where I was working!
Watch for the embossing powder to melt and look shiny. This is when it is set.
You can see the grunge paper buckled from the heat. Oops. I flipped it over and heated the back side and it flattened out.
Just to be sure the bell was flat, I pressed it under a heavy set of coasters. And, well, the coasters were right next to where I was working. (Hey the less time I spend moving around, the more time there is to create!)
Here’s how a few bells turned out. One was made with copper Perfect Pearl powder and the other was made with gold embossing powder.
They’re subtle. But they do have enough shine that will get reflected by lights on the Christmas tree.
Next, I added a copper tassel and elephant pendant to the copper embossed bell, and a ring at the top to hang it from the tree.
And here it is, hanging on the tree:
Hmmm. I might remove the elephant and replace it with copper beads. It feels a bit too kitschy. Nothing wrong with kitschy but it’s not the look I was going for on the tree. More like, global elegance.
I hope this helps you find new ways to use stencils!
Posted in DIY & Crafts
Tagged Christmas, Christmas tree, ornaments, stencils, temple bells
