How To Easily Apply Raised Stencils On Furniture

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Let’s just say I love a good challenge, but the challenge for me with this sideboard makeover was a double whammy. The old latex paint that was peeling EVERYWHERE with veneer damage. It sounds like a great project for some raised stencils. Boy, can I pick’em or what?

This post contains a few affiliate links to help you find the products I use.  You are not charged extra to use any of the links, but any income I make will be used for more fun projects! To see my full disclaimer, click here!

Prepping The Sideboard For The Raised Stencils

Well, I knew this would be a job stripping all of the latex paint off, but after 2 days I was down to bare wood. Actually, it was in better shape than I anticipated. The end pieces had severe veneer damage so it was super easy to remove. Learn more about veneer removal by CLICKING HERE. Everything else was pretty much intact. Thank goodness for my new SurfPrep Sanding System, I was able to salvage the majority of the venner and prep it for stain and the raised stencils. CLICK HERE to see how it looked after 2 days of stripping.

PRODUCTS LIST… Here are the products I used for this makeover. Click the products to find where to purchase.

• Electric Sander 
• BOSS (clear) stain blocker
• Stencil of your choice 
• Mud (Dixie Belle) White
• Mud Spatula
• Rustoleum Weathered Gray Stain
• Cheese Cloth (lint-free)
• 220 Grit Sandpaper
• Paintbrush (Dixie Belle Mini Angle)
• Driftwood (chalk mineral paint)
• Blue Painters Tape
• Iron Patina Paint
• Green Patina Spray
• Putty Knife
• Shop Towels (soft cotton cloth)
• Clear Wax
• Brown Wax
• Grunge Gray Wax
• Dixie Dirt (Black Charcoal)
• Gator Hide (water repellant topcoat)

Applying Raised Stencils To Furniture

It’s like icing a cake! Seriously it’s that fun to apply the raised stencil on furniture. After establishing the location of the stencil that is being applied, secure it in place with paper tape. Use a Mud Spatula to smooth the MUD across the stencil until the are is fully covered with the mud. Immediately remove the stencil and wash with mild soap and water so it can be reused in the next location or for proper storage for your next raised stencil project.

Adding Details To Raised Stencils On Furniture

Once the raised stencil is dried, take a 220 grit sandpaper and gently sand back any rough areas. Be careful not to sand too much. You want the stencil to be raised and visible. Too much sanding can create an inconsistent look and you want all the raised goodness for the next step. Details!

Adding The Details

Now, here is where it gets fun! To add detailing to the raised stencil, you can layer paint colors, patinas and waxes with Dixie Dirt to create a unique look. For this look, apply the Iron Paint with a putty knife and scrape it across the raised stencil. While the Iron Paint is still wet, lightly spray over it with the Green Patina Spray. Colored waxes and Dixie Dirt can be applied after the patina is dried to give the raised stencils an even more aged look. You can also choose to simply paint over the design for a more subtle look. I like both.

My friend Denise over at Salvaged Inspirations did an amazing transformation on a pair of nightstands with raised stencils too. LOVE her work! CLICK HERE You gotta see them!

The End Results

Did you see that Okra Wreath I used in the staging? Country gals are thrifty! Learn how I made it by CLICKING HERE! You know they say you can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl. This statement rings true for me as I find myself drawn back to my roots with this raised stencil makeover. Flea Market finds, rusty-crusty goods were what I grew up knowing in a small town of East Texas. I come from a long line of junkers, thrifters and what I call make-doers. I’d say this one is pretty spot-on for me.

Even today I find myself thrifting as a habit. Sure, I can afford to go to Hobby Lobby but I would miss the challenge. The challenge of creating on a budget. Creating a look that is all my own and one that can’t be replicated. Not just with my furniture makeovers but with home decor as well. Do you love a textured finish on furniture? Me too! CLICK HERE to learn more about a seamless texture you can apply with paint.

Hey, thanks for joining me today while I share my heart. I know I’m not alone and I’d love to hear from you. Tell me all about the items that are near and dear to your heart that you use in your home decor and staging in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.

Until the next project… xo, Do