• Contact Kim
  • Stay Connected
  • Shop Printables
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Salvaged Living

Easy DIY home decor and craft projects for budget home decor

  • Home
  • Meet Kim
    • About KIM
    • Get Kim’s Look
    • Kim’s Bookshelf
    • Kim’s Home Tour
    • Get The House Look
    • Disclosures
  • DIY Projects
  • Faith
  • Home Decor
  • Grow Your Creative Business
    • Grow Your Creative Business Course
    • One on One Business Consulting
  • Classes
Home » DIY Projects » Stenciling 101: Adding Farmhouse Touches

DIY Projects

Stenciling 101: Adding Farmhouse Touches

This post may contain affiliate links.

Stencils kind of remind me of grapes circling a kitchen. You know the popular 80’s/90’s décor that ultimately gave stencils a semi-bad wrap? Luckily stencils are back in a big way because they allow you to make some easy décor updates like the farmhouse touch I am sharing today! They’ve come along way since the 1980’s.Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches. My blogging friend Angie over at Knick Of Time has the most gorgeous farmhouse ideas and she has developed a line of stencils to feed the farmhouse/vintage addiction. She was sweet enough to give me a few stencils to share with you guys, so here are my tips on getting the perfect results from a stencil! Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches. This old cheese box was a fun find for $1 at a garage sale. My mom is always working on a knitting project and I thought this would be the perfect storage box to wrangle her latest masterpiece. She likes to have a project handy, yet out of sight in the living room. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches. The first thing to consider in stenciling is the surface you will be painting. This box is very rough and I prepared it by sanding then dry brushing some white latex paint over the whole thing and dressing up the accent pieces with grey paint to match the font. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

If a surface is too rough you won’t get crisp lines from your stencil, if it is too slick your stencil will bleed (tip to follow). I wasn’t concerned with either on this particular project because I knew I was going to distress the “sign” once painted. Start by measuring your stencil and the surface to be painted. Nothing looks more unprofessional than an off center job!Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

Using painter’s tape secure the stencil in the correct centered position. Especially if you will be adding more than one coat of paint, this is a must.Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

Proper tools always make a job turn out better and a round stencil brush is so helpful for this application. Load your brush with paint in an up and down motion, offloading some paint before you stomp on the stencil. You can always add more paint, but if you add to much you risk bleeding under the stencil. Less is more here friends! Softly blot your brush in an up and down motion, trying not to swipe sideway as that will push paint under the stencil. (If you are working on a particularly slick surface start by securing your stencil as mentioned then paint over stencil with the same base color as the surface you are covering, allowing it to dry completely. This will seal the crack between the stencil and surface enough to prevent bleeding. Continue stenciling as follows. The same concept helps with a rough surface to make lines slightly more crisp.)Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

The consistency of your paint will also make a difference in results, don’t thin your paint too much or it will bleed.  Allow paint to dry and re-coat with the same up and down blotting motion. Remove stencil carefully. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches. I often like to paint the connecting lines to make a stencil look more hand painted than stenciled. It’s a personal choice that just depends on the application and look you are going for. When painting these small lines I recommend using a small stiff brush that you can maintain good control over for best results. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches. I always rinse my stencils in warm soapy water and lightly scrub them to keep them clean. They may never look totally new again, but I try to keep them from getting to caked up with paint by cleaning ASAP. Be gentle as to not tear the stencil in delicate spots. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

I finished off this project with a coat of wax for a protected, completed feel. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

Stenciling is one of the easiest, fastest ways to change up your décor, it just takes a little patience and good supplies to pull off. Just look around at the dated things in your house and ask if a stencil could freshen them up in an instant then head over to Vintage Sign Stencils and grab a fun new toy – you can get this EXACT stencil in her shop! Tell Angie I sent ya! Please let me know if you have any questions or additional tips to share. Stenciling 101: tips and tricks for successful stenciling. Stencils are a great way to add farmhouses touches.

Blessings, Kim from Hunt & HostConnect more here:

E-mail Subscription / Pinterest / Facebook / Instagram / Grow Your Creative Business


20 Comments

Stay connected

Don't miss out on the latest!

By being included in our newsletter delivery, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to the Salvaged Living family. We promise not to over stuff your inbox!

Previous Post: « 24 Other Places to Shop in Waco, Texas and A Spring Trip to Magnolia Market
Next Post: Your Presence is Medicine »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Di says

    March 11, 2017 at 6:34 AM

    I bet your mom loved it! ❤️

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      March 11, 2017 at 8:50 AM

      She did ♡ it’s perfect for her and her decor!

      Reply
  2. knottedthreadtales says

    March 11, 2017 at 6:59 AM

    Great tutorial and inspiration!

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      March 11, 2017 at 8:51 AM

      Thanks, hope the quick tips help, there are sooo many great stencils available these days.

      Reply
  3. Kim Muncy says

    March 11, 2017 at 8:12 AM

    I live in old house with no storage at all so I have few of these boxes even one built with a stand I really wanted to update that one since I just changed the color in the room I use it in what a great idea thanks Kim

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      March 11, 2017 at 8:52 AM

      Storage is a big deal! Hope this helps, you can really make all kind of storage stuff cute with stencils.

      Reply
  4. anne says

    March 11, 2017 at 9:58 AM

    LOVE. It.
    The detailed step are so helpful!

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      March 11, 2017 at 7:56 PM

      yay, hope it sparks ideas!

      Reply
  5. Sherry in Texas says

    March 11, 2017 at 10:05 AM

    What a sweet gift and a fun project. Thanks for the tutorial. Come over to the Fabulous Easter/Spring
    party and share this great idea! Here’s the current link:
    http://ourholidayjourney.blogspot.com/2017/03/fabulous-springeaster-link-party-2.html
    Happy Spring

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      March 11, 2017 at 7:57 PM

      thanks Sherry!

      Reply
  6. Brenda says

    March 11, 2017 at 1:35 PM

    I LOVE it!!! is there an place to get inexpensive stencils???

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      March 11, 2017 at 7:58 PM

      Brenda – You can go to my friend’s link above (Knick of Time Vintage Stencils) for this exact stencil and a bunch of other cute ones!

      Reply
      • Brenda says

        March 12, 2017 at 1:20 PM

        thank you for the stencil info, I’ll check it out!

        Reply
  7. barbara ingrid schwiebert says

    May 29, 2017 at 10:19 AM

    Hi,
    I love your projects! For this one, you stated that you like to paint the connecting lines. Can you explain what you mean?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kim at Hunt and Host says

      May 30, 2017 at 11:29 AM

      yes – so sorry if that was confusing. I just mean that I like to fill in the gaps left from the stencil so the words look solid and not stenciled. Does that make more sense?

      Reply
  8. Crystal says

    November 13, 2019 at 4:40 PM

    Love the stencil on your old cheese box (which go for big bucks in this area by the way!) Great update

    Reply
    • Kim at Salvaged Living says

      November 14, 2019 at 9:31 AM

      thank you, I am pretty sure this one was super cheap!!! love a good find 🙂

      Reply
  9. Susan Gafford says

    March 5, 2020 at 9:42 AM

    Love it!!

    Reply
    • Kim at Salvaged Living says

      March 5, 2020 at 2:29 PM

      thanks Susan!

      Reply
  10. Donna Gonzalez says

    March 5, 2020 at 2:28 PM

    I love stenciling! Lots of good tips here.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Hi! I'm Kim. I believe getting your hands dirty can be a way to get your heart clean. This blog is a decorating and DIY guide to seeing God in the details of your day, hobby and home. Read more...

Learn to grow a creative business with Kim from Salvaged Living!

Check these out:

  • DIY Projects
  • Faith
  • Home Decor
  • Lifestyle

Stay Connected

Don't miss out on the latest.

By being included in our newsletter delivery, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to the Salvaged Living family. We promise not to over stuff your inbox!

Stay connected

Don't miss out on the latest.

Footer

You might also like

Thrift Store hunt and host

Where We Hunt: Thrift Shops & Resale Stores

The best subscriptions and memberships gift guide.

Subscription Gift Guide

Quick & Easy DIY Farmhouse Decor

Decorate your mantle for Easter with this budget Easter mantle decorating idea from cardboard! Seriously the best budget decorating hack there is , so easy and you can paint it any color or style. Also tips to make an Easter banner from dollar store items and things you have on hand at home already. #budgetdecor #eastermantle #easterdecoratingideas #dollarstorecraft #dollartreedecor

Budget Easter Mantle Ideas

A trip in Amsterdam through pictures. See some fun things to do firsthand as we explore this canal city in The Netherlands through photos! Visit the Amsterdam Zoo, gardens, Hotel Dylan and a food tour through Albert Cuyp Market. There are tons of things to do in Amsterdam!

Amsterdam in Pictures

© Kim Jones and Salvaged Living, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Salvaged Living with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Please only use one picture with a link back unless individual permission is given otherwise by Salvaged Living. Full disclosure here.

© 2021 Salvaged Living