Stenciling expert Judith Barker, president and owner of American Traditional Stencils, stencils a pretty pattern on an ordinary roofing slate to create a welcome plaque to greet visitors. Materials:
Soap and water
Roofing slate
Sea sponge
Acrylic paint in ivory
Optional: light-blue acrylic paint
Waxed paper or Styrofoam® plate to use as a palette
Stencil
Masking tape
Three 3/8" stencil brushes
Oil-stick paints--red, green, blue
Acrylic spray sealer
Rawhide thread or leather shoelace
- Wash the slate with soap and water to remove dust, and allow it to dry.
- Sponge-paint the slate with an acrylic wash made of 2 parts paint to 1 part water (add more water for a more translucent wash). Test the wash on paper or on the back of the slate. Allow some of the slate's border to remain unpainted to enhance the rustic character of the piece, or add a speckling of light-blue paint at the edges with the sea sponge. Allow the piece to dry.
- Tape the stencil in place on the slate.
- After removing the skin from the oil sticks, apply the colors to your palette. Oil sticks are very creamy and blend nicely. Use a brush to blend red with blue to create purple and red with green to create brown (figure A).
- Paint the stencil design by brushing on the paint in short circular motions, going from the outside of the design to the inside (figure B). Apply the lightest colors first, then the darker ones.
- Rearrange the stencil as desired to cover the piece. When you're finished, allow the slate to dry.
- When the slate is dry, spray it with two coats of acrylic sealer, allowing it to dry between coats. If the piece is to be used outdoors, apply additional coats of spray, and repeat monthly.
- Thread the leather through the nail holes in the slate and hang.
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