To Get Started on the Bamboo Tray Transformation:
Shop for your tray/sign piece at the Charlotte Region ReStore. It could be a wooden tray, a large cutting board, a piece of salvaged wood, a cabinet door, or even a spare table leaf! (I found this tray in a stack of bamboo trays at the Wendover ReStore and selected the cleanest one!)
Pro Tip: In addition to 7 locations in the Charlotte region, you can now shop for items online! Filled with all sorts of unique items, you never know what you will find at shop.cltregionrestore.org!
After cleaning or wiping down your bamboo tray or other flat item, paint it for a fresh, clean surface. I chose a pale cream that I knew would allow my stenciling to “pop”.
Allow paint to dry thoroughly.
Purchase a stencil that is sized to fit your future sign.
Pro Tip: If you buy a stencil online, you can often buy different sizes and/or order a specific size that best fits your piece.
If you’ve never stenciled before, I’ll take you through the process!
Center your stencil on your painted tray and carefully fix it in place with painter’s tape. Squeeze a little craft paint onto a paper plate. Dab your stencil brush in the paint and then wipe off 99% of the paint on a paper towel or rag. I know that sounds silly, but the secret to sharp stenciling is VERY LITTLE PAINT on a NEARLY DRY STENCIL BRUSH. Now, you can either swirl your stencil brush over the stencil or “stipple” it, which are short, up-and-down taps over the stencil. Either method is fine! Just make sure to keep your stencil brush nearly dry and use the fingers on your other hand to hold down the stencil as you swirl/stipple over it. That, too, will help keep your stenciling sharp and clean!
Allow the stenciled paint to dry (should be almost instantaneous since you’re using so little paint) and then carefully remove the painter’s tape and stencil.
Spray or brush on a clear topcoat to protect your hard work and enjoy your new project!
