Loving stencils...again...edited at bottom...

So I had this table...she was in such a sorry state when she came to me...

Get to work! Gorilla glue and clamps to the rescue!

Now some wood filler...well...a LOT of wood filler...to even out the edges...then careful sanding, with coarse, medium and fine sand paper...

A bit of paint...Annie Sloan Old White of course...a current favourite!

Aaahhh, she's looking better already!

Now...had a vision for this old girl...but the stencil design I wanted to use was just not big enough. (sad face here please). It's 3 3/4" by 2 3/4." What to do? LIGHT BULB moment! I scanned the actual stencil, which is one of the very first Dreamweaver stencils I acquired...several years ago...and still very much a favourite...it's the Leaf Heart (LL 318). I used this stencil as part of a fund-raiser several years ago...if you're interested, you can see that right here.

Whenever I use this stencil, I think of a dear friend, "Dr. Debbie." Do you remember particular reasons and particular people when you use your craft supplies? That's a frequent occurrence for me...connecting art supplies to particular people...I digress...

Okay, so I enlarged the scan to the size I needed, printed several copies...

...printed them...did my image transfer with the pencil method...SO easy...just scribble pencil in several different directions on the reverse of your image, then tape the image to your working surface (pencil scribble size down) and trace over it...

...then I painted with a light grey paint. I also further enlarged a PART of the stencil (the top swirls), as you will see here. I was looking for subtlety for this old gal...here she is, all painted...with soft grey...and sanded to further dilute the image...then gave her three coats of Minwax Polycrylic for protection...

LOVE her! She'll have a little lamp in the centre...what do you think?

Now, as an added incentive, this re-do is part of a blog hop, happening between Dreamweaver and Woodware designers...check all the details right here...you could win a stencil!

Updated: Today is Sept. 4th., and we've drawn winners for our stencils!

To visit everyone's blogs to see if YOU'RE a winner, just check this master list over at the Dream it Up Blog. For this draw, Random.org selected comment # 12 of the 17 comments left here to date. That comment was entered by Lauren, who posted:

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Okay so two things I learned here: I need to get clamps like yours and THAT is a great way to transfer a design!! I have a LARGE round table I'm getting ready to paint and it will require a large graphic -- this method is going to work for me I think! Thanks very much!

September 3, 2011 3:29 PM

CONGRATS Lauren...a small token of appreciation for participating in our blog hop will be coming your way, so please send along your postal address.

I've posted another project for the same little giveaway, so make sure you check here too!

I'm still partying with these fine bloggers. Thanks so MUCH for visiting me today. I wish you a day filled with the things you love to do...and people you love as well...