Tutorials

Maker Kit To-Go Instructions:

*If you chose a framed board, scroll down to the section on framed projects for your first steps.

 STEP 1: Painting Your Background

      

  • Using your YELLOW sponge, spread a light layer of paint across your board from edge to edge until the board is completely covered.
  • Do 1 OR 2 LIGHT layers for most paint colors & stains. If you are too heavy handed with the paint then the stencil might have trouble sticking to the board. Sometimes white needs a 3rd light coat, if you want it to be full coverage and not see the wood grain.
  • Remember to paint around the side edges of the board too.

 

STEP 2: Distressing Your Board

Dry Brush Technique:

  • Lightly dip the tip of your paintbrush into the paint and unload MOST of the paint off the brush by smushing it into a paper towel.
  • Lightly drag your brush from one edge of the board to the other edge, using light, even pressure. 
  • Start out light because you can always add more distressing, but you can’t easily take it away once it’s there.  Add as much as you're like, until it's the way you want it.
  • Blow dry your board so it is COMPLETELY DRY to the touch.

 

 STEP 3: Sanding Your Board 

  • DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
  • Using the sandpaper, lightly SAND your board.
  • This helps to help lay the grain of the wood back down, making the board smooth again. Doing this better adheres the stencil to the board, preventing paint from bleeding under the stencil. 
  • It's important to do this step so we get those nice, clean lines on our finished project.

 

STEP 4: Peeling the stencil

          

  • Place stencil on a hard, flat surface with the blue side face down.
  • Rub the white backing using a credit card or scraper.
  • Slowly peel off the white backing, pulling at a 45-degree angle. Pull it low & slow to make sure none of the blue stencil is staying stuck to the white backing.
  • If any blue lifts up, just roll the white backing back down a little bit and press the stencil back onto the sticky clear transfer tape, and then continue to pull off the white backing until it's completely off.
  • Be careful because the stencil is now super sticky and will stick to any surface it touches. (It especially likes hair! Ouch!)

 

STEP 5: Applying the Stencil 

          
  • Flip the stencil over, sticky side down and line it up in the desired location on your board.
  • Be sure NOT to touch the stencil fully to your board until it is positioned where you want it.
  • Use a credit card or scraper to rub your stencil, adhering it to your board.
  • Slowly peel the clear tape off your board. Again, if any blue stencil lifts up, roll the tape back down and gently push the blue back onto your board.
  • The stencil will have a harder time sticking to dark colored backgrounds like black, navy, or red, so you might need to run it extra with the scraper card.

 

STEP 6: Painting your Design

     

  • Use the WHITE sponges to paint your design.
  • Dip the bigger, flat end into the paint, and then scrape it on the side of the paint cup to get some paint off.
  • Lightly dab the sponge onto a paper towel to remove extra paint.
  • Lightly pounce up and down with the sponge to cover your stencil.
  • Be sure NOT to use brush strokes side to side, or it will lead to more bleeds.
  • Usually, 2 light coats will give good coverage.

 

STEP 7: The Big Reveal

     

  • While the paint is still wet, peel your stencil up.
  • Try to pull against the grain of the wood.
  • Don’t worry if the stencil rips as you pull it off, that’s normal.
  • To get the centers of the letters and any other stubborn stencil off your board, use a safety pin, tweezers, or toothpick.
  • Use the small paint brush for any touch ups you might have.

 

 

Things to remember

A little paint goes a long way! Build the paint by using multiple, light coats. This will help give crisp lines and prevent bleeds.

Do not blow dry the stencil once it’s on the board, or it will be difficult to get off.

Make sure your board is completely dry before applying the stencil.

When picking the stencil bits off, try to push and lift the stencil off, don’t dig into the board or it will leave little marks you'll have to touch up later.

MOST IMPORTANTLY... Have fun! Relax and don't stress! You're gonna do great!

 

 

FRAMED BOARDS

Everything about painting your framed project is the same as the instructions above except you have an added first step. The board will come to you with tape on the board already. This is so you can paint the frame without it getting onto the background of your board.  

  • Paint or stain your frame using the YELLOW sponge. Do light coats.
  • Distress the frame using the dry brush technique or the sandpaper until it's how you like it. Fully dry the frame, a blow dryer can help speed things up.
  • Move the painter's tape from the back of the board to the inside of the frame.  Add more tape to fully cover the corners.  Doing this will now allow you to paint the background of the board without getting paint on the frame.  
  • Now you're all caught up to the regular Maker Kit To-Go instructions above.  Remember to do LIGHT layers so you don't push paint under the painter's tape and onto the frame you just painted.  This is especially important in the corners where the bleeds like to happen.