Painting a stencilled floor

Painting a Stencilled Floor

Using a stencil I've designed especially for Create Academy, I'm going to show you how to create intricate painted designs easily, quickly and simply.

In this lesson you will need:

• A painted surface
• Shellac, if needed
• Warm soapy sponge
• Stencil
• Paint
• Flat brush
• Sponge roller
• Mixing plate, mat or tray
• Lacquer
• Large flat brush

Colours used

• Old White
• Svenska Blue

1. Firstly, you'll need to prepare the surface. Always give it a good clean with warm soapy water - you may also need to sand it down and fill any cracks or holes.

1. Next, you can decide how you're going to use the stencil to create a pattern or design. As always, take time to experiment with different colours to achieve the look you want.

1. When you're ready, decant a small amount of paint onto a mixing plate, mat or tray. Charge your roller with an even layer of the paint - this involves rolling the roller through the paint several times to allow for the sponge to absorb it. You can check you've got the right amount by testing on a clean area on the mix mat.

1. Place the stencil onto the surface - you can secure the stencil with masking tape if you're worried about it moving, but I don't tend to do this and rarely encounter any problems.

1. Roller the paint on top of the stencil, making sure to go right to the edges. My stencils feature tiny dots that enable you to line up the next stencil and ensure you're working in a straight line.

1. Don't overload your roller with paint or press too hard, as this will mean the paint will bleed out beneath the stencil and the effect won't be as crisp.

1. Once you're finished, you can give the surface a once-over with a detail brush and the background colour to touch up the dots, smudges or mistakes - although I would always encourage you to embrace the imperfections!

1. Seal the final piece with lacquer to protect all your hard work. You can use either a roller or a large flat brush to do this, and you should apply an even layer over the whole surface. Let the first layer dry overnight, and then apply a second coat to ensure you get a really strong finish.

How to Care for Your Stencil

Stencils are intended to be used again and again, so you'll want to look after it properly to keep it in good condition.

After you've finished using it, place it in warm water as soon as you can - ideally when the paint is still wet. When it's under the water, use a brush to dislodge the paint and wipe it clean.