Lauan Mural Tutorial

I learned about this process from working on exhibits at a children’s museum and it is a great method for making a moveable mural or to put a mural on a heavily textured wall.  I will never have to paint over my kids murals, just pass them on to someone younger when they out grow them.  That is much less emotional than having to paint high hiding primer over them!

Materials:

·         Sketch or a printout of your image on paper

·         Pencil or chalk

·         Drill with large drill bit

·         Saw horses

·         Jigsaw with fine finish blade

·         Latex Primer

·         Lauan

·         Sand paper or electric handheld sander

Directions:

1.       Prepare your lauan board with a coat of primer.

      2.       Draw your image onto your primed board.

3.       Drill a hole in each corner where you will have to change directions with your saw blade.  Be sure that your blade is smaller than the diameter of the holes you drill.  Imagine that you are creating a dot to dot picture.

4.       Use a jigsaw to cut out your image.

5.       Sand the edges working on the corners to remove any evidence of the drilled hole.

6.       Paint your image with latex or acrylic paint.

7.       Using drywall screws attach your wood cut-out mural to the wall.  Be sure that at least one screw is securely fastened to a stud in the wall.

Freezer Paper Stencil Throw Pillow Tutorial



When I learned of the magic of freezer paper I was instantly in awe!  This is a fun project and can be done as simple or as complex as you choose!  If you are good with scissors or an exacto knife this is the project for you.  Pillows, clothing, curtains, napkins…the possibilities are endless.

Materials:

·         Freezer Paper (can be found at the grocery store next to aluminum foil and plastic wraps)

·         scissors or exacto knife

·         fabric (sewn to desired pillow size with a descent sized opening to get materials in and out from)

·         waxed paper

·         fabric paint

·         iron

·         ironing board

·         magazines or cutting mat

·         image for tracing

Directions:

1.       Find an appropriately sized image you would like to use.  Be sure that it is simple but has enough detail that it can be identified when depicted as a silhouette.

2.       Trace your image onto the matte side of the freezer paper – the shiny plastic coated side will be ironed against the fabric so your image will be oriented as you see it traced on the matte side.

3.       Cut out your image being sure to leave the outside edge in tact to become your stencil.

4.       Iron your freezer paper onto your fabric.

5.       Place waxed paper inside your pillow to prevent the paint from bleeding through onto the other side.

6.       Carefully and gently paint your silhouette using brushstrokes from the outside towards the middle to prevent the paint from getting worked underneath the edge of your stencil.

7.       Leave it to dry.

8.       Gently peel your stencil off the fabric – if you do this successfully without tearing your stencil you can reuse it.

9.       Remove the waxed paper, stuff your pillow and sew the seam opening closed or place a pillow form into your pillow case.



Below are photos of the airplane pillow in progress.