Few Supplies are needed and all can be obtained at your local craft shop and hardware store.
- Pattern (from MB Historic Décor)
- Paint of your choice – Jo Sonja water-based paint, which we now carry, or Japan oil paints from Stencilease 1-800-334-1776
- Brushes – one for each color 3/4", 1" & 1 1/2" recommended for walls and floors
- Spray adhesive for the back of the stencil
- Masking tape, Scotch™ tape
- Measuring tape and wooden or cork back yardstick
- Indelible fine point pen
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper towels (Bounty™ brand)
- Palette paper or (for Jo Sonja paints a styrofoam tray) or anything flat with several paper towels taped to it
- Palette knife
- Plastic wrap to cover exposed paint and wrap brushes
- Plumb bob when painting all over patterns (I make my own with thread and washer)
- Card table, newspapers, paper bags for trash
- Painter’s tape – 3 3/4" for ceiling, 2" for woodwork
- Ladder – high enough so you can reach the top of the wall comfortably
- A paint roller tray – to hold supplies at the top of the ladder
- Cookie sheet with edges to hold supplies (optional)
- Paint solvent – (paint thinner if oil-based)
- ScotchBrite™ – for cleaning patterns
- Pan – just large enough so that the bristle brush can lie flat in it (for oil paint)
- Cardboard for cleaning on (if using oil paint)
- Drop cloth
- Small jar of background wall paint (if Latex) and artist’s brush
- Optional: hair dryer
Background Paint
Easiest to work on is a flat finish. An eggshell or pearl is good also but glossy never works for me.
On a Latex Wall: To repair mistakes, try wiping clean with water and cotton swabs or paper towels, and/or overpaint with the original Latex paint. You can paint over huge areas and start over! In this case a hair dryer comes in handy to speed the paint drying time!
On an Oil-base Wall: To repair mistakes, use the solvent on paper towels and wipe clean. Follow with cleaning agents for large sections. For small places try wiping back with cotton swabs. You must use oil paints over oil-based backgrounds.
