Instructions

1. Reproduce the patterns (found at the end of the instructions) in sizes that fit your needs, then use a craft knife and clear plastic stencil blanks to create your stencils.
2. Sand the table and remove the sanding dust with the tack cloth.
3. Apply one coat of rich blue paint to all surfaces and let dry. Sand lightly and wipe away any dust. Apply a second coat of blue paint. Allow the table to dry thoroughly.
4. Measure 2" (5 cm) up from the bottom of one side and lightly pencil in a horizontal line. Measure 1-1⁄2" (3.8 cm) up from that line and lightly draw another line parallel to it, defining the yellow measuring tape border. Paint the yellow border on each side of the cabinet.
5. Tape off the areas just outside each of the lines, pressing and burnishing the tape well so that paint can’t seep under.
6. Using the shader brush, apply two to three coats of the sunflower yellow acrylic paint between the taped lines. Immediately (and carefully) remove the tape and allow the border to dry completely (see photo).
    
   
7. Paint the other side’s measuring tape border in the same way.
8. Place a ruler along the bottom of one of the yellow borders. Make vertical increment marks with the blue paint pen along the yellow border that match the ruler’s measurement markings.
9. Use the blue pen to draw a pinstripe on both horizontal edges of the measuring tape (see photo).
    
   
10. Repeat the process on the other side’s measuring tape border.

Adding the Paper Clip Motifs

11. Tape the Paper Clip Background stencil in place at the top of one side.
12. Swirl a medium stencil brush into the light blue stencil cream, offload some onto a paper towel, and then swirl the paint into the paper clip cutouts, creating very soft, light designs. Reposition the stencil as needed to fill in the rest of the side (see photo).
     
    
13. Complete the paper clip background on the other side of the table. Allow the paint to dry completely.
14. When you’ve finished the paperclip backgrounds on the sides, stencil the foreground designs. Use a medium brush with sunflower yellow paint to stencil the Craft Tools motifs on both sides.
15. Reposition the stencil as needed to place the individual motifs where you want them. Be careful when stenciling over an extended cutout area such as the long edges of the album. Pouncing is the best technique to use here because swirling can cause the brush bristles to slip under the stencil edges (see photos).
     
    
     
    
16. As a finishing touch, create a paper clip border around the edges of the top of the table. Measure and mark 3⁄4" (1.9 cm) in on all four sides all the way around.
17. Using the single paper clip motif from the Craft Tools stencil and a medium brush, stencil sunflower yellow paper clips spaced evenly around the marked border (see photos).
     
    
     
    
18. Seal the piece with three to four coats of water-base varnish.

Paper Clip Background Stencil

Craft Tools Stencil