Lace can be Used as an Elegant Decorating Stencil

Introduction to Lace Stenciling - One really beautiful and simple way to do-it-yourself in decorating is to use lace as a stencil. Lace is available with designs that repeat across the entire piece of fabric, and with varied designs at intervals. When using lace as a stencil, one piece may be used, or multiple pieces may be used to create your own design. The easiest way I have found to use lace as a stencil is to use spray paint, and to place the lace on a horizontal surface. Those who are really adept at using spray paint on vertical surfaces without leaving drips can use it on walls.

Prep Work

Before beginning, make sure your entire work area is protected, as spray paint will go onto areas around the surface you are painting. Use tarps, drop cloths, or newspaper.

If you will be doing your stenciling in sections, be sure to securely tape newspaper to the sections you are not working on to protect them.

Remember that solid features in your lace will not show up as the color of the paint you are spraying onto the lace. The solid features in your lace will display on your project as the color of your project surface. Only the open features of your lace will display with your paint color onto your project.

If you want the solid designs in your lace to show up in color on your project there is a way to do this. For example, if you want the solid flower designs in your lace to show up on your surface as pink flowers on a lacey cream background, you will need to first paint the surface of your project pink. Once it is dry, lay down the lace, and use cream-colored spray paint to add the rest of the design from the lace to your surface. When you remove the lace, your surface will be cream colored with pink flowers.

Getting Started