D.I.Y.O.Y.? Imperial Trellis Stencil How-to.

Thanks to Erin Gates from Elements of Style for the post on my project and for perpetuating the madness. I did notice that someone on her blog commented that they wanted to hire me to do this project for them. Boy, did that make me laugh!! As if. But if you want to tackle it yourself? Be my guest (and if you are here from EOS, thanks for stopping by!)...

First, go to Decorator's Best and order a sample or two of Imperial Trellis for $7 ea. I'd order a dark color on white so it's easier to trace.

While you are waiting for it to be delivered, go to A.C. Moore or the like and get a packet of stencils like these from StencilEase (I got 12x18 and you want at least that size):

Click for website

Mine are 4 mil but if I hadn't been snowed in, I would've gone to Philly to Utrecht or Blick to get something a little bit thicker because this doesn't clean well without falling apart. If you get anything too much larger, it will likely be difficult to keep it from flopping around once some paint builds up on it and weighs it down.

You'll need an ultrafine permanent marker (Sharpie) to get started. I started by drawing in a 1/4-inch border around the stencil with a 1/2-inch border at the top for taping.

Once you have the wallpaper sample, lay the stencil blank over the wallpaper as shown. Make sure it's straight or your final product will run crooked. If you get a piece of wallpaper that doesn't show the entire pattern, copy it and tape it together to create a pattern based on the first photo in this post.

My blank stencil was larger than the wallpaper sample so I just improvised by aligning what I'd already drawn over the pattern like this:

If you don't want to order a wallpaper sample, you should be able to print out all three of the following patterns in full size and overlap them to create a stencil. You won't really overlap them, you'll overlay the blank stencil onto Pattern No. 1 and trace it with your ultra fine marker. Then you'll overlay the blank (which now contains Pattern No. 1) onto Pattern No. 2 and align the pattern. Repeat with Pattern No. 3. Last, you'll add the little dotted lines which you will cut around (they will help to keep the middle parts from falling right out and stabilize the stencil).

Click on the photos and save them in a folder. Print them out full size in landscape format mirror image.

Pattern No. 1

Pattern No. 2

Pattern No. 3

Now cut out the pattern using an Exacto knife, leaving the lines within the dashes and the negative space like this:

Keep in mind that you will have to hand paint every line that is only there to stabilize the stencil. So if you want to quit, now would be a good time. If not, then:

Spray the back of the stencil with Repositionable Adhesive (available in spray or sponge applicator bottle) per instructions. Use blue painter's tape on sides and/or top as necessary to keep in position.

Place on the wall starting at the upper left corner. Use a level to ensure the sides are level (check your wall first to make sure; if not, adjust accordingly).

Roll evenly with paint using a miniature foam roller and tray. Remove stencil. Now fill in the spaces left behind from the lines holding the stencil together. Dry with a hair dryer to speed up the process. I waited to fill those lines in on my first wall and am still regretting it (and filling them in).

PLEASE NOTE: If you are using pearlescent or iridescent paint, touch-ups may be visible so you'll need to test which method of touchup of works best for you. Also, avoid painting over existing paint; in other words, carefully fill in the blank area only. I used a sable/synthetic Windsor & Newton No. 2 brush.

Keep carefully overlapping the pattern all the way down to the trim or bottom of the wall, checking to ensure the right side is level with each new stencil.

When you are ready to start a new column, overlap stencil over existing paint and paint where there ain't none.

Do this until the end of time.

Eventually, you will begin to make progress.

This will feed the beast. Well, that and lots of Nutella.

And eventually, it will look like this:

I used two base coats of Benjamin Moore Linen White in Matte Regal and for the stencil a ready-made quart of B.Moore Studio Finishes Latex Metallic Glaze in Pearlescent White.

So, if you add up the cost of the paints, supplies and 2 visits to the chiropractor, it still doesn't add up to the cost of one roll of Imperial Trellis. Plus when you tire of it or sell your place, no one has to remove wallpaper. And you cannot put a price on the self-satisfaction of being awesome.

If you do take on this project, please leave a comment and send me a photo of the finished product.