Stenciling A Picture Frame in Four Easy Steps

Simple Steps For Painting a Picture Frame with Stencils

Good morning, my handy dandy crafters!  We are feeling super crafty this Tuesday at Cutting Edge Stencils.  Do you remember when we shared a snapshot of our favorite stenciled picture frames in this post?

So inspirational, right?  We shared these fab ideas from our blog partners to show how an old frame can be freshened up using our pretty stencil patterns.  Just as we got everyone excited about this mega easy stenciling project, we realized we hadn’t given you the play-by-play on how to create those gorgeous picture frames.  We wouldn’t want to earn a bad rap for tempting you with a fab DIY project, so today we’re delivering the full tutorial!  Oh, and the best part is that it’s super easy and can be completed in FOUR easy steps.

Here is the stenciling scoop on how to stencil a picture frame:

First you’re gonna need this stuff listed below:

• A wooden picture frame
• A stencil (for this project the Indian Inlay Stencil was used)
• Stencil brush <— We prefer the one in this link.
• Painter’s tape
• Small paint tray or plastic plate
• Paper towels
• Craft paint found at Michaels or JoAnns ( for this project FolkArt White Acrylic paint was used)

1. Gather Materials: Start the stencil project by gathering all of the materials listed above.  We’ve had fans purchase simple frames from Ikea or Michaels for a project like this.  If the frame is not the color you would like, then paint it a solid paint color of your choice.

2. Secure The Stencil: Position the stencil design on the frame. For this project, we chose the Indian Inlay Stencil kit, which comes with 5 stencil pieces and can be configured in various positions.  Then you can secure the stencil in place using blue painter’s tape.

3. Start Stenciling: Pour your craft paint onto a plate or paint tray.  Then dip your stencil brush into the paint. Blot off the excess paint onto your folded paper towel until the brush looks almost dry.  The key to stenciling is using as little paint as possible.  Too much paint will cause the design to bleed and smudge.  Next you will paint the design onto the picture frame with the stencil brush using a dry brush (stippling) technique.  Stippling is when you tap the brush repeatedly over the stencil opening.

4. Complete the Pattern:  Allow the paint to dry a little and reposition the stencil around the edge of the frame so you can continue to paint the pattern on the entire surface. Let the paint dry for two hours.

Now let’s admire your fashionable frames!  Here are two stunning examples using our 5 piece Indian Inlay Stencil kit.  See how the one stencil can be varied to create different looks?

PS. This project is so easy that even a first time stenciler could get the hang of it.

Tell us, do you have old frames that you would consider stenciling? Leave us a comment below!

Haven’t had enough stenciling fun?:

• Shop our stencil collections on the Cutting Edge Stencils website!
• Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram to see awesome inspirational photos!
• Have you completed a stencil project? Come share it on Facebook!

Thanks for reading, and happy stenciling!
Michelle and the Cutting Edge Stencils Crew