Building and Finishing a Step Stool - Part 3 with a GREAT OFFER

This is the design I put on my stool to make it extra special. I used a stencil from Muddaritaville which was provided to me at no cost, in exchange for trying it out and blogging about it. Their stencils are cut from 10 mil mylar and are strong and completely reusable. (I was NOT told what to say about the product, all results and opinions are my own) 

This is what I started with, and blogged about in my two previous posts:

I made this stool from pine, but you could use an old stool and use the same finishing techniques as I did.  Because mine was raw wood, first it was stained.  If your stool already has something on it you may not need the stain undercoat.  After staining it was painted with white milk paint. 

The bottom step looked to me like it needed something extra.  That is where the stencil came in. 

I taped the stencil on each side and then used a small stencil brush and black craft paint to fill in the cut out areas.

Normally, I hand paint designs on furniture and signs, but I thought it would be nice to try a stencil for a change.  I'm sure if I had hand painted it would have taken me well over an hour to trace the pattern and then paint it.  With this stencil, it took me only a couple of minutes!

Did you know that stencils are cut with bridging? These are the small areas that hold the pieces together that would otherwise fall out without the extra "bridges."  You can see bridging here below in the "P" and also in the "a" of the word Paris:

Below you can see where I have filled in the bridges with a small brush:

Many people do not realize that the bridges are meant to be filled in, and don't paint in the bridged area.  I suppose some people leave them unpainted by choice, but I've seen stencilled work where it is obvious that the letter or design should be painted where the bridging was.

After the painting I lightly sanded over the whole stencilled area:

 Here is the whole bottom step, so much nicer with the stencil, and so easy to use:

 I hand waxed the stool after sanding.

 Although this stool is new, it looks like it has been around for a long time, don't you think?

As I said, I got my stencil from Muddaritaville. Muddaritaville has many stencils you can use on furniture or to make signs with. Please go to their website to see them all.

Muddaritaville is offering you a 20% discount on any stencil purchases totalling $25 or more, for being a reader of my blog.  You will need to go to the Muddaritaville website and use the coupon code "fyh" at the checkout.

I hope some of you take this opportunity to get a beautiful stencil to use in your creations.  Please share the results with me, which I will post at my blog.

I will be sharing at the following blog link ups:

Party Junk @ Funky Junk Interiors
Get Schooled Saturday @ too much time on my hands

Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Fabulously Creative Friday @ Jennifer Rizzo

Shabbilicious Friday @ Shabby Art Boutique

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Blissful Whites @ Timewashed
Under 100 Link Party @ Beyond the Picket Fence

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Be Inspired @ Elizabeth & Co.
Vintage Style @ Knick of Time

It's Party Time @ Three Mango Seeds
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Inspiration Exchange @ Ella Claire