If you like Edgar Allen Poe, you'll LOVE this Raven "Nevermore" Wood Sign that's perfect for Halloween!
When it comes to spooky reads, Edgar Allen Poe's one of the best. When I was thinking about what kind of Halloween decor to make this year, I decided to make something to pay homage to the master of macabre. This Raven "Nevermore" Wood Sign is inspired by Poe's poem, "The Raven", and was quite fun and simple to make using my Ikonart kit! I've created a design with the entire the poem (it's a lot longer than you think), and am sharing it FREE so you can make you own Raven sign to display in your own home for spooky season!
New to making reusable stencils? Here's how to Get Started with Ikonart!
To make your own Raven "Nevermore" Wood Sign, you will need these supplies:
- "Nevermore" Poem Design
- Raven Design
- Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit
- 10"x10" Wood Panel
- Sandpaper
- Chalk Paint - black, white
- Acrylic Paint - metallic silver
- Paint Brush
- Squeegee
- Scissors
- Detail Brush (optional)
Printables and cut files from Artsy-Fartsy Mama are for personal use only. You may use these files for personal projects, but you may not sell them. If you'd like to share this project digitally, share a link to this post/website only. Do not share a direct link to the file.
To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Download BOTH the "Nevermore" Design AND the Raven image and size them to fit the wood canvas. Print the design as dark as possible on either inkjet or laser Ikonart Printer Film.
The next step in the process is exposing the stencil film. Set up the exposure stand with UV LED Light by following the directions included in the kit. Ikonart Stencil Film is light sensitive, so be careful to keep it out of sunlight and bright lights before exposure. Cut a piece of the film the slightly larger than the design print.
Lay the piece of film down on the base of the stand with the textured side facing up. Place the printed design on top of the stencil film, making sure it's right-side up - meaning that you should be able to read the words printed on the design.
Lastly, place the clear exposure sheet (found in the stencil film pack) on top and press it down well to seal the design tight against the stencil film. Turn the exposure light on and expose the film for 35 seconds.
The next step in the stencil-making process is to washout, or rinse, the stencil to reveal the image on the film. Clip the exposed stencil film to the Ikonart clipboard with the shiny side (carrier sheet) touching the clipboard. Use a kitchen sink sprayer to rinse the stencil film with warm water until the design shows through and becomes completely clear. The washout process usually takes no more than 3 minutes.
Gently blot the excess water from the stencil, and hang or lay the stencil flat to dry for about 45 minutes. When the stencil is dry, you shouldn't see any water spots or discoloration. Once the stencil is completely dried, place the it back on the exposure stand and expose it again for at least 2 minutes without the clear cover sheet on top. This extra exposure time increases the durability of the stencil so you can get as much use out of it as possible.
The best time to paint the wood panel is while waiting for the stencils to dry. Sand the wood, if necessary, to make the surface as smooth as possible. Turn the panel over and paint the "frame" edges of the panel with black chalk paint, and then brush the excess paint off around the center of the panel. The painting doesn't have to be perfect! Let the paint dry completely.
To add some spooky-ish texture to the frame, I got out a hammer and made dents all over. Try not to hit the edges too much though, because the wood can easily split and break off into pieces! This step is totally optional, but I really like how it looks.
Next, cover the center of the panel in a coat of white chalk paint and let it dry completely. Use sandpaper over the panel to help the layer of black paint show up from underneath the layer of white paint. This will give your sign that rough and aged look without actually roughing it up!
Once finished, gently wipe the sign with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any dust.
Once the stencils are completely dry, place the them back on the exposure stand and expose again for at least 2 minutes without the clear cover sheet. This extra exposure time will increase the durability of the stencil so you can get as much use out of it as possible.
Use a permanent marker and write the word "back" on the carrier sheets (shiny side) on the back of the stencils. This comes in handy later when you need to put the carrier sheet and stencil back together after washing the paint off.
Make sure that the paint is COMPLETELY dry before moving on to this step. If it's not, your stencil could stick to the wood permanently, ruining your project. Remove the clear backing from the stencil and center the design on the panel. Use a ruler to make sure the design is centered vertically as well, and then rub the stencil down well.
To keep myself from painting outside of the stencil, I placed some painters tape around the edges.
Add a thin line of black chalk paint at the top of the stencil, and use the squeegee to lightly pull the paint over the stencil. Make sure all of the open mesh spaces of the stencil are covered evenly. Scrape away any excess paint and put it back into the paint bottle.
Carefully and slowly pull the stencil away to reveal the design underneath. As you peel the stencil, look carefully for any spots that you may have missed. If you see one, carefully lay the stencil back down and add a little more paint over the area.
Once you get to the opposite end and see that all areas have been covered, peel the stencil away from the wood. If you notice any missed spots or bleeds after removing the stencil, grab a small detail paint brush and add a light coat of paint over the area(s).
Let the paint dry completely, and wash the stencil well following the instructions below.
Washing Stencils:
For best results, wash stencils while the paint is still wet. To wash your stencil so that it can be used again and again, first get the clipboard wet so your stencil doesn't stick to it. Place the stencil on the clipboard with the textured side up, and lightly rub the stencil under cold running water to remove all the paint.
Do not rub or scrub the adhesive side of the stencil, and NEVER use anything other than water to wash the stencils. To prevent the stencil from breaking down, don't ever leave the stencils to soak.
Remove the stencil from the clipboard and lay it down with the adhesive side up. While the stencil is still wet, place the carrier sheet onto the stencil so that the word “BACK” is readable. Hang or lay the stencil flat to dry completely.
Peel the backing off of the "raven" stencil, and center it on the sign over the text. Once the stencils are in place, press it down well to remove any air bubbles.
Acrylic paint is a thinner consistency than chalk paint, so you are likely to have more trouble with bleeding with stencils. To thicken my metallic acrylic paint, mix in a little bit of chalk paint powder. This works with any brand or type of acrylic paint!
Pour some paint out on a palette and then add a little bit of powder. Stir it together with a craft stick until combined. Add a little more powder at a time until you get the consistency you want.
*If you're not sure what to kind of paint to use on your projects, Ikonart has a helpful list of paint and ink selections to help you out!
Add some of the mixed metallic paint to the top of the raven stencil and gently pull the squeegee down to cover the entire design. Scrape away the excess and put it back onto the paint tray or bottle.
Chalk paint is thicker, but it also dries quicker than regular acrylic paint, so you need to move a little quicker than you usually would with regularly painted projects. Start at one corner and lift up the stencil to reveal the paint underneath. If you see any areas that you may have missed, carefully lay the stencil back down and scrape a little more paint over the area.
Let the paint dry completely, and wash out the stencil following the instructions listed above.
I had SO much fun creating this Raven "Nevermore" Wood Sign using layered stencils, and LOVE how it turned out!! This sign is such a spooky piece of Halloween decor, and I hope you get inspired to try it out for yourself. You can even make multiples of this sign for friends and family - which is easy to do with Ikonart reusable stencils.
I'd love to hear what you think about this project, or if you want to know more about reusable stencils. If you've made your own stenciled projects, I would love to see your creations! Share them on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #AFMCrafts
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