Create a stenciled Santa's Reindeer Names Sign using Ikonart to add to your Christmas decor!
Christmas is coming up quick, and I just can't resist all of the sparkling and brightly-colored decor! This Santa's Reindeer Names Sign was such a simple project to make using my Ikonart kit, and I absolutely love how it turned out. The stencils can also be used again and again, so you could even whip up a batch of signs to sell or gift to friends and family. This sign is such a fun and festive piece of holiday decor, and I hope you feel inspired to make a custom reindeer names sign for your home!
To make your own Santa's Reindeer Names Sign, you will need these supplies:
- Reindeer Names Design
- Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit
- 6"x12" Wood Panel
- Sandpaper
- Acrylic Paint - white, red, green, metallic silver
- Chalk Paint Powder
- Extreme Glitter Paint (optional)
- Paint Brush
- Squeegee
- Scissors
- Detail Brush (optional)
To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Download the Reindeer Names Design and size it to fit the wood canvas. Split the design into two files: one with the cursive names, the other with printed names. Do not change any of the spacing or resize anything! Keep the snowflakes on one design or the other, but keep two of the dots on the other design - to see what I mean, I kept all of the snowflakes with the cursive names, but kept one dot next to both Dancer and Vixen's names. Print the designs 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 (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. Repeat the process to create the other stencil.
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.
While the stencils are drying, paint the wood panel. Sand the wood, if necessary, to make the surface as smooth as possible before painting. Let the paint dry completely. Add another coat, if necessary and give it plenty of time to dry. If the surface is bumpy at all, sand it down to smooth it out.
Once sanded, 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 cursive name stencil and center the design on the panel. Rub the stencil down well with the squeegee or your hands to remove any air bubbles.
Add a thin line of red 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.
*Because acrylic paint has a thinner consistency, it can often bleed under the stencil. Chalk paint is thicker than regular acrylic paint, so it helps to create crisp lines when stenciling. To thicken your acrylic paints (any brand or type), I recommend mixing in a little bit of chalk paint powder. Just add a little bit of powder to the paint and stir it together with a craft stick. Add a little more powder at a time, if necessary, until you get the consistency you want.
I accidentally covered the snowflakes and dots with the red paint, when I actually wanted them to be silver! If you can, try your best to move around them when using the squeegee and red paint. If you can't, you can add some thickened silver paint over the red.
Chalk paint is thicker, but it does happen to dry quicker than regular acrylic paint. After covering the first name with paint, lift the stencil up to reveal that one line and then gently lay the stencil back down (don't add pressure or anything). If you lift it up and see any spots that you may have missed, carefully lay it back down and add a little more paint. This simple step will help to prevent the paint from drying in the mesh and lifting up with your stencil.
Repeat the painting and peeling process for each of the reindeer names. Once completed, carefully peel the stencil away from the bottom line and remove it completely. The paint will still be wet, so be careful not to accidentally touch any of the paint!
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.
Again, make sure that the paint is completely dry! If the paint is even a little bit wet, you will risk pulling it up or even having your stencil stick permanently when you peel the stencil away.
Center the other reindeer name stencil over the previously painted names. This is where the dots left on the stencils come in - align the dot that is next to the name with the previously stenciled dot to make sure it's aligned perfectly. Press the stencil down well.
Add a thin line of green paint to 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 - but don't cover the dots. Scrape away any excess paint and put it back into the paint bottle.
Again, peel the stencil away after painting each reindeer name to prevent the stencil from sticking. If you missed any spots, lay the stencil back down and cover the area.
Repeat the painting and peeling process for each of the reindeer names. Once completed, carefully peel the stencil away from the bottom line and remove it completely. The paint will still be wet, so be careful not to accidentally touch any of the paint!
Let the paint dry completely, and wash the stencil well following the instructions above.
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).
For a sparkling finish, I decided to brush the sign with a thin coat of glitter paint! This stuff is amazing - it goes on like regular acrylic paint, but dries clear with a whole lot of glitter left behind. The best part? The glitter stays in place and won't rub off on all of your other decor while in storage!!
It was a lot of fun using one stencil design to make a Santa's Reindeer Names Sign using different colors of paint, and I LOVE how it turned out. It's such a festive piece of holiday decor, and I think it would be fun to make more for friends and family - which is easy to do with these Ikonart reusable stencils!
As always, I'd love to hear what you think about this project and 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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