How to Paint Flames on Furniture

Choose a flame design, keeping in mind the shape of the furniture, the size of the area for the stencil and the complexity. It is easier to turn a simple photo into a stencil than a complicated one, especially for beginners.

Open the photo using the photo editing program and save it as a monochrome bitmap. This changes dark colors to black and lighter colors to white. It is the same as turning a colored picture into black and white.

Touch up the photo by painting black any white spots inside the black parts or any rough edges. The result looks like your flame design, only black and simplified. Print the photo to the desired size for the stencil.

Place the paper over the card stock so the entire design, the black part, is on the card stock. Tape the paper to the card stock with the masking tape to hold it in place. Do not place tape on or under any of the black parts of the design.

Set the card stock on a cutting board so you don't cut the work surface. Cut out the design with the utility knife. Cut out only the black parts by following the edge of the black areas. Make sure to cut completely through the paper and the card stock. Do not cut through the white areas.

Remove the paper from the card stock and pop out any black pieces that do not fall out. The result is your stencil.

Place the stencil on the furniture so it is flat to the surface. Tape the stencil in place using the masking tape, but do not place tape over or under the cut-out part.

Apply a layer of spray paint over the stencil. Keep the spray paint the correct distance away from the furniture as written on the spray instructions. Move the spray paint can at an even pace.

Remove the stencil from the furniture to see the completed design. Do not remove the stencil if a second or third coat is required. Leave the stencil in place and let the paint dry before adding any more coats.