Directions for Painting an Ivy Pattern on Furniture

Wash your furniture with a soapy rag. Remove soap residue with a damp, clean rag. Dry off the surface with a dry cloth.

Spray the back of the stencils with a thin film of spray adhesive. This will allow you to adhere the stencil to the furniture and keep both of your hands free for painting.

Mix colors by combining acrylic paints on plastic plates. Use a single color for a flat, solid ivy design. Mix a few shades of green to paint ivy leaves with shading and highlights. Do not mix up more paint than you can use quickly. Small amounts of acrylic paint start to harden in as little as 15 minutes.

Dip the tip of the stencil brush in the paint. Blot off excess paint on a rag. You want the brush to be barely stained with color. Using too much paint leaves you with a surface that is bumpy.

Hold the brush perpendicular to the stencil. Gently tap the flat tip of the brush's bristles against the furniture until the area has a thin, even layer of paint. Refill the brush with paint with paint, as necessary.

Create the effect of shading by filling in the center of the ivy design with dark paint. Apply light paint to the leaves. Gently blend the paint where the two different colors meet. The transition from dark to light should look soft and natural.

Peel the stencil off the furniture. Wipe the back off on a rag, if necessary. Reposition the stencil and repeat the painting process.

Allow the paint on the stenciled area to dry. Add veins and stems with a thin lettering brush, if desired.