Feeling Crafty Today? How About a Stenciled Doormat From Rheney Williams ?

Disclosure / Disclaimer:  I received this post, free of charge,from Home Depot an Rheney Williams, for blog posting purposes. No compensation,  monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post/review. Nor was I told what to say, all opinions are my own, and yours may be different.

i'm bored button


Have the 'I'm Bored's hit your house yet?

Bet they have!

How about a fun project that is great for older kids, and that helps decorate your home, and provide a needed function?

Rheney has the perfect Summer craft activity for you!

key door mat

When you're trying to keep your floors free of dirt and debris, whether the source is grungy boots or muddy paws, there's no rule that says you can't do it in style! In fact, a doormat provides the perfect blank canvas for representing your style while keeping your interior floors spic and span in the process.

So that's what we're doing today: I've made an adorable stenciled doormat that is 100% customized to complement my home décor. And because the cost of the mat itself was less than $10, there's one more reason to create multiple mats that you can swap out with the seasons or replace as needed when they become too worn.

To craft your own, you'll need a fiber-based doormat. I purchased a bound carpet remnant that came in a two-pack: One for the front door, one for the back. Its looped pile carpet consistency is perfect for holding the shape and color you transfer with your craft paint and stencil.


elements for doormat

In addition to your carpet doormat and stencil (I used Americana Décor's "Vintage Keys" stencil), you'll need:

• Stencil Brush

• Craft paint: I used Martha Stewart's Acrylic Gloss Craft Paint in "Wedding Cake"

• Paper Towel for blotting

• Tape: I used Frog Tape but any painter's tape will work

beginning steps for doormat design

Begin by deciding on your stencil layout. I love this particular stencil sheet because the placement of the keys on the sheet is a great arrangement as it is! In other words, I simply lined up the sheet, stenciled all of the keys in their existing location, and moved the sheet over to stencil the other half of the doormat. From there, I simply filled in the blank spots with my favorite keys to round out the "random" feel of the design.

doormat design closeup

But backing up a bit, here are some tips for stenciling like a pro:

Load your brush lightly. After you dip the tip of the brush in the dollop of paint, swirl it around on the paper towel or paper plate to remove the majority of the paint. Counterintuitive? Yes. Crucial for the clarity of your design? Absolutely! A brush with too much paint is the main reason for smeared paint underneath the stencil. If you want to avoid these "under bleeds" simply use less paint.

Several light coats are better than one thick coat. Sure, dousing the stencil in paint is a quick way to cover your doormat but it's also a surefire way to create a blurry mess. It's much better to apply several light applications of paint until you reach the desired color saturation than to try to finish the job with one pass.

Anchor your stencil with the tape. The tape is beneficial (if not necessary) for at least two reasons. First, it secures the sheet to the surface of whatever you're painting. Especially with a textured canvas like this carpet doormat, failing to anchor the stencil sheet down will result in a sheet that slides around and inevitably ruins your potentially perfect design.

Second, taping the stencil down allows for a flatter surface to stencil. In other words, if you have gaps between the stencil and the doormat, you're inviting the paint to seep underneath, also ruining your design.

And these taping rules don't just apply to the surface that you're stenciling: Even if your stencil is hanging off the side of the mat, tape down the stencil to the floor.

Once you get your painting guidelines in gear and finish your stenciling, allow it to fully dry, and then place your new dirt collector by the door of your choice.

finished doormat

I have this one placed by the back door leading out to our back porch. Whenever I go out to water the garden or check on the yard, I always seem to bring in dirt no matter how hard I try. Well, those days of tracking mud throughout the house are over with this new stenciled doormat!

And the dark gray of the carpet and the glossy white paint really anchor the space and add a pop of classic color style at the same time.

doormat in place

What colors and designs do you plan on stenciling on your customized doormat?


flourish


About the Crafter: 
Rheney Williams writes about her home décor projects for Home Depot. Rheney has been embellishing her home in Charleston, S.C., with all sorts of DIY rug crafts since she moved in last year. Home Depot's rugs and mats selection includes models similar to the one used by Rheney for her stenciled pieces.Find out more about her projects on her website!

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