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Glow Up Your Fall Decor with This Magical Stencil Project 🌕🍂
Faux Stained Glow: DIY Fall Willow Tree Sign
Hey friends! Amanda Dillon of Mettle Modern Design shared a stunning fall project live from her new studio—complete with faux staining, rich blends, and the charming new Primitive Willow Tree Stencil from Essential Stencil. If you love glowing, moody fall decor, you’re going to adore this tutorial!
Table of Contents
Materials
- Wood board (approx. 8.5" x 11")
- Water-based wood stains (yellow, vintage orange, black)
- Fine mist spray bottle
- Primitive Willow Tree Stencil
- Black acrylic paint
- Stencil Brush Set
- Mini Stencil Brush Set
- Masking tape
- Sanding sponge
- Protective gloves & apron
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Apply Yellow Stain: Begin by dabbing yellow stain to the center of your board using a sponge. Mist lightly with water to help the color blend.
2. Blend in Orange: While yellow is still damp, add vintage orange stain around it and spritz with water again.
3. Add Black Stain to Edges: Use a separate sponge to apply black stain along the edges and blend inward. Add water as needed to create a glowing ombre effect.
4. Sand the Board: Once dry, sand the surface to remove raised grain and prep it for stenciling.
5. Stencil the Willow Tree: Tape the stencil in place and use a dry brush technique with black acrylic paint to stencil the design.
6. Fill the Bridge: Use the mini stencil brush to fill any gaps or stencil bridges.
7. Ground the Tree: Add a base of black stain below the tree so it doesn’t look like it’s floating.
8. Final Sanding: Lightly sand again to soften any paint buildup.
Helpful Tips
- Mist water lightly to keep stains from drying too fast and help them blend smoothly.
- Use separate sponges for each color to avoid muddy results.
- Offload most of your paint when stenciling—less is more to prevent bleeding.
- Don’t skip the sanding step—it helps create a pro-finish and smooth surface.
Final Reveal
Isn’t this faux stained willow tree sign simply glowing? You can watch Amanda’s full tutorial on YouTube here. Big thanks to Amanda for the inspiration and tips!
Want to grab the tools and stencils she used? Check out our stencil collection here.
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