WoodUbend creates awesome leaf artwork using 2 layered stencils

Sometimes, inspiration comes from the strangest places! Nature, music, emotions, art… but this beautiful WoodUbend and Posh Chalk wall art was born from a pair of shorts!

During the hot UK heatwave, one of our WoodUbend team members entered the office, coffee, and car keys in hand, wearing the most incredible pair of shorts we had ever seen. Like a sign, the sun shined from the window onto the fabric. The shorts featured black and white strips, layered with plant leaves. The colours and design inspired Solly Jo so much, she gathered the team around the workshop.

This easy project is perfect for beginners and uses a layered stencilling technique. We made this project on an old MDF board, but you can use any flat surface including stretched canvas.

Products used:

TR715

Posh Palms Posh Chalk Stencil

Greek Maze Posh Chalk Stencil

Green Dark Posh Chalk Metallic Paste

Green Fhthalo Posh Chalk Metallic Paste

Canary Yellow Posh Chalk Metallic Paste

Lemon Gold Posh Chalk Metallic Pigment

Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor

Black Paint

Please note, the Posh Chalk Metallic Paste is essential for this project to achieve the raised stencil effect.

Applying the base stencil to our WoodUbend project

We painted a white base coat onto the MDF board. Once this had dried, we took the Posh Chalk Greek Maze stencil. Posh Chalk has a wide range of high-quality stencils with incredible details, check them out here.

Before using a stencil, we always recommend that you apply a spray glue to the back of the stencil. The tacky surface allows your stencil to remain flush to the surface it is applied to. It helps to prevent bleed through of any products that you use.

After 10-15 seconds, we perform the ‘spider man’ test. Using our finger, we touch the stencil. If it sticks to your finger, it is ready to be applied. If it does not, wait a bit longer for the glue to become tacky.

We placed the Greek Maze stencil onto the MDF board, smoothing it using a shower squeegee to make sure it is properly adhered. Then, we took a black paint- you can use any- and stippled the paint onto the stencil.

Removing the first stencil was so satisfying thanks to the black and white contrast!

A WoodUbend Top Tip: Cleaning Your Stencils

Posh Chalk stencils can be reused. Once you are finished using a stencil, place it in water.

When your stencil is in water, it prevents any product on the surface from solidifying. This allows you to continue crafting. When you are ready to clean it, wipe away excess product using a paper towel or a sponge. To remove the spray glue, we recommend using a kitchen degreaser and a nail brush. Scrub the glue to remove it. Once clean, hang you stencil up to dry using a coat hanger. Once it is dry it can be put away and used another time!

Applying the second stencil layer.

To emulate the Monstera plant leaves found on the pair of shorts, we chose our Posh Palms Stencil. We have a wide range of leafy stencils, however this one fit perfectly in the centre of our MDF board.

After applying the spray glue, we placed it onto our surface. We wanted this layer to be raised against the previous one. To get this effect, we used Posh Chalk Metallic Paste.

What makes Posh Chalk Metallic Paste so unique?

The paste has a whipped cream consistency and can be layered onto a surface. However, it can also be stippled to achieve a more textured effect. The paste holds its shape when it dries (it is also self-sealing!). You can also thin the texture by using water or a retarder to water the consistency. This is great for more details painting, blending, or washing. This multipurpose paste is fantastic for both amateur and professional artists thanks to its flexibility and high pigmentation.

We used 3 colours of Posh Chalk Metallic Paste to mimic the colour of leaves. This was a dark shade of Green Dark, a mid-tone of Green Fhthalo, and a highlight of Canary Yellow. You can browse the whole range of Posh Chalk Metallic Paste colours here.

Using a palette knife, we scooped the paste from the pot, and applied it onto a large decorator’s trowel. We were covering a large surface, so we chose a large tool. Depending on the size of your stencil you can also use a squeegee, scraper, or a paint brush.

We placed the 3 colours side by side on the trowel. Then, in a smooth motion we placed the trowel to the surface and spread the paste over the stencil.

Inflating Posh Chalk Metallic Paste

Here in the studio, we call this technique ‘paint popping’. When heat is applied to Posh Chalk Metallic Paste, it inflates. Once we removed the stencil, we used a heat gun to ‘pop’ the paste. You can also use a hair dryer to achieve a similar effect. For this project, we left the paste fully inflated to dry, but you can create a wide range of effects by squishing the inflated bubbles.

Applying a WoodUbend trim to frame the piece

We love using WoodUbend trims to frame artwork. WoodUbend can be mitred with ease to create seamless edges. It elevates the final finish of projects created on flat surfaces, while being more price friendly than authentically carved frames!

After using just two stencils, our project looked amazing, but something was missing. WoodUbend has a trim that works perfectly together with the Greek Maze stencil…

We painted this trim before applying it using Posh Chalk Metallic Pigment in Lemon Gold.

Posh Chalk Metallic Pigment comes in a powdered form and must be mixed with Posh Chalk Pigment Infusor. This is an element that really sets the product apart from other pre-mixed brands available. It gives the user complete control over the consistency of the mix. For example, you can create a highly pigmented paste for full coverage applications, or you can create a pigmented liquid wash to add gentle sparkle to any surface.

Following the 5 steps of WoodUbend application, we began framing the piece. We mitred the edges to get a perfect finish. Learn how to mitre here.

The gold trim was the perfect touch for this project, beautifully complimenting the contrasting black and white lines and green foliage.

This project was so quick and easy. We hope this inspires you to create a similar design using stencil art!

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