Using different stains to make a statement!

This summer we were so blessed to have my parents visit!  It is always a treat to have them here and even more fun when we do a project!

My parents are teachers and my Mom was decorating her room with an Americana theme.  She had the perfect spot for a small bench and I had just the bench for her!  I was thinking of painting it, but she wanted it stained.  So, as I went to bed that night….I couldn’t sleep….until it hit me,

MyLove2Create, using different stains to make a statement

So that is what we did, we used my different stains to make the fun Americana statement she wanted, without painting the bench!  It was a win win situation.  The coolest part is you could do any design you want with the stains, the possibilities are endless!

As you can see the above photo is not of a bench, it is actually the board I used to test my idea.

Let’s see how we did it shall we?

MyLove2Create, using different stains to make a statement

First we grabbed a scrap board and my Easiest DIY Bench Ever, and sanded them down.

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

Next we started with our first color of stain, NATURAL.  We used Minwax, because that is what I had.  Remember I like to do free projects….and this was FREE!!!

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

I cut out a star on my cricut with contact paper, and used it as a stencil.  I centered it on the board and rubbed all the edges really well (sorry no picture, I got excited and forgot!)  I wiped on some Rustoleum Dark Walnut stain and pulled off the stencil right away.  Perfect star!

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

Now this is an awesome picture….I should enter the “I took a one handed photo at dusk with a cast on award”  I would have totally won!  Ha!  (if you are new here, I broke my right hand, yes I am right handed, this summer.  I am cast free now, but obviously not when I did this project =)

Anyway….The above photo is showing you how I cut out a star slightly bigger than the size of my stained star, and put it on top, so we could do this…

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

Use painters tape to tape off the lines to make a stripe.  For our third color of stain we used Minwax Red Oak. You can see the test board on the left and the bench on the right.  Notice the difference in daylight, or lack of, I should say?  I stained the test board and my mom stained the bench.  I wanted to test it first, and by the time she got to the bench it was getting late!

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

And here is the bench!  Isn’t it cute?  I can’t wait to see it in her classroom next time we visit.

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

My Mom is pretty crafty and she did a great job on her bench.  I love it!

Wondering about the test board?  I gave it to my Dad for his classroom.  I after I did the star, I was in a hurry and didn’t press down to seal the bigger star and the tape as well as I should have and the stain bled a little.  So make sure to press really well, and it should work perfect like the bench above!

http://mylove2create.blogspot.com/2012/11/easiest-diy-bench-ever.html

To fix my error, I just sanded it down and gave it that rustic look!  It still think it turned out cute, even if I got lazy!  The wood grain peeking through the stain makes me happy!

I am so glad you stopped by!  I hope you come again soon!
Mindi

I will be linking to these parties.

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20 Comments

  1. A really cute project, Mindi! I love that the stain makes it look like you used three boards and of course, the wood showing through it, beautiful!

  2. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial, Mindi! Awesome! Makes me want to get out the stain and do a project of my own!

  3. Hey you!!! That is so stunning!! I mean it is just brilliant!!! The different shades really give the piece an amazing look!!! I am so glad that you were able to spend time with your parents! How wonderful is that!!! Have a happy Wednesday!!!

  4. Hi Mindi! Possibilities are endless with this fun way of staining! It certainly gives the pieces a whole new texture and brings the best details of the wood grain! Thank You for sharing your clever idea at Fluster Buster Party! Join us again next week, Lizy party co-host

  5. Wow! That looks great… and one handed at that! Thanks for sharing! Stop by my Friday's Five Features and link up this post (and others)! diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/09/fridays-five-features-no-8.html