Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint a keepsake box with an illustration of a little fox family in their den. It's quite easy to do with the stencil I've provided.
Supplies you will need include:
- a blank wooden box. The one I’m using is ‘cigar box’ shaped and measures 8 ¼ x 8 x 2 inches (21 x 20 x 4.5 cm)
-fine sandpaper (220 grit or higher)
-masking tape
-pencil, fine black marker
-wood stain or paint (optional, could leave the wood natural) -acrylic paint, brushes
-polyurethane (optional, can use any clear topcoat, even watered-down white glue will work in a pinch).
Supplies you will need include:
- a blank wooden box. The one I’m using is ‘cigar box’ shaped and measures 8 ¼ x 8 x 2 inches (21 x 20 x 4.5 cm)
-fine sandpaper (220 grit or higher)
-masking tape
-pencil, fine black marker
-wood stain or paint (optional, could leave the wood natural) -acrylic paint, brushes
-polyurethane (optional, can use any clear topcoat, even watered-down white glue will work in a pinch).
Grab a copy of my template here. It's in pdf format. Print it out.
Give the entire box a really good rub down with the fine grit sand paper. Don’t skip this step! The finish of the box really depends on the smallest effort sanding at first and in between steps.
Cut out the template and tape it to the box. Trace around the outside of the template with a pencil.
If you're not leaving the wood natural, use a small brush to stain (or paint) around the box outside the outline. It’s not a big deal if the stain bleeds a little or if there are a few slip-ups. Paint can cover any goofs.
Stain the rest of the box inside and out. You can switch to a bigger brush here if you want. Let it dry.
The next step is to transfer the template illustration onto the box. You can use carbon paper or something similar, but what I do doesn't require anything but a regular old pencil.
Just scribble all over the back of the stencil.
Just scribble all over the back of the stencil.
Flip your template right-side-up and re-position it in the unstained portion of your box. Secure with some masking tape.
Using a mechanical pencil or ballpoint pen, trace over the image. Use firm pressure, but it's not necessary to press into the wood.
The graphite from the scribbling done on the back of the paper will transfer onto the box. (I’ve upped the contrast on the photo here so you could see it. The transfer is not usually this dark, but good enough to see the illustration to paint it.)
Start painting! Just handle the template like a colouring book and fill in the basic shapes. I usually start in the background and work my way into the foreground. To create depth, I try to keep the farther back forms darker. When everything is painted to your satisfaction, let it dry for a good while… like overnight.
Give everything a light sanding. I know it seems counter-productive to sand your lovely painting job, but this really makes the final finish look smooth. If you’re using acrylic paint, sanding will get rid of any ridges that the brush strokes leave in the paint.
Use a fine felt-tipped permanent marker to outline the illustration.
If you want, add in texture and shadow with cross-hatching.
As the final touch, I use a microfine brush to add white highlights to the eyes with acrylic paint.
Give everything a couple coats of polyurethane (sand between coats) to seal it and you're done! If you like this, I'd love for you to pin it, share it, and try it!