This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut. All opinions are 100% mine.

Our backyard deck was in need of some serious love and attention. After re-staining it, I added a fun stenciled “rug” to it using my Cricut machine to create the stencil. Read on for tips and a tutorial to make your own! 

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I love using my Cricut machine for all sorts of projects including DIY Home projects. There’s just many endless possibilities. Whether you are are looking to make crafts to sell or want to customize your home decor, the Cricut can help.

This was probably my biggest Cricut project to date, but honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.  Here’s a picture of our deck before- dusty, dirty and ready for some cleaning (and a fun Cricut project!)

And after:

DECK PREPARATION

We power washed our deck before staining it. It’s actually pretty satisfying to watch the power washer take off all built up the dirt and grime.  After power washing make sure to allow your deck sufficient time to dry before applying stain and paint. We waited one week just to be sure. We also had a piece of wood that needed repair, so I used some Bondo to fill it in and then sanded it down.

Now that are deck was prepped and ready, it was time to stain and stencil.

We chose to use a solid deck stain in grey. We applied it with a roller to the deck.

After staining, it was time for the stenciling!

DECK STENCIL MATERIAL

I researched which material I wanted to use for my stencil. There were a couple of different options. The Cricut Maker can cut so many materials, it was just a matter of choosing the best one for this project.  One of the top choices seemed to be a Mylar stencil. You can actually buy a pack of blank Mylar 12X12 stencils at your local craft store. This is a great option because the Mylar can be washed and re-used, plus it stands up to lots of stenciling. 

Another possible option I considered was stencil vinyl.  I’ve used stencil vinyl before for projects, but I think it is more for a one time stencil. I knew I would need to use this stencil repeatedly so I wanted something more heavy-duty. 

I liked the Mylar and stencil vinyl materials, but I wanted to use material I already had on hand. I searched through my craft supplies and I came across some Cricut Foil Kraft Board.  I decided to go with the Kraft Board because it was a much thicker material and my stencil wouldn’t be as flimsy. I also liked that it was slightly wipeable because of the foil on top.

Deck Stencil Supplies:

Cricut Maker
StandardGrip Mat
Kraft Board
(or Mylar stencil)
Deck Stain
Outdoor Paint
Sealer
Stencil Brush
Painters Tape 

Instructions:

To use the same stencil, open the link HERE. I used an image called Trellis Tile, but I had to make some adjustments to make it a stencil. 

Click on “Make It” and select your material. I used Kraft Board for my stencil.

Cut out your stencil. I recommend cutting out a few of them so you can make the stenciling process go faster. 

Now you get to start stenciling!

Tips:

• You’ll want to use a stippling motion (short up and down motion) with your stencil brush. 
• Don’t oversaturate your brush with paint, less is more!

Make sure to carefully line up your pattern. You can use painter’s tape to secure it if you would like, but I prefer to just hold it with my free hand and paint with the other. 

Once you have finished your stencil you will want to seal it to help protect it. I just used a spray paint sealer that was fast and effective. 

Now, replace your deck furniture and enjoy your new deck and faux rug. What do you think? If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.