
Let me show you how to stencil china using a simple technique and introduce you to stencil no 297 rose solo. The rose stencil is a sweet, two layer design based on the traditional folk art roses found on canal barges and narrow boats.

Traditionally they are painted in bright red, yellow and white over a dark base colour similar to the way I have stencilled the wooden storage box. I have chosen to interpret the same design onto crockery using magenta and turquoise china paints.

I have a draw full of glass and ceramic paint. They are the kind that you fire in a home oven.

I find it easy to use sponges when stencilling this kind of motif onto china. I cut a foam square into four and used a different piece to stencil each colour.

Tape the stencil into position. Not all parts of the stencil will lie flat on a curved surface. Concentrate on applying paint to the secure area then press the next part into position whilst releasing the area that has just been decorated.

Gather all corners of the sponge square to create a firm, smooth paint applicator. Take paint from a pallet by dabbing the sponge onto it. Further dabbing onto a clean surface ensure that the paint gets evenly worked onto the surface of the sponge and is no longer wet. Rock and dab the paint lightly over the stencil. Roll and release the stencil until the pattern is complete. Before applying the top layer of pattern the stencilled china will need to be fired. Follow instuctions on paint pot. Mine read 45 minutes in moderate oven temp. After removal from the oven wait until the piece cools thouroughly before matching the second stencil over the previous decoration.

Dab, rock, roll and release as before then put it back in the oven to fire the top layer of paint.
This should give it a dishwasher safe finish.

In addition to the decoration of crockery and furniture I like the idea of stencilling this rose design in a haphazard fashion over a wall or fabric. Possibly condensed in one area then scattered randomly over the rest of the area.
There are other barge painting stencils in The Stencil Library's 'Special Interest' collection.
Helen