Instructions

1. Reproduce the patterns (found at the end of the instructions) in sizes that fit your needs, then use a craft knife and clear plastic stencil blanks to create overlay 1 and overlay 2. To help you align the images, each pattern comes with a set of registration marks (the small circles with a cross-hair center).
2. If your tray is unpainted, sand it thoroughly, wipe off the dust with a tack cloth, and brush on two coats of white acrylic paint, sanding lightly between the coats.
3. Stencil the tray’s inside teardrop borders first. Keep in mind that all the inside edge borders should be positioned so that each border’s center—where the teardrop points are aligned—is 1" (2.5 cm) in from the nearest edge. Start with the vertical middle border. Center the Teardrop Border stencil vertically in the middle of the tray and 1" in from the top or bottom inside edge, and tape it in place. Use a medium brush and true blue paint to stencil the border design. Reposition the stencil as needed until the design extends to within 1" from the inside edge on the opposite side (see photo).
    
   
4. Stencil in the right horizontal border—the one that will separate the two teapots on the right. Use a medium brush and true blue paint. The horizontal center of this stencil should be exactly 7" (17.8 cm) up from the bottom inside edge (see photo).
    
   
5. Stencil the remaining inside borders (see photo).
    
   
6. Create the border around the outside of the tray. The horizontal center of that border should be 1" (2.5 cm) from the bottom edge.

Creating the Teapots

7. Painting white objects on a white background is an interesting challenge. The white teapots are defined from the background almost entirely by shading. Remember to envision a light source coming from the upper right. The shading should be deepest, therefore, on the left and lower edges of the motifs.
8. Position and tape overlay 1 of the Tall Teapot stencil inside the left bordered box, with the teapot’s bottom 3-3⁄4" (9.5 cm) from the tray’s inside bottom edge.
9. Using a medium stencil brush with light blue/gray paint (remember to dab off the excess onto a paper towel), swirl along the edges of the cutout to produce the shaded shape (see photo).
    
   
10. Tape overlay 2 of the Tall Teapot stencil in position. Be careful to align it properly with the painted design.
11. Using a medium brush and light blue/gray paint, shade in the shapes of the handle and spout. Then, using true blue paint and a small brush, stencil the top and bottom rims, the teardrop designs on the pot and lid, and the stripe across the lower section (see photos below).
     
    
     
    
12. Repeat steps 7 through 10 to stencil the remaining two teapots on the tray. Position the Elegant Teapot in the upper right bordered box, with the top of its lid 2-1⁄4" (5.7 cm) from the tray’s inside top edge. Place the Polka Dot Teapot in the lower right box, with its bottom 1-7⁄8" (4.7 cm) up from the tray’s bottom inside edge. Be sure to add shading to both teapots’ handles, spouts, and body details using midnight blue paint.
13. Apply three to four coats of water-base satin varnish to the tray and let it dry completely.

Tall Teapot Stencil

Teardrop Border Stencil

Elegant Teapot Stencil

Polka Dot Teapot Stencil