stencil your slipcovers for a fresh new look

when you want a fancy slipcover but can't afford a bemz, why not try stenciling it yourself? villain did just that.

villain writes, "i just moved into a loft in boston and refurbished my old klippan sofa along with a tullsta chair. inspired by bemz slipcovers (way too expensive for a couple of grad students, sadly!), i went to work using a stencil and jacquard fabric paint.

i actually just used the $20 cream slipcover from ikea! as for the stencils, i got them at joann.com (lame i know, but stencils can be hard to find!) and used a large stencil brush with jacquard fabric paint from dickblick.

i put the slipcover on the sofa and painted in a circular motion, from the outside to the inside. i varied the amount of paint to create images that were either more substantial or more shadowy. the fabric paint should be heat set, so i ironed the slipcover on the reverse and then scotchguarded the dickens out of it just to be safe.

the chair is not really 'iron-able' (save the cushions) so it got a heavy scotchguard treatment too. pretty simple, really. i also sewed a few throw/floor pillows, and now everything is starting to come together!"

see more on villain's blog.