Parents really appreciate personalized gifts like this rocking chair for their children, but they can be quite expensive to buy. So, we designed our own using a few simple supplies.

Tools and Materials
Rocking chair
100-grit sandpaper
Primer
Paintbrush
Clean cloth
Latex paint
Animal templates
Card stock
Utility knife
Cutting mat
Craft bond spray glue
Cardboard box
Bone folder
Enamel
Synthetic fine-tip brush

Stenciled Rocking Chair How-To
1. Prepare the rocking chair by sanding it with a 100-grit sandpaper to remove any wood burrs and to clean the surface. Then, prime the rocker with a water or shellac-based primer such as Bin Primer Sealer. Then, sand the rocker again, and dust it with a clean cloth.

2. Paint the rocker with a latex paint with 20% Floetrol, a latex paint additive, which improves the consistency of the paint and reduces brushstrokes appearance. Use continuous directions to reduce surface inconsistencies and create a smoother surface. Let the first coat dry overnight, then sand again to remove the ridges left behind from the paint application. Give it a final topcoat to create an even and strongly colored surface. Let this dry overnight.

3. Download and print onto card stock our templatestemplates for a lamb, chicken, and duck. Cut out the stencil using a utility knife and cutting mat.

4. Spray the backside of the stencil with craft bond spray glue. Spray into a cardboard box to keep it contained. Let the adhesive set for a minute. Adhere the stencil to the crest, centering it using the spindles as a guide. Press the stencil firmly to the surface of the crest using a bone folder.

5. Paint the stencil using an enamel, or mix them to create the color you want. Using a synthetic fine-tip brush, apply a generous amount of paint to the surface of the stencil, working in a continuous direction. Once the paint has been applied evenly, slowly pull back the stencil, pulling it from different directions to prevent the paper from ripping. The stencil will dry in about an hour. Wait about two days before using it so you're sure the enamel is properly set.

Resources
We used DEKA sign paint enamel from Decart Incorporated (Phone: 802-888-4217), the Youth Boston Rocker from AC Moore (acmoore.com; Phone: 203-795-9450), and Elmer's craft bond spray glue.