Bedding Tape as a Polkadot Stencil

Jewellmartin
by Jewellmartin
2 Materials
$4
1 Hour
Easy
I like to find odd items I already have and use them in a different way. A roll of bedding tape left in the garage from some remodeling a couple of years ago got me thinking of ways to use the tape.
I have had two granddaughters with us this week while their parents were off on a mission trip helping rebuild a Hurricane Harvey house. These girls love to do crafts and I wanted something new. Kayla, age 5, took the spotlight, as usual.


Supplies included a roll of bedding tape, four artificial succulents in pots, some packing tape (I couldn't find a regular roll of tape), three colors of Apple Barrel acrylic paint, a small sponge brush, three Qtips, a pair of scissors, and styrofoam plate to pour the paint in. Bedding tape is not adhesive, but it does stick some with plain water or paint. When seams of drywall are "taped and bedded" with a plaster compound, this is the tape centered over the seam. (This project did not cost me anything extra because I had all the items. I’m just going to list $4 for the succulents if you buy them at Dollar Tree.)


Four artificial succulents in pots needed a fix-up after spending two years outside. I cleaned them up, and cut and taped a piece of the bedding tape around each pot. The pots were tapered so the bedding tape did not lie flat. The narrower tape was easier to manipulate, but I decided to secure the tape as it was for the wider pieces. I squirted about 1/4 oz. of each color of paint in the styro plate, and added Qtips.
I had my 5-yr-old granddaughter help with painting the first couple of pots and plants, dabbing the paint into the holes in the bedding tape. She also added some color to the succulents and parts of the pots without the tape. Btw, I told her people liked to see the artist's hands and this is the pose I got.


The bedding tape worked with mixed results. Some of the dabbing in the stencil resulted in swabbing with the Qtips. But I have thought of flatteR surfaces to use the bedding tape with.
More painted details on the plants made them brighter and more attractive.


And here we have it! Bedding tape used as stencils. I’m looking around the house to see what else I can use for borders, stencils, and appliqués. Any ideas?
Suggested materials:
  • 4 Small artificial succulents   (Dollar Tree)
  • Paper bedding tape, paints, supplies   (Leftovers from other jobs.)
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2 of 7 comments
  • J. J. on Apr 25, 2018

    You sound like a fun grandma to visit!

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Apr 25, 2018

    Thank you! I couldn’t spend much time with the grands who grew up in Alabama. But the last two live in the next town and they come over often. I’m disabled but retired now, so I’m using every opportunity to be a good Grandmommy. ☺️

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