Have you seen them?!! Those cute, fun seasonal doormats that are just perfect to welcome visitors to your home? Unfortunately I couldn’t see one doormat that I absolutely LOVED that ships to the UK (without taking out a loan). So, this weekend I finally decided to give it a go and make one for myself. I cut a stencil with my Silhouette machine which allowed me to get the design that was just perfect for what I wanted! That’s not to say that this wasn’t a bit more of a challenging project (more on my struggles later!) But it was worth the effort as I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out.
Here’s how you can make your own! Oh by the way, if you don’t have a Silhouette machine, check out this page on Etsy!! There’s loads of stencils to chose from so you can still have a go at making your own.
what you need to stencil your own doormat
- A doormat – I got mine from TK Maxx for £4.99 (bargain!)
- Outdoor acrylic paint – I used DecoArt patio paint in black and orange. I got mine from Ebay here. And they had a sale on where I got 3 colours for 2!
- A (stencil) brush
- A stencil – I cut mine from vinyl with a Silhouette machine.
Just a side note – if you are using a normal stencil make sure you get some spray adhesive that allows you to stick the stencil to your mat!
how I made my doormat
I started with measuring the mat and cutting the design on my Silhouette machine. You’ve heard me talk about this machine before and I use it ALL the time. Like cutting a design to upcycle a very “blah” looking lazy Susan which had a complete transformation! – you can check out the blog post here.
Once I had cut and weeded the design I added it to the doormat. Remember I said it was a challenging project?? … this is where I may or may not have said some words I shouldn’t have … I originally used a removable stencil material vinyl. BIG mistake.. Well, let’s just say it didn’t work for me. It just wasn’t sticky enough to attach to the coir mat. So, back to the Silhouette and this time I cut a vinyl with “permanent” vinyl. Well, although the vinyl is pretty much permanent on smooth surfaces, for this mat it was perfect. I stuck down the stencil and got the hair dryer to really stick down those edges.
With the stressful bit over I couldn’t wait to move onto the painting bit. I used an outdoor acrylic paint, added a small amount of paint to a plate and loaded a brush (don’t overload! It’s easier to add than to take away). Gently start “poking” your doormat with the loaded brush. Be careful around the edges to avoid any bleeding. Go around your design until you’re happy with the colour. You may need to repeat this quite a few times because it soaks up more than you think!!
the moment of truth!
I always get excited when I’m peeling off a stencil. It’s like opening a present 🙂 And I LOVED this present!! I’m so pleased how crisp this has come out. I actually painted the pumpkin orange to begin with, but there wasn’t enough of a contrast with the mat so I went over it again with black and then coloured the orange in instead. Which is looking much better!
These mats do have a shelf life and being exposed to the weather (especially over the autumn and winter months) I may need to replace it next year. But, I’m not too worried – it just gives me an excuse to try a different design!! For all seasons 🙂
Check the paint bottle for instructions on how long to let it dry. For the paint I used it recommends a 72 hour period, so be patient before you put your masterpiece outside to show it off to the world!
Here’s how it turned out. I’m pretty chuffed with the result of just adding a bit of colour and fun to our front door. Let me know what you think?
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you decide to use my links to purchase something at absolutely no extra cost to you!). This will allow me to continue to share great ideas and projects with you, so I am very grateful for your support!
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