How to Finish & Personalize Your Cedar Planter Box
Byrdie Larsen
Wife, Mom of 4, Crafter, Painter, DIY'er
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Ready to give your cedar planter box a personal touch? Whether you’re staining, painting, or stenciling, this simple guide walks you through the process from prepping your wood to adding final details. Watch the full video tutorial at the end and grab your kit at redbyrddesigns.com.
Step 1: Prep & Paint or Stain
Your cedar box has already been rough sanded to remove large splinters and rough edges. If you prefer a super smooth finish, give it another light sanding and wipe away the dust.
Next, paint or stain your box using a chip brush—this works great for getting into the natural grooves and texture of the wood. If you’re planning to paint the legs a different color from the panels, use masking tape to get crisp, clean lines. Let everything dry completely before moving on.
Step 2: Stencil Placement
Decide which panel you’d like to stencil—two of the panels are 11 3/4″ wide. Choose the smoothest of the two for the best stencil results.
Trim the excess edges off your stencil so it fits neatly within the panel. Use a ruler to center it and lightly mark the placement with a pencil.
Your stencil has three layers: the transfer tape, the blue stencil, and the white grid backing. Place the stencil face down (grid side up), and carefully peel back the white grid layer at a sharp angle. Make sure all stencil pieces, including the insides of letters, stay on the transfer tape.
Hover the stencil over the panel to find perfect placement—don’t press it down until you’re sure! Once positioned, use an old gift card or scraper to gently burnish it onto the wood. Slowly peel away the transfer tape at an angle, rubbing again if any pieces lift.
Step 3: Painting the Stencil
Use a makeup sponge, stencil brush, pouncer, or a black sponge brush with the tip cut flat. Apply paint with a light, dab-dab motion—no brushing! Always offload excess paint before applying to prevent bleeding.
Avoid pushing paint into deep grooves or cracks—those can be touched up later with a detail brush. Once dry, carefully peel back the stencil at a sharp angle. If it pulls up small wood splinters, don’t tug—trim them with scissors.
Touch up any areas as needed with a fine brush.
That’s it!
You’ve created a beautiful, custom cedar planter box! Enjoy it on your porch or gift it to someone special. For more DIY projects and kits, visit redbyrddesigns.com. And don’t forget to check out the full video tutorial below to see the process in action!
Happy crafting! 💛
Feel inspired, have a question, or want to share; leave a comment below.
Thanks for stopping by!
Your crafty friend ~ Byrdie
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How to Finish & Personalize Your Cedar Planter Box
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